eBUDDHANET'SBOOK LIBRARYE-mail: bdea@buddhanet.netWeb site: www.buddhanet.net

Buddha Dharma Education Association Inc.

Radhika Abeysekera

Practising the Dhammawith a View to NibbanaPractising the Dhammawith a View to Nibbana

www.nybv.org

I also want to thank my family for their tremendous support in my efforts to teach the Dhamma. This book was made possible only because of the teamwork between my husband Sarath, our children, Chamal and Chayanika, and myself. Working together on the household duties gave me the free time I needed to complete this book.

May you all partake in the merit of this gift of Truth!

Radhika AbeysekeraWinnipeg, Manitoba

Canadawww.wnnipeg.freenet.mb.ca/slam/buddhism/

February 4, 1998

www.wnnipeg.freenet.mb.ca/slam/buddhism/

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art I

Summary of the Era

Era Duration

The era prior to the mano-panidhàna

kàla (Mental aspiration)

Unknown

The mano-panidhàna kàla

(Era of mental aspiration)

100,000 world cycles inter-

spersed with 7 infinite periods

The vaci-panidhàna kàla

(Era of verbal aspiration)

100,000 world cycles inter-

spersed with 9 infinite periods

The kàya-panidhàna kàla

(Era of action)

100,000 world cycles inter-

spersed with 4 infinite periods

Total period Over 300,000 world cycles inter-

spersed with 20 infinite periods

Dispensation of the Buddha Gotama 5,000 years

Advent of the Buddha Metteyya Succeeding anto-kappa of this

world cycle

Advent of the future Buddha Rama 100,000 world cycles after the

dispensation of the Metteyya

Buddha

art II

bout the uthorRadhika Abeysekera began teaching and writing books on the Dhamma to help re-introduce Buddhism to immi-grants in non-Buddhist countries. The books are designed in such a manner that a parent or educator can use them to teach Buddhism to a child. Mrs.

Abeysekera feels strongly that parents should first study and practise the Dhamma to the best of their ability to obtain maximum benefits, because what you do not possess you cannot give to your child. The books were also designed to foster understanding of the Dhamma among non-Buddhists, so that there can be peace and harmony through understand-ing and respect for the philosophies and faiths of others. She is currently working on “The Relatives and Disciples of the Buddha”, which is the second book in this series.

“The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. It should transcend a personal God, avoid dogmas and theology. Covering both the natural and spiritual, it should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all things natural and spiritual and a meaningful unity. Buddhism answers this description. If there is any religion that would cope with modern scientific needs it would be Buddhism.”

Albert Einstein

http: //www.budaedu.org.tw

BuddhaNet Title Page"Practising the Dhamma with a View to Nibbana"by Radhika AbeysekeraCoverForewordPrefaceContentspage 1page 2

Part IChapter 1How long does it take and what does one have to do to become a Buddha?The Era Prior To The Mano-Panidhana KalaThe Vaci-Panidhana KālaThe Ten PerfectionsThe Supreme Buddha Gotama

Chapter 2How will the dispensation of the Gotama Buddha end and that of the Metteyya Buddha Begin?The Disappearance Of The AttainmentsThe Disappearance Of The MethodThe Disappearance Of The LearningThe Disappearance Of The SymbolsThe Disappearance Of The RelicsThe Advent Of The Metteyya Buddha

Chapter 3Was the Buddha a Saviour?Chapter 4What are the three salient truths that the Buddha realized about the nature of all conditioned phenomena?All Conditioned Phenomena Are Impermanent (Anicca)All Conditioned Phenomena Are Not SelfAll Conditioned Phenomena Are Sorrowful

Part IIChapter 5What is Nibbana?Craving That Leads To Greed, Lust & AttachmentCraving That Leads To Anger, Ill-Will & HatredDelusion & Ignorance

Chapter 6How should I practise the Dhamma with a view to Nibbana?Changing One’s BehaviourGenerosity (Dāna) for the Destruction of Greed & AttachmentMorality (Sila) for the Destruction of Ill-Will & HatredMeditation (Bhavana) in Mental Discipline & Wisdom, for the Destruction of Delusion & Ignorance

GlossaryBibliographyAbout the AuthorOther books by Author

Dedication Of Merit