Books like What the Buddha taught by Walpola Rahula

Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha, written after a 1910s journey to India, follows a young boy’s quest for spiritual enlightenment during Gautama Buddha’s era.

In Basic Teachings of the Buddha, Glenn Wallis selects sixteen essential dialogues drawn from more than five thousand Pali-dialect suttas of the Buddhist canon. The result is a vibrant introductory guide to studying Buddhist thought, applying its principles to everyday life, and gaining a deeper understanding of Buddhist themes in modern literature. Focusing on the most crucial topics for today's readers, Wallis presents writings that address modern psychological, religious, ethical, and philosophical concerns. This practical, inspiring, and engaging volume provides an overview of the history of Buddhism and an illuminating analysis of the core writings that personalizes the suttas for each reader. "Glenn Wallis brings wisdom and compassion to this work of scholarship. Everyone should read this book."--Christopher Queen, Harvard University"A valuable sourcebook with a good selection of the fundamental suttas enhanced by an eloquent introduction and comprehensive notes--altogether a very useful text." --Peter Matthiessen (Roshi), author of The Snow Leopard and Nine-Headed Dragon River"Glenn Wallis's new and accessible translations of some of the Buddha's lectures to his original students, along with Wallis's elegant guide to the texts, gives twenty-first-century readers in the modern West a fresh chance to learn from this teacher."--Charles Hallisey, University of Wisconsin-MadisonFrom the Trade Paperback edition.

Judging by the preface, a book that was welcomed by both Southern and Northern Buddhists. In the story we follow Gautama Buddha from his youth, to his quest for knowledge, to enlightenment, and ultimately to his last days. Basic teachings and stories of Buddhism appear in the text.