summarizing theravada dhamma in a book

A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism
form
Posts: 3471
Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2016 3:23 am

Re: summarizing theravada dhamma in a book

Post by form »

retrofuturist wrote:Greetings Form,
form wrote:I dun think it is possible to define a complete Buddhist practice as it will just be an opinion.
It's just an opinion that someone's Buddhist practice is not "complete".

Metta,
Paul. :)
In other words, I meant it is not possible to have a definitive description of a complete Buddhist practice.
justindesilva
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Joined: Wed Jul 27, 2016 12:38 pm

Re: summarizing theravada dhamma in a book

Post by justindesilva »

With respect to theravada Buddhist books I would say the best book I read is : Buddhism in a nut shell" written by late Narada thero May have been written in early 1950s.
It gives the essential basic factors of theravada buddhism.
With metta
Note: Ebook of this can be downloaded free .Please type
Buddhism in a nutshell by Narada Thero.
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bodom
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Re: summarizing theravada dhamma in a book

Post by bodom »

I would recommend Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhus Magnum Opus On the Path: An Anthology on the Noble Eightfold Path Drawn From the Pali Canon:
Titlepage
Contents
Cover
Quotation
Copyright
Acknowledgements
Introduction : The Fire Escape
How to read this book
I. A Framework for the Frame
Readings
The First Teaching
The Last Teaching
On the Word, “Path”
On the Word, “Noble”
On the Word, “Right”
On the Middle Way
II. The Arising of the Path
Readings
The Discovery of the Path
Supplementary Factors
The Path-factors & their Relationships
III. Right View
Mundane Right View
Transcendent Right View
Final Right View
This/That Conditionality
Readings
Mundane Right View
The Complexity of Kamma
From Mundane to Transcendent Right View
Giving
Virtue
Heaven
Drawbacks
Renunciation
Transcendent Right View
Perceptions for Inducing Dispassion for the Aggregates
Craving for Becoming & Non-becoming
Dependent Co-arising
Final Right View
On Not Confusing Levels of Right View
IV. Right Resolve
Readings
Mundane Right Resolve
From Mundane to Transcendent Right Resolve
Transcendent Right Resolve & Beyond
V. Right Speech & Right Action
Readings
Right Speech
Right Action
VI. Right Livelihood
Readings
Beyond Skillful Habits
VII. Right Effort
Readings
Desire Focused on Causes
Generating Desire
The Types of Effort
The Amount of Effort
Beyond Right Effort
VIII. Right Mindfulness
Readings
Ardency
Alertness
Mindfulness as a Focused Quality
Stages in the Practice
Body
Feelings
Mind
Dhammas
Conclusion
Guidance from Discernment
IX. Right Concentration
Readings
What is singleness?
What is sensuality?
Concentration & Insight
X. The Stream to Unbinding
Readings
The Stream
Right Knowledge, Right Release
Fruit
Glossary
Abbreviations
Further Readings
As you can see from the contents of the book it covers everything of theory and practice found in Theravadan tradition.

It can be read online in full here:

https://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/Wri ... n0001.html

You can also write to the monastery for a free copy of the book.

:namaste:
Liberation is the inevitable fruit of the path and is bound to blossom forth when there is steady and persistent practice. The only requirements for reaching the final goal are two: to start and to continue. If these requirements are met there is no doubt the goal will be attained. This is the Dhamma, the undeviating law.

- BB
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