The Buddha's Ancient Path

About the Book Many expositions of the Buddha's Teaching in English have appeared in recent year, but a great number of them lack authenticity and do not represent the Buddha-word correctly. have in all humility undertaken to set out as accurately as possible the Teaching of the Buddha as it is found in the Pali Canon, the Tripit aka, of the Theravada which has pre served of the oldest and most faithful tradition. This book, therefore, gives a comprehensive account of the central conception of Buddhism-the Four Noble Truths-with special emphasis on the Noble Eightfold Path which is Buddhism in practice. I have named the book The Ancient Path (puranamaggam), the very words used by the Buddha in reference to the Eightfold Path.

As an introduction the first chapter gives a concise account of the life of the Buddha, while the second sets out the correct standpoint of Buddhism. The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path are discussed at full length in the following chapters. A good deal space is devoted to Buddhist meditation, as found in the suttas or discourses of the Buddha, in chapters 12, 13 and 14.

Preface Two thousand five hundred years ago, in the Deer Park at Sarnath, India, close to the ancient city of Varanasi, was heard the Message of the Buddha which was to revolutionize the thoughts and life of the human race. Though this Message was first heard by just five ascetics, it has now penetrated peaceably to the remotest corners of the world, and the demand for better and deeper understanding of its meaning is great.

Many expositions of the Buddha's Teaching in English have appeared in recent year, but a great number of them lack authenticity and do not represent the Buddha-word correctly. I have in all humility undertaken to set out as accurately as possible the Teaching of the Buddha as it is found in the Pali Canon, the Tripitaka, of the Theravada which has preserved of the oldest and most faithful tradition. This book, therefore, gives a comprehensive account of the central conception of Buddhism-the Four Noble Truths-with special emphasis on the Noble Eightfold Path which is Buddhism in practice, I have named the book The Ancient Path (puranamaggam), the very words used by the Buddha in reference to the Eightfold Path.

As an introduction the first chapter gives a concise account of the life of the Buddha, while the second sets out the correct standpoint of Buddhism. The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path are discussed at full length in the following chapters. A good deal space is devoted to Buddhist meditation, as found in the suttas or discourses of the Buddha, in chapters 12, 13 and 14.

**Contents and Sample Pages**