e
BU
DDHANET'SBOOK LIBRA
RY
E-mail: bdea@buddhanet.net
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Buddha Dharma Education Association Inc.
Ven. Narada, Thera
Buddhism in a Nutshell
Buddhism in a Nutshell
by
Narada Mahathera
Copyright © 1982 Buddhist Publication Society
Buddhist Publication Society
P.O. Box 61
54, Sangharaja Mawatha
Kandy, Sri Lanka
For free distribution only.
You may print copies of this work for your personal use.
You may re-format and redistribute this work for use on computers and computer networks,
provided that you charge no fees for its distribution or use.
Otherwise, all rights reserved.
This edition was transcribed from the print edition in 1995 by Bradford Griffith under the auspices of the
DharmaNet Dharma Book Transcription Project, with the kind permission of the Buddhist Publication Society.
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Contents
• Preface
• Chapter I. The Buddha
• Chapter II. The Dhamma: Is it a Philosophy?
• Chapter III. Is it a Religion?
• Chapter IV. Is Buddhism an Ethical System?
• Chapter V. Some Salient Features of Buddhism
• Chapter VI. Kamma or the Law of Moral Causation
• Chapter VII. Re-birth
• Chapter VIII. Paticca Samuppada
• Chapter IX. Anatta or Soul-lessness
• Chapter X. Nibbana
• Chapter XI. The Path to Nibbana
• Appendix:
• Concentration on Respiration (Anapana Sati)
• Meditation on Loving-kindness (Metta)
• Perfections (Parami)
Preface
Buddhism in a Nutshell first appeared in 1933. Since then several editions were published by various philanthropic
gentlemen for free distribution.
For a fuller exposition of the subjects dealt with here, readers are kindly requested to read the revised and enlarged
edition of The Buddha and His Teachings published in 1980.
Permission may freely be obtained to reprint or to translate this book.
Narada
Vajirarama
Colombo, Sri Lanka.
7th May 1982.
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma-Sambuddhassa
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Chapter I
The Buddha
On the fullmoon day of May, in the year 623 B.C., there was born in the district of Nepal an Indian Sakya Prince
named Siddhattha Gotama, who was destined to be t