Buddhist discussion
Buddhist Books
>
Some Book Suggestions Please.
date
newest »

message 1:
by
Steven
(last edited Aug 25, 2016 11:47AM)
(new)
Jul 31, 2007 03:49PM

reply
|
flag

I think two excellent and easy-to-read introductory books are THE HEART OF THE BUDDHA'S TEACHING, by Thich Nhat Hanh, and MINDFULNESS IN PLAIN ENGLISH, by Bhante H. Gunaratana. The former covers the philosophy; the latter covers the practice. Both are very enjoyable and can serve as easy stepping stones to further reading.



Whenever I need a return to the basics, however, I first go to Thich Nhat Hanh.


by Richard Seager
On the above books (1) This book was given to me by a friend. Rather in-depth yet delves (with English translations alongside the Sanskrit) into the basic principles upon which Buddhist thought is based, including the 4 Noble virtues (often called the 4 Noble truths); the 3 poisons; 9 obstacles on the path to realization; & the 5 categories of fluctuations. By way of credit: This author co-founded & formerly directed the Yoga Research Center at Durham, England. At the time of this printing (1989) he had written 8 other books. (2) to be updated


The Dalai Lama has a few good basic books as well that discuss the Four Noble Truths, compassion etc.
I'll post some to the list here if I may.


also
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (this year's the 50th anniversary of suzuki roshi's coming to the west) this is on the top of most Best Buddhist Books lists
another chestnut:
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings
note: those are both in the zen zone. there's also vipassana (insight meditation); pure land (the largest school in the world, and in the west); tibetan (vajrayana); nicheren, and soka gakai; etc. the first that treats all but the last equally and in depth is my own humble tome ...The Complete Idiot's Guide to Buddhism, 3rd Edition but then i'm divinely proud -- and you can read the second edition absolutely FOR FREE at books.google.com [just look it up by my name:]. for more info: http://word.to
(remember: a book about buddhism is like a spoon. you also want to taste the soup itself.
to put that another way, the best book on buddhism ... is in your own heart, written with your life, on a large scroll called time. enjoy!)


buddhistbookstudy@yahoogroups.com buddhistbookstudy-subscribe@yahoogroups.com



Sidhhartha by Hermann Hesse
The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh
A Path with Heart: A Guide Through the Perils & Promises of Spiritual Life by Jack Kornfield
The Tibetan Book of Living & Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche.
Awakening the Buddha Within: Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World by Lama Surya Das
Pema Chodron's The Wisdom of No Escape & the Path of Loving Kindness
Ayya Khema's Being Nobody, Going Nowhere: Meditations on the Buddhist Path
The Mind and the Way : Buddhist Reflections of Life
In This Very Life: The Liberation Teachings of the Buddha by Kate Wheeler (Editor), Sayadaw U. Pandita, U. Aggacitta (Translator)

What the Buddha Taught, by Walpola Rahula.
I'm a writer, and I read for style as well as content. Rahula's style is clear, but not over-simplified. His book is an enjoyable read for someone interested in the subject, with little or no prior knowledge. Rahula was a Sri Lankan monk and scholar, fluent in several languages, and visiting scholar at the University of Paris (Sorbonne).
From the forward: "...the aspect of Buddhism here presented by Dr. Rahula--humanist, rational, Socratic in some respects, evangelic in others, or again almost scientific--has for its support a great deal of authentic scriptural evidence which he only had to let speak for themselves."
A book well worth reading.
http://jplathrop.net
My favorite writer is Alan Watts. To me, he's the master of explaining the Eastern way of thinking to those brought up in the west. This is It is one I would suggest to start with.
I just reread one of the first books on Buddhism I ever read and got even more out of it the second time: The Feeling Buddha by David Brazier.
I just reread one of the first books on Buddhism I ever read and got even more out of it the second time: The Feeling Buddha by David Brazier.


Books mentioned in this topic
Robinson Crusoe (other topics)The Dhammapada (other topics)
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice (other topics)
Against the Stream: A Buddhist Manual for Spiritual Revolutionaries (other topics)
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings (other topics)
More...