A detailed history of Buddhism in Ashokan times and in Ceylon, from a decidedly Christian evangelical perspective.
Contents:
Preface
Pali Terms, Spelling, and Pronunciation
I. INTRODUCTORY :
1. The Subject Defined. Note-number of Buddhists
2. General Historical Sketch
II. THE FOUNDATION OF Buddhism :
3. Life of Gotama
Note-ancient Metrical Life of the Buddha :
III. THE TEACHING OF THE BUDDHA :
4. The Moral System in General
5. The Ideal of Buddhism
6. The Abolition of Ignorance
Note-abstruse Questions
7. The Metaphysical Formularies
Note-the Eight-fold Way
8. Disgust and Detachment. Note-succession of Births
9. The Vices
10. The Virtues
11. The Precepts
12. Special Moral Rules of the Community
13. Monastic Rules of the Community
14. The Female Community
15. Religion of the Laity
16. Cast
17. General Estimate of the Moral System
Note-erroneous Notion of “Absorption”, etc
IV. THE ERA OF ASOKA :
18. Asoka
19. Collection of the Literature
Note-the Pitakas and the Ruwanweli Dagaba
V. BUDDHISM IN CEYLON : THE PAST :
20. Mahinda and the Conversion of Ceylon
Note-the Parable of the Elephant’s Foot-marks
21. From Mahinda to Buddhaghosha
Note-Fa Hien
22. Buddhaghosha and the “Commentaries” Note-the Questions of Milinda
23. From Buddhaghosha to Parakrama
24. The Community in the Middle Ages
25. From Parakrama to the Dutch
Notes-1. Sirivaddhanapura. II. Robert Knox
VI. BUDDHISM IN CEYLON : THE PRESENT :
26. The Buddhism Now Taught in Ceylon
27. Modern Monastic Life
Note-prayer and public worship
28. Present Customs and Conduct of the Laity
