Introductory Texts
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Introductory Texts
One of the oldest, still in use primers for newcomers is Nagarjuna's Letter to a King or Letter to a Friend or Friendly Letter (other translations abound). Bhikshu Dharmamitra gives three very old translations from the Sanskrit. http://www.kalavinka.com/kp_book_pages/ ... k_page.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
May all seek, find & follow the Path of Buddhas.
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Re: Introductory Texts
Will, this is a awesome. Thanks
Re: Introductory Texts
thanks.
"I listened, but then I had a small piece of fluff in my ear. Could you say it again, please, Rabbit?"
- Winnie the Pooh
- Winnie the Pooh
Re: Introductory Texts
I love the text because it gets to the meat of things and doesn't waste a syllable.
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Re: Introductory Texts
Most of these downloadable 10 Kalavinka Press PDFs are good introductions to the Mahayana:
http://ifile.it/t3aqukl/MahayanaPDFs.zip" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://ifile.it/t3aqukl/MahayanaPDFs.zip" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
May all seek, find & follow the Path of Buddhas.
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Re: The Teaching of Buddha
This title has been around since the 1920s, but it is free from BDK: https://www.bdkamerica.org/default.aspx?MPID=53" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
A much larger compilation from the sutras/suttas arranged according to Buddha's life: https://www.bdkamerica.org/default.aspx?MPID=33" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
A much larger compilation from the sutras/suttas arranged according to Buddha's life: https://www.bdkamerica.org/default.aspx?MPID=33" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
May all seek, find & follow the Path of Buddhas.
Re: Introductory Texts
Unfortunately that file is gone. If anyone could upload it it would be a great help.Will wrote:Most of these downloadable 10 Kalavinka Press PDFs are good introductions to the Mahayana:
http://ifile.it/t3aqukl/MahayanaPDFs.zip" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
It presents a Japanese perspective of what constitutes the Buddha's teachings. I'm not sure if it really fits for the category of introduction since it contains many different levels of teachings without explaining the connection.Will wrote:This title has been around since the 1920s, but it is free from BDK: https://www.bdkamerica.org/default.aspx?MPID=53" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
1 Myriad dharmas are only mind.
Mind is unobtainable.
What is there to seek?
2 If the Buddha-Nature is seen,
there will be no seeing of a nature in any thing.
3 Neither cultivation nor seated meditation —
this is the pure Chan of Tathagata.
4 With sudden enlightenment to Tathagata Chan,
the six paramitas and myriad means
are complete within that essence.
1 Huangbo, T2012Ap381c1 2 Nirvana Sutra, T374p521b3; tr. Yamamoto 3 Mazu, X1321p3b23; tr. J. Jia 4 Yongjia, T2014p395c14; tr. from "The Sword of Wisdom"
Mind is unobtainable.
What is there to seek?
2 If the Buddha-Nature is seen,
there will be no seeing of a nature in any thing.
3 Neither cultivation nor seated meditation —
this is the pure Chan of Tathagata.
4 With sudden enlightenment to Tathagata Chan,
the six paramitas and myriad means
are complete within that essence.
1 Huangbo, T2012Ap381c1 2 Nirvana Sutra, T374p521b3; tr. Yamamoto 3 Mazu, X1321p3b23; tr. J. Jia 4 Yongjia, T2014p395c14; tr. from "The Sword of Wisdom"
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- Posts: 4209
- Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 4:21 am
- Location: California
Re: Introductory Texts
The little book does gives many levels of Dharma, thus everyone will find something inspiring.Astus wrote:Unfortunately that file is gone. If anyone could upload it it would be a great help.Will wrote:Most of these downloadable 10 Kalavinka Press PDFs are good introductions to the Mahayana:
http://ifile.it/t3aqukl/MahayanaPDFs.zip" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
It presents a Japanese perspective of what constitutes the Buddha's teachings. I'm not sure if it really fits for the category of introduction since it contains many different levels of teachings without explaining the connection.Will wrote:This title has been around since the 1920s, but it is free from BDK: https://www.bdkamerica.org/default.aspx?MPID=53" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Bhikshu Dharmamitra will, time & health permitting, give full PDFs of his translations in time.
May all seek, find & follow the Path of Buddhas.