No Popular Theravada Bestsellers?

[mikenz66]

Hi Alan,

Are you referring to Bhikku Bodhi's book, or something else?

Was leafing through that book today, so I have it in mind. The intro sounds more like the result of a corporate marketing team than a real person. Of course his favorite bit is that it shows how much we have in common.
But to the topic: If the book tells you Buddhism is about paying attention while you eat that plum, grooving on the plumness of the plum, and it's all sweet, baby, if you just pay attention to the moment, well then that book will appeal.

Mike

[alan]

I was referring to Bhikku Bodhi's book, which you were so nice to recommend, when I spoke of the intro by DL.
The second paragraph was about other books discussed in this thread--sorry if that was not clear.

[mikenz66]

Hi Alan,

I was referring to Bhikku Bodhi's book, which you were so nice to recommend, when I spoke of the intro by DL.

OK, no problem. I guess I was confused by the terminology and I wasn't sure if you meant the Dalai Lama's Forward, or Bhikkhu Bodhis introductory sections, when you said:

The intro sounds more like the result of a corporate marketing team than a real person. Of course his favorite bit is that it shows how much we have in common.

The Dalai Lama certainly does a lot of Forwards (among all of his other activities...), so I guess it's no surprise that they sound rather mechanical...

Mike

[alan]

Sure don't want anyone reading through this to think I disliked BB's intro essays. Loved them. I'm partial to Thanissuro's translations, however, possibly because reading through his "Handful of Leaves" was what turned me on to Theravada in the first place.