The Dharma: The Religion of Enlightenment

In the mountain hall we are taking our seats, In solitude calming the mind;Still are our souls and in silence preparedBy degrees the truth to find.-"Devotion"This beautiful meditation on the dharma, or truth, of Buddhism is the perfect introduction to one of the world's most ancient faiths. Concise and sensibly organized, Carus-one of the foremost figures of American Buddhism of the early 20th century-gently explains, in this book, the faith's "noble truths" concerning suffering and its roots, the "ten evils" that bedevil us, and the concepts of Karma, Samskara, and Nirvana. A selection of Buddhist poetry, little gems of verse culled from a variety of ancient and contemporary sources, serves as meditations on the life lessons offered here. American philosopher and theologian PAUL CARUS also wrote The Religion of Science, The Gospel of Buddha, and The History of the Devil.