ction.

The new Sinhalese version (38th edition) which is being prepared by my
respected friend, D. B. Jayatilaka, Principal of Ananda (Buddhist)
College, Colombo, is partly printed, but cannot be completed until he
is relieved of some of the pressure upon his time. The Tamil version
(41st edition) has been undertaken by the leaders of the Panchama
community of Madras, and will shortly issue from the press. The
Spanish version (39th edition) is in the hands of my friend, Senor
Xifre, and the French one (37th edition) in those of Commandant Courmes.

So the work goes on, and by this unpretending agency the teachings of
the Buddha Dharma are being carried throughout the world.

H. S. O.

ADYAR, 7_th January_, 1905.

PREFACE

TO THE FORTY-SECOND EDITION

The writer of this Catechism has passed away from earth, but, before he
left the body, he had arranged with the High Priest Sumangala to make
some small corrections in the text. These are incorporated in the
present edition by the High Priest's wish, expressed to me in Colombo,
in November 1907.

I have not altered the numbering of the questions, as it might cause
confusion in a class to change the numbers, if some pupils had the
older editions and some the new.

ADYAR, )
17_th February_, 1908. ) ANNIE BESANT

THE BUDDHIST CATECHISM

PART I

THE LIFE OF THE BUDDHA

1. Question. _Of what religion[1] are you?_

Answer. The Buddhist.

2. Q. _What is Buddhism?_

A. It is a body of teachings given out by the great personage known as
the Buddha.

3. Q. _Is "Buddhism" the best name for this teaching?_

A. No; that is only a western term: the best name for it is Bauddha
Dharma.

4. Q. _Would you call a person a Buddhist who had merely been born of
Buddha parents?_

A. Certainly not. A Buddhist is one who not only professes belief in
the Buddha as the noblest of Teachers, in the Doctrine preached by Him,
and in the Brotherhood of Arhats, but practises His precepts in daily
life.

5. Q. _What is a male lay Buddhist called?_

A. An Upasaka.

6. Q. _What a female?_

A. An Upasika.

7. Q. _When was this doctrine first preached?_

A. There is some disagreement as to the actual date, but according to
the Sinhalese Scriptures it was in the year 2513 of the (present)
Kali-Yuga.

8. Q. _Give the important dates in the last birth of the Founder?_

A. He was born under the cons