Ven. S Dhammika
Published by: The Buddha Dhamma Mandala Society
Published: 2006. ISBN 981-05-6573-9
Genre: Buddhism/Theravada Tradition
Ven. S Dhammika was at the Buddhist Library on November 1st. 2006 to launch his latest book “A Guide to Buddhism A to Z”. Ven. Dhammika would like to see his latest book become equally if not more popular that an earlier book, “Good Question, Good Answer”. Ven. Dhammika attributes the popularity of his earlier book to the question and answer format. The book has a circulation of over 500,000 copies and has been translated into 16 languages. It has also been widely accessed and downloaded from a number of websites, including <buddhanet.net>.
Ven. Dhammikla is best known for delivering Dhamma talks that seem to re-create the energy level and vibrant atmosphere that would have prevailed when the Buddha delivered his sermons. Ven. S Dhammika, who lived in Singapore since 1985, is well known to the Buddhist community here and in many countries overseas. He has written 26 books and three more will be going to print shortly.
“A Guide to Buddhism A to Z” has been written using a dictionary format and should prove to be popular. The book covers the standard basic ideas of Buddhism, presents well-known topics on Buddhism such as ‘metta’ but from a different angle, and introduces neglected but important aspects of the Dhamma. Such not much talked about aspects include self-esteem, modesty, beauty, humility, courtesy and respect. In addition, Ven. Dhammika covers curious subjects that stimulate interest, such as the Buddha’s earlobes and pets. Contemporary issues in values are also included in the Guide to underscore the quality of timelessness of the Buddha Dhamma.
Bhante Dhammaratana, who hosted the Book Launch, observed that Ven. Dhammika is “an avid reader and gifted with outstanding memory power. He has a “unique writing style and treats aspects of Buddhism in a simple and yet non-conventional manner”. The quality of Ven. Dhammika’s book, Bhante added, is the “easiness for a reader to retain and recall what was read.”
Ven. Dhammika hopes that his book “serves to inform readers who do not know the Dhamma , better inform those who had some knowledge of the Dhamma and would appeal to those who otherwise might not pick up any book on Buddhism”.
The book will be made available on the Internet at a later date but copies of the book can be obtained free of charge at the Buddhist Dhamma Mandala Society and the Buddhist Library.
The book is recommended reference for both Buddhists and non-Buddhists. Its author, Ven. Dhammika, would be most handsomely rewarded if readers find the book “educational, informative and inspirational”.
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