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CONTENTS
About this book………………IX
CHAPTER 1 – THE LIFE OF THE BUDDHA
The Birth………………11
The Naming Ceremony………………12
The Ploughing Festival………………12
Prince Siddhattha’s Youth………………13
Renunciation………………14
The Search………………19
His Struggle for Enlightenment ………………20
Temptation of Măra the Evil one………………21
The Middle Path………………23
The Enlightenment………………24
CHAPTER 2 – SOON AFTER THE ENLIGHTENMENT
A paean of Joy – Udăna Gãthã………………28
The Seven Weeks after the Enlightenment……………………………28
The First Two Converts………………31
CHAPTER 3 – THE BUDDHA PROPOUNDS HIS DHAMMA
Invitation to teach the Dhamma………………33
On the Way to Benares To Teach the Dhamma……………….35
The Five Monks………………38
CHAPTER 4 – THE FIRST DISCOURSE
Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta………………40
CHAPTER 5 – THE SENDING OF THE MISSIONERS
The Conversion of Yasa………………46
Exhortation to the First Missioners………………47
Conversion oi Thirty Young Men………………47
Conversion oi the Three Kassapa Brothers………………48
The Buddha meets King Bimbisãra………………49
Conversion or Sãriputta and Moggallãna………………50
CHAPTER 6 – THE BUDDHA VISITS HIS BIRTHPLACE
King Suddhódana desires to see the Buddha………………55
THE BUDDHA GOES ON HIS ALMS-ROUND
The King sees the Light………………56
The Buddha and Princess Yasõdharã………………57
The Buddha and His stepbrother Nanda………………59
The Buddha and Prince Rãhula………………60
The Buddha and Ãnanda………………61
The Buddha and Devadatta………………62
CHAPTER 7 – THE BUDDHA’S MINISTRY
The First Twenty Years………………64
The Order or Nuns………………65
Angulimãla………………69
Anathapindika………………70
Visakha………………72
CHAPTER 8 – THE BUDDHA’S DAILY ROUTINE
The Forenoon Session………………74
The Afternoon Session………………75
The First Watch………………78
The Middle Watch………………78
The Last watch………………78
CHAPTER 9 – THE BUDDHA’S GREATNESS
The Buddha and the Caste System………………81
The Buddha and Women………………83
His Tolerance towards Dumb Animals………………84
His Greatness………………84
CHAPTER 10 – THE BUDDHA’S PARINIBBANA
Mãra………………87
An Exhortation………………87
The Venerable Dhammarama’s High Regard for the Buddha………………88
The Buddha’s Last Meal………………88
The Buddha assented by His silence………………89
His Last Convert………………90
The Last Scene………………92
The Buddha’s Last Moment………………94
CHAPTER 11 – KAMMA
Kusala Kamma………………97
Akusala Kamma………………98
The Cause of Kamma………………102
The Doer of Kamma………………102
Where is Kamma? ………………103
Classification of Kamma………………104
Is everything due to Kamma? ………………106
Utu Niyãma………………107
Bija Niyãma………………107
Kamma Niyẵma………………107
Dhamma Niyâma………………107
Cita Níyâma………………108
CHAPTER 12 – REBIRTH
Reasons to believe in a Past Birth………………109
The Cause of this Rebirth Process
The Wheel of Life………………110
The Modes of Birth and Death………………114
The Four Modes of Birth………………115
How Rebirth takes place………………116
No-Soul Anatta Pancakkhandha………………119
How is Rebirth possible without a Soul to be Reborn? ………………121
CHAPTER 13
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS…………………..127
CHAPTER 14 NIBBANA
Definition………………127
Is Nibbana Nothingness? ………………128
Sopadisesa and Anưpãdisesa Nibbána Dhãtua…………………..128
Three Distinct Characteristics of Nibbãna………………129
Where is Nibbăna?………………130
What attains Nibbãna? ………………131
CHATER 15
THE NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH………………132
CHAPTER 16
NIVARANA OR HINDRANCES………………139
CHATER 17 – THE THREE COUNCILS
The First Council………………144
Tipitaka………………145
The Second Council………………147
Ten Unlawful Points………………147
The Third Council………………149
CHAPTER 18 – ASÕKA AND HIS MISSIONS
Asõka’s family………………151
Asõka becomes King………………152
His Conversion to Buddhism………………153
Asoka’s Missioners………………156
The Mission to Ceylon………………158
CHAPTER 19 – THE MANCALA SUTTA
Blessing……………160
CHAPTER 20 – PARÃBHAVA SUTTA
Downfall………………162
CHAPTER 21 – THE METTA SUTTA
Loving Kindness………………166
CHAPTER 22 – THE VYAGGHAPAJJA SUTTA
Causes or Worldly Progress………………168
Causes of spiritual Progress………………171
NOTES………………174 – 186
QUESTIONS………………187 – 199
ABOUT THIS BOOK
This is a fairly comprehensive book enabling the reader to appreciate and understand certain important finer aspects of Thẽravãda Buddhism. This book would also serve as a reference, for both Teachers and Students alike, gain a good insight into the fundamentals of Buddhism.
The author, the late Venerable Nãrada Mahă Thera was a well-known Buddhist Missioner. He is also the author of many other Buddhist Publications. We are grateful to him for his kind permission, enabling this reprint to be effected in Malaysia.
Special thanks are due to Ven. U. Nipuna Mr. Tan Teik Beng, Mr. Eddy Yu Chen Lim, Ms. Quah Pin Pm and Ms. Chong Hong Choo for their valuable assistance in the reproduction of this book.
KSRI DHAMMANANDA J.S.M.
Buddhist Missionary Society
Buddhist Vihara, Jalan Berhala,
50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
September, 1992
