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THE WISDOM OF BUDDHISM
A balanced selection from Buddhist writings, including scriptures used by the Zen School, with chapters on the Buddha, Tibetan Buddhism, Concentration and Meditation, the Buddhist Order, and Nirvana. With sources, glossary and index.
- GenresReligion
280 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
About the author
Christmas Humphreys
113 books23 followersTravers Christmas Humphreys, QC was an English barrister who prosecuted several controversial cases in the 1940s and 1950s, and later became a judge at the Old Bailey. He also wrote a number of works on Mahayana Buddhism and in his day was the best-known British convert to Buddhism.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
September 6, 2024
AN EXCELLENT SAMPLING OF BUDDHIST TEXTS
Travers Christmas Humphreys (1901-1983) was a British barrister who founded the London Buddhist Society, and wrote other books such as 'Buddhism: An Introduction and Guide,' 'A Western Approach to Zen,' 'Zen Buddhism,' 'Buddhist Way of Life,' 'Walk on!', etc.
He wrote in the Preface to this 1960 book, "As the title of this book makes clear, this is a work on the Wisdom of Buddhism. I have therefore omitted the Life of the Buddha as given in the Pali Canon, and I have included little of mythology or of the Buddhist Order. In the space available I have kept to the centre of the teaching, and have therefore given but little of the Tantra of Tibet, the late and elaborate Abhidhamma teaching of the Theravada School, or of the Pure Land School of present-day Japan."
Here are some additional quotations from the book:
"Within our mind there is a Buddha, and that Buddha within is the real Buddha." (Pg. 37)
"The Buddha was not an agnostic, for he knew." (Pg. 52)
"Have I not already told you that if, when I die, I die with craving in my heart, I shall (be reborn); but if not, not?" (Pg. 76)
"I have taught the Dhamma without making any distinction between exoteric and esoteric doctrine; for in respect of the norm, Ananda, the Tathagata has no such thing as the closed fist of those teachers who hold back certain things..." (Pg. 93)
"...no Bodhisattva who is a real Bodhisattva cherishes the idea of an ego-entity, a personality, a being, or a separated individuality." (Pg. 115)
"The Stillness lies in surrender of all things, and my spirit is fain for the Stillness." (Pg. 135)
"What does it mean to practice insight by a Middle Way? It means to look at the nature of our minds in a more comprehensive way. If we do that we will see that the mind is neither true nor false, and from that viewpoint we restrain our dependent thoughts." (Pg. 159-160)
"Everything originates within the mind. Just as a magician cleverly makes whatever he wishes to appear, so this world of delusion originates within the mind." (Pg. 173)
"Zen offers no miracle to save your life at the last moment, but it can give you equanimity at all times." (Pg. 197)
Travers Christmas Humphreys (1901-1983) was a British barrister who founded the London Buddhist Society, and wrote other books such as 'Buddhism: An Introduction and Guide,' 'A Western Approach to Zen,' 'Zen Buddhism,' 'Buddhist Way of Life,' 'Walk on!', etc.
He wrote in the Preface to this 1960 book, "As the title of this book makes clear, this is a work on the Wisdom of Buddhism. I have therefore omitted the Life of the Buddha as given in the Pali Canon, and I have included little of mythology or of the Buddhist Order. In the space available I have kept to the centre of the teaching, and have therefore given but little of the Tantra of Tibet, the late and elaborate Abhidhamma teaching of the Theravada School, or of the Pure Land School of present-day Japan."
Here are some additional quotations from the book:
"Within our mind there is a Buddha, and that Buddha within is the real Buddha." (Pg. 37)
"The Buddha was not an agnostic, for he knew." (Pg. 52)
"Have I not already told you that if, when I die, I die with craving in my heart, I shall (be reborn); but if not, not?" (Pg. 76)
"I have taught the Dhamma without making any distinction between exoteric and esoteric doctrine; for in respect of the norm, Ananda, the Tathagata has no such thing as the closed fist of those teachers who hold back certain things..." (Pg. 93)
"...no Bodhisattva who is a real Bodhisattva cherishes the idea of an ego-entity, a personality, a being, or a separated individuality." (Pg. 115)
"The Stillness lies in surrender of all things, and my spirit is fain for the Stillness." (Pg. 135)
"What does it mean to practice insight by a Middle Way? It means to look at the nature of our minds in a more comprehensive way. If we do that we will see that the mind is neither true nor false, and from that viewpoint we restrain our dependent thoughts." (Pg. 159-160)
"Everything originates within the mind. Just as a magician cleverly makes whatever he wishes to appear, so this world of delusion originates within the mind." (Pg. 173)
"Zen offers no miracle to save your life at the last moment, but it can give you equanimity at all times." (Pg. 197)
Displaying 1 of 1 review