topics: |  buddhism |

this is an anthology prepared from the vast buddhist canon called the
tripiTaka. the pAli word tri = three, and piTaka = bAsket - tripiTaka
refers to the three collections of sayings by the buddha - vinaya piTaka ,
sutanta piTaka, and abhidhamma piTaka.  Very coarsely, they deal respectively
with rules of conduct, processes of salvation, and higher philosophy, though
the compilation is largely historical and quite haphazard in theme.

u. ko lay is a burmese academician and buddhist scholar, he was at one
point the vice-chancellor of mandalay universsity. he is associated with the
vipassana school in burma of which mr. s n goenka - the present popularizer
of vipAssana - is a student.  to its present levels in india and around the
world.

the book is very sparse with no prefatory material, no index or other
help.

Excerpts

vinaya piTaka

rules of conduct for bhikkhus and bhikkhunis as laid down by the Buddha.

Apatti = transgression;
most serious (garukApatti) = pArAjika : cannot become
	a bhikkhu - as if head has been cut off from a body, cannot be
	re-attached:
is caused by
		- sexual intercourse
		- taking with intention to steal
		- takes a life
		- claims attainments he does not have (e.g. jhAna or magga or
			phala insight)

history of these rules : how with the growing sanha, impure elements were
joining.  bhikkhu sudinna - had sex with his ex-wife and resulted in the
first pArAjika rule.  rules were laid down in assembly after consultation
with the bhikkhus.

history of accepting bhikkhunis into the order. p.5

 - buddhaM sharanaM gacchAmi
 - dhammaM sharanaM gacchAmi

these two were given to the first two disciples, merchants who had offered
him honey rice cakes for breaking his fast under the bodhi tree.

added later :
  - sangham sharanaM gacchAmi

sutanta piTaka

shIla :   moral purity through right conduct
		no arrogance in giving alms or in one's piety

samAdhi : purity of mind through concentration
		- purify the mind for all defilements
		- focus down on to a single point
paNNA :   purity of insight through vipAssana
		- a second step after achieving samAdhi, direct path to
		  nibbAna. realizes the 3 characteristics of the phenomenal
		  world:  impermanence (aniccha), suffering (dukkha) and
			  non-self (anattA). 31

includes dIgha nikAya (long discourses) - 3 vaggas
	 majjhima nikAya (medium)

abhidamma piTaka

more serious sermons, meant for more advanced persons.
seven parts

philosophical preliminaries :
    - five khandhas (aggregates of existence)
    - five Ayatanas (sensory organs and mind);
    - dhAtu
    - indriya : faculties
    - sacca: fundamenal truths etc.

analysis is finer than in suttanta piTaka etc.