Description
One of the earliest of all Buddhist texts the Atthakavagga or Book of Eights is a remarkable document, not only because it comes from the earliest strain of the literature--before the Buddha, as the title suggests, came to be thought of as a Buddhist--but also because its approach to awakening is so simple and free of adherence to any kind of ideology. Instead the Atthakavagga points to a direct and simple approach for attaining peace without requiring the adherence to doctrine. The value of the teachings it contains is not in the profundity of their philosophy or in their authority as scripture; rather the value is found in the results they bring to those who live by them. Instead of doctrines to be believed the Book of Eights describes means or practices for realizing peace. Gil Fronsdal's rigorous translation with commentary reveals the text to be of interest not only to Buddhists but also to the ever-growing demographic of spiritual-but-not-religious who seek a spiritual life outside the structures of religion.
Features
ISBN:
9781611803242
Author:
Gil Fronsdal
Publisher:
PROTEA HATFIELD