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.
Buddhist ScripturesAcknowledgments
Technical Note
Introduction: Digesting the Dharma
Further ReadingThe Buddhist Universe
1. The Realms of Rebirth
2. A Call to Practise
3. Karma Tales
4. A Lesson from a Ghost
5. A Scripture that Protects Kings
6. One Buddha per Universe
7. Two Buddhas Seated Side by Side
8. Rebirth in the Land of Bliss
9. Avoiding Hell, Gaining Heaven
10. A Chinese Pilgrim in India
11. A Sacred Peak
12. Maitreya Describes the FutureThe Buddha
13. The Three Jewels
14. The Noble Search
15. A Life of the Buddha
16. Maya, Mother of the Buddha
17. Why the Buddha Had Good Digestion
18. A King Gives Away His Head
19. Rupyavati Gives Away Her Breasts
20. How the Buddha Became a Bodhisattva
21. Proving the Buddha
22. Enshrining a Relic
23. The Consecration of a Buddha Image
24. A Hymn to the Buddha
Monastic Life
25. The Evolution of Ordination
26. Making Men into Monks
27. A Murderer Becomes a Monk
28. The Ascetic Ideal
29. Monks in the Mahayana
30. Making New Monastic Rules
31. Lives of Eminent Monks and Nuns
32. The Nine Patriarchs of the East
33. Taking the Vinaya Across the Sea
34. Zen for National Defence
35. How a Monk Freed his Mother from Hell
36. Living in the Degenerate Age
Meditation and Other Rituals
37. The Direct Path to Enlightenment
38. Wisdom and Compassion
39. Serenity and Discernment
40. On the Relation of Study and Meditation
41. Both Sudden and Gradual Enlightenment
42. Reciting the Name of the Buddha
43. The Bodhisattva Vow
44. Freeing Birds and Fish from Bondage
45. Against Animal Sacrifice
46. Feeding Hungry Ghosts
47. A Sutra for Long Life
48. Transforming Death into Buddhahood
Enlightenment
49. A Lay Minister of Meditation
50. Nuns Triumph Over Evil
51. The Perfection of Wisdom
52. In Praise of Reality
53. Songs of the Siddhas
54. The Ultimate Couple
55. Buddhahood in this Lifetime
56. The Practice of No Thought
57. Finding Enlightenment in the Final Age
58. The Gift of Faith
59. A Zen Master Interprets the Dharma
60. Dedication of Merit
Glossary
