What the Buddha Taught
by Walpola Rahula
A Theravada monk-scholar's 1959 exposition from the Pali texts: the Four Noble Truths, no-self, meditation, with selected suttas. Concise, authoritative and free of Western gloss.
Read it if…
you want the doctrine straight from the oldest sources.
See the book →
Skip it if…
you want practice guidance; it is expository.
Try instead: The Dhammapada →
Three things you will actually use
- No-self, taught plainly.
- The Buddha asked for inquiry, not belief.
- Read the suttas themselves.
Do this first
Read the chapter on anatta.
Our verdict
The doctrine, straight.
See the book →
Compare with other Character books
The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
Alan Watts · Character
Watts's central idea.
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