While Buddhism has no central text such as the Bible or the Koran, there is a powerful body of scripture from across Asia that encompasses the dharma, or the teachings of Buddha. This rich anthology brings together works from a broad historical and geographical range,and from languages such as Pali, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese. There are tales of the Buddha's past lives, a discussion of the qualities and qualifications of a monk, and an exploration of the many meanings of Enlightenment. Together they provide a vivid picture of the Buddha and of the vast nature of the Buddhist tradition.

 While Buddhism has no central text such as the Bible or the Koran, there is a powerful body of scripture from across Asia that encompasses the dharma, or the teachings of Buddha. This rich anthology brings together works from a broad historical and geographical range,and from languages such as Pali, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese. There are tales of the Buddha's past lives, a discussion of the qualities and qualifications of a monk, and an exploration of the many meanings of Enlightenment. Together they provide a vivid picture of the Buddha and of the vast nature of the Buddhist tradition.

 This new edition contains many texts presented in English for the first time, as well as new translations of some well-known works, and also includes an informative introduction and prefaces to each chapter by scholar of Buddhism Donald S. Lopez, with suggestions for further reading and a glossary.

Acknowledgements

Technical Note

Introduction: Digesting the Dharma

Further Reading

THE BUDDHIST UNIVERSE

The Realms of Rebirth

A Call to Practise

Karma Tales

A Lesson from a Ghost

A Scripture that Protects Kings

One Buddha per Universe -

Two Buddhas Seated Side by Side

Rebirth in the Land of Bliss

Avoiding Hell, Gaining Heaven

A Chinese Pilgrim in India

A Sacred Peak

Maitreya Describes the Future

    THE BUDDHA

The Three Jewels

The Noble Search

A Life of the Buddha

Maya, Mother of the Buddha

Why the Buddha Had Good Digestion

A King Gives Away His Head

Rupyavati Gives Away Her Breasts

How the Buddha Became a Bodhisattva

Proving the Buddha

Enshrining a Relic

The Consecration of a Buddha Image

A Hymn to the Buddha

   MONASTIC LIFE

The Evolution of Ordination

Making Men into Monks

A Murderer Becomes a Monk

The Ascetic Ideal

Monks in the Mahayana

Making New Monastic Rules

Lives of Eminent Monks and Nuns

The Nine Patriarchs of the East

Taking the Vinaya Across the Sea

Zen for National Defence

How a Monk Freed his Mother from

 Hell

Living in the Degenerate Age

Freeing Birds and Fish from Bondage

Against Animal Sacrifice

Feeding Hungry Ghosts

A Sutra for Long Life

Transforming Death into Buddhahood

  ENLIGHTENMENT

A Lay Master of Meditation

Nuns Triumph over Evil

The Perfection of Wisdom

In Praise of Reality

Songs of the Siddhas

The Ultimate Couple

Buddhahood in this Lifetime

The Practice of No Thought

Finding Enlightenment in the Final Age

The Gift of Faith

A Zen Master Interprets the Dharma

Dedication of Merit

Glossary