Buddhist Writings-Various

Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding by David Hume.The Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding is a shortened and simplified version of Hume's masterpiece A Treatise of Human Nature. It sought to reach a wider audience, and to dispel some of the virulent criticism addressed toward the former book. In it, Hume explains his theory of epistemology, and argues against other current theories, including those of John Locke, George Berkeley, and Nicolas Malebranche.Featured on The Dhammapada.Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).This episode includes AI-generated content.

Religion and Science from Galileo to Bergson by John Charlton Hardwick.This history of Western philosophy, published in 1920, explores how people have explained the natural world during the last few centuries, whether by spiritual interpretation or through advances in science. From the Preface: "The chapters which follow are not intended as even a slight sketch of the history of Thought since the Renaissance. Their object is more modest, i.e. to illustrate the thesis that mankind, being 'incurably religious,' insists (however hopeless the enterprise may sometimes seem) upon interpreting the universe spiritually."Featured on The Dhammapada.Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).This episode includes AI-generated content.

What I Believe by Bertrand Russell.Provides a brief indication of the beliefs of philosopher Bertrand Russell, focusing on his hopes for the future. The topics included are: nature and man, the good life, moral rules, individual and social salvation, and science and happiness.Featured on The Dhammapada.Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).This episode includes AI-generated content.

Life's Enthusiasms by David Starr Jordan.The words in this essay on positive thought sing like those in Whitman's "Leaves of Grass." The author praises joyous living and recommends certain routes to its attainment. He explores schooling (public secondary and the university), travel, and the study of nature as ways to stay buoyant during life's trials. He also praises the power of the arts (literature, music, painting, sculpture) to keep spirits soaring.Featured on The Dhammapada.Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).This episode includes AI-generated content.

Selections from the Principles of Philosophy by René Descartes.The Principles of Philosophy, originally published in Latin in 1644, and translated to French in 1647, sets forth the principles of nature--the Laws of Physics--as Descartes viewed them. The book provides a systematic statement of natural philosophy and metaphysics, and represents the first truly comprehensive, mechanistic account of the universe. The Selections from the Principles of Philosophy contains the whole of the first part of the book ("Of the Principles of Human Knowledge"), as well as selections from the second ("Of the Principles of Material Things"), third ("Of the Visible World"), and fourth part ("Of the Earth") of the book.Featured on The Dhammapada.Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).This episode includes AI-generated content.

Quiet Talks about Jesus by S. D. Gordon.So far as I can find out, I have no theory about Jesus to make these talks fit into. I have tried to find out for myself what the old Book of God tells about Him. And here I am trying to tell to others, as simply as I can, what I found. It was by the tedious, twisting path of doubt that I climbed the hill of truth up to some of its summits of certainty. I am free to confess that I am ignorant of the subject treated here save for the statements of that Book, and for the assent within my own spirit to these statements, which has greatly deepened the impression they made, and make. There is no question raised here about that Book itself, but simply a taking and grouping up together of what it says.Featured on The Dhammapada.Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).This episode includes AI-generated content.

Child of the Dawn by Arthur Christopher Benson.Ready to explore the depths of the human mind and soul? This book explores the themes of morality, spirituality, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world. Benson ponders the deeper questions of life and existence from his own experiences.Featured on The Dhammapada.Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).This episode includes AI-generated content.

Abominations of Modern Society by Thomas De Witt Talmage.The title gives an accurate description of the book! It is full of old and forgotten words and phrases, Amusing at times, but addressing the problems mentioned in the chapter titles in detail. The troubles of his times are the same as today's, and Rev. Talmage does a marvelous job going through each one individually.Featured on The Dhammapada.Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).This episode includes AI-generated content.

Dhammapada (Version 2).- A Collection of Verses Being One of the Canonical Books of the Buddhists Dhammapada means "The path of Dharma." The Pali word Dhamma corresponds to the Sankrit word Dharma. It is a collection of the teachings of the Buddha. These verses, compiled by Buddha's students in the years following his final Nirvana, were culled from various discourses given by the Buddha in the course of forty-five years of his teaching, as he travelled in the valley of the Ganges and the sub-mountain tract of the Himalayas. These 423 verses are often terse, witty, and convincing. Whenever similes are used, they are those that are easily understood even by a child, e.g., the cart's wheel, a man's shadow, a deep pool, flowers. Through these verses, the Buddha exhorts one to achieve that greatest of all conquests, the conquest of self; to escape from the evils of passion, hatred and ignorance.Featured on The Dhammapada.Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).This episode includes AI-generated content.

Buddhist Writings.An anthology of Buddhist scriptures, appropriate as an introduction to its vast literature, or as a sampler for those who want to better understand Buddhism. The selections in this anthology are primarily from the Theravada school of Buddhism.Featured on The Dhammapada.Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).This episode includes AI-generated content.