THE WORD OF THE BUDDHA
An outline of the teaching of the Buddha in the words of the Pali Canon
Compiled, translated and explained by NYANATILOKA
PREFACE
The word of the Buddha, published originally in German, was the first strictly systematic exposition of all the main tenets of the Buddha’s Teachings presented in the Master’s own words as found in the Sutta-Pitaka of the Buddhist Pali Canon.
While it may well serve as a first introduction for the beginner, its chief aim is to give the reader who is already more or less acquainted with the fundamental ideas of Buddhism, a clear, concise and authentic summary of its various doctrines, within the framework of the all-embracing ‘Four Noble truths’, i.e. the Truths of Suffering (inherent in all existence), of its origin, of its Extinction, and of the way leading to its extinction. From the book itself it will be seen how the teachings of the Buddha all ultimately converge upon the one final goal: Deliverance from suffering. It was for this reason that on the title page of the first German edition there was printed the passage from the Anguttara-Nikãya which says:
‘Not only the fact of suffering do I teach,
But also the deliverance from it’
CONTENTS
Preface
Abbreviations
The Pronunciation of Pali
Introduction : - Buddha , Dhamma , Sangha – The Threefold Refuge – The Five Precepts
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
I. THE NOBLE TRUTH OF SUFFERING
II. THE NOBLE TRUTH OF THE ORIGIN OF SUFFERING
III. THE NOBLE TRUTH OF THE EXTINCTION OF SUFFERING
IV. THE NOBLE TRUTH OF THE PATH THAT LEADS TO THE EXTINCTION OF SUFFERING
1. Right Understanding
2. Right Thought
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration
GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE EIGHTFOLD PATH IN THE PROGRESS OF THE DISCIPLE.
Buddhist Literature
Works of the Author
Index of Pali Terms