Theravada Buddhist Books

A study guide on the five khandhas (aggregates) emphasizing the importance of bringing the right questions to the teachings on the khandhas. If you use them to…

This modern translation of the Abhidhammattha Sangaha (Manual of Abhidhamma) offers an introduction to Buddhism’s fundamental philosophical psychology.

All teachings or beliefs outside of the Buddha’s Dispensation fall under the category of beliefs in a self, attā. They hold to the view that there is such a…

uch has been written about the life of Phra Ajahn Mun Bhūridatta Thera (1870-1949), the founder of the Thai Forest Tradition, but very little was recorded of…

This manual is written in reply to a layperson requesting guidance in developing insight, clarifying doctrinal aspects, and advancing from a blind worldling to…

This is a study guide on the ten recollections, a set of meditation themes that highlight the positive role that memory and thought play in training the mind.

This book contains ten Dhamma talks given by the renowned Thai meditation master Venerable Ajahn Chah. In a clear and simple yet penetrative style…

Abhidhamma in Daily Life is an exposition of absolute realities in detail. Abhidhamma means higher doctrine and the book’s purpose is to encourage the right…

The Abhidhamma, the third great division of early Buddhist teaching, expounds a revolutionary system of philosophical psychology rooted in the twin Buddhist…

This book contains a collection of teachings the Buddha gave to his son Rahula. The first of the texts translated here, the Exhortation to Rāhula given at…

This book, containing transcriptions of twelve talks by the renowned Buddhist nun Ayya Khema, is for all people everywhere who seek liberation from suffering…

A collection of Dhamma talks from the foremost woman Dhamma teacher in modern Thailand.

This book contains an anthology of 154 selected discourses from the Pali canon. The original translation was by Nyanaponika Thera and was published in the BPS…

A collection of teachings spanning the whole range of practice by Ajahn Lee’s principal student and Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu’s teacher.

This book covers in outline, but with many interesting stories and examples, the history and development of the Sangha, the Buddhist Order of monks and nuns…

Uniquely among the Ajahns in the Thai Wilderness tradition Ajahn Lee composed systematic treatises on the practice. These are valuable documents…

Passages from the Pāli Canon arranged in five sections: the Buddha as physician; diagnoses of the conditions of aging, etc.; the conditions as motivations for…

This was the first compilation of a series of translated talks by Ajahn Chah. After its initial printing in 1979 it has been reprinted many times.

This work contains some of the most important and inspiring discourses of the Buddha such as the Kalama Sutta, and many discourses with practical advice for lay…

The scientist has brought the external world under his sway, and seems to promise that he can turn this world into a paradise. But humans cannot yet control…

Translations of important Pali words and meditation terms arranged in alphabetical order; definitions include a longer discussion of certain complex concepts…

A small booklet containing the following: the Verses of Final Knowledge of Bhikkhunī Sujātā; Queen Mallikā; What Cannot Be Got (The Buddha’s Words to King…

The tales contained in this collection were first told in the dark decade of Burmese history (1876–85) during the coming event of the British conquest.

Cetasika means belonging to the mind. It is a mental factor which accompanies consciousness (citta) and experiences an object. There are 52 cetasikas.

Two lessons on meditation given by Ajahn Chah. The first lesson is about meditating on buddho, the meditation method that Ajahn Chah frequently taught.

Three Dhamma talks on the importance of being in touch with the truths inside—the truths of the body and of the mind—so that the mind can be trained to bring…

Dependent origination, paṭicca-samuppāda, is a basic teaching of Buddhism. The doctrine therein being so deep and profound it is not possible within the limited…

Religion and devotion are inseparable, and Buddhism is no exception to this rule. Theravada, or Buddhism based on the Pali Tipiṭaka, the original Teachings of…

This volume brings together fifty-three essays of Bhikkhu Bodhi that were earlier published by the BPS in newsletters and other publications.

An anthology of verses attributed to the Buddha long recognized as one of the masterpieces of early Buddhist literature. This edition has the full Introduction…

A volume of essays which shows the vital significance of Buddhism in the 20th century. This volume brings together the author’s numerous contributions to BPS’s…

This book summarizes Ajahn Chah’s approach quite neatly. Showing us the immediacy of the Dhamma, he demystified the concepts of Buddhism so that almost anyone…

In 1989 Ajahn Suwat, the founder of Metta Forest Monastery, guided a meditation retreat for Westerners at Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA.

Renowned for the beauty and simplicity of his teachings, Ajahn Chah was Thailand’s best-known meditation teacher. His charisma and wisdom influenced many…

The title of this collection reflects how it invites the reader to fill in the spaces suggested by the talks to reflect on how the images and teachings they…

Now these truths, as we shall see, are something quite different from the usual bases of religious belief; so different, in fact, that it has been questioned…

A practical explanation for meditators of the four frames of reference from the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta (the Discourse on the Foundations of Mindfulness) by Ajahn…

The teachings contained in this publication are a selection of transcribed talks given by Venerable Sayadaw U Pandita at the Tathagatha Meditation center…

At the request of the Srilankaramaya Buddhist Temple Dr. Santina gave a series of lectures in which the foundation of Buddhism was given.

I shall give a short exposition of the essence of the genuine teaching of the Buddha, such as we still find it in the Buddhist scriptures handed down to us in…

This book is a compilation of Ajahn Dune’s short teachings — pure truths at the highest level, lessons and admonishments he gave his students…

As a tribute to the memory of a dear and esteemed friend and of a brilliant and creative mind, these pages gleaned from his posthumous papers are here presented.

One of the descriptive titles given to the Buddha is that of satthā-deva-manussānaṃ, the Teacher of Gods and Men. It is found in the earliest texts of the…

Twenty-four of the Buddha’s most distinguished disciples are brought to life in ten chapters of rich narration. They include monks who were very close to him…

An outline or synposis of the seven books of the advanced analytical collection of the Pali Canon, the Abhidhamma Pitaka. Each of the books of this collection…

This volume is the first in a four-volume anthology of suttas (discourses) drawn from the Sutta Piṭaka (discourse basket or repository) of the Pāli Canon.

The Majjhima Nikāya — the Middle Collection — is the second collection in the Sutta Piṭaka. It takes its name from the length of the discourses it contains…

The Saṁyutta Nikāya, a collection of short to medium-length discourses, takes its name from the way the discourses are organized into groups connected…

The Aṅguttara Nikāya, a collection of short to medium-length discourses, takes its name from the way the discourses are grouped by the number of their parts…

This all-in-one book bundles all of the sutta collections: the Dīgha, Majjhima, Saṁyutta, and Aṅguttara Nikāyas, as well as six books from the Khuddaka Nikāya…

Ajahn Chah was a master at using the apt and unusual simile to explain points of Dhamma. The translations of these similes have been polished as little as…

Burmese meditation master Sayadaw U Pandita shows us that freedom is as immediate as breathing, as fundamental as a footstep. In this book he describes the path…

A collection of 20 Dhamma Talks by Ajahn Lee, from the basics of breath meditation to longer talks with extended metaphors on consciousnesses…

For your practice to lead to Awakening, you must develop reliable standards for judging — which practices lead to stream entry, what indicates a true experience…

This book is compiled from talks given mostly in 2001 by Ajahn Sumedho. The first edition was originally published in 2004, but has long since been out of print.

This book brings together eight essays of Bhikkhu Bodhi, five of which were earlier published in academic journals and volumes, and three not published before.

Ajahn Chah was a master at using the apt and unusual simile to explain points of Dhamma. He was especially talented at exploiting the open-ended nature of the…

The Itivuttaka is a newly updated translation of a collection of 112 short suttas, each one a prose passage followed by a verse. This collection is shaped less…

In eloquent, expressive language this book explores in depth the Buddha’s significant teaching, “When seeing, just see; when hearing, just hear…

Kamma and rebirth are often understood to be teachings of fate and helplessness in the face of unknowable influences from the past. Instead of teaching fate…

A fundamental guidebook for breath meditation and practicing the jhānas (concentration absorptions) by Ajahn Lee.

This, the first book in the Khuddaka Nikāya (Collection of Short Discourses), appears to have been designed as a primer for novice monks and nuns.

On the stirring final journey of the Buddha, covering three months, he instructs his disciples on the elements needed to keep the Dhamma strong and stresses the…

A practical manual for lay Buddhists covering devotional practices (chanting, setting up a shrine room, etc.), uposatha day observances, lay precepts…

This is a collection of nine transcribed Dhamma talks given by Ajahn Chah to the lay community as well as to the monastic community in Thailand.

This compilation consists of five talks and three question and answer sessions by the renowned Thai Forest Tradition teacher Venerable Ajahn Chah.

The Pali word mettā is a multi-significant term meaning loving-kindness, friendliness, goodwill, etc. If these qualities of mettā are sufficiently cultivated…

Mind Overcoming its Cankers by Acharya Buddharakkhita is a profound exposition of the āsavas, the mental pollutions that maintain samsāra…

This study guide focuses on the primary sutta in the Pāli Canon dealing with the contemplation of the body: The Discourse on Mindfulness Immersed in the Body…

Anapanasati, or “mindfulness of breathing,” is among the Buddhist methods of mind training given most prominence in the Pali Canon. It was originally for his…

The Material in this book have been collected or translated over a number of years. They represent an intimate record of spoken Dhamma, the teaching of many of…

This book contains several short essays, one by the editor, Venerable Nyanaponika, and three by lay practitioners on one of the lesser known and too-little…

In this short work there are some Dhamma talks by Ajahn Chah about meditation. Ajahn Chah talks about buddho, samādhi (concentration) and wisdom. It’s a good…

This book is a translation of the Dhutanga Kammaṭṭhāna practices of Ajahn Mun Bhūridatta Thera, and it was written by Venerable Ajahn Mahā Boowa Ñāṇasampanno…

This is an anthology consisting of 97 poems from the Theragāthā (Poems of the Elder Monks) and 34 from the Therīgāthā (Poems of the Elder Nuns). These texts are…

The practice of vipassana or insight meditation was described by the Buddha as the direct way, for the overcoming of all sorrow and grief and for realizing…

Prayer is a vehicle of desire, and desire is wedded to the deceptive idea of selfhood. The only safe wish is the wish to attain Nibbāna, the wish to strip away…

Francis Story had a particular fascination with the memories of rebirth that he encountered in Burma. He wrote prolifically about his experiences and remains…

The Buddha taught eight principles for recognizing what qualifies as Dhamma and Vinaya, and what does not. They form the standards against which the validity of…

For the past several decades, a growing flood of books, articles, and teachings has advanced theories about the practice of mindfulness which are highly…

On the personal request of the Honourable U Nu, Prime Minister, and Thado Thiri Thudhamma Sir U Thwin, President of the Buddha Sāsanānuggaha Association…

This book helps to fill what has long been a glaring gap in the scholarship on Early Buddhism, offering us a detailed textual study of the Satipatthana Sutta…

In this collection of talks Ajahn Lee covers the sorts of questions that occur to people new to meditation— Why meditate? How should I meditate? And why in that…

A collection of eight new or significantly revised translations of Ajahn Chah’s Dhamma talks by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. Two of them have never been translated…

A biography about Ajahn Chah, one of the greatest meditation teachers within Theravāda Buddhism of the last century. Ajahn Chah steadily practiced the path of…

These stories have been collected from the ancient commentaries to the Pali Canon that were compiled and translated in Sri Lanka by Venerable Buddhaghosa in the…

The talks in this collection all deal with the practice of meditation, and particularly with the development of discernment. These talks were originally given…

This is a translation of the entire collection of 72 suttas, which includes some of the longer and more famous poems in the Pāli Canon, such as the Discourse on…

Selected discourses of the Buddha on meditation and the mind, compiled by the renowned Buddhist monk Nyanaponika Thera.

For people in the modern world facing the issue of how to practice the Dhamma in daily life, the ten perfections provide a useful framework for how to do it.

The Brahmajala, one of the Buddha’s most important discourses, weaves a net of sixty-two cases capturing all the speculative views on the self and the world.

Phra Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo was one of the foremost teachers in the Thai forest ascetic tradition of meditation founded at the turn of the twentieth century by…

This book brings together six essays on the origin and history of the bodhisattva ideal and the emergence of the Mahāyana. The essays approach the subject from…

The world of English Buddhist literature has been enriched by the publication of this book entitled “The Book of Protection.” This is a translation by the…

A clear, detailed introduction to the basic teachings of Buddhism available in English, this book explains concepts and doctrines which form the common bedrock…

An analysis of the style and function of humor in the Pāli Canon along with translated passages from the Canon.

The ages roll by and the Buddha seems not so far away after all; his voice whispers in our ears and tells us not to run away from the struggle but, calm eyed…

Over the years, many expositions of the Buddha’s teachings have been published in English, but many lack authenticity and do not represent what the Buddha…

A classic entry in the Pali canon, this anthology charts the entire course of spiritual development as prescribed in the most ancient Buddhist texts.

A short introduction to the basic concepts and values underlying Buddhist practice, with special attention to clearing up common misinterpretations about what…

This two-volume set attempts to give an organized, detailed account of the Vinaya training rules and the traditions that have grown up around them.

The doctrine of reincarnation, the ceaseless round of rebirths, is not, as many people imagine, confined to Buddhism and Hinduism. It is found in some form or…

Ajahn Chah’s teachings were disarming in their directness and inspiring in their relevance. He would say: “If you let go a little, you will have a little peace.

This book, Ajahn Lee’s first, is also his most comprehensive, covering all aspects of the path of practice, from taking the five precepts to the attainment of…

The Dhammapada is the best known and most widely esteemed text in the Pali Tipitaka, the sacred scriptures of Theravada Buddhism. The work is included in the…

This profound and difficult discourse of the Buddha aims at exposing and eliminating the concept of the ego at its most fundamental level.

The Webu Sayadaw emphasized the practice of meditation as the only way to bring the teachings of the Buddha to fulfillment. The study of the scriptures…

The discourses included in this booklet were translated from talks the author gave to groups of lay disciples in the Burmese countryside.

A profound essay of extraordinary conciseness, clarity and power, in which the teacher of S. N. Goenka sums up the technique of vipassana.

Joseph Goldstein teaches meditation as a method of experiencing things as they are, entering the remarkable flow of the mind/body process. This work…

Many are the obstacles which block the road to spiritual progress, but there are five in particular which, under the name of hindrances (nivarana)…

A small booklet of edited talks given by Ajahn Sumedho on the central teaching of the Buddha: that the unhappiness of humanity can be overcome through spiritual…

All beings subsist on nutriment” — this, according to the Buddha, is the one single fact about life that, above all, deserves to be remembered…

This booklet contains two essays: Four Sublime States by Nyanaponika Thera and The Practice of Loving-Kindness (Mettā) by Ñāṇamoli Thera. The “four sublime…

In reply to a question on the fruits of the monk’s life, the Buddha traces the entire progress of the disciple from the first step of the path to its…

The Mahanidana Sutta, “The Great Discourse on Causation,” is the longest and most detailed of the Buddha’s discourses dealing with dependent arising (paticca…

The Greater Discourse on the Elephant-footprint Simile (Mahāhatthipadopama Sutta) is the 28th sutta of the Majjhima-Nikāya (Middle Collection).

This is a classic text on the essence of Buddhist meditation. It is an excellent, indepth description of mindfulness practice and its benefits.

In previous collections of Ajahn Lee’s talks, the main focus has been on technique. Here the focus is more on attitudes to bring to the practice of…

A collection of Dhamma talks published to commemorate Ajahn Suwat’s 100th birthday.

If you want to know more about meditation in the Theravada tradition, then you need to undertsand what the suttas really say about the jhanas. It is a path to…

An old Buddhist handbook of instruction on practical points of doctrine. Translated by Piyadassi Thera and Soma Thera.

Sariputta is a man of profound intellect and sublime nature, a true disciple of the Great Teacher, whose story we have set down, to the best of our ability…

Composed entirely of texts from the Pali canon, this unique biography presents the oldest authentic record of the Buddha’s life and revolutionary philosophy.

Knowing that reliable information on the practice of insight meditation was much needed by practitioners in the West, the renowned Burmese master Ledi Sayadaw…

his book contains two advanced expositions on the development of higher insight knowledge by the renowned Burmese scholar monk and meditation master Ledi…

A collection of writings from an outstanding figure in the resurgence of the Buddha’s teachings, this book is a mixture of detailed analysis, vivid stories…

This book contains ten talks on the meditative development of the mind given by the Buddhist nun Ayya Khema. In a clear and straightforward manner Ayya Khema…

This book offers a clear, concise account of the Eightfold Path prescribed to uproot and eliminate the deep underlying cause of suffering — ignorance.

This is a commentary on the Satipatthana mindfulness meditation, an inquiry into the scope of their attention and the principal sources of its strength.

The method of practicing meditation that is taught at Pa Auk Tawya Monastery is based on the explanation of meditation found in the Visuddhimagga commentary.

The practice of vipassana or insight meditation was described by the Buddha as the “direct way” for the overcoming of all sorrow and grief and for realizing…

Buddhism is the most psychological of religions. It is significant that the intricate workings of the human mind are more fully dealt with in Buddhism rather…

A complete collection of Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu’s writings since 2009 on the validity of recent attempts to reinstitute bhikkhunī (nun) ordination.

The Milindapanha is one of the great classics of Pali Buddhist literature, a spirited dialogue between the Greek king Milinda and the Buddhist sage Nagasena.

A translation of the Vitakka-Santhana Sutta together with its Commentary and notes from the Subcommentary.

In this treatise, noted Burmese scholar and monk Ledi Sayadaw explains the bodhipakkiya dhamma: the 37 requisites of enlightenment. The requisites are comprised…

Greed, hatred, and delusion – these are the three bad roots in us. Conversely the good ones are non-greed (i.e generosity), non-hatred (love)…

The Tipitaka, the Buddhist canon, is replete with references to the factors of enlightenment expounded by the Enlightened One on different occasions under…

This discourse of the Buddha — the seventh in the Collection of Middle Length Texts (Majjhima Nikaya) — deals first with a set of sixteen defilements of the…

A selection of Ajahn Lee’s teachings, including a few full talks, some short passages, and sometimes even half-thoughts, if they seemed provocative enough.

The discourse of the Buddha on the Snake Simile (Alagaddupama Sutta) that is presented here, together with explanatory notes taken mostly from the commentarial…

The sublime attitudes (brahmaviharas) are the Buddha’s primary heart teachings—the ones that connect most directly with our desire for true happiness.

Four short Dhamma talks by Ajahn Kalyano (junior) for reflection and inspiration.

If we contemplate even a minute sector of the vast range of life, we are faced with such a tremendous variety of life’s manifestations that it defeats…

The present volume on anatta concludes the treatment of The Three Basic Facts of Existence (or The Three Characteristics) within The Wheel series.

In making an actual and intelligent use of that fourfold devotional Road of the Ancients, we shall preserve the most popular religious practice in the Buddhist…

A short treatise explaining that the Buddha did not teach the doctrine of rebirth because he was blindly following the cultural norms of his time. Instead…

his book includes two small classics of the Pali Canon in one volume. The Udana, or Inspired Utterances of the Buddha, consists of eighty discourses…

The distinguished German scholar-monk Nyanaponika Thera explains some of the core issues in the teachings of the Buddha in lucid and accessible language.

This book contains a collection of teachings of Ajahn Sumedho given to people who are familiar with the conventions of Theravada Buddhism and have some…

The text of the Satipatthana Sutta is central to the teaching of vipassana meditation. This book contains a fifteen-page abbreviated version of this sutta and a…

All beings Everywhere by their very nature seek happiness, but few realize that happiness can only be found by obtaining peace of mind. The Buddha taught that…

Webu Sayadaw was believed by many to have attained complete peace and happiness, the eradication of desire, anger and delusion. He was venerated by many in his…

This anthology contains more than 200 new translations of passages from the Buddha’s teachings, along with commentary to help the reader understand their…

The three levels of Buddhist teaching are called ‘vehicles’ because they comprise the teachings and methods that will carry us to enlightenment…

These talks were originally given to the monks at Venerable Ācariya Mahā Boowa’s monastery in Thailand. They deal in part with issues particular to Buddhist…

This booklet contains the first three discourses that the Buddha gave after his Awakening. In these three discourses the Buddha displays the fundamental…

This book contains the essence of over 50 years of Sayadaw U Pandita’s clarification of Satipatthana Vipassana meditation practice. The message conveyed in this…

A complete translation of the book of the Udāna from the Khuddaka Nikāya collection of the Pāli Canon. The role of the Udāna within the context of the Pāli…

Ajahn Mun is a towering figure in contemporary Thai Buddhism. He was widely revered during his lifetime for the extraordinary courage and determination he…

The Vimuttimagga (The Path of Freedom), which serves as a meditation manual, is broadly considered a great and important work. It is similar to the Path of…

One of Buddhism’s foundational texts, the Visuddhimagga is a systematic examination and condensation of Buddhist doctrine and meditation technique.

Walking meditation is often used in vipassanā meditation, especially during retreats. In this book Ajahn Nyanadhammo explains various techniques of walking…

A classic introductory book to Buddhism, What the Buddha Taught contains a selection of illustrative texts from the original Pali texts…

Half raucous adventure and half inspirational memoir, Rude Awakenings documents an unusual pilgrimage. Two very different men – life-loving naturalist Nick…

This book is a sequel to Rude Awakenings, which began the account of a six-month epic journey by two Englishmen, a monk and layman, to the Buddhist holy places…