Introductory Texts

General discussion, particularly exploring the Dharma in the modern world.
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Nicholas Weeks
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Introductory Texts

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

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.
Ngawang Drolma
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Re: Introductory Texts

Post by Ngawang Drolma »

Will, this is a awesome. Thanks :)
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ratand
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Re: Introductory Texts

Post by ratand »

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
Huseng
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Re: Introductory Texts

Post by Huseng »

I love the text because it gets to the meat of things and doesn't waste a syllable.
Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Introductory Texts

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

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;
May all seek, find & follow the Path of Buddhas.
Nicholas Weeks
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Re: The Teaching of Buddha

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

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;
May all seek, find & follow the Path of Buddhas.
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Astus
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Re: Introductory Texts

Post by Astus »

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;
Unfortunately that file is gone. If anyone could upload it it would be a great help.
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;
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.
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"
Nicholas Weeks
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Location: California

Re: Introductory Texts

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Astus wrote:
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;
Unfortunately that file is gone. If anyone could upload it it would be a great help.
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;
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.
The little book does gives many levels of Dharma, thus everyone will find something inspiring.

Bhikshu Dharmamitra will, time & health permitting, give full PDFs of his translations in time.
May all seek, find & follow the Path of Buddhas.
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