The Buddhist Catechism

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The Buddhist Catechism is an invaluable textbook for those wishing to familiarize themselves with the basic principles of Buddhism. Since its first edition in 1881 it has been published in more than twenty languages, mainly by Buddhists for Buddhists, and was widely used in the Buddhist educational movement which Col. H. S. Olcott established in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

The book is constructed in an easy to follow question- answer form, together with an appendix which outlines the fourteen fundamental Buddhistic tenets. These fourteen items were accepted as fundamental in both the Southern and Northern sections of Buddhism, by authoritative committees to whom they were submitted by the author personally.

Henry Steel Olcott, Founder-President of the Theosophical Society, was born on 2 August 1832 in Orange, New Jersey, USA.

He distinguished himself in the field of agri- culture as a young man, and later, for his services to the US Government during the Civil War. In 1874, when investigating spiritualistic phenomena, he met H. P. Blavatsky and together they became the principal founders of the Society. He devoted the rest of his life to work for the Society and related causes. He is well known and revered for his work in reinvigorating Buddhism throughout Asia. He died on 17 February 1907 at Adyar, Chennai (Madras), India.

In the working out of my original plan, I have added more questions and answers in the text of each new English edition of the Catechism, leaving it to its translators to render them into whichever of the other vernaculars they may be working in. The unpretending aim in view is to give so succinct and yet comprehensive a digest of Buddhistic history, ethics and philosophy as to enable beginners to understand and appreciate the noble ideal taught by the Buddha, and thus make it easier for them to follow out the Dharma in its details. In the present edition a great many new questions and answers have been introduced, while the matter has been grouped within five categories, namely (1) The Life of the Buddha; (2) the Doctrine; (3) the Sangha, or monastic order; (4) a brief history of Buddhism, its Councils and propaganda; (5) some reconciliation of Buddhism with science. This, it is believed, will largely increase the value of the little book, and make it even more suitable for use in Buddhist schools, of which, in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), over one hundred have already been opened by the Sinhalese people under the general supervision of the Theosophical Society. In preparing this edition I have received valuable help from some of my oldest and best qualified Sinhalese colleagues. The original edition was gone over with me word by word, by that eminent scholar and bhikkhu, H. Sumangala, Pradhāna Nayaka and the assistant Principal of his Pali College at Colombo, Hyeyantuduve Anunayaka Terunnanse; and the High Priest has also kindly scrutinized the present revision and given me invaluable points to embody. It has the merit, therefore, of being a fair presentation of the Buddhism of the 'Southern Church', chiefly derived from first-hand sources. The Catechism has been published in twenty languages, mainly by Buddhists, for Buddhists.