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:
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).
The most important Buddhist meditation is mindfulnessMindfulness and meditation are two different things. The eightfold path includes ideas, intentions, ethics, effort, mindfulness and meditation – all of which are important for spiritual development.
Buddhism is pessimistic and negativeThere will always be problems because there is so much we can’t control, and since we want happiness and don’t want problems, we have to learn to overcome problems and suffering – and then we are left with freedom and happiness.
Buddhists pray to BuddhaThe historical Buddha reached enlightenment himself, and the Buddha’s teachings are non-theistic. Buddha did not say that there are no gods, but that believing in them is an obstacle to awakening. Buddha is respected as a teacher, not prayed to as a god.
The fat smiling statue is BuddhaThis monk lived around the year 1000 AD – a happy, humorous and fat monk with an eccentric lifestyle – therefore often called “The Laughing Buddha”. His name was Qici, he was nicknamed Budai, and belonged to Chan Buddhism in China.
Buddhism started in Tibet, and the Dalai Lama is the top leaderBuddhism started with Siddharta Gotama in India 2,500 years ago, and came to Tibet around 1000 AD, i.e. about 1,500 years after the Buddha’s death. Buddha instructed that no one should be the top leader of Buddhism – different Buddhist groups should exist independently, but in cooperation.
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.
- The most important Buddhist meditation is mindfulness
Mindfulness and meditation are two different things. The eightfold path includes ideas, intentions, ethics, effort, mindfulness and meditation – all of which are important for spiritual development.
- Buddhism is pessimistic and negative
There will always be problems because there is so much we can’t control, and since we want happiness and don’t want problems, we have to learn to overcome problems and suffering – and then we are left with freedom and happiness.
- Buddhists pray to Buddha
The historical Buddha reached enlightenment himself, and the Buddha’s teachings are non-theistic. Buddha did not say that there are no gods, but that believing in them is an obstacle to awakening. Buddha is respected as a teacher, not prayed to as a god.
- The fat smiling statue is Buddha
This monk lived around the year 1000 AD – a happy, humorous and fat monk with an eccentric lifestyle – therefore often called “The Laughing Buddha”. His name was Qici, he was nicknamed Budai, and belonged to Chan Buddhism in China.
- Buddhism started in Tibet, and the Dalai Lama is the top leader
Buddhism started with Siddharta Gotama in India 2,500 years ago, and came to Tibet around 1000 AD, i.e. about 1,500 years after the Buddha’s death. Buddha instructed that no one should be the top leader of Buddhism – different Buddhist groups should exist independently, but in cooperation.
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.
- The most important Buddhist meditation is mindfulness
Mindfulness and meditation are two different things. The eightfold path includes ideas, intentions, ethics, effort, mindfulness and meditation – all of which are important for spiritual development.
- Buddhism is pessimistic and negative
There will always be problems because there is so much we can’t control, and since we want happiness and don’t want problems, we have to learn to overcome problems and suffering – and then we are left with freedom and happiness.
- Buddhists pray to Buddha
The historical Buddha reached enlightenment himself, and the Buddha’s teachings are non-theistic. Buddha did not say that there are no gods, but that believing in them is an obstacle to awakening. Buddha is respected as a teacher, not prayed to as a god.
- The fat smiling statue is Buddha
This monk lived around the year 1000 AD – a happy, humorous and fat monk with an eccentric lifestyle – therefore often called “The Laughing Buddha”. His name was Qici, he was nicknamed Budai, and belonged to Chan Buddhism in China.
- Buddhism started in Tibet, and the Dalai Lama is the top leader
Buddhism started with Siddharta Gotama in India 2,500 years ago, and came to Tibet around 1000 AD, i.e. about 1,500 years after the Buddha’s death. Buddha instructed that no one should be the top leader of Buddhism – different Buddhist groups should exist independently, but in cooperation.
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About the Author: Nitho Bhikkhu
