e-books

The following books and articles are now available in ePub format for use in e-book readers (iPad, nook, Sony Reader, etc.). More are on the way.

Need help? See "Working with ePub documents".

Many thanks to John Fabian at Commodius Vicus Publishing for making these e-books available!

Ananda: The Guardian of the Dhamma, by Hellmuth Hecker. A biography in the BPS's "Lives of the Disciples" series. Of all the Buddha's disciples, his cousin Ananda was the one most often mentioned in the suttas. For 25 years Ananda served as the Buddha's personal attendant. He played a crucial ro... [Read HTML version]

Anicca Vata Sankhara, by Bhikkhu Bodhi. An overview of sankhara (formations, fabrications, etc.): its multiple meanings and roles in the Buddha's teachings. [Read HTML version]

Awareness Itself, by Ajaan Fuang Jotiko, compiled and Translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (Geoffrey DeGraff). This book contains a delightful and inspiring collection of anecdotal stories retold by an American monk who lived under Ajaan Fuang's tutelage for the last decade of Ajaan Fuang's life. These anecdotes reveal a teaching style that adapted readi... [Read HTML version]

Beyond Coping: The Buddha's Teachings on Aging, Illness, Death, and Separation, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. [Read HTML version]

Bhikkhus' Rules, The: A Guide for Laypeople, by Bhikkhu Ariyesako. A very readable summary of the Vinaya rules for bhikkhus (monks), aimed at giving laypeople a better understanding of the monks' way of life. Included are questions-and-answers concerning the proper etiquette when in the company of monks (bowing, off... [Read HTML version]

Buddhist Monastic Code I, The: The Patimokkha Training Rules Translated and Explained, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. The 227 Patimokkha training rules, which are recorded in the Suttavibhanga (the first major section of the Vinaya Pitaka), affect every aspect of the daily life of the Theravada Buddhist bhikkhu (monk). The Patimokkha rules are presented here along with s... [Read HTML version]

Buddhist Monastic Code II, The: The Khandhaka Rules Translated and Explained, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Whereas the Patimokkha concerns the basic rules of Theravada Buddhist monastic life (see The Buddhist Monastic Code, Volume I), the Khandhaka (the second major section of the Vinaya Pitaka) concerns its customs, which are no less essential to monastic lif... [Read HTML version]

Dhammapada, The: The Buddha's Path of Wisdom, by Acharya Buddharakkhita, and Thanissaro Bhikkhu. An anthology of two Dhammapada translations: one by Acharya Buddharakkhita, one by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. [Read HTML version]

Going for Refuge & Taking the Precepts, by Bhikkhu Bodhi. An excellent introduction to the purpose, meaning, and fruits of taking refuge in the Triple Gem and of observing the precepts. [Read HTML version]

Jhanas in Theravada Buddhist Meditation, The, by Henepola Gunaratana. This booklet, a condensed version of Bhante Gunaratana's treatise, "The Path of Serenity & Insight" (Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1985), outlines the role of jhana (meditative absorption) in Theravada Buddhist meditation. The author's perspec... [Read HTML version]

Noble Eightfold Path, The: The Way to the End of Suffering, by Bhikkhu Bodhi. A concise yet thorough explanation of the Eightfold Path, the practical method the Buddha prescribed to uproot and eliminate the underlying causes of suffering. Basing himself solidly upon the Buddha's own words, the author examines each factor of th... [Read HTML version]

Treatise on the Paramis, A: From the Commentary to the Cariyapitaka, by Acariya Dhammapala, translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi. Although Theravada Buddhism explicitly advocates the attainment of arahantship as the ultimate goal, in the course of its historical evolution the Theravada tradition gave birth to a rich body of teachings on the practices of a bodhisatta, an aspirant to ... [Read HTML version]

Wings to Awakening: An Anthology from the Pali Canon, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (Geoffrey DeGraff). The "Wings to Awakening" (bodhipakkhiya-dhamma) is the Buddha's own list of his most important teachings. It includes teachings on the Four Frames of Reference, the Four Right Exertions, the Four Bases of Power, the Five Faculties, the Five Strengths... [Read HTML version]