Buddha’s complete teachings
Bhikkhu Bodhi and Nanamoli, as well as Maurice Walshe have translated the four books of the Buddha’s complete teachings from the Pali language, published by Wisdom Publications, Boston, USA:
Collections of Buddha’s teachings
Bhikkhu Bodhi, along with others, has published several books in which important topics from the Buddha are extracted around a particular theme:
All spiritual training, including Buddhism, are different paths to the same mountain topMany religions are about a God and going to heaven. The Buddha’s teachings are a training in which wisdom is developed that removes all suffering from the mind. When awakening is reached as a human being, almost all suffering in the mind ceases, and when the body of a fully awakened human being dies, all suffering ceases – which is called nirvana. But Buddha’s teachings can also be used to create a good rebirth.
Buddhism is a philosophy – not a religionBuddhism has a lot of philosophy in it, as advanced as the schools of philosophy that developed in Europe. But Buddhism is still a religion, unless you define religion as belief in a creator god. The Buddha’s teachings are a spiritual training that removes problems and suffering, and focused both on this life as a human being, a future new existence and the ultimate goal – full awakening.
Karma is destinyIn Buddhism, karma is a conscious action, through thoughts, words and deeds. We all create karma every minute, and the karma we create affects us all the time. But all our actions – good or bad – come back to us, and are called the fruit of our actions. So life is made up of present actions, and the fruit of past actions. The future is not set in stone, the future is indefinite.
Everyone who follows Buddha’s teachings is a vegetarianWhile some choose to practice vegetarianism out of respect for all life, it is not a universal rule in all Buddhist traditions. Those with an ordination – bhikkhus or bhikkhunies – should eat the food they are given, whether it is meat or not. Buddha was not a vegetarian either. But a training rule in Buddhism is not to kill, so many traditions encourage vegetarian food.
Man, woman, equal
SuttaCentral.net
SuttaCentral is an online project for early Buddhist texts based in Australia. The text collection contains a complete translation of the Buddha’s teachings in English, many Norwegian translations, as well as texts in several other languages, published under a creative commons license. The founders were Rod Bucknell, John Kelly and Bhante Sujato.
Ajahn Chah – the forest tradition
Ajahn Chah was a teacher to many seniors today, including Western teachers Ajahn Brahm (Australia), Ajahn Amaro (England), Ajahn Pasanno (California).
- Man, woman, equal
- Everyone who follows Buddha’s teachings is a vegetarian
While some choose to practice vegetarianism out of respect for all life, it is not a universal rule in all Buddhist traditions. Those with an ordination – bhikkhus or bhikkhunies – should eat the food they are given, whether it is meat or not. Buddha was not a vegetarian either. But a training rule in Buddhism is not to kill, so many traditions encourage vegetarian food.
- Karma is destiny
In Buddhism, karma is a conscious action, through thoughts, words and deeds. We all create karma every minute, and the karma we create affects us all the time. But all our actions – good or bad – come back to us, and are called the fruit of our actions. So life is made up of present actions, and the fruit of past actions. The future is not set in stone, the future is indefinite.
- Buddhism is a philosophy – not a religion
Buddhism has a lot of philosophy in it, as advanced as the schools of philosophy that developed in Europe. But Buddhism is still a religion, unless you define religion as belief in a creator god. The Buddha’s teachings are a spiritual training that removes problems and suffering, and focused both on this life as a human being, a future new existence and the ultimate goal – full awakening.
- All spiritual training, including Buddhism, are different paths to the same mountain top
Many religions are about a God and going to heaven. The Buddha’s teachings are a training in which wisdom is developed that removes all suffering from the mind. When awakening is reached as a human being, almost all suffering in the mind ceases, and when the body of a fully awakened human being dies, all suffering ceases – which is called nirvana. But Buddha’s teachings can also be used to create a good rebirth.
Ajahn Brahm – the forest tradition
Ajahn Brahm is the teacher of Norwegian Ajahn Nitho, and spiritual advisor to the Buddhist Society of Norway. He has published many books describing spiritual development on many different levels. The book “Kindfulness” is recommended as a handbook in basic meditation for beginners.
- Man, woman, equal
- Everyone who follows Buddha’s teachings is a vegetarian
While some choose to practice vegetarianism out of respect for all life, it is not a universal rule in all Buddhist traditions. Those with an ordination – bhikkhus or bhikkhunies – should eat the food they are given, whether it is meat or not. Buddha was not a vegetarian either. But a training rule in Buddhism is not to kill, so many traditions encourage vegetarian food.
- Karma is destiny
In Buddhism, karma is a conscious action, through thoughts, words and deeds. We all create karma every minute, and the karma we create affects us all the time. But all our actions – good or bad – come back to us, and are called the fruit of our actions. So life is made up of present actions, and the fruit of past actions. The future is not set in stone, the future is indefinite.
- Buddhism is a philosophy – not a religion
Buddhism has a lot of philosophy in it, as advanced as the schools of philosophy that developed in Europe. But Buddhism is still a religion, unless you define religion as belief in a creator god. The Buddha’s teachings are a spiritual training that removes problems and suffering, and focused both on this life as a human being, a future new existence and the ultimate goal – full awakening.
- All spiritual training, including Buddhism, are different paths to the same mountain top
Many religions are about a God and going to heaven. The Buddha’s teachings are a training in which wisdom is developed that removes all suffering from the mind. When awakening is reached as a human being, almost all suffering in the mind ceases, and when the body of a fully awakened human being dies, all suffering ceases – which is called nirvana. But Buddha’s teachings can also be used to create a good rebirth.
Buddhist books in Norwegian
We have some good Buddhist books published in Norwegian, mainly from author Kåre A. Lie – who is the foremost translator of Buddha’s teachings in Norway.
- Man, woman, equal
- Everyone who follows Buddha’s teachings is a vegetarian
While some choose to practice vegetarianism out of respect for all life, it is not a universal rule in all Buddhist traditions. Those with an ordination – bhikkhus or bhikkhunies – should eat the food they are given, whether it is meat or not. Buddha was not a vegetarian either. But a training rule in Buddhism is not to kill, so many traditions encourage vegetarian food.
- Karma is destiny
In Buddhism, karma is a conscious action, through thoughts, words and deeds. We all create karma every minute, and the karma we create affects us all the time. But all our actions – good or bad – come back to us, and are called the fruit of our actions. So life is made up of present actions, and the fruit of past actions. The future is not set in stone, the future is indefinite.
- Buddhism is a philosophy – not a religion
Buddhism has a lot of philosophy in it, as advanced as the schools of philosophy that developed in Europe. But Buddhism is still a religion, unless you define religion as belief in a creator god. The Buddha’s teachings are a spiritual training that removes problems and suffering, and focused both on this life as a human being, a future new existence and the ultimate goal – full awakening.
- All spiritual training, including Buddhism, are different paths to the same mountain top
Many religions are about a God and going to heaven. The Buddha’s teachings are a training in which wisdom is developed that removes all suffering from the mind. When awakening is reached as a human being, almost all suffering in the mind ceases, and when the body of a fully awakened human being dies, all suffering ceases – which is called nirvana. But Buddha’s teachings can also be used to create a good rebirth.
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About the Author: Nitho Bhikkhu
