Idappaccayata The Buddhist Law Of Nature

Translated from the Thai by Dhammavidu Bhikkhu

Written by a Thai, Theravada monk who has been recognized for his scholarly achievements, Buddhadhamma is a modern distillation of pivotal doctrines found in the Pali Buddhist canon. Many scholars of Buddhism in Thailand and beyond have said that if a person is not able to read the more than 40 volumes of the Pali Buddhist canon, then read this one book. This volume—with a clear introduction that introduces the author and places him in the context of the history of the Thai Buddhist tradition—makes a significant contribution to the scant literature on Theravada Buddhism in English. One of the major contributions of this book is a detailed description of the Buddhist principles of causality, which will add to other works on this topic by modern Buddhist scholars. Furthermore, this book reveals the rational basis of the Buddhist worldview and contains an especially lucid discussion of the distinctive Buddhist notion of no-self and Buddhist "faith" or confidence based on inquiry.

This is the first comprehensive coverage of socially and politically engaged Buddhism in Asia, presenting the historical development and institutional forms of engaged Buddhism in the light of traditional Buddhist conceptions of morality, interdependence, and liberation.

A milestone in Buddhist literature, this comprehensive presentation of the practice of Dhamma shows how it can quench the dissatisfaction and suffering common in our lives. Dhamma--a Pali word meaning “law of nature” or “truth,” but commonly used to refer to the overall body of Buddhist teachings--has the potential to fundamentally change one's life. In this comprehensive set of teachings, Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, perhaps the most influential Thai Buddhist of the twentieth century, introduces the Dhamma to lay practitioners in a relatable and powerful way. Beginning with an extensive discussion of spiritual practice and moving into specific teachings on Dhamma, this book will be an indispensable resource for Theravada Buddhists, Insight Meditation practitioners, and all readers interested in a profoundly committed modern approach to the Buddhist path.

A thought-provoking collection of essays on Buddhist ethics by some of the leading thinkers in the field. The reader is provided with engaging explorations of central issues in Buddhist ethics, insightful analyses of the ways Buddhist ethical principles are being applied today in both Asian and Western countries, and groundbreaking proposals about how Buddhist perspectives might inform debates on some of the core ethical issues of the modern world, including consumerism, globalization, environmental problems, war, ethnic conflict, and inter-religious tensions. The leading figure in identifying the field of Buddhist ethics and articulating some of its core issues is Professor Damien Keown of the University of London. This book brings together a group of eminent scholars who have all been influenced by Keown's work and who are also friends and close colleagues. The result is a wonderful volume for those who are struggling with practical issues of ethical concern. This will be a valuable resource in the study of ethics for years to come.

This book presents a brilliant account of of Theravada Buddhism and embraces a wide variety of themes ranging from the birth of Buddhism to the Buddha’s prophetic teachings regarding the future of mankind. Topics covered include, among many others, the background of early Buddhism; the significance of the Buddha’s birthday; the Buddhist doctrines of karma and reincarnation; the Buddhist conception of truth, good and evil, Nirvana, the individual, the universe and the material world; the Buddhist view of nature and destiny; Buddhism and the caste system; Buddhism and international law; and the contemporary relevance of the Buddha’s teachings to the modern world. Professor Jayatilleke always writes with both the scholar and the lay reader in mind. As a result, this is a highly readable and extremely penetrating book—and one that explores the roots and nature of the Buddha’s teachings and examines them in the light of contemporary knowledge. The present collection contains all essays earlier published in the book The Message of the Buddha, edited by Ninian Smart, as well as essays that were published the Wheel Publication series. Contents 1. Buddhism and the Scientific Revolution 2. The Historical Context of the Rise of Buddhism 3. The Buddhist Conception of Truth 4. The Buddhist Attitude to Revelation 5. The Buddhist Conception of Matter and the Material World 6. The Buddhist Analysis of Mind 7. The Buddhist Conception of the Universe 8. The Buddhist Attitude to God 9. Nibbana 10. The Buddhist View of Survival 11. The Buddhist Doctrine of Kamma 12. The Case for the Buddhist Theory of Karma and Survival 13. The Conditioned Genesis of the Individual 14. The Buddhist Ethical Ideal of the Ultimate Good 15. The Basis of Buddhist Ethics 16. The Buddhist Conception of Evil 17. The Criteria of Right and Wrong 18. The Ethical Theory of Buddhism 19. Some Aspects of the Bhagavad Gita and Buddhist Ethics 20. Toynbee’s Criticism of Buddhism 21. The Buddhist Attitude to Other Religions 22. Buddhism and Peace 23. The Significance of Vesakha 24. Buddhism and the Race Question 25. The Principles of International Law in Buddhist Doctrine