Middle World

General interest in Buddhism has never been higher. The story and teachings of a man who lived 2,500 years ago have a special resonance for us today, perhaps because he taught a way of life that was not based on belief in a creator god but rather on personal experience. "Test my words for yourself," he said. But what lies behind those distinctive images of the Buddha, seated with unshakeable poise, with eyes half-closed and a slight smile? Jinananda, a Western-born Buddhist, divides the subject into the Three Jewels....

كنت أجلس إلى صندوق الدنيا وأنظر ما فيه، فصرت أحمله على ظهري وأجوب به الدنيا، أجمع مناظرها وصور العيش فيها عسى أن يستوقفني أطفال الحياة الكبار، فأحط الدكة وأضع الصندوق على قوائمه، وأدعوهم أن ينظروا ويعجبوا ويتسلوا ... وكما أن »صندوق الدنيا« القديم كان هو بريد »الفانوس السحري« وشريط »السينما« وطليعتهما، أرجو أن يقسم لصندوقي هذاأن يكون—فى عالم الأدب—تمهيدا لما هو أقوى وأتم وأحفل.

Dating back to around 2400 BCE, this profound collection of teachings from the vizier Ptahhotep offers invaluable insights on ethics, leadership, family life, and personal conduct. Often hailed as one of the earliest surviving works of literature, these maxims provide a blueprint for living a balanced, honorable life—lessons that resonate just as powerfully today as they did in the courts of the pharaohs. From advice on humility and justice to the art of wise speech and self-control, Ptahhotep’s words guide listeners toward moral excellence and practical success.