The Holy Buddha Book

Contents: Preface. 1. The Holy Buddha. 2. The Holy Sangha. 3. The Holy Tripitaka. 4. Basic teachings of the Holy Buddha: i. Three essential characteristics. ii. Dependent origination. iii. The Law of Karma. iv. Ahimsa. v. Nirvana. 5. Selected sermons and sayings of the Holy Buddha: i. Digha Nikaya. ii. Majjhima Nikaya. iii. Samyutta Nikaya. iv. Anguttara Nikaya. v. Khuddaka Nikaya. 6. Dhamma for the Laity: Introduction. i. A virtuous lay follower. ii. A happy householder. iii. Moral code for The Laity. iv. Conditions of welfare and progress. v. Life’s highest blessings. vi. Causes of downfall. vii. The code for women. viii. Nirvana and the Laity. 7. Non-Canonical Pali works. Appendix: Mahayana Sutras. Bibliography.

From the Preface: "This book presents an exposition of the teachings of the Holy Buddha in His own words, as recorded in the Pali Canon, the sacred scriptures of Theravada Buddhism followed by the Buddhist countries of South-East Asia. The study begins with a brief life-sketch of Gautama the Buddha, and is followed by a chapter on the Bhikkhu Sangha, a unique monastic institution founded by the Holy Buddha. An analysis of the entire Pali Canon, the Tripitaka, is given in the third chapter. The basic teachings of the Holy Buddha are presented in the fourth chapter.

In the fifth chapter are presented selected sermons and sayings of the Buddha derived from all the five Nikayas of Sutta Pitaka. This chapter is not only the longest chapter but is also the very life of this book. The sermons of the Buddha specifically addressed to the Laity and/or meant for the lay Buddhists have been put together in the sixth chapter. And in the seventh chapter has been given a brief resume of Milinda-panha (Questions of King Milinda) and two other Non-Canonical Pali Works."