What the Buddha taught

WALPOLA RAHULA

What the Buddha Taught

With a Foreword by PAUL DEMIEVILLE

GROVE PRESS, INC. NEW YORK

MONAro. liBRARY \ <. hhe~ . .r_r-;~t¥thsen]ant .

BY AUTHOR:

History of Buddhism in Ceylon The Heritage of the Bhikshu

"BL 1451.2 .7<3

Copyright © 1959 by W. Rahula

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 62-16338

First Evergreen Edition 1962

Manufactured in the United States of America

List of Illustrations Foreword Preface The Buddha

Contents

CHAPTER I

The Buddhist Attitude of Mind Man is supreme- One is one's refuge- Responsibility- Doubt­Freedom of Thought- Tolerance- Is Buddhism Religion or Philo­sopfD'?- Truth has no label- No blind faith or belief, but seeing and understanding- No attachment even to Truth- Parable of the raft- Imaginary speculations useless- Practical attitude- Parable

Page vii ix xi xv

of the wounded man I

THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

CHAPTER II

The First Noble Truth : Dukkha Buddhism neither pessimistic nor optimistic, but realistic- Meaning of 'Dukkha'- Three aspects of experience- Three aspects of 'Dukkha'- What is a 'being'?- Five Aggregates- No spirit opposed to matter- Flux- Thinker and Thought- Has life a beginning? .. 16

CHAPTER III

The Second Noble Truth: Samudaya: 'The Artsing of Dukkha' - Definition- Four Nutriments- Root cause of suffering and conti­nuity- Nature of arising and cessation- Karma and Rebirth- _ What is death?- What is rebirth? . 29

CHAPTER IV

The Third Noble Truth: Nirodha: 'The Cessation of Dukkha'­What is Nirvatla?- Language and Absolute Truth-Definitions of Nirvatla- Nirvatla not negative- Nirviitla as Absolute Truth­What is Absolute Truth?- Truth is not negative- Nirvatla and Sa'!lsiira- Nirvatla not a result- What is there after Nirviitla?­Incorrect expressions- What happens to an Arahant after death?-If no Self, who realizes Nirvatla?- Nirvatla in this life 35

V

CHAPTER V

The Fourth Noble Truth: Magga: 'The Path' Middle Path or Noble Eightfold Path-Compassion and Wisdom­Ethical Conduct- Mental Discipline- Wisdom- Two sorts of Understanding- Four Functions regarding the Four Noble Truths 45

CHAPTER VI

The Doctrine of No-Soul: Anatta What is Soul or Self?- God and Soul: Self-protection and Self­preservation- Teaching 'Against the Current' - Anafytical and Synthetical methods- Conditioned Genesis- Question of Free-will­Two kinds of Truths- Some erroneous views- The Buddha definitefy denies 'Atman'- The Buddha's silence- The idea of Self a vague impression- Correct attitude- If no SeJt who gets the result of Karma?- Doctrine of Anatta not negative 5 I

CHAPTER VII

'Meditation' or Mental Culture: Bhiivanii Erroneous views- Meditation is no escape from life- Two forms of Meditation- The Setting-up of Mindfulness- 'Meditation' on breathing- Mindfulness of activities- Living in the present moment - 'Meditation' on Sensations-on Mind- on Ethical, Spiritual and Intellectual subjects 67

CHAPTER VIII

What the Buddha Taught and the World Today Erroneous views- Buddhism for all-In daify life- Famify and social life- Lay life held in high esteem- How to become a Buddhist­Social and economic problems- Poverty: cause of crime- Material and spiritual progress- Four kinds of happiness for lay men- On politics, war and peace- Non-violence- The ten duties of a ruler­The Buddha's Message- Is it practical?- Asoka's Example-The Aim of Buddhism 76

Abbreviations 91 Selected Bibliography . . 92 Glossary 94 Index 100

vi

EV RGREEN ORIGINAL ffi (E-330) . $1..75 •• , ' .. ,

WHAT THE BUDDHA TAUGHT BY WALPOLA RAHULA Foreword by Paul Demieville

Illustrated

"With the publication of this book a long felt need has been amply and competently supplied. For years the newcomer to Buddhism has lacked a simple and reliable introduction to the complexities of the subject. Dr. Rahula's What the Buddha Taught fills the need as only could be done by one having a firm grasp of the vast material to be sifted. It is a model of what a book should be that is addressed first of all to 'the educated and intelligent general reader .. .' and also to 'the reader who has some knowledge of what the Buddha taught and would like to go further in his studies.' Authoritative and clear, logical and sober, this study is as comprehensive as it is masterly .... "

-I. B. Horner, Journal of the BuddHfst Society, London

Basing his book on the original Pali texts, which are universally accepted by scholars as the earliest extant records, the author - himself a Buddhist monk and scholar - has written, a direct, lucid, and faithful aCQ:>unt of the Buddha's teachings. He removes a number of current misconceptions about Buddhism, and suggests how this philosophy can con­tribute to make modern life more meaningful. Its sixteen illustrations, bibliography, glossary, and 1ndex make this incisive volume perhaps the best guide to understanding Buddhism for the Western reader.

Cover design by Roy Kuhlman i

G~VE PRESS, INC., 64 University Place, New York 3, N. Y.

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