Buddhist Sacred Books : Selected Readings

This much-cited scholarly anthology of key Theravada Buddhist documents originally appeared in 1896 as part of the renowned Harvard Oriental Series. An excellent, accessible presentation of the vast range of Pâli Buddhist literature, it was among the first English translations of the direct words of the Buddha. Its high quality translations and extensive excerpts include a number of complete texts. Some of its material, particularly the passages from the Visuddhi Magga, is difficult to find elsewhere. A concise introduction to the major ideas of Theravada Buddhism, this classic work is essential reading for students of Eastern religion and philosophy. It provides a second table of contents that conveniently recognizes the material according to the original sources― The Buddha, Sentient Existence, Karma and Rebirth, and other topics― for easy reference.