Published by the Buddhist Missionary Society, 1992
Buddhist Vihara
123, Jalan Berhala
50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

About This Book

This is a fairly comprehensive book enabling the reader to appreciate and understand certain important finer aspects of Theravada Buddhism. This book would also serve as a reference, for both Teachers and Students alike, gain a good insight into the fundamentals of Buddhism.
The author, the late Venerable Narada Maha Thera was a well-known Buddhist Missioner. He is also the author of many other Buddhist Publications. We are grateful to him for his kind permission, enabling; this reprint to be effected in Malaysia.
Special thanks are due to Ven. U. Nipuna Mr. Tan Teik Beng, Mr. Eddy Yu Chen Lim, Ms. Quah Pin Pin and Ms. Chong Hong Choo for their valuable assistance in the reproduction of this book.

K. SRI DHAMMANANDA J.S.M.
Buddhist Missionary Society
Buddhist Vihara, Jalan Berhala,
50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
September,1992

Contents

1 About This Book
2 Chapter 1
3 The Life Of The Buddha
4 The Birth
5 The Naming Ceremony
6 The Plowing Festival
7 Prince Siddhattha’s Youth
8 Renunciation
9 The Search
10 His Struggle For Enlightenment
11 Temptation Of Mara The Evil One
12 The Middle Path
13 The Enlightenment
14 Soon After The Enlightenment:
15 A Paean of Joy - Udana Gatha
16 The Seven Weeks after the Enlightenment
17 The First Two Converts
18 Chapter 3
19 The Buddha Propounds His Dhamma
20 Invitation To Teach The Dhamma
21 On the Way to Benares to Teach the Dhamma
22 The Five Monks
23 Chapter 4
24 The First Discourse
25 Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta
25.1 (1)
25.2 (2)
25.3 (3)
25.4 (4)
26 Chapter 5
27 The Sending Of The Missioners
28 The Conversion Of Yasa
29 Exhortation to the First Missioners
30 Conversion of Thirty Young Men
31 Conversion of the three Kassapa Brothers
32 The Buddha meets King Bimbisara
33 Conversion of Sariputta and Moggallana
34 Chapter 6
35 The Buddha Visits His Birthplace
36 King Suddhodana desires to see the Buddha
37 The Buddha Goes On His Alms-Round
38 The King sees the Light
39 The Buddha and Princess Yasodhara
40 The Buddha and His Stepbrother Nanda
41 The Buddha and Prince Rahula
42 The Buddha and Ánanda
43 The Buddha and Devadatta
44 Chapter 7
45 The Buddha’s Ministry
46 The First Twenty Years
46.1 1st Year - Benares
46.2 2nd, 3rd and 4th Years - Rajagaha
46.3 5th Year - Vesali
47 The Order of Nuns
47.1 6th Year - Mankula Hill
47.2 7th Year- Tavatimsa Heaven
47.3 8th Year - Bhesakala Forest
48 Near Sumsumara Rock, In the Bhagga District
48.1 9th Year - Kosambi
48.2 l0th Year - Parileyyaka Forest
48.3 11th Year - Ekanala, Brahmin village
48.4 l2th Year - Veranja
48.5 l3th Year - Caliya Rock
48.6 l4th Year - Jetavana Monastery, Savatthi
48.7 l5th Year - Kapilavatthu
48.8 l6th Year - City of Alavaka
48.9 l7th Year - Rajagaha
48.10 l8th Year- Caliya Rock
49 Angulimala
50 Anathapindika
51 Visakha
52 Chapter 8
53 The Buddha’s Daily Routine
54 The Forenoon Session
55 The Afternoon Session
56 The First Watch
57 The Middle Watch
58 The Last Watch
59 Chapter 9
60 The Buddha’s Greatness
61 The Buddha and the Caste System
62 The Buddha and Women
63 His Tolerance towards Dumb Animals
64 His Greatness
65 Chapter 10
66 The Buddha’s Parinibbána
67 Mara
68 An Exhortation
69 The Buddha’s Last Meal
70 The Buddha assented by His silence
71 His Last Convert
72 The Last Scene
73 The Buddha’s Last Moment
74 Chapter 11
75 Kamma
76 Kusala Kamma
77 Akusala Kamma
78 The Cause of Kamma
79 The Doer of Kamma
80 Where is Kamma?
81 Classification of Kamma
82 Is Everything Due To Kamma?
83 Chapter 12
84 Rebirth
85 Reasons To Believe In A Past Birth
86 Modes Of Birth And Death
87 The Four Modes Of Birth
88 How Rebirth Takes Place
89 What Is It That Is Reborn?
90 Chapter 13
91 The Four Noble Truths
92 Chapter 14
93 Nibbána:
94 Definition:
95 Is Nibbána Nothingness?
96 Sopadisesa and Anupadisesa Nibbána Dhatu
97 Three Distinct Characteristics of Nibbána
98 Where is Nibbána?
99 What attains Nibbána?
100 Chapter 15
101 The Noble Eighfold Path
102 Chapter 15
103 The Noble Eightfold Path
104 Chapter 16
105 Nivarana Or Hindrances
106 Chapter 17
107 The First Council
108 Tipitaka
109 The Second Council
110 Ten Unlawful Points
111 The Third in Council
112 Chapter 18
113 Ashoka And His Missions
114 Ashoka’s Family
115 Ashoka Becomes King
116 His Conversion to Buddhism
117 Ashoka Missioners
118 Missioners Place
119 The Mission to Ceylon
120 Chapter 19
121 The Mangala Sutta
122 Blessing
123 Chapter 20
124 The Parabhava Sutta
125 Downfall
126 Chapter 21
127 The Mettá Sutta
128 Loving-kindness
129 Chapter 22
130 The Vyagghapajja Sutta
131 Causes Of Worldly Progress
132 Causes Of Spiritual Progress