Buddhist Scriptures

A volume of key writings on the Buddha, collected from a variety of languages and traditions While Buddhism has no central text comparable to the Bible or Koran, there is a powerful body of scripture from across Asia that encompasses the dharma, or the teachings of the Buddha. In this rich anthology, eminent scholar Donald S. Lopez, Jr. brings together works from a broad historical and geographical range, and from such languages as Pali, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese, and Japanese. There are tales of the Buddha's past lives, a discussion of qualities and qualifications for a monk, and an exploration of the many meanings of enlightenment. Together they provide a vivid picture of the Buddha and of the vast and profound nature of the Buddhist tradition. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Table of Contents:
Buddhist ScripturesAcknowledgments Introduction PART I: THE TEACHERChapter 1. The Buddha's Previous Lives Introductory Note 1. Shakyamuni's Meeting with Dipankara 2a. The Bodhisattva and the Hungry Tigress 2b. The Bodhisattva as the Preacher of Patience 3. Outline of a Bodhisattva's Progress Chapter 2. The Legend of the Buddha Shakyamuni Introductory Note 1. The birth of the Bodhisattva 2. Asita's visit 3. The Bodhisattva's youth and marriage 4. The awakening 5. Withdrawal from the women 6. The flight 7. The apparition of a mendicant 8. The dismissal of Chandaka 9. The practice of austerities 10. Nandabala's gift 11. The defeat of Mara 12. The Enlightenment 13. The meeting with the mendicant 14. The meeting with the five mendicants 15. Turning the wheel of Dharma 16. The meeting of father and son 17. Further conversions 18. Devadatta 19. The desire for death 20. The leave-taking from Vaisali, the final couch, instructions to the Mallas 21. Parinirvana 22. The Relics 23. The Scriptures PART II: DOCTRINES Chapter 1. Morality Introductory Note 1. The Five Precepts, with Buddahghosa's commentary 2. Rules of monastric restraint 3. The monk's life 3a. The Buddha's advice to Sariputra (E.M.H.) 3b. The Rhinoceros (E.M.H.) 4. Verses from the Sanskrit Dharmapada 4a. The chapter on Karma 4b. The chapter on Morality 5. Popular Moral Buddhism 6. Laymen and Monks 6a. Their respective attainments 6b. Their respective tasks, and the question of the adoration of relics Chapter 2. Meditation Introductory Note 1. The advantages of meditation 2. The practice of introversion 3. The progressive steps of meditation The restraint of the senses - How the senses cause bondage - Moderation in eating - The avoidance of sleep - Full awareness of the postures, etc. - The advantages of solitary meditation - Concentration and the forsaking of idle thoughts - How to deal with thoughts concerning family and homeland - How to be mindful of death - The four holy truths 4. The six types of persons 5. The five miraculous powers 6. Zen 6a. Sessan Amakuki. Zen Meditation (R.T.L.) 6b. Rosen Takashina. Controlling the Mind (R.T.L.) Chapter 3. Wisdom Introductory Note 1. The Questions of King Milinda 1. Introduction - 2. The doctrine of not-self: (a) The chariot, (b) Personal identity and rebirth, (c) personal identity and Karma - 3. The five cardinal virtues - 4. Emancipation and Nirvana: (a) Problems of Nirvana, (b) The nature of Nirvana, (c) The realization of Nirvana, (d) The saints and their bodies - 5. Conclusion 2. The Heart Sutra 3. From the "Diamond Sutra" The Bodhisattva and Dipankara - The initial vow of a Bodhisattva - The practice of perfect giving - The practice of perfect patience - The Bodhisattva's final Nirvana - The Bodhisattva as a fully enlightened Buddha - The Buddha's physical body - The Buddha as the Tathagata - The Buddha as a Teacher - The Buddha as a Saviour - The application to the present day 4. Rabulabhadra. "Hymn to Perfect Wisdom" 5. Sent-ts'an. "On Believing in Mind" (D.T.S.) 6. From Saraba's "Treasury of Songs" (D.L.S.) Chapter 4. Doctrinal Formulas Introductory Note 1. Faith: The Triple Refuge - The Buddha - The Dharma - The Samgha 2. Vigour: The four right efforts - The Bodhisattva's Vow 3. Mindfulness: On guarding the senses 4. Concentration: The four trances - The four formless trances - The four Unlimited - Unlimited Friendliness 5. Wisdom: The four Holy Truths - Conditioned co-production - The view of self - The absence of self in everything - The illusory nature of the world Chapter 5. Doctrinal Disputes Introductory Note 1. The Personalist Controversy 2. Mahayana Polemics against the Hinayana 3. Can there be more than one Buddha at a time? 3a. The Hinayana position 3b. The Mahayana position 4. The Quietist Controversy PART III: OTHER WORLDS AND FUTURE TIMES Chapter 1. Other Worlds Introductory Note 1. The bliss of the heavens 2. The torments of the bells 3. Life after death, and the "Book of the Dead" Preamble - I. The moment of death, and the clear light of Pure Reality. The emergence of a subtle body. - II. The experience of the spiritual realities - III. Seeking rebirth. The judgement. The desire for rebirth. The dawning of the lights of the six places of rebirth. Re-incarnation. 4. Celestial Paradises: The Pure Land of Amitabha Chapter 2. Maitreya, the future Buddha Introductory Note "The Prophecy concerning Maitreya" Sources Glossary of Technical Terms