While Buddhism has no central text such as the Bible or the Koran, there is a powerful body of scripture from across Asia that encompasses the dharma, or the teachings of Buddha. This rich anthology brings together works from a broad historical and geographical range,and from languages such as Pali, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese. There are tales of the Buddha's past lives, a discussion of the qualities and qualifications of a monk, and an exploration of the many meanings of Enlightenment. Together they provide a vivid picture of the Buddha and of the vast nature of the Buddhist tradition.
While Buddhism has no central text such as the Bible or the Koran, there is a powerful body of scripture from across Asia that encompasses the dharma, or the teachings of Buddha. This rich anthology brings together works from a broad historical and geographical range,and from languages such as Pali, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese. There are tales of the Buddha's past lives, a discussion of the qualities and qualifications of a monk, and an exploration of the many meanings of Enlightenment. Together they provide a vivid picture of the Buddha and of the vast nature of the Buddhist tradition.
This new edition contains many texts presented in English for the first time, as well as new translations of some well-known works, and also includes an informative introduction and prefaces to each chapter by scholar of Buddhism Donald S. Lopez, with suggestions for further reading and a glossary.
Acknowledgements
Technical Note
Introduction: Digesting the Dharma
Further Reading
THE BUDDHIST UNIVERSE
The Realms of Rebirth
A Call to Practise
Karma Tales
A Lesson from a Ghost
A Scripture that Protects Kings
One Buddha per Universe -
Two Buddhas Seated Side by Side
Rebirth in the Land of Bliss
Avoiding Hell, Gaining Heaven
A Chinese Pilgrim in India
A Sacred Peak
Maitreya Describes the Future
THE BUDDHA
The Three Jewels
The Noble Search
A Life of the Buddha
Maya, Mother of the Buddha
Why the Buddha Had Good Digestion
A King Gives Away His Head
Rupyavati Gives Away Her Breasts
How the Buddha Became a Bodhisattva
Proving the Buddha
Enshrining a Relic
The Consecration of a Buddha Image
A Hymn to the Buddha
MONASTIC LIFE
The Evolution of Ordination
Making Men into Monks
A Murderer Becomes a Monk
The Ascetic Ideal
Monks in the Mahayana
Making New Monastic Rules
Lives of Eminent Monks and Nuns
The Nine Patriarchs of the East
Taking the Vinaya Across the Sea
Zen for National Defence
How a Monk Freed his Mother from
Hell
Living in the Degenerate Age
Freeing Birds and Fish from Bondage
Against Animal Sacrifice
Feeding Hungry Ghosts
A Sutra for Long Life
Transforming Death into Buddhahood
ENLIGHTENMENT
A Lay Master of Meditation
Nuns Triumph over Evil
The Perfection of Wisdom
In Praise of Reality
Songs of the Siddhas
The Ultimate Couple
Buddhahood in this Lifetime
The Practice of No Thought
Finding Enlightenment in the Final Age
The Gift of Faith
A Zen Master Interprets the Dharma
Dedication of Merit
Glossary