A short essay "Modern Buddhist" in which ideas of Siamese nobleman chao Phya Thipakon (regarded very pious by Buddhist nations) were introduced by the author of the present book. These are received well. This enthusiased the author to write the ideas in revised and enlarged form. So the present book.
This book has three parts. Part I: The Modern Buddhist" has the ideas of Siamese minister state of his own and other religions of the Siam.
Part II: A life of Buddha" has chapters I to X and Notes to the life of Buddha (total notes: 174)
Part III: The Phrabat of the Holy Footprint described in chapter I, II and III.
Appendix: Describes the thirty-two characterization of a great man.
The modern Buddhist part of the book explains ideas of Buddhism in present days context of Siamese nobleman Chao Phya Tipakon. The book makes readers known to about culture, literature, secular and religious.
Please not some popular and effective teachings of his (a) Happy are they who follow religion of their ancestor and indicate its new feature that religion is science of man, and not the revelation of God…idea of self is of much consequence to attain the path of Nirvana (b) Merits and demerits of man account for present existence and will shape future. Object of man must therefore be accumulation of merits. (c) virtuous and self denying life practice of charity and exercises of meditation, self-improvement are valuable guidelines. (d) whether or not we have a soul there is something we create our destiny: benefits of our good actions and punishment of our wickedness…our endeavour should be to benefit the world…overview of A life of Buddha.
Burmese, Ceylonese, Tibetan, Siamese sources on the life of Buddha are consulted to write this work. Notes written to the life of Buddha are important section of the book. Religion-wise historical details on worship and prayers are described in the book.
Metaphysical system of Buddhism as emerged in present day study is also part of it.
Primitive form of Buddhism, monastic Buddhism, Brahmanical superstitions and special mentions of present teachings to be followed for are subjects of this books.
Following is an impressive advise describes in the book:
All existence are state of vanity, sorrow and change, the object of wisely pious must be to escape from...by eradicating all delights in worldly pleasure and raising the mind to that intellectual state in which no cleaving to existence but a tranquail readiness to pass into perfect rest of Nirvana. |
