The Buddha’s Teachings – An Introduction by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu is a short but precise biography of The Buddhas life and the events that led to his enlightenment and teachings. The book describes key concepts such as Samsara, rebirth, the handful of leaves, the noble truths, Nirvana and the importance of generosity in Buddhism. From the book:
The Buddha said that he simply points out the path to true happiness. You, yourself, have to follow the path. The results you get will have to depend on the effort you put into mastering the Buddha’s skills. The more skillful your actions, the more reliable and harmless the happiness they bring you—all the way to a happiness totally free from conditions, beyond the dimensions of the cosmos, a happiness that totally ends suffering. It’s up to you to decide if your happiness is important enough to test these claims and if you are willing to train yourself in the skills required to make yourself a reliable judge of the test.
Language title : The Buddha’s Teachings – An Introduction