Heritage of Bhikkhu

by Walpola Rahula

Walpola Rahula's What the Buddha Taught is a perennial backlist best-seller and has proven to be an indispensable guide to beginning Buddhism. It is renowned for its authoritative, clear, logical, and comprehensive approach. The Heritage of the Bhikkhu is a vivid account of the Buddhist monk's role as a servant to people's needs as a follower and teacher of the basic Buddhist principles. In this fascinating and informative volume, the author a noted Buddhist monk and scholar who received monastic training and education in Sri Lanka emphasizes Buddhism as a practical doctrine for daily living and spiritual perfection, not simply a monastic discipline. The Heritage of the Bhikkhu is a pioneering work that deserves to stand with the author's earlier masterpiece.

Genres: Buddhism, History

Paperback

First published June 1, 1974

About the author

Walpola Rahula (1907–1997) was a Buddhist monk, scholar and writer. He is one of the Sri Lankan intellectuals of the 20th century. In 1964, he became the Professor of History and Religions at Northwestern University, thus becoming the first bhikkhu to hold a professorial chair in the Western world. He also once held the position of Vice-Chancellor at the then Vidyodaya University (currently known as the University of Sri Jayewardenepura). He has written extensively about Buddhism in English, French and Sinhalese. His book, What the Buddha Taught, is considered by many to be one of the best books written about Theravada Buddhism.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was primarily a history of Ceylon/Sri Lanka, but it's also an interesting look at the various roles bhikkhus played in a decidedly Buddhist country as it went through colonization by multiple imperial powers and through multiple periods where practicing Buddhism was difficult or illegal. So even though I wasn't particularly interested in the history of Sri Lanka and I wasn't familiar with the many names mentioned, I did enjoy this book.

[Rob the Obscure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insight into the life of a Buddhist Monk