A Buddhist Reader: Selections from the Sacred Books
This much-cited scholarly anthology of key Theravada Buddhist documents originally appeared in 1896 as part of the renowned Harvard Oriental Series. An excellent, accessible presentation of the vast range of Pâli Buddhist literature, it was among the first English translations of the direct words of the Buddha.
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This collection includes key Theravada Buddhist documents as well as a brief introduction to the ideas of the religion. The texts concern the Buddha, sentient experience, karma and rebirth, meditation and nirvana, and order. The collection was originally published in 1896; this volume reproduces the fourth issue, dated 1906. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
AbbreviationsxiiiGeneral IntroductionxvChapter I.The BuddhaIntroductory Discourse11.The Story of Sumedha52.A List of former Buddhas323.The Characteristics of a Future Buddha334.The Birth of The Buddha385.The young Gotamid Prince486.The Great Retirement567.The Great Struggle678.The Attainment of Buddhaship719.First Events after the Attainment of Buddhaship8310.The Conversion of Sariputta and Moggallana8711.The Buddha's daily Habits9112.The Death of The Buddha95Chapter II.Sentient ExistenceIntroductory Discourse11113.Questions which tend not to Edification11714.King Milinda and Nagasena come to an Understanding12815.There is no Ego12916.All Signs of an Ego are Absent14617.No continuous Personal Identity14818.The Mind less permanent than the Body15019.What is Unity or One?15320.Analysis of the Human Being15521.The Composition of the Body15722.On getting Angry15923.The Origin and Cessation of the Human Being15924.Inanimate Nature16425.The Middle Doctrine16526.Ignorance17027.Karma17928.Consciousness18229.Name and Form18430.The Six Organs of Sense18631.Contact18632.Sensation18733.Desire18734.Attachment18935.Existence19436.Birth etc.20137.Discussion of Dependent Origination202Chapter III.Karma and RebirthIntroductory Discourse20938.Be a Friend to Yourself21339.The Cause of Inequality in the World21440.Fruitful and barren Karma21541.The Death of Moggallana22142.Good and bad Karma22643.How to obtain Wealth, Beauty, and Social Position22844.The Round of Existence23245.Cause of Rebirth23246.Is this to be my Last Existence?23347.Rebirth is not Transmigration23448.Reflections on Existence24249.Different kinds of Death25250.How Existence in Hell is Possible25351.Death's Messengers255"The Three Warnings"25952.The Ass in the Lion's Skin26253.The devoted Wife26454.Friendship26755.Virtue is its own Reward26956.The Hare-mark in the Moon274Chapter IV.Meditation and NirvanaIntroductory Discourse28057.The Way of Purity28558.Concentration28859.The Thirty-one Grades of Being28960.The Forty Subjects of Meditation29161.The Earth-kasina29362.Beauty is but Skin-deep29763.The Conversion of Animals30164.Love for Animals30265.The Six High Powers30366.Spiritual Law in the Natural World30667.Going Further and Faring Worse30868.Sariputta and the Two Demons31369.World-cycles31570.Wisdom33071.The Summum Bonum33172.Mara as Plowman34973.The Fire-sermon35174.The Four Intent Contemplations35375.The Attainment of the Paths37676.Nirvana to be attained at Death38077.The Attainment of Nirvana by Godhika38078.The Trance of Cessation38379.The Attainment of Nirvana390Chapter V.The OrderIntroductory Discourse39280.Conduct39381.The Admission and Ordination Ceremonies39382.The Serpent who wanted to be a Priest40183.The Buddhist Confession of Priests40284.The Order receive leave to dwell in Houses41185.Residence during the Rainy Season41486.The Mendicant Ideal41787.The Value of Training in Religion42088.The colorless Life42189.Can the Saint suffer?42290.The Body is an open Sore42391.Heaven not the Highest Good42492.The Saints Superior to the Gods42493.The Anger-eating Demon42694.Contentment is Riches42895.The Story of a Priest43096.The young Stone-Thrower43297."And hate not his father and mother"43498.No Buddhist should commit Suicide43699.The Admission of Women to the Order441100.A Family of Magicians448101.The Story of Visakha451102.The Buddhist Apocalypse481Appendix103.The Five Groups487Index497
