The Heritage of the Bhikkhu: The Buddhist Tradition of Service

by Walpola Rahula

Overview

Walpola Rahula's What the Buddha Taught is a perennial backlist bestseller and has proven to be an indispensable guide to beginning Buddhism. It is renowned for its authoritative, clear, logical, and comprehensive approach. The Heritage of the Bhikkhu is a vivid account of the Buddhist's monk's role as a servant to people's needs as a follower and teacher of the basic Buddhist principles. In this fascinating and informative volume, the author emphasizes Buddhism as a practical doctrine for daily living and spiritual perfection and not simply a monastic discipline. The Heritage of the Bhikkhu is a pioneering work that deserves to stand with the author's earlier masterpiece.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802140234
Publisher:	Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
Publication date:	08/26/2003
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

	Foreword to the English Edition	xi
	Author's Preface	xvii
	Introduction to the Second Sinhala Edition	xix
	Preface to the First Sinhala Edition	xxv
	Chronology	xxvii
1.	Buddhism and Social Service	3
2.	The Evolution of the Life of the Bhikkhu	8
3.	The Councils	13
4.	Introduction of Buddhism to Ceylon: The National Religion of the Sinhala People	16
5.	Religio-Nationalism and National Culture	20
6.	Fundamental Innovations	24
7.	Study and Meditation: Academic Developments	29
8.	Monasteries: Their Administration and Maintenance	34
9.	Arts, Crafts, and Literature	40
10.	National Freedom and the Protection of Peace	50
11.	The Portuguese Period	55
12.	The Dutch Period	58
13.	British Rule	63
14.	Struggle for Freedom: Rebellions	66
15.	The Strength of Bhikkhus: Lay-Clergy Unity	68
16.	British Tactics: Disruption of Lay-Clergy Unity	71
17.	British Tactics: Confusion of Monastic Administration	79
18.	British Tactics: Intrigues to Destroy Buddhism (Christian Education)	82
19.	National and Religious Degeneration	90
20.	The Revival	93
	Postscript	98
Appendix I.	What is Politics?	120
Appendix II.	Bhikkhus and Politics: Declaration of the Vidyalankara Pirivena	131
Appendix III.	The Kalaniya Declaration of Independence (January 6, 1947)	134
Appendix IV.	Basic Points Unifying the Theravada and the Mahayana	137
	Glossary of Terms	139
	Notes	150
	Bibliography	165
	Index	168