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320th out of 409 books
—
265 voters
Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions #3)
by
Damien Keown
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...more
Paperback, 136 pages
Published
June 15th 2000
by Oxford University Press, USA
(first published 2000)
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Not very good. Yeah, it was an OK introduction to Buddhism so I don't want to knock it TOO much but it had a lot of problems, in my view. The tone is set when, in his introduction, he mentions Edward Said so he can say "we should be careful looking at Buddhism because orientalism" but then proceeds to say "we don't need to buy into Said's conspiracy theories"! It's not the typical fetishism you see in popular books, but he does tend to idealise Buddhism, covering up its flaws and history - for e...more
Indulging my hobby of The Search for Ultimate Meaning recently, I was for a while captivated by Buddhism. It seemed the answer to all my problems, until - through a defect in my spiritual understanding or the application of common sense - I fell from grace and my vision clouded over.
As a result of a string of more or less bitter disappointments, I am very wary of any form of enthusiasm I might experience on the Quest for Meaning front, because they all seem to be followed by a disappointment tha...more
As a result of a string of more or less bitter disappointments, I am very wary of any form of enthusiasm I might experience on the Quest for Meaning front, because they all seem to be followed by a disappointment tha...more
I honestly had no clue what to expect with this book. Due to having never read anything from Oxford University Press or anything religiously philosophical in the slightest.
I am pleased to say it won me over almost instantly, with an eloquent admission that it is an incomplete work, as are all religious analyses. It referenced a parable of 6 blind men touching different parts of an elephant; the one by the leg suggests it is like a tree, while the one by the head suggests it is like a water pot e...more
I am pleased to say it won me over almost instantly, with an eloquent admission that it is an incomplete work, as are all religious analyses. It referenced a parable of 6 blind men touching different parts of an elephant; the one by the leg suggests it is like a tree, while the one by the head suggests it is like a water pot e...more
A short book but one that brings a difficult and unknown subject into a manageable and understandable light. The book encompases the basic conception of the everyday buddhist religion and explains the background that started the faith.
I think buddhism is a very approachable religion because it doesnt prescribe to end pre set dogmatised texts or places of worship. It explains how we are all one and how we are all trying to get through the seven stages of being to become the enlightened.
I had some...more
I think buddhism is a very approachable religion because it doesnt prescribe to end pre set dogmatised texts or places of worship. It explains how we are all one and how we are all trying to get through the seven stages of being to become the enlightened.
I had some...more
May 10, 2011
Sarah Booth
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone interested in Buddhism.
Recommended to Sarah by:
Library had it on the shelf.
This book gives you the bare bones history of Buddhism. The quick and dirty - who, what, where, when, and how. It gives you a good foundation for learning more about Buddhism and the different schools of Buddhism with some idea where their ideas come from and how they differ. It's a great way to get a quick foundation of something that you know little or nothing about so that you can read more with much better understanding. this book was SUPER helpful to me and now I am getting much more from t...more
This lil' book was on the Recommended Readings list for my Buddhism class. I can never resist a text from the Very Short Introductions series. This met my expectations! It's small, concise, and objective, offering a history of Buddhism and how it has traveled through nations. A very basic overview of key concepts and terms in Buddhism is also provided throughout. This is not a spiritual book like the other Buddhist texts I've read, and it's not meant to be. It's just what the title says: a very...more
May 30, 2007
Michelle
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people interested in gaining a vague understanding of Buddhism
I read this text as a way to supplement my knowledge of Taoism and East Asian Architecture. It was somewhat helpful in this capacity, but is careful to point out that Buddhism, similar to other major religions, has a huge history during which hundreds of different schools of thought have developed. While it went over Mahayana Buddhism, tt didn't do a great job at locating the differences between Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism. It does provide the reader with a preliminary understanding of bodhi...more
This is an awesome introduction of Buddhism for the Western audience (and Western audience only). Though I can beat it up for many of its "omissions", I hold my urge to do so because it's overall a decent starting point.
I don't think I can condense Buddhism in such a short essay. So Kudos to you Dr. Keown.
I don't think I can condense Buddhism in such a short essay. So Kudos to you Dr. Keown.
A really excellent primer for those with little knowledge of the topic - lean, intelligent, sophisticated, historical, objective, balanced. Those with a deep interest or knowledge of the topic already will likely find it of far less value.
Read this as I knew nothing about buddhism but really needed to know the basics before starting a module on it at university. It gave me the very basic background and I found it very well set out.
I love books by Thich Nhat Hahn, so I've been intrigued to learn more about Buddhism. I find many of the philosophies helpful, but lots of the teachings are just plain strange to me.
another oxford very short introduction that does the job without fanfare or any particular panache, but the job of introducing in a very concise way does get done.
Really informative and easy to read - a good short introduction that does what it says on the tin.
about as perfect as a brief overview and intro to buddhism as you could ask for.
Great book. I highly recommend to all seeking an understanding of Buddhism.
Great introductory book on Buddhism
Very well structured, interesting and though-provoking. Great introduction to a fascinating subject!
Concise and impartial.
Another straightforward and reliable volume from the Oxford series. I now know my Theravada from my Mahayana.
Aug 30, 2012
Ken
added it
After a good start, quickly becomes pedantic.
Very concise and to the point. I had only the faintest picture of Buddhism as a religion. This was a great starting point for further inquiry.
Also, it was nice to learn that attaining superpowers is as easy (or as hard) as reaching the 4th stage of trance through meditation.
Also, it was nice to learn that attaining superpowers is as easy (or as hard) as reaching the 4th stage of trance through meditation.
While the author himself admits that he doesn't go into tremendous detail, this was a great read for those who want a basic understanding of Buddhism in a little over 100 pages.
I've read a lot of books in this series. They are almost always wonderful reads!
Basic, good for beginners. Boring if you've done any study on Buddhism already.
It occurred to me one day that I knew nothing at all about it.
May 19, 2013
Rayos
marked it as to-read
May 19, 2013
Andrew Moore
is currently reading it
May 12, 2013
Achan
marked it as to-read
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May 18, 2013 01:44pm