Religion Books about Buddhism?

[Thor]

Hi everyone, I'm interested in Buddhism, Could you point me in the direction of good books on it?

 

[strongvoicesforward]

Hi everyone, I'm interested in Buddhism, Could you point me in the direction of good books on it?

Thor, I would go to Amazon.com and look at the many excellent reviews that are written on books. Ignore the first 2 or 3 reviews because those are written by the auther, the publisher, agent or publicist.

Also, you may be able to read some chapters on line to see if the style of the writer is one you like. Asking people here, I am sure you will get some good books suggested, but what these members find pleasing in writing style may be quite different than what you would enjoy.

Just a suggestion. But, I am sure some will be offering you some titles.

 

[Thor]

I totally understand what you mean. Thanks for the suggestion. I just want to see what members of the forum will reccomend, and then I will look on my own.

 

[Revenant]

The Art of Happiness by The Dalai Lama is a easy read, and sort of an easier introduction to Buddhism (I found some of his other books a bit harder to follow). Also a couple of good introductory books to meditation would be Meditations for Dummies (not solely Buddhist meditation, as it also includes some meditations like the Christian Keatings centering prayer) and Wherever you go, there you are by Jon Kabat-Zinn.

Not as light reading but also of great interest would be Daniel Goleman's books, Destructive Emotions: and how we can overcome them (a dialogue with The Dalai Lama) and Healing Emotions (also a dialogue with The Dalai Lama). Both are books detailing the Mind and Life meetings, a collaboration between philosophers, psychologists, doctors, Buddhist monks, and neuroscientists.

 

[nice gaijin]

I know some people here are allergic to any book called "Bible," but I was told by a great teacher of mine that The Buddhist Bible by Dwight Goddard is one of the best books on Buddhism if not the best spiritual book he's ever read.

You should, however, try to be a bit more specific about what kind of Buddhism you are interested in.

 

[Revenant]

Not as light reading but also of great interest would be Daniel Goleman's books, Destructive Emotions: and how we can overcome them (a dialogue with The Dalai Lama).

I forgot I had posted an excerpt from this book in my thread Neuroscience studies the practice of Buddhist meditations.

 

[Thor]

I found a copy of "The Art of Happiness" by the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler, M.D. I'm reading it right now! It's very interesting..

 

[Elizabeth van Kampen]

Hello Thor,

I also have "An open heart" Lalai Lama. I find this book very instructive.
Although I am a Catholic, I do believe in reincarnation, that is one of the reasons why I have read a lot about Bhuddism and I do try to meditate because that brings you to yourself, maybe that is your soul.

I admire the Dalai Lama, to me he could change the world into a more peaceful place than we have today.

 

[Revenant]

These are all from Zencast, and most of the talks are put on by Gil Fronsdal. I find his style easy to follow. The following two are intros to Buddhism.

Zencast 7 - The Four Noble Truths

Zencast 33 - Basic Buddhism

These starting from the bottom of the page are intros into Vipassana (Insight) meditation. There are two main branches of meditation in Buddhism, one is Shamatha (tranquillity) meditations, and the other is Insight. Tranquillity meditations focus on one object to the exclusion of all other stimuli, and these kind of meditations aren't exclusive to Buddhism, but are found in most other religious traditions. Insight meditations are a little more unique to Buddhism (perhaps Hinduism now has an equivalent, but at the inception of Buddhism, Hinduism only practiced Tranquillity meditations).

Tranquillity meditations bring about a deep calm (depending on the day, as even advanced meditators have their off days when they have trouble maintaining concentration on only one object). In Buddhism tranquillity meditations are thought to deepen calm, but like a calm pond with a lot of mud on the bottom, it doesn't get rid of the mud (attachment and aversions), but simply calms the surface of the pond.

Insight meditations first allow one to experience sensations (sensations in the body, sound, thoughts, emotions, and perhaps in some traditions sight) as coming and passing. It is to fully realize (not just intellectually) all pleasant and unpleasant sensations as impermanent, and then after coming to a complete realization of their impermenance, to realize that becoming attached to or avoiding of pleasurable sensations or painful sensations is counterproductive to the search for ulitmate happiness, and then to find a very deep tranquillity that transcends sensory pleasure and pain. Second it allows one to see how one's mind works. Some meditators claim that they can negate a negative emotion before it arises (most psychologists agree that most people only realize anger after they are already angry).

Zencast - Introductions to Meditation

And lastly I read a good article in Tricycle magazine by Thanissaro Bikkhu. A lot of people think that the only role desire is given by Buddhism is as the source of suffering.

Pushing the limits.

I should make it clear that what I have written is barely scratching the surface of Buddhism and meditations. I am still figuring things out.

 

[Revenant]

I was reading the Islamic thread, and saw that there was still a position open for a Buddhist preacher! I am not ordained, but hopefully with the help of another Buddhist here, shall we try to explain what draws us to Buddhism.
I shall continue this with a post on Morality, Concentration, and Wisdom.

Morality is considered the first step a Buddhists to take, and it is divided into avoiding ten nonvirtues. These are also divided into three catagories.

--The physical - killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct
--The verbal - lying, divisive talk, harsh speech, and sensenseless chatter
--The mental - covetousness, harmful intent, wrong views

The idea behind making this the first and foremost practice a Buddhist is to take on is that by feeling blameless, one can have more stability of mind, which sets the foundation for....

Concentration. This is practiced till one can get rid of all excitement and laxity, and remain in a clear, alert, sharp state of mind. This also helps one practice mindfulness, as one periodically check into the state of mind and gauge whether excitment or laxity have gained hold or are about to gain hold. Concentration also helps one focus on a problem till one finds the root of the problem. Following the ability to concentrate one begins to search for...

Wisdom. In this one examines phenomenom and finds that all things are temporal. The self is an illusion, and ever changing, as is everything else. One focuses and meditates on impermenance and non-self till one realizes that all things are impermenant. It is often at this stage that Yogis in discovering that all the things they stand on are vaporizing that many have a strong desire to roll up the mat in disgust. It is after this, and going through all the PseudoNirvana's that one finally finds a deep tranquillity not based on anything impermenant, and it is from this deep tranquillity that a deep compassion to also free others of suffering linked to aversion and desire are born.

 

[Revenant]

TEN EMERGING TRENDS
of Western Dharma
by Lama Surya Das

For a number of years now, I have been observing religious trends and the transplantation of Asian Buddhism into the fertile fields of the Western world. From my particular vantage point, I observe what I call trends in Western Buddhism or American Dharma.

Speaking of the emerging Western Buddhism, there are many colorful, smaller threads woven into the larger tapestry. There seem to be groups variously emphasizing monastic Buddhism, lay Buddhism, ethnic Buddhism, meditation Buddhism, chanting Buddhism, ritualistic Buddhism and bare bones Buddhism; there is mystical Buddhism and practical Buddhism, academic Buddhism, therapeutic Buddhism, intellectual Buddhism, as well as anti-intellectual, no-mind Buddhism.

Some people are attracted to hermitage and retreat Buddhism, congregational Buddhism, socially engaged Buddhism, missionary Buddhism, health and healing oriented Buddhism, upper-middle path Buddhism, Jewish Buddhism, Christian Zen Buddhism, vegetarian Buddhism, pacifist Buddhism, tantric Crazy Wisdom Buddhism, to name a few.

The Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh said, "The forms of Buddhism must change so that the essence of Buddhism remains unchanged. This essence consists of living principles that cannot bear any specific formulation."

In The Awakening of the West: The Encounter of Buddhism and Western Culture, Stephen Batchelor writes, "Buddhism cannot be said to be any of the following: a system of ethics, philosophy, or psychology; a religion, a faith, or a mystical experience; a devotional practice, a discipline of meditation or a psychotherapy. Yet it can involve all these things."

Like him I know there is really no such thing as Buddhism; there are only Buddhists. When I speak of the ten trends on Western Buddhism, I therefore do so with certain reservations, not the least among them that I am primarily emphasizing meditation practice groups. Remember, these are emerging trends and there is still a way to go to fulfill this vision.

Trend #1. Meditation-based and Experientially Oriented
As Westerners, we typically come to Buddhism for meditation and contemplation in an attempt to improve our quality of life. We want to bring more mindfulness to what we do. We are usually attracted to Buddhism not through academia but because we want personal transformation, direct religious experience and compassion into our daily lives. The Dharma is not just something we believe in, but something we do.

Trend #2 Lay-Oriented
Although there is certainly room for traditional monasticism -- both short - and long-term -- Buddhism in the West is obviously much more lay-oriented than it has been historically. Practitioners are now bringing personal issues of relationships, family and work to the Dharma center in an effort to make more sense out of life.

Trend #3. Gender Equal
In an effort to go beyond traditional patriarchal structures and cultures, we have already make great strides in supporting women as well as men in teaching and leadership roles. There are more and more women teachers, and they are providing some of the finest teaching. Gender equality remains an ideal, but one that seems reachable. We all -- male and female -- have an opportunity to refine our more feminine aspects and practice a Buddhism in which we keep the heart and mind balanced, respectful of both body and soul. We are trying to learn from the past so as not to unwittingly repeat the mistakes of others.

Trend #4. Democratic and Egalitarian
Western Buddhism needs to evolve in a much less institutionalized, less hierarchical and more democratic fashion. Almost by definition, personal growth and the purest interests of the individual are going to be stressed more than institutional preservation and growth.

Trend #5. Essentialized, Simplified and Demystified
For the most part, noticeably absent from Western Buddhism are the complex, esoteric rites and arcane rituals designed for initiates only. Western teachers generally stress essence more than form, as well as teachings that are tolerant for daily life. It is thus practical and this world oriented, rather than otherworldly and hermetic, with great emphasis on integrating Dharma practice via mindfulness and compassion into daily life.

Trend #6. Nonsectarian
Most Westerners seem to have a true appreciation for many different meditation techniques and traditions. We have seen how politics, the quest for power, and sectarian bias have created chaos within various religious communities. We understand it is essential that we strive diligently not to fall into those same traps. As practitioners, we are generally interested in broadening and deepening our experience of the various different Buddhist spiritual practices. I think it is safe to say that there is a true appreciation of the benefits of nonsectariansim, ecumenicism and cross-fertilization. In fact, many teachers are already synthesizing the best of the various traditions. American karma is our great melting pot. We have to live with that and make the most of it.

Trend #7. Psychologically Astute
There is a growing appreciation for explaining Buddhist principles within the idiom of transformational psychology. Faith and devotion are important and useful for some, but the larger appeal is to the individual?fs spiritual development and psychological and emotional well-being. Dharma students are encouraged to bring spirituality into their lives as opposed to using spirituality as a way of avoiding personal issues. We are working on ourselves and there are any number of interdisciplinary tools and methods. Psychotherapy and Buddhism are most often taken as complementary.

Trend #8. Exploratory
In line with our scientific and skeptical upbringing, questioning and inquiry are encouraged. We are striving to be dynamic and forward-looking. I see contemporary Dharma as basically a non-dogmatic Dharma, which is inquiring, skeptical, rational and devoted to testing and finding out for ourselves. Western Dharma is trying to stretch beyond dogma, insularity, isolationism and fundamentalist thinking.

Trend #9. Community Oriented
Through our shared spiritual, ethical, and educational interests, we are strengthened and building our spiritual community as well as our connections to each other. There is a great emphasis on the needs of the Sangha in the sense of the larger community instead of individual priests and leaders. One day, Ananda asked the Buddha, "Is it true that the Sangha, the community of spiritual friends, is half of the holy life?"

Buddha answered, "No, Ananda, the Sangha community is the whole of holy life."

Spiritual friends, spiritual friendships and simple friendliness -- this is the holy life. Here in the West where more and more people are expressing their personal needs for spiritual growth, it is the challenge of the Sangha today to provide spiritual encouragement for generations to come.

Trend #10. Socially and Ecologically Conscious
Gandhi once said, "Those who say the religion has nothing to do with politics do not understand religion." Increasingly as Buddhists we are attempting to extend our sense of social and moral responsibility to include others, particularly those who are suffering from various injustices and deprivations. We are also searching for ways to express our deep concern for the natural world. The contemporary lay Sangha is like an interdisciplinary "Lobby for Wisdom and Compassion."

The Dharma is very suited to a Western way of life. It need not be complicated, mysterious or fancy. Buddha Dharma is ordinary life including everything from meditation to relationship yoga and parenting practice. Among other things, it involves itself with the body-mind connection, which might well include suggestions like eating right, exercising right and having a sense of humor. One of my teachers, the late Dudjom Rinpoche, once said, "The Dharma is not fancy. It?fs like blue jeans: good for every occasion, every day. It?fs good for work. It?fs good for school. You can wear blue jeans to a wedding, to ride horses, anytime."