Skilful Means - A Concept in Mahayana Buddhism (Paperback, 2nd edition)

"Skilful means"is the key principle of Mahayana, one of the great Buddhist traditions. First described in the Lotus Sutra, it originates in myths of the Buddha's compassionate plans for raising life from the ceaseless round of birth and death. His strategies or interventions are "skilful means" - morally wholesome tricks devised for the purpose of enabling nirvana or enlightenment. Michael Pye's clear, introductory guide investigates the meaning and context of skilful means in Mayahana Buddhist teachings, whilst tracing its early origins in ancient Japanese and Theravada thought. First published in 1979, it illuminates a core working philosophy essential for any complete understanding of Buddhism.