The Buddha and  His Teachings

Since its first appearance,  Ven. Mahathera Narada•s The Buddha and His Teachings has come to be widely regarded as one of the clearest and most detailed introductions to the basic teachings of Buddhism available  in English. In simple and lucid language the author explains those concepts and doctrines which form the common bedrock of all schools of Buddhism as they have been preserved by the oldest living Buddhist tradition, the Theravada or School of the Elders. The first part of the work is devoted to the life of the Buddha. The remainder of the book explains in detail the Buddha•s teachings. The final chapters show the continuing relevance of Buddhism to the problems of human life today.   

Ven. Mahathera Narada (1898-1983) was one of the most eminent monks of Sri Lanka in recent times, highly respected for his conduct and missionary work.

CONTENTS 

Preface
Introduction
      
      1. The Buddha - From Birth to Renunciation
      2. His Struggle for Enlightenment
      3. The Buddhahood                                   
      4. After the Enlightenment                          
      5. The Invitation to Expound the Dhamma             
      6. Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta - The First Discourse
      7. The Teaching of the Dhamma                  
      8. The Buddha and His Relatives                
      9. The Buddha and His Relatives (continued)    
      10. The Buddha's Chief Opponents and Supporters
      11. The Buddha's Royal Patrons                
      12. The Buddha's Ministry                    
      13. The Buddha's Daily Routine               
      14. The Buddha's Parinibbana (death)         
      15. What is Buddhism?-                       
      16. Some Salient Characteristics of Buddhism 
      17. The Four Noble Truths                   
      18. Kamma                                   
      19. What is Kamma?                          
      20. The Working of Kamma                    
      21. The Nature of Kamma                     
      22. What is the Origin of Life              
      23. The Buddha on the so-called Creator God 
      24. Reasons to Believe in Rebirth        
      25. Paticcasamuppada - The Wheel of Life 
      26.Modes of Birth and Death        
      27.Planes of Existence             
      28.How Rebirth Takes Place         
      29.What is it that is Reborn?      
      30.Moral Responsibility            
      31.Kammic Ascent and Kammic Descent
      32.The Doctrine of Kamma and Rebirth in the West
      33.Nibbana                           
      34.Characteristics of Nibbana       
      35. The Way to Nibbana - 1 Morality 
      36. The Way to Nibbana - 11 Concentration
      37. Niravana - Hindrances.           
      38. The Way to Nibbana - III Insight 
      39. The State of an Arahant          
      40. The Bodhisatta Ideal             
      41. Parami - Perfections             
      42. Brahmavihara - The Sublime States
      43. The Eight Worldly Conditions
      44. The Problems of Life
      45. Index: of Proper Names
      46. Index.of Subjects