Buddha: The Marvellous Sage

When we study the teachings of the Buddha in the Sutta Piṭaka and the Vinaya Piṭaka, the Buddha’s majestic glory and life free of defilements dazzle before our eyes. It is impossible to think of anything or anyone more wonderful and marvelous than the Buddha.Many books have been written on the life of the Buddha. But this book is not a scholarly study, rather, this book was written in the way that a disciple who has gone for refuge to the Buddha would view his Teacher.The life of the Blessed One, the Dhamma he realized, and his disciples born of the Dhamma—the Saṅgha—cannot be separated. In this biography of the Buddha, the interconnection of the Triple Gem has been taken into consideration as much as possible. Also, other beings such as devas and Brahmās who live in far-away worlds are mentioned to show the Buddha in his capacity as the supreme spiritual teacher of the universe, the teacher of devas and humans.If by reading Buddha: the Marvelous Sage someone is inspired to happily go for refuge to the Buddha by saying buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi, then the purpose of this book will have been served. Why so? Because to go for refuge to a Buddha is the rarest blessing a being can receive in saṃsāra.By reading this book, may you too have the good fortune to receive this blessing!Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnānānanda Thera

the wise shall realize

The Wise Shall Realize, the latest collection of English sutta desananas from Mahamegha, contains six discourses along with the story of Lokusvaminwahanse's journey seeking the Nobel Eightfold path. What is the best way we can help our friends? In the Mittamacca Sutta we learn that the Supreme Buddha wanted us to help our friends by establishing them in unshakable confidence in the Supreme Buddha, Supreme Dhamma, and Supreme Sangha as well as in unbreakable virtue. What should a lay disciple spend their time thinking about? In the Mahanama sutta the Supreme Buddha teaches the recollections we should practice all the time. If we saw the world in the same way the Supreme Buddha did, we would not experience suffering. In the Mahadukkhakkhanda Sutta we lean about our distorted perception of the world. Is it possible for a wise person to turn away from the lures of sensuality? In the Malunkyaputta sutta the Blessed One teaches his disciples a method for doing just that. The Gotama sutta explains the Supreme Buddha's discovery of dependent origination as the direct path for putting an end to this round of samsara. And in the Ananada Sutta, the Blessed One teaches the connection between anapanasati, the four foundations of mindfulness and the seven factors of enlightenment as a path to bring clear knowing and release to completion. Finally, you will get to read a brief account of Lokusvaminwahanse's life story and his efforts to realize the Dhamma.

the supreme bliss of nibbana

This Invaluable book, presenting an exposition of the establishment of the Fourfold Mindfulness; Kayanupassana (The observation of body), Vedananupassana (The observation of sensations), Cittanupassana (The observation of mind) and Dhammanupassana (The observation of mental contents). The Path refers to the Noble Eightfold Path. Whoever reads this book must read it over and over again to try to understand it again and again and try to practise what is in this book continuously over and over again. Then this extremely miraculous noble doctrine will certainly help you to escape from the four kinds of hells, to overcome suffering in this samsaric existence.

dependent origination

This book contains a minute fraction of the infinite knowledge of the Buddha. It describes in detail the Buddha’s marvelous realization about the law of Dependent Origination (paṭiccasamuppāda). After realizing the truth about Dependent Origination, the Buddha taught us that the endless suffering in the cycle of birth and death is a result of the principle of cause and effect. The path to Enlightenment according to the Dhamma is entirely dependent on one’s own effort. Read this book carefully and remember well the vital points of Dhamma it contains. Strive hard to acquire wisdom and develop wise consideration. Realization of the Dhamma does not happen without effort!

buddhism

“Mankind’s wonderful treasure of wisdom is the Teachings of the Supreme Buddha. This Noble Doctrine, the Dhamma, illuminates our lives, bringing happiness and joy. Go in search of this wonderful Dhamma, lead your life accordingly, eradicate suffering and join that fortunate band of people who experience the Supreme Bliss”

paritta chanting book

This book of sacred teachings of the Buddha is filled with suttas that offer protection in the world and release from it. It includes all of the traditional chants along with important suttas such as the Lokavabodha Sutta and Dhamma Cetia Sutta. All are translated into simple English alternating with the original Pali. English can be easily chanted. (This book is a translation of Buddhist scriptures found in the Sutta Pitaka, preserved in the Theravada Buddhist tradition.)

stories of brahmas

The discourses in this book are taken from the Brahma Samyutta. There are fifteen discourses which are divided into two chapters as Kokalika chapter and Final Extinguishing chapter. Whoever reads the discourses in this book can understand the close relationship that Brahmas had with the Supreme Buddha and with His Noble Disciples. From this book you will learn about the gods that live in the highest heavens, the brahma realms. You will see how arrogant gods became disciples of the Buddha. These stories are a translation of the Brahma Samyutta found in the Samyutta Nikaya. (This book is a translation of Buddhist scriptures found in the Sutta Pitaka, preserved in the Theravada Buddhist tradition.)

The Voice of Enlightened Monks: The Thera Gatha

From this book you will learn about the lives and enlightenment of monks who followed the Buddha’s path to the final end. This is a complete translation of the Theragatha. (This book is a translation of Buddhist scriptures found in the Sutta Pitaka, preserved in the Theravada Buddhist tradition.)

The Voice Of Enlightened Nuns

One of the books of the Pali Canon Found in the Khuddaka Nikaya A translation into English from the Sinhala translation by Venerable Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thera (This book is a translation of Buddhist scriptures found in the Sutta Pitaka, preserved in the Theravada Buddhist tradition.)

The real world you don't know

Stories of Heavenly Mansions from the Vimanavatthu

What Happens After Death-Buddha Answers

Stories of Ghosts from the Petavatthu

For the most part, human beings cannot see all of the results of their good and bad actions. Because of this, people often doubt the benefit of doing good things and the danger of doing bad things. Fortunately, the Buddha taught all about the results of actions. In this book you will learn about gods and goddesses who did wholesome actions in their previous human lives. You will be able to understand how powerful the results of doing good things can be. (This book is a translation of Buddhist scriptures found in the Sutta Pitaka, preserved in the Theravada Buddhist tradition.) Readers of this book will also enjoy Stories of Ghosts from the Pethavatthu.

The Wonderful Dhamma in the Sutta pitaka. Original words of the Gautama Buddha from Pali canon. Translated by Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thera. (This book is a translation of Buddhist scriptures found in the Sutta Pitaka, preserved in the Theravada Buddhist tradition.)

Most of us are able to see beings who have been reborn in the human realm and many of the beings born in the animal realm. But it is very rare to have the opportunity to witness for ourselves the suffering experienced by those beings born in the ghost realm. Our great teacher, the Supreme Buddha, had an excellent knowledge and vision to be able to see these beings as well as the action that led to the suffering that they experience. In this book, Stories of Ghosts, we can learn about many kinds of ghosts and the bad actions they did to be reborn in the ghost world.Some ghosts had done bad actions with their body, such as the former deer hunter who, in the ghost world, was torn to shreds by dogs day after day. Other ghosts had done bad things with their speech, such as the ghost who had the mouth of a pig. Even our mental actions can lead to rebirth as a ghost. In this book you will learn about the ghost who held many wrong views and because of that was eventually going to be born in hell for many eons. Some ghosts experience suffering because of not doing things such as practicing generosity.Because it is not easy to see the results of our own actions immediately, the information in this book will help us to make wise choices about what we do and don’t do. (This book is a translation of Buddhist scriptures found in the Sutta Pitaka, preserved in the Theravada Buddhist tradition.)

Establishments of Mindfulness: Maha Satipatthana Sutta

Before this publication, I wrote a comprehensive commentary on the Maha Satipatthana Sutta (The Great Discourse on the Establishments of Mindfulness) based on excerpts from various suttas. The book was published under the title The Supreme Bliss of Nibbana, and gained recognition from pious Buddhist Devotees. Though devotees have for quite some time been requesting that I furnish a book that is suited for chanting the Maha Satipatthana Sutta in both Pali and Sinhala languages, so far it was delayed as I was busy. This publication is in response to the request made by those devotees. If a person melodiously chants this Pali-Sinhala Maha Satipatthana Discourse in a peaceful place in his home, in a stupa compound or under the shade of a Bodhi-tree, or any other suitable location, by doing so they can accrue both the great merit of chanting the Dhamma of the Tatagatha and the great merit of contemplating on the Dhamma. To make the chanting easier for you, places you are supposed to pause are marked with the / sign. By chanting this Maha Satipatthana Sutta, you have the fortune of getting a clear interpretation of the Four Noble Truths from the words of the Buddha himself. Therefore I bless you to accrue exquisite merit by melodiously chanting this Maha Satipatthana Sutta with a pleasant mind, contemplating on its meaning. By the influence of the merits thus gained, may you realise the Four Noble Truths in this Gauthama Buddha’s Dispensation! (This book is a translation of Buddhist scriptures found in the Sutta Pitaka, preserved in the Theravada Buddhist tradition.)

The Itivuttaka -This was said by the Buddha

A collection of Gautama Buddha’s original suttas about bad kamma, painful results and the way out of suffering.
(From sutta pitaka)

Translated into English from Sinhala translation by venerable Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero.

stories of sakka lord of gods

This book contains sermons regarding the life of Sakka, the lord of devas. It details a marvellous account of his previous lives as well as his sterling and outstanding qualities.

What does the Buddha really teach – Dhammapada

This book, which serves as a handbook for the Buddhist people, entails a collection of magnificent verses spoken by the Supreme Buddha which consists of verses of basic human qualities to enlighten you with great knowledge.

Special DHamma books

Dhamma Books

Books on meditation

Dhammapada stories

Translations of the Tripitaka