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Contents
Preface, vn
General Introduction,
11
Book One: THE EARLY SCRIPTURES OF BUDDHISM, 27
Part I. Some Basic Doctrines of the Buddha, 27
.,.1. The Sermon at Benares, 29
2. Questions Not Tending to Edification, 32
3. Truth Is Above Sectarian Dogmatism, 36
4. How Buddha Met a Schism Among His Disciples, 39
. . 5. The Parable of the Mustard Seed, 43
6. Universal Love and Good Will, 46
7. Buddha's Farewell Address, 47
Part II. Treading the Path to Nirvana,
. . 1. The Way of Truth, 51
2. Songs of the Wayfarers, 73
50
Part Ill. The Spirit of Theravada Buddhism, 83
1. The Zenaka Story of Buddha's Birth and
Early Life, 87
.. 2. The Fire Sermon, 96
"-3. On Health of Mind, 98
4. What Is Gained by Abandoning the World and
Becoming a Monk? 100
5. The Duties of the Theravada Layman, 108
6. What Is Nirvana? (Theravada View), 111
7. The Nirvana of the Buddha, 115
8. Crossing the Ford, 118
9. Is the Buddha Equally Compassionate Toward
All? 120
10. Is Adopting the Way of the Monk a Selfish Act? 122
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Book Two:
BUDDHIST 'THOUGHT 'THROUGH LATER
CENTURIES, 123
Part IV. The Mahayana Religious Ideal, 123
1. Hymn to the Buddha of Infinite Compassion and
Wisdom, 128
2. The Bodhisattva's Vow of Universal
Redemption, 130
3. The Path of Light and Love, 134
4. Famous Mahayana Parables, 141
S. The Eternal Buddha of Countless Worlds, 157
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6. What Is Nirvana? (Mahayana View) 161
Part V. Some Mahayana Philosophies, 166
1. Nagarjuna's Analysis of Causality and Nirvana, 170
2. Vasubandhu's Argument for SUbjective
... ,
Idealism, 175
3. Ultimate Reality Is Absolute Mind, 181
4. Ultimate Reality Transcends What Can Be Expressed
in Words, 194
Part VI. Devotional Buddhism in China and Japan, 20.4.
1. The Pure Land of Amitabha, 207
2. The White Lotus Ode, 211
3. Honen's Letter and Poems, 213
4. Shinran's Songs to Amida, 218
S. The Bodhisattva Who Saves Even from the Depths of
Hell, 223
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6. Tao Sheng on Nirvana and the Buddha's Way, 226'
7. Seng Ts'an's Poem on Trust in the Heart, 227
8. Shen Hui's Sermon on Sudden Awakening, 230
9. A Zen "Koan," 237
10. The Mahayana Layman's Ideal, 237
Epilogue: Buddha's Pity,
Bibliography, 242
Glossary, 244
240
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