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Essential Buddhist texts
Greetings!
I am pretty certain I am about to ask a loaded (and potentially absurd) question. However, I am going to ask anyway because I am interested to see what comes out of it.
I've seen and heard many questions asking for a definition of a buddhist "bible". I realize there really isn't such a singular, monolithic thing as that in buddhism. There is the Tipitaka, with many different versions, which could apparently fill a book case by itself. There is the multitude of Mahayanan texts. But there is nothing even remotely like a single book that all buddhists look to as the comprehensive collection of "sacred" or "canonical" texts.
Be that as it may, I am posing the question of what a singular text might contain if we were to attempt to compile it. If you had 1000 pages to fill with the most potent, essential nuggets of wisdom contained within the vast array of canonical or semi-canonical buddhist texts, what books or sections would you include?
Yes, it is admittedly kind of silly, but I pose the question in earnest. I am interested to know what texts would contain the core of buddhist knowledge to the greatest degree that has been obtained through writing. Some people might include the Dhammapada, some the Heart Sutra or the Diamond Sutra. Some might point to Buddhism in its finest essence in books I've never heard of.
Also, I've read discussion and examination of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, but I've never seen a place where they are laid out explicitly in writing, rather than as a reference. Does this exist anywhere?
In sincere curiosity,
Rhesus
I am pretty certain I am about to ask a loaded (and potentially absurd) question. However, I am going to ask anyway because I am interested to see what comes out of it.
I've seen and heard many questions asking for a definition of a buddhist "bible". I realize there really isn't such a singular, monolithic thing as that in buddhism. There is the Tipitaka, with many different versions, which could apparently fill a book case by itself. There is the multitude of Mahayanan texts. But there is nothing even remotely like a single book that all buddhists look to as the comprehensive collection of "sacred" or "canonical" texts.
Be that as it may, I am posing the question of what a singular text might contain if we were to attempt to compile it. If you had 1000 pages to fill with the most potent, essential nuggets of wisdom contained within the vast array of canonical or semi-canonical buddhist texts, what books or sections would you include?
Yes, it is admittedly kind of silly, but I pose the question in earnest. I am interested to know what texts would contain the core of buddhist knowledge to the greatest degree that has been obtained through writing. Some people might include the Dhammapada, some the Heart Sutra or the Diamond Sutra. Some might point to Buddhism in its finest essence in books I've never heard of.
Also, I've read discussion and examination of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, but I've never seen a place where they are laid out explicitly in writing, rather than as a reference. Does this exist anywhere?
In sincere curiosity,
Rhesus
0
Comments
Palzang
I suppose a little of both. I am using other people's reflections upon, or impressions of, Buddhist scriptures as guideposts to illuminate the way towards specific ones that I might read.
Rhesus
For the basic explanation, the Saccavibhanga Sutta.
For an advanced explanation, the Maha-Cattarisaka Sutta.
Kind regards
DDhatu
Your proposition is not silly at all.
My list would include:
· The Three Cardinal Discourses of the Buddha
· Anana Sutta<O:p</O:p
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· Samajivina Sutta
· Sigalovada Sutta
· Veludvareyya Sutta
· Instructions to Rahula at Mango Stone
· Two Sorts of Thinking
· The Parable of the Saw
· Angulimala Sutta
· An Analysis of the Truths
· The Great Forty
· The Greater Exhortation to Rahula
· Mindfulness with Breathing
· Bhaddekaratta Sutta
· The Six Sextets
· Culatanhasankhaya Sutta
· Mahatanhasankhaya Sutta
· Bahudhatuka Sutta
· An Analysis of the Properties
· Kaccayanagotta Sutta
· Khajjaniya Sutta
· Upanisa Sutta
· Cula-suññata Sutta
· The Snake Simile
· Nakulapita Sutta
· Instructions to Anathapindika
· Anana Sutta http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.062.than.html
· Samajivina Sutta http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.055.than.html
· Veludvareyya Sutta http://dharmafarer.googlepages.com/1.5VeludvareyyaSs55.7piya.pdf
· Mahatanhasankhaya Sutta http://www.leighb.com/mn38.htm
· Kaccayanagotta Sutta http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.015.than.html
· Khajjaniya Sutta http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn22/sn22.079.than.html
· Upanisa Sutta http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.023.than.html
· Cula-suññata Sutta http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.121.than.html
· Nakulapita Sutta http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn22/sn22.001.than.html
Its general contents are impressive, broken down into six sections:
Selections from:
2) Sanskrit sources (300 pages)
3) Chinese sources (150 pages)
4) Tibetan sources (65 pages)
5) Modern sources (20 pages)
and finally, a Summary of Lord Buddha's Dharma (12 pages)
1,000 pages?
What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula
The Heart of the Buddha's Teachings by Thich Nhat Hahn
Dhammapada translated by Thomas Cleary
The Diamond Sutra translated by Red Pine
The Heart Sutra translated by Red Pine
The Shobogenzo by Dogen Zenji
That's really all you'll ever need right there if you're stuck on an island or in samsara.
-Gassho.:)
Looking at my bookshelf I see:
Dharma Paths
The Way of the Bodhisattva
Lamp of Mahamudra
Chenrezig Lord of Love
The Life of Milarepa