Buddhism: one teacher, many traditions

Foreword / Bhante Gunaratana

Prologue / His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Preface / Venerable Thubtcn Chodron

Abbreviations

1. Origin and Spread of the Buddha's Doctrine

The Buddha's Life

Buddhist Canons and the Spread of the Dharma

Pali Tradition

Buddhism in China

Buddhism in Tibet

Our Commonalities and Diversity

2. Refuge in the Three Jewels

Existence of the Three Jewels

The Tathagata's Qualities

Three Jewels: Pali Tradition

Three Jewels: Sanskrit Tradition

Buddha's Awakening, Parinirvana, and Omniscience

Taking Rehire and Maintaining Proper Refuge

3. Sixths Attributes of the Foot Truths

Sanskrit Tradition

Pali Tradition

4. The Higher Training in Ethical Conduct

The Importance of Ethical Conduct

Pratimoksa Ethical Restraints

Why Celibacy?

The Vinaya Schools

The Value of the Monastic Community

Fulfilling the purpose of Monastic Life

Monastic, Priests, and Lay Teachers

Tibetan Monastics and Monastic Institutions

Challenges for Western Monastics

Full Ordination for Women

Advice for Monastics

The Joy of Monastic Discipline

Bodhisartva and Tannic Ethical Restraints

5. The Higher Training in Concentration

The Importance of Concentration

Realms of Existence and Spheres of Consciousness

Pali Tradition

Five Hindrances and Five Absorption Factors

Four Jhanas

Four Immaterial Absorptions

Eight Meditative liberations

Superknowledges

Sanskrit Tradition

Meditation Position and Meditation Objects

Five Faults and Eight Antidotes

Nine Stages of Sustained Attention

Serenity and Funnel Meditative Absorptions

Chinese Buddhism

6. The Higher Training in Wisdom: Thirty-Seven Aids to Awakening

Four Establishments of Mindfulness

Mindfulness of the Body

Mindfulness of Feelings

Mindfulness of the Mind

Mindfulness of Phenomena

Four Establishments of Mindfulness for Bodhisattvas

Four Supreme Strivings

Four Bases of Supernormal Power

Five Faculties and Five Powers

Seven Awakening Factors

The Noble Eightfold Path

Conventional and Ultimate Natures of the Thirty-Seven Aids

7. Selflessness and Emptiness

Pali Tradition: The Self and the Aggregates

Madhyamaka: The Object of Negation

Soon-Point Refutation

Six Elements Arc Not the Self

Refutation of Four BBKDMI of Arising

Selfless and Deceptive

Emptiness

What Carries the Karma?

8. Dependent Arising

Twelve Links of Dependent Arising

Flow of the Links

Who Circles in Samsara?

Benefits of Meditating on the Twelve Links of Dependent Arising

Sanskrit Tradition: Levels of Dependence

Causal Dependence

Mutual Dependence

Mere Dependent Designation

Emptiness and Dependent Arising Ate Compatible

Pali Tradition: Terms, Concepts, and Conventions

9. Uniting Serenity and Insight

Pali Tradition

Sanskrit Tradition

Chinese Buddhism

10. Progressing on the Path

Pali Tradition: Purification and Knowledge

Sanskrit Tradition: Five Paths and Ten Bodhisattva Grounds

Differences among the Three Vehicles

Sanskrit Tradition: Nirvana

Pali Tradition: Nibbana

11. The Four Immeasurable

Pali Tradition

Love

Companion

Joy

Equanimity

Four Immeasurables and Insight

Near and Far Enemies

Sanskrit Tradition

12. Bodhicitta

Tibetan Buddhism

Equanimity

Sevenfold Cause-and-Effect Instruction

Equalizing and Exchanging Self and Others

Self-Interest, Self-Confidence, Self-Centered Attitude, and Self-Grasping Ignorance

Integrating the View with Bodhicitta

Chinese Buddhism

Four Great Vows

Aspiring and Engaging Bodhicitta

Pali Tradition: Bodhicitta and Bodhisattas

13. Bodhisattva Training in the Perfections

Sanskrit Tradition

Pali Tradition: Ten Paramis

Perfection of Generosity

Perfection of Ethical Conduct

Perfection of Fortitude

Perfection of Joyous Effort

Perfections of Meditative Stability and of Renunciation

Perfections of Wisdom

Perfections of Unshakable Resolve and of Determination

Perfections of Skillful Means, Power, and Exalted Wisdom

Piramis of Truthfulness, Love, and Equanimity

The Four Ways of Gathering Disciples

14. The Possibility of Awakening and Buddha Nature

Is Liberation Possible?

Pali Tradition: Luminous Mind

Yogicara School: Buddha Nature

Madhyamaka School: Buddha Nature

Tantrayana: Buddha Nature

Chan: Buddha Nature, Bodhicitta, and True Suchness

Undemanding Tathagatagarbha

15. Tantra

Tantric Deities

Entering Vajrayana

Excellent Features of Highest Yoga Tantra

16. Conclusion

Notes

Index

About the Authors