Primitive tradition, certainly, but what tradition?

It is difficult to write this little book. Either the author is misinformed or he lacks intellectual honesty. Against his, it is true that some translations of the actual primitive tradition had been published in French as "Words of the Buddha from the primitive tradition" was offered to the public. However, and this is my only fault, when I hear original, I expect that it draws from the Pali Canon, even in the language used by the Buddha, to illustrate the point. This text corpus exists, and is available for any author himself as scholar. Unless we specify, and this is the crucial lack I note that the tradition in question is the source of his own school.

Is it still useful to specify that the "Buddhism" does not form a whole, a homogeneous teaching, and there is not a school, but many?

When I would go further, noting that some major works are relayed anecdotal and supposedly, can not stand for a "secular", a means interest. While a title such as "THE TEACHING OF BUDDHA, from the oldest texts" of Walpola Rahula, remains an absolute reference you want to discover the teaching, and for any school in professing French-speaking countries. Or we will advance that the translated texts in Pali are overloaded with complex comments, little or no access to "lay". The layman, I think, for me, is far from being a fool, and whatever one may think, the Buddha himself points out that if the basis of the doctrine is childishly simple, its implementation work requires a real effort! Seek to understand and already an effort, and everyone is able 'Even the layman.

The lack of objectivity is further illustrated by the choice of texts, most of his late, or when translated from Chinese, so translation translation, because again, the sources available, are in Pali, so to speak many of the primitive tradition.

Certainly if we want to access sources of later schools such as those of this han, Pure Land, or Zen, it is still necessary that this be clarified in coverage, so this little book may find useful.

If you want to return to teaching of the historical Buddha proposed by him there 2500 years, other sources will be much more about. They will form its own opinion, with the assurance of finding a text stripped folklorismes numbers and superstitions, these late contributions, fruits various geographic locations of schools over time on the Asian continent. There will, it is true, but they will be easily identifiable. Anyway it will be part of ancient India, the birthplace of Buddha.

For starters, already quoted, "THE TEACHING OF BUDDHA, from the oldest texts" of Walpola Rahula, Seuil, which depicts precisely the foundation of the doctrine and the lay board. This is a great touchstone for who wants to gauge the content of other books on the subject, which will be discussed later.

Subsequently, precisely, why not "PHILOSOPHY OF BUDDHA, with the translation of texts of ten Buddhist Canon. "Mohan Wijayaratna, published by Lis, allowing the approach of specific points of teaching by referring to directly texts translated from Pali, the original language of transmission, into French. It perfectly complements the first title which I refer.

If we want to address the spread of the doctrine, which may prove crucial to clear a path illuminated through the teeming jungle of schools and opinions, "THE LAND OF BUDDHA" by Philippe Cornu, text, Michel Gotin for photographs, will combine business with pleasure. The text is rich, terribly documented, iconography is sumptuous. We will follow the inputs and changes occurred over the centuries.

For advice to "Lay", "Eight Steps to Happiness" by Henepola Gunaratana, Albin Michel, will address the doctrine applied in everyday life.

For meditation, the same author, Marabout, we can see "MEDITATE DAILY, a mere practice of Buddhism."

If you want to discover a testimony on the practice, "BE AN ISLAND" Ayya Khema of, the Dharma Publishing, we must remember that point of the ancient doctrine "be your own refuge." Poignant. Forgive my lack of objectivity on this point.

If it is desired but stripped approach proposing the idea of ​​going to the heart of education, Stephen BATCHELOR offers a response, his "BUDDHISM RELEASED ITS BELIEFS," Bayard. A return to the real appearance of the word agnostic origins.

Now, a simple non-exhaustive list of texts of ancient tradition, in French, starting from the Pali sources, which are the doctrinal basis of all schools (this time):

- THE LAST VOYAGE OF BUDDHA, with full translation of Maha-Parinibbana-Sutta, Mohan Wijayaratna, translation and notes, Lily. Important for doctrine and for its transmission, since it will find the latest recommendations of the Buddha left these companions. They can not fail to surprise and to question ideas received or numbers professed on "Buddhism". Or rather "the Buddhisms".

- THE FIRST TEACHING BUDDHA, the sermon of Benares. Dr. DHAMMA Rewata, foreword by Ajahn Sumedho, Clear Light. The base.

- THE BUDDHA SAID, The Dhammapada, Centre of Gretz dharmic studies, translation and comments, Albin Michel. Pali Text Bilingual / French.

- DHAMMAPADA, preceded by an introduction to Buddhist thought, Guy Serraf, Louise Courteau editor. I added in duplicate to the enlightened introduction to the "Buddhist thought."

- THE MAINTENANCE OF BUDDHA, full translation of texts of the Buddhist canon 21, Mohan Wijayaratna, translation and notes, Seuil.

- SERMONS OF BUDDHA, full translation of texts of the Buddhist canon 20, Mohan Wijayaratna, translation and notes, Seuil.

- Digha Nikaya-(Series 34 long suttas), the first book of the Sutta-Pitaka, three volumes, Mohan Wijayaratna, translation and notes, Lily.

To complement we can go on the website of Christian Maes, who published by Fayard translation of "Visuddhimagga, The Way of Purity. "(Trafficking instructions to monks). We'll find it on after the translation of "Majjhima Nikaya, the median collection", with two kinds of preprints available for download in pdf format. [...]

The list could go on, but in accepting the proposal of works (taken in order) as a kind of thread, while "secular" could, in my opinion, this is only my opinion, advance in their approach with a relatively accurate picture of what was the teaching of origins, and can sort through his own experience in the later contributions often full of local superstitions.

In any case, the vast majority of books I mentioned are the result of the primitive tradition contrary to what the title misleading title: "Words of the Buddha from the primitive tradition."