For nearly two thousand years, people have turned to The Sutra of Forty-Two Sections as the perfect doorway into the Buddha's teaching. Composed of forty-two short, luminous passages on desire, contentment, the training of the mind, and the art of letting go, this ancient anthology is the earliest Buddhist text known to have reached China, and it has never felt more timely. In this faithful modern-English edition, the plain speaking, dry humor, and gentle irony of the original survive without archaic language or heavy commentary standing in the way. Whether you come as a curious newcomer or a longtime practitioner, you will find a teaching that asks only that you listen closely and reflect on what you hear. An introduction, a glossary of key terms, and a guide to the work's history help you read with understanding. Part of The World Scriptures Library.