Light of Liberation: A History of Buddhism in India (Crystal Mirror Series, Vol. 8) by Elizabeth Cook

Light of Liberation emphasizes the life of the Buddha and the early history of the Sangha based on the Buddha's direct teachings: the Sutras, Avadanas, and Vinaya. Information presented here provides students of all Buddhist traditions a general background for reading the Sutras and reflecting on the Buddha's direct teachings. A special focus is the history of Buddhism in India from the time of the Buddha until the end of the twelfth century, when for many centuries thereafter, India lost touch with this important part of its heritage.