Buddhist Rules for the Laity

Back of the Book:

What are the dos don't as prescribed by the Buddha for right living? How can an ordinary householder practice Buddhism in his day-to-day life? In this age of all-round decay, are we capable of leading a life of righteousness, purity and piety?

The author D. J. Subasinha answers these and many more questions pertaining to the moral code of life, as laid down by the Buddha and later Buddhist thinkers. The author has been skillful in his handling of this translation of The Sigalowada and Vyaggapajja Suttas, ancient Pali texts of profound religious significance. This book is a systematic study of the Buddhist guidelines for right living. It contains illustrative stories, which bring home to the readers the importance of being morally beautiful and sensitive human beings.

"Both positive and negative experiences arise from the mind, depending on whether your mind is transformed or not. Therefore, it is most important to control and discipline the mind. All fears and the immeasurable sufferings that we encounter arise from the mind. The Buddha taught that there is no enemy that is more powerful than the mind."

-HIS HOLINESS THE DALAILAMA

Being invited by the Rev. Akmimana Dhammarama. Thera, the incumbent of the Vijayananda Vihara, Galle. From whom the late Colonel H. S. Olcott and the late lamented Madame H. P. Blavatsky the founders of the Theosophical Society, took Thisarana and Pancha Sila for the first time on the 19th May 1880 and publicy professed Buddhism, I have made this translation of the Sigalowada and Vyaggapajja Suttas, intending to present it to Colonel H. S. Olcott on his twenty-fifth anniversary visit to the Vijayananda Vihara.

At a council of Bhikkhus held at Galle in 1880, Colonel Olcott announced the usefulness of translating Buddhist works into English, for the benefit of our co-religionists in the West, and those in the East, who do not understand the Pali language, and in accordance with that suggestion, this translation has been made, hoping that he might be able to take it to Europe and disseminate the teachings embodied therein.

I have to thankfully acknowledge the help received from Rev. G. A. Sunandarama Tissa, Badulle Nanavilasa of the Vijayananda Pali College Mr. F.L. Woodward, M.A., the Principal of the Mahinda College, and Mr. P. K. Carolis DeSilva, in the preparation of this work.