The Light of Asia
Mysticism Spirituality New Age Mindfulness & Meditation Buddhist Studies Religious Biography Epic Poetry
Edwin Arnold’s 1879 epic poem “The Light of Asia” has been guiding Western readers into the heart of Buddhism for nearly 150 years, and this 1977 hard-cover from The Theosophy Company preserves every luminous stanza in a sturdy, shelf-worthy format. Written in blank-verse that still reads like a novel, Arnold re-tells the life of Prince Siddhārtha from birth beneath the rose-apple tree to the moment he becomes the Buddha, blending historical detail with a mystic’s awe. Readers who come for a simple biography stay for the transformative cadence of the verse—passages on the “Four Sights” or the night of Enlightenment are frequently quoted in later Buddhist classics, meditation manuals and even New Age courses because they distill complex doctrine into lines that can be memorized and chanted.
Collectors prize this particular printing because Theosophy Company editions were produced on high-opacity, acid-free stock with sewn signatures—qualities that keep the 1977 volume surprisingly fresh today. The copy offered here shows only light foxing on the earliest leaves; otherwise the pages are bright, the binding remains drum-tight, and there are no prior-owner marks, dog-ears or shelf-cock. It slips easily into a backpack for retreat reading yet looks elegant on an altar or bookshelf beside works by Alan Watts, Thich Nhat Hanh or Jack Kornfield.
Whether you are a student comparing world religions, a yogi seeking inspirational nightly reading, or a gift-giver who wants to introduce someone to Buddhist thought without dense footnotes, this clean hardcover delivers the original English classic in the most inviting form short of a rare first edition. Expect to underline favorite couplets, return to them during stressful weeks, and discover why “The Light of Asia” still tops recommended-reading lists in mindfulness teacher-training programs across the globe.
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