Review
This translation of sections of the
Anguttara Nikaya is a welcome addition to Pali canonical studies. The anthology, drawn from all sections of this voluminous work, represents approximately a fifth of the entire text. The translation is readable and literary, intended explicity for a nonspecialist audience. Nyanoponika Thera and Bhikkhu Bodhi successfully aid their readers in navigating this opaque work, which is organized not by theme but by the numerical schema presented in each discourse. Introductory essays, which provide a historical overview of the Pali canon and survey fundamental Buddhist doctrines, set a useful context for the translation. The translations themselves are well annotated with careful and informative endnotes. This work—appropriate for students at varying levels of expertise—is a valuable and approachable resource for investigating the wide variety of teachings and diverse formats of the Pali canon. (Karen Derris, (Harvard University)
Religious Studies Review)
About the Author
Nyanaponika Thera (1901-94) was one of the foremost interpreters of Theravada Buddhism in our time. His books include
The Heart of Buddhist Meditation,
The Vision of Dhamma and
Abhidhamma Studies.
Bhikkhu Bodhi is an American Buddhist monk from New York City, ordained in Sri Lanka in 1972. He is currently the president and editor of the Buddhist Publication Society. His books include
The All-embracing Net of Views,
A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma, and (as editor and reviser)
The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha.