{"title":"Author - Dhammika, S.","description":"\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;\"\u003eBhante Shravasti Dhammika was born in Australia in 1951 and became a monk in India in 1976 under Anagarika Dharmapala's last disciple Venerable Matiwella Sangharatana. He subsequently lived in Sri Lanka and Singapore before returning to his homeland in 2017 where he now lives in semi-retirment. Bhante's numerous books have been translated into over 30 languages. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;\"\u003eJoin the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pariyatti.org\/Free-Resources\/Pariyatti-Presents\"\u003ePariyatti Presents... event with Venerable Dhammika\u003c\/a\u003e on \u003cspan style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003eSunday, August 25\u003c\/span\u003e. The Venerable will be interviewed about his work \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/store.pariyatti.org\/footprints-in-the-dust\"\u003eFootprints in the Dust\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"1460","title":"Buddha and His Disciples, The","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhat was the Buddha really like as a person? What were his interactions with his contemporaries? The society of ancient India forms the backdrop for this biography of the Buddha. Written as part of an introductory course on Theravada Buddhism, it is especially suited for young people and those who are new to the teachings.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dhammika, S.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42101504540766,"sku":"BPS:404423","price":7.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0591\/3677\/0142\/files\/404423_70590d1f-5dd6-4926-84eb-c95db9f9c80e.jpg?v=1760547645"},{"product_id":"1477","title":"Middle Land Middle Way","description":"\u003cp\u003eA guide book for the Buddhist pilgrimage in India. Maps, color photographs, and suggestions of how to get to the various sites related to the life of the Buddha make this an essential travel companion for the pilgrim as well as the general traveler in India. \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eYou might also be interested in the travel book \u003ca href=\"product.asp?itemid=2548\"\u003e\"Along the Path\"\u003c\/a\u003e. A unique guidebook covering India's and Nepal's sacred sites; indispensable for the modern-day practitioner of the Buddha's teachings. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dhammika, S.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42101505130590,"sku":"BPS:404609","price":12.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0591\/3677\/0142\/files\/404609_e2419795-acdf-44e6-8019-76bf58acdb69.jpg?v=1760547663"},{"product_id":"1655","title":"Edicts of King Asoka, The","description":"\u003cp\u003eKing Asoka, the third monarch in the Indian Mauryan dynasty, has come to be regarded as one of the most exemplary rulers in world history. Though historical evidence was long missing, his name was preserved in legend as a great emperor who ruthlessly united all of India under one rule and then, after he began to practice Dhamma, reversed directions to establish an ideal reign of virtuous action. In the nineteenth century a large number of edicts carved on rocks and stone pillars were discovered in the subcontinent of India. They not only proved Asoka's existence but showed that he attempted to rule his vast kingdom by means of Dhamma. This translation of Asoka's edicts gives us insight into this remarkable period of history when a great empire was devoted primarily to the moral and spiritual welfare of its subjects.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis 29-page booklet includes a 7-page introduction.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e[Emperor Asoka speaks thus:] \"This progress among the people through Dhamma has been done by two means, by Dhamma regulations and by persuasion. Of these, Dhamma regulation is of little effect, while persuasion has much more effect. The Dhamma regulations I have given are that various animals must be protected. And I have given many other Dhamma regulations also. But it is by persuasion that progress among the people through Dhamma has had a greater effect in respect of harmlessness to living beings and non-killing of living beings….\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Wherever there are stone pillars or stone slabs, there this Dhamma edict is to be engraved so that it may long endure. It has been engraved so that it may endure as long as my sons and great-grandsons live and as long as the sun and the moon shine, and so that people may practice it as instructed. For by practicing it happiness will be attained in this world and the next. This Dhamma edict has been written by me twenty-seven years after my coronation.\" (p.28)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003esee also \u003ca href=\"product.asp?itemid=1470\"\u003eKing Asoka and Buddhism\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bps.lk\/library-search-select.php?id=wh386\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eView eBook versions for free on the BPS site.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere are a total of 447 Wheels published by the Buddhist Publication Society (BPS), with \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/store.pariyatti.org\/Wheel-Publications_c_386.html\"\u003e222 titles listed on our website\u003c\/a\u003e. However, many of these are currently out of stock. Please note that items which are out of stock will not be re-stocked.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen an individual Wheel is out of stock, it can be found within the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/store.pariyatti.org\/search.asp?keyword=collected%20wheel\"\u003eCollected Wheel Publications (BPS edition)\u003c\/a\u003e. There are 29 Collected Wheel Publications (BPS edition), each containing 15 individual Wheels.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePariyatti has also started publishing the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/store.pariyatti.org\/collected-wheel-publications-bpe\"\u003eCollected Wheel Publications (Pariyatti edition)\u003c\/a\u003e, which also include 15 individual Wheels each. We have completed Volumes 1 through 13 (available in both print and e-book versions), and the remaining volumes will be released in the coming years. Free PDF copies of the Collected Wheel Publication (Pariyatti edition) are also available on our website.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAdditionally, you can download free PDF copies of individual titles from the \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bps.lk\/library_wheels.php\"\u003eBPS website\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dhammika, S.","offers":[{"title":"$0","offer_id":42108784246878,"sku":"BPS:403386","price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$5","offer_id":42108784279646,"sku":"BPS:403386","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$10","offer_id":42108784312414,"sku":"BPS:403386","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$15","offer_id":42108784345182,"sku":"BPS:403386","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$25","offer_id":42108784377950,"sku":"BPS:403386","price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$50","offer_id":42108784410718,"sku":"BPS:403386","price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$75","offer_id":42108784443486,"sku":"BPS:403386","price":75.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$100","offer_id":42108784476254,"sku":"BPS:403386","price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0591\/3677\/0142\/files\/403386.jpg?v=1760547766"},{"product_id":"1679","title":"Gemstones of the Good Dhamma","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis Wheel is out of print. It is, however, part of the Collected Wheel series (\u003ca href=\"product.asp?itemid=4757\"\u003eVol 22\u003c\/a\u003e).\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eA collection of inspiring verses (providing the Pāli with English translations facing) from scattered parts of the Sutta Pitaka of the Pāli Canon; arranged in groupings similar to the Dhammapada: insight, silence, happiness, love, oneself and others, mindfulness, effort, etc. With the same poetry and wisdom as the more famous Dhammapada, this collection fulfils the wish of its compiler\/translator Ven. S. Dhammika: to present these verses \"in such a way that they may enrich the faith and understanding of those who read them.\"\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eA valuable volume for the student of Pāli; for those who appreciate the poetic and moral literature of the world's great faiths; and for those walking the path of Dhamma.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp style=\"margin-left: 30px; width: 80%\"\u003e\"104. My mind is firm like a rock, unattached to sensual things, not shaking in the midst of a world where all is shaking. My mind has thus been well-developed, so how can suffering come to me?\" (p. 40)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin-left: 30px; width: 80%\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin-left: 30px; width: 80%\"\u003eMany Wheels can also can be downloaded from the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bps.lk\/\"\u003eBPS website\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003eDownload \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bps.lk\/olib\/wh\/wh342_Dhammika_Gemstones-of-Good-Dhamma.pdf\"\u003eGemstones of the Good Dhamma\u003c\/a\u003e from BPS website.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThere are a total of 447 Wheels published by the Buddhist Publication Society (BPS), with \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/store.pariyatti.org\/Wheel-Publications_c_386.html\"\u003e222 titles listed on our website\u003c\/a\u003e. However, many of these are currently out of stock. Please note that items which are out of stock will not be re-stocked.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen an individual Wheel is out of stock, it can be found within the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/store.pariyatti.org\/search.asp?keyword=collected%20wheel\"\u003eCollected Wheel Publications (BPS edition)\u003c\/a\u003e. There are 29 Collected Wheel Publications (BPS edition), each containing 15 individual Wheels.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePariyatti has also started publishing the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/store.pariyatti.org\/collected-wheel-publications-bpe\"\u003eCollected Wheel Publications (Pariyatti edition)\u003c\/a\u003e, which also include 15 individual Wheels each. We have completed Volumes 1 through 13 (available in both print and e-book versions), and the remaining volumes will be released in the coming years. Free PDF copies of the Collected Wheel Publication (Pariyatti edition) are also available on our website.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAdditionally, you can download free PDF copies of individual titles from the \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bps.lk\/library_wheels.php\"\u003eBPS website\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dhammika, S.","offers":[{"title":"$10","offer_id":42108787392606,"sku":"BPS:403342","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$15","offer_id":42108787425374,"sku":"BPS:403342","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$25","offer_id":42108787458142,"sku":"BPS:403342","price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$50","offer_id":42108787490910,"sku":"BPS:403342","price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$75","offer_id":42108787523678,"sku":"BPS:403342","price":75.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$100","offer_id":42108787556446,"sku":"BPS:403342","price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$5","offer_id":42108787589214,"sku":"BPS:403342","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$0","offer_id":42108787621982,"sku":"BPS:403342","price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0591\/3677\/0142\/files\/gemstones.png?v=1760547784"},{"product_id":"1739","title":"Matrceta's Hymn to the Buddha","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe poet Mātṛceṭa was born in India in about the first century A.D., and was converted from Hinduism to Buddhism by the great philosopher Āryadeva. He wrote about a dozen works, some of such beauty that he came to be regarded as one of India's greatest poets.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe name Śatapa�cāśatka literally means �  Hymn in a Hundred and Fifty Verses�  .\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMātṛceṭa's hymn is an expression of a deep devotion to the Buddha and an admiration of his qualities.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMātṛceṭa highlights the Buddha's gentleness, his non-retaliation, his patience and his other qualities, knowing that when we have a deep admiration for someone it is natural to try to emulate him. One feels that he used his poetic skills to the full in the hope that we would be inspired enough to make the Buddha our model and follow his example.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bps.lk\/library-search-select.php?id=wh360\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eView eBook versions for free on the BPS site.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere are a total of 447 Wheels published by the Buddhist Publication Society (BPS), with \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/store.pariyatti.org\/Wheel-Publications_c_386.html\"\u003e222 titles listed on our website\u003c\/a\u003e. However, many of these are currently out of stock. Please note that items which are out of stock will not be re-stocked.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen an individual Wheel is out of stock, it can be found within the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/store.pariyatti.org\/search.asp?keyword=collected%20wheel\"\u003eCollected Wheel Publications (BPS edition)\u003c\/a\u003e. There are 29 Collected Wheel Publications (BPS edition), each containing 15 individual Wheels.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePariyatti has also started publishing the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/store.pariyatti.org\/collected-wheel-publications-bpe\"\u003eCollected Wheel Publications (Pariyatti edition)\u003c\/a\u003e, which also include 15 individual Wheels each. We have completed Volumes 1 through 13 (available in both print and e-book versions), and the remaining volumes will be released in the coming years. Free PDF copies of the Collected Wheel Publication (Pariyatti edition) are also available on our website.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAdditionally, you can download free PDF copies of individual titles from the \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bps.lk\/library_wheels.php\"\u003eBPS website\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dhammika, S.","offers":[{"title":"$25","offer_id":42108793618526,"sku":"BPS:403360","price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$50","offer_id":42108793651294,"sku":"BPS:403360","price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$75","offer_id":42108793684062,"sku":"BPS:403360","price":75.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$100","offer_id":42108793716830,"sku":"BPS:403360","price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$15","offer_id":42108793749598,"sku":"BPS:403360","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$10","offer_id":42108793782366,"sku":"BPS:403360","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$5","offer_id":42108793815134,"sku":"BPS:403360","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$0","offer_id":42108793847902,"sku":"BPS:403360","price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0591\/3677\/0142\/files\/403360.jpg?v=1760547822"},{"product_id":"2502","title":"Sacred Island","description":"\u003cp\u003eA travel and pilgrimage guide meant for Buddhists or those interested in the Buddha's teachings who wish to explore Sri Lanka's rich cultural and spiritual heritage. Drawing on his extensive knowledge of the Island, the author weaves together archaeological findings, art history and the stories and legends of the Buddhist tradition to bring to life 33 places of religious significance. He offers practical advice on how to travel in Sri Lanka and what the visitor can do to learn more about Buddhism and meditation. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIncludes detailed maps, illustrations and colored photographs of the sacred sites, of interest to general readers as well as pilgrims.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dhammika, S.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42101550350430,"sku":"BPS:404617","price":12.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0591\/3677\/0142\/files\/sacred-island_33c05bb3-b1cd-4670-9c1d-1124825be25f.jpg?v=1760548099"},{"product_id":"5151","title":"Nature and the Environment in Early Buddhism","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis book is an in-depth investigation of the natural environment that the Buddha lived in, as depicted in early Theravada Buddhist texts.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn recent decades there has been a great deal of interest in the contribution religions can make to environmental awareness and the development of environmental ethics. Because of its teaching of a compassion that includes all sentient life, Buddhism in particular is well placed to make an important contribution to such discussions. The many works resulting from this have tended to focus mainly on human\/animal interaction, animal and plant symbolism, and especially environmental ethics. In the present book the author examines the underpinning of all this. The first part examines how north Indian Buddhists tried to explain, define and classify their natural world; everything from its topographical features to metrological phenomena and of course its flora and fauna. The second and largest part lists alphabetically the Pali names of every animal and plant mentioned in early Theravada scriptures, some 580 altogether, describing each, together with its scientific name and uses. The last part lists the medicinal herbs mentioned in the scriptures together with their traditional application and modern usage. Comprehensive, detailed and well referenced, this book will be an essential companion for anyone interested in the early Buddhist understanding of the natural world.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe author, an Australian Buddhist monk, has written many books and articles on various aspects of Buddhism including Middle Land Middle Way, Sacred Island, and The Edicts of King Asoka.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003chr\u003e \u003cp\u003e \"In 2000 I spent a week in the forest around Jamui in Bihar. Although badly degraded in parts and unsafe in others because of bandits, the forest and its wildlife are still relatively intact. This short sojourn offered a rare glimpse of India s natural environment that would have been familiar to the Buddha but which has now almost completely disappeared. I saw nilghi, troops of languar, the quills of a porcupine, the glorious Butea superba in full bloom, a peacock and its mates and numerous other birds. At nearly every turn I was reminded of the Buddha s descriptions of the forest and of some of the bucolic poetry in the J taka. It was during these few pleasant days that I conceived the idea of writing something about nature and the environment as depicted in the P  i Tipi aka. \" \u003c\/p\u003e \u003ccite style=\"display: flex; justify-content: flex-end\"\u003e—S. Dhammika\u003c\/cite\u003e","brand":"Dhammika, S.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42101590032478,"sku":"BPS:404629s","price":10.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0591\/3677\/0142\/files\/bp629s-c_bb97529c-8fe5-494f-8225-feca237c94d9.jpg?v=1760548628"},{"product_id":"6576","title":"Footprints in the Dust by S. Dhammika (Pariyatti Edition)","description":" \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClick Google Preview button to look inside the book.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003e     \u003cscript type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/books.google.com\/books\/previewlib.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e     \u003cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e     GBS_setLanguage('en');     GBS_insertPreviewButtonPopup('ISBN:9781681725970');     \u003c\/script\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eUnlike stiff biographies of the Buddha or biographies that are replete with mystery and magic, Footprints in the Dust enables us get to know the Buddha as a human being a deeply compassionate and wise person who not only actualized the path to enlightenment but also shared the way to accomplish that path with countless others so that they too may gain supreme peace. We learn of the challenges Gotama faced many similar to our own and how he dealt with them. We see his responses when praised and blamed, when confronted with crises within the Order and disputes among kings and couples. We see how he guided monastic and lay disciples with their diverse personalities and dispositions. In getting an insider s glimpse into how his wisdom and compassion manifested when engaged in situations that we too may experience, we learn how to work in a constructive way with whatever life brings us. This is an inspiring and engaging book that you will read and reread many times.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cdiv style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e Bhiksuni Thubten Chodron, Dharma teacher, author, and abbess of Sravasti Abbey\u003c\/div\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhat was the Buddha like as a human being? How did he relate to others? With great care and an eye for detail, Venerable Dhammika pieces together the life events we can 'read' from very early texts. The result is a truly authoritative biography. It shows that as a man, as well as a teacher, the historical Buddha was remarkable indeed. The chapter headings are refreshingly original: a day in the life of, his humour, his debating style, his background. I really enjoyed thinking about Gotama Buddha simply as a person - and clearly an extraordinary one, as Ven. Dhammika shows us. I recommend this book to anyone who would like a down-to-earth, accurate and readable appraisal of the founder of this great world religion, seen through modern eyes.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cdiv style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e Sarah Shaw \u003cbr\u003eOxford, March, 2021\u003c\/div\u003e \u003cp\u003e  \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThere are literally hundreds of biographies of the Buddha ranging from the Lalitavistara written in the First Century AD to the 1993 film Little Buddha.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWithout exception these and the countless others include all the much loved stories about Prince Siddhattha s confinement in a beautiful palace, his marriage to Yasodhara, saving a swan from his jealous cousin Devadatta, his encounter with an old man, a sick man, a corpse being taken for cremation and a wandering monk, and so on. And show they should, for such stories illustrate in a colourful and ingenious manner some of the central teachings of the Buddha.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBut as a new book tells us, most of these stories cannot be found in the Pali Tripitaka, the oldest record we have of the Buddha s life. A new biography of the Buddha, entitled \"Footprints in the Dust: The Life of the Buddha from the Most Ancient Sources\" reveals to us these and many other little-known facts about the Buddha.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFor example, the name Siddhattha is not to be found in the Tripitaka, nor is the name Yasodhara, indeed there is no mention at all about the Buddha s marriage. We learn that Kapilavastu was not a great city   it hardly qualified to be a large town, a fact confirmed by archaeology. Everyone knows that King Bimbisara was a disciple of the Buddha, but strangely, of the several thousand dialogues of the Buddha in the Tripitaka there is not one between him and Bimbisara.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFor me, these and other  facts  were a bit disconcerting. But having read several other books by the author, Venerable Shravasti Dhammika Thera, I had at least some confidence that he knew what he was talking about. One of his earlier books, Nature and the Environment in Early Buddhism, published by Kandy s prestigious Buddhist Publication Society specializing in works on Theravada Buddhism, is a meticulously referenced account of everything the Tripitaka says about plants, animals and the natural world and is a fascinating read. ... \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/buddhistchannel.tv\/index.php?id=10,13338,0,0,1,0\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRead the full book review by Paul Carr, Lanka Daily News\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e   \u003cp style=\"text-align: center\"\u003e********\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eI dipped into this book some time ago and filed it away for later reading   as you do. It was only recently, on the recommendation of a friend, that I set about reading it page by page. I then read it again   so that now I have now read it twice, cover to cover. I want to share my views of it. I have deliberately not read any other reviews as that might influence my opinions. Bhante Dhammika has not gone into the philosophy or practice of Buddhism in any detail. Instead, what he has done is derive information from the earliest texts of the Pāli Canon about the historical Buddha: the sociopolitical and religious context, how he and his early followers subsisted and taught others, and how his monk and nun communities developed. Dhammika has organised the material into different chapters of accessible, attractive prose, and it is all thoroughly referenced so that the curious can look up the source material in question.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe work is full of fascinating detail with which he paints a picture of the world the Buddha inhabited. He conveys something of this being who was human, yet also extraordinary. As a Buddhist I found some of the images evoked very moving. Buddhists seek inspiration by various means such as thangkas, mantras, koans, chants, meditation, pilgrimages. One way is to imagine the historical Buddha living, teaching and walking the byways of ancient India. This book helps one do that.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo give some flavour of the book I am going to offer certain excerpts that stood out for me. So it is a very personal selection determined by what I didn t know or had forgotten, or what I am particularly interested in. ... \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dhammaseeker.substack.com\/p\/a-review-of-footprints-in-the-dust\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRead the full book review by Roger Farmer at Dhammaseeker's Substack\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e   \u003cp style=\"text-align: center\"\u003e********\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAnother instalment in my plans to highlight good books I read, this is a book by the well-known monk S. Dhammika, ordained Theravadan but now non-denominational, with a general affinity to the \"EBT\" movement (Early Buddhist Texts). While he is known to some for expressing controversial views, he is extremely well versed in early Buddhist texts and the classical Pali and Sanskrit languages and his works as a scholar are universally well received. \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn this book he covers the life of the Buddha using only content from the Pali Canon, with an eye more towards discussing his character than establishing a strict chronology, for there is actually no framework in the Canon for establishing when in his life the majority of Suttas were given. Where traditional well-known stories are not attested in the canon, or even contradicted by it, he highlights it.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe author, to get additional information on the Samana movement and the general worldviews in Gotama's time and place, embarked additionally on several years of study of the earliest Jainist and Upanishadic texts. As especially the Jainist texts are an infrequent topic for scholar-monks, they provided much background information that I hadn't heard before. ... \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Buddhism\/comments\/1gk0aaj\/book_review_footprints_in_the_dust_by_monk\/?rdt=60189\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRead the full review by The Green Alchemist at Reddit\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e   \u003chr\u003e \u003cp id=\"interview\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eView the interview and questions-and-answers session with the author.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNote:\u003c\/strong\u003e to view Vimeo chapter markers on small screens, you may have to turn your screen to landscape position.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cdiv id=\"video\" style=\"padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;\"\u003e     \u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/964950050?title=0\u0026amp;byline=0\u0026amp;portrait=0\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border: 1px solid #666\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e \u003cp style=\"text-align: center; margin: 20px 0;\"\u003e    \u003ca class=\"btn\" href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/uc?export=download\u0026amp;id=1O1reKUNNmn8vXiQKr3HxguWBkeo0K9Nk\" rel=\"enclosure\"\u003eDownload Video (859MB)\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Dhammika, S.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42101602451550,"sku":"AMZNKDP775963","price":16.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0591\/3677\/0142\/files\/775963_27990fda-e1d2-4301-9804-1599b4ef283d.jpg?v=1760548918"},{"product_id":"6663","title":"Nature and the Environment in Early Buddhism","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe town of Bodh Gaya in the north Indian state of Bihar is the site of the Buddha's enlightenment and the most sacred place in the Buddhist world. For over 2000 years pilgrims have made their way to Bodh Gaya from every corner of Asia, often leaving records of their visit in inscriptions, memoirs, travelogues and even graffiti. Using these and other sources the book chronicles the place's long and fascinating history. It recounts the magnificent ceremonies that once took place there, the saints and scholars associated with it and the various legends that grew up around it. Including previously overlooked information it also challenges the popular belief that Bodh Gaya was destroyed at the end on the 12th century and was forgotten and unvisited by Buddhist pilgrims for the next 700 years. This book should prove to be of interest to Indologists and social historians as well as to Buddhists.  Bhante S. Dhammika was born in Australia and was ordained as a monk in India in 1976. Since then he has lived and taught Buddhism in Sri Lanka and Singapore and now resides in Australia. Amongst his many books are those published by the Buddhist Publication Society including Matrceta's Hymn to the Buddha, The Edicts of King Asoka, Middle Land Middle Way, The Buddha and His Disciples and Nature and the Environment in Early Buddhism. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dhammika, S.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42101605072990,"sku":"BPS:404630","price":12.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0591\/3677\/0142\/files\/navel_926b5a18-98c4-44b9-a9e1-84747b314b19.png?v=1760549014"},{"product_id":"6608","title":"Like Milk and Water Mixed","description":"   \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e    \u003cstrong\u003eClick Google Preview button to look inside the book.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cscript type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\u0026lt;a%20href=\" https:=\"\" books.google.com=\"\" books=\"\" previewlib.js\u003ehttps:\/\/books.google.com\/books...\u003c\/a\u003e\"\u0026gt;\u003c\/script\u003e\u003cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003eGBS_setLanguage('en');GBS_insertPreviewButtonPopup('ISBN:9781681726410');\u003c\/script\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Buddha s teaching of universal love (\u003cem\u003emett \u003c\/em\u003e) is widely known, even to those outside the Buddhist community. What is less well-known is that the Buddha also had much to say about the many other expressions of love. In this book, the author combines Buddhist insights with modern psychology to craft a definition of love that cuts through the warm but often unrealistic ideas about love that prevent us from having a clearer and more realistic understanding of it. Then, drawing upon his many years study of the Tipitaka, the Buddhist scriptures, he explores what the Buddha had to say about romantic love, parental love, love of animals, loving friendship nine types altogether. Included also is an in-depth look at \u003cem\u003emett \u003c\/em\u003e, the highest  love what it is, why it is an essential part of the spiritual life and how meditation can awaken and enhance it. Step-by-step instructions on how to practice this meditation are also given. The book finishes with a selection of over fifty quotations from the Tipitaka and later Buddhist literature about love, compassion, kindness and good-will. Anyone interested in getting a deeper insight into the Buddhist theory and practice will find this book a compelling read. \u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Dhammika, S.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42108865151070,"sku":"AMZNKDP776403","price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0591\/3677\/0142\/files\/776403_15bf0fa6-8e0e-4e4e-bf73-d4b4fff974fd.jpg?v=1760548950"}],"url":"https:\/\/store.pariyatti.org\/collections\/dhammika-s.oembed","provider":"Pariyatti","version":"1.0","type":"link"}