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Informationen zum Autor Glenn Wallis is an independent scholar and Director of Incite Seminars in Philadelphia. He has taught at several universities, including Brown University, and the University of Georgia. His most recent books include A Critique of Western Buddhism: Ruins of the Buddhist Real and Cruel Theory and Sublime Practice: Toward a Revaluation of Buddhism (with Tom Pepper and Matthias Steingass). Wallis blogs at Speculative Non-Buddhism. He holds a Ph.D. in Buddhist studies from Harvard University. Klappentext In Basic Teachings of the Buddha, Glenn Wallis selects sixteen essential dialogues drawn from more than five thousand Pali-dialect suttas of the Buddhist canon. The result is a vibrant introductory guide to studying Buddhist thought, applying its principles to everyday life, and gaining a deeper understanding of Buddhist themes in modern literature. Focusing on the most crucial topics for today's readers, Wallis presents writings that address modern psychological, religious, ethical, and philosophical concerns. This practical, inspiring, and engaging volume provides an overview of the history of Buddhism and an illuminating analysis of the core writings that personalizes the suttas for each reader. "Glenn Wallis brings wisdom and compassion to this work of scholarship. Everyone should read this book.” -Christopher Queen, Harvard University "A valuable sourcebook with a good selection of the fundamental suttas enhanced by an eloquent introduction and comprehensive notes-altogether a very useful text.” -Peter Matthiessen (Roshi), author of The Snow Leopard and Nine-Headed Dragon River "Glenn Wallis's new and accessible translations of some of the Buddha's lectures to his original students, along with Wallis's elegant guide to the texts, gives twenty-first-century readers in the modern West a fresh chance to learn from this teacher.” -Charles Hallisey, University of Wisconsin-Madison Sutta 1 The Hawk Saku.nagghi Sutta; Sa.myuttanik¯aya 5.47.6 ji The Buddha related this story to a group of his followers. Once, in the distant past, a hawk suddenly swooped down and seized a quail. As the quail was being carried away by the hawk, it lamented, “How unfortunate I am, what little merit I possess to have wandered out of my natural habitat into a foreign domain. If I had wandered within my native domain today, within my own ancestral, natural habitat, this hawk would certainly not have been a match for me in battle.” “What is your native domain, quail? What is your own ancestral, natural habitat?” asked the hawk. The quail answered, “That clod of earth freshly tilled with a plow.” Then the hawk, not boasting about its own strength, not mentioning its own strength, released the quail, saying, “Go, quail; but having gone there, you cannot escape me.” Then the quail, having gone to the clod of earth freshly tilled with a plow, climbed onto the large clod of earth and, standing there, said to the hawk, “Come get me now, hawk, come get me now!” Now the hawk, not boasting about its own strength, not mentioning its own strength, folded up its wings and suddenly swooped down on the quail. When the quail fully realized that the hawk was coming, it got inside that clod of earth. And the hawk, striking against it, suffered a blow to its chest. So it is when someone wanders out of his or her natural habitat into a foreign domain. Therefore, do not wander out of your natural habitat into a foreign domain. Death will gain access [1.1]* to the person who has wandered out of his or her natural habitat into a foreign domain, death will gain a footing. Now, what is for you a foreign domain, outside of your natural habitat? It is the fivefold realm of sensual pleasure [1.2]. Which five? Forms perceptible to the eye, which are pleasing, desirable, charming, agreeable, arousing desire, and ent...
