This book was hard for me to read but I will write what I got out of it. In all the chapters it seems there are different characters talking to each other almost in a heaven scene or some spiritual
dimension. It somewhat reminds me of the book of Revelation in the Christian bible.
I think the different characters talking are the different gods. In the first chapter I believe they are talking about war, and battle with the enemy and yet says that towards the end of the chapter they
feel war is not the answer and nor is hatred. Yet worshipping the almighty one is more powerful.
In the second chapter I feel they are talking about exactly what the chapter is titled the book of doctrines. In there it talks about love, and hatred, boastfulness and selfishness, which things are
wrong and which things are more powerful and actually get you farther in life. It talks about eternal life and that when you die you shed your robe (or skin) for new life eternal in heaven and that
life continues forever. It talks about all things living will remain living and all things never alive will remain never alive. I feel that is referring to the doctrine of not being materialistic. The chapter talks about peace and not war. It also mentions to do good works in society and not take things away from others.
Chapter 3 is all about doing your daily tasks without complaint. Making your work towards your god and the good of others and not about yourself. It talks about giving your accomplishments up to the gods as gifts and not to boast of it in yourself.
Chapter 8 talks about a supreme god named Brahma who is the god of all the other gods. It talks about giving praise to him for he spun off all living things. All things were created from him and all
things are alive in him. It even talks about breath is his air. Or breathing his breath. He talks about heaven and saying that death brings life. In this chapter he also mentions the other gods. I
feel that in essence saying you can achieve heaven through other gods as well as him.
In Chapter 11 it seems more of the same about the spread of life throughout the earth and heavens. However, in this chapter it's more specific on life rather then devotion to Brahma. It talks
about heaven and hell and once again I feel it is in a spiritual zone of sorts where we can see all the stars and universes and etc. being created and dieing and becoming a new again. It talks about
life being like a moth drawn into the light and being burned and that the creator created us and we are drawn to him and yet to the end of our life he will snatch us away with fiery lips. Yet we will
become a new and continue life. Talks about being afraid of the gods yet not the fear we humans think of but afraid in knowing his full power and wanting to know that more. A respectful fear.
things happen to you and will enjoy your life. Where if you have the opposite bad things will happen to you and you'll fall into an endless cycle of hatred and evil. It talks about falling into wants and lust and that if you give into "Mara" then he will overthrow you. This chapter also talks about truth and knowing truth and
having the gift of discernment to know the difference. For if we believe lies as truth their are consequences and vis-a-vis.
Chapter seven from what I can tell talks about the spiritual journey that Buddhists undertake. It talks about the path to enlightenment and the path to Nirvana. It's expressed as a hard path but once you
reach the journeys end it becomes peaceful. You become free.
Chapter eleven is a chapter about life and more specifically what we are as human bodies. It talks about how all we are is just skin and bone that becomes sick and diseased, fragile and breakable, and our
inevitable ending is death. It discusses how decietful pride is and that no matter how many things you have or how "great" you are that we all become nothing but dirt as even the very structure we are
made of eventually decomposes. However, it says that one who teaches good things and is good and does all things good will pass on things that can live forever and in such you will live forever in your goodness.
Chapter fourteen is about Buddha and finding the "Awakened" state. It discusses Buddha as being one who is awakened and omniscient or all-knowing. It almost refers to him and those who attain
Buddhahood as gods. It talks about when they find Nirvana they are almost immortal. It warns not to give into lusts, or gold, or other pleasures as it will certainly lead to destruction. It talks about
not being afraid and to find refuge in the shelter of awakening and Nirvana. More specifically with Buddha, "the law, and the Church" as said in the book the Wisdom of the Buddha.
Chapter fifteen's title is happiness and that's what it's mostly about. How to be happy! It says to not hate, to live free from greed, from conquering and victory, from hunger. It talks about the
happiest state of all is Nirvana the highest happiness. Knowing that health is a blessing and to use it as such as well as a trusting relationship. It talks about being around the right people and not surrounding yourself with fools. But, to "follow the wise, the intelligent, the learned, the much enduring, the dutiful, the elect..." instead.