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About the Publisher, ISBN and Cover Design
Dedication
Preface,
Acknowledgements & Sharing of Merits
About
the Author
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I |
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LIFE
OF THE BUDDHA
The Birth
The Prediction
The Ploughing
Festival
Prince
Siddhatta's Youth
The Four Signs
and the Great Renunciation
The Search and
Struggle for Enlightenment
The
Enlightenment and the Seven Weeks After
The Buddha
Propounds the Dhamma (Teaching)
Conversion of
Sariputta and Moggallana
The Buddha
Visits His Birthplace
The Buddha's
Ministry
The
Parinibbana and Final Admonition to the Monks
References
Explanatory
Notes |
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15
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18
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22
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II |
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FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
What are the Four Noble Truths?
Why are they
called Noble Truths?
Noble Truth of
Suffering
Suffering
because of the 5 Aggregates of Clinging
Noble Truth of
the Origin of Suffering
Kama-Tanha
or Sensual Craving
Bhava-Tanha
or Craving for Eternal Existence
Vibhava-Tanha
or Craving for Non-Existence
Noble Truth of
the Cessation of Suffering
References
Explanatory
Notes
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III |
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NOBLE
EIGHTFOLD PATH
Noble Truth of
the Path leading to Cessation of Suffering
Right View (Samma-ditthi)
Right Thought
(Samma-sankappa)
Right Speech (Samma-vaca)
Right Action (Samma-kammanta)
Right
Livelihood (Samma-ajiva)
Right Effort (Samma-vayama)
Right
Mindfulness (Samma-sati)
Right
Concentration (Samma-samadhi)
References
Explanatory
Notes
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IV |
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DEPENDENT ORIGINATION (PATICCA SAMUPPADA)
What is the
Law of Dependent Origination?
How does the
Law of Dependent Origination work?
Question of
the First Cause
Dependent
Origination is different from direct causation
Dependent
Origination to explain the Origin of Suffering
Reverse Order
of Dependent Origination to explain the Cessation of
Suffering
References
Explanatory
Notes
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V |
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12. |
LAW
OF KAMMA
The Five
Universal Laws
The Importance
of Understanding the Law of Kamma
What is
Kamma?
How does the
Law of Kamma Operate?
What is the
Cause of Kamma?
Who is the
Doer of Kamma? Who Reaps the Vipaka?
Where is all
the Kamma?
Classification
of Kamma
Is One Bound
to Reap All that One Has Sown in Just Proportion?
Lessons Learnt
from Kamma
References
Explanatory
Notes |
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VI |
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DEATH AND
REBIRTH
Difference
between Rebirth and Reincarnation
How does
Rebirth Take Place?
The Re-linking
or Rebirth Consciousness
Modes of
Death
Objects
presented to the Mind before Death
Five Visions
of a Dying Person
The Dying
Consciousness
Modes of
Birth
Four Planes of
Existence
References
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VII |
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FIVE
DESTINATIONS (PANCAGATI)
Hell (Niraya)
Animal Realm (Tiracchana)
Ghost Realm (Peta)
Human Realm (Manussa)
World of Gods
(Devas and Brahmas)
Lifespan of
Hell Beings and Petas
Lifespan of
Celestial Devas
Lifespan of
Brahmas
References
Explanatory
Notes
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VIII |
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WORLD
CYCLES WHEN BUDDHAS APPEAR
Buddhist
Timescale
Great Aeon or
World Cycle (Maha-kappa)
Incalculable
Aeon or Epoch (Asankheyya-kappa)
Included Aeon
or Era (Antara-kappa)
Human Lifespan
(Ayu-kappa)
World Cycles
When Buddhas Appear (Buddha Kappa)
Twenty-Four
Buddhas Preceding Lord Gotama Buddha
Eight
Qualifications of a Future Buddha (Bodhisatta)
Length of Time
to Cultivate the Perfections (Paramis)
Reasons for
the Differences in Time to Fulfill Paramis
Rare is the
Appearance of a Buddha
Eight
Unfortunate Existences in Samsara (Cycle of
Births)
The
Fulfillment of the Perfections by Pacceka Buddhas, Chief
Disciples and
Great Disciples
The
Pre-eminent Disciples of the Buddha
References
Explanatory
Notes |
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IX |
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TAKING OF REFUGE
Meaning of
Refuge
Origin of
Taking of Refuge
Act of Taking
Refuge
Why We Need to
Take Refuge
The Three
Refuges
Factors that
Enhance the Taking of Refuge
Corruptions
and Breach of Refuge
Benefits of
Taking Refuge
References
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X |
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FIVE
PRECEPTS (PANCASILA)
Five Vices and
Five Virtues
Self
Responsibility in Moral Training
Precepts are
Indispensable in Moral Training
Dhamma
Way to Compare Oneself with Another
First Precept:
Abstention from Killing Living Beings
Second
Precept: Abstention from Taking What is Not Given
Third Precept:
Abstention from Sexual Misconduct
Fourth
Precept: Abstention from False Speech
Fifth Precept:
Abstention from Partaking of Intoxicants
Benefits of
‘Moderate Drinking’: Fact or Fallacy?
Factors that
Enhance the Keeping of Precepts
Consequences
of Breaking and Keeping the Five Precepts
References
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XI |
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TEN BASES
OF MERITORIOUS ACTION (DASA PUNNA-KIRIYA VATTHU)
Unwholesome and Wholesome Roots (Akusala Kusala
Hetu)
Meritorious Action (Punna-kiriya)
Ten
Bases of Meritorious Action (Dasa Punna-kiriya
Vatthu)
Types of
Wholesome Kamma
Classification of Individuals (Puggala-bheda)
References
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XII |
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TEN BASES
OF MERITORIOUS ACTION,
PART
ONE: THE DANA GROUP
Giving (Dana)
Factors that
Strengthen the Beneficial Results of Dana
Volition of
the Donor
Purity of the
Recipient
Offering to
the Order (Sanghika Dana)
Types of Gifts
Giving of
Money for New Work (Nava Kamma)
Gifts to
Avoid
Advantages of
Dana
Sharing or
Transference of Merits (Patti-dana)
Transference
of Merits to Departed Relatives
What Type of
Beings Can Receive the Merits?
Can Petas
partake of food and drink offered to them?
Chinese custom
of burning paper money and paper models of clothes,
houses, etc., as offerings to the Departed
Rejoicing in
Others' Merits (Pattanumodana)
References
Explanatory
Notes
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XIII |
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TEN BASES
OF MERITORIOUS ACTION,
PART
TWO: THE SILA GROUP
Definition of
Morality (Sila)
Characteristic, Function, Manifestation and Proximate
Cause of Morality
Morality for
the Lay Disciple
Five Precepts
and Precepts of the Noble Eightfold Path
Eight Precepts
Ten Precepts
Grades and
Types of Morality
Benefits of
Morality
Reverence (Apacayana)
Humble or
Dutiful Service (Veyyavacca)
References
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XIV |
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TEN BASES
OF MERITORIOUS ACTION,
PART
THREE: THE BHAVANA GROUP
The Miracle of
the Power of the Doctrine (Dhamma)
Teaching the
Doctrine (Dhamma-desana)
Teaching of
the Doctrine by Lay Disciples and Benefits
Listening to
the Doctrine (Dhamma-savana)
Proper Way of
Listening to a Sermon and the Benefits
Straightening
One's Views (Ditthijukamma)
Types of Wrong
Views
Advantages of
Straightening One's Views
References |
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XV |
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BUDDHIST
VIPASSANA MEDITATION
Types of
Mental Development or Meditation (Bhavana)
Objects of
Meditation in Samatha Meditation
Purpose of
Vipassana or Insight Meditation
Role of
Mindfulness in Vipassana Meditation
Four
Foundations of Mindfulness (Satipatthana)
Practical
Vipassana Meditation
Benefits of
Vipassana Meditation References
Explanatory
Notes |
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XVI |
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RECOLLECTION OF THE BUDDHA, DHAMMA AND SANGHA
Recollection of the Buddha (Buddhanussati)
Recollection of the
Dhamma (Dhammanussati)
Recollection of the Sangha (Sanghanussati)
References
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XVII |
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THREE
BASKETS (TIPITAKA) IN BUDDHISM
What is the
Tipitaka?
Language of
the Buddha
What is Pali?
The First
Council
The Second
Council
The Great
Schism
Origin of the
Eighteen Nikayas (Schools of Buddhism)
The Third
Council
Committing the
Tipitaka to Memory
Fourth
Council: Committing the Tipitaka to Writing
Fifth and Sixth Councils in
Myanmar
Conclusion
Appendix:
Contents of the Tipitaka or Three Baskets
Explanatory
Notes
References
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286
289
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REJOICING AND SHARING OF MERITS
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BUDDHIST ORGANIZATIONS IN SINGAPORE
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