Our Library
History, Vision, Community, and Theravada Buddhism
The Bhavana Society maintains a small reference library to support the research and writing of Bhante Gunaratana as well as the Dhamma and Pali study of the other monastics. Foremost in the library is the collection of the Pāli Canon (in English and other languages) and its ancient and modern commentaries. On a tab on this page, we have a Pāli Canon “finding aid” for library shelf locations, a chart showing the parts of the Tipitaka, and the unique classification system used to shelve the materials.
The library is also used by the residents and visitors to Bhavana. Though the library is closed for most retreats, it is open on the final retreat day.
The collection exists due to the generosity and support of many donors over the years. The Library’s Mission Statement details the types of materials collected. From time-to-time the library posts information about books it would like to add to the collection for those who might be interested in contributing in this way on the support page.
Mission Statement
- To support Bhante Gunaratana in his endeavors
- To educate Bhavana Society monastics and lay residents (to the extent this can be accomplished by books)
- In the Theravada understanding of Vinaya, Dhamma and Abhidhamma
- In meditation or mental development
- In the perspective of outsiders – historians, philosophers, and others who sometimes can help us see the Theravada more accurately.
- In the realities of how Buddhism is actually understood and practiced in the world.
- In the generic skills of a religious professional/spiritual teacher
- In the beliefs and practices of other Buddhist denominations, other religions, and the “one Dhamma” school – to the extent that interfaith and interdenominational dialogue is beneficial
- For use in the Advanced Teachers Training courses
- For the edification of general visitors to the Bhavana Society
- To be a resource for friends of the Bhavana Society—monastic or lay scholars and Dhamma teachers—who may visit the Bhavana Society for the purpose of study
As a result of this mission, the priorities for acquiring and keeping books are:
- Highest Priority, aiming for a complete, comprehensive collection
- The Pāli Canon and its ancient and modern commentaries
- The Pāli language
- Dhamma discourses by reliable Theravada teachers
- Pāli Vinaya and modern commentary on it
- Handbooks of Abhidhamma
- Writings of Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
- Medium Priority. Books which are relevant to Theravada and helpful to our training, but do not have exclusively Theravada contents or point of view. Here we are interested in acquiring the mature writings of highly accomplished scholars, thinkers and teachers. The books have to have some substantial connection with the Theravada. We specifically do not need to acquire Ph.D. theses, nor popularized and watered down treatments of these topics.
- Meditation
- History
- Psychology, medicine, science
- Ethics, consumerism, environmental issues
- War and peace
- Children’s books
- Parenting and family life
- Monastic discipline and monastic life
- Biography and memoirs
- Medium Priority. Books on the general skills of a religious professional, which meet an actual need of Bhavana Society residents
- Way of Circle, nonviolent communication,
- Effective speaking and writing,
- Pastoral counseling,
- Yoga, tai chi
- Low Priority: In this category we would accept donated books and keep them on the shelves as space permits. In pruning these sections we would keep the books which are helpful to Bhante Gunaratana and the Bhavana Society residents
- Mahayana and Vajrayana Dhamma teachings
- Other religions
- Books in non-English languages (except Pāli and translations of Bhante Gunaratana’s writing
Our Classification System
1.5 Pali Canon (Sutta Pitaka) in English, non-PTS*
1.5 016 – 018 Long Discourses (Digha Nikaya)
1.5 026 – 028 Middle Length Discourses (Majjhima Nikaya)
1.5 034 – 038 Connected Discourses (Samyutta Nikaya)
1.5 043 – 047 Numerical Discourses (Anguttara Nikaya)
1.5 058 – 103 Collection of Little Texts (Khuddaka Nikaya)
1.5 058 Dhammapada
1.5 064 Udana
1.5 066 Itivuttaka
1.5 069 Sutta Pitaka
1.5 073 Vimanavatthu
1.5 075 Petavatthu
1.5 079 Theragatha
1.5 080 Therigatha
1.5 081 Jataka
1.5 104 Abhidhamma Pitaka (See also: 6.1)
* PTS – Pali Text Society
Library Categories (in the order the books appear on the shelves)
Note: Numbers on books are followed by the first three letters
of the author’s name (or title if no author given). Numbers after the periods are
decimal rather than whole numbers (for example: 9.11 shelves before 9.2)1. Canonical / Post-canonical
1.1.1 Sinhala / Pali
1.1.2 Nagri / Pali
1.1.3 Roman / Pali non-PTS
1.2 Pali, Pali Text Society (PTS)
1.2.1 Vinaya
1.2.2 Sutta Pitaka
1.2.3 Abhidhamma
1.2.4 Others
1.3 English, PTS
1.3.1 Vinaya
1.3.2 Sutta Pitaka
1.3.3 Abhidhamma
1.3.4 Others
1.4 Journal of the PTS / Papers
1.5 English, non-PTS
8.1 Sutta Compilations [Note: Shelved out of numerical order after 1.5]
2. Languages
2.1 Pali Grammar
2.2 Pali Dictionaries
2.3 Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit BHS
2.4 Sanskrit
2.5 Modern Languages
2.5.1 English
2.5.2 Other Languages
3. Encyclopedia / Reference
3.1 Encyclopedias
3.2 Other Reference Books
3.3 Buddhist Directories
3.4 Guides to the Pali Canon
2.5 Modern Languages
4. Buddhism General
4.1 Life of the Buddha
4.2 Disciples of the Buddha
4.3 Intro to Buddhism
4.4 Intro to Meditation
4.5 Vandana (Chanting)
4.6 Concentration
4.7 Early Teachings (Doctrines)
5. Vinaya/Monastic Discipline
6. Abhidhamma / Philosophy / Psychology
6.1 Abhidhamma
6.2 Buddhist Philosophy
6.3 Other Philosophy
6.4 Western Psychology
6.5 Buddhism & Science
6.6 Buddhism & Medicine
7. History
7.1 General History
7.2 Buddhism in India
7.3 Buddhism in Sri Lanka
7.4 Buddhism in S.E. Asia
7.5 Mahayana Countries
7.6 Western Countries
7.7 Buddhism in the World – Present & Future
7.8 Buddhism in Africa
Wheel Publications / Bodhi Leaves [Without category numbers on shelves between 7 & 8]
8. Theravada Buddhism
[Note: 8.1 Buddhist Canon shelved after 1.5]
8.2 Bhavana Society Authors
8.3 Sri Lanka Tradition
8.4 Thai Tradition
8.5 Burmese Tradition
8.6 Malaysian Tradition
8.7 Other Asian Countries
8.8 Western Tradition
9. Mahayana Buddhism
9.1 General & Overlapping
9.11 Mahayana Sutras
9.2 Mahayana in India
9.3 Mahayana in China
9.31 China – Ch’an
9.32 China – Pure Land
9.4 Mahayana in Korea
9.5 Mahayana in Vietnam
9.6 Mahayana in Japan
9.61 Japan – Zen
9.7 Mahayana in the West
10. Tibetan Buddhism
10.1 Tibetan Scripture
10.2 Tibet General Studies, Culture, Biography
10.3 Ladakh & Nepal
10.4 Buddhism in Mongolia
10.5 Tibetan Philosophy, Logic, Abhidharma
11. Traditions Overlapping & Misc.
12. Children’s Books / Youth [Note: Shelved out of numerical order after 4.3]
13. Buddhism & …
13.1 Nature
13.2 Society / Ethics
13.3 Women
13.4 Birth, Old Age, Sickness & Death
13.5 Monastic Life
13.6 Contemplation of the Body
14. Buddhist Art [Note: Shelved out of numerical order on top of shelves above 8. ]
15. Poetry & Stories
15.3 Biography, Autobiography, Mémoires
16. Other Religions
16.1 Buddhism & Other Religions
16.21 Christianity, Judaism, Islam – General
16.22 Judiaism
16.23 Christianity
16.24 Islam
16.29 Sects Originating with These
16.31 East Asian Religions – General
16.32 Taoism
16.33 Confucianism
16.34 T’ai Ch’i
16.39 Other East Asian Religions
16.41 South Asian Religions – General
16.42 Hinduism
16.43 Hindu Scriptures
16.44 Yoga
16.49 Other South Asian Religions
16.5 Miscellaneous (includes Theosophical, Krishnamurti)
16.6 Overlapping & comparative Religions
16.7 Secular Meditation & Spirituality
17. Buddhist Literature in Other Asian Languages
17.1 Sinhala
17.1.2 Sinhala & English
17.2 Thai
17.2.1 Thai & English
17.3 Vietnamese
17.3.1 Vietnamese & English
17.4 Indonesian
17.7 Korean
17.8 Mandarin Chinese
17.9 Japanese
18. Buddhist Literature in Western & Other Languages
18.1 German
18.2 French
18.3 Spanish
18.4 Portuguese
18.9 Various Other Languages
20. Communication Skills