What the Buddha Taught

By Walpola Rahula and Paul Demiéville

Buddhism continues to enjoy increasing interest in the West, both for its emphasis on reflection and meditation and as an object of scholarship. Drawing the words actually spoken by the Buddha, Rahula gives a full account of his fundamental teachings, from the Buddhist attitude of mind and meditation to the Buddha's teaching in the contemporary world. The text also features a selection of texts from original Buddhist literature.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Oneworld Publications
• Release date: Jul 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781780740003

Walpola Rahula

The Venerable Dr Walpola Sri Rahula was a Buddhist monk and scholar. He received a traditional training and education in his native Sri Lanka before studying at the University of Calcutta and the Sorbonne. He held a chair at Northwestern University, Illinois, and was the Vice-Chancellor of Vidyodaya University, Colombo. He is widely regarded as one of the most qualified and enlightened scholars of the Buddhist tradition, with a deep knowledge of the original texts.

Reviews for What the Buddha Taught

[sbnicar · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An intelligent, concise (but not superficial) treatment of the basic teachings. It's all in here. This slim volume is one of the best introductions to Buddhist thought I've come across.

[Real Asena · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the most popular books for beginners in online Buddhist circles. It may be hard to understand at times, but it’s a very solid introduction