Contents
Preface
Introduction
The Historical Buddha
Dates and Legends
The legend of the Buddha's birth ( according to the Lalitavistara )
the Bodhi tree and " setting in motion the
wheel of dharma" / Missionaryears /
First monatic order
Students and disciples
First councils / The " Three Jewels "
of Buddhism
Early Teachings
Life as suffering / Thirst for life as cause
of suffering / Extinction of the thirst for life
in order to end suffering / The Eightfold Path :
Through self-discipline to the abolition of suffering
Attentiveness and mediation
Mysterious nirvana
Hinayana-The Lesser Vehicle
The problem of the canonical tradition /
The origins of the Buddhism / Teachings
and schools / The " School of the Elders "
and the " Great Community " /
Hinayana today
Monastic life on Sri Lanka
Mahayana-The Great Vehicle
Return to the devince
Rulers of the Buddha-Lands New ways to liberation /
Mahayana today
The compassion of the bodhisattvas