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Primary sourceBook1907

The Word of the Buddha

Bhikkhu Nyanatiloka · 1907

An outline of the Buddha's ethical and philosophical teaching, compiled in the words of the Pali canon.

A compilation of words from the Pali canon attributed to the Buddha, outlining his ethical and philosophical teaching.

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The Word of the Buddha
The Word of the Buddha, by Bhikkhu Nyanatiloka, 1907.

About this source

What it is

This 1907 book by Bhikkhu Nyanatiloka presents an outline of the Buddha's ethical and philosophical system using passages taken directly from the Pali canon, with explanatory notes. It was translated from German into English.

Why it matters

The book shows how later Buddhist teachers organized and explained the Buddha's words for new audiences. Nyanatiloka, a European convert to Buddhism, helped introduce the Buddha's teachings to Western readers in a structured, accessible form.

Look closer

  • Why might someone compile quotations rather than write their own summary of a teaching?
  • What does it tell us that a European monk translated and organized these teachings?
  • How might explanatory notes change the way a reader understands the original words?

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