Some 2500 years ago in ancient Northeast India, a young, brilliant and courageous man discovered the sublime answer to how the mind works and how to realise unconditioned happiness and bliss. For the next 45 years, he devoted his life to teaching the doctrine that helped bring unparalleled happiness, peace and relief to numerous people long after his death. In time stories began to emerge proclaiming his greatness and his near-divinity status. Over generations and into distant lands, those stories took on a life of their own. Eventually the real man is buried under a mountain of beautiful fantasies and magical tales. Scholars in Buddhist studies have never lost sight of the historical Buddha. There is a beautiful story to tell about the real man but the materials never quite made it to the mass market because academic books are generally hard to read and appreciate. This book seeks to bring the historical Buddha back into the popular psyche. That story is as intriguing, and is perhaps even more inspiring than the best fantasy story that had ever been woven....

"Buddha did not waste time with external worldly conditions. He had seen through their transient nature and decided to go in search of happiness directly and not derive it through conditional proxies. At 35 (quite the prime ofhis life), Buddha knew exactly what it was like to taste that exquisite inner peace that is not dependant on fickle, short-lived external conditions. After six years of exacting spiritual practice under very painful conditions, he succeeded in his quest to realise unconditioned happiness (nibbana). By any yardstick, that attainment alone would already have made his life deeply meaningful. While the rest of the world hankers after passing moments of delight, he abided in deep contentment and happiness as a matter of course. There is no comparison!"...

Table of Contents Abbreviations for Pali Canon Texts | i An Author’s Request | ii Foreword | viii Chapter One: Spread of Dhamma to Kosala | 1 Chapter Two: Establishing the Nun Order | 19 Chapter Three: Sangha Quarrels at Kosambi | 37 Chapter Four: Middle Age – Successes in Dhamma Work | 47 Chapter Five: Middle Age – Trouble and Unpleasantness | 93 Chapter Six: Troubling Times | 123 Chapter Seven: Troubled Old Age | 145 Chapter Eight: Last Days | 160 Chapter Nine: After Parinibbana – safeguarding Dhamma | 205 Short Reflection on Volume 2 | 225 Poems | 228 Glossary of Pāli Words | 231 About the Author | 241 Bibliography | 243 In Noble Service | 247...

This small booklet summarizes 21 of the Commands of Jesus from Matthew and offers some brief comments on practical ways to live them in our day to day lives....

5) “…do not worry about your life..”-Matt. 6,25 “what you will eat (or drink), or about your body; what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?...can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life span?...Your Heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”-Matt. 6, 25-34 In these words, Jesus commands us to stop worrying about our life and its circumstances; and that we must trust in God; that He will provide all that we truly need. We are to learn from the way that the flowers grow, and the grass in the field; God provides for them. The birds of the air and all of God’s creatures and processes of this world are well in hand, under God’s watchful eye. Nothing in God’s creation worries except man. We have been given the power of rational thought but we abuse it by questioning God’s purpose for us and His ability to take care of us. We venture down the road of self-reliance and self-s...

Table of Contents 1) “The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve”-Matt. 4, 10 on page 6 2) “love your enemies….Matt. 5, 44 on page 7 3) “…when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.”- Matt. 6, 6 on page 9 4) “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…” -Matt. 6, 19 on page 11 5) “…do not worry about your life…”- Matt. 6, 25 on page 13 6) “stop judging, that you may not be judged.”- Matt. 7, 1 on page 15 7) “ask and it will be given to you… -Matt. 7, 7 on page 16 8) “do to others whatever you would have them do to you.”- Matt. 7, 12 on page 18 9) “enter through the narrow gate…” –Matt. 7, 13 on page 20 10) “go and learn the meaning of the words- I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”- Matt. 9, 13 on page 22 11) “ask the Master of the harvest to send out labourers…” – Matt. 9, 38 on page 24 12) “without cost you are to give…” – Matt. 10, 8 on page 26 13) “come to me, all you who labor and are burdened…” -Matt. 11, 28 on page 28 14) “if you wish to be perfect, go and sell what you have…”- Matt. 19, 21 on page 29 15) “you shall love the ...