Product Description
This accessible volume covers both the teachings of the Buddha and the integration of Buddhism into daily life. What are the distinctive features of Buddhism? What or who is the Buddha, and what are his teachings? How has Buddhist thought developed over the centuries, and how can contemporary dilemmas be faced from a Buddhist perspective? Words such as "karma" and "nirvana" have entered our vocabulary, but what do they really mean? Keown has taught Buddhism at an introductory level for many years, and in this book he provides a lively, challenging response to these frequently asked questions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Short and sweet.
This is a great series I discovered while studying at Oxford. The books are short (hence the title) overviews written by scholars for a lay audience.They are in no way simplistic, however.A great place to start if you are interested in Buddhism.It provides both a historical and doctrinal overview of Buddhism.

Lives up to its title, fluently and accessibly
Finishing Damien Keown's "Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction" (Oxford UP, 1996), I compared his understanding to the book immediately prior that I had reviewed on Amazon, "god Is Not Great," by Christopher Hitchens. The latter writer fails to note the Dalai Lama's own insistence that if scientific inquiry proved false the words of the Buddha, he'd abandon the words; he also keeps, as Pico Iyer reported in his "Time" cover story (Mar. 31, 2008), a model of the human brain on his desk. Certainly the Dalai Lama's not the quasi-feudal potentate lording over theocratic serfs that Hitchens hints. Neither has modern Buddhism, as it evolves in the West, been opposed to secular liberalism or psychological analysis.

London-based scholar Damien Keown quotes the delightfully named Christmas Humphreys, a leading British pioneer in popularizing what he suggested a "new vehicle" of "Nava-yana" to "grow happily alongside, and even blend with the best of Western science, psychology and social science, and thus effect the ever-changing field of Western thought." He continued: "Just what it will be we do not know, nor does it matter at the present time. The Dhamma as such is immortal, but its forms must ever change to serve the ever-changing human need." (qtd. by Keown p. 121 from Humphreys' "Sixty Years of Buddhism in England," p. 80).

Surely Hitchens might find in such an openness a fruitful intersection rather than a solid wall that he erects that shuts off, given the failings of the Dalai Lama that he castigates amidst the larger stupidities of such as the Bhagwan or the Maharishi. In the single chapter he devotes to demolishing the Eastern alternatives, Hitchens does overlook the fluidity of Buddhism within progress, a feature that distinguishes its overlooked practical nature from the otherworldly states that Hitchens like most of us characterizes as a salient, and often only, differing feature of the Far Eastern seeker or guru vs. the Western (or Middle Eastern) mullah or minister.

Keown, by contrast, as his short study promises in its title, gives us a friendly entrance by portals we recognize into what for me's been a mysterious panorama. He compares human nature's "five factors of individuality" taught by the Buddha to five components of an automobile. The parts shift in motion, the car demands the fuel of "tanha," but all of its five parts eventually will break down. This gas-guzzling car's propelled by perhaps the wrong octane (my metaphor) of desire, which equates with the First Noble Truth that we depend on "dukkha." We will need to diagnose this flaw before we can repair our vehicle.

Likewise, Keown uses fire to explain the metaphor of "samudaya," the Second Truth of Arising. He then defines Cessation ("Nirodha") in the words of the Buddha helpfully: "asking about the whereabouts of 'an enlightened one' after death is like asking where a flame goes when it is blown out." (52) The flame has not gone anywhere; the process of combustion has ceased. "Removing craving and ignorance is like taking away the oxygen and fuel which a flame needs to burn." You can see, although Keown does not belabor the image, how the earlier automotive metaphors compliment the traditional ones of the candle-flame to explain for we moderns a venerable set of Buddhist core teachings--which forms Truth #4 of the Noble Eightfold path of the Middle Way of sensible moderation in daily practice, "Magga."

I found the chapter on the Four Truths enlightening, and his on the life of the Buddha summarized efficiently the little we know in fact well. (In fact, all I perhaps for now needed to know, compared with Karen Armstrong's Penguin Lives "Buddha"-- recently reviewed by me-- that tended to ramble on.) Other sections examine Karma & Rebirth, The Mahayana school, and Asian varieties. A short reading list, maps, and illustrations have all been chosen sparingly but appropriately; the use of text boxes to summarize key concepts makes this book reader-friendly, although the handsome typeface may be too small for some readers. The discussions of Asian expansion while necessary lacked the earlier and later chapters' verve, perhaps inevitably-- a second minor flaw.

Valuable discussions of ethics and Buddhism as adapted to the West should counter claims of many about the supposed non-worldly withdrawal from relevant concerns of human rights, scientific advancement, and mental health that show how this ancient teaching can be well integrated into current knowledge at the most advanced levels in industrialized nations, ecumenical dialogues, and secular cultures.

P.S. Countering George Dekle's 2006 comments here on Amazon, this book does not credulously urge you to levitate or water-walk! A careful re-reading of the book reminds us of Keown's pragmatic view: "Although the Buddha is said to have possessed these abilities himself, he sometimes mocked those who went to great lengths to acquire them, pointing out rather than devote years of one's life to learning to walk on water it was simpler to engage the services of a boatman!" (89)

Brief Introduction to Buddhism
Buddhism is a subject that has spawned a huge and bewildering number of books, all meant to encourage the Westerner in understanding its message and way.Like the other volumes in the VSI series, this book provides a succinct introduction into a field in general, highly readable outlines.There is a short bibliography for further study, as well as a timeline; both of these help in placing the historical and religious aspects in perspective.It is also very clear in setting out the demands of Buddhism on adepts in the 21st century.As a starting point, this slim volume points theway to the Way.Highly recommended.

Buddhism: a Very Short Recruitment Tract
"Buddhism" started off very well, giving the parable of the blind men and the elephant as an example that Buddhism could appear to be many different things depending upon your perspective.Then Keown moved on, giving a "life" of Buddha and an overview of the evolution of the various schools of Buddhism.But the further I read into the book, the elephant looked less and less like an unbiased work of scholarship and more and more like a thinly veiled attempt to convert the unbelievers to Buddhism.By the last chapter, "Buddhism in the West," the veil was off.

Before the last chapter, however, came the chapter on "Meditation," where it was revealed that through the power of meditation, you too can learn to read minds, have out-of-body experiences, levitate, and walk on water.

In the section entitled "The Popularity of Buddhism in the West" Keown made statements that are, to say the least, at odds with sober scholarship.To say that Buddhism, which has a cosmology inhabited by higher gods, lower gods, titans, and ghosts, is a rational philosophy strains credulity.To say that, unlike Christianity, few Buddhist doctrines are in conflict with science and allegorical interpretations are available for the ones that are, is again to strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.Firstly, the doctrines of any religion that are in conflict with science can be interpreted allegorically.Secondly, the Judeo Christian concept of a universe with a beginning and an end is far more in keeping with scientific thought than the endless cycles of Buddhism.(Big Bang = "Let there be Light").Then to say that, unlike those poor benighted Christians, Buddhism doesn't have any "thou shalt nots" flies in the face of the Five Precepts, which forbid killing, stealing, lying, sexual immorality, and drunkeness.By my count that's four of Christianity's top ten Thou Shalt Nots.Then he writes about past life regression under hypnosis as if it were a valid science.Hypnosis is such an unreliable guide that most of the courts of this land refuse to allow witnesses to testify to hypnotically refreshed memories.There is more in the same vein in the last chapter, but those are the high spots.

The Oxford University Press is normally a bastion of scholarly merit.This work is not typical of their usually fine output.Instead of this book, read "The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Buddhism," which actually gives good information without trying to make you believe you can walk on water and without trying to turn you into a Buddhist.

Bodhisattva won't you take me by the hand?
If Steely Dan was your only introduction to Buddhism then you need to get this book. I am so glad that I found these "A Very Short Introduction" books. If all of them are as informative, to the point and interesting, I'm going to have a library. These books are the Cliff Notes to life for people with a brain.
This book has maps, references, end notes and pronunciation guides.It attempts to answer question such as "Is Buddhism a Religion?" Yes, based on the taxonomy of a religion used by Keown.

I don't want to make the review longer than the short book. But, if you want a brief overview of Buddhism and how it can relate to you today, get this book! ... Read more

Product Description

Bestselling author and renowned Zen teacher Steve Hagen penetrates the most essential and enduring questions at the heart of the Buddha's teachings: How can we see the world in each moment, rather than merely as what we think, hope, or fear it is? How can we base our actions on reality, rather than on the longing and loathing of our hearts and minds? How can we live lives that are wise, compassionate, and in tune with reality? And how can we separate the wisdom of Buddhism from the cultural trappings and misconceptions that have come to be associated with it?

Customer Reviews (22)

Not for Everyone, but yes for me
Just got this book recently, recommended by a fellow traveler on spiritual path.

It's indeed a tough read, some has mentioned repetition, some mentioned lecturing style, and many others.

Personally, I just found that this book is definitely not for everyone. It can be helpful if you're at a stage where it's the right time to read it.

As old saying goes: the Teacher will appear when Student is ready.

Repetition? Isn't it the same thing all great Masters expounded over and over again to his/her student? Be it Zen Master, Taiji Master, they all use a certain 'door' to help the students go through themselves. If a style doesn't apply to one, find another .. but for me, personally, at this point of my own self struggle, this book helps A LOT!

Someone talks about lack of the discussion about 'Compassion'. Well if anyone see around, 'Compassion' is on holiday, none to be found next to us. Each of us has individual and self centered motive. However, if one is able to see Reality, the 'Wisdom' is there. If this Wisdom is not carried out, there will be no active 'Compassion'. I don't think one can exist without the other. I remember one snippet of previous Lama Yeshe incarnation who demonstrated big compassion, but also wisdom, where fought off a railway station thief.

So, at the end, each reader should decide if the book suits them or not. To me, at this point of my life, it is.
(Therefore 4 star, not 5, given 5 should be a book applicable to many, and not 3, given 3 is average only).

I'd like to thank my fellow traveler who recommended this to me ;)

Life Is Not What We Think!
"Buddhism Is Not What You Think" has become one of my most beloved books and I found it coincidentally while googling a story I had heard about two statues that often sit outside Buddhist temples in Japan that are called the the Guardians of Truth. Steve Hagen begins Chapter One with that very story. These figures represent the paradox in our search for truth - so often we want to say THIS is the truth.Then immediately we limit our experience and put it in a box.Additionally we search for truth outside ourselves - as if someone or something else has our answers.

Hagen's instructions and guidance on working with our humanity are simple yet powerful. After twenty years on my own very eclectic spiritual path, I appreciate Hagen's approach. It is both inspiring and practical. One of my favorite quotes from the book is: "There's nothing to prove, nothing to figure out, nothing to get, nothing to understand. When we finally stop explaining everything to ourselves, we may discover that in silence, complete understanding was here all along." Ahhhh, freedom.Thank you Steve!

Clarity
This book is incredible. It is often difficult to get an accurate description of what Buddhism is in the Western world due to Western bias, and once one has moved through that, the next hurdle is Eastern bias. Steve Hagen shows the barest, most basic tenants of Buddhism without the cloud of confusion and mystery that accompanies most religious traditions, ex. prayer. If you think you know what Buddhism teaches because it was explained to you buy a non-Buddhist, you're probably mistaken. Thanks to Steve, now I can recognize what is and is not "Buddhism."

Freedom Beyond What You Think
Zen priest Steve Hagen presents teachings which penetrate the most essential and enduring questions at the heart of the Buddha's teachings, including: How can we see the world each moment, rather than merely as what we think, hope, or fear it is?
-- Find freedom beyond what you think -- it is rewarding.

Great book, very Zen -- but where's the heart?
This book, like Hagen's /Buddhism Plain and Simple/ is very clean, logical, and aimed squarely at stripping away the delusions we all have that keep us from being spiritually and emotionally free. As others have mentioned, it does "hammer away" at repetitive points to drive home the simplicity of what Hagen is trying to wake you up to. The book is overall very insightful, and a few chapters are EXTREMELY jolting and eye-opening in my view; for example, the "Ice Forming in Fire" chapter really hit me hard, and I've come back to it many times.

But while /Buddhism Is Not.../ has a very simple and liberating perspective to offer you, I feel that it's worth pointing out two things: First, as another reviewer said, this book does have some odd and unpractical examples to try and drive its points home. Things that should be and could be illustrated in practical ways applicable to our everyday life end up being developed in abstract "what if" scenarios that don't help *me* very much.

Second, and more important, this book seems to lack what I think is a fundamental part of Buddhism: compassion. It is briefly mentioned in the book at a few points, but only in passing as a kind of "this stuff will come along later by itself." That is not helpful, and the lack of any significant understanding of *where* and *how* compassion will develop could do more harm than good. If you strictly adhere to the cool, rational logic Hagen gives you, you may end up with what Lama Surya Das calls a "hardening of the heartwaves." You may be more liberated in some ways, but at the cost of the happiness and peace of mind of others around you. In the end, that will come back to you as all deeds eventually must.

So, read this book. There is a lot to discover... But as with any spiritual idea or teaching, do not blindly obey or use it as a club to beat "less enlightened" people over the head with. Remember: "If it's wise, but lacks compassion, it is not love. If it is compassionate, but not wise, it is not love." This book can show you some wisdom, but you have to warm it up a bit with some TLC of your own. ... Read more

Product Description
In this book the author explains a fundamental type of mental training called lojong, which can literally be translated as attitudinal training.Amazon.com Review
Yes, the title can be misleading. This isn't a book about hip Buddhism with some kind of bad-ass attitude. This is a training manual for learning Buddhist attitudes that will help readers find greater peace of mind and happiness in daily life. The premise here is mind control the Tibetan Buddhist way. Wallace (Boundless Heart) draws upon the traditional "root text" of the Seven-Point Mind Training and expertly translates the ancient teachings into a Western-flavored lesson. In fact, another possible title for this highly esteemed book might be, Buddhism Taught with a Western Attitude. Rather than rely solely on the traditional teaching methods of using stories and parables to ground Buddhist theory into daily living, Wallace sprinkles in large doses of intellectual and scientific analogies—definite crowd-pleasers in the West. For instance, when he delves into two Buddhist approaches for training the mind's attention—control and release—he uses the ancient metaphor of taming an elephant in the room to heel. But in the next breath he moves into a modern analogy of purifying a polluted river. This slip-sliding ease between the language and sensibilities of ancient and modern worlds is a marvel and delight for any Western student of Buddhism.

Customer Reviews (13)

great book, thank you
I'm on my 3rd rereading of this book, every reading, new insights, thanks for writing this book.

Lucid, generous, compassionate, accessible
I am very grateful to B. Allan Wallace for writing this book in this style. Such profound and practical insights digested through his own experience are generously shared using language, imagery and reasoning readily understandable by a parochial Australian such as me. His explication of more traditional Tibetan metaphors and images is also very helpful. I love the kindness and humility and humanity of the book. It has already helped me in my quest to be more patient and compassionate.

Packed full of deep wisdom...
I must confess I have not read the entire book, the first section called "the preliminaries" is so deep and full of wisdom that I have not gotten past them...it alone is worth the price of the book.I am not a buddhist, but this is deep stuff about how to live and approach conciousness, with the ultimate goal being full awareness.Clearly written, logical, very deep.My highest rec. if you want a spiritual but not dogmatic book, grounded in practical excercises.Contemplative, dynamic, deep.

no babytalk
Having read many books about Tibetan Buddhist principles and meditation techniques, this book is by far one of the best. Wallace writes for the skeptical, intellectual Westerner. Many Buddhist books written by Westerners either use baby talk or are too sirupy. Because of this, I preferred those written by Tibetan teachers - until I came across this book by Wallace.

A. Heinz, Cape Town

So you noticed Wallace wrote two books on the Mind Training . . .
Realize they are two very different books!If you are looking for something to benefit your practice then "Buddhism with an Attitude" is the way to go.Although repetitive at times, this itself is helpful, and it is written in a more instructional tone.If you feel your practice has fully matured (lucky you) and you are simply interested in a concise, more academic exposition of the seven point mind training, then "The Seven-Point Mind Training" is the one for you.Also, for being more condensed, the "The Seven-Point Mind Training", will be the book you will want to carry around once you are familiar with Lojong practice. ... Read more

Product Description
2,500 years after the passing of Buddha, his message continues to resonate. This compelling introduction explains the essential principles of the Buddhist way of life and what it means to be a Buddhist. Meditation is explained clearly and simply as a tool for developing qualities such as inner peace, love and patience. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Solid background on Buddhism
This is a very interesting and informative introduction to Buddhism. I would recommend it to those people that are more faithful than pragmatic but it has enough of a background on concepts within Buddhism to keep the general knowledge seeker interested.

Intro to Buddhism: Explanation of Buddhist way of Life.
Not exactly what I expected. Not generalized. Into a very defined method of Buddhism, of which there are many methods.

A wonderful introduction to Buddhism
This book was one of my first books on Buddhism and I can honestly say that it s trully beautiful introduction to Buddhism. It is written with such clarity it answered all of my questions about the Buddhist path. There's a chapter on Buddha's life story and others on karma, compassion and wisdom. It seems to cover the entire Buddhist path and in such a practical way that I felt I understood how it all tied together. I'd thoroughly recommend this book as a starting point on Buddhism and for anyone who wishes to understand how to bring Buddha's profound teachings into their daily life.

For more reviews on this book, put this into your Amazon search bar: "Introduction to Buddhism: An Explanation of the Buddhist Way of Life by Kelsang Gyatso (Paperback - Jan 1, 2008)"

This is the BEST Introduction to Buddhism EVER!
This deceptively small book packs an awsome punch because not a single word or phrase is redundant or wasted.This book delves quite deeply into the life of Buddha and his core teachins so that even after multiple readings I feel I still have more to learn from this one book.

Introduction To Buddhism is simple, clear, precise and vast, yet not overwhelming.

Disappointing
I doubt this book is a good introduction to buddhism.I found the writing confusing and didactic, as if the reader is a small child, and the author/guru is the ultimate authority.This 'I know better than you' tone was irritating and insulting to me and the friend who lent me the book.It made me feel that my feelings and observations are not valid, but that I must take on his way of seeing the world.His writing style is dull and pedantic, and necessitates a lot of suspension of rational thought. As another reviewer said, his views on anger and other emotions are psychologically questionable.The reader is told that anger is never justified and a result of one's earlier actions ... I think ... I really couldn't follow his train of thought. Other books on buddhism I've read encourage the reader to explore our emotions safely, to learn from them, to take them as useful information and to form our own personal interpretations.The author here offers a one-size-fits-all method of spiritual practice, modeled on tibetan buddhism, which I assume would appeal to the young.After reading this book I had no desire to practice along his recommendations. ... Read more

Product Description
Profound and amusing, this book provides a viable approach to answering the perennial questions: Who am I? Why am I here? How can I live a meaningful life? For Asma, the answers are to be found in Buddhism.

There have been a lot of books that have made the case for Buddhism.What makes this book fresh and exciting is Asma's iconoclasm, irreverence, and hardheaded approach to the subject.He is distressed that much of what passes for Buddhism is really little more than "New Age mush." He loudly asserts that it is time to "take the California out of Buddhism." He presents a spiritual practice that does not require a belief in creeds or dogma. It is a practice that is psychologically sound, intellectually credible, and esthetically appealing. It is a practice that does not require a diet of brown rice, burning incense, and putting both your mind and your culture in deep storage.

In seven chapters, Asma builds the case for a spiritual practice that is authentic, and inclusive. This is Buddhism for everyone. This is Buddhism for people who are uncomfortable with religion but yearn for a spiritual practice. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (36)

Disappointed
The sample I read on Kindle was funny and interesting, but now that I'm 50% through the book I'm very disappointed. It's not as funny or clever as I thought. And there isn't much that I can identify with. I find myself skipping through whole sections, which I almost never do. The sections are quite long, so if you're not interested in parenting or the weird physics theories he discusses, you will page thru a lot. I regret this purchase, especially since it's over the $9.99 price point!

Buddhism Chicago/NPR style
There;s a great deal to like in Stephen Asma's irreverent, thoughtful,intellectual and spiritual discourse on Buddhism.

Asma builds his case for a no-nonsense decidedly non-mystical Buddhism.

In Chapter 1, he reveals that "The Buddha Ate Meat," discusses his own angsty spiritual seeking, and concludes that "the solution to suffering is not to run away from, or escape, this world, but to run straight at it even harder."

In Chapter 2, he talks about craving, specifically romantic craving, the Fiour Noble Truths, marriage divorced from love in Buddhist countries (tip: it actually works for them), and overcoming a broken heart.

In Chapter Three, a chapter obviously dear to his heart, Asma talks about parenting and Buddhism with the Six Perfections (patience! Right speech! Vigor and effort! When his son is jumping off the walls!)

Chapter Four talks about science and slams "mystical thinking" and New Age wish-fulfillment, preferring instead Gautama as empiricist (Asma doesn't think much of THE CELESTINE PROPHECY).

Chapter Five speaks about the Beats, Charlie Parker, and creativity--obviously another area of passion for musician Asma.

Chapter Six addresses our quest for fame, the insulation of wealth, the need to do whatever job you're doing well (although , as Asma puts it, mindfulness applied to work doesn't help if a trained monkey could do your job), and neutralizing workplace bullies with kindness. I especially appreciated the opening segment with Asma's father, a man's man who insists on clearing a path to the river correctly.

Chapter Seven takes a look at "power Buddhism" and suggests that perhaps all that peacefulness needs to be temperate with assertiveness and wisdom when it comes to resisting repressive regimes and social injustice.

Asma accompanies the progression of his argument--from personal to global--with humor, a generous dose of intellectual musing and concrete real-life examples as well as high-minded musing on duty and family ("it seems like relationships were more stable in my parents' generation."--his musingas are not unwelcome.) Although making his preference for Buddhism pointed and critiquing Western religion (his discussion of faith versus technology is titled "Robots Need Enlightenment Too"), he argues in the last chapter, about Christian missionaries trying to convert Buddhist countries, "It remaisn to e seen how these religious competitions will play out. Religons meet each other like tectonic plates." He does poitn to Christianity as 'a deep an beautiful religion," but true to himself, argues for Buddhism to the end. His musings may bump against your worldview like tectonic plates, but in the grinding together you will undoubtedly hear the music of his Buddhist heart.

Great book for anyone thinking of becoming a Buddhist!
I really knew nothing about Buddhism before receiving this book. I really enjoyed reading the authors journey into becoming a Buddhist and he explained a lot of the science behind it!As someone who dabbles in region, I really thing that Buddhism is something that my life and spirit could use. Great book!

Good Theory, Disappointing Application
This book does a great job of summarizing the basic teachings of Buddhism in simple, entertaining language.However, it fails at his second stated goal: to show us what Buddhism looks like lived out in the life of your average American Joe.Asma claimed real people, like himself, are semi-free from suffering.He said it takes a lot of effort, like learning a musical instrument, but with effort anyone can be a suffering-free virtuoso!I couldn't wait!

When I studied each world religion in seminary, I took a class and also met weekly with a devotee to see how the practice pans out in real life.While my Muslim and Hindu partners were very helpful, my local synagogue and multiple Buddhist centers failed to find a partner for me.So I hoped this book would be the next best thing.

Here are some of the "sufferings" experienced by the author to which he applied Buddhism:
- His sex drive and failed relationships (divorced twice)
- Raising his active young son
For starters, this is fairly low-grade suffering.Second, it's a male perspective - not very applicable to my life.Finally, I didn't see how Buddhism helped any more than a run-of-the-mill self-help book.For example:
- don't project your ego wishes on your child, let them be their own person (no ego)
- don't use too many swear words (right speech)
- don't be an ascetic, but don't get too greedy for sex (middle path)

I did admire the author's willingness to explore other religions with an open mind.He even admits his skepticism about parts of his own religion.The Buddhist teachings of karma and reincarnation look suspiciously like irrational Hindu appendages to him and fail to meet the reality test other Buddhist teachings pass.

I delighted, yet again, in the similarities between Buddha's reform of Hinduism and Jesus' reform of Judaism.Where the author saw differences, I saw similarities.
- Both created ethical meritocracies and had little value for "castes" or rituals.
- Buddhist "eon perspective"/ Christian "eternal perspective"
-"giving up the idea of an eternal soul" / "he who loses himself finds life"
- "we are all interconnected" / "we are a body with many parts"
- "dana paramita - give of yourself" / "serve one another as I have served you"
- "everything is impermanent" / "pain is temporary"
- "don't nurse slights to your ego" / "forgive"

Asma and I both agree the big difference between Jesus and Buddha is GOD.For Jesus, we attain perfection by surrendering ourselves to God and living a life of divine communication and cooperation.To Buddha, devotion to a god, if there is such a thing, is a distraction from the internal work of sanctification.

I just can't get past the drugs. ... . .
I've tried. . . a few times. . . to read this book. But . . . Like with a few other such books I've read on the subject of people becoming Buddhists. . . The guy starts-out by telling how he used to get "stoned" . . . and then he found Buddhism.For once, I would like to hear of a "normal", non-drug-induced person write a book on the subject.I really like a lot the Buddhism has to offer, but I don't think you have to be stoned to have an "awakening" that Buddhism is right for you. ... Read more

Product Description
What does it take to be happy? We've all asked ourselves this question at some point, but few of us have found the path to lasting fulfillment. David Michie thought he had achieved his life's goals--the high-level job, the expensive city apartment, the luxury car, the great vacations--but a small voice was telling him he wasn't really happy. A chance remark from a naturopath sent him to his local Buddhist center. There he began themost important journey of his life. In this simple but beautifully written book, David Michie opens the door to the core teachings of Tibetan Buddhism. With wry, self-deprecating humor, he shows us now he began to incorporate Buddhist practices into his daily life. He explains how he came to understand the difference between the temporary pleasures of ordinary life and the profound sense of well-being and heartfelt serenity that comes from connecting with our inner nature. Every once in a while you come across an extraordinary book with the power to change your life. Buddhism for Busy People is one such book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A great book - ignore low rated reviews
Hi gang. I have been a practicing buddhist for nearly 30 years and I think this is a fantastic book.If I had a friend who was interested in Buddhism or who wanted to read an introductory book I would not hesitate to recommend David Michie's wonderful story.Please ignore those who gave it a low rating as I think they are coming from spaces that the average reader really won't care about.Indeed, it is exactly the interweaving of David's biography with the fundamental tenents of buddhism that make this an interresting and worthwhile read.If your high-powered or low-powered life seems unsatisfactory to you - please give this book a try!

Ok, not bad, but...
Ok, not bad, but there are much better books on this topic (for example, The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness).Although there was definitely some good stuff in this book, frankly I got a bit tired of hearing about the author's life story a few chapters into it.This seemed to be a bit more of an autobiography peppered with a slight bit of self promotion rather than what the title suggests.But, that's just my take on it, not all may agree with this assessment.

Wonderful Book
This is a wonderfully written, humorous and thoroughly accessible book. If you would like to find out more about Buddhism and also broaden your perspective of life, Buddhism for Busy People is just the ticket.
David Michie has warmth, great energy and humanity. One of my favourite parts is his description of interdependence - before we have even got out of bed in the morning, we can be thankful for many relationships: the person who made the bolts in the bed, the person who sewed the sheets, the driver who delivered the mattress. It's a reassuring thought (we are all connected!) and a reminder to be grateful.

A top pick for both new age collections and general-interest libraries
David Michie's BUDDHISM FOR BUSY PEOPLE: FINDING HAPPINESS IN AN UNCERTAIN WORLD provides an easy handbook which links Tibetan Buddhism teachings to daily life, beginning with the owner's own efforts. Chapters show how life goals can be linked to spiritual exploration and cover everything from cultivating compassion to understanding memory and rebirth experiences. A top pick for both new age collections and general-interest libraries interested in accessible, easy Tibetan Buddhism texts.

Genius writing
Buddhism for Busy People is a wonderful introduction into the world of Buddhism.I can't speak highly enough of this book.It is a gentle and easy introduction into buddhism.David takes you on a life changing journey.It changed my life and it is my bible.I don't mind lending most books to people but I can't part with my copy of buddhism for busy people.It is a little gem.Thank you David.I am eternally grateful to you for writing this book. ... Read more

Product Description

A concise and up-to-date guide to the history, teachings, and practice of Buddhism by two luminaries in the field of world religions.

Customer Reviews (18)

Warm, wise, and wonderful
A warm, wise and wonderful introduction to Buddhism.They provide chapters on the major philosophical points ofBuddhism as descriptions of the major branches.I especially liked the section on the history of Buddhism in America.A quick and helpful read.

The book that made a Buddhist out of me
I think Smith and Novak did an expert job here. This book is written from an explicitly ecumenical perspective: both authors are Americans who are interested in philosophy, not ritual, and Smith in particular (the better and more famous author of the two) is the child of missionaries and a convert to Western Buddhism from the 1960s. What they present to you is a possible Buddhism, not that which sounds foreign or "backwards", but that which you can imagine bringing into your own life. It's a neat little trip from India to Japan to America, surprising you all the way through and giving you possibilities for endless future exploration.

I've been studying Buddhism since the day I picked up this book, and its teachings have illuminated all that I encounter. Today we get bogged down in arguing over biases or simplifications, but it's impossible to write an unbiased book about any sort of human culture. They chose the correct perspective to emphasize.

Starts off okay, runs into trouble later, good bibliography
This is the second book I have read on Buddhism, the other being "The Three Pillars of Zen". As I am fairly ignorant of Buddhism and am fully a Westerner, I will not comment on the accuracy of the text, only on the writing itself.
The book starts off strong with a vivid portrait of Siddhartha Guatama and a discussion of the various sects of Buddhism, particularly Theravada and Mahayana. The Four Noble Truths as well as the Noble Eightfold Path are explained, along with various subsets of lists that have been organized over the years.
The second half of the book mainly discusses the journey of Buddhism to America, with a very brief section on the journey of Buddhism to Europe. Unfortunately, I found that the prose became significantly less engaging from this point on, which is likely due to the change in primary authorship. While the first half is quite lucid and fascinating, the second half reads more like a list of "who's who" in American Buddhism along with endless lists of names of the various people that have contributed to this or that area. While this information is important, it does not make for good prose reading; an annotated bibliography or listing of names would be far more useful, as there is no way for a reader to remember more than a small fraction of the names listed in any case. This reader would have preferred more space devoted to the general phenomena involved in the western movement of Buddhism.
It would have also been nice for there to be some appendices, with the various lists, people, sects, etc. presented in chart form. The index works well enough, but this would have been a great addition.
I would also like to say one thing to readers who dismiss this book as "shallow" or "watered down". Of course it is watered down; it is a 200-page book distilling writings and teachings spanning thousands of years and surely millions of words written in ancient eastern languages. I think all things considered, this book is worth reading as a concise introduction. For deeper study, the annotated bibliography at the end is quite good.

Buddhism: A Concise Introduction
The half written by Huston Smith was an easy enlightening read.The second half was boring.

One of the Very Best Introductions to Buddhism
As I am writing this I have just seen a new report lamenting the lack of knowledge about religions amongst the youth of America. It's easy to see that ignorance about the core beliefs of others is dangerous, and, perhaps, a bit disrespectful.

This is a marvelous introductory book to the basic tenets of Buddhism by the well-known writer Huston Smith, whose magisterial book The World's Religions has sold more than two million copies. The first half of this book is an expanded and updated version of the sections on Buddhism from the World's Religions. Though there has been a shift in emphasis between the two: the big book focused more on Mahayana Buddhism, in this new book, the emphasis is more on Theravada Buddhism, with a useful chart delineating some of the differences and similarities between the two major schools of Buddhism.

The second half of the book is all new and was largely written by Philip Novak, one of Smith former doctoral students who is now a professor in his own right. His focus is more on the growth and spread of Buddhism in Europe and the amazing way in which Buddhism has evolved in North America. A tribute to its remarkable resilience in the face of cultural forces.

Although many of the basics of Buddhism can be picked up online, or by consulting any decent encyclopedia, the discussion of concepts like the our Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, Nirvana and the Three Marks of Existence goes beyond the essentials and brings out a number of new and important points.

There is an important issue when we examine philosophical or religious matters. There is inevitably a subjective component in how anyone, scholar or otherwise, interprets the teachings and their own experiences. So it is inevitable that not everyone will agree with every interpretation and nuance. Insight meditation, one of the tools of Theravada Buddhism, was one of the first forms of meditation that I ever learned, and the way that I was taught, by a well-known Thai-born teacher, was somewhat different form the interpretations in this book. I have also seen a couple of reviewers take issue with some of the book's comments about Zen Buddhism. They make some excellent points. Though I studied Zen too, and my own teaching was close to the information given in the book.

So this book will not be the final word on Buddhism, but then there probably cannot be a "final word." The system has shown remarkable adaptability over the last twenty-five centuries, and there is no reason to think that it won't continue to evolve in the future.

Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
A lucid and profound yet eminently readable introduction to [Tibetan Buddhism].--Library Journal ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The World of Tibetan Buddhism
Once again, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, has masterfully explained Tibetan Buddhism. His explanation is clear and concise, easy enough for anyone to read. i would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about Tibetan Buddhism or anyone who enjoys reading His Holiness writing.

Exxcellent but for advanced
Marvellous book, however, the two parts are more for people that already know about Buddhism from practice, those who have their Kleisha yet cannot understand about void or Tantra, aspects that cannot be understood without the deep moral basis attained by following the Four Noble Truths. Thus the First part of the book is for everybody who wants to learn in general about Buddhism, but then the book starts to be very complicated, what a pitty for neophytes.One is not that surprised the write has gained so many doctorates, his intelligence is sparkling from the text, but this would be for a different review...

A BEAUTIFUL BOOK
This book is just what the title implies, an introduction to Tibetan Buddhism.As I read through the pages of this book, what transpired was an overwhelming sense of spiritual peace and tranquility.In today's "crazy world," so many people are looking for peace of mind and "a haven from the storm"that will sustain them through the everyday trials and tribulations of life.If you are not familiar with Buddhism and are still searching for that "safe haven," I think you will, indeed, find this book on the philosophies of Tibetan Buddhism both enlightening and enjoyable.

A good introduction to Buddhism
Before reading this book, I didn't know much about Buddhism, and reading it made me realize just how little I really knew.It gave me a good perspective on Buddhist practice and especially the difference between ZenBuddhism (what I knew a little about) and the rest of the Buddhist world.

It may change your life...
...for the (very) better!I just wanted to do my bit to put the general rating nearer were it should be.This book will put light, wisdom and happiness in your life...how can anyone rate it below five stars isbeyond me!If you love life, you'll love this book (whether you areBuddhist or not)! ... Read more

Product Description

Beginning in the nineteenth century and continuing to the present day, both practitioners and admirers of Buddhism have proclaimed its compatibility with science. In Buddhism and Science, Donald S. Lopez Jr. explores how and why these two seemingly disparate modes of understanding the inner and outer universe have been so persistently linked. He argues that by presenting an ancient Asian tradition as compatible with—and even anticipating—scientific discoveries, European enthusiasts and Asian elites have sidestepped debates on the relevance of religion in the modern world that began in the nineteenth century and that still flare today. As new discoveries continue to reshape our understanding of mind and matter, Buddhism and Science will be indispensable reading for those fascinated by religion, science, and their often vexed relation.

            “In Buddhism and Science, Donald Lopez fills a major gap, and he does so with his trademark rigor, concision, and élan. No serious student of science-and-religion can afford to skip this book.”—Jack Miles, general editor, Norton Anthology of World Religions

Customer Reviews (5)

A swift kick in the Dharma
Buddhism and Science should be on every Buddhist's reading list, especially those who quote the Kalama Sutta.

The book is not about experiments and doctrinal categories of metaphysics, but the history of Buddhism as it intersects the West, transmuting into a "rational" religion, sometimes not even a religion at all but a philosophy, a method of inquiry into the natural laws of the universe.A scientific religion.

Even if you know very little about Buddhism, you may have seen a paraphrase of the Buddha's words from the Kalama Sutta printed on a t-shirt, or posted on a friend's webpage.I was presented with a copy screened on a refrigerator magnet.

[Believe nothing just because a wise person said it. Believe nothing just because everyone else does. Believe nothing just because it is said in ancient books. Believe nothing just because it is said to be of divine origin. Believe only what you yourself test and judge to be true.]

This is an example of what Donald Lopez might call Victorian Buddhism, the religion as presented to the world by 19th century European Sanskrit scholars.Previously what was known of Buddhism amounted to scattered fragments, stories brought back by traders and adventurers from the lands east of India, tales of gods and religious practices that when compared began to look suspiciously similar.Using manuscripts sent back from British India and Nepal, philologists provided the first glimpse of the foundational teachings of Buddhism.

What these scholars thought they found was something unique, a religion that conformed to their own prejudices, a religion confirming the intellect over the emotions, empiricism over revelation, reason over superstition.They uncovered a Buddhism that had no major conflicts with the discoveries of science, which could in fact be seen as predicting those discoveries, an infinite atomistic universe operating on natural laws and requiring no first agent.

In many Asian countries the view was quite different. Modernizers saw Buddhism as a drag on development, a superstitious anachronism whose continued existence could be traced to clerical corruption and low levels of public education.A few forward thinking clergymen, though, saw in this westernized version of Buddhism a means of protecting traditional culture, of inoculating against the spread of Christianity and westernization.If Buddhism were more rational and scientific than Christianity, there would not only be no need to change or get rid of the old religion, Buddhism could be used as a tool to mobilize the masses for national development.At the 1893 Chicago World's Parliament of Religions, the Japanese and Sri Lankan delegates expounded to their mostly western audience on the rational, scientific aspects of Buddhism, feeding back to the west it's European version of Buddhism.

In the years since, as our ideas of science and the universe have changed, proponents of scientific Buddhism have kept pace, finding parallels in psychology, cognitive science, and quantum physics. Is it possible, Lopez asks, that an Iron Age mendicant was able to foresee such discoveries?Or is it perhaps that we are witnessing the latest manifestation of Buddhist adaptation? As it accommodated Taoism and Confucianism in China, as with Bon in Tibet, and Shintoism in Japan, Buddhism is perhaps now undergoing an adaptation to the ethics and ethos of scientific materialism.

If so, what do we stand to loose in the process?

Lopez hints at this with a closing quote from the Buddha, one that runs counter to the idea propounded by modern interpreters of the Kalama Sutta.Perhaps the one thing missing from Lopez' book is a chapter on this very topic, an essay on the Buddhism being left behind.This is otherwise one of the most interesting and challenging books on Buddhism that I have yet come across.Readers might like to supplement the historical details with another excellent volume, Charles Allen's The Buddha and the Sahibs, the story of the European archeological discovery of Buddhism.

[Sariputta ... should anyone say of me: 'The recluse Gotama does not have any superhuman states, any distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones.The recluse Gotama teaches a Dhamma [merely] hammered out by reasoning, following his own line of inquiry as it occurs to him' - unless he abandons that assertion and that state of mind and relinquishes that view, then as [surely as if he had been] carried off and put there he will wind up in hell. - Mahasihanada Sutta (The Greater Discourse on the Lion's Roar), MN12]

#

Generally quite informative, yet sometimes disappointing
Lopez does a solid job of backgrounding the century-plus of dialogue between Buddhists attempting to put their best foot forward to the West, along with some Western acolytes, and purveyors of Western science. (That said, other books cover this part of Lopez's acreage in more detail.)

From the historic overview, Lopez then looks at some specific Buddhist issues, such as meditation, or the idea of whether we can talk about a "science of Buddhism."

He does a good job of presenting Buddhist beliefs and texts in all of this, and explaining where the Buddhist approach comes from.

That said, contrary to claims that he is so academic that, like a Bart Ehrman, he in no way acts as an apologist for Buddhism, he indirectly does exactly that. And, that's where this book gets disappointing.

The dialogue or discourse Lopez presents is actually more of a monologue. Even when science gets to speak for itself, in the last and shortest chapter, on meditation. And, this is part of the book's disappointment.

Reading reviews on this site, I was hoping for more critical analysis of Buddhism's claims to be scientific, such as the Dalai Lama claiming Buddhism and science are totally compatible even as he holds onto beliefs in karma, reincarnation and other matters metaphysical and says he will never surrender those belies. Sure, Lopez tells us this is what the Dalai Lama has said, but, that's it.

Also, I do NOT like the consistent capitalization of the word "Science." To me, it seems like Lopez is implying it is itself a religion.

So, this is a very good book about how Buddhism does -- or, even more, about how Buddhism **wants to** -- interact with science. Except briefly in the meditation chapter, we are given little comment on the other side of the discourse.

Much is lost in the claim that the Buddha anticipated Einstein
"Buddhism and Science" is on the ROROTOKO list of cutting-edge intellectual nonfiction. Professor Lopez's book interview ran here as cover feature on March 13, 2009.

A Necessary Corrective
This book illustrates how Buddhism has religious elements that are IRRECONCILABLE with science. [If you have iTunes, look up "Saturday Morning Physics," and you can see a lecture on "Buddhism and Science" by Donald Lopez which is not quite a condensation, but perhaps an introduction to this book].

When I first saw this book, I just assumed that it would be about how Buddhism and science are complementary, since most similarly titled books are. If you're a practicing Buddhist, or have a beginning interest in Buddhism, I'm not sure whether to recommend this book or not, because Lopez is to Buddhism what Bart D. Ehrman is to Christianity, i.e. Lopez has a purely academic interest in Buddhism, and is the opposite of an evangelist; whether intentionally or not, he discourages belief in Buddhism. What he says is technically true, but if you're a Buddhist, this book is painful to read. On the plus side (counter-intuitively, perhaps), this book has pushed me to an openness to the more "supernatural" aspects of Buddhism.

In this book, Lopez looks at representative Buddhists from the past hundred or so years who attempted to reconcile Buddhism with science: Anagarika Dharmapala (1864-1933, Sri Lanka), Taixu (1890-1947, China), Shaku Soen (1859-1919, Japan), Gendun Chopel (1903-1951, Tibet), and the Dalai Lama (b. 1935, Tibet).

In the first chapter, Lopez points out that, in Buddhist cosmology, there is a mountain in the center of the world/universe, Mount Meru. Each of the aforementioned Buddhists attempt to reconcile this belief with science. Dharmapala, for instance, "refutes" the Newtonian view as being incorrect. Taixu attempts to reinterpret Mount Meru as a metaphor. Also in this chapter, the fact that the Buddha claimed the world was flat also poses problems for the aforementioned Buddhists.

In the second chapter, "Scientific Racism" enters the picture. If you're familiar with the history of science, you'll know that Darwin's idea of natural selection and competition between races, for almost a hundred years, was interpreted as justifying racism, so much so that scientists claimed that non-whites were inherently inferior. This dovetails into an idea that is prevalent in 19th and early 20th century academia that, early in India's history, it had been invaded by a race calling themselves Aryans, and since Sanskrit is part of the Indo-European language family, Europeans therefore saw the Buddha as being, in a very real sense, racially equal. So, for example, Taixu in 1937 writes a letter to Hitler that, since the Germans are Aryans, they should adopt a religion founded by an Aryan: Buddhism. Now, Lopez notes that Taixu was very likely unaware of Hitler's agenda, and I agree that Taixu innocently bought into the then current "scientific" thinking.

I won't summarize the whole book, but you get the gist of what Lopez is getting at. Science is subject to revision, and so any claims of being in sync with science are going to be provisional and shifting.

In a footnote on page 235, Lopez quotes Hermann Oldenberg: "But any one who attempts to describe Buddha's labours must, out of love for truth, resolutely combat the notion that the Buddha [was attempting the] reformation of national life." That phrase "out of love for truth" I think is applicable to Lopez, I believe that it is his impetus for writing this book. Lopez once described his anthology "Buddhism in Practice" as being "a necessary corrective," and I think that too is applicable here.

I agree and disagree with Lopez's conclusions. Lopez doesn't go back far enough in history to mention that, when Buddhism entered China, for instance, it lost elements and gained elements: Buddhist missionaries omitted offensive concepts, and aspects of Indian tradition that were congenial to Chinese tastes were emphasized; influenced by Taoism, nature became an important concept in Chinese Buddhism as it never had been in India; Chinese social values emphasized family, so the bodhisattva Vimalakirti, for example, became a model of a sage who maintained his loyalty to the family while pursuing the path of the Buddha. Is the influence of science on Buddhism less valid than the influence of Taoism and Chinese culture on Buddhism?

At the same time, I am against scientism, i.e. the view that natural science has authority over all other interpretations of life, such as philosophical, religious, mythical, spiritual, or humanistic explanations. There are some questions that science hasn't figured out yet, and maybe those questions will eventually be answered, or maybe they never will. In conjunction with Lopez's book, I would recommend reading David Berlinski's "The Devil's Delusion: Atheism and its Scientific Pretensions". I think that it's interesting that we live in an age where almost every view has to be reconciled with science, that we live in an age of "scientific pretensions."

I think that Buddhism is an eminently valuable philosophy and practice. I, for one, like the current climate of Buddhism's openness to a dialogue with science, in spite of the checkered history of the dialogue that Lopez has pointed out. The best impact this book could have would be an acknowledgment of, and honesty about, that history.

Highly relevant
A well researched and presented thesis on the evolution of Buddhism in contemporary science. Though there is a shortage of actual science, this book discusses how Buddhism has evolved into a relevant method of interpreting contemporary life.

Well worth the read. ... Read more

Product Description
Here is a comprehensive introduction to Zen Buddhism for those who don't know how or where to begin, nor what to expect once they have started practicing. It includes the fundamentals of meditation practice (posture, technique, clothing), descriptions of the basic teachings and major texts, the teacher-student relationship, and what you will find when you visit a zendo, plus a history of Zen from the founding of Buddhism to its major schools in the West. In addition to answering the most frequently asked questions, it offers a listing of American Zen centers and resources, an annotated bibliography, and a glossary.

Jean Smith's enormously practical approach ensures that The Beginner's Guide to Zen Buddhism will become the book teachers and students alike will recommend.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

The Beginner's Guide to Zen Buddhism by Jean Smith
This is a great book for someone new to Buddhism.Very informative and easy to understand.

Great Book for Beginners... and great refresher.
As the title suggests, a perfect guide for beginners.
Id venture to say Id suggest this be a perfect "first" for those curious and interested in Zen and Buddhism as a whole.
The author has clear and simple explanations from practice to visiting centers.A to Z and nicely organized.
Those more experienced could also use this as a refresher as well.
I highly recommend this book for everyone.

Great Beginner's Guide
The best thing that can be said is that it lives up to it's title.It presents Zen Buddhism largely in it's 'American Zen' incarnation which is what most of us who read the book are going to encounter when we venture beyond our armchairs and frontdoors.It's the not the be all and end all of anything, just a very nicely done introduction to a very complex subject.You don't learn Buddhism from books anyway.

Finally a beginners' book that is true to its title!
With her clear writing style, Smith offers anyone interested in Zen Buddhism a very good basic introduction, including practical advice and a resource guide.While she introduces the reader to the beginnings and diversity of Buddhism as a whole, she emphasizes Western approaches to and developments in Zen.Smith's work is informative and unpretentious, terse without omitting any vital details, reflecting respect and admiration for Zen traditions without worship of personalities and exoticism.

Great introduction to Zen Buddhism
As someone new to Zen Buddhism, this gave me a great overview and background to start.It's very readable and goes into all the main topics I was curious about, including etiquette, history and basic principles.I highly recommend this book! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (14)

I love this book and read it every morning!
This book is great.It has a gem of wisdom for every day of the year. Each quote is so thoughtfully written and chosen and I have been so inspired by it.I read it every morning.

I highly recommend this book to anyone, Buddhist or not!

A very useful and inspiring read
The essential teachings of Buddhism are as relevant today as ever, perhaps more so and this book gives us many of the Buddha's insights. One of the most important is the practice of mindfulness, the practice of breaking free from the chains of habitual conditioning and delusion. I also recommend 'The Path of Mindfulness Meditation', available through Amazon.

BELIEVE
THIS BOOK GIVES YOU INSIGHT FOR DAILY LIFE THROUGH NICHIREN BUDDISM.A MUST READ

Great read!
Provides guidance for how to live your daily life and be happy with what you have. Not that focused on fundamental religion. Highly recommend.

Wise words
Although I am a practitioner of Zen, I have enjoyed this book a great deal (I was given it as a present). President Ikeda of theSGI (the lay branch of Nichiren Buddhism) is a renouned author and world figure. His writings of daily guidance occassionally are more specific for Nichiren Buddhism, but mostly reflect universal Buddhist philosophy and thought. Any Buddhist, or non-Buddhist for that manner, can find wisdom to live by in this book. ... Read more

Product Description
This lucid overview of the Buddhist path takes the perspective of the three "vehicles" of Tibetan Buddhism: the Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. While these vehicles are usually presented as a historical development, they are here equated with the attitudes that individuals bring to their Buddhist practice. Basic to them all, however, is the need to understand our own immediate condition. The primary tool for achieving this is meditation, andThe Essence of Buddhism serves as a handbook for the various meditative approaches of Buddhist practice.

Beginning with the Four Noble Truths, Traleg Rinpoche incorporates the expansive vision of the bodhisattva path and the transformative vision of Tantra. The final chapters present the transcendent view of Mahamudra. This view dispenses with all dualistic fixations and directly realizes the natural freedom of the mind itself.

Along the way, the author provides vivid definitions of fundamental concepts such as compassion, emptiness, and Buddha-nature, and answers common questions: Why does Buddhism teach that there is "no self"? Are Buddhist teachings pessimistic? Does Buddhism encourage social passivity? What is the role of sex in Buddhist Tantra? Why is it said that "samsara is nirvana"? Does it take countless lifetimes to attain enlightenment, or can it be achieved in a moment? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

the essence of buddhism
this is a very good book.i've read many introductions to buddhism in relation to my practice and my teaching of buddhist psychology. at one level, this book is excellent as a beginner's introduction to an overview of the buddhist path and meditation practice.at another level, it is an advanced comprehensive but terse guide to a multitude of perspectives on the path and practice.

A comprehensive overview of Buddhist thought and philosophy
In The Essence Of Buddhism, the Venerable Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche provides the reader with a comprehensive overview of Buddhist thought and philosophy through the perspectives offered by Tibetan Buddhism: The Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. In addition to the Four Noble Truths, we are provided with definitions of fundamental concepts within a Buddhist philosophical framework including compassion, emptiness, and Buddha-nature. The Essence Of Buddhism is strongly recommended reading for those new to Buddhism and its rich, complex, and enduring spiritual heritage.

If you can buy only one book on Buddhism...
This is one of the finest and more interesting books I have read on Buddhism in two decades.The author has brought the very authentic tenets of Buddhism together in a wonderful marriage with views of contemporary society.His perceptions and insights intowestern life are excellent and oftentimes very funny.Traleg Kyabgon explains profound terms such as "emptiness" along with others, in such a way, that even older students of Buddhism will have a much clearer understanding.He explained the notion of Karma and the consciousness that incarnates in such an amazing way, that I had to read it several times with tremendous excitement, the excitement a Christian mystic may have finding andreading the Gnostic Gospels for the first time. If you would like to understand exactly what Buddhism teaches at its core, and how this is applicable to our lives and how it can be of benefit in any situation we find ourselves, then this is the book.It is written in an elegant style that is a pleasure to read.It is evident that much time and effort went into this book and it is sure to become a classic in our Buddhist literary collection. ... Read more

Product Description
Lucid and economical, the Concise Introduction delivers a brisk, fast-moving survey. For many years, Powers' nearly six hundred-page Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism has served as the field's most authoritative and comprehensive introductory text on Tibet's distinctive Buddhist tradition. Now Powers has responded to requests to provide an introductory text in compact form. This slimmed-down reference explains the core Buddhist doctrines and the practices of meditation and tantra in an engaging manner. A survey of the four main sects of Tibetan Buddhism and a succinct history of the Tibetan cultural region complete this work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Tibetanfor Everyone
I have not completed all of this book, but what I have read of this is a very, direct and very detailed and also a book that is more than the average book on Buddhism. This book is for the advanced Buddhist student and if you have not had any experience reading other books on the subject and are just starting out on your journey, you may want to start with something a little more toned down and little easier reading.If you are more advanced, than this is perfect for you, you will be very happy in having a book that is up to your skill level and ready to teach you at a higher grade lever, so to speak and you will not be left wanting.

More than an Introduction
The book is concise, but it's densely packed. It provides far more information than you customarily get in an introductory type text. It left me wanting to learn more about this fascinating aspect of Buddhism.

Distilling the most important creeds of Buddhism to their bare essentials
Indo-Tibetan philosophy and meditation theory expert John Powers presents A Concise Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, which distills his nearly six hundred-page classic "Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism" to a more accessible survey ideal for newcomers to the doctrines, practices, meditations and tantra of Tibetan Buddhism. A Concise Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism surveys the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism; walks the reader through basic Buddhist doctrines such as karma, rebirth, and dependent arising; explains the purpose and practice of tantra; and much more. A simple, solid, and highly accessible primer, distilling the most important creeds of Buddhism to their bare essentials.
... Read more

Product Description

Originating in India, Mahayana Buddhism spread across Asia, becoming the prevalent form of Buddhism in Tibet and East Asia. Over the last twenty-five years Western interest in Mahayana has increased considerably, reflected both in the quantity of scholarly material produced and in the attraction of Westerners towards Tibetan Buddhism and Zen.

Paul Williams’ Mahayana Buddhism is widely regarded as the standard introduction to the field, used internationally for teaching and research and has been translated into several European and Asian languages. This new edition has been fully revised throughout in the light of the wealth of new studies and focuses on the religion’s diversity and richness. It includes much more material on China and Japan, with appropriate reference to Nepal, and for students who wish to carry their study further there is a much-expanded bibliography and extensive footnotes and cross-referencing. Everyone studying this important tradition will find Williams’ book the ideal companion to their studies.

Customer Reviews (6)

A Landmark Book! A Treasure Trove of Buddhist Scholarship!

Some here may be thoroughly familiar with the landmark book published in 1989 by Paul Williams. This second edition has been thoroughly revised, updated, and expanded to reflect the scholarship of recent years.

The initial publication of this work, 20 years ago, was highly acclaimed by Buddhist scholars across the board; widely regarded as the best overall introduction to Mahayana Buddhism in English (and several other languages). This new edition, with its total revision and expansion, brings its information up to date with the latest discoveries and revelations of modern scholarship. In my view, it is by far the best book available for English readers seeking a comprehensive overview of Mahayana Buddhism's doctrinal foundations.

Having said that, this book is a work of scholarship, an "Introduction" to the major schools and doctrines of Mahayana Buddhism and does not claim to be an "interpretation" of Buddhism. Williams' contribution, for the most part, consists of organizing the literary, archeological, and historical facts from the wide field of scholarly research in Buddhist studies. When Williams does offer his own views, he follows the highest standards of scholarship, explaining his reasoning and presenting the alternative or opposing views of others.

The multitude of long end-notes (especially in the new edition), as well as the vast annotated bibliographical section of the book testify to the meticulous care utilized by Professor Williams in his presentation of the doctrinal foundations of Mahayana Buddhism.

The following excerpt from the Introduction to this milestone book, Mahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations (Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices), offers us all a profound reminder on the importance of maintaining an awareness of the fact that Mahayana Buddhism (which includes Zen) is not, and never was, an overall single unitary phenomenon.

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From the Introduction:

There is a Tibetan saying that just as every valley has its own language so every teacher has his own doctrine. This is an exaggeration on both counts, but it does indicate the diversity to be found within Buddhism and the important role of a teacher in mediating a received tradition and adapting it to the needs, the personal transformation, of the pupil. This diversity prevents, or strongly hinders, generalization about Buddhism as a whole. Nevertheless it is a diversity which Mahayana Buddhists have rather gloried in, seen not as a scandal but as something to be proud of, indicating a richness and multifaceted ability to aid the spiritual quest of all sentient, and not just human, beings.

It is important to emphasize this lack of unanimity at the outset. We are dealing with a religion with some 2,500 years of doctrinal development in an environment where scholastic precision and subtlety was at a premium. There are no Buddhist popes, no creeds, and, although there were councils in the early years, no attempts to impose uniformity of doctrine over the entire monastic, let alone lay, establishment. Buddhism spread widely across Central, South, South-East, and East Asia. It played an important role in aiding the cultural and spiritual development of nomads and tribesmen, but it also encountered peoples already very culturally and spiritually developed, most notably those of China, where it interacted with the indigenous civilization, modifying its doctrine and behaviour in the process. Some scholars have seen this looseness and adaptability of its doctrinal base as a major weakness in Buddhism... While Buddhists themselves lament the disappearance of the Dharma, the Doctrine, from its homeland, however, they tend to see this as an inevitable occurrence in an epoch when, as the Buddha predicted, spirituality is on the decline. From earliest times in Buddhism there was a strong tendency to portray the Doctrine not as a series of tenets to be accepted or rejected, but rather as a medicine for curing quite specific spiritual ills. Mahayanists in particular see adaptation, and perhaps even syncretism, as a virtue in the Dharma, enabling the teachings to be adapted to the needs of hearers, and thereby indicating the wisdom and compassion of e Omniscient Buddha.

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Bottom Line:

Paul Williams', Mahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations, is a veritable treasure trove of Buddhist scholarship; essential reading for all practitioners and an essential reference for Buddhist teachers and students.

A Landmark Book! A Treasure Trove of Buddhist Scholarship!
Some here may be thoroughly familiar with the landmark book published in 1989 by Paul Williams. This second edition has been thoroughly revised, updated, and expanded to reflect the scholarship of recent years.

The initial publication of this work, 20 years ago, was highly acclaimed by Buddhist scholars across the board; widely regarded as the best overall introduction to Mahayana Buddhism in English (and several other languages). This new edition, with its total revision and expansion, brings its information up to date with the latest discoveries and revelations of modern scholarship. In my view, it is by far the best book available for English readers seeking a comprehensive overview of Mahayana Buddhism's doctrinal foundations.

Having said that, this book is a work of scholarship, an "Introduction" to the major schools and doctrines of Mahayana Buddhism and does not claim to be an "interpretation" of Buddhism. Williams' contribution, for the most part, consists of organizing the literary, archeological, and historical facts from the wide field of scholarly research in Buddhist studies. When Williams does offer his own views, he follows the highest standards of scholarship, explaining his reasoning and presenting the alternative or opposing views of others.

The multitude of long end-notes (especially in the new edition), as well as the vast annotated bibliographical section of the book testify to the meticulous care utilized by Professor Williams in his presentation of the doctrinal foundations of Mahayana Buddhism.

The following excerpt from the Introduction to this milestone book, Mahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations (Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices), offers us all a profound reminder on the importance of maintaining an awareness of the fact that Mahayana Buddhism (which includes Zen) is not, and never was, an overall single unitary phenomenon.

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From the Introduction:

There is a Tibetan saying that just as every valley has its own language so every teacher has his own doctrine. This is an exaggeration on both counts, but it does indicate the diversity to be found within Buddhism and the important role of a teacher in mediating a received tradition and adapting it to the needs, the personal transformation, of the pupil. This diversity prevents, or strongly hinders, generalization about Buddhism as a whole. Nevertheless it is a diversity which Mahayana Buddhists have rather gloried in, seen not as a scandal but as something to be proud of, indicating a richness and multifaceted ability to aid the spiritual quest of all sentient, and not just human, beings.

It is important to emphasize this lack of unanimity at the outset. We are dealing with a religion with some 2,500 years of doctrinal development in an environment where scholastic precision and subtlety was at a premium. There are no Buddhist popes, no creeds, and, although there were councils in the early years, no attempts to impose uniformity of doctrine over the entire monastic, let alone lay, establishment. Buddhism spread widely across Central, South, South-East, and East Asia. It played an important role in aiding the cultural and spiritual development of nomads and tribesmen, but it also encountered peoples already very culturally and spiritually developed, most notably those of China, where it interacted with the indigenous civilization, modifying its doctrine and behaviour in the process. Some scholars have seen this looseness and adaptability of its doctrinal base as a major weakness in Buddhism... While Buddhists themselves lament the disappearance of the Dharma, the Doctrine, from its homeland, however, they tend to see this as an inevitable occurrence in an epoch when, as the Buddha predicted, spirituality is on the decline. From earliest times in Buddhism there was a strong tendency to portray the Doctrine not as a series of tenets to be accepted or rejected, but rather as a medicine for curing quite specific spiritual ills. Mahayanists in particular see adaptation, and perhaps even syncretism, as a virtue in the Dharma, enabling the teachings to be adapted to the needs of hearers, and thereby indicating the wisdom and compassion of e Omniscient Buddha.

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Bottom Line:

Paul Williams', Mahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations, is a veritable treasure trove of Buddhist scholarship; essential reading for all practitioners and an essential reference for Buddhist teachers and students.

Very clear writing style - great!
After a few years of practicing Buddhism and reading Dharma books, I am reading this as my first scholarly text, and I'm very impressed by it. It certainly is NOT an introduction for beginners, but Williams is careful to include just enough explanation to keep me reading without feeling a need to resort to Wikipedia (heh!).

His footnotes (endnotes) are amazing -- the book proper is only 266 pages, followed by 121 pages of endnotes. I'm skipping most of these, but when I do dip into them, I'm even more impressed by Williams's unusual ability to stick to a central idea and successfully separate out the interesting surrounding ideas (which need not muddy up the main text).

I also appreciate his ability to steer clear of Western philosophy. He is presenting the history, central texts and teachings, and disputes of the Mahayana with well-focused discipline. He does this with clarity, occasional stunning insights, and sometimes even a touch of humor! (I especially like it when he refers to "old and basic" ideas of Buddhism; he seems to have a particularly good sense of his audience for this book.)

It's very nice to get a sense of how certain issues were divisive (or not) without being lost in excessive detail about each and every school's (or lineage's) take on the matter. That is not to say Williams is treating the subject superficially but rather another indication of his clear focus.

Don't consider this book if you know very little about Buddhism at present. But if you are well-grounded in the teachings and have some idea of the "place" of Mahayana, and you want to experience an academic approach to the subject, this book will not disappoint you.

P.S. I'm reading (more than halfway through) the new second edition.

Great Book but Dense
I'll just make this quick.This is a great book if you already have a good foundation in Buddhist philosophy and some knowledge of the more popular schools.Otherwise this book may lose you.The first time I read this book, 8 years ago, I was fairly lost.After some time though, and armed with a better foundation of Buddhist thought, I picked up this book again found it highly interesting and very helpful in my own explorations.

A must buy for any academic Buddhist library
I found this book extremely helpful on mutiple levels.Beyond the fact that Mahayana Buddhism suffers from a lack of cohesive literature combined, Williams counters this problem in his gathering of doctrine and his own insight on the history,evolution, and spread of Mahayana.He shows great detail to the evolution of each "school" and how it was affected by the geographic, ethnic, and cultural environments that fomred each branches specifics.

A historical paper trail is fomed for many of the major works attributed to Mahayanist thought, so that we see roots formed.This grants immense clearity to many misunderstanding about certain school ideologies that might appear completely unrelated until all the details are shown within Williams book.

Although there are no actual sutras translated, the book is a perfect starting point for philosophies, history, and a listing of many of the great Mahayana sutras, which one could then find available to start forming an actual library for practice and reference.

As a Priest in the Pure Land tradition and trained in both Mahayana and Theravadin, this book stands apart in my findings of authors that spread knowledge in quanity and quality instead of minute chunks for only lineage lip service. ... Read more

Product Description
Psychoanalysis and Buddhism pairs Buddhist psychotherapists together with leading figures in psychoanalysis who have a general interest in the role of spirituality in psychology. The resulting essays present an illuminating discourse on these two disciplines and how they intersect. This landmark book challenges traditional thoughts on psychoanalysis and Buddhism and propels them to a higher level of understanding. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Single most important book I own
I came across this book in 2004 and thought it looked interesting. At the time, I knew little about psychoanalysis and nothing at all about Buddhism or meditation. I was at a crossroads in my life and had always intended to learn about Buddhism so I figured this was the time. As soon as I started reading the book, I couldn't put it down. The funny thing was that I really didn't understand any of it. Still, I found it really compelling. So I starting teaching myself about Buddhism and psychoanalysis just so that I could make sense of this book.

To make a long story short, it's now 6 years later and I have read this book many times. Every time I pick it up I learn more and it feels brand new. I have a fair amount of experience with Buddhist meditation myself now. And I am close to finishing my doctorate in psychology. My life and work have been transformed. I still feel that I am learning to fully understand the wisdom of this book. It's quite wonderful.

So, yes, I think it is a remarkable series of essays and conversations. The introduction is extremely well done -- a beautiful essay on the intersection of psychoanalysis and Buddhism. I have referred to it many times in explaining my thoughts on this field to others (including my professors). It is a very accessible piece and I would recommend it to any student of psychology interested in "mindfulness." In fact, personally, I believe that being a psychologist and simply endorsing mindfulness without the perspective of at least Safran's introduction to this book is pretty shallow. I've lent this book to dozens of people over the years.

The rest of the book is also outstanding -- windows into psychology and Buddhism and the minds of innovative, articulate, thoughtful people who have dedicated their intellectual lives to this domain. Jack Engler's chapter, the first, is my favorite, one that I return to again and again. Others are fascinating, too, and some I feel I still do not fully grasp, though I am confident I will someday. I really mean that, too. From the day I first picked it up, I have had the faith that this book is rich and meaningful and if I teach myself the appropriate context, I will gain insight. That has been true so far. I leave the book for 6 mos., learn about some particular aspect of Buddhist practice or school of psychoanalysis, then return to the book and find that something profound is now open to me.

I remember holding this book at the Harvard Bookstore in Cambridge, MA, wondering if I should spend the money on it when I was nearly broke and wondering why I was even considering that option. Of course I can't imagine that this book will have the effect on others that it had on me. Still, it's a bargain here on Amazon. I am both astonished and delighted that it is so inexpensive and has been reviewed by so few people. Listen, there is a lot of wisdom here. I am sure about that.

Great compromise
A wonderful and clear discussion bridging two worlds: psychology and Buddhism. A must read for anyone interested in the topic.

Good starter text for this field
I'm giving this book 4 stars just for its bibliography/references alone.Anyone seriously interested in the crossover of psychoanalysis and buddhism should read the articles in this book and then pick through the references and the authors' other work's.The articles were themselves interesting though not all equally as mind blowing.I'm fairly new to this field so can't place it authoritatively within the canon but did find it to be an good introductory text.No expertise in either field is necessary and you are bound to discover a few nuggets of interest within.

Extremely usefulguide in understanding how Buddhist ideas complement modern western psychology
I couldn't put this book down.Several chapters were extremely useful in helping me understand how Buddhism can enliven and deepen my psychotherapy practice.

Very interesting structure though not integrated or consistent
This book is very interestingly constructed-with introduction {comparing Buddhism & Hinduism & parallels w/Christianity (Protestant vs. Catholic) & 9 chapters with 3 parts each: an essay, a critique by another author, & a rebuttal by the essay's author.It was a rare & IMHO very valuable methodology resembling a trial with testimony, cross-examination, & redirect.Essays/critiques vary in quality, interest to readers, & level of difficulty/abstraction.Some authors are well-known (e.g. Jeffrey Rubin: "Psychotherapy & Buddhism," Barry Magid: "Ordinary Mind," & Polly Young-Eisendrath: "The Psychology of Mature Spirituality" & "Awakening & Insight-Zen Buddhism & Psychotherapy").My favorite essays were: Jack Engler's "Being Somebody & Being Nobody: A Reexamination of the Understanding of Self in Psychoanalysis & Buddhism" & Rubin's "A Well-Lived Life: Psychoanalytic & Buddhist Contributions."
IN SUMMARY, on one hand, this book includes p. 364-6: M. Guy Thompson, "The notoriously abstract conceptualizations of Jacques Lacan...Readers who are not already familiar with Lacanian analysis will find Moncayo's treatment of its theoretical foundation challenging, to say the least."On the other had, p. 410: Rubin-is "dancing in the spaces between psychoanalysis & Buddhism."I especially liked his pp. 403-4 "story from the Zen tradition illustrates what Buddhism means by attachment & nonattachment.Two Zen monks, Tanzan & Ekido, were once traveling together down a muddy road.A heavy rain was falling.Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono & sash, unable to cross the intersection.`Come on girl,' said Tanzan at once.Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over the mud.Ekido did not speak again until that night when they reached a lodging temple.Then he no longer could restrain himself.`We monks don't go near females,' he told Tanzan, `especially not young & lovely ones.It is dangerous.Why did you do that?'`I left the girl there,' said Tanzan.`Are you still carrying her?' (Reps 1919, 18)" [Zen Flesh, Zen Bones]-though there's a very similar Vajrayana story about an old woman carried across a raging river (see "The Snow Lion's Turquoise Mane" by Surya Das).

The essays were not integrated, however, major topics, across essays, IMHO included:
THE SELF: Engler addresses Sullivan's "adaptive psychological advantage" =how it evolved, quotes the Dalai Lama, "Your self is very real!If you don't respect its reality, you will cause a lot of suffering to yourself," & says: p. 423 note 7-"The non-self-centered self is my own attempt to preserve the germ of truth in Buddhist formulations w/o subscribing to its problematic facets;" p. 153, Stuart Pizer says "A self that is multiply constituted remains a functional subjective self;" p. 175: Sara L. Weber says, "The Buddha is advocating a radical end of narcissism;" & Magid quotes Aitken Roshi, "The self is still present but it is not self-preoccupied."
CONTEXTS--p. 58: Engler: "paradigmatic commitments determine which data are deemed relevant to theory" causing blind spots; p. 85: Stephen Mitchell-"Like all other theories about the human mind & experience, this view of the mind seems to be promoting...what its practitioner wants it to be;" p. 138: Robert Langan: "Contexts relationally define reality."
ENLIGHTENMENT--p. 211: Joseph Bobrow-"Rilke wrote: `Someone who is ready for everything, who doesn't exclude any experience, even the most incomprehensible, will sound the depths of his own being,'" pp. 342-3: Raul Moncayo: "my thoughts work autonomously & not always in alignment with my intentions & desires," & p. 409: Rubin-"When self-experience is less self-referential & self-preoccupied, & more self-expansive & interconnected, we feel more in touch with people & nature."
COMPLEMENTARY--p. 201: Bobrow: "Psychoanalysis & Zen speak in distinctive yet mutually potentiating voices about core human dilemmas, values, & potentials with which they share common ground, such as truth & freedom," p. 287-92: Philip A. Ringstrom: "We need both complementary systems of thought since each one can be antidotal to the potential excesses of the other...It is Zen's lack of knowledge about & respect for the psychological vicissitudes of such developmental systems theory that naively invites the `one-size-fits-all' discipline of certain Zen teachers...Zen & psychoanalysis operate as beautifully complementary systems of thought, each balancing out the other's potential excesses," p. 311: Young-Eisendrath: "Bodhin Kjolhede, abbot of Rochester Zen Center says, `Even when people have had fairly deep experiences of awakening, they still have tendencies or afflictions or habit energies with amazing staying power...however, the attitude toward these habits will have been transformed...after enlightenment you can still be depressed, but it's not as disruptive or frightening because you see it as transient & insubstantial, like all phenomena,'" & p. 391 Rubin: "Truth is not the province of a particular school of thought & sometimes it thrives in the interstices between different disciplines & modes of thinking, where fertile & novel perceptions & questions may arise." ... Read more

Product Description
Part of the "Religious Life in History Series," this comprehensive anthology provides translations of texts illustrative of Buddhist philosophy and doctrine as well as descriptive, concrete accounts of Buddhist practices, rituals, and experiences. Author John Strong gives careful consideration to many key aspects of the religion in a wide range of geographic and cultural arenas, from Asia to the United States, and gives students a sense of Buddhism's historical evolution in each area. In addition, this new edition of THE EXPERIENCE OF BUDDHISM uniquely offers students a list of pertinent bibliographic suggestions after each reading, giving them the opportunity to both enhance their understanding of the material and streamline their research and paper-writing process. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Review on Strong Book
The book was a bit confusing, but had a lot of good information on Buddhism.

The Experience of Buddhism
It is an excellent text which is required for a correspondence course I am taking on Buddhism which is taught by a fellow who has degrees from both Oxford and Harvard universities.

The Absolute Best Mid-Level Buddhist Studies Text
John Strong's "The Experience of Buddhism" obviously borrows heavily in idea and form from Stephen Beyer's 1970s text "The Buddhist Experience," and it's been updated a bit to include new texts on developing trends in Buddhist thought."TEOB" is a collection of primary texts with commentaries, some dating back to the early CE, some from the 1200s and 1300s, and some from modern times.This allows the reader to get an even and fair sample of Buddhist thought from the Mahayana, Theravada, and Vajriyana (Tibetan) schools, although Tibetan is less emphasized here than it is elsewhere (which makes sense, since it's a much smaller school in the Buddhist world, despite its overrepresentation in American pop culture).

Readers will be able to pick up on many important Buddhist concepts, including the basics (Four Noble Truths, Noble Eightfold Path, etc) and more advanced ideas, like the differences in cosmology between T and M Buddhism (the Arhat and the Bodhisattva, for example).Beware, though: this is Buddhism as it has historically been practiced, and is still practiced in Asian cultures today.It is NOT the feel-good, distilled tripe that passes for Buddhism on the spirituality shelf, next to the books on Wicca and similar religions.There are graphic descriptions of acolytes being beaten, abused, and even killed by monks.It touches on some of the wars that have erupted over Buddhism, not only in Tibet, but the bloody civil war that has torn Sri Lanka (Ceylon) apart.Those looking to reaffirm preconceptions about a perfect religion that allows the practitioner to do "whatever" will want to look elsewhere - this is Buddhism as it IS, as it is PRACTICED, and as it HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY.It's a great study tool, and imperative for anyone seriously considering calling himself or herself a Buddhist (and, some would argue, to do so is contrary to the Buddha's teachings anyway).That isn't to say that Buddhism is painted as a horrible religion - quite the contrary - but neither is it sugar-coated, because it CAN be a difficult pill to swallow.

Although Strong's book touches with far greater depth on Buddhist ideas than many others, it doesn't delve as deep as others into some of the theological debates that have taken place over the last 2500 years.It's one step above an "introductory" text, and to go any deeper, you would have to dig out some serious college-level textbooks.Thankfully, this is still accessible to readers of almost any level, although "TEOB" presupposes at least some experience with Buddhist thought.I highly recommend it to anyone interested in historical Buddhism, a deeper exploration of Buddhist cosmology, or the practice of Buddhism today.

Final Grade: A

Excellent resource for novice or expert reader
The presentation of primary texts combined with commentary is an excellent presentation of Buddhist thought.Several historical and philosophical strands can be followed easily with this book.The organization andtopical layouts allow the reader to move easily through the texts and focusin on areas of interest.Strong maintains acceptable historicalobjectivity within the context of a sympathetic presentation, allowing thereader to draw independent conclusions.Any student of Buddhism willbenefitfrom this book. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

Great and clear exposition
If you want to own one concise book covering the history of the Buddhist lineages, this is the one. It is as accurate as it gets, even where other authors get it all wrong (covering Tibetan Buddhism for example). Beautiful work!

A Real Goldmine
I was assigned this book for a course on Buddhism, and it was meant to be the more academic reading assigned. However, the book is well-written, few sentences wasted and every paragraph solid information. In fact, I understood Buddhism from a scholarly perspective, far away from the romanticised, enlightened account of spiritually-starved young ones. A true endeavor to study Buddhism as a religion, historically and doctrinally, is manifest here.

For example, the author provides an important overview of the state of India and Indian religion during Buddha's time, as well as an understanding of the languages used in that time. An etymological explanation of important terms is an extra treat for those interested-- words mean things. For example, the three sources of Buddhist knowledge are known as the "tripitaka"-- The Three Baskets. But the term is also a play on the Sanskrit for "pita", father. So another reading of "tripitaka" is "three from the father"-- Buddha.

Something else I enjoyed was the comparison between Buddhism and Hinduism. Those spiritually-starved Westerners idealize the dharmic religions are non-dogmatic, holistic, enlightened, above the fold... when Skilton shows in fact most of Buddhism's doctrines were direct refutations of Hindu doctrine at the time. For example, one of Buddha's most famous aphorisms is that there is no self... whereas Hinduism describes an atma (soul) that is at the essence of our being. Skilton lists several other points of contention between the two.

One thing I disagreed with was Skilton's harsh attitude toward Islam. Skilton almost defines the history of Muslims in India as an imperialist conquest that pillaged the natives, and brought about the end of Buddhism in India. Although this is reserved for the last chapter, and not an underlying theme which leaves the rest of his scholarship intact, one would assume Skilton has an anti-Muslim bias.

Van Horn is quite mistaken
In Mr. Van Horn's reader review, he uses a "quote" which is nowhere to be found in the book. This is what Skilton actually says (pgs 67-68) about the brahma-viharas in the Theravadin tradition:

"The Theravadin School developed a rather austere orthodoxy, epitomized in the works of the 5th century scholastic Buddhagohosa, especially in his Visuddhi-magga, which on a theoretical level tends to exclude doctrines and practices incompatible with its preferred preoccupations. An example of this exclusion might be the meditational practices called the brahma-viharas, which in its Abhidamma and commentarial literature are relegated to an ancillary function only, whereas its own canon records instances which substantially refute this role. Canonical passages frequently contain editorial additions "demoting" the brahma-viharas but, where parallel texts survive from the Mahasanghika canon, it is interesting to note that the latter did not feel any need to qualify such practices in that way."

As you can see, Mr. Van Horn's characterization of this point is entirely incorrect, as is his assessment of the book on the whole. One wishes he would have asked himself why Skilton, a longtime Theravadin practitioner himself, would want to write a piece of "Mahayanist propaganda."

In fact, Skilton's book is a commendably thorough, superbly written, extensively footnoted overview of the subject, with a firm grasp of the issues at hand. I could not recommend it more highly.

A very useful short history
Since its founding around 25 centuries ago, Buddhism has spread widely and diversified into numerous schools of thought and practice. Summarizing this long history and describing succinctly the many schools of Buddhism is not easy. Yet Andrew Skilton has accomplished this feat with apparent ease. And making something look easy is the hardest task any scholar can face.

I was astonished to see that one reviewer has claimed that this book is "Mahayana propaganda" based on a single reference. As I read it, I found Skilton's work to be very even-handed in discussing Mahayana and Theravada, without any proseletyzing or obvious mispresentation regarding either of these major schools of Buddhism. Skilton is disapassionate and fairminded, summing up history and doctrines with economy and precision. If there are errors in the book, I believe that they are minor and certainly unintentional.

I recommend this book highly.

Mahayana Propaganda
I have a great respect for books, and I have at least as much respect for the Buddha Dharma, so it shocks even me to say that in my entire life I have only thrown away one book - and I mean into the trash - and this is it. One of the dark aspects of Buddhism is the pejorative way in which the Mahayanna traditions of Buddhism - Zen and Tibetan Buddhism - treat their Theravadan brothers. This book is full of just such treatment. For example, at one point in the book, the author states that one school of Theravadan Buddhism emphasized the four "Brahma Viharas" (the "noble qualities" of loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity), even though - as he puts it - "there is no canonical evidence to support such a practice." This is simply not true. The Pali Sutthas are full of discourses on the Brahma Viharas. At one point they state that in a previous lifetime, the Buddha "became one with Brahma" by practicing the Brahma Viharas. This is just one modest example of the completely misleading way in which this book is written, and it doesn't begin to capture the negative tone it has toward Theravadan Buddhism. If you want to learn Buddhist history, do not read this book. It will give you a completely misguided impression of what that history really is. It is primarily Mahayana propaganda. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A truly rewarding book
Many surprises and intriguing conclusions await any reader willing to follow this book's discussions attentively and carefully.
No previous training in physics or Buddhism is assumed. Indeed, this text could serve as a first introduction to either discipline. The author, a professor of physic and astronomy, tells us that a major impetus for writing the book was a call by His Holiness the Dalai Lama for works that would introduce Tibetan monks to issues in modern science.
Although the author makes his points with great care and precision, his general tone is light and often quite personal, with frequent anecdotes, occasional humor, photographs, and poetry. The author's warmth shines through. Nevertheless, the discussion is layered, so that deeper meanings are available to more knowledgeable readers.
I've enjoyed a few other books that compare modern physics to Asian philosophies. This one stands out because it focuses in detail on some very specific issues without hand-waving or short-cuts. Among the problems discussed are: can an entity be truly independent? is there invariably a direction to time? can an event be "uncaused"? do physical laws support the possibility of "compassion" as understood in Buddhism? Don't assume you already know what conclusions are reached.
This book comes across as written with feeling and honesty. For all its intellectual concentration, I believe it was primarily a labor of love.

For more information and sample chapters
For those wanting to read entire chapters or the introduction by the Dalai Lama, go to the author's website at www.lightlink.com/vic.That site has much more information about the book.It may help you decide if it is for you.

Vic
... Read more

Product Description
Interest in Buddhism continues to grow throughout North America, and more and more readers are moving beyond the familiar Zen and Tibetan traditions to examine other types of Buddhism. In Shin Buddhism, Taitetsu Unno explains the philosophy anc practices of "Pure Land" Buddhism, which dates back to the sixth century C.E., when Buddhism was first introduced in Japan.

While Zen Buddhism flourished in remote monasteries, the Pure Land tradition was adopted by the common people. With a combination of spiritual insight and unparalled scholoarship, the author describes the literature, history, and principles of this form of Buddhism and illuminates the ways in which it embodies this religion's most basic tenet: "No human life should be wasted, abandoned, or forgotten but should be transformed into a source of vibrant life, deep wisdom, and compassionate living." As a practice that evolved to harmonize with the realities of everyday life, Shin Buddhism will be particularly attractive to contemporary Western readers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The How of Transformation
How exactly does it happen - this turning of rubble into gold? I keep looking for clues urgently, because, believe me, there's a lot of rubble. What is the power of this beautiful branch of Buddhism to accomplish this? What do I need to do?Taitetso Unno patiently answers questions like these, although, not in the way you expect. He tells you stories, talks leisurely to you, as if sitting with you over tea in a lovely, cool garden, and slowly the nature of your questioning changes. Instead of questioning, you begin to notice the rubble, only there is no judgment attached to the noticing. It is like noticing a wound and feeling the presence of a healing balm at the same time. I liked the humorous examples of personal "rubble" Taitetsu Unno gives us from his days as a teacher of religion at Smith College. I smiled at the the quotes from Shinran that show this great master's awareness of his own personal "rubble". But what I like the most about this book is the gradual, existential way that trust is born in us as we read. We learn to trust as we read about trust, or better yet, trust comes to us. We learn to listen for the presence of trust which is always there. Trust and listening are all part of the way of living that Taitetso Unno presents in his book.We trust (not as in we hope but as in we know) that the rubble will not sink us, we trust that we are precious, we listen for ways to use our being, rubble and all, for the benefit of others, and in so doing, the bits of rubble turn to gold.

Excellent Choice
I cannot say enough about this product.Dr. Unno writes with such expertise and his books can be read by everyone not just scholars.It is as good as "River of Fire, River of Water".I recommend this for anyone interested in Pure Land Buddhism

It turns with the seasons
I first read this book when it was published in 2002.I was younger then in so many ways and thought I was hot stuff.What Unno wrote stuck to me like a post-it to a mirror.With only a little heat it slid right off.

I am older now and I leave whatever specialness I might have to the appraisal of the compassionate cosmos.What Unno wrote has become the mirror itself. I highly recommend this book and suggest the reader return to it after some years to see how its insights weather.

Slow to start, but really builds up nicely
I really would give this 4.5 stars if I could.Taitetsu Unno is a brilliant writer, and despite being Japanese, he truly knows how to write for a Western audience.My only complaint were the early chapters where he's mostly talking about how great the 'nembutsu' and not much else.It's kind of feel-good fluff.

However, by the second section, he really delves into so many aspects of Buddhism, from a Jodo ShinShu perspective (I am a newly converted Shin Buddhist myself).The chapters are surprisingly relevant and the topics build from the simple topics in the first few chapters into progressively more deep and theological issues for Buddhists.This book has a subtle, but very compelling flow to it.

Taitetsu is clearly a well-read person as he quotes from many interesting sources, and clearly conveys their meaning to the reader.

This really was time well-spent reading, and I definitely recommend this to anyone who's curious about Shin Buddhism.It's the largest school of Buddhism in Japan (not Zen or Soka Gakkai), yet the least known here.Read this book and find out what it's about.

An excellent follow-up to "River of Fire..."
Rev. Unno's book "Shin Buddhism: Bits of Rubble Turn Into Gold" is essentially a follow-up work to his wonderful introductory text "River of Fire, River of Water". But while that work provided an overview of Shin Buddhism in of itself, this work provides a broader view of how Shin Buddhism affects the lives of those who practice it, as well as exploring the deeper issues of the Nembutsu-faith.

Weaving a complex yet easily-understood tapestry from personal experience, anecdotes, Pure Land teachings, and philosophical insight, Rev. Unno unfurls an examination of the depth and breadth of impact of Jodo Shinshu in peoples' lives. This school of Mahayana Buddhism, Jodo Shinshu, is essentially a Buddhism for the common man, emphasizing faith in the "other power" of Amida Buddha as its central tenet, as opposed to the complex battery of practices eschewed by other (and more familiar to the West) schools of Buddhism. A branch of the Pure Land school which was formed in the early 13th century in Japan, Jodo Shinshu emphasizes the "true entrusting" in Amida, the embodiment of wisdom and compassion from which all Buddhist thought emanates. And while this form of Buddhism is largely unknown in the West outside of the ethnic Japanese community, it is a powerful...and easily-accessible...path among the 84,000 Paths to Enlightenment as the diverse streams of religious and philosophical thought are known in Buddhism.

Rev. Unno here shows us how this faith affects those who accept it, and why. Just as "River of Fire..." explained the 'what' of Jodo Shinshu, "Bits of Rubble..." explains the 'how' in like manner...which is clear, concise, and readily-understandable. As a text for both beginners/explorers and those steeped in the faith, it succeeds at delivering meaningful messages and points on which to ponder. I would suggest reading "River of Fire, River of Water" before this, as there seems to be something of a continuity from that book's information and manner of imparting it into this one's. But do read this one after that to gain valuable insight into what Shin brings into peoples' lives. Like that prior book, I recommend this one without hesitation. ... Read more