Introductory Books by Henri van Zeyst

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  A New Approach to Buddhism

  An introduction to Buddhism for a Western audience.

  ‘‘A New Approach’’ does not mean that we have not approached Buddhism before. It has been done in very many ways, dogmatically, devotionally, analytically, mnemotechnically, always with authority, starting with the texts and applying them to daily life.
  
  This is a ‘‘new’’ approach seeing life and its problems, searching, if possible, for a solution to life’s conflict, but being guided by the Buddha’s teachings, and therefore working as it were from the shell to the kernel, the simple way we eat a fruit.
  
  The object was to make a non-Buddhist start from her stand-point, and slowly work inwardly. And see what happens.
  
  May we all see, and understand.

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  Basic Buddhism

  An introduction to Buddhism looking at all the major concepts found in the teaching.

  More than thirty years have passed since these pages were first published by the All-Ceylon Buddhist Students’ Union. Several times suggestions were made for a reprint, a revised edition. The author was not very keen, as so many things could be said differently with a new approach.
  
  But it still remains ‘‘Basic Buddhism’’, and as such it is presented once more with very few alterations of a mere word here and there. It had its usefulness then, and it will have it still; for, ‘‘basic man’’ has not changed much either. And after 34 years there are quite many new men about.

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  Buddhism for the Millions

  A Primer on Buddhism, covering the main doctrinal teachings.

  Buddhism is a religion with a difference and the difference is so much that some people think that it is not a religion at all. That depends on what you expect from religion.
  
  If you seek security, safety, salvation, Buddhism is not for you. Don’t listen, don’t read further, for there is no salvation for your soul, no eternal rest, no security in God.
  
  The only thing that Buddhism offers is understanding: understanding why there is conflict, understanding that I am in conflict just because I try to escape.
  
  This needs some more elaboration, which has resulted in an institutional religion, called Buddhism.

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  One Hour for Buddhism / Eine Stunde für den Buddhismus

  Six essays on various Buddhist topics originally conceived as six radio talks.

  It has been said that it is the duty of old men to lie to the young ones, to allow them to discover their own disillusions. Yet, it is hard to witness so much waste which could have been prevented, if there had been only a few more pointers to show the edge of the road, if not its end.
  
  And so, nearing the seventieth year of this individual life span, words had to be spoken when thoughts became too forceful.
  
  The following pages are not more than pointers. Originally conceived as six broadcasts for the Overseas Service, each of ten minutes, they got their birth-name from that. But some technical block-head prevented this, and now they are offered here in a printed form. This publication was made possible from the turn-over of the sale of an earlier publication, “The Challenge to Buddhism”, for which generous contributions were responsible. Again the price of this “hour” has been kept down to cover the expenses of printing and publishing, which, however, have doubled during the last two years.
  
  Go forth. my little child, in this cold world to warm the hearts and waken the minds of some few who may be ready to blossom and bear fruit, even within this “Hour”.

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  The Challenge to Buddhism

  The relevance of Buddhism in the modern world.

  All over the world, this twentieth century has seen already perhaps more than any other earlier century such a considerable amount of rethinking in the different spheres of politics, religion and philosophy, that many people have stopped thinking altogether, as they are not able to keep pace with the rate of changing values, which has usually resulted in a religious devaluation.
  
  A demoralising attitude is frequently experienced as the effect of some uncontrollable catastrophe, when people either expect the end of the world to be near, or fatalistically surrender themselves to the total collapse of economic and other values.
  
  Has Buddhism the basic Buddhism of the four Noble Truths with its chief three characteristics, its doctrine of karma and rebirth, of dependent origination and cessation has Buddhism still value in this present world, where even so-called truth is sold at competitive rates, and religion is being peddled from door to door as if it were toothpaste?
  
  The fact that some people entertain this kind of doubt is a healthy sign, for it proves that they are still alive and prepared to kick, if it is worth while. But the challenges are so many, that one is almost sure to lose the battle on some front or other.

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  Towards the Truth

  Notes from a three-day debate in the 1940’s about Buddhism and Christianity.

  In the 1940’s the students of the University of Ceylon in Colombo arranged for a three-days debate between representatives of two great religions: Buddhism and Christianity. Their choice was the Rev. Clifford Wilson, M.A., the Vicar of Christ Church, Galle Face, Colombo, and Bhikku Dhammapāla, a Buddhist monk from the Netherlands, a convert from Catholicism.
  
  The three days of the debate were fixed with a week’s interval, and the order of the speakers was decided by lot. It was thus that Rev. Wilson opened the debate, which on the first day would be limited to statements by the two opponents on each ones own religion. This order would be reversed the following week, when each speaker would have the opportunity to raise questions about the statements made earlier. The respective answers would be given again seven days later, when once more the order of speaking would be reversed.
  
  Enthusiasm was great, and although some “home” truths were exchanged, there was never any acrimony, while it was said afterwards, that a good time was had by all. But when a wish was expressed to have the debate published, this was made impossible as the text of the three papers read by Rev. Clifford Wilson were not made available.
  
  Now, after almost 40 years those students have grown up and old; but many still remember. And so it was suggested to publish the text of Bhikkhu Dhammapāla’s addresses independently, especially as from those texts it was quite clear the way Christianity was presented, and the way Buddhism was objected to.
  
  The whereabouts of Rev. Wilson are not known to me. Bhikkhu Dhammapāla is no more.
  
  But the debate continues.