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    Common Buddhist Text [1]: Background to this book, and its contributors – General introduction

    22 Mins Read
    DanvaotuegiacPhat

    CONTENTS

     

    INTRODUCTION 8
    General introduction 8
    Introduction on the life of the historical Buddha 11
    Introduction to the Sangha, or community of disciples 18
    Introduction to the selections from Theravāda Buddhism 19
    Introduction to the selections from Mahāyāna Buddhism 24
    Introduction to the selections from Vajrayāna Buddhism 32
    PART I: THE BUDDHA 37
    CHAPTER 1: THE LIFE OF THE HISTORICAL BUDDHA 37
    Conception, birth and early life: passages L.1–6 37
    The quest for awakening: L.7–9 42
    Attaining refined, formless states: L.10–11 44
    The ascetic life of rigorous self-denial: L.12–14 46
    The awakening and its aftermath: L.15–19 50
    The achievements and nature of the Buddha: L.20–24 54
    The Buddha as teacher: L.25–35 57
    Praise of the Buddha: L.36 67
    The Buddha’s appearance and manner: L37–39 68
    Taming and teaching those who resisted or threatened him: L.40–45 72
    The Buddha’s meditative life and praise for quietness and contentment: L.46–48 77
    Physical ailments of the Buddha, and compassionate help for the sick: L.49–54 79
    Sleeping and eating: L.55–57 81
    Composing and enjoying poetry: L.58–59 83
    The last months of the Buddha’s life: L.60–69 85
    CHAPTER 2: DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THE BUDDHA 94
    Theravāda: Th.1–11 94
    Qualities of the Buddha: Th.1 94
    The Buddha’s relation to the Dhamma: Th.2–4 94
    The nature of the Buddha: Th.5 95
    The Buddha, his perfections built up in past lives as a bodhisatta, and his awakened disciples: Th.6–9 95
    The status of the Buddha beyond his death: Th.10–11 97
    Mahāyāna: M.1–13 99
    Epithets and qualities of the Buddha: M.1–4 99
    The nature of the Buddha: M.5–8 102
    A Buddha’s three ‘bodies’: M.9–11 104
    The Buddha-nature: M.12–13 106
    Vajrayāna: V.1–6 108
    The Buddha-nature: V.1 108
    A Buddha’s three ‘bodies’: V.2 109
    The five Buddha families: V.3–4 110
    The Buddha within: V.5–6 112
    PART II: THE DHAMMA/DHARMA 116
    CHAPTER 3: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TEACHINGS 116
    Theravāda: Th.12–28 116
    The qualities of the Dhamma: Th.12–13 116
    Reasons for choosing to practise Buddhism: Th.14 116
    Attitudes to other religions: Th.15 117
    Disputes and tolerance: Th.16–20 117
    The teachings as having a practical focus: Th.21–24 121
    The way to liberating knowledge: Th.25–28 122
    Mahāyāna: M.14–22 125
    Qualities of the Dharma : M.14–16 125
    Reasons for choosing to practise Buddhism: M.17 127
    Disputes and tolerance: M.18–19 128
    The teachings as means to an end: M.20–21 128
    The teachings are pitched at different levels, to attract all: M.22 129
    Vajrayāna: V.7–11 130
    The qualities of the Dharma: V.7–9 130
    Concise expositions of the Dharma: V.10–11 131
    CHAPTER 4: ON SOCIETY AND HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS 137
    Theravāda: Th.29–54 137
    Good governance: Th.29–31 137
    Peace, violence and crime: Th.32–36 139
    Wealth and economic activity: Th.37–43 143
    Social equality: Th.44–45 146
    The equality of men and women: Th.46–48 148
    Good human relationships: Th.49 150
    Parents and children: Th.50 151
    Husband and wife: Th.51–53 151
    Friendship: Th.54 153
    Mahāyāna: M.23–38 153
    Good governance: M.23–25 153
    Peace, violence and crime: M.26–29 154
    Wealth and economy: M.30–31 155
    Equality of men and women: M.32–33 156
    Respect for and gratitude to parents: M.34–35 156
    Sharing karmic benefit with dead relatives M.36–38 158
    Vajrayāna: V.12–13 160
    Advice on compassionate royal policy: V.12 160
    Reflection on the kindnesses of one’s mother: V.13 163
    CHAPTER 5: ON HUMAN LIFE 168
    Theravāda: Th.55–78 168
    The cycle of rebirths (saṃsāra): Th.55–58 168
    Precious human rebirth: Th.59–61 169
    Our world in the context of the universe: Th.62–63 170
    Karma: Th.64–72 170
    The implications of karma and rebirth for attitudes to others: Th.73–74 177
    This life and all rebirths entail ageing, sickness and death: Th.75–78 177
    Mahāyāna: M.39–45 180
    Our universe: M.39 180
    Karma: M.40–42 181
    Precious human birth: M.43 184
    Impermanence: M.44–45 184
    Vajrayāna: V.14–23 185
    Precious human birth: V.14–16 185
    The pains of saṃsāra: V.17–23 188
    CHAPTER 6: THE BUDDHIST PATH AND ITS PRACTICE 194
    Theravāda: Th.79–101 194
    Individual responsibility and personal effort: Th.79–84 194
    The need for virtuous and wise companions as spiritual friends: Th.85–88 195
    The role and nature of faith: Th.89–92 196
    Going for refuge to the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha: Th.93 197
    Devotional activities: Th.94 198
    Chants on the qualities of the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha that bring protection and blessing: Th.95–96 198
    Ethical discipline, meditation, wisdom: Th.97–98 200
    The noble eightfold path: the middle way of practice Th.99–101 201
    Mahāyāna: M.46–76 203
    Faith: M.46-48 203
    Going for refuge to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha: M.49–55 205
    Individual responsibility and personal effort: M.56–57 208
    The middle way: M.58–63 209
    The path of the bodhisattva as superior to those of the disciple and solitary-buddha: M.64–67 211
    The need for a spiritual teacher: M.68–70 214
    Developing the awakening-mind (bodhi-citta): M.71–76 215
    Vajrayāna: V.24–40 219
    Faith: V.24–26 219
    Going for refuge to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha V.27–29 220
    The spiritual teacher: V.30–31 221
    Practising the middle way: V.32 222
    The awakening-mind (bodhi-citta): V.33–9 223
    Graded stages of the path: V.40 227
    CHAPTER 7: ETHICS 229
    Theravāda: Th.102–120 229
    Wholesome and unwholesome actions: Th.102–104 229
    Generosity: Th.105–109 230
    Precepts of ethical discipline: Th.110–111 232
    Right livelihood, and extra precepts: Th.112–113 233
    Loving kindness and patient acceptance: Th.114–116 234
    Helping oneself and helping others: Th.117–118 236
    Caring for animals and the environment: Th.119–120 237
    Mahāyāna: M.77–108 237
    The power of goodness: M.77 237
    Generosity: M.78–79 238
    The precepts of ethical discipline: M.80–87 239
    Right livelihood, and extra precepts: M.88–89 241
    Helping oneself and helping others: M.90–94 242
    Teaching others: M.95 243
    Care for animals and the environment: M.96 243
    Loving kindness and compassion: M.97–99 244
    The bodhisattva perfections: M.100–106 245
    The bodhisattva vows and precepts: M.107–108 250
    Vajrayāna: V.41–54 254
    Wholesome and unwholesome actions: V.41 254
    The perfection of generosity: V.42–44 254
    The perfection of ethical discipline: V.45–48 256
    The perfection of patient acceptance: V.49–53 258
    The perfection of vigour: V.54 260
    CHAPTER 8: MEDITATION 262
    Theravāda: Th.121–142 262
    The purpose of meditation: Th.121–122 262
    The mind’s negative underlying tendencies but also bright potential: Th.123–124 263
    The five hindrances and other defilements: Th.125–128 263
    The importance of attention: Th.129–131 265
    Calm (samatha) and insight (vipassanā) meditations: Th.132–133 267
    Recollection of the qualities of the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, and of the reality of death: Th.134–135 268
    Meditation on the four limitless qualities: loving kindness, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity: Th.136–137 269
    The four foundations of mindfulness (satipaṭṭhāna) as ways to cultivate insight (vipassanā) and calm (samatha): Th.138 269
    Mindfulness of breathing (ānāpāna-sati): Th.139 273
    Meditative absorptions, higher knowledges and formless attainments: Th.140–142 275
    Mahāyāna: M.109–128 278
    Preparatory meditations: M.109 278
    Not being attached to meditation: M.110 279
    The radiant mind: M.111–112 279
    Meditation on loving kindness and compassion: M.113 280
    Recollecting the Buddhas: M.114 280
    Mindfulness: M.115–116 282
    Calm (śamatha) meditation and the four meditative absorptions: M.117–120 283
    Insight (vipaśyanā) meditation: M.121–123 285
    Chan/Zen meditation: M.124–128 286
    Vajrayāna: V.55–70 291
    Giving up distractions: V.55–56 291
    Meditative concentration: V.57 293
    Meditative antidotes for the various defilements: V.58–64 293
    Meditation on the four limitless qualities: V.65–68 295
    The four mindfulnesses: V.69 298
    Meditation on the nature of mind: V.70 299
    CHAPTER 9: WISDOM 301
    Theravāda: Th.143–179 301
    The nature of wisdom: Th.143–148 301
    Suffering and the four Truths of the Noble Ones: Th.149–155 302
    Dependent arising and how suffering originates: Th.156–168 306
    Critical refledctions on the idea of a creator God: Th.169 311
    The lack of a permanent, essential self: Th.170–179 312
    Mahāyāna: M.129–150 317
    The nature of wisdom: M.129 317
    Dependent arising: M.130–131 317
    Critical refledctions on the idea of a creator God: M.132 319
    The lack of a permanent, essential self: M.133–136 320
    Emptiness of inherent nature/inherent existence: M.137–141 323
    Mind-only and emptiness of subject-object duality: M.142–143 327
    The Buddha-nature as a positive reality : M.144–147 330
    The radical interrelationship of all: M.148-150 332
    Vajrayāna: V.71–76 335
    The three types of wisdom: V.71–73 335
    Dependent arising: V.74 336
    Insight into the lack of identity: V.75–76 338
    CHAPTER 10: THE GOALS OF BUDDHISM 343
    Theravāda: 180–188 343
    Happiness in this and future lives 343
    Definitive spiritual breakthroughs 343
    Nirvana: Th.180–188 343
    Mahāyāna: M.151–159 346
    Happiness in this and future lives 346
    Definitive spiritual breakthroughs 347
    Nirvana: M.151–155 347
    Buddhahood: M.156–158 351
    Pure Lands: M.159 353
    Vajrayāna: V.77–83 355
    Happiness in this and future lives: V.77 355
    Definitive spiritual breakthroughs: V.78 356
    Nirvana: V.79 356
    Activities of the Buddha: V.80-83 357
    PART III THE SANGHA OR SPIRITUAL ‘COMMUNITY’ 359
    CHAPTER 11: MONASTIC AND LAY DISCIPLES AND NOBLE PERSONS 359
    Theravāda Th.189–211 359
    The Buddha’s community of monastic and lay disciples: Th.189–190 359
    The monastic Sangha: Th.191–192 359
    Monastic discipline: Th.193–198 360
    Types of noble disciples: Th.199–204 363
    Arahants: Th.205–211 366
    Mahāyāna: M.160–164 368
    Lay and monastic bodhisattvas: M.160–162 368
    Monastic discipline: M.163–164 369
    Vajrayāna: V.85 371
    Monastic life: V.85 371
    CHAPTER 12: EXEMPLARY LIVES 374
    Theravāda: Th.212–231 374
    Great arahant monk disciples: Th.212–219 374
    Great arahant nun disciples: Th.220–225 378
    Great laymen and laywomen disciples: Th.226–231 382
    Mahāyāna: M.165–168 384
    Great monastic disciples: M.165–167 384
    Great lay disciples: M.168 389
    Vajrayāna: V.86–91 390
    Great accomplished ones: V.86–91 390
    APPENDIXES 398
    Buddhanet’s World Buddhist Directory 398
    To hear some Buddhist chanting 398
    Books on Buddhism 398
    Printed translations and anthologies of translations 399
    Web sources on Buddhism, including translations 410
    Glossary/index of key Buddhist terms and names 411

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