Product Description
Here at last is an organized overview of Tibetan Buddhism's teachings, beginning with the basic themes of the sutras — the general discourses of the Buddha — and continuing through the esoteric concepts and advanced practices of Tantra. Unlike other introductions to Tibetan Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism from the Ground Up doesn't stop with theory and history, but relates timeless spiritual principles to the pressing issues of modern life, both in terms of daily experience and a uniquely Western world view. This fascinating, highly readable book asks neither unquestioning faith nor blind obedience to abstract concepts or religious beliefs. Rather, it challenges the reader to question and investigate life's issues on a personal level, in the light of an ancient and effective approach to the sufferings and joys of the human condition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Good elementary introduction to Buddhism--3.5 stars
This is an edited version of a lecture series in Seattle in 1988, ordered from basic to "more subtle & advanced" based on the author-monk's 18 years study in all 4 schools + Pali texts.It is intended as a "guide to practice" esp. for those w/o Buddhist background.I found it simple, straight-forward, & easy to understand.As a short book it cannot bring much breadth to its vast subject, is simplistic at times (e.g. inadequately addressing self), & explanatory/descriptive vs. analytical/critical.Thus, the scientific, skeptical, western perspective is minimal, greatly reducing the potential value of a western Buddhist insider's viewpoint.Further, the author seems naïve--e.g. p. 134: "We are born with a natural, unlearned sense of intrinsic self."Psychologists have shown that self-consciousness is developmental not inbred--only the potential is inbred (similar to Buddha nature).Similarly, he says p. 134: "The workers, acting together, manage themselves."I suggest they'd need management ability, skills & training (e.g. most startup businesses fail)--see Elliott Jaques' Executive Leadership: A Practical Guide to Managing Complexity (Developmental Management) & Human Capability: A Study of Individual Potential and Its Application.But he also makes some fine observations: p. 176: "If one were a bee, for instance, one's perception of this page would be very different than it is for a human.Similarly, it would look uniquely different to a bat, an owl, or a snake, p. 180: As the renowned physicist Werner Heisenberg said, `What we observe is not nature itself but nature exposed to our method of questioning,' & p. 181: We reify an object by removing it from its context, by ignoring the subjective influences of perception & conception."He also provides a good exercise--visualizing bubbles rising & bursting (p. 114) which was new for me.All in all it's a pretty good elementary introduction to Buddhism IMHO, but I much prefer Thubten Chodron ("Open Heart, Clear Mind" & "Buddhism for Beginners"), Pema Chodron, & Surya Das.These authors provide more depth, breadth, & practical value than this book IMO.

Finally, a directand cogent introduction of the essence of Tibetan Buddhism
One has to appreciate the fact that many books taking on this task that was given in this short, under 200 pages are as introductions anywhere from 450 to 650 pages. If one wants more detail check out John Powers', Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism which runs, as an introduction, some 470 pages. For one who is looking for the essence of this practice without too much dedication of time, this is the book. You will come away with a very good idea of what this type of buddhism is and why it is important.

Very good, but some shortcomings
B. Allan Wallace has extremely impressive credentials.He was ordained by the Dali Lama, earned an undergraduate degree in Physics and a Ph.D. from Stanford University.Therefore, he is well qualified from an exposure to the concepts point of view.

My experience reading this book, however, was mixed.While the author has impressive credentials, his material is easily accessible and he make it relevant to Western people, he often left me wanting more of an explanation or more detail.

In an attempt to make the concept of Tibetan Buddhism accessible, I found that Mr. Wallace often over simplified his explanations.He appeals to common sense, but I found this book lacked the depth I was looking for given an author with such an impressive background.

Basic and informative
My teacher suggested this book for anyone new to Tibetan Buddhism.It's well-written and has basic information for some of the most popular questions a new person might have.It's a good "starting point" as well as a good text for anyone wanting to expand their knowledge of various paths of life.

10 stars if possible....
This is by far the best explanatory book on Tibetan Buddhism I've read.It should be a Must Read for everyone interested in this fascinating philosophy and life style. Although targeted for beginners mostly, it is a thorough book for us in the western cultures. Easy to read and thought provoking.This books deserves a ten star rating and a special mantra. Buy it!Another recommended book is Open Heart, Clear Mind by Thubten Chodron. ... Read more

Product Description
The ancient Theravada Buddhist canonical suttas, the beloved Mahayana Buddhist sutras, and the Tao Te Ching have been lovingly mined for concepts and realizations. These ideas resonate with the heart of the teachings of Jesus the Nazarene as preserved in the Christian gospels.

Presented in the arrangement and context of Buddha's Nobel Eightfold Path, "the truths presented are timeless and universal as a complete religion in themselves," says the author.

The author describes the book as serving as the message of Jesus to the world in the context of Christian of Eastern thought, and points out that it is not really a Christian work. This is foremost a Buddhist writing, devoted to the same Dharma that Buddha so loved and taught 2500 years ago. It is presented through the teachings of the One who is called the Christ in the Western world.

Then again, this is not really a Buddhist work as the linkage the author has made between the concepts of Christ and Buddha create a synthesis that transcends Christianity and Buddhism. The heart of this Dharma cannot really be defined of confined by a system of thought. It lives on the immediacy of the expression of those who take it to heart. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Preferred
This is the comparison literature that I was looking for; a verse for verse verification of the oneness of the origins of Jesus' and Siddhartha's conclusions.

I wanted to write this book
I spent 10 years studying Christianity as a born again Christian fundamentalist, slowly through seeking the truth above all else I came out of my delusion. I ended up as a Gnostic Buddhist. I began to realize that the Buddhist 4 Noble Truths and eightfold path were taught by Jesus in the Gospels of the Bible and the Gospel of Thomas. I thought this would make a great book and was shocked when I searched Amazon for similar books and found that it had already been written. Thomas Ragland's knowledge of the Buddhist Scriptures are far beyond mine, I am just beginning in Buddhism. He did a great job comparing Buddhist Sutras to Christian Scripture, many were shocking at the similarities. I am convinced through this book and my personal studies that Gautama and Jesus taught the same esoteric truth.
Live from with in, over come hatred, greed, and delusion by being born again as higher consciousness by seeing the ego as a mental formation that is not us.

my Dharma notes
I come from a Christian background, but I always quested for spirituality that was somehow more mystical and yet practical. I discovered the teachings of the Buddha and spent years in reading the ancient sutras. What I discovered is that the thoughts resonated with those of Jesus in the gospels. This book is my collection of gems of ancient wisdom. Mystical, true, but practical advice for life. ... Read more

Product Description
Shin is the uniquely Japanese flowering of the type of Buddhism known as "Pure Land." It originated in the thirteenth century with the charismatic and prophetic figure Shinran (1172–1263), whose interpretation of the traditional Pure Land teachings was extremely influential in his own lifetime and remain so today. In a period when Japanese Buddhism was dominated by an elitist monastic establishment, Shinran's Shin teaching became a way of liberation for all people, regardless of age, class, or gender.

Although Shin is one of Japan's greatest religious contributions—and is still the most widely practiced form of Buddhism in Japan—it remains little known in the West. In this book, based on several lectures he gave in the 1950s, D. T. Suzuki illuminates the deep meaning of Shin and its rich archetypal imagery, providing a scholarly and affectionate introduction to this sometimes misunderstood tradition of Buddhist practice. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Sensitive intro to Japanese Pure Land Buddhism
In a series of five transcribed lectures deliveredat the American Buddhist Academy in New York in 1958,Zen teacher and scholar D.T. Suzuki presents a concise, non-sectarian introduction to the theology and ethics of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism.Those looking for a history of Pure Land (or Shin Buddhism, as it's known in Japan) or descriptions of its different schools may want to look elsewhere.

A Buddhist reformation of sorts, Shin Buddhism was an effort to cut to the core of Buddhist faith, to do away with ecclesiastic privilege by providing the laity with a simple and inexpensive route to salvation.It is ironic that it is explicated here by a Zen monk, who finds Shin Buddhism more difficult to explain and to practice than Zen.It requires, Suzuki says, more than just the simple recitation of the name Amida, the Buddha of Infinite Light.It requires more importantly that one give up spiritual pretense, abandon striving, put aside ideas of meaning, and live simply in the moment, as one is, with what is - to live in purposelessness.It is only then, he argues, that we are born in the Pure Land, a place that is experienced in the here and now, a place that "we are carrying with us all the time . . . , [that] is surrounding us everywhere."

Suzuki read widely in philosophy and theology and to assist his Western audience he makes frequent comparisons in these lectures of Pure Land to Christianity, concluding that though Amida Buddha is mythical and Jesus of Nazareth historical, their real meaning and significance is found only at the level of individual experience.Both are born in our hearts, or our souls, out of the silence and the release of self, in which the only thing that exists is the one, embodied in the names Amida and Christ.

#

Great introduction to Jodo Shinshu Buddhism
Ever since the first Englishman translated the final words of the Buddha as "work out your own salvations with diligence," the English-speaking West has associated Buddhism almost exclusively with the cool, detached path of self-power and the attainment of enlightenment through the individual cultivation of wisdom, ethics, and meditation. Perhaps it is due to this limited understanding of the Buddhadharma, perhaps it is because so many Westerners have come to Buddhism in order to escape from a theistically oriented religion; whatever the reason, out of the millions of Westerners who now find themselves attracted to the Buddhadharma, few are familiar with the Buddhist path of Other-power, a path which finds its clearest expression in the Jodo Shinshu Buddhism of Japan.

Thankfully the folks at Shambhala Publications have decided to fill this gap in knowledge by updating and republishing a classic work by D.T. Suzuki, perhaps most well known in the West for his work on the Zen traditions of Japanese Buddhism. The result is this short, clearly written work which attempts to explain the essential teachings of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism (aka Shin Buddhism) in a way that situates them squarely within a more familiar Buddhist worldview.

Suzuki admits up front that his presentation of Shin Buddhism, stripped of what he calls "accretions," will go directly against more traditional interpretations, and so obviously this book is not an exhaustive treatment of its subject. Instead the book sketches the basic premise of Shin Buddhism (i.e., Amida Buddha has vowed that anyone who calls out to him with sincere faith will be reborn in the Pure Land, a stainless realm whence anyone can attain enlightenment) and discusses its essential practice of reciting the *nembutsu* ("Namu-Amida-Butsu") in the context of standard Buddhist philosophical concepts (e.g., selflessness, emptiness, compassion, etc.).

So for Suzuki, the practice of reciting the nembutsu is not about calling out to a god for salvation, although that is certainly how it first appears. Instead "Namu" symbolizes self-power, "Amida Butsu" Other-power, and the conjunction of the two in the nembutsu is emblematic of the essential nonduality of oneself and the enlightened mind of the Buddha. Likewise, Suzuki explains that we cannot practice the sincerity necessary to call out to Amida because sincerity is the "perfect forgetting of oneself." In other words, what initially seems "too easy" is seen on closer analysis to be nigh impossible. This is why Shinran's modification of existing Pure Land Buddhist doctrines was, and is, so radical; for him, the nembutsu isn't a prayer or mantra to be put into practice (after all, what good would such practice be given our hopeless self-centeredness?) but an expression of gratitude for having already been swept up into the Pure Land through the absolute grace of Amida's compassion. For Shinran, the Pure Land itself is not merely understood as a post-mortem destination but is a radical re-envisioning and sanctification of the present moment. The strict separation between what is self and what is not-self, between what is samsara and what is nirvana, blurs; "When sincerity and insincerity are transcended, then Amida comes into our inner self and identifies himself with this inner self. Or, we can say, this self find itself in Amida. And when we find this self in Amida, we are in the Pure Land" (p. 41).

This is a great introduction to an often-overlooked school of Buddhist thought and practice.

A fine addition to a Shin Buddhism library
D.T.Suzuki is well known in the West for his discussions on Zen Buddhism, but many are not aware that he has a strong background in Shin Buddhism (Jodo Shinshu) as well.His mother was a follower of Shin Buddhism, and has had a big influence on his life.This book is a good explanation of Shin Buddhism from the outside perspective of someone who isn't deeply involved in the more orthodox Hongwanji Branch of Shin Buddhism, but is nevertheless very familiar with it.

While many Shin Buddhism books explain what Shin Buddhism is, most are not well-suited Westerners who look at Shin Buddhism and have their doubts about Other-Power, the efficacy of the nembutsu, and so on.Suzuki nicely addresses these issues, and other concerns Westerners would have.

The book is short, but helps fill in gaps other Shin books leave wanting.This should be part of anyone's library if they're exploring Shin Buddhism, or wanting to take their knowledge further.

Namo Amida Butsu

Necessary forShin Buddhism Studies!
This book is one of the classics for Teaching of Shin buddhism.
I felt that it had a bit of modernization to it, possibly due to translation Etc... and with the mention of Science and Metaphysics, even Voltaire which you don't hear about very often in a Shin guide.

I found it quick and to the point but it did skip around too much for my small one track mind.

Wow!Were's the Zen, Mama?
Just kidding!

This is an excellent primer in Shin Buddhism, written by a man who I actually thought was only a practitioner/teacher of Japanese Zen.It's really cool how Suzuki, as well as a few others, can convey the Shin tradition in a way that resonates with those of us who have practiced Zen.

While this IS a great introduction and interpretation of Jodo Shinshu, this really isn't the best introduction to Buddhism as a whole.If you want to know more about basic Mahayana Buddhism, then I recommend you buy a few books by Thich Naht Han.If you want to learn about the Theravada, then read Kornfield.But by all means, look into this Shin Buddhist practice, because the more I study it, the more I am pursuaded that it might very well be the best form of Buddhism for those of us who have to work for a living and then take care of our familes, as opposed to those who "hide out" in the tranquility of Zen Centers, Dharma Retreats, and Kai Kans (damn things!).

Have fun! ... Read more

Product Description
Despite its burgeoning influence, few people truly understand the core beliefs, traditions, and movements of this popular Eastern religion. Robert Thurman, professor of Indo-Tibetan studies at Columbia University, has assembled the first guide to Tibetan Buddhism that introduces the distinctive Tibetan practice through its own rich literature. He includes excerpts from The Book of the Dead as well as lesser known but comparable scriptures.Essential Tibetan Buddhism is a part of The Essential Series, beautifully packaged works that feature the core texts of major religious traditions in definitive translations, edited by leading authorities.Amazon.com Review
In this highly readable collection, Robert Thurman bringstogether the jewels of Tibetan literature that have made their owndistinctive contribution to "the great river of Buddhism."He introduces the selection with an overview of essential Buddhistthought, orienting the reader with a history of Buddhism'sdevelopment, from its origins in India, expansion across Asia, andflowering on Tibetan soil. Explaining the distinctive attainment ofTibetan Buddhist civilization as "the vivid sense of Buddhas inordinary, daily reality," Thurman guides readers throughselections that speak to the possibility of liberation for allbeings. Stressing also the importance of the teacher or mentor figurein Tibetan Buddhist practice, he presents key texts from teacherswhose words serve as inspiration to those seeking the path towardenlightenment. Excerpts culled from the vastness of the Tibetan canoninclude the hymns to the liberator goddess Tara, pieces from The Tibetan Book of theDead, writings on mentor worship from the first Panchen Lama,and selections from esoteric tantric practice texts. The volume endswith the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize lecture by Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso,illustrating the enduring relevance of this ancient wisdom for modernlife. --Uma Kukathas ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Serious problems abound in this text
Two big problems with this text.

1) The quality of the translations is often remarkably poor, as Prof. Toru Tomabechi demonstrated at length in a December 2000 article in the Journal of Indian Philosophy called "Notes on Robert Thurman's Translation of the Pañcakrama." He calls it "disastrous," among other things.

2) Like much of Thurman's work, the compilation suffers from a pronounced, unacknowledged Gelukpa bias. As Lopez demonstrated in his book "Prisoners of Shrangri-la," (pg 266), 140 pages are devoted to the work of Gelukpa authors and 30 pages are devoted to all other schools combined. A more accurate (if less marketable) name probably would have been "Essentials of Tibetan Buddhism (Gelukpa variety)."

Um...
I wonder why Amazon would place a book about paganism among those about Christianity.

Buddha did not die to redeem man; Jesus Christ did.

Boring
I never like to write a bad review, especially not when the author had displayed such a sincere effort to enlighten his audience. This book, however, I can't escape the inevitability of doing so; it was so very boring! I practice Zen, and admittedly am often turned off a bit by the hierarchy and dogma that seems to surround Tibetan Buddhism. This book is certainly a scholars book, not that Thurman is not a sincere practitioner-for he is. He is also a very intelligent man, at times too intelligent, for he kills any life the book could have.

Maybe it's just me. It's not that I like the Dharma simple. I was disappointed because I came wanting to find out more about Tibetan Buddhism, and realized it was much like reading the names in Genesis of the Bible. The Dalai Lama, as far as Tibetan Buddhism goes, is more clear to me. Perhaps that's because he leaves most of the scholastic approach out of his writings, and focuses on the marrow of PRACTICE. This book lacks much physical reference to that.

If you are looking to understand the Dharma, this book is for you. If you, however, are looking to UNDERSTAND the Dharma, go find a zendo and sit. That and any book by Zen master Seung Sahn, if you find Tibetan Buddhism isn't your "cup of tea"-will point you on your way. Sorry Robert, your book put me to sleep. Better writings next time.

Difficult material, and cheerleading.
Thurman is a Buddhist in the Tibetan tradition (as am I), and his introduction to this volume, while very valuable and succinct, makes no claim at objectivity.He asserts that the Tantrayana (Tibetan Buddhism, to simplify) is superior to the Mahayana and Theravada traditions because it represents the culmination of Buddhism's "progression."Right off the bat, that makes me uncomfortable. Why must the pious Theravadins be consigned to an inferior, "early-stage" Buddhism?Why make such hurtful invidious comparisons?It seems beneath a genuine practitioner.To answer my own rhetorical question, perhaps it is because Mahayana Buddhists are often a bit defensive.This is the result of being accused of not having a "genuine" canon, in the sense that most admit the works were composed (not just written down) after the Death of the Buddha.Similarly, Thurman attempts to argue against those who claim Tibetan Buddhism represents an effort by early proselytizers to offer a pantheon of gods and a lurid conception of the Buddha(s) to Hindus.His response to this argument is limited to two sentences and is not convincing.He simply asks, rhetorically, If that was the aim of Mahayana Buddhists, why did they keep the Buddha at all?Why not just become Hindu?But surely it is believable to assert that Buddhists wanted to broaden the attraction of their religion while keeping what they saw as its key elements.


On the question of which miracles to believe (and Tibetan Buddhism is chock full of them), Thurman simply accepts a great number of them, while consigning other claims, such as the 500-year lifespan of one "living Buddha", to the realm of myth.How can he tell the difference between myth and religious reality?Either accept all the fantasical claims or tell us how to pick and choose among them.


A word of warning, as well. Despite the claims of other reviewers, most of the material in this book is quite difficult and will not reward those who do not have considerable background in Buddhism.If you'll note the cheap prices for used copies, above, you'll see that I'm not alone in this view.


The weirdest thing: Thurman apparently has decided to replace the word "karma" with "evolution".In the classic texts, therefore, where one would read "fruit of karma," or whatever, Thurman offers "evolutionary progress," for example.This is perhaps defensible, but he offers no justification.That seems quite a big departure for translators of the Dharma. Doing away with karma to make it a) more accessible to modern readers?; 2) more attractive to modern readers?; 3) because perhaps Thurman (as many of us are) is uncomfortable with the teachings that claim starving babies are simply reaping the fruits of miserly conduct in previous lives?Such a major change needed at least some justification and explanation.

All that said, get this book if you are a Tibetan practioner with considerable knowledge of the Dharma.It offers a nice collection of very important works.

The Politics of Enlightenment
As a professor of Indo-Tibetan studies, and chair of the religion department at Columbia University, Robert Thurman has had a great career devoted to the task of making the Buddhist teaching and scriptures, particularly those of the Tibetan people, intelligible to students and interested laypersons.

`Tibetan Buddhism increasingly rivals Zen in its popularity as a path of Buddhist wisdom and practice.'

Thurman has written and translated many texts in this area, particularly the well-received `Tibetan Book of the Dead.' In this book, `The Essential Tibetan Buddhism,' Thurman does a thorough job at laying out in concise and accessible terms the history and development of Tibetan Buddhism, as well as an explication and explanation of the core beliefs and practices.

Dedicated to the Dali Lama (who I have had the honour to be near during his regular trips to Bloomington, my current home -- his brother has been on faculty at Indiana University), this book shows how Tibetan Buddhism grew out of a sense of having been personally touched by Buddhas dwelling among them. Indeed, Tibetans often take for granted the idea of a constant presence of Buddhas among them. While many varieties of Buddhism allow for the theoretical attainment of the absolute freedom required to be a Buddha, Tibetan Buddhism is rare in accepting that there are many Buddhas currently at hand.

Tibetan Buddhism also preserved the Indian Tantric traditions, as a means for the attainment of complete Buddha-hood. Indeed, some of these Tantras contradict the cosmologies which speculate that there is a cycle of Buddhas, and that another Buddha is not due for thousands of years.

`Thus at least one of the levels (the highest, most would say) of the Tibetan sense of history sees the planet as progressing positively toward a time of unprecedented fulfillment. Tibetan Buddhist society therefore is perhaps unique among Buddhist societies in that the people live within a consciously articulated myth of historical progress, carrying within itself a fascinating complexity.'

Tibetan Buddhism is far from nihilistic, as indeed most Buddhism is not nihilistic. One discovers a unity of awareness and of all creation, something at the heart of many of the great religions of the world, if not so specifically laid out as a premise or as a possible attainment. The Buddha obtains total consciousness, a kind of universal omniscience; this is not to say a Buddha is God or becomes God (in fact, the Buddha will eschew God-like powers and domination over other creatures).

Grant the vision of direct enlightenment,
Whose nature is universal voidness!
The disciple should press her palms together,
Praise the Mentor, and then entreat him:
'Great teacher, grant me the vision
Of direct enlightenment,
Free from evolution and birth,
Beyond the three luminaries...

Complete with original translations of source texts, commentaries, essays of context and interpretation, and a good source of religious studies (history, philosophy, theology, etc.), this is an excellent introduction to the contemplation, study or even practice of Tibetan Buddhism. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

A little book packed with meaning
Each page of this book has a short quote on love - love of nature to love of spouse, love for your children to love for the world.I bought two more copies, one for my son (a new father) and one for my best friend (a new grandmother).It's a beautiful book to keep or give as a gift.

Love
Sharing his thoughts, along with quotes that inspired him.
Daisaku Ikeda's four book series is filled with warm encouragement and timeless wisdomQuotes supporting each title (Prayer, Courage, Determination, and Love), will inspire and touch your heart.

Practical Insightful Guidance
Daisaku Ikeda is a very wise man.In this book and all the books in this series President Ikeda's deep compassion for all human life brillantly shines.His thoughtful words inspire hope and courage, helping people to move forward releasing the chains of despair and powerlessness.

This small book is packed with encouragement
This small book has some great quotes to help us overcome life's obstacles, another great book by Daisaku Ikeda ... Read more

Product Description

This book describes Buddhist-Yogic ideas in relation to those of contemporary Western psychology. The book begins with the Buddhist view of the human psyche and of the human condition. This leads to the question of what psychological changes need to be made to improve that condition. Similarities between Buddhism and Western Psychology include:

Both are concerned with alleviating inner pain, turmoil, affliction and suffering.

Both are humanistic and naturalistic in that they focus on the human condition and interpret it in natural terms.

Both view the human being as caught in a causal framework, in a matrix of forces such as cravings or drives which are produced by both our biology and our beliefs.

Both teach the appropriatenss of compassion, concern and unconditional positive regard towards others.

Both share the ideal of maturing or growth. In the East and the West, this is interpreted as greater self possession, diminished cravings and agitations, less impulsivity and deeper observations which permit us to monitor and change our thoughts and emotional states.

Buddhism, Yoga, and Western Psychology, especially the recent emphasis on positive psychology, are concerned with the attainment of deep and lasting happiness. The thesis of all three is that self-transformation is the surest path to this happiness.

Customer Reviews (20)

I'm enjoying this book so far!
There is a lot of good information in this book and I would recommend it to anyone looking to advance on their spiritual path to better self-awareness and maturity.

Missing first chapter, pages all mixed up but 5 stars for content and Amazon customer service
I'm not sure if this is just a quirk of my book or indicative of a wider problem but I just received this and the first page is page 37-68 then it goes right into chapter 2. So I went to page 36 hoping to retrieve chapter 1 from there with no luck... pages 37 - 68 are right there in their rightful place. So, be careful if you get this, make sure and check the pages before sticking it on your shelf to read later because by the time you get around to discovering the error it might be too late to make the return. Otherwise, content-wise, it looks like a great book and thankfully Amazon customer service has been very helpful about replacing it.

Buddhism or Yoga? Both!
In the first part author makes two no-nonsense courses: buddhism and yoga for dummies. For complete novices this is great reading, for more knowledgable or practitioners there are many maybe not so well known similarities between systems. For example buddhist eight-fold path (4th noble truth) and yamas and niyamas of yoga (first two of eight limbs or ashtanga) are two quite congruent systems of .. of what? First answer would be ethics, or sort of eastern ten commandments, but they are much more - they are concise systems for personal/spiritual growth. And both are positive (although buddhism on the west has - wrongly - a sort of pessimistic undertone), focusing on cultivating the mind, beginning with right attitude and awarness. Yoga is stronger on physical side (asanas and pranayama), buddhism on philosophy and meditation. So the question - buddhism or yoga? - has simple answer: both.
In the second part western psychology is introduced. Till about 1970 it was mostly interesting in 'negative' psychology, that is helping people in difficulties (depression, hysteria, ..) to function normally. Eastern systems are more interested in how normally functioning humans can achieve greatness, ultimately nirvana or samadhi. On this path (hatha) yoga and meditation are very important, and many studies, especially in last decade have shown, that they have significant positive impact on person's feeling of well being and happiness. It was almost scientifically proved, that most happy and content people one finds between buddhist monks (I have read this some weeks ago in NewYork Times). So when western positive psychology took shape, meeting with 'good news' from east was sort of inevitable.
This book was written about 10 years ago, if one wants to be more up-to-date, here are two books to look at: Beyond Happiness: Deepening the Dialogue Between Buddhism, Psychotherapy and the Mind Sciences and Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom.

The Mind's Eye
I enjoyed reading this book. It has a kind of quaintness about its language and examples.

I was determined to find the best (for me) advice from the book and put it into practice. It turned out to be use of the mind's eye (anterior mind) which watches the goings on and semi-continual chatter of thoughts and feelings coursing through our mind. By simply watching and listening and feeling those thoughts as an observer, rather than being immersed in them, caught up in them, they are more available and informative (sometimes surprisingly) and less able to result in unreflective behaviour or consequent (often unpleasant) emotions.

There was also a scientific point made on pages 180-181 which finally explained to me why it is that breathing and muscle relaxation is so important to meditation. Breathing and muscle tension/relaxation are the only behaviours in which the Central Nervous System overlap with the Autonomic Nervous System. Hence they are the only behaviours we can directly control and use to relax and soothe the Autonomic Nervous System. I haven't seen this anywhere else.

The Positive Psychology of Buddhism and Yoga
This book was outstanding!I have been in the martial arts for 33 years and most of that is has been with the study of Buddhism.This book was stellar in clearing up many of the cofusions that I did (and didn't) know that I had.I always thought that Buddhism was a philosophy!Not!It is an empirical study of your own mind.I highly recommend that all students of Buddhism and Yoga add this to your library.Even if you find it a repeat of what you already know you will love it as a 'loner' to friends.

Greg Sluys - Ferndale, WA. ... 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

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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
There has been a recent upsurge in interest in Buddhist philosophy, but there is as yet no satisfactory text on the subject. "Buddhism as Philosophy" fills that void. Unlike other texts that serve to introduce Buddhist thought, it is written by a philosopher and it shows how the Buddhist tradition deals with the same sorts of problems that get treated in Western philosophy and employs the same sorts of methods. This book does more than just report what Buddhist philosophers said; it presents the arguments of the Buddhist philosophers, in their own words, and it invites the reader to assess their overall cogency. In short, "Buddhism as Philosophy" investigates the Buddhist tradition by way of the characteristically philosophical concern for finding out the truth about complicated matters in metaphysics, epistemology and ethics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Takes on the toughest arguments of the greatest Buddhist thinkers
Mark Siderits' Buddhism as Philosophy tackles Buddhist ideas, arguments and texts from a philosophical point of view. As the author points out, Buddhism has a long history of argument and debate, and holds that reason is part of the path to individual salvation, unlike in the West. Buddhism inherited and built upon Indian philosophy, since Ancient India developed a philosophical world view as robust as Ancient Greece's. And when I say philosophy, I mean legit philosophy - using logic and analysis to investigate premises, conclusions and determine the soundness & cogency of rational arguments.

Siderits evaluates arguments for suffering and cessation of suffering, non-self, ethical arguments derived from non-self, reductionism, emptiness, representationalism, impressions-only and Buddhist logic. He cites plenty of original sources, but takes the time to explain the Buddhists' arguments in clear and engaging ways. He explores other (non-Buddhist) Indian schools of thought, including one in-depth Hindu school that argued directly against Buddhism for the existence of persons and real wholes. In doing so, this book pinpoints some of the hot-button issues of Ancient Indian philosophy and manages to explain a good deal of the Indian analytic approach and even Indian logic (yes, Indic philosophy was also analytic hundreds of years before European philosophy!).

Another reviewer pointed out that this book isn't "spiritual" in a sense (no focus on loving-kindness or meditation). Siderits addresses this clearly: "To study Buddhism as philosophy means primarily studying texts... We will say very little about the Buddhist practice of meditation, and nothing at all about such lay Buddhist devotional practices as stupa worship" (p. 11). Indeed, the arguments, theories and teachings developed by earlier Buddhist philosophers are dense and do the heavy lifting of Buddhism. Without them, or if you cannot accept them, many of these other practices become ornamental. As a longtime student and teacher of philosophy, this is exactly the kind of meat I tried to dig out of other sources before I chanced upon this one.

I read vigorously and only occasionally write reviews. This book deserved my attention, and I've used it as teacher of introductory logic. It's not only one of the best introductions to the core of Buddhist thought, it's one of the smoothest reads in introductory analytic philosophy. Do yourself a favor - look inside, start reading, and buy it if you like what you see.

Buddhism as Philosophy: An Introduction Review
This book was delivered on time. However, there was way more writing in it, then it lead to in the description.

Buddhism or Philosophy
If your after a book on Buddhism you might want to try another title. If you are into college level Philosophy and Buddhism then this is a 5 star book. I now know much more about epistemology, metaphysics, ontology, and many other philosophical ideas and how Buddhism fits into standard philosophical frameworks. It is a great book for a rigorous analitical study of Buddhism from a strict scientific point of view but if your looking for something on meditation, loving-kindness, and other Buddhist practices go elsewhere.

A great achievement
This is a superlative work on the philosophical underpinnings of this, the most philosophically oriented of religions/spiritual practices. Buddhism is interesting to many people and many writers, but my experience has been that many writers who write books on Buddhism tend to produce vague and prolix and -- especially -- horrifyingly unclear works. That is, these books are filled with jargon and vacuous, if not downright meaningless, platitudes. Therefore it is with gratitude that one turns to Siderits' excellent and lucid work. Siderits is obviously trained in Buddhist thought, but perhaps more uniquely for a Buddhist, he is also trained in Western (largely analytical) philosophy. Here he brings these two tradition together in an uncommonly interesting dialogue. There is no doubt that this fine book will save you a great deal of time and energy, if you want the philosophical rudiments of Buddhism laid out in one volume. It will render many lesser works redundant and disposable. It is not an easy read, but that's because of the complexity of the topics treated (from Buddhist ethics and the non-self doctrine, through to the denial of physical objects and the doctrine of emptiness), and not because Siderits is unclear, for he is exceptionally clear. This, then, is a most enjoyable, lucid and important introductory work, certain to appeal to all kinds of readers, though it's carefulness and thoroughness will put off lazy New Agers. Let me conclude with a quotation that gives you a sense of his lucidity as a writer:

"The view that all things are empty, or devoid of essence, is definitive of philosophical Mahayana. In the last chapter we examined how Yogacara tried to defend this doctrine by giving it an idealist reinterpretation. It is now time to see whether the doctrine of emptiness is philosophically defensible when taken literally. ... But before we do any of this we need to be clear about the difficulties facing anyone who takes the doctrine of emptiness at face value. This will enable us to sort out the various ways that Madhyamaka might be interpreted, and why some interpretations might be more plausible than others." ... 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.

###

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.

###

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.

###

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.

###

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

• How and when did the many schools of Buddhism emerge?
• How does the historical figure of Siddartha Guatama relate to the many teachings that are presented in his name?
• Did Buddhism modify the cultures to which it was introduced, or did they modify Buddhism?

Leading Buddhist scholar Donald S. Lopez Jr. explores the origins of this 2,500-year-old religion and traces its major developments up to the present, focusing not only on the essential elemenmts common to all schools of Buddhism but also revealing the differences among the major traditions. Beginning with the creation and structure of the Buddhist universe, Lopez explores the life of the Buddha, the core Buddhist tenets, and the development of the monastic life and lay practices. Combining brilliant scholarship with fascinating stories -- contemporary and historical, sometimes miraculous, sometimes humorous -- this rich and absorbing volume presents a fresh and expert history of Buddhism and Buddhist life.

Customer Reviews (9)

A problematic overview and introduction
I wouldn't recommend this book as an introduction to Buddhism and it's teachings.For that, I would turn to Smith and Novak's introduction Buddhism: A Concise Introduction or Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche's Joy of Living The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness.Lopez is indeed a scholar, and provides here a pleasant and erudite archaeological survey of Buddhist practice and organization, with a particular focus on the legends that animate these practices.Oddly, he recounts these legends mostly as fact.He has a particularly strong focus on esoteric Tibetan Buddhist rituals, and also on Pure Land philosophy.Not all readers will find these particularly relevant.His text is clear, and will probably appeal most to intermediate or advanced readers who wish to get a further grounding in Buddhist philosophical history.

Good Book for an Excellent Class
I am enjoying reading this book in conjunction with an Eastern World Religions Class.I would not recommend trying to understand Buddhism without an instructor or guide.However, making the effort to find someone to help with the religious and cultural references is well worth it.I also recommend:A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life.

Best of the bunch
I've been a Buddhist Universalist for about 20 years, and have read various explanations and teachings about the Buddha.This book is the best overview of all -- showing the basic teachings, the contradictions, and the regional differences.Buddhism is much more diverse than we generally think, and this book shares that diversity with the reader.

A Scholar's Introduction to Buddhism
Donald Lopez, a professor of Buddhist and Tibetan Studies at the University of Michigan, is one of the best scholars who attempt to present a balanced, accurate picture of Buddhism as it has been practiced over the generations.His book "The Story of Buddhism" considers the actual practice of Buddhism, in all its diverse forms, in Asia, superstitions, magic, idiosyncracies, and all.In this way, it differs from most books that present Buddhism to Americans.These books typically focus on meditation, on the liberating, non-theistic character of the Buddha's teaching, and of Buddhism as a guide to life in the difficulties of secular 20th and 21st century America.Such works are valuable and important, but they fail to give the reader a historical sense of Buddhism.

Lopez's book opens with a short treatment of Buddhist cosmology, including its picture of the universe, the earth, and the heavens and hells. There is an all-to-brief discussion of the key Buddhist teaching of Dependent Origination.

The chapter on cosmology is followed by a discussion of the life of the Buddha, taken from a wide variety of textual sources, of the Dharma, Monasticism, Lay Life, and Enlightenment.

The focus of the book is on the various schools of Mahayana Buddhism and on the Buddhism of Tibet.I found surprisingly little discussion of Theravada Buddhism, (practiced historically in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand) which is likely the earliest version of Buddhism we have today.Lopez describes well how various Mahayana thinkers broke away from earlier teachings but doesn't tell us much about these early teachings themselves.

There is a great deal of emphasis in the book on how the Buddha's teaching was applied and modified over the years.Most of lay practice, Lopez informs us, was devoted to the accumulation of merit by the practice of good deeds.A regular meditation practice, much less textual study of the Sutras, was simply unavailable to most people who have over the generations called themselves Buddhists, either laity or monastic.

Lopez describes well the ritualistic practices of any number of Buddhist schools, emphasisizing matters such as relic worship, ancestor worship, fortune-telling and horoscopes, miracle cures,magic, mandalas, and what the modern reader is likely to view as superstition.He briefly describes for the reader a number of Buddhist schools and practices,including Tantric Buddhism, the Pure Land School, and Zen, and their different paths to enlightenment.There is a wonderfully detailed picture of a ritual involving the Heart Sutra, repeated many times, with the use of icons and statues.

This book is a welcome, clear-minded corrective to those who approach Buddhism ahistorically.But there is, indeed, more to the story than this, as Professor Lopez realizes.For all his objectivity, I think Lopez has some grasp of the power of the Buddha's message which has led many to it, including modern Americans, over the millenia. This is most clearly indicated in the final paragraph of Professor Lopez's book.He writes (p. 256)

" But there is also another challenge, the challenge provided by the dharma, which makes the remarkable claim that it is possible to live a life untainted by what are called the eight worldly concerns: gain and loss, fame and disgrace, praise and blame, happiness and sorrow."

This is a worthwhile critical introduction to an endlessly fascinating teaching.

Some good information, but poorly organized
Lopez includes a lot of valuable information in this work.Probably more information than a beginner needs or wants.Also, I found the organization to be confusing.A much better book in this category, I felt, was Karen Armstrong's "Buddha".I also recommend "The Buddhist Handbook" by Snelling, although it is more idiosyncratic than the others. ... Read more

Product Description
Selected as one of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles (2000), Engaged Buddhism in the West is founded on the belief that genuine spiritual practice requires an active involvement in society. This book illuminates the evolution of this newest chapter in the Buddhist tradition including its history, leadership, and teachings, and it addresses issues such as violence and peace, race and gender, homelessness, prisons, and the environment. Eighteen new studies explore the activism of renowned leaders and organizations, such as Thich Nhat Hanh, Bernard Glassman, Joanna Macy, the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, the Free Tibet Movement, and the emergence of a new Buddhism in North America, Europe, South Africa, and Australia.Amazon.com Review
If Buddhism ever needed to prove itself in the field of social activism, the men and women featured in Engaged Buddhism in the West have gone beyond a shadow of a doubt. In sober, unadorned accounts, read about the dramatic life of Thich Nhat Hanh and the development of his worldwide Order of Interbeing, now numbering about 300 communities; learn about the acclaimed former mathematician turned Zen priest Bernie Glassman and his Peacemaker Order that works with the destitute and downtrodden; enter Naropa Institute, America's first accredited Buddhist-inspired college and its special program in Engaged Buddhism. Prison meditation groups, the Free Tibet Movement, walking for peace--the expressions of Buddhist activism turn out to be as varied and vibrant as the communities that spawn them. That goes for the communities of Europe, Africa, and Australia, in addition to those made up of women and gays, each of which is addressed here in a separate chapter. A collection of essays, many by academics, the tone of Engaged Buddhism in the West, can tend to the stale and analytic, with "three categories of this" and "four reasons for that." But the revelations outnumber the stumbling blocks and are sure to open many eyes. --Brian Bruya ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

informative and inspiring
This book definitely provides A LOT of information about wonderful people, projects and ideas curently going on in engaged bouddhist movement. It helped me to fill part of a promising worldwide movement, exciting in manyways : this is one of the active scene of the transformative assimilationof the East by the West. Many references to other books allow to deepen theprefered subjects. This book will detroy the widespread idea thatbouddhists spend there time looking at their belly button looking for someunhealthy nothingness. And also if you are buddhist, it really make youthink your relationship to the world by facing the good questions : doesbuddhist engagement mean something ? is engagement in itself a practice oreven a yana ? This book really reveals that through its very new contactwith the west, buddhism is today already living a transformation, that willperheaps be as deep as the hynayana/mayana transition.

"Meditate or organize a protest?"
This book is a follow up to Queen's 1996 "Engaged Buddhism," which I have not read.His new book is an inspiring, 544-page collection of nineteen essays (20 if you count his introduction), followed by a resourceful, 10-page bibliography.Each essay defines socially-engagedBuddhism by example, introducing us to Thich Nhat Hanh (who tells us allBuddhism is engaged), Bernie Glassman, Joanna Macy, and the 22-year-oldBuddhist Peace Fellowship, among others.Their stories not only show thatit is possible to engage oneself with social issues such as violence, race,gender, homelessness, and the environment on a meaningfull, daily basis,but that it is also possible through spiritual commitment to make adifference in our "high pressure, political world" (p. 174).Itis reassuring, for instance, to find in these pages socially-engagedBuddhists quietly practicing in hospices, prisons, at nuclear test sites,and in old-growth redwood forests with positive results.Every moment inlife presents an opportunity for engagement.The subject matter of thisbook deserves my 5-star rating.However, much of the writing here tends tobe highly researched, footnoted, and tightly organized to the point that itmight put many readers off.At times, this book reads more like a PhDdissertation than the handbook for social engagement it could be.But readit anyway!

G. Merritt ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Dependence Arising...The Wheel of Life
I still refer to this book when considering the Wisdom aspect of the Dharma. Although most western published books on Dependence Arising and the related subject of Inherent Emptiness, are written from a Mahayana perspective (Garfield, Napper, Hopkins, et alia) commenting on the philosophy of Nagarjuna or Chandrakirti, Macy's book is based on her Sri Lankan co-operative experience and the language is Pali rather than Sanskrit. Nevertheless, this is the BEST introduction to Dependence Arising by far. It explains the philosophy well, and grounds it in practical experience as well as making connection with the Greek Pre-Socratics. This is not a chickey-horsey-ducky guide, but it does explain the Buddhist view of dependence arising (though not Inherent Emptiness) giving the reader the vocabulary to relate a Buddhist worldview with modern society.

The real science in Buddhism
Joanna Macy cuts through the nonsense dispensed in thing like the the "Tao of Physics" to reveal the real scientific basis of Buddhist concepts. Drawing heavily on Systems theory (cybernetics), she shows thatthe Buddhist view of the universe as system of ever-changing subsystems indynamic interaction is not just a scientifically valid view, but aprofoundly spiritual one as well. She lights the way to a Buddhism that isno longer dependent on supernaturalism, but yields nothing of itsprofundity. Her interpretations of traditional Buddhist concepts likeno-self and karma are masterful. Every Buddhist should read this book.

Here's why Buddhism is a better Meme than Scientism.
I knew there was some reason I was attracted to both General Systems and Buddhism, and that they had something in common.This book told me why.

Joanna Macy maintains her "scholastic" focus on the task of comparing these two systems of thought throughout the text, and thereby succeeds briliantly in explaining the basic meaning (singlular) of both systems. ... Read more

Product Description
This lucid introduction to a complex topic will prove essential to all Christians seeking to reach other faiths with the gospel. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A True Revision
Many books claim to be revised, but when you look into them it turns out that little has changed. This is not so with the second edition of Burnett's work. Much of the text has been completely rewritten and there are numerous additions adding both extra and updated material. It also now functions more as a textbook, giving learning objectives, topics for dialogue, and both extended reference material (glossary, recommended reading lists) and web resources. If you saw my review of the first edition, you know that I was disappointed that the book was subtitled "A Christian perspective on Buddhist thought" when there was comparatively little interaction and the book seemed like a repetition of many standard introductory surveys already available. However, this has changed. Burnett now engages Buddhism from his particular perspective at a number of points and brings up interesting ideas and comparisons. With all of these improvements, this second edition of the book is well worth anyone's time who wants to examine a sensible and irenic examination of Buddhism by someone who is a Christian and professional anthropologist. ... Read more

Product Description
In this dynamic series of lectures, Alan Watts takes us on an exploration of Buddhism, from its roots in India to the explosion of interest in Zen and the Tibetan tradition in the West.Watts traces the Indian beginnings of Buddhism, delineates differences between Buddhism and other religions, looks at the radical methods of the Mahayan Buddhist, and reviews the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Provides excellent feel for Zen Buddhism to a Westerner
After first providing a sketchy Indian historical perspective, Alana Watts proceeds to describe the dialog that bridges Eastern Buddhism with Western Buddhism, that is, the way Westerners would most likely understand and think of Buddhism. Not to be found in the book are lengthy lists and sub-lists which characterize so many introductions to Buddhism, so it is not an introduction in that sense; instead, it attempts to lift and inspire the reader into Alan Watts' dream and imagination where his spirit of Buddhism resides. He successfully pries his way beyond Buddhist orthodoxy, doctrine, practice, and static tenets and into the world of Buddhism, a living dialog that can grow into every person and uplift each person into awakening in the true Mahayana spirit. Traditional religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam, as part of their evolution into dispensers of doctrinal morality and social control, have become cluttered with appendages that obscure the true meaning. It is precisely this true spirit of Buddhism that Alan Watts captures: a) his description of rebel monks, their ideologies, their art; b) his personal forward looking interpretation of sutra passages; c) his distillation of doctrine into the quintessential. It's funny. This book is all about self-help through a religion which proclaims no self; and that, in a whimsical broad brush idea, is what Buddhism: The Religion of No-Religion is all about. Despite that many practicing Buddhists might dislike the book because of its somewhat iconoclastic style, I highly recommend the book as one of his best.

Buddhism without Buddhism
Watts was great about overlooking "religion" to get the essence of something's metaphysics.This offers a portrait of Buddhism without it's overtly religious aspects.

A nice read and reference
I have read quite a few books on mindfulness, buddhism, and eastern philosophy in general.This book is rather academic, which I liked.It is not a technique oriented book.This is a book for individuals interested in the philosophy of buddhism, not necessarily for those looking for a "how to".Of course, philosophy and "how to" should go hand and hand.

perfect
Well i just recommend all of the works of Alan watts, he is realy the nummber 1 in modern philosophy and extremly good with words, that makes him very easy to undersatnd.

Buddhism clarified
This is a collection of Watts' recorded lectures in which he lays bare with lucid description the most difficult Buddhist concepts. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an inspiring guide to the practice of Chan (Chinese Zen) in the words of four great masters of that tradition. It includes teachings from contemporary masters Xuyun and Sheng Yen, and from Jiexian and Boshan of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Though the texts were written over a period of hundreds of years, they are all remarkably lucid and are perfect for beginners as well as more advanced practitioners today. All the main points of spiritual practice are covered: philosophical foundations, methods, approaches to problems and obstacles—all aimed at helping the student attain the way to enlightenment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Accept No Substitute
Sometimes in a dream you're in some familiar place, at home, at a friend's, at work, and you suddenly notice a door that was never there before. You go over to it (and you're there very quickly), you open it, and beyond is some entirely unexpected space, maybe a public swimming-pool with ropes of light dancing on the blue ceiling.
This book looks like a typical product of the modern mass-production printing-press. But then you open it up and suddenly you're in the realm of Ch'an/Zen.

The writings left by the great T'ang and Sung Dynasty Masters are unsurpassable but at times too much for us.This book presents writings closer to us: by two 17th century Masters, Po-shan and Yüan-yün Chieh-hsien; then by Hsü-yün, perhaps the greatest Ch'an Master of the 20th century; lastly by living Master Sheng-yen. Without departing by a hair from the truth of Ch'an/Zen they expand and enlarge just enough to make it clear for us, us latecomers who will never be Enlightened on hearing one word, or enter the Inconceivable after one blow or shout. Yüan-yün's specification of the qualities of a Zen Master should be essential reading today when anything and everything is taught as "Zen". Hsü-yün's careful account of Zen meditation, what it is and what it isn't, should also be a touchstone.

All these writings come from a Chinese perspective, so those involved in Rinzai or Sôtô Zen may have to adjust a little. But it's hard to imagine a more directly, practically useful book for the current Zen practitioner: because these are the voices of people who didn't just "practise" but achieved the aim of practice, who broke through Birth and Death and realised their True Nature.

Excellent, practical guide for helping with Zen practice
I must have good "karmic roots" to have found this book. It is an excellent guide to help with Chan (Chinese Zen) practice.

I was already aware of how exceptional Master Sheng-yen is as a teacher, having read his books
Faith in Mind: A Commentary on Seng Ts'an's Classic
and
There Is No Suffering: A Commentary on the Heart Sutra
It was on the strength of these two books that I ordered "Attaining the Way", but I still didn't expect anything this helpful. I completed my first reading of this book a month ago and it has been helping me with my practice.

I found "Faith in Mind" more than a decade ago, sometime after I began my Buddhist (and Zen) practice. It is quite impressive but it does not go into details about Chan practice whereas in the section of this book by Master Sheng Yen (also entitled "Attaining the Way"), he provides considerable help in both Chan concepts and methods of practice. As he says, concepts and methods are the "twin pillars" that Chan relies on, without both which "your practice with lack a firm foundation". He provides help with both in his section of this book.

The book also includes sections by other Chan masters:
1) "Exhortations on Investigating Chan" by Master Boshan (1575-ca.
1630)
2) "Discourse on Chan Teaching" from the records of Master
Yuanyun Jiexian (1610-1672)
and
3) "The Essentials of Chan Practice" by Master Xuyun (1839-1959)

None of these works are "fillers" although Master Sheng-yen's section is certainly useful in itself. But so are the others. Master Yuanyun Jiexian's section, however, is addressed to teachers of Chan, so although it was (and will be) of use to me, it seemed advanced and answering many issues that have not become pertinent for me yet. All of these works emphasize and are informative about the role of the "doubt sensation" for Chan practice and the use of the huatou (the Chan method that uses a "baffling question" such as "Who is reciting the Buddha's name?" with the intent of arousing the doubt sensation). As helpful as zazen (meditative sitting), also known as silent illumination, has been to me, I'm finding a benefit in mixing in other methods. This book was the first that led me to strongly appreciate the possible value of either the use of koans or huatous.

Master Sheng-yen's teachings on such subjects as impermanence, faith, relaxation, silent illumination ("just sitting"), the expressing of gratitude and how to regard enlightenment are among those also included in his section. Unlike other Zen teachers such as Shunryu Suzuki
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
who I found difficult to follow, at times paradoxical as many Zen teachers can be, I find Master Sheng-yen to be surprising clear on a subject whose attainment can be said to perhaps "take lifetimes".
Similarly, with this book I feel I am just now beginning to deepen my practice in a way I had not from traditionally esteemed books that focused on concepts or lacked guidance on practice such as
The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch,
Master Dogen's Shobogenzo, Book 1,
Bankei Zen: Translations from the Record of Bankei,
or a koan collection such as
Gateless Barrier: Zen Comments on the Mumonkan.
All of these works, of formidable reputation, despite how inspiring they can be for me, have overwhelmed me. But "Attaining the Way", especially Master Sheng-yen's section, seems accessible and I will keep using his advice.
... Read more

Product Description
"Written with humor, lightness of touch and an affection for the human condition with all its faults,...also a serious book and nothing of the basic teaching is left out."-- Anne Bancroft, Resurgence ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

This is Guy Claxton on a really lazy day.
I read several of Guy Claxton books.I typically love them.But, not this one.He is an original, insightful, contrarian, brilliant type of thinker on cognitive science.But, not here.I don't think he defines Buddhism well.And, does not provide the reader with much to work on or understand, unlike most of his other books.

A nice intro
A nice and comprehensive introduction to Buddhism from a Guy who tried the main traditions (Zen, Tibetan and Theravada). Very easy but never superficial reading, complete with glossary and commented bibliography. I found the first couple of chapters a bit slow, but then again this is really intended to be a first book and this reader has read more than a few on the subject. I also wish that Mr Claxton, drawing from his sincretic experience, had extended his comparison of the branches of Buddhism at the end of the book, which is very interesting but too short. Anyway, he delivers what he promises. It is a perfect gift to a friend who is attracted to Buddhism but is clueless.

Buddhism without Asian adornments.
If you're looking for a book that clearly explains Buddhism without the trappings -- robes, lotus postures, beliefs about reincarnation, talk of cherry blossoms -- The Heart of Buddhism is the book for you. Guy Claxton is an intelligent writer and the writing is compact, condensed; he says a lot in every paragraph. And the writing is straightforward and easy to follow. If reincarnation exists and if Buddha was reincarnated in some modern, English-speaking country, how would he communicate his message? I think it would be very much the way Claxton has done it in this book.

Claxton clearly explains how our own general agitation and unease and even our self-centeredness has come about -- how it is really inevitable given our approach -- and how it can be alleviated. An interesting idea I got from this book is that a third of our unhappiness is caused by external circumstances. Two thirds is self-created, and that's what Buddhism is designed to cure.

Why is Buddhism becoming more popular? Claxton wrote, 'It is THE 'religion' for a secular age, concerning itself centrally with improving the quality of everyday life, requiring no adherence to obscure or magical beliefs, and offering a penetrating analysis of the condition -- or lack of it -- that we find ourselves in, as well as a powerful and proven set of specific techniques for increasing happiness, kindliness and peace in people's lives.'

He goes on: 'Buddhism is really a deep do-it-yourself kit of ideas and practices for changing in the directions that most people would like: more openness, less defensiveness; more tolerance, less irritation; more ease, less worry; more generosity, less selfishness; more naturalness, less self-consciousness; more equanimity, less frustration.'

In this book you get a thorough understanding of the Four Noble Truths (written from an understanding of their meaning rather than translating an Asian understanding into English), a clear explanation of the Noble Eightfold Path and the Five Precepts. Claxton describes the different forms of Buddhist meditation and how they work. There is a great chapter near the end of the book on the benefits of Buddhist practice.

On page 168 is a spreadsheet showing a 'brand comparison' of the five most popular kinds of Buddhism (Zen, Tibetan, etc.) which rates each for its emphasis on ten different things like 'moral discipline' and 'reverence for lineage.'

Buddhism is self-help at its finest. I'm the author of the book, Self-Help Stuff That Works, and I can tell you this with authority: Buddhism is one of the finest set of practical self-help tools available on the planet, and Claxton clearly explains how these tools can be used by Westerners. I recommend it highly.

Recommended for students of Buddhist philosophy & practice.
Buddhism is principally concerned with improving the quality of everyday life. It requires no adherence to obscure beliefs or magical thinking. It offers a penetrating diagnosis of the human condition and a proven set oftechniques for overcoming the daily rigors of modern life. Guy Claxton'sThe Heart Of Buddhism: Practical Wisdom For An Agitated World explains whatBuddhism is aptly appropriate for any personal, social or global situationtoday, and goes on to describe how we can each help ourselves individual,with a teacher, in a group, or on our own, through a Buddhist approach tounderstanding, meditation, discipline and communication. The Heart OfBuddhism is highly recommended reading for students of Buddhist philosophyand practice.

Great beginners book
This was my first "buddhist" book. I just decided to try this out.. and it paid off. A great book written for todays westerners. The book was very easy to read, free from all the "mumbo-jumbo" Conceptspresented with situation from every day western life. Quite enjoyable.Great for beginners. ... Read more

Product Description
With a history stretching back to ancient India, Buddhism has influenced American culture since the American Transcendentalist movement in the 1830s and ´40s. Only in the past few decades, however, has this transplanted philosophy begun to blossom into a full-fledged American religion, made up of three broad groups: a burgeoning Asian immigrant population, numerous native-born converts, and old-line Asian American Buddhists. In Buddhism in America, religious historian Richard Seager offers a perceptive and engaging portrait of the communities, institutions, practices, and individuals that are integral to the contemporary Buddhist landscape.
The book begins with a brief survey of Buddhist beliefs -the story of the Buddha´s life, the meaning of enlightenment, realization, the cultivation of nonattachment, and other core concepts -and Buddhist history in both Asia and the United States. In part 2, Seager presents six well-crafted profiles of Buddhist traditions that have been brought to the United States from Japan, Tibet, Southeast Asia, and elsewhere. This section highlights challenges and problems that have come with transporting and adapting an Asian religion to late twentieth-century America: Who can teach and who can lead? What are the proper roles of laypeople and monks in a society lacking a strong monastic tradition?
The last section takes up the general theme of Americanization, looking at recent developments in three important areas -gender equity, progressive social change, and intra-Buddhist and interreligious dialogue. Arguing that the gulf between recent converts and new immigrant communities is the most prominent feature of the contemporary scene, Seager assesses American Buddhism as a whole and looks into its future: Will the dharma, traditional Buddhist teachings, be watered down to suit the lifestyles of middle-class, consumerist Americans? Will this highly decentralized religion develop strong national associations, as Catholicism and Judaism have? What institutions -universities, monasteries, or dharma centers run by and for laypeople -will be most effective in preserving and developing an American Buddhist tradition? This lucid survey lays the foundations for understanding one of the United States´ most vital new religions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Buddhism (History of)
I received this book in a couple of days after ordering it.Still reading, very educational and easy to follow.

Love this book, have used it for several classes
In "Buddhism in America", Richard Seager gives a history of the events, people, and places that lead to the development of the Buddhism we now see as a separate, functioning, religion in the United States.In his first chapter, Seager gives a short overview of Buddhism as it is practiced today in America and introduces the reader to the different types of practitioners; he says these types are "convert Buddhists", "immigrant Buddhists", and those "who have practiced Buddhism in this country for four or five generations" (Seager 9-10).He then uses these categories to discuss differences in practice and ideology for the remainder of the book. In the following chapters he tells the history of Buddhism in America, starting with events that shaped it's beginning and development, moving into discussions of important groups and people, and finally talks about social issues that are specific to the religion in America.He uses extensive research and quotations directly from American Buddhist text as the background for his writing.

Seager does a great job of providing a thorough and detailed history while managing to stay accessible to readers who may be new to the topic.His goal is to show and explain how Buddhism has been Americanized since its arrival, and how it is now its own entity, different from the Buddhist sects around the world.He has example after example to support his statements; when talking about the "flower power" 60s, he quotes several different people and gives specific details about times and places such as "Storlie recalls finding himself at Sokoji for the first time in 1964, after an LSD trip on Mount Tamalpais" (Seager 99).There is no room for generalizations in his work, andthis book represents a wealth of knowledge that could probably not be equaled in five other books on the subject.

The only problem with this book is that he spends so much time detailing events and the lives of the people involved in them, that he neglects to really discuss the practices and thoughts driving the Americanization.There are points where the reader is so caught up in keeping track of people, places, and events that when he makes a statement such as, "Some Buddhists are also concerned that Americanization will lead to a decline in the dharma if the aspiration to realize Buddha mind becomes overidentified with psychotherapy, or if practice becomes too accomodating to the economic and emotional needs of the American" (Seager 112), that the reader is too surprised to really pay attention to the point of the statement.These few ideological statements are usually posited at the very end of chapters, probably because he feels he needs to say something conclusive before moving on to the next sections.These would be much more interesting if he actually gave them attention in the bulk of the text, instead of as afterthoughts related to the history.The reader reaches the end of the work having gained a multitude of knowledge regarding specific information about Buddhist American history, but having no knowledge of the ideas and actual practices that were at the heart of Buddhist Americanization.

Engaging and informative
This "road map to the American Buddhist landscape" succeeds inbeing both "engaging and informative," as the author intended. While it could be used as a text for a college class, it will also be ofinterest to American practitioners of Buddhism (like me) who want to knowmore about our roots and about the variety of forms of Buddhism inAmerica.

Part One provides background material on the history of Buddhismand its transmission to America and includes a short chapter on "VeryBasic Buddhism" for those new to the subject or wanting a refresher. Part Two, the largest part, discusses the various forms of Buddhism inAmerica, with chapters on Jodo Shinshu, Soka Gakkai, Zen, Tibetan,Theravada, and "other Pacific Rim migrations."And Part Threeexplores some "Selected Issues": gender equity, socialengagement, intra-Buddhist and interreligious dialogue, and theAmericanization of Buddhism.

An important and scholarly addition to Buddhist history.
Religious historian Richard Hughes Seager provides a revealing and candid portrait of the communities, practices and individuals who are central to the modern Buddhist life, examining not only Buddhist beliefs and historyin Asia and the US, but providing profiles of Buddhist traditions whichhave been brought into the U.S. Buddhism In America rounds out ourinformation and provides important insights into the Americanization ofBuddhism and is an important addition to the growing library of Buddhisthistorical liteature.

An important contribution to Buddhist historical literature.
Religious historian Richard Hughes Seager provides a revealing and candid portrait of the communities, practices and individuals who are central to the modern Buddhist life, examining not only Buddhist beliefs and historyin Asia and the US, but providing profiles of Buddhist traditions whichhave been brought into the U.S. Buddhism in America rounds out ourinformation and provides important insights into the Americanization ofBuddhism and is an important addition to the growing library of Buddhisthistorical liteature. ... Read more

Product Description
Formulated during the Vietnam War, these ethical guidelines remain a penetrating expression of traditional Buddhist morality and how to come to terms with contemporary issues.

Interbeing offers a practical blueprint for living mindfully, one that has proven useful and meaningful to people from all walks of life. The book also includes a brief history, ceremonies, and the revised charter of the Order of Interbeing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

More Than I Expected
The basic concepts of Interbeing are carefully explained.As a practicing Buddhist, it is refreshing to see that the core beliefs as postulated by the Buddha e.g. the "Four Noble Truths" and the "Eightfold Path" are reinforced as fundamental beliefs.It makes no difference if you are Theraveda or Mayahayna, these beliefs bind us together as Buddhists.Even the Lotus Sutra schools can find little to disagree with in this book.I certainly recommend it to both practicing Buddhists and non-Buddhists who desire to become socially active.

Buddhism for the Modern Age
Thich Nhat Hanh's unique practice of Buddhism, formulated during the Cold War, is a refreshing antidote to the chaos of modern life. He combines traditional Zen teachings with ideas and practices from Theravada Buddhism and Western psychology to form a modern approach to meditation practice.

I am an Order of Interbeing Aspirant...
This is a great book for anyone interested in the Order of Interbeing or the 14 Mindfulness Trainings as taught by Thich Nhat Hanh.This book has a decent, brief history of the OI's beginnings in Vietnam and its development afterwards.Also good presentation and deeper insights from Thay (Thich Nhat Hanh) about each individual 14 Mindfulness Training. I highly recommend Sister Chan Khong's book, "Learning True Love : How I Learned to Practice Social Change in Vietnam" for a more in depth view of the beginnings and development of the OI and also an amazing woman's story about the war in Vietnam and social struggle and Engaged Buddhism.

Beyond the "self"....We're all connected
This book definitely helps one see the reality of our "interconnectedness" with others and with our environment andalso illustrates how our actions often have manyimplications beyond"the self".The fundamental precepts or mindfulness trainingsoutlined and described here, when practiced, have the capacityto bringaboutpositive societal and global change.This book is another majorstep towards understanding, compassion and peace.

Deeper look at the 14 guidelines
Another great book by Thich Nhat Hanh. This book is basically divided into two sections. The first is a very indepth look at the 14 mindfulness trainings and then the second part is a review of ceremonies surroundingthese trainings.

I found the first part of the book to be great. Itoffered some new information on the 14 minfulness trainings (which Ialready had some knowledge of). The second half of the book on theceremonies was not useful to me and I can't really picture it being usefulto anyone but in the monastic community.

Overall, great book. Get it,read it, and incorporate the mindfulness trainings in your life. ... Read more

Product Description
While the notion that "happiness can be found within oneself" has recently become popular, Buddhism has taught for thousands of years that every person is a Buddha, or enlightened being, and has the potential for true and lasting happiness. Through real-life examples, the authors explain how adopting this outlook has positive effects on one's health, relationships, and career, and gives new insights into world environmental concerns, peace issues, and other major social problems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (55)

Must Read
This book impressed me from page one and never let up. Easy to read and understand and left me wanting to learn more. This was a wonderful introduction to Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.

A Great Explanation of Buddhism!
I loved this book! I was such an easy read but also so profound! I have shared it with friends who have also really enjoyed it; some actually started practicing Buddhism! My husband loved it too!

Buddha In You Mirror review by A. Holland
I have been practicing Nichiren Buddhism for over 10 years and have always wanted to own this book. It is full of great wisdom related to this practice. Since one of the tenets of this philosophy refers to our "mirror image", this book's title is very appropriate. It is a book that you can refer to every day and the writing never seems to get "old". I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in this type of Buddhism. It is very easy to read and understand.

A Practical Common Sense Approach
This book explains in everyday terms the basics of Nichiren Buddhism.Anyone can pick this up and begin to understand the fundamental concepts of Buddhism.I recommend this for anyone wanting to know more on the subject, and for those those who have practiced for years.For those just starting to get familiar with the SGI and the Buddhism of Nichiren, this book is what I recommend people read first.

Beware of the Organization SGI and SGI-USA
This book was written by members of SGI-USA. The book is perfect to GLEAM information from and steer you towards the teachings of Buddhism.BUT, beware of the organization SGI and SGI-USA, the parent organization of Nichiren Buddhism and it's American counterpart, as it's known today.They ask for money from their members ostensibly to build community centers to chant together but in actuality have Billions of dollars in their bank accounts and then tell the members they have no money and that they should 'chant' for better things to come their way. They teach that giving money is a good way to reach enlightenment (!).The few who make the decisions are accountable to no one (!).
A scandal erupted in L.A., a few years back, where the members built their OWN community center with their own funds and then were ousted by the Corporation of SGI-USA, the property was sold and a smaller place was rented for them.They were then told to chant for better things to come their way.
Once you do your Google research on SGI and SGI-USA you will find it is very much like a Cult and will alarm and disappoint the true followers of Shakyamuni Buddha and maybe even Nichiren himself. ... Read more