e
BU
DDHANET'SBOOK LIBRA
RY
E-mail: bdea@buddhanet.net
Web site: www.buddhanet.net
Buddha Dharma Education Association Inc.
Expanded 4th Edition
Dr. K. Sri Dhammanada
What Buddhist Believe
Published by
BUDDHIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY MALAYSIA
123, Jalan Berhala,
50470 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
Tel: (603) 2274 1889 / 1886
Fax: (603) 2273 3835
Email: bmsm@po.jaring.my
© 2002 K Sri Dhammananda
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any in-
formation storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Cover design and layout Sukhi Hotu
ISBN 983-40071-2-7
1st Edition 1964
2nd Edition 1973
3rd Edition 1982
This Expanded Edition 2002
What Buddhists
Believe
Expanded 4th Edition
K Sri Dhammananda
BUDDHIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY MALAYSIA
This 4th edition of
What Buddhists Believe
is specially published
in conjunction with
Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda’s
50 Years of Dhammaduta Service
in
Malaysia and Singapore
1952-2002
(BE 2495-2545)
Photo taken three months after his arrival in Malaysia from Sri Lanka, 1952.
l
l
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Contents
Foreword
xi
Preface xiii
1 LIFE AND MESSAGE OF THE BUDDHA
CHAPTER 1 Life and Nature of the Buddha
Gautama, The Buddha 8
His Renunciation 24
Nature of the Buddha
27
Was Buddha an Incarnation of God?
32
The Buddha’s Service
35
Historical Evidences of the Buddha
38
Salvation Through Arahantahood
41
Who is a Bodhisatva?
43
Attainment of Buddhahood
47
Trikaya — The Three Bodies of the Buddha
49
CHAPTER 2 His Message
Message for All
53
Miraculous Power
57
The Buddha’s Silence
61
How to Answer Questions
63
The Buddha’s Attitude towards Worldly Knowledge
65
The Last Message of the Buddha