What post-canonical Theravada literature has changed/impressed your life the most?

[Quantum Foam]

As the title suggests, what literature, Dhamma talks, books, texts left a deep impression on you that you would recommend to this day to anyone who is NOT from the Pali canon but is still from the Theravada tradition, preferably something from the 20th and 21st century. I'm very excited.

[Ontheway]

Abhidhammattha Sangaha
Mahavamsa

Not of recent times...

If recent books, that would be Paticca-samuppada by Ven. Piyadassi Thera, What Buddhists Believe by Ven. K Sri Dhammananda Mahathera.

[Sam Vara]

Stillness Flowing, the biography of Ajahn Chah by Ajahn Jayasaro.

And indeed anything by Jayasaro himself. We are lucky here on DW that sequeller regularly posts his "Yellow Page Teachings".

[sakyan]

Autobiographies/Biographies of Thai Ajahns and Sayadaws

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

Living Buddhist Masters — Jack Kornfield

[Goofaholix]

Living Buddhist Masters — Jack Kornfield

I agree, an inspiring read.

Recently reprinted as "Living Dharma: Teachings of Twelve Buddhist Masters" as most of them are no longer living.

[confusedlayman]

visudhimagga and nagarjuna middle way verse.. both are crucial ..

[Ceisiwr]

visudhimagga and nagarjuna middle way verse.. both are crucial ..

Nagarjuna wasn’t from the Theravadin tradition. He was from a Pudgalavada and Mahayana one. His disciple Aryadeva however was.

[Ceisiwr]

As the title suggests, what literature, Dhamma talks, books, texts left a deep impression on you that you would recommend to this day to anyone who is NOT from the Pali canon but is still from the Theravada tradition, preferably something from the 20th and 21st century. I'm very excited.

Many different authors have contributed in many different ways. Sujato stands out though for his books “Sects and Sectarianism”, which gave me a better understanding of early Buddhist history and the various traditions, and “A History of Mindfulness” for helping to understand satipatthana. Mostly though these days I lead less from modern authors and more from ancient ones.

[confusedlayman]

visudhimagga and nagarjuna middle way verse.. both are crucial ..

Nagarjuna wasn’t from the Theravadin tradition. He was from a Pudgalavada and Mahayana one. His disciple Aryadeva however was.

thats your or some historians personal opinion i think

[Ceisiwr]

visudhimagga and nagarjuna middle way verse.. both are crucial ..

Nagarjuna wasn’t from the Theravadin tradition. He was from a Pudgalavada and Mahayana one. His disciple Aryadeva however was.

thats your or some historians personal opinion i think

Nagarjuna simply wasn’t from the Theravadin tradition. In his work he has a knowledge of things from the Pudgalavada tradition, which includes dhammas existing in the 3 times (a view they shared with the Sarvastivadins proper). Aryadeva was from Sri Lanka though, probably from the Abhayagiri vihara initially, and so originally Theravadin with a dash of Mahayana.

[confusedlayman]

Nagarjuna wasn’t from the Theravadin tradition. He was from a Pudgalavada and Mahayana one. His disciple Aryadeva however was.

thats your or some historians personal opinion i think

Nagarjuna simply wasn’t from the Theravadin tradition. In his work he has a knowledge of things from the Pudgalavada tradition, which includes dhammas existing in the 3 times. Aryadeva was from Sri Lanka though, probably from the Abhayagiri vihara initially, and so originally Theravadin.

nagarjuna teaching is different from dhamma existing 3 times

[Ceisiwr]

thats your or some historians personal opinion i think

Nagarjuna simply wasn’t from the Theravadin tradition. In his work he has a knowledge of things from the Pudgalavada tradition, which includes dhammas existing in the 3 times. Aryadeva was from Sri Lanka though, probably from the Abhayagiri vihara initially, and so originally Theravadin.

nagarjuna teaching is different from dhamma existing 3 times

Yes it is, but the Abhidhamma he was knowledgable of was the Pudgalavada one not the Theravadin or Vaibhasika one.

[confusedlayman]

Nagarjuna simply wasn’t from the Theravadin tradition. In his work he has a knowledge of things from the Pudgalavada tradition, which includes dhammas existing in the 3 times. Aryadeva was from Sri Lanka though, probably from the Abhayagiri vihara initially, and so originally Theravadin.

nagarjuna teaching is different from dhamma existing 3 times

Yes it is, but the Abhidhamma he was knowledgable of was the Pudgalavada one not the Theravadin or Vaibasikha one.

he is having right view so a real buddhist arhant ...

[Ceisiwr]

nagarjuna teaching is different from dhamma existing 3 times

Yes it is, but the Abhidhamma he was knowledgable of was the Pudgalavada one not the Theravadin or Vaibasikha one.

he is having right view so a real buddhist arhant ...

We aren’t even discussing that, although I think Nagarjuna was more likely aiming to be a Bodhisattva and future Buddha than an Arahant given his Mahayana outlook.