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Introductory Texts

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Introductory Texts

Postby Will » Sat Apr 24, 2010 4:13 pm

One of the oldest, still in use primers for newcomers is Nagarjuna's Letter to a King or Letter to a Friend or Friendly Letter (other translations abound). Bhikshu Dharmamitra gives three very old translations from the Sanskrit. http://www.kalavinka.com/kp_book_pages/ ... k_page.htm
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Re: Introductory Texts

Postby Ngawang Drolma » Fri Apr 30, 2010 7:42 am

Will, this is a awesome. Thanks :)
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Re: Introductory Texts

Postby ratand » Thu May 13, 2010 3:46 pm

thanks.
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Re: Introductory Texts

Postby Indrajala » Thu May 13, 2010 3:51 pm

I love the text because it gets to the meat of things and doesn't waste a syllable.
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Re: Introductory Texts

Postby Will » Thu May 13, 2010 4:50 pm

Most of these downloadable 10 Kalavinka Press PDFs are good introductions to the Mahayana:

http://ifile.it/t3aqukl/MahayanaPDFs.zip
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Re: The Teaching of Buddha

Postby Will » Sun Jul 31, 2011 7:14 pm

This title has been around since the 1920s, but it is free from BDK: https://www.bdkamerica.org/default.aspx?MPID=53

A much larger compilation from the sutras/suttas arranged according to Buddha's life: https://www.bdkamerica.org/default.aspx?MPID=33
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Re: Introductory Texts

Postby Astus » Sun Jul 31, 2011 9:18 pm

Will wrote:Most of these downloadable 10 Kalavinka Press PDFs are good introductions to the Mahayana:

http://ifile.it/t3aqukl/MahayanaPDFs.zip


Unfortunately that file is gone. If anyone could upload it it would be a great help.

Will wrote:This title has been around since the 1920s, but it is free from BDK: https://www.bdkamerica.org/default.aspx?MPID=53


It presents a Japanese perspective of what constitutes the Buddha's teachings. I'm not sure if it really fits for the category of introduction since it contains many different levels of teachings without explaining the connection.
"While teachers of the middle way, mind only, transcendent wisdom, mantra, and other schools may have their own assertions, the fulfillment of those intentions is the same. There is not a single thing that is not contained within mind."
(Gampopa to Düsum Khyenpa, in "The First Karmapa", KTD Pub, p 254)

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Re: Introductory Texts

Postby Will » Sun Jul 31, 2011 10:15 pm

Astus wrote:
Will wrote:Most of these downloadable 10 Kalavinka Press PDFs are good introductions to the Mahayana:

http://ifile.it/t3aqukl/MahayanaPDFs.zip


Unfortunately that file is gone. If anyone could upload it it would be a great help.

Will wrote:This title has been around since the 1920s, but it is free from BDK: https://www.bdkamerica.org/default.aspx?MPID=53


It presents a Japanese perspective of what constitutes the Buddha's teachings. I'm not sure if it really fits for the category of introduction since it contains many different levels of teachings without explaining the connection.


The little book does gives many levels of Dharma, thus everyone will find something inspiring.

Bhikshu Dharmamitra will, time & health permitting, give full PDFs of his translations in time.
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