A teacher from the New Hebrides residing in France accepts a contract to teach in Thailand. There, many hair-raising adventures and creepy experiences take place, as well as horrendous encounters with unsavory creatures such as scorpions, leeches, homo sapiens, snakes, and killer bees.

The teacher falls deeply in love, studies and embraces Buddhism. This new faith later proves to be solace and comfort through excruciating and near-death situations. Life hits hard and delivers blow after blow. An agonizing and very secret Buddhist pledge is made with sorrow and despair, but also against all odds, with an infinitesimal touch of hope.

The will to live confirms its power and, after many months in limbo, pushes death away from the teacher, but the road to recovery is painfully slow and littered with terrible ordeals and possibly insurmountable obstacles. Victory and defeat are locked in a combat to the death. Love for the country deepens. The teacher accepts the challenge and vows to never leave.

The sixteen sutras in this book are English translations of texts selected from the Chinese Buddhist Canon. Thirteen of them have never before been published in book form. The translator’s introduction to Buddhist doctrine provides an organized background for readers at all levels to better understand and appreciate the teachings in these sutras, which cover a wide range of interesting topics. For example, in Sutra 1, the Buddha teaches karmic requitals and how one can avoid or mitigate unfortunate requitals. In Sutra 6, He predicts that long after His Dharma has perished, the next Buddha, Maitreya, will bring the Dharma back to this world. In Sutra 13, the Buddha reveals the mystery of consciousness, giving a detailed description of one’s rebirth according to karmic force. In Sutra 14, He declares the eternity of nirvana and one’s Buddha nature. In Sutra 16, He affirms that one’s great compassion for all sentient beings will quickly lead one to Buddhahood.

These English translations are easy to read, and Buddhist terms are explained in the glossary. One can read this book for pleasure, or study it for spiritual development. One can also recite the sutras, prayers, and mantras as a spiritual practice. Students in Buddhist Studies certainly can use this book to support and enhance their learning.

The Mahāyāna Buddhist doctrine teaches that all sentient beings have Buddha nature and will eventually attain Buddhahood. For the spiritual training of those who are resolved to become Buddhas to benefit themselves and others, Śākyamuni Buddha recommends a Pure Land—Amitābha Buddha’s Land of Ultimate Bliss. To be reborn in that land, one must have faith, resolve, and training. In that splendid environment and in the excellent company of advanced Bodhisattvas, one will attain Buddhahood with Amitābha Buddha’s training and support.

The Pure Land School, originated in China, is founded on five sutras and one treatise. This book, Rulu’s second, presents these six texts and four other sutras in English, all translated from texts in the Chinese Buddhist Canon. Five of these ten English translations have never before been published in book form. To help readers, the translator’s introduction provides an organized presentation of Pure Land teachings; another chapter tells the life stories of the patriarchs of the Pure Land School. Buddhist terms are explained in the glossary.

This book will benefit readers at all levels and serve as a basis for scholarly research. For those who aspire to be reborn in the Pure Land, it is the only English guidebook available.

A teacher from the New Hebrides residing in France accepts a contract to teach in Thailand. There, many hair-raising adventures and creepy experiences take place, as well as horrendous encounters with unsavory creatures such as scorpions, leeches, homo sapiens, snakes, and killer bees.

The teacher falls deeply in love, studies and embraces Buddhism. This new faith later proves to be solace and comfort through excruciating and near-death situations. Life hits hard and delivers blow after blow. An agonizing and very secret Buddhist pledge is made with sorrow and despair, but also against all odds, with an infinitesimal touch of hope.

The will to live confirms its power and, after many months in limbo, pushes death away from the teacher, but the road to recovery is painfully slow and littered with terrible ordeals and possibly insurmountable obstacles. Victory and defeat are locked in a combat to the death. Love for the country deepens. The teacher accepts the challenge and vows to never leave.

The spiritual training of a Buddhist comprises the Three Learning: precepts, meditation, and wisdom. Observance of precepts is the foundation of one’s spiritual journey to Buddhahood. Classified into three clusters—restraining precepts, precepts for doing good dharmas, and precepts for benefiting sentient beings—Bodhisattva precepts are called the three clusters of pure precepts.

This book, Rulu’s third, presents seven sūtras in English, all translated from texts in the Chinese Buddhist Canon. Five of these seven English translations have never before been published in book form. Sūtras 1 and 2 cover the ten good karmas; Sūtra 3 teaches repentance of sins; Sūtra 4 expounds the Mahāyāna Vinaya; Sūtras 5–7 each contain time-honored Bodhisattva precepts. Sūtra 6 is the well-known Brahma Net Sūtra; Sūtra 7, Sūtra of the Upāsaka Precepts, also covers the six pāramitās in detail. Buddhist terms are explained in the glossary.

The translator’s introduction presents sets of Buddhist precepts and describes the arrival of the Hīnayāna Vinaya in China. It explains the development of the Vinaya School, a Mahāyāna school originated in China, and summarizes its tenets. It compares voice-hearer precepts with Bodhisattva precepts, and discusses five texts of the latter. It also touches on selecting those Bodhisattva precepts that suit our modern times. Such precepts will be fewer in number but complete in spirit. Buddhist or non-Buddhist, those who seek to benefit themselves and others need to learn and observe such Bodhisattva precepts.

The spiritual training of a Buddhist comprises the Three Learning: precepts, meditation, and wisdom. Observance of precepts is the foundation of one’s spiritual journey to Buddhahood. Classified into three clusters—restraining precepts, precepts for doing good dharmas, and precepts for benefiting sentient beings—Bodhisattva precepts are called the three clusters of pure precepts.

This book, Rulu’s third, presents seven sūtras in English, all translated from texts in the Chinese Buddhist Canon. Five of these seven English translations have never before been published in book form. Sūtras 1 and 2 cover the ten good karmas; Sūtra 3 teaches repentance of sins; Sūtra 4 expounds the Mahāyāna Vinaya; Sūtras 5–7 each contain time-honored Bodhisattva precepts. Sūtra 6 is the well-known Brahma Net Sūtra; Sūtra 7, Sūtra of the Upāsaka Precepts, also covers the six pāramitās in detail. Buddhist terms are explained in the glossary.

The translator’s introduction presents sets of Buddhist precepts and describes the arrival of the Hīnayāna Vinaya in China. It explains the development of the Vinaya School, a Mahāyāna school originated in China, and summarizes its tenets. It compares voice-hearer precepts with Bodhisattva precepts, and discusses five texts of the latter. It also touches on selecting those Bodhisattva precepts that suit our modern times. Such precepts will be fewer in number but complete in spirit. Buddhist or non-Buddhist, those who seek to benefit themselves and others need to learn and observe such Bodhisattva precepts.