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36th out of 409 books
—
464 voters
Buddhism Plain and Simple
by
Steve Hagen
This book offers a clear, straightforward approach to Buddhism in general and awareness in particular. It is about being awake and in touch with what is going on here and now. When the Buddha was asked to sum up his teaching in a single word, he said, "Awareness." The Buddha taught how to see directly into the nature of experience. His observations and insights are plain,...more
Paperback, 176 pages
Published
December 29th 1998
by Three Rivers Press
(first published October 1st 1997)
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This is a favorite Buddhist book of mine. Steve Hagen keeps the subject matter extremely simple and focused on mindfulness and our misperceptions of reality. I wouldn't say this would be a very good first book to read but it should definitely be the second or third book you read as you are beginning to explore zen buddhist thought.
I especially love his take on exploring the afterlife. He essentially says it doesn't matter, that it's an ancillary concern. I couldn't agree more and it was nice rea...more
I especially love his take on exploring the afterlife. He essentially says it doesn't matter, that it's an ancillary concern. I couldn't agree more and it was nice rea...more
This is a very good book, and probably the best primer on Buddhism that I have read. It details in direct, plain language the basics of Buddhist philosophy, and gives useful real world examples and analogies. I have a much better understanding of Buddhism in general, and for the western mind raised in a primarily Christian culture, this book gives valuable insight into the reasons Buddhism is a major force in the world.
I have read books by the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh, but I found the lan...more
I have read books by the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh, but I found the lan...more
Buddhism Plain and Simple is a book about what Buddhist's believe and how one can live a way of life according to an Eightfold path.
I saw this book from the library while I was shelving…and I had wanted to read more about buddhism and kind of study it for a little while now and this was just out there and had some good blurbs on the back so i picked it up.
I enjoyed this book a lot. Was a really good, concise summary kind of how one can lives one's life. it seems that a lot of buddhism is just l...more
I saw this book from the library while I was shelving…and I had wanted to read more about buddhism and kind of study it for a little while now and this was just out there and had some good blurbs on the back so i picked it up.
I enjoyed this book a lot. Was a really good, concise summary kind of how one can lives one's life. it seems that a lot of buddhism is just l...more
After watching the PBS documentary on the life of Buddha, I became curious about his philosophies and found this small book which lays out some of the basic ideas of the Buddhists in a plain spoken and non dogmatic way. According to Hagen the main idea of Buddhism is the concept of truly seeing the world without any prejudices or preconceived notions. I like that the Buddhists are encouraged to test out the teachings of the Buddha and others, not just following them blindly. Hagen discusses the...more
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Jul 25, 2011
Nathan
added it
Hagen is incredibly gifted in the art of explanation. Of the books I’ve read on Buddhism, this was by far the clearest and most concise. He packs the essence of the religion into a tidy 150 pages.
The book helped clear up many of my misconceptions about Buddhism. Hagen lays out the buddha-dharma view simply: “An ordinary person is simply one who is not awake in this moment; a buddha is a person who is. That’s all.”
Throughout the book, Hagen italicizes every use of the word “see.” This seems to be...more
The book helped clear up many of my misconceptions about Buddhism. Hagen lays out the buddha-dharma view simply: “An ordinary person is simply one who is not awake in this moment; a buddha is a person who is. That’s all.”
Throughout the book, Hagen italicizes every use of the word “see.” This seems to be...more
I received this book from a longtime family friend as a Christmas present last year, and really enjoyed it. Hagen makes mention of two other great books, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki-Roshi and Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh. I read both of these in 2008 and agree with Hagen that they are must-reads for those interested in Buddhism or meditation.
This book also falls into the must-read category, in my opinion. I have read quite a few books on the subject, but this one is uni...more
This book also falls into the must-read category, in my opinion. I have read quite a few books on the subject, but this one is uni...more
Nov 13, 2012
Daniel Roy
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Daniel by:
Farshad
This is a book about the roots of Buddhism, specifically the teachings of the Buddha, purged it 2,500 years of tradition, culture, and worship that followed his life. As the title promises, it states its case in clear language, directly and simply. At the same time, the concepts are deep, thought-provoking, even perhaps life-changing.
I got a lot of out this book. At its core, it's a plea to consider the Buddha's teachings, and to consider the urgency of the task of awakening that all of us shoul...more
I got a lot of out this book. At its core, it's a plea to consider the Buddha's teachings, and to consider the urgency of the task of awakening that all of us shoul...more
A wonderful book that de-mystifies Buddhism and explains both what it is, and what it isn't. Very few books I've read have had such a profound impact on my life. Steven Hagen is a great writer - I'm currently reading "How the world can be the way it is" - a blend of a Buddhist world-view and physics that is a fascinating read and gives a fresh perspective on the nature of things.
I return to this book every once in awhile because I will forget what I ahve learned the first time. I do not want my 'star' review to indicate that it isn't a good book. It is written with enough anecdotes and simply enough to acheive what I think the purpose is; to explain the basic tennants of Buddhism. My problem is with Buddhism as he explains it. All life is pain and we just have to learn to deal with it so we don't experience so much dissatisfaction in our life. In this reading of the boo...more
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This book is a good overview of the core of Buddhist thinking. It can be difficult for many Westerners to explore Buddhism because many sects are built around particular Asian cultures and philosophies. Steve Hagen distills Buddhism down to its core philosophy, making it practical and accessible for all.
I still struggled with some concepts, however. For example, the concepts of constant change and elimination of the self. While I understand that nothing is static in the universe, I still find t...more
I still struggled with some concepts, however. For example, the concepts of constant change and elimination of the self. While I understand that nothing is static in the universe, I still find t...more
I have never read an entire book on Buddhism so I decided to read Buddhism Plain and Simple by Steve Hagen. Like discussions about any religion, people have so many opinions on what Buddhism actually is. I wanted to understand the core concepts of Buddhism without all of the things that have been added to its teaching over time. Hagen's book is very insightful and to the point on every page. I literally felt enlightened by reading it. His explanation of Buddhism gives that reader a clear underst...more
When I saw that the author of one of my early favorite books, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, said the following about this book, I became intrigued enough to crack it open.
"This is the clearest and most precise exposition of Buddhism I have ever read. If you're looking for enlightenment rather than just scholarly knowledge, you'd better read this." - Robert M. Pirsig
I wonder when he said this and what other books he had read up to that point. As I began to read, I found some interest...more
"This is the clearest and most precise exposition of Buddhism I have ever read. If you're looking for enlightenment rather than just scholarly knowledge, you'd better read this." - Robert M. Pirsig
I wonder when he said this and what other books he had read up to that point. As I began to read, I found some interest...more
Buddhism Plain and Simple was, perhaps, too "plain and simple" for me. Not really. I just found it uninspired and uninspiring. I think I'd be a better judge of its value if it were my first or second introduction to Buddhism and I was able to approach the book with a "beginner's mind." Since that's not the case, if you're looking for an introduction to Buddhist thought, take my luke-warm rating with a grain of salt and decide for yourself.
Hagen does do a nice job, in my view, of explaining no-se...more
Hagen does do a nice job, in my view, of explaining no-se...more
This was an easy read and, I think, an excellent introduction to Buddhism or, as the author likes to put it, the buddha-dharma. According to Hagen:
"Real Buddhism is not really as "ism." It's a process, an awareness, an openness, a spirit of inquiry-not a belief system, or even (as we normally understand it) a religion. It is more accurate to call it "the teaching of the awakened," or the buddha-dharma." (p.9)
This book makes Buddhism feel approachable for the average person, and is a good place t...more
"Real Buddhism is not really as "ism." It's a process, an awareness, an openness, a spirit of inquiry-not a belief system, or even (as we normally understand it) a religion. It is more accurate to call it "the teaching of the awakened," or the buddha-dharma." (p.9)
This book makes Buddhism feel approachable for the average person, and is a good place t...more
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This is an excellent, clear-sighted account of buddhism. It clears away all the extraneous nonsense that has clung like barnacles to this most misunderstood religion. Hagen, like many others, thinks it is not a religion, simply because it is not god-obsessed. But, Buddhists sure act funny for non-religious types!! Hagen puts the emphasis on what he rightly describes as the buddha-dharma, the teaching of the 'awakened'; rather than on the 'historical' Buddha, Gautama. And Hagen rightly points out...more
I took this book out at the library renewed it two times , read it about 3 times and I still feel like there's so much to lean about buddhism . The book explained so many questions that I'd always wanted answers to. I grew up religious going to church and you realize how much Dogma you have engrained in you at such a young age. Also how much of it is very contradictory. "Seeing" is a big focus in Buddhism and although the explanation seems easy having a life time of "this is right,this is wrong"...more
Extremely great book for those who want a simple intro into the world of Buddhism. Great for experienced followers of the practice as well. Steven Hagen basically gives you the low down on everything from the the 4 truths, to the benefits of practicing meditation. When I first became interested in Buddhism, I've tried reading other intro books but found some of the jargon to be too overwhelming and tough to follow. Steve puts everything in plain english and even though he does dip into the relat...more
Very enlightening!!! I now know the sound of one hand clapping. In all seriousness I found this book to be an excellent guide to understanding the basic heart of Buddhism and the Buddha.
It has helped me immensity in coping with a painful chapter in my life; made me understand duhkah(suffering) and how to cope with the change that comes from it.
I highly recommend this read; it does not really impact any hard fast religious beliefs you may hold, as you come to understand Buddhism as more of a phil...more
It has helped me immensity in coping with a painful chapter in my life; made me understand duhkah(suffering) and how to cope with the change that comes from it.
I highly recommend this read; it does not really impact any hard fast religious beliefs you may hold, as you come to understand Buddhism as more of a phil...more
I don't feel like rating this book, seems difficult, I just can recommend it to someone that does know nothing about Buddhism and specially zen.
Hagen is a buddhist monk so all his writing is really focus on zen, right view, right mind, the nature of self - no-self. Tries to explain conceptually what cannot be explain that way, that, funny enough is what the book implies, the awakening. He goes to explian the 4 noble truths and The Eightfold Path.
Seeing is the most important skill, seeing can o...more
Hagen is a buddhist monk so all his writing is really focus on zen, right view, right mind, the nature of self - no-self. Tries to explain conceptually what cannot be explain that way, that, funny enough is what the book implies, the awakening. He goes to explian the 4 noble truths and The Eightfold Path.
Seeing is the most important skill, seeing can o...more
This book was surprisingly wonderful.
Many books on Buddhism are really a very complex dissertation of someone else's view on what Buddhism is. Hagen, a Buddhist Priest, gave, "just the facts." Buddhism is not complicated --- it is "plain and simple" and he emphasized that throughout the book.
This doesn't mean, however, that the book was boring or uninspiring. We often want to make things more complicated than they really are. Hagen reminds us to stick to the basics, to the present, to just be....more
Many books on Buddhism are really a very complex dissertation of someone else's view on what Buddhism is. Hagen, a Buddhist Priest, gave, "just the facts." Buddhism is not complicated --- it is "plain and simple" and he emphasized that throughout the book.
This doesn't mean, however, that the book was boring or uninspiring. We often want to make things more complicated than they really are. Hagen reminds us to stick to the basics, to the present, to just be....more
Despite the claims of the book, I don't think it is suitable for complete novices, you need to have at least some knowledge of Buddhism to understand many of the concepts Steve Hagen talks about, specially "awakening". I think the text is more useful to near beginners or intermediates. Having said that, the way in which the ideas are presented are quite thought-provoking; I found myself many times wanting to ask the author about apparent contradictions, refuting and asking for clarifications, so...more
How does one review a book like this?
"Too long. I achieved enlightenment on page 97, so the rest was dross."
"Complete nonsense. No mention of the Great Creator Squirrel."
I kid, of course. If I didn't like ideas like those presented here, I wouldn't have picked it up in the first place. It is clear, calm, and, best of all for me(yes, I still speak of a "me" so, yeah, I've still got some awakening to do), it makes the path appear doable.
Fewer repetitions and more inspiring imagery and I'd have giv...more
"Too long. I achieved enlightenment on page 97, so the rest was dross."
"Complete nonsense. No mention of the Great Creator Squirrel."
I kid, of course. If I didn't like ideas like those presented here, I wouldn't have picked it up in the first place. It is clear, calm, and, best of all for me(yes, I still speak of a "me" so, yeah, I've still got some awakening to do), it makes the path appear doable.
Fewer repetitions and more inspiring imagery and I'd have giv...more
I read this for improv, as recommended by improv master Dave Razowsky. As with many things in improv I found it helpful both on stage and in life. Not stressing over possible outcomes that you can't control, being in the moment, and not ruining things by conceptualizing and labeling them are some of the big things I took away from this. It's all written very plainly and succinctly, so it's easy to read and comprehend. For improvisors, I recommend this for the more advanced improvisor, as the ide...more
One thing: do the principles sound too good to be true? I have so many questions after reading it (is that a good thing?)
A great introductory book to Buddhism - clear, concise. The book strips off Buddhism from all the weird stuff like going to the temple, paying tribute or using the gong that I see my mother do. Strangely, I felt that I've known a lot about this subject (while in fact I don't - and I'm aware of my "inclination" to feel superior than others just from reading a book. That's a ten...more
A great introductory book to Buddhism - clear, concise. The book strips off Buddhism from all the weird stuff like going to the temple, paying tribute or using the gong that I see my mother do. Strangely, I felt that I've known a lot about this subject (while in fact I don't - and I'm aware of my "inclination" to feel superior than others just from reading a book. That's a ten...more
I read this book about ten years ago and decided it was time to read it again. I'll probably read it again ten years from now (or sooner).
"The deep, hollow ache arises from a life in search of meaning. But it's by our very desire to find meaning that we create meaninglessness. The very idea of looking for purpose and meaning arises from our deluded thought. When we actually see reality for what it is, all questions of meaning are transcended, and we're free to engage the world as it actually is....more
"The deep, hollow ache arises from a life in search of meaning. But it's by our very desire to find meaning that we create meaninglessness. The very idea of looking for purpose and meaning arises from our deluded thought. When we actually see reality for what it is, all questions of meaning are transcended, and we're free to engage the world as it actually is....more
Okay, I'm giving this book 4 stars instead of 5 stars only because Hagen lost me in the last few pages. Maybe one needs to know more about Buddhism to really get those last 20 pages.
I can say that the critics are right about the rest of the book. I know more about Buddhism and what it's truly about (minus the cultural attachments it's gotten over the centuries)than I have ever gotten anywhere else. The author totally makes Buddhism accessible and interesting.
I can say that the critics are right about the rest of the book. I know more about Buddhism and what it's truly about (minus the cultural attachments it's gotten over the centuries)than I have ever gotten anywhere else. The author totally makes Buddhism accessible and interesting.
An interesting read for a new comer to Buddhist ideas like myself. Hagen tries to distil the Buddha's teachings to as few essentials as possible, ignoring all the bells and whistles that have attached themselves in the centuries since the Buddha's life.
A book teaching ideas that claim by their nature to be unteachable is always going to be a bit of a brain-melter, but this is definitely an interesting and relatively easy introductions to the buddha-dharma.
A book teaching ideas that claim by their nature to be unteachable is always going to be a bit of a brain-melter, but this is definitely an interesting and relatively easy introductions to the buddha-dharma.
I was born a Roman Catholic but has never been devout. I never quite understood its doctrines and thus never been a faithful disciple. Religions set out laws and each devotee is to embrace them. They recite the Holy Rosary everyday, they go to church every Sunday but when asked why they do so, what for they repeatedly say a set of prayers, they could never give an answer. That is for me rather vague and what I cannot fully understand I do not fully adopt. But for the record, I tried to give Roma...more
This book is exactly what it says "Plain and Simple." I've been a Buddhist for awhile and I still found this introductory work quite refreshing and rather helpful. Hagen essentially takes out all the cultural aspects, all the colorful clothing, rituals, etc. out of Buddhism and gets down to simply explaining what the Buddha was trying to tell us about reality and being awake.
I recommend this book to both Buddhists and those interested in Buddhism alike.
I recommend this book to both Buddhists and those interested in Buddhism alike.
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Stephen Tokan "Steve" Hagen, Rōshi, (born 1945) is the founder and head teacher of the Dharma Field Zen Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and a Dharma heir of Dainin Katagiri-roshi.
He is a published author of several books on Buddhism. Among them, "Buddhism Plain & Simple" is one of the top five bestselling Buddhism books in the United States.
He has been a student of Buddhist thought and pract...more
More about Steve Hagen...
He is a published author of several books on Buddhism. Among them, "Buddhism Plain & Simple" is one of the top five bestselling Buddhism books in the United States.
He has been a student of Buddhist thought and pract...more
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“The buddha-dharma does not invite us to dabble in abstract notions. Rather, the task it presents us with is to attend to what we actually experience, right in this moment. You don't have to look "over there." You don't have to figure anything out. You don't have to acquire anything. And you don't have to run off to Tibet, or Japan, or anywhere else. You wake up right here. In fact, you can only wake up right here.
So you don't have to do the long search, the frantic chase, the painful quest. You're already right where you need to be.”
—
12 people liked it
So you don't have to do the long search, the frantic chase, the painful quest. You're already right where you need to be.”
“The Buddha encouraged people to "know for yourselves that certain things are unwholesome and wrong. And when you do, then give them up. And when you know for yourselves that certain things are wholesome and good, then accept them and follow them."
The message is always to examine and see for yourself. When you see for yourself what is true-and that's really the only way that you can genuinely know anything-then embrace it. Until then, just suspend judgment and criticism.”
—
3 people liked it
More quotes…
The message is always to examine and see for yourself. When you see for yourself what is true-and that's really the only way that you can genuinely know anything-then embrace it. Until then, just suspend judgment and criticism.”
