The Buddhist Catechism (book)

The Buddhist Catechism presents basic Buddhist teachings compiled from the sacred writings of the southern Buddhists, in the form of questions and answers. It was written by Colonel Henry S. Olcott in 1881 and is still in use in Buddhist schools.

Olcott's objectives in writing

This work was one of Olcott's efforts to help the Buddhists of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) to establish schools supporting their own culture and traditions.

In many ways a catechism is not a Buddhist way of teaching, which is based more on the interplay of master and student, the introspective exercises of the student, an the use of ritual. But the Catechism is a noteworthy attempt to accomplish two separate tasks. The first is to present in a simple form the basic teachings of Buddhist thought to the faithful, many of whom had never studied the Dharma in a systematic way. The second and more difficult aim was to translate basic Buddhist doctrine into social policies that could serve as guidelines and recommendations for a modern society. One chapter of the Catechism is devoted to the similarities between the Dharma and Western science. This is probably the weekest chapter, and today a good deal more would need to be said on the relationship between traditional Asian philosophies and Western science. In writing the other chapters of the Catechism, Olcott depended on the advice of learned Buddhist scholars in Ceylon, and neither they nor Olcott were modern scientists.

The Buddhist Catechism was widely used... The success of the catechism came as a surprise to Olcott himself ... He saw the need for an improved, widely-accepted teaching tool, and he created it.

Publication history

On April 22, 1881, Col. Olcott sailed for Ceylon (Sri Lanka) mainly for the purpose of raising an Educational Fund to start schools. During the voyage he compiled the catechism, which was finished on May 5. The book was published on July 24 both in English and Sinhalese, with the financial support of Mrs. Ilangakoon of Mâtara. The two first editions were rapidly sold and before the end of August a third one became necessary.

Some small corrections by High Priest Sumangalawere introduced in the 42nd edition of 1907, arranged before his death by Col. Olcott. Annie Besant wrote the Preface to that edition.

By 1889, it had been translated into 15 languages, mostly those of Asia, and by 1977 had been translated into twenty languages and 45 printings. The book is still in use in Sri Lanka.

Availability online

• 1st edition - 1881 - at Blavatsky Archives.
• 3rd edition - 1887 - at Google Books.
• 42nd edition - 1907 - at Sacred Texts.
• 42nd edition - 1908 - at Internet Archive.
• 42nd edition - 1915 - at Gutenberg.org.

• Audiobook by ChapterVox, dated May 3, 2014, at Youtube.