THE BUDDHA AND HIS TEACHINGS
By G . P. MALASASEKERA
President, World Fellowship of Buddhists
And Ambassador for Ceylon in U.S.S.R
Publish by
THE LANKA BAUDDHA MANDALAYA
(The Buddhist Council of Ceylon)
FOREWORD
This little book on the Buddha and His Teachings was undertaken at the request of the Lanka Bauddha Mandalaya (Buddhist Council of Ceylon), as part of the Buddha Jayanti activities to mark the 2500th anniversary of the Buddhist Era. The original plan was that it should be the joint work of more than one author but later this was found impracticable and I was charged with the sole responsibility. I have to confess that I have not been able to devote as much time and trouble to it as I should have done. Large portions of it were written on board air planes while travelling from one country to another. I find on glancing through the printed pages that there are many errors of printing. Proofs had to be read while I was extremely busy making preparations to take up my appointment as Ceylon’s Ambassador to the USSR. Yet, in spite of the shortcomings, I hope this unambitious publication will make some little contribution to the proper understanding and appreciation of Buddhism. I have made extensive use of the writings of the Ven. Narada Maha Thera and Mr. Christmas Humphreys, in particular, and I wish to acknowledge my gratitude to them for making my task easier.
G.P. MALALASEKERA
Full-moon Day of Vesak 2501
13th May 1957