Knowing Buddha: Life and Teachings

by Prof. Shrikant Prasoon

Maha Bodhi Society of India writes in its foreword, ‘Knowing Buddha is a well planned and richly written book... has achieved a rare balance between reason and emotion, in keeping with the great and sublime tradition and teaching of the Buddha and his Middle Path’.

When people ask, ‘What do you have to do to become a Buddhist?’ we say that we take refuge in Buddha Dhamma Sangha. And to take refuge we recite a formula in the Pali language:

• Buddham sharanam gachhami
  I go to the Buddha for refuge.
• Sangham sharanam gachhami
  I go to the Sangha for refuge.
• Dhammam sharanam gachhami
  I go to the Dhamma for refuge

According to Buddha’s teachings, everything in the world is suffering. When we say there is suffering, we ordinarily think that only pain is suffering - physical pain or mental pain. What Buddha meant by suffering is much deeper. According to him, everything in this world is suffering. Even when you are enjoying yourself, enjoying good relationships, a time comes when unfulfilled yearnings start producing disillusionment. All pleasures being temporal are termed suffering by Buddha.

In nutshell, the teachings of Buddha explain what kamma is, how rebirth is the result of kamma, and that suffering is the result of kamma, however good that may be. It will take the readers to the path of enlightenment for true awakening of the self.

Contents:

1. Buddha and Buddhism
2. Leaves from the Life of Buddha
3. Some Discourses
4. What Buddha Meant
5. What Buddha Said

About the Author:

Prof. Shrikant Prasoon is a great educationist, writer and poet. He taught English in Bihar University. He has a deep interest in spirituality and other related topics. He is an avid reader and writes on varied topics. Some of his published works include ‘Famous Doctors’ in English and ‘Sandhi Sthal’, a collection of poems in Hindi.