Welcome to *Dhamma
Investigating Theravada Buddhism

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa!

 

Honour to the Blessed One, the Exalted One, the fully Enlightened One!

 

~ May you find the path that you have looked for. ~

~ May you travel that path peacefully and with joy. ~

~ May you benefit from the fruits of that path’s completion. ~

~ Andy Cook 2017 ~

The most recent post from the *Dhamma Blog:

The Nobility of the Truths

by Bhikkhu Bodhi The most common and widely known formulation of the Buddha’s teaching is that which the Buddha himself …

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All the latest posts from the *Dhamma Blog can be found Here

Theravada Buddhism

Theravada Buddhism - The Noble Eightfold Path

The Noble Eightfold Path

For those just starting their journey into Theravada Buddhism I would suggest you look into the article ‘Siddhartha’s Early Life‘, the Suttas (or Discourses) contained therein give a brief overview of Siddhartha Gautama’s early life before he became known as the Buddha. A little history is no bad thing.

Once you have read the life story of the Buddha then it is time for you to check the Four Noble Truths; these are dealt with separately in articles on the right hand menu. The Noble Eightfold Path has now been added and is the next step on from the Four Truths. The Four Noble Truths however, are the cornerstone of everything the Buddha spoke about in his 45 year ministry, so you really do need to get your head around them. Once you have the 4 Truths dealt with then the Suttas are your Oyster!

May all sentient beings live without fear!

A quick note about the *Dhamma Blog and Theravada Buddhism

Therevada Buddhism - Buddha by Otgonbayar Ershuu

Buddha by Otgonbayar Ershuu

Samsara, or the round of rebirth and death, continues to tie the world ling (you and me) to this three-dimensional reality. Everything we experience results in suffering in some form or other. We may have the most amazing family holiday together but we still suffer and mourn during the journey home. We may be living with a partner we could never have hoped to acquire, yet 50 or 60 years later we will have to come to terms with losing them, thus such bliss results in suffering. Every single one of us will endure illness, old age and death… all forms of suffering; yet the Buddha shows us a way out of this continual circus. The Buddha shows us how to escape Samsara, the round of rebirth and death.

I hope this website will be an easy introduction to Theravada Buddhism. I follow the Theravada tradition or ‘Way of the Elders’. It is believed to be the closest tradition that exists to what the Buddha actually taught. Emphasis is placed on the Sutta Pitaka or Basket of Discourses and thus on the words of the Buddha himself (see The Tipitaka: The Recorded Teachings of the Buddha). Later commentaries are also consulted but it is the Suttas that are primary to the Theravada tradition.

Please feel free to contact me using the form available at the top of this site, but please bear in mind, I am also a beginner and claim no authority in the Middle Way.