The origin and development of the Gaina sect is a subject on which some scholars still think it safe to speak with a sceptical caution, though this seems little warranted by the present state of the whole question; for a large and ancient literature has been made accessible, and furnishes ample materials for the early history of the sect to all who are willing to collect them. Nor is the nature of these materials such as to make us distrust them. We know that the sacred books of the Gainas...

Jaina Sutras, Part Iby Hermann JacobiPart One of the Hermann Jacobi translation of the Jaina Sutras. This volume includes the Akaranga and Kalpa Sutras, two of the most important Jain sacred texts.The Akaranga Sutra outlines rules for Jain monks. Most notably it describes steps which monks must take to avoid harming other living beings, including the microscopic life forms which the ancient Jains believed pervaded the universe. The Kalpa sutra contains a biography of...

Jaina Sutras, Part IIby Hermann JacobiPart Two of the Hermann Jacobi translation of the Jaina Sutras.As is the practice at this site, the typography of the original has been preserved as far as possible. This means that italics are used to indicate distinctions between consonants in transliterated Sanskrit and Prakrit. The system used is documented on the charts attached to the Sacred Books of the East page. Most notably in this system, 'j' (roughly, the initial soun...

Discover the origins of Buddhism and its tenets from the seminal textsDrawn from the sacred books of Buddhism, this collection reveals the insights and beliefs at the heart of the world's fourth-largest religion. Siddhartha Guatama, a sixth-century Hindu warrior prince, renounced the world in his search for the meaning of life and became the Buddha, or "Enlightened One," while meditating at Bodh Gaya.From that moment forward the Buddha sought to share his o...

Laozi is traditionally regarded as the author of the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching), though the identity of its author(s) and/or compiler(s) has been debated throughout history. It is one of the most significant treatises in Chinese cosmogony. As with most other ancient Chinese philosophers, Laozi often explains his ideas by way of paradox, analogy, appropriation of ancient sayings, repetition, symmetry, rhyme, and rhythm. In fact, the whole book can be read as an analogy - the ruler is the awar...

The Tao Te Ching is a spiritual, inspirational work that guides us through life, helping us to live within each moment and find the beauty that is all around each of us. Simple, beautiful, and life changing. The Tao Te Ching is fundamental to the Taoist school of Chinese philosophy (Dàojia), and strongly influenced other schools, such as Legalism and Neo-Confucianism. This ancient book is also central in Chinese Buddhism, which when first introduced into China was largely interpreted throu...

This curated collection of primary texts and secondary scholarship offers an engaging and comprehensive view of Buddhism and its founder.The Wisdom of Buddha: Drawn from the sacred books of Buddhism, this collection reveals the core insights and beliefs of the world's fourth-largest religion. It covers the birth and death of the Buddha, as well as the major tenets of Buddhism, including karma and the middle doctrine.Hinduism and Buddhism: A...

Collection Of Buddhism Volume 1"Buddhism has always been fond of parables and many of these were used by the Buddha himself. He taught by parables, 'for men of good understanding will readily enough catch the meaning of what is taught under the shape of a parable.'" Let us read these simple and yet moving stories with the eyes of a child and the mind of a beginner-- for they are the pointing fingers to the gateway of spirituality.10 Titles in this Collection :-

The indefinite term “That” is used in the Upanishads to designate the Invisible-Absolute, because no word or name can fully define It. A finite object, like a table or a tree, can be defined; but God, who is infinite and unbounded, cannot be expressed by finite language. Therefore the Rishis or Divine Seers, desirous not to limit the Unlimited, chose the indefinite term “That” to designate the Absolute.

The Questions of King Milinda - Part I of IIT. W. Rhys DavidsThe Milinda Pañha (also Milindapanha, Milindapañha, or MilindapañhÄ; abbrev., Mil) (Pali trans. "Questions of Milinda") is a Buddhist text which dates from approximately 100 BCE. It is sometimes included in the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism as a book of the Khuddaka Nikaya.It purports to record a dialogue in which the Indo-Greek king Menander I (Milinda in Pali) of Bactria, who reigned in the second cent...

According to Wikipedia: "In Buddhism, the sūtra refers mostly to canonical scriptures, many of which are regarded as records of the oral teachings of Gautama Buddha. In Chinese, these are known as jīng. These teachings are assembled in part of the Tripitaka which is called Sutra Pitaka. There are also some Buddhist texts, such as the Platform Sutra, that are called sūtras despite being attributed to much later authors."

Dialogues of the Buddhaby T. W. Rhys DavidsThe Digha Nikaya or "the collection of long doctrinary lectures" delivered by the Buddha is first of the five Nikayas or collection belonging to the Suttapitaka or the basket of (Buddha's) discourses which is one of the three major collection of Buddhist texts in Pali, the other two being Vinayapitaka and Abhidbamnapitaka.This set consists of texts that were translated over a period of years (from 1899 through 1921) by T.W.R...