Ancient scriptures of Theravada Buddhism are one of the best ways to learn more about the Buddha’s teachings.
And the most prolific writer in this field is Bhikkhu Bodhi.
A kindly man has observed that Buddhist monk Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi presents to the Western world the intellectual equivalent of the Hubble Space Telescope: Peering through the gigantic lens one blinks a time or two in absolute amazement — and then suddenly sees, with unprecedented clarity and brilliance, formerly unseen reaches of the spiritual cosmos. And I couldn’t agree more. That’s why I’m sharing five best Bhikkhu Bodhi books on Buddhism.
1. Noble Truths, Noble Path: The Heart Essence of the Buddha’s Original Teachings
This anthology of ancient Buddhist sutras takes you straight to the heart of the Buddha’s teaching on spiritual liberation. And it does so through the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path — the two mainstays of Buddhist doctrine that illuminate the true nature of things.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Will I restrict myself from fully experiencing life if I make detachment and dispassion the cornerstones of everyday living?” Noble Truths, Noble Path will give you the answer. The shore of freedom beckons, but you have to let go of this one to arrive at the other. Your journey will be challenging but hugely rewarding.
2. Great Disciples of the Buddha: Their Lives, Their Works, Their Legacy
Written by Nyanaponika Thera and edited by Bhikkhu Bodhi, Great Disciples of the Buddha brings to life 24 of the Buddha’s most distinguished followers. Drawn from a wide range of authentic Pali language sources, the material in these stories has never before been assembled in a single volume. Through engaging tales contained in this book, you can easily place each student in the larger picture of the Buddha’s life.
The world of unforgettable characters awaits! Attainment of Nirvana, as it turns out, does not render people empty and generic. As you’ll discover by reading this book, each disciple has their own gifts (and foibles), and part of the Buddha’s genius was recognizing them and knowing how to direct and manifest each student’s full potential.
3. The Buddha’s Teachings on Social and Communal Harmony: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon
How can we be advocates of peace and justice in a world consumed by conflict and strife? In The Buddha’s Teachings on Social and Communal Harmony, acclaimed scholar-monk Bhikkhu Bodhi has collected and translated the Buddha’s teachings on conflict resolution, interpersonal and social problem-solving, and the forging of harmonious relationships.
Although Early Buddhism may seem like a radical discipline concerned only with transcendental goals, such as attainment of enlightenment, this book reveals the Buddha to have been a pragmatic teacher who wanted to promote a social order in which people can live peacefully and harmoniously.
4. Dhamma Reflections: Collected Essays of Bhikkhu Bodhi
Dhamma Reflections contains 53 essays of Bhikkhu Bodhi previously only available in newsletters of Buddhist Publications Society. By reading these articles, you’ll see the breadth and depth of Bhikkhu Bodhi’s ability to communicate the timeless teachings of the Buddha and his instructions on applying the Dharma in everyday life.
Related article: “What Is Spiritual Freedom in Buddhism?“
5. In the Buddha’s Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon
This book being the last item on this list is not a coincidence. I’ve put it here because it weaves everything you’ve learned from the reads above into an organic structure.
Divided into ten thematic chapters, In the Buddha’s Words reveals the full scope of the Buddha’s teachings: from family life to the path of renunciation and attainment of Nirvana.
And it does so by giving you access to the most important sutras of the Pali Canon — in modern terminology the Buddha’s “greatest hits.”
The author writes:
Though his teaching is highly systematic, there is no single text that can be ascribed to the Buddha in which he defines the architecture of the Dhamma. The purpose of the present book is to develop and exemplify such a scheme. I here attempt to provide a comprehensive picture of the Buddha’s teaching that incorporates a wide variety of suttas into an organic structure.
Related article: “Is There an Organized Way to Study Buddhist Sutras?“
About the book’s author: Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi is an American Buddhist monk. He obtained a BA in philosophy from Brooklyn College and a PhD in philosophy from Claremont Graduate School. After completing his university studies he traveled to Sri Lanka, where he received full ordination in 1973. From 1984 to 2002 he was the editor for the Buddhist Publication Society in Kandy, where he lived for ten years. He has authored several books on Buddhist practice, including In the Buddha’s Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon.
Complement this list of best Buddhism books by Bhikkhu Bodhi with our article about five best Buddhism books for beginners.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated throughout in 2024.
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