Not so much "an eBook" as a huge library of eBooks, this might just be the best application about Buddhism on the App Store!
This is the entire offline version of John Bullitt's widely recognized and highly recommended Access to Insight (www.accesstoinsight.org) web site, a massive compilation of material about Theravada Buddhism and Buddhism in general.
Herein are contained over 1,000 *actual suttas* (skt: 'sutras') from the Tipitaka (body of Buddhist canonical texts) translated into contemporary English with scholarly rigor and precision by recognized subject domain experts. Suttas are not simply modern essays and interpretations; they are actual written discourses historically attributed to Siddhartha Gotama, the Buddha, who founded Buddhism nearly 2,500 years ago.
A massive and thorough collection of essays by world-renound monks and scholars on the subjects of Buddhist philosophy, meditation, and practice is also included.
This is high quality material that is suitable reading for personal interest or academic study. Much of the material has also been published in printed form.
To aid the reader, indexes are available by subject, author, title, sutta title, proper name of historical figure, simile/metaphor, and even traditional numerical association.
Usability Features of the Software
The reader works much like a web browser. Double tap on the screen to hide or show the toolbar and status bar. Landscape and portrait modes are supported, as are bookmarks which save the current scroll position of the current page.
Network access not required!
Except for the search and audio features, network access is not required. The full text is stored locally on your device.
Audio
Many of the sutta translations also link to iPhone accessible online audio readings on suttareadings.net.
Excerpts from "What is Access to Insight?" by site owner John T. Bullitt:
"Access to Insight is an Internet website dedicated to providing accurate, reliable, and useful information concerning the practice and study of Theravada Buddhism, as it has been handed down to us through both the written word of the Pali canon and the living example of the Sangha."
"The readings assembled here represent just a selection of the Buddha's teachings. These are the ones that, over the years, I've personally found to be helpful in deepening an understanding of Dhamma practice. This collection is not meant to be an exhaustive archive of Theravada Buddhist texts."
"Everything available at Access to Insight is offered in full cooperation with the authors, translators, and publishers concerned, with the clear understanding that none of it is to be sold. Please help yourself to whatever you find useful."
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Access to Insight FAQ
Is Access to Insight free?
Yes, Access to Insight is completely free and it doesn't have any in-app purchases or subscriptions.
Is Access to Insight legit?
✅ The Access to Insight app appears to be high-quality and legitimate. Users are very satisfied.
I don't know what I expected when I found this app, but the description was right on the mark when it said "Not so much an eBook as a huge library of eBooks".
Beautifully cross referenced, clearly written and in such a way that a beginner like myself can come to grips with complex ideas.
I can only guess at how much work this took to put together, but I want to thank those who invested into this and chose to give so much love away.
Possibly not the best review on iTunes, but if there is one app you want to get to carry so much wisdom love and joy around with you, this is it.
Metta.
A Wonderful Treasure
Thank you for your commitment to the Dharma. This app with the words of Buddha is so valuable. 🙏🏼
Buddha Dhamma Sangha
Large collection of incredible teachings. May all gain insight and be happy!
Simply amazing
This is an incredible resource and we are fortunate to have it. The inclusion of dark mode is awesome! Many thanks
Authentic Buddhism at its Core
The Dharma in this app helped me learn fluent German, obtain a 68k scholarship, and race in a track state championship against someone who went on the play for the NFL. Practicing Dhamma is work, but it’s the most fulfilling and rewarding work I found in my years on this earth.
Best App/Website for Buddhism Hands Down
Nothing else can compare with this app it’s fully
Loaded with everything you could
Possibly need.
It’s practical and extremely useful.
Well written
This is a great app to spread the Buddha’s word I would like to see an ability to highlight parts and mark them for later reading
Genuine texts, essential Buddhist reading
There are a number of so-called "Buddha quotes" apps, which are mostly pithy sayings and pseudo-Buddhist-sounding, New Age pablum. There isn't necessarily annoying deeply wrong with such stuff in general, but when it claims authority by attaching the Buddha's name to it, well... That's misleading and, potentially, detrimental to one's progress on the Path. Fortunately, we have Acces to Insight, which corrects this issue in a major way. The core texts are all legitimate suttas from the Pali canon (the earliest and most authoritative record of the historical Buddha's teachings), with scholarly yet readable translations; in addition, ATI provides many more recent commentaries and texts from Thailand, the US, and other places, which are clearly identified by author and translator, so that no one will mistake them for ancient texts or proceed under false assumptions. There is, quite simply, nothing else even remotely like ATI that is both widely available and free. If you want to gain a more historical understanding of Buddhist thought and practice, with easy, on-the-go access, then ATI is your best bet, no question about it.
Happy to see this resource become an app
I've been using the Access to Insight web site for years to study the Pali Cannon. So happy to see it become an app. Not many other FREE apps that offer so many resources to study Buddhist sutras.
Very nice
This is a very nice compendium of suttas as well as study guide.
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