The Teachings of Buddha [Hardcover]

Paul Carus (Author, Editor), Diana St. Ruth (Author, Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1999

This text brings together the essence of Buddhist thought (the most important teaching being that spirtual truth is the only guiding principle) and narrates and explains fundamental Buddhist ideas through a collection of sayings, parables, and stories complied under the guidance of monks.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

You know that feeling of serendipity you get when, on the dusty shelves of a used book store, you come across a priceless gem? That's the feeling you get when you open The Teachings of Buddha. Originally published under the title Gospel of Buddha in 1894, it is an artifact of a time when non-Western religions tended to be fit into Christian boxes (e.g., Henry Steel Olcott's The Buddhist Catechism). But The Teachings of Buddha is more than an artifact. It was compiled by Paul Carus, the first American to promote Eastern religions on a grand scale. Carus took pains to bring together the core teachings of Buddhism and present them in a single accessible package. Patterned on the Christian Gospels, it relates the story of the Buddha's life, bringing in the Buddha's sermons, along with parables and stories. Although the familiar package hints at similarities with Christianity, the content is of course the radically different perspective of Buddhism. With the addition of photos of Buddhist art and the Victorian language smoothed over by the new publisher, The Teachings of Buddha is a comfortable read and a great compact collection of core Buddhist sutras. In fact, its previous incarnation was translated into Japanese by Carus's protégé, none other than the immortal D.T. Suzuki. --Brian Bruya

Product Details

• Hardcover: 135 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr; Rev Abr Su edition (March 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312195869
• ISBN-13: 978-0312195861
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,533 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Abridged and modernized version of 'The Gospel... Buddha', April 1, 2000

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This review is from: The Teachings of Buddha (Hardcover)

I have recently read a number of books on Buddhism, and returned to this philosophy (not faith) after it helped me years ago. This abridged guide is an excellent place to begin the subject or introduce someone else to it. It is a much easier read than the original, which is written in somewhat stilted language in an attempt to emulate the bible. Both versions contain many essential elements of Buddhism written in the form of a continuous story, which make them very easy and enjoyable to read. Pausing in the story allows you to ponder the important truths which are clearly presented. I recommend this abridged version rather than the full because I see the book best used as an introduction to the philosophy. A great way to probe further into doctrine and meaning is to read "What the Buddha taught" by Walpola Rahula. A very valuable portion of this latter book is the section containing translations of the original Pali recitations of the Buddha's words, the earliest known record of his teaching. In the end, its best to go to the source...