Buddhist Literature
A selection
for further study
I. Life of the Buddha
E. H. Brewster. The Life of
Gotama the Buddha. Compiled from the Pali Canon. London, Kegan Paul.
Narada
Thera. The Life of the Buddha in his own words. Colombo, Y.M.B.A.
E. J. Thomas.
The Life of Buddha as Legend and History. London, Kegan Paul.
Bhikkhu Silacara.
A Young People's Life of the Buddha. Colombo, W. F. Bastian & Company.
Edwin
Arnold. The Light of Asia. (Poetical). Many editions. Pivadassi Thera. The Buddha,
A Short Study of His Life and His Teachings. Kandy, Buddhist Publication Society.
Kassapa Thera & Siridhamma Thera. The Life of the Buddha. Colombo 1958,
Dept. of Cultural Affairs.
II. Translations from the Sutta-pitaka
1. Anthologies
H.
C. Warren. Buddhism in Translations. 496 pp. Harvard Oriental Series.
F. L.
Woodward. Some Sayings of the Buddha. Oxford Press.
E. J. Thomas. Early Buddhist
Scriptures. London, Kegan Paul.
Nyanatiloka Thera, The Path to Deliverance.
Colombo, Lake House Bookshop.
David Maurice. The Lion `s Roar, An Anthology
of the Buddha's Teaching. Rider & Co.
Selected Buddhist Texts from the
Pali Canon. (Sutta translations from `The Wheel' Series) Vol. I-lI) Buddhist Publication
Society, Kandy.
2 Complete Texts
Prof. T. W. Rhys Davids, Tr. Dialogues
of the Buddha (Dîgha Nîkâya). London, Pali Text Society. 3 vols.
I. B. Horner, Tr. The Middle Length Sayings (Majjhima Nikâya). Pali
Text Society. 3 vols.
F. L. Woodward and F. M. Hare, Tr. Gradual Sayings (Anguttara
Nikâya). Pali Text Society. 5 vols.
C. A. F. Rhys Davids and F. L. Woodward,
Tr. Kindred Sayings (Sa.myutta Nikâya). Pali Text Society. 5 vols.
Narada
Thera, Tr. Dhammapada (Pali text with English prose translation). Wisdom of the
East Series, John Murray.
Professor S. Radakrishnan, Tr. Dhammapada. London,
George Allen & Unwin.
F. M. Hare, Tr. Woven cadences (Sutta Nipâta).
(Sacred Books of the Buddhists). Pali Text Society.
FL. Woodward, Tr. Minor
Anthologies. Vol. II: Udâna and Itivuttaka. (Sacred Books of the Buddhists).
Pali Text Society.
C. A. F. Rhys Davids, Tr. Songs of the Brethren (Theragâtha).
Pali Text Society.
C. A. F. Rhys Davids, Tr. Songs of the Sisters (Therigâtha).
Pali Text Society.
3. Single Discourses
Soma Thera. The Way of Mindfulness
(Transl. of the Satipatthâna Sutta and its Commentary, 3rd ed.) Buddhist
Publication Society.
Soma Thera. Right Understanding (Transl. of the 9th Discourse
of Majjhima Nikâya and its Commentary). Colombo, Lake House Bookshop.
The
Wheel Series contains annotated translations of many Discourses. Buddhist Publication
Society.
III. Abhidhamma
Nyanatiloka Mahathera. Guide through the Abhidhamma
Pi.taka (Synopsis of all 7 Abhidhamma Books). 3rd ed. Colombo 1971, Lake House
Bookshop.
Narada Thera. A Manual of Abhidhamma (Abhidhammattha Sangaha). Pali
text, translation and explanatory notes. 2nd ed. Buddhist Publication Society.
Shwe Zan Aung & C. A. F. Rhys Davids, Tr. Compendium of Philosophy (Abhidhammattha
Sangaha). Pali Text Society.
Dr. W. F. Jayasuriya. The Psychology and Philosophy
of Buddhism, An Introduction to the Abbidhamma. M. D. Gunasena & Co., Colombo.
Anagarika B. Govinda. Psychological Attitude of Early Buddhist Philosophy
and its systematic representation according to Abhidhamma tradition. Rider &
Co.
Nyanaponika Thera. Abhidhamma Studies. Researches in Buddhist Psychology.
2nd enlarged Ed. Kandy, Buddhist Publication Society.
IV. Non-canonical Pali
Literature
I. B. Horner, Tr. Milinda's Questions. 2 vols. Pali Text Society.
T. W. Rhys Davids, Tr. The Ouestions of King Milinda. 2 vols. Dover Books.
Buddhaghosa (Bhikkhu Ñânamoli, Tr.) The Path of Purification
(Visuddhi Magga). 2nd ed. A. Semage, Colombo. (The most important and comprehensive
systematic treatment of the entire Buddhist teachings).
V. Historical Literature
B.
C. Law. History of Pali Literature. 2 vols. London, Kegan Paul.
S. C. Banerji.
An introduction to Pali Literature. Punthi Pustak, Calcutta.
M. Wînternitz.
History of Indian Literature, Vol. II: Buddhist and Jain Literature. Calcutta
University.
T. W. Rhys Davids. Buddhist India.
F. J. Thomas. History of
Buddhist Thought. London, Kegan Paul.
G. P. Malalasekera. Pali Literature
of Ceylon. M. D. Gunasena & Co., Colombo.
E. W. Adikaram. Early History
of Buddhism in Ceylon. Colombo, 1946, Lake House Bookshop.
H. R. Perera. Buddhism
in Ceylon, Its Past & Present. Buddhist Publication Society.
Karuna Kusalasaya.
Buddhism in Thailand, Its Past and Present. Buddhist Publication Society.
VI.
General Literature
Nyanatiloka Thera. Buddhist Dictionary: A Manual of Buddhist
Terms & Doctrines. 3rd enlarged ed., Frewin & Co., Colombo, 1971.
Nyanatiloka
Thera. Fundamentals of Buddhism: Four Lectures. Lake House Bookshop, Colombo.
Piyadassi Thera. The Buddha's Ancient Path. Rider & Co.
Nyanasatta
Thera. Basic Tenets of Buddhism: Aids to the Study and Teaching of the Dhamma.
Ananda Semage, Colombo 11.
Narada Thera. Buddhism in a Nutshell. Buddhist
Publication Society.
Khantipalo Bhikkhu. Buddhism Explained: An Introduction
to the Teaching of Lord Buddha. Social Science Association Press, Bangkok.
Dr.
Walpola Rahula. What the Buddha Taught. Gordon Frazer, Oxford. (also Grove Press,
NY.)
R. G. de S. Wettimuny. Buddhism and its Relation to Religion and Science.
M. D. Gunasena & Co., Colombo,
Nyanaponika Thera. The Heart of Buddhist
Meditation (Satipa.t.thana). 3rd enlarged ed., Rider & Co.
P. Vajirañana
Mahathera. Buddhist Meditation in Theory and Practice. M. D. Gunasena & Co.,
Colombo.
Nanamoli Thera. Mindfulness of Breathing: Buddhist Texts from the
Pali Canon & Commentaries. Buddhist Publication Society.
K. N. Jayatilleke.
Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge. George Allen & Unwin.
G. P. Malalasekera,
Ed. Encylopaedia of Buddhism: Vol. 1, Vol. II, fasc. 1ff (to be continued). Published
by the Government of Ceylon (Distributors: K. V. G. de Silva & Sons, Colombo).
VII Periodicals
The Maha Bodhi, A Monthly Journal for International Buddhist
Brotherhood. Calcutta, Maha Bodhi Society
The Middle Way. A quarterly; organ
of the Buddhist Society, London, W.C.I.
The Buddhist. Monthly organ of the
Colombo Y.M.B.A. Colombo.
World Buddhism. Monthly international Buddhist News
Magazine. PubIished at 91/1 Dutugemunu St., Dehiwala, Ceylon.
Home