Early Buddhist Teachings

Description

A clear, elegant clarification of the basic teachings of early Buddhism, ideal for both general readers and scholars. Discover the birth of Buddhism and the essentials of Buddhist teachings with this clear, comprehensive explanation of early Buddhism’s key doctrines. You’ll come away with: insight into the beginning of Buddhism and the significance of its core beliefs—dependent arising, non-self, moral life, the diagnosis of the human condition, the critique of theoretical views, and the nature of Nibbana; a lucid understanding of the Buddha’s challenge to the concept of the subject as a self-entity and the reality of both the subject and object, perceiver and perceived, as a dynamic process; a grasp of early Buddhist teachings as representing a middle position (equally aloof from spiritual eternalism and materialist annihilation) and a middle path (equally aloof from self-mortification and sensual indulgence); and the experience of the Buddha’s teachings on attaining liberation as comprehensible, sensible, and something we can make part of our own practice. Review "The author provides a lucid, comprehensive summary of the Buddha's psychology of liberation, clearly explained, capable of being practiced—his book is an epitome of rational Dhamma." (Dhivan Thomas Jones, editor, Western Buddhist Review, and author of This Being, That Becomes: The Buddha's Teaching on Conditionality) "In my assessment, this is the best answer to the question 'How did Buddhism begin and how best can we describe it.'" (G. A. Somaratne, Assistant Professor in Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong.) “An excellent introduction to early Buddhist teachings. The author has meticulously analyzed the key Buddhist doctrines and presented them in an equally meticulous manner.” (Guang Xing, Chair of the Master of Buddhist Studies Programme, Deputy Director, Centre for Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong ) "It is a privilege for me to welcome this book. Ever since he began to publish, I have admired his work for its scholarship and readability. While there are many introductions to the thought of the early Buddhist texts, none can surpass, and perhaps none can even match, the clarity and reliability of his expositions." (Richard Gombrich, Boden Professor of Sanskrit Emeritus, University of Oxford ) “By the foremost scholar on early Buddhism and Abhidhamma, this brilliant yet simply presented explication of the first principles of Buddhist philosophy analyses the unique contributions of Buddhism against the backdrop of other traditions current at the time of its origins. It explains how the radically new doctrine of non-self, its 'middleness' between spiritual eternalism and materialist annihilationism, unfolds in terms of philosophy, psychology and practical ethics. The teachings are made accessible with finely nuanced translations of Buddhist texts and the astute rendering of Buddhist technical terms into modern English equivalents. The appendix on Buddhist pluralism is an insightful, important and timely reminder of the Buddha’s rejection of ultra orthodoxy, exclusivism and fanaticism.” (Kate Crosby, Professor of Buddhist Studies, King’s College, London ) “The depth and scope of Professor Karunadasa’s knowledge of the literature of early Buddhism is unparalleled. His comments on the issues covered in these materials are authoritative and his explanations, clear and understandable, are those of a wise and compassionate teacher.” (Lewis Lancaster, Professor Emeritus, Department of East Asian Languages and Culture, University of California, Berkeley) About the Author Y. Karunadasa is Professor Emeritus at the University of Kelaniya and a former director of its Graduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies. He has served as a visiting professor at the University of London, the University of Toronto, and the University of Hong Kong, and as the Numata Chair at the University of Calgary. He lives in Colombo, Sri Lanka. From the Author Y. Karunadasa is Professor Emeritus at the University of Kelaniya and a former director of its Graduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies. He has served as a visiting professor at the University of London, the University of Toronto, and the University of Hong Kong, and as the Numata Chair at the University of Calgary. He lives in Colombo, Sri Lanka.