The Wheel of the Law: Buddhism

The main content of the book is arranged into three parts. Part I, “The Modern Buddhist,” presents the ideas of a Siamese minister concerning Buddhism and other religions, emphasizing Buddhism as a rational and moral system grounded in causality, transmigration, virtue, charity, meditation, and the pursuit of release from suffering. Part II, “A Life of Buddha,” recounts the Buddha’s sacred biography through ten chapters: the glorious marriage, the descent from Tusita heaven, birth in the world, predictions of future greatness, the four visions, the beginning of the religious career, ascetic practice, the final effort before enlightenment, the contest with Māra, and the attainment of Buddhahood. This part also includes extensive doctrinal and cultural explanations concerning nirvāṇa, the wheel of the law, the four paths, the thirty-two marks of a great being, Brahmins and Vedas, the three worlds, the Bodhi tree, the Eightfold Path, meditation, the power of merit, and numerous cosmological and ritual concepts. Part III, “The Phrabat, or Holy Footprint,” examines the sacred footprint tradition, including a general account of the belief, a visit to the site, and an explanation of the figures represented on the footprint. The work concludes with an appendix on the thirty-two characteristics of a great man.