Comprehensive Course on Buddhism

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Dedicated to the revered memory of Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita's great Vinaya Teacher, the late most Venerable Widurapola Piyatissa Mahā Nāyaka Thera, and the late Most Venerable Chandamani Mahā Thera of Kushinara Vihāra, India, and in memory of his other teachers, Venerable Nānatiloka Mahā Thera and Venerable Rerukane Chandavimala Mahā Nāyaka Thera of Sri Lanka and Mahasi Sayadaw Venerable U Sobhana, Aggamahāpandita, the Mulāpatthana Sayadaw Venerable Nārada, Aggamahāpandita and Yamaka Abhidhamma Acharya Sobhita Mahā Thera of Mayanmar and in memory of his parents. May all the teachers and parents attain Nibbāna!

Late Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita was the founder-president of Maha Bodhi Society, Bengaluru. Since 1956 he had established many Buddhist centres in India and abroad and rendered yeomen spiritual and humanitarian services. He was a member of the Editorial Board of the Sixth Buddhist Synod (Chattha Sangayana) in Yangon, which brought out a complete edition of the Buddhist scriptures.

He established Mahabodhi Monastic Institute in Bangalore, India. Buddhayoga Meditation Centre in USA and conducted many Dhamma and Pali courses, meditation courses and written numerous books and translation of Buddhist texts Mahabodhi Research Center and Bhagavan Buddha University of Pali and Theravāda Buddhism, Bangalore are the result of his effort and research to provide a systematic Buddhist education as widely as possible.

Today Buddhism is reaching out to people of many fields, from science to humanities, from philosophies to technical areas, from business to spiritual centers, from politics to seclusion dreamers. The fact is Buddhism deals with the realities of life, happiness and suffering, bondage and freedom. It deals with managing our minds. Therefore, naturally there is a big demand from every quarter to learn and practice Buddhist ideals and achieve the noble goals set by the Supreme Buddha.

To meet this call our respected teacher Most Venerable late Acharya Buddharakkhita Bhanteji prepared a simple but very comprehensive course on Buddhism. It is always easy to have a format to study a particular subject. So also, Buddhism. The Venerable Acharya has succeeded in putting concisely all the important topics in one book.

To know the importance of the Buddha and His discovery, it is essential to know what life exactly is. Therefore, the initial chapters go directly into the explanation of our life, our actions, what is a living being, the place of Buddha and our task. So, it gives a clear idea about where we stand and where we have to reach.

Then there is beautiful narration of the life of the Buddha, which is extremely inspiring. The Buddha's life and his teachings are not different. When we know the life of the Buddha, we also come to know the Dhamma in many facets. When we know the Dhamma, we can know the Buddha. Therefore, it is essential to know the life of the Buddha from both points of view, namely, from historical point and as a model and perfect example of how a person from ordinary states can grow and ultimately achieve the higher goal of liberation.

Comprehensive Course on Buddhism Vol. 1: As the title suggests, it is a step-by-step (Anupubbi) presentation of Buddhism in broad perspective. The purpose of this book is to serve as a textbook for the several courses on Buddhism conducted by Mahabodhi Monastic Institute, Bangalore. These are:

1. Nalanda Päli Vijjāyatana: Primary and secondary school education, from class one to class ten, on completion of which PSLC (Pali School leaving certificate) is awarded.

2. Pariyatti Pathama: Equivalent to pre-university diploma course.

3. Pariyatti Majjhima: Bachelor of Buddhist Studies (BBS) with the title Dhamma kusalo.

4. Pariyatti Osana: Master of Buddhist Studies (MBS) with the title Dhamma Pandito.

5. Pariyatti Acariya: Doctorate of Buddhist Studies (DBS) with the title Dhammācariyo.

This book will also form the basic text for the correspondence course intended for all those who want to study Buddhism for the diploma and degree courses on Buddhism. When all the volumes are brought out the publication will have an encyclopaedic character. The contents are:

Chapter One deals with the heart of Buddhism i.e., the core teachings of the Buddha as found in the Pali Tipițaka.

Chapter Two dilates on who is a Buddha as explained by the Buddha himself in the Pali Texts.

Chapter Three presents Bodhisatta Ideal and the story of Sumedha Pandita.

Chapter Four consists of the Life of the Buddha. This Chapter begins with Bodhisatta Setaketu, the ruler of Tusita divine realm, who chose to be born as Prince Siddhattha Gotama.