Essentials of Buddhism

Abstract

Contents By the same author: ; Introduction & Acknowledgements ; Chapter One 1. The Buddha in the Pali Canon ; Renunciation, SelfMortification & Enlightenment ; The Buddha’s Mission ; Salient Features of the Theravada Concept of the Buddha 18 Chapter Two 2. Impermanence as a Basic Fact of Existence ; Arguments Adduced in the Anattalakkhaõasutta ; Empirical Observation of Facts ; Etymological & Doctrinal Meaning of the Term ‘anicca’ ; Impermanence: the Nature of all Component Things ; Is Consciousness Soul? ; Chapter Three ; 3. The Concept of Dukkha in Early Buddhist Teaching ; The Etymological Definition & the Exegesis ; Physiological, Psychological & Doctrinal Applications of the Term ; Three Kinds of Feeling36 Different Kinds of Happiness ; Chapter Four 4. The Theory of Egolessness (anatta) in Early Buddhism ; Monism in Indian Philosophy ; The Buddhist Criticism of the Theory of Ego ; Five Aggregates are Conditioned ; Doctrine of Egolessness as via Media ; 7 Body and Mind are Devoid of Ego ; Ignorant Worldlings Seek Ego in Individual Factors of Five Aggregates ; The Totality of Five Aggregates is not Ego ; The World is Empty of an Ego ; Consciousness is Egoless ; Chapter Five ; 5. The First Noble Truth: Suffering (dukkha sacca); The Two Extremes are to be Avoided by a TruthSeeker ; Why are They Called ‘Noble’ & ‘Truths’? ; The Dhamma is Compared to Medicine ; The Therapeutic Approach ; Is Buddhism Pessimistic? ; Chapter Six ; 6. The Second Noble Truth: Cause of Suffering (dukkhasamudaya sacca) ; English & Pali Synonyms for Craving ; Threefold Craving in Relation to Six Senses & Six Sense Objects ; Craving as a MultiSignificant Term in Buddhist Doctrine ; The Threefold Craving ; Craving as the Origin of Personality & Suffering ; Chapter Seven ; 7. The Third Noble Truth: Cessation of Suffering (dukkhanirodha sacca) ; Nibbàna as the Cessation of Suffering ; Nibbàna as Indefinable in Terms of Logic & Reasoning ; Nibbàna in Negative Perspective ; Nibbàna in Positive or Conventional Perspective ; Sopàdisesa & Anupàdisesa Nibbàna ; 8 Chapter Eight ; 8. The Fourth Noble Truth: Middle Path (majjhimà pañipadà) ; The Noble Eightfold Path (ariyo aññhangiko maggo) ; The Middle Path in Relation to Social Welfare ; Buddhist Social Ethics ; Chapter Nine ; 9. The Buddhist Theory of Dependent Origination (pañiccasamuppàda) ; The Theory as the Central Doctrine of Buddhism ; Synonymous Terms Used in Pali & in English ; The Causal Relativity as a General Rule ; The Chain of Causation ; The Fact that Ignorance is not the First Cause ; Inductive Inference & the Theory of Causation ; Chapter Ten ; 10. Abodes of Beings & World Systems as Described in Buddhism ; Abodes of Beings ; World Systems ; Chapter Eleven ; 11. Freedom, Free Will & Responsibility in Buddhist Perspective ; Philosophical Exposition of the Terms ; Buddhism on Freedom, Free Will & Responsibility ; Chapter Twelve ; 12. Mind, its Nature & Function as Described in Buddhism ; What is Mind? ; The Nature & Function of the Mind ; The Dhammapada on the Mind ; Mind is Conditional & Relative ; The Classification of Mind in the Abhidhamma ; Chapter Thirteen ; 13. Authority & Logic in Buddhism ; The KàlàmaSutta on Authority & Logic ; The Buddhist Criticism of Authority & Logic ; Chapter Fourteen ; 14. Criteria of Ethical Judgement in Buddhism ; Different Views on Ethical Judgement ; The Buddhist View ; Three Principal References ; A Universal Criterion of Ethical Judgement ; Chapter Fifteen ; 15. The Buddhist Analysis of Truth & Reality ; The Classification of Propositions According to Truth Value ; The Theory of Correspondence ; The Theory of Coherence & Consistency ; The Theory of Verification ; The Theory of Double Truth ; Reality & Truth ; Chapter Sixteen ; 16. Empiricism & Buddhism ; Empiricism in Western Philosophy ; The Empiricist Tendency in Buddhism ; Chapter Seventeen ; 17. Is Buddhism Rationalistic? ; Rationalism in Western Philosophy ; Rationalism Versus Empiricism ; Chapter Eighteen ; 18. Man & Society in Buddhist Perspective ; Who is Man? ; A Unique Position is Ascribed to Man in Buddhism ; Man & Society ; Buddhism, Man & Society ; Chapter Nineteen ; 19. Pragmatic & Utilitarian Approach in Buddhism ; Scholars on Buddhist Approach ; Utilitarianism and Pragmatism: An Overview ; Buddhism as a Way of Practice ; Chapter Twenty ; 20. An Evaluation of Buddhism as a Philosophy & a Religion ; What is Philosophy? ; Is Buddhism a Philosophy? ; What is Religion? ; Buddhism as a Religion ; Chapter TwentyOne ; 21. Uses & Abuses of Wealth ; Facing the Situation with Understanding ; The Blueprint of Successful Living ; A Man for All Seasons ; Economic Planning ; The Uses & Abuses of Wealth ; Black Money, Dirty Money & Easy Money ; Appendix For Further Reading: ; Abbreviations ;