Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Theravada Buddhism - Simple Guides
    Theravada Buddhism - Simple Guides
    Theravada Buddhism - Simple Guides
    Ebook153 pages1 hour

    Theravada Buddhism - Simple Guides

    By Diana St. Ruth and Richard St. Ruth

    3/5

    ()

    Switch to audiobook
    Read preview

    About this ebook

    THIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU
    • to appreciate the timeless wisdom of the oldest form of Buddhism in existence today
    • to understand what it means to be a Buddhist
    • to recognize the key practices and traditions of Theravada Buddhism
    • to avoid faux pas in conversation, in travelling and in personal relationships

    ACCESS THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS Simple Guides: Religion is a series of concise, accessible introductions to the world's major religions. Written by experts in the field, they offer an engaging and sympathetic description of the key concepts, beliefs and practices of different faiths. Ideal for spiritual seekers and travellers alike, Simple Guides aims to open the doors of perception. Together the books provide a reliable compass to the world's great spiritual traditions, and a point of reference for further exploration and discovery. By offering essential insights into the core values, customs and beliefs of different societies, they also enable visitors to be aware of the cultural sensibilities of their hosts, and to behave in a way that fosters mutual respect and understanding.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKuperard
    Release dateNov 1, 2008
    ISBN9781857336320
    Author

    Diana St. Ruth

    Diana St. Ruth developed an interest in Buddhism during her teen years and went on to co-found the Buddhist Publishing Group. She also started the Buddhism Now magazine in 1989 with her husband, with whom she is now a joint editor.

    Related to Theravada Buddhism - Simple Guides

    Related ebooks

    Buddhism For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      The Vipassana Revolution

      Jul 20, 2021

      The Vipassana Revolution
      6 min read

    • Article

      Lessons Of The Gandharan Manuscripts

      Feb 5, 2019

      Lessons Of The Gandharan Manuscripts
      10 min read

    • Article

      Why Buddhanature Matters

      Sep 20, 2023

      Why Buddhanature Matters
      12 min read

    • Article

      Ask The Teachers

      Feb 11, 2020

      BHANTE SUJATO: In 2014 I coauthored, with Bhikkhu Brahmali, a book called The Authenticity of the Early Buddhist Texts. The “early Buddhist texts” are essentially the main parts of the Pali suttas and vinaya, as well as the cognate texts in Chinese a

      5 min read

    • Article

      The Sutta Pitaka

      Jul 19, 2022

      The Sutta Pitaka
      6 min read

    • Article

      Behind “the Global Goenka”

      Jun 1, 2021

      Behind “the Global Goenka”
      6 min read

    • Article

      Book Briefs

      Mar 8, 2022

      BUDDHADASA BHIKKHU (1906–1993), one of Thailand’s most revered monks of the twentieth century, wants us all to be problem solvers. In an edited series of his lectures recently published as Seeing with the Eye of Dhamma: The Comprehensive Teaching of

      4 min read

    • Article

      Book Briefs

      May 8, 2018

      Without tsewa, is there any other source of happiness?” This is the question posed by Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche in TRAINING IN TENDERNESS (Shambhala 2018). Always circling back to this Tibetan word meaning love, tenderness, or warmth, Kongtrul pushes

      4 min read

    • Article

      Book Briefs

      Dec 6, 2022

      WE CALL SHAKYAMUNI the “historical Buddha,” yet mostly treat him as a quasi-mythic figure who transcends time and space, whose actual existence on our planet is but a faint memory. Xinru Liu, a historian of ancient India, would beg to differ. In Earl

      4 min read

    • Article

      The Sakyadhita Movement

      Aug 13, 2019

      The Sakyadhita Movement
      9 min read

    • Article

      Beginner’s Mind

      Mar 19, 2019

      WITH SO MANY lineages, practices, and unique terms, the world of Tibetan Buddhism can be confusing. Here is a short primer on the four main schools and some of their key practices. Gelugpa: Established in the fifteenth century, the Gelugpas are the n

      4 min read

    • Article

      The Magic Of The Heart Sutra

      May 18, 2021

      Among the various genres of Mahayana sutras, perhaps the most famous are the perfection of wisdom (prajnaparamita) texts, renowned for their exposition of emptiness. Rather than having ornate names like so many Mahayana sutras, these tend to be known

      5 min read

    • Article

      Thanks To Guanyin

      Mar 23, 2021

      Thanks To Guanyin
      2 min read

    • Article

      A Short Guide to Key Buddhanature Texts

      Sep 20, 2023

      Buddhanature, or tathagatagarbha: some say it is not Buddhist, some say it is quintessentially so. I do not want to push either judgment upon you; there is more than one way to be a Buddhist! Instead, I want to provide a roundup of some formative bud

      3 min read

    • Article

      What A Good Horse You Are!

      Jan 24, 2023

      What A Good Horse You Are!
      4 min read

    • Article

      Nothing Is More Important Than Your Buddhanature

      Sep 20, 2023

      BUDDHISTS OFTEN talk about suffering, emptiness, interdependence, and other philosophies and practices, but behind all of it is one simple teaching: buddhanature. Buddhism is notoriously complex, and sometimes it seems difficult for people to know wh

      2 min read

    • Article

      Shikantaza Is Not Limited to the Mind

      Feb 6, 2018

      Shikantaza Is Not Limited to the Mind
      7 min read

    • Article

      MUSLIM & BUDDHIST

      Jan 24, 2023

      SUNDOWN TURNS TO DUSK as my forehead touches the rug beneath me. I stand, clasp my left wrist with my right hand, and intone the Arabic verses of the Qur’an that are recited daily by over a billion Muslims around the world. With my prayers, I’m unify

      3 min read

    • Article

      Ajahn Chah

      Nov 23, 2021

      Ajahn Chah
      2 min read

    • Article

      Compassion Without Calculation

      Mar 8, 2022

      Compassion Without Calculation
      10 min read

    • Article

      The Vinaya Pitaka

      Jul 19, 2022

      The Vinaya Pitaka
      3 min read

    • Article

      We’re Made for This Moment

      Nov 19, 2019

      I’M SO EXCITED ABOUT THE MOMENT Buddhism is in right now. More and more people are turning to Buddhist wisdom and meditation techniques for help in their personal lives. Buddhist activists are contributing their insight and commitment to meet the gre

      2 min read

    • Article

      Mary Stancavage

      May 18, 2021

      Mary Stancavage
      2 min read

    • Article

      Joseph Goldstein: It’s Not Either-Or

      Sep 20, 2023

      Joseph Goldstein: It’s Not Either-Or
      8 min read

    • Article

      The Word Of The Buddha

      Jul 19, 2022

      The Word Of The Buddha
      3 min read

    • Article

      Right Thought

      Mar 21, 2023

      Right Thought
      2 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Theravada Buddhism - Simple Guides

    3/5

    2 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Theravada Buddhism - Simple Guides - Diana St. Ruth

      Published in Great Britain by

      Simple Guides, an imprint of Bravo Ltd

      59 Hutton Grove, London N12 8DS

      www.kuperard.co.uk

      Enquiries: office@kuperard.co.uk

      First published 1998 by Global Books Ltd.

      This edition published 2007

      Copyright © 2007 Bravo Ltd.

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior permission in writing from the Publishers

      eISBN: 978-1-85733-632-0

      British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

      Cover image: Buddha images, Ayutthaya. istockphoto/Jeremy Edwards Drawings by Irene Sanderson

      v3.1

      About the Authors

      BOTH THE AUTHORS were born in 1943, Richard in London, Diana in Leicester, and both developed an interest in Buddhism during their teens. They were married in 1969. In 1983 they founded the Buddhist Publishing Group, and in 1989 started the magazine Buddhism Now, of which they are joint editors. They also organize annual Buddhist summer schools. Other titles by the authors include: An Introduction to Buddhism, BPG, 1988; Zen Graffiti, BPG 1991; Experience Beyond Thinking: A Guide to Buddhist Meditation, BPG, 1993; The Little Book of Buddhist Wisdom, Element, 1997; Sitting: A Guide to Buddhist Meditation, Penguin, 1998; and in the Simple Guide series, Zen Buddhism.

      We would like to express our grateful thanks to Don E. Whitbread for his helpful comments on the manuscript.

      Contents

      Cover

      Title Page

      Copyright

      About the Authors

      Acknowledgements

      List of Illustrations

      Preface

      1 History

      • Roots in India

      • The Oldest School of Buddhism

      • Schisms in the Order

      • Hinayana (The Small Vehicle)

      • The Development of the Schools

      • The Early Years

      • The Pali Language

      2 The Life of the Buddha

      • Siddhattha

      • Old Age

      • Sickness and Death

      • Leaving Home

      • Searching for Truth

      • The Cool of a Tree

      • Enlightenment

      • The First Teaching

      • The Word ‘Buddha’

      3 Aims and Beliefs

      • The Transcendence of Suffering

      • Know for Yourself

      • The Kalama Sutta

      • Trust

      4 Who Can Be A Buddhist?

      • The Three Refuges

      • The Five Precepts

      • How Buddhists Think of Themselves

      • The Simile of the Raft

      5 Sacred Texts and Basic Teachings

      • Three Signs of Being

      • Four Noble Truths

      • The Eightfold Path

      • The Four Stages Towards Enlightenment

      • The Twelve Links of Dependent Origination

      6 The Middle Way

      • Extremes

      • Transcending Dualities

      • No Buddhist Stand on Issues

      7 Suffering and Release from Suffering

      • Samsara

      • Nibbana

      • The Sun is Always Out

      • Two Sides of the Same Coin

      8 Kamma and Rebirth

      • Kamma

      • Rebirth

      • Birthlessness and Deathlessness

      • Unhelpful Questions

      • Views and Opinions

      • Past and Future Lives

      • The Buddha Talks of Recalling his Own Previous Existences

      • Eternity or Annihilation

      • The Poisoned Arrow

      9 Buddhist Love

      • Loving Kindness

      • Compassion

      • Sympathetic Joy

      • Equanimity

      • Suffusing the World with Love

      • Love for all Beings

      10 Monks, Nuns and Laypeople

      • Monks

      • Nuns

      • The Eight Precepts of an Anagarika

      • Laypeople

      • Theravada in the West

      • Going on Retreat

      11 Holy Places, Holy Objects, Holy Days

      • India

      • Sri Lanka

      • The Stupa

      • Buddha-Statues

      • Thailand

      • Myanmar (Burma)

      • Moon Days and Ceremonial Days

      Appendix 1:

      • The Buddha’s Words on Loving Kindness (Metta Sutta)

      • The Greatest Blessing (Mangala Sutta)

      Appendix 2:

      • Satipatthana Sutta

      Glossary

      Further Reading

      Bibliography

      List of Illustrations

      Buddha in teaching pose

      Burmese Buddha of c. eighteenth century

      Wat Prasingh, Chiangmai, Thailand

      Buddha images, Wat Yai Chai Mongkol, Thailand

      Doorway to Temple of Emerald Buddha, Bangkok

      Buddhapadipa Temple, Wimbledon

      Buddha in earth-touching pose

      Reclining Buddha at Wat Chayamangkalaram, Penang

      Buddha preaching, Sarnath, India

      Golden stupa, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Bangkok

      Sariputta, one of the Buddha’s chief disciples

      Bronze Buddha from Myanmar (Burma)

      Buddha in teaching pose. © Photo: Richard St Ruth

      Preface

      Theravada is the Buddhism of Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), Laos and other Southeast Asian countries.

      It is the oldest school of Buddhism that exists today, and the texts which have been preserved, known as the Pali Canon, are believed to contain some of the original teachings of the Buddha. Theravada means Way of the Elders. It is also known as the Southern School of Buddhism.

      In general, Theravada is a devotional, gentle form of Buddhism, with emphasis on generosity. Its teachings are based upon tolerance, mindfulness, morality and insight which lead to wisdom, compassion, and liberation from suffering. Its form is centred upon the monastic system, a system which interacts closely with the lay community.

      The interest that Theravada has stimulated in the West is twofold – (i) in the cultural and monastic traditions which have evolved over the centuries and are being practised to this day, and (ii) discovering the wisdom which lies within its teachings and attempting to apply them in a modern, Western context.

      DIANA AND RICHARD ST RUTH

      Sandwell, Devon.

      Bodhi Leaf from a descendant of the tree under which the Buddha became enlightened

      Chapter 1

      History

      Roots in India

      Buddhism has its roots and origins in India, a land which has a long and rich history of religion and culture going back to ancient times.

      During the thirteenth century BCE the Indo-lranians (Aryans), a branch of the Indo-Europeans, invaded northwest India. As a result, the Indo-lranian holy texts, the Vedas (compiled between the fifteenth and the sixth centuries BCE) and the Vedic tradition were gradually assimilated into the older beliefs of the Indian people. Between the sixth and seventh centuries BCE this combination of beliefs gradually developed into what became known as Brahmanism.

      It was in this atmosphere of strong cultural traditions and religious beliefs, more than 2,500 years ago, that Siddhattha (the man who was to become the Buddha) was born and embarked upon his spiritual career.

      The Stupa, Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, India

      The Oldest School of Buddhism

      Though its beginnings are obscure,

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1