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207 ratings, 4.03 average rating, 34 reviews
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published
March 1st 1998
by Riverhead Trade
binding
Paperback, 144 pages
isbn
1573226564
(isbn13: 9781573226561)
description
As in all the major religions, there is a wisdom behind the theology of Buddhism that informs the believer in daily life. Stephen Batchelor would argu...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 318)
Read in June, 2008
recommended to Kat by:
Prof. Dana Jack
Batchelor is not pro-Buddhism as a religion, or pro-religion at all. He advocates gently but incisively for a "passionate agnosticism"--admitting that you don't know and probably never can, but that this doesn't let you off the hook, since the attempt to find out is necessary to your mental/spiritual survival. He presents Buddhist techniques as common-sense, highly effective ways of dealing with existential problems, and Buddhist philosophy as a framework for understanding things tha...more
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As this gem of a book points out, "Buddhism without beliefs" is a redundancy. Batchelor cuts to the heart of what sets Buddhism apart from other world religious traditions: It encourages practitioners to question, to penetrate, to rigorously examine everything -- even the Buddha's teachings themselves -- and not to take things on blind faith. In other words, just because a religious leader hands you a doctrine and tells you to believe in something, that isn't good enough. The goal of B...more
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recommended to Wayne by:
Big Sister Di !!
recommends it for: anyone interested in the essentials of Buddhism, no nonsense stuff.
To join the Big Clubs or Cults of Catholicism, Hill Song, the Evangelicals etc. etc one must accept a certain set of so-called truths which in no way impinge on the ethical. (I've known plenty who swear by the Virgin Birth but cheat on their wives.)
Buddhism, shorn of its religious trappings of prayer wheels, exotic names, orange robes, priesthoods, hierarchies and consequent blinding fog etc. becomes no set of beliefs but a way of behaving, which we often stumble upon ourselves through s...more
recommends it for: anyone interested in the essentials of Buddhism, no nonsense stuff.
To join the Big Clubs or Cults of Catholicism, Hill Song, the Evangelicals etc. etc one must accept a certain set of so-called truths which in no way impinge on the ethical. (I've known plenty who swear by the Virgin Birth but cheat on their wives.)
Buddhism, shorn of its religious trappings of prayer wheels, exotic names, orange robes, priesthoods, hierarchies and consequent blinding fog etc. becomes no set of beliefs but a way of behaving, which we often stumble upon ourselves through s...more
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Batchelor is one of many who shares the wisdom and teachings of Buddhism as a guide to life rather than a religion. He argues for an "agnostic" Buddhism by discarding the traditional (Eastern) tenets of reincarnation and karma. His sections on mindfulness, awareness, and compassion are excellent and his suggestions for meditations and what you'll get from them are clear and inviting.
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Like most of my Buddhist books, if you like Zen shit, you'll like this. It's like a comfort book for me. Very existential, very short, light reading. I'd recommend it, and you will probably like the underlying concepts of Buddhism more after reading it.
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Read in January, 1997
I just finished re-reading this book (Feb, 2008) and was pleased to find that it is still as simple, straighforward, and cleanly insightful as I remembered from my first reading. A great view of Buddhism from a slightly less followed yet authentic perspective written by a highly respected translator, writer, and practioner of buddhism in the west.
It covers all the basics of buddhist practice while stripping buddhism of a belief system that possibly was not Shakyamuni Buddha's (the historical...more
It covers all the basics of buddhist practice while stripping buddhism of a belief system that possibly was not Shakyamuni Buddha's (the historical...more
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Although an easy and quick read, I find myself stopping after each chapter to analyze my life with Buddha's teachings. Each chapter discusses an aspect of Buddhism in a noninvasive and thought-provoking fashion. This book is one of my favorites because it doesn't offer a sole solution on religion rather teaches you how to tailor Buddha's teachings to become more compassionate and aware of your surroundings. The concepts are simple yet insightful making this a book I can read over and over again.
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Read in December, 2007
Outstanding book that could change your life by changing the way you approach the cyclical patterns of anguish and desire. Batchelor's approach is to expose you to the central truths of Buddhism while at the same time making sure that you understand it as a philosophy of existentialism rather than as another religion. If you are already an atheist or agnostic but could use some help in finding inner peace, this is the book for you.
This book is the shit! It explores the subject of buddhism from a completely irreligious point of view. From Mr. Batchelor's perspective, and consequently mine as well, the teachings and methods of the one called the Buddha, are to things to be "believed" in, but to do. The opposite of faith, indeed the school of thought referred to as Buddhism, is a suggested course of action.
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A unique way of intepreting Buddhism. Perhaps it is not a classic religion but was intended as a daily practice to gently lead us towards enlightenment. This book offers theory, history and meditation excercizes. An excllent guide for anyone interested in choosing a more athiest path.
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Read in January, 1999
One of the best books available on Buddhism as a philosophy--and a way of approaching the world--rather than as a religion. Batchelor's account may or may not be closer to the original thinking of the Buddha but is still valuable for the refreshing perspective on the subject.
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Read in September, 2008
recommended to Kassin by:
blair williamson - thanks, blair!recommends it for: everyone, especially angry people
i heart this book. i read it whenever i need some centering and a good dose of humility. i've let so many people borrow it i think this is my third copy now? anyway, i highly recommend it. there are parts i skip but the meat of it is priceless.
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Read in January, 2007
recommended to Michael by:
Amy Lenarz, David Oliverrecommends it for: the self aware
One of the best explorations of the buddhist perspective that I have read. It is an interesting take on the philosophy of the buddha which shakes out the dogma and structure of beliefs that otherwise give this beatiful philosophy a religious leaning.
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Read in May, 2008
I found the beginning to be the most interesting - it covered the origins of buddhism (dogma-free version)and discusses the original meaning of agnosticism. The remainder is pretty standard faire you'd expect from such a book.
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This is one of those books that takes some pretty intense thinking. Agnostic Buddhism can be a scary philosophy, and sometimes it just makes too much sense... So I'm taking it a little bit at a time.
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Read in October, 2008
recommended to Michelle by:
Jonrecommends it for: Tracy
Clarifying what I've always felt in so many ways. Buddhism is not a religion and Batchelor puts it all there for us soak in, to challenge us and to illuminate.
no matter what your beliefs.
no matter what your beliefs.
Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone wondering about buddhism
I had to give this library book back before I could finish it. It was easy to read and understand and left me inspired to learn more. I am thinking about buying it so I can read the rest.
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5*. a clear, thoughtful and inspiring little book about dharma practice for agnostics even. this book has a lot to say about modern man and i find it very comforting.
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I was disappointed in this book. It seemed unfocused and was hard for me to stay interested in. I didn't feel I learned much of anything from it, either.
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One of the best books on Buddhism I've read (out of a dozen or so).
Batchelor advocates a skeptical Buddhism, a non-religion based on experience, not faith.
Batchelor advocates a skeptical Buddhism, a non-religion based on experience, not faith.
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currently-reading (on 22 people's shelves)
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non-fiction (on 8 people's shelves)
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quotes from this book
"We could decide simply to remain absorbed in the mysterious, unformed, free-play of reality. This would be the choice of the mystic who seeks to extinguish himself in God or Nirvana—analogous perhaps to the tendency among artists to obliterate themselves with alcohol or opiates. But if we value our participation in a shared reality in which it makes sense to make sense, then such self-abnegation would deny a central element of our humanity: the need to speak and act, to share our experience with others."
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