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What the Buddha Taught

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What the Buddha Taught

Written by: Walpola Sri Rahula
Narrated by: Taradasa
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Long regarded as one of the best introductions to Buddhism, What the Buddha Taught draws on the actual words spoken by the Buddha to give a lucid and accurate account of the fundamental principles of Buddhist doctrine. Richly supported by extracts from the ancient texts, Walpola Rahula gives clear and direct explanations of Buddhism's essential teachings including:

  • the Buddhist attitude of mind
  • the Four Noble Truths
  • The Noble Eightfold Path
  • meditation and mental development
  • what the Buddha taught and the world today.

What the Buddha Taught also features an illustrative selection of texts from the Suttas and the Dhammapada. 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 Vice-Chancellor of Vidyodaya University, Colombo. He was widely regarded as one of the most qualified and enlightened scholars of the Buddhist tradition with a deep knowledge of the original texts.

©1959 The Estate of Walpola Sri Rahula (P)2016 Dharma Audiobooks Buddhism
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Critic Reviews

"By far the best introduction to Buddhism available." (Professor R. F. Gombrich, Boden Professor of Sanskrit, University of Oxford)
All stars
Most relevant
I love this book. The approach was spot on. I have been looking for Buddhist books that actually speak to what Buddha himself said and taught. This was perfect in that regard. Narrator was great!

Wisdom of the Buddha

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I didn’t find the book to be like a practice workbook. For me what the Buddha taught is a practice and not a doctrine. Returned the book without completing. A much better alternative is a book on same topic by Thich Nhat Hanh.

Too scholarly

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