The First and Best Buddhist Teachings : Sutta Nipata Selections and Inspired Essays
Contents: Preface. Acknowledgements. I. Inspired essays: 1. Ananda : rememberer of the Dharma. 2. Facing death : Kisagotami\'s problem. 3. Recipe for a happy society. 4. The joy of solitude. 5. Glimpses of Nothingness. 6. Why worry about growing old? 7. Why suffer from depression? 8. Crossing the stream of thought. 9. The cycle of births and deaths. 10. In praise of pacifism. 11. Buddhist blueprint for world peace. 12. The Buddha denounced the destruction of life. 13. Advice on awareness for Meghiya. References. II. The Sutta Nipata: some selections: Introduction. 14. The importance of virtue. 15. What is conducive to happiness? 16. Causes of our decline and fall. 17. Demons discuss the Buddha\'s great qualities. 18. The Demon Alavaka challenges the Buddha. 19. Dropping the inner obstacles. 20. Rich Dhaniya talks to the Buddha. 21. Four kinds of recluses. 22. Why this lack of loving-kindness? 23. Modus operandi of meditation. 24. Our enslavement to the body. 25. The special qualities of a Sage (Muni). 26. Short Sutta on sincere friendship. 27. The shore beyond Samsara. 28. Monks must lead pure lives. 29. Why this senseless sacrificial slaughter of cows? 30. Use a strong boat for sailing through. 31. Moral conduct and the greatest goal. 32. Arise ! sit up ! 33. Some basic instructions that Rahula received. 34. Did nigrodhakappa attain nirvana? 35. What is the right road for a recluse? References.
"Extraordinarily profound is the Sutta Nipata, which is the oldest sacred book in Buddhist literature. It is a particularly authentic version of the Buddha\'s discourses because of its antiquity, language and contents.
Susunaga Weeraperuma\'s faithful and masterly rendering of the Sutta Nipata deepens our understanding of the teachings. An eminent writer in the field of Buddhism, he has lucidly expressed the ancient wisdom in the idiom of our time. Great philosophical and psychological insights abound in this collection of essays. The commentaries therein are refreshingly original.
Additional essays address various issues of deep concern and offer practical solutions - whether on depression, facing death, growing old, finding happiness or world peace."
