the word of buddha

The

Word of the Buddha

, published originally in German, was

the first strictly systematic exposition of all the main tenets of

the Buddha’s Teachings presented in the Master’s own words

as found in the

Sutta-Pitaka

of the Buddhist Pali Canon.

While it may well serve as a first introduction for the beginner,

its chief aim is to give the reader who is already more or

less acquainted with the fundamental ideas of Buddhism, a

clear, concise and authentic summary of its various doctrines,

within the framework of the all-embracing ‘Four Noble

Truths,’ i.e. the Truths of Suffering (inherent in all existence),

of its Origin, of its Extinction, and of the Way leading to its

extinction. From the book itself it will be seen how the teachings

of the Buddha all ultimately converge upon the one final

goal: Deliverance from Suffering. It was for this reason that

on the title page of the first German edition there was printed

the passage from the

Anguttara Nik ya

which says: