The Word of the Buddha

By Bhikkhu Nyanatiloka

Embark on a profound journey into the heart of Buddhist teachings with Bhikkhu Nyanatiloka’s The Word of the Buddha. This seminal work offers a clear and comprehensive presentation of the core doctrines and practices of Buddhism, making the profound wisdom of the Buddha accessible to readers of all backgrounds.

Bhikkhu Nyanatiloka, a distinguished scholar and monk, meticulously distills the essential teachings of the Buddha from the vast Pali Canon, the authoritative scriptures of Theravada Buddhism. The Word of the Buddha presents these teachings in a systematic and organized manner, providing an invaluable resource for both newcomers and seasoned practitioners seeking to deepen their understanding of the Buddha’s path.

The book covers fundamental aspects of Buddhist doctrine, including the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, the doctrine of Dependent Origination, and the principles of ethical conduct, meditation, and wisdom. Nyanatiloka’s lucid explanations and thoughtful commentary illuminate the profound and transformative nature of these teachings, offering practical guidance for integrating them into daily life.

The Word of the Buddha is more than just a compilation of texts; it is a guide to spiritual awakening and liberation. Nyanatiloka’s insightful approach emphasizes the practical application of the Buddha’s teachings, encouraging readers to engage in self-reflection and practice to cultivate inner peace and understanding.

This authoritative text is an essential addition to the library of anyone interested in Buddhism, spirituality, and the pursuit of truth. Bhikkhu Nyanatiloka’s The Word of the Buddha stands as a timeless testament to the enduring relevance and profound depth of the Buddha’s message, inviting readers to explore the path to enlightenment.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Porirua Publishing
• Release date: Jun 7, 2024
• ISBN: 9781991305718

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© Porirua Publishing 2024, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.

Publisher’s Note

Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1

PREFACE. 7

THE WORD OF THE BUDDHA. 9

The Word of the Buddha OR THE FOUR HOLY TRUTHS. 10

THE FIRST TRUTH. — THE HOLY TRUTH OF SUFFERING. 12

The purport of the First Truth. 12

The five Khandhas or Aspects of Existence. 13

Rupa-kkhandha or the Material Aspect. 13

The four Elements (elementary forces.) 13

The three Characteristics of existence. 16

The Three Warnings. 16

Saṁsāra. 17

SECOND TRUTH. — THE HOLY TRUTH OF THE CAUSE OF SUFFERING. 18

The threefold Craving. 18

The Six Sense-domains. 18

The Six Sense-objects. 18

The Six-fold Consciousness. 19

The Six-fold Contact. 19

The Six-fold Sensation. 19

The Six-fold Perception and Ideation. 19

The Six-fold Craving. 19

The Six-fold Thinking and Reflecting. 19

The Origin of Becoming. 20

The visible Cause of Suffering. 20

The concealed Cause of Suffering. 20

THIRD TRUTH. — THE HOLY TRUTH OF THE CESSATION OF SUFFERING. 22

The Cessation of the process of Becoming. 22

Nibbana. 22

The Araham. 22

The Unchangeable. 23

THE FOURTH TRUTH — THE HOLY TRUTH OF THE PATH THAT LEADS TO THE CESSATION OF SUFFERING. 24

The Two Extremes, (Sensuality, Self-mortification) and the Middle Path. 24

The Eight-fold Path. 24

THE FIRST LINK OF THE PATH. — RIGHT UNDERSTANDING, SAMMA-DITTHI. 26

Understanding of Good and Evil. 26

Understanding of the Truth of Suffering. 27

Unprofitable Questions. 27

The Five Fetters. 28

The Sixteen Doubts concerning Past, Present and Future. 28

The Six Views about the Soul. 28

Hearership (Sotapatti.) 29

Free from all Theories. 29

The three Marks of Existence. 30

1. Transiency. (Anicca) 30

2. Suffering (Dukkha). 30

3. Unsubstantiality. (Anatta). 30

Discussions concerning the self. 30

The Body is more constant than the Mind. 31

Past, Present Future. 32

The two Extremes, (Materialism—Spiritualism) and the Middle Doctrine. 32

Effective Kamma. 33

Barren Kamma. 33

THE SECOND LINK OF THE PATH. — RIGHT MINDEDNESS SAMMA-SANKAPPA. 34

The three-fold intention. 34

Renunciation of the world. 34

THE THIRD LINK OF THE PATH. — RIGHT SPEECH, SAMMA-VACA. 35

Abstaining from lying. 35

Abstaining from Slandering. 35

Abstaining from Harsh Language. 35

Abstaining from Vain Talk. 35

THE FOURTH LINK OF THE PATH. — RIGHT ACTION, SAMMA-KAMMANTA. 37

Abstaining from Killing. 37

Abstaining from Stealing. 37

Abstaining from unlawful Sexual Intercourse. 37

THE FIFTH LINK OF THE PATH. — RIGHT LIVING, SAMMA-AJIVA. 38

THE SIXTH LINK OF THE PATH. — RIGHT EFFORT, SAMMA-VAYAMA. 39

The Effort to Avoid (Samvarappadhana.) 39

The Effort to Overcome. (Pahana-ppadhana.) 39

Five methods of expelling evil thoughts. 39

The Effort to Originate. (Bhavan-ppadhana). 40

The Effort to Maintain. 40

THE SEVENTH LINK OF THE PATH. — RIGHT ATTENTIVENESS, SAMMA-SATI. 41

The Four Sati-patthanas or Fundamentals of Attentiveness. 41

1. THE CONTEMPLATION OF THE BODY, (KAYA). 41

Anapana sati or Watching over in and Out-breathing. 41

Insight into the Four Positions of the Body. 42

The Four-fold Clear Consciousness. 42

Contemplates on the impurity of the Body. 42

The Analysis of the Body. 43

The Cemetery Meditations. 43

The Fruits attained by the Contemplation of the Body. 44

The Six Abihnnas or the Six-fold Knowledge: 44

1. The Magical Powers (Iddhi). 45

2. The Heavenly Ear. 45

3. The Knowledge of the Mind of other beings. 45

4. The Memory of previous Existence. 45

5. The Heavenly Eye. 45

6. The end of Illusion. 45

2. CONTEMPLATION OF THE SENSATIONS (VEDANA.) 45

CONTEMPLATION OF THE THOUGHTS (CITTA). 46

4. CONTEMPLATION OF INTERNAL PHENOMENA (DHAMMA.) 46

The Five Hindrances or Nivaranas. 46

Five Khandhas or Aspects of Existence. 47

The Six Subjective-objective Sense-Domains. 48

The Seven Bojjhangas or Constituent Parts of Enlightenment. 48

The Four Holy Truths. 48

THE EIGHTH LINK OF THE PATH. — RIGHT CONCENTRATION, SAMMA-SAMADHI. 50

What is Concentration? 50

The Objects of Concentration. 50

The Requisites for Concentration. 50

Bhavana. 50

Absences of the Five Hindrances. 50

Absence of the Five Hindrances. 51

The Four Jhanas or Trances. 51

The Samathayanaka. 52

The Four Sublime Meditations: 53

1. Metta-bhavana, or the Meditation of Love. 53

2. Karuna-bhavana or Meditation of compassion. 53

3. Mudita-bhavana or Meditation of Sympathy. 53

4. Upekkha-bhavana or the Meditation of Equanimity. 53

The Four Arupayatanas or Formless Realms. 53

Nirodha-Samapatti 54

The Goal. 54

The Silent Thinker 54

The True Goal. 55

The Great Command. 55

APPENDIX. 56

DISCOURSE ON THE GREAT FORTY-FOLD TRAIN OF IDEAS. 56

THE WORD OF THE BUDDHA.

An outline of the ethico-philosophical system of the Buddha, in the words of the Pali Canon, together with Explanatory Notes.

BY

BHIKKHU NYAṆATILOKA.

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN

BY

SASANAVAṀSA.

"One thing only, Brothers, do I make known:

Suffering and Deliverance from Suffering."

PREFACE.

I TAKE the liberty of prefacing a few words to the present English edition of Das Wort des Buddha which has been prepared from the German edition by the late Superintendent of the Buddhasāsana Samāgama, Mr. J. F. M’Kechnie, now known as Sāsanavaṁsa.

I would wish the Reader to know that The Word of the Buddha is not intended as an introduction to the teaching of the Buddha, or as a book on Buddhism merely to be read through and then laid aside. Its aims are, to provide a systematically arranged outline of the Buddha’s doctrine for the benefit of such as are already acquainted with its fundamental ideas, and to bring under a single aspect the various parts of that doctrine which at first sight appear to have no connection with one another, but which in fact, when viewed from this aspect, are found all to converge upon a single point,—Deliverance from Suffering,—as expressed by the Buddha Himself in the words I have used as motto:—One thing only, Brothers, do I make known:—Suffering and Deliverance from Suffering.

Thus