“An Introductory Course on Early Buddhism”

The gift of Dhamma excels all gifts.

“An Introductory Course on Early Buddhism”

Compiled and published for free distribution
by Chan Khoon San

Over the last few years, several readers have indicated to me that the articles in the Introductory Course on Buddhism were too brief and should be expanded to provide more details. This new book entitled “Buddhism Course” is a carefully researched and upgraded version. It contains 17 chapters dealing with most of the relevant topics on Buddhism, such as: Life of the Buddha, Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Noble Path, Dependent Origin, Law of Kamma, Death and Rebirth, Five Destinations, World Cycles when Buddhas Appear, Ten Bases of Meritorious Action, Buddhist Vipassana Meditation, Recollection of the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha and the Three Baskets (Tipitaka) in Buddhism.
I. LIFE OF THE BUDDHA / in PDF -> http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/PDF_BuddhismCourse/02_ Life of the Buddha.pdf

1. The Birth 15
2. The Prediction 16
3. The Ploughing Festival 18
4. Prince Siddhatta's Youth 18
5. The Four Signs and the Great Renunciation 20
6. The Search and Struggle for Enlightenment 22
7. The Enlightenment and the Seven Weeks After 23
8. The Buddha Propounds the Dhamma (Teaching) 25
9. Conversion of Sariputta and Moggallana 27
10. The Buddha Visits His Birthplace 28
11. The Buddha's Ministry 29
12. The Parinibbana and Final Admonition to the Monks 30
13. References 32
14. Explanatory Notes 32

 

II. FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS / in PDF -> http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/PDF_BuddhismCourse/03_ Four Noble Truths.pdf

1. What are the Four Noble Truths? 37
2. Why are they called Noble Truths? 37
3. Noble Truth of Suffering 38
4. Suffering because of the 5 Aggregates of Clinging 43
5. Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering 45
6. Kama-Tanha or Sensual Craving 46
7. Bhava-Tanha or Craving for Eternal Existence 47
8. Vibhava-Tanha or Craving for Non-Existence 48
9. Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering 49
10. References 51
11. Explanatory Notes 51

 

III. NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH / in PDF-> http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/PDF_BuddhismCourse/04_ Noble Eightfold Path.pdf

1. Noble Truth of the Path leading to Cessation of Suffering 53
2. Right View (Samma-ditthi) 53
3. Right Thought (Samma-sankappa) 55
4. Right Speech (Samma-vaca) 55
5. Right Action (Samma-kammanta) 56
6. Right Livelihood (Samma-ajiva) 56
7. Right Effort (Samma-vayama) 57
8. Right Mindfulness (Samma-sati) 58
9. Right Concentration (Samma-samadhi) 60
10. References 60
11. Explanatory Notes 61

IV. DEPENDENT ORIGIATION (PATICCA SAMUPPADA) / in PDF-> http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/PDF_BuddhismCourse/05_ Dependent Origination.pdf

1. What is the Law of Dependent Origination? 64
2. How does the Law of Dependent Origination work? 64
3. Question of the First Cause 65
4. Dependent Origination is different from direct causation 65
5. Dependent Origination to explain the Origin of Suffering 66
6. Reverse Order of Dependent Origination to explain the
Cessation of Suffering 72
7. References 72
8. Explanatory Notes 73

 

V. LAW OF KAMMA / in PDF -> http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/PDF_BuddhismCourse/06_ Law of Kamma.pdf

1. The Five Universal Laws 75
2. The Importance of Understanding the Law of Kamma 75
3. What is Kamma? 77
4. How does the Law of Kamma Operate? 77
5. What is the Cause of Kamma? 78
6. Who is the Doer of Kamma? Who Reaps the Vipaka? 79
7. Where is all the Kamma? 80
8. Classification of Kamma 80
9. Is One Bound to Reap All that One Has Sown in Just Proportion? 82
10. Lessons Learnt from Kamma 84
11. References 85
12. Explanatory Notes 85

VI. DEATH AD REBIRTH / in PDF -> http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/PDF_BuddhismCourse/07_ Death and Rebirth.pdf

1. Difference between Rebirth and Reincarnation 88
2. How does Rebirth Take Place? 88
3. The Re-linking or Rebirth Consciousness 89
4. Modes of Death 90
5. Objects presented to the Mind before Death 91
6. Five Visions of a Dying Person 92
7. The Dying Consciousness 92
8. Modes of Birth 93
9. Four Planes of Existence 94
10. References 95

 

VII. FIVE DESTIATIONS (PANCAGATI) / in PDF -> http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/PDF_BuddhismCourse/08_ Five Destinations.pdf

1. Hell (Niraya) 97
2. Animal Realm (Tiracchana) 100
3. Ghost Realm (Peta) 100
4. Human Realm (Manussa) 102
5. World of Gods (Devas and Brahmas) 104
6. Lifespan of Hell Beings and Petas 107
7. Lifespan of Celestial Devas 107
8. Lifespan of Brahmas 108
9. References 109
10. Explanatory Notes 110

VIII. WORLD CYCLES WHEN BUDDHAS APPEAR / in PDF-> http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/PDF_BuddhismCourse/09_ World Cycles When Buddhas Appear.pdf

1. Buddhist Timescale 112
2. Great Aeon or World Cycle (Maha-kappa) 112
3. Incalculable Aeon or Epoch (Asankheyya-kappa) 113
4. Included Aeon or Era (Antara-kappa) 115
5. Human Lifespan (Ayu-kappa) 116
6. World Cycles When Buddhas Appear (Buddha Kappa) 116
7. Twenty-Four Buddhas Preceding Lord Gotama Buddha 117
8. Eight Qualifications of a Future Buddha (Bodhisatta) 118
9. Length of Time to Cultivate the Perfections (Paramis) 119
10. Reasons for the Differences in Time to Fulfill Paramis 121
11. Rare is the Appearance of a Buddha 122
12. Eight Unfortunate Existences in Samsara (Cycle of Births) 124
13. The Fulfillment of the Perfections by Pacceka Buddhas,
Chief Disciples and Great Disciples 125
14. The Pre-eminent Disciples of the Buddha 128
15. References 129
16. Explanatory Notes 130

 

IX. TAKING OF REFUGE / in PDF-> http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/PDF_BuddhismCourse/10_ Taking of Refuge.pdf

1. Meaning of Refuge 133
2. Origin of Taking of Refuge 134
3. Act of Taking Refuge 134
4. Why We Need to Take Refuge 135
5. The Three Refuges 138
6. Factors that Enhance the Taking of Refuge 140
7. Corruptions and Breach of Refuge 141
8. Benefits of Taking Refuge 142
9. References 143

X. FIVE PRECEPTS (PANCASILA) / in PDF -> http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/PDF_BuddhismCourse/11_ Five Precepts.pdf

1. Five Vices and Five Virtues 145
2. Self Responsibility in Moral Training 146
3. Precepts are Indispensable in Moral Training 147
4. Dhamma Way to Compare Oneself with Another 148
5. First Precept: Abstention from Killing Living Beings 149
6. Second Precept: Abstention from Taking What is Not Given 152
7. Third Precept: Abstention from Sexual Misconduct 154
8. Fourth Precept: Abstention from False Speech 156
9. Fifth Precept: Abstention from Partaking of Intoxicants 157
10. Benefits of ‘Moderate Drinking’: Fact or Fallacy? 158
11. Factors that Enhance the Keeping of Precepts 160
12. Consequences of Breaking and Keeping the Five Precepts 162
13. References 163

 

XI. THE BASES OF MERITORIOUS ACTION (DASA PUNNA-KIRIYA VATTHU) / in PDF -> http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/PDF_...ases of Meritorious Action - Introduction.pdf

1. Unwholesome and Wholesome Roots (Akusala Kusala Hetu) 165
2. Meritorious Action (Punna-kiriya) 165
3. Ten Bases of Meritorious Action (Dasa Punna-kiriya Vatthu) 166
4. Types of Wholesome Kamma 167
5. Classification of Individuals (Puggala-bheda) 169
6. References 170

XII. THE BASES OF MERITORIOUS ACTION PART ONE: THE DANA GROUP / in PDF-> http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/PDF_BuddhismCourse/13_ Ten Bases of Meritorious Action - Dana.pdf

1. Giving (Dana) 172
2. Factors that Strengthen the Beneficial Results of Dana 172
3. Volition of the Donor 173
4. Purity of the Recipient 175
5. Offering to the Order (Sanghika Dana) 177
6. Types of Gifts 178
7. Giving of Money for New Work (#ava Kamma) 180
8. Gifts to Avoid 181
9. Advantages of Dana 181
10. Sharing or Transference of Merits (Patti-dana) 183
11. Transference of Merits to Departed Relatives 185
12. For Whom Are the Food Offerings in Pattidana Intended 185
13. Can Petas partake of food and drink offered to them? 188
14. What Type of Beings Can Receive the Merits? 189
15. Chinese custom of burning paper money and paper models 193
of clothes, houses, etc., as offerings to the Departed
16. Rejoicing in Others' Merits (Pattanumodana) 194
17. References 194

 

XIII. THE BASES OF MERITORIOUS ACTION PART TWO: THE SILA GROUP / in PDF -> http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/PDF_BuddhismCourse/14_ Ten Bases of Meritorious Action - Sila.pdf

1. Definition of Morality (Sila) 196
2. Characteristic, Function, Manifestation and Proximate
Cause of Morality 198
3. Morality for the Lay Disciple 199
4. Five Precepts and Precepts of the Noble Eightfold Path 199
5. Eight Precepts 200
6. Ten Precepts 202
7. Grades and Types of Morality 202
8. Benefits of Morality 203
9. Reverence (Apacayana) 204
10. Humble or Dutiful Service (Veyyavacca) 207
11. References 208

XIV. THE BASES OF MERITORIOUS ACTION PART THREE: THE BHAVANA GROUP / in PDF -> http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/PDF_BuddhismCourse/15_ Ten Bases of Meritorious Action - Bhavana.pdf

1. The Miracle of the Power of the Doctrine (Dhamma) 210
2. Teaching the Doctrine (Dhamma-desana) 210
3. Teaching of the Doctrine by Lay Disciples and Benefits 212
4. Listening to the Doctrine (Dhamma-savana) 213
5. Proper Way of Listening to a Sermon and the Benefits 215
6. Straightening One's Views (Ditthijukamma) 216
7. Types of Wrong Views 216
8. Advantages of Straightening One's Views 218
9. References 218

 

XV. BUDDHIST VIPASSANA MEDITATION / in PDF-> http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/PDF_BuddhismCourse/16_ Buddhist Vipassana Meditation.pdf

1. Types of Mental Development or Meditation (Bhavana) 221
2. Objects of Meditation in Samatha Meditation 222
3. Purpose of Vipassana or Insight Meditation 223
4. Role of Mindfulness in Vipassana Meditation 223
5. Four Foundations of Mindfulness (Satipatthana) 225
6. Practical Vipassana Meditation 226
7. Benefits of Vipassana Meditation 229
8. References 231
9. Explanatory Notes 231

XVI RECOLLECTION OF THE BUDDHA, DHAMMA AND SANGHA / in PDF->http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/PDF_...collection of the Buddha, Dhamma & Sangha.pdf

1. Recollection of the Buddha (Buddhanussati) 233
2. Recollection of the Dhamma (Dhammanussati) 247
3. Recollection of the Sangha (Sanghanussati) 254
4. References 260

 

XVII THREE BASKETS (TIPITAKA) IN BUDDHISM / in PDF -> http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/PDF_BuddhismCourse/18_ Three Baskets _Tipitaka_ in Buddhism.pdf

1. What is the Tipitaka? 262
2. Language of the Buddha 265
3. What is Pali? 268
4. The First Council 271
5. The Second Council 277
6. The Great Schism 280
7. Origin of the Eighteen #ikayas (Schools of Buddhism) 285
8. The Third Council 287
9. Committing the Tipitaka to Memory 290
10. Fourth Council: Committing the Tipitaka to Writing 292
11. Fifth and Sixth Councils in Myanmar 295
12. Conclusion 297
13. Appendix: Contents of the Tipitaka or Three Baskets 298
14. Explanatory Notes 300
15. References 309

ADDEDUM TO CHAPTER XVI: Supramundane Dhamma is Akaliko (Immediately Effective) / in PDF -> http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/PDF_BuddhismCourse/19_ Addendum to Chapter XVI.pdf

1. Question: Is it Possible for One to Attain Magga (Path) and Not Experience Phala (Fruition) Immediately? 311
2. The Seven Kinds of Noble Persons 311
3. Fruition Arises Immediately After Attainment of Path 313
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