Which book to get?

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Adamantus
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Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2010 3:04 pm

Which book to get?

Post by Adamantus »

I am totally new to buddhism. Can someone please tell me the most important book to get to learn about buddhism and meditation?
santa100
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Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2011 10:55 pm

Re: Which book to get?

Post by santa100 »

These 2 books are really good:
Mindfulness in Plain English: Revised and Expanded Edition
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana

In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon (Teachings of the Buddha)
Bhikkhu Bodhi

Also, check out the great http://www.accesstoinsight.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; site
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mikenz66
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Location: Aotearoa, New Zealand

Re: Which book to get?

Post by mikenz66 »

Hi Adamantus,

It's hard to recommend just one book. There are a number of suggestions on this Introductory Resources thread: http://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=148" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Personally, I'd recommend Bhikkhu Bodhi's In the Buddha's Words as a really good introduction to the Buddha's teaching, based on modern translations of a wide variety of suttas.
You can start reading it here:
http://www.wisdompubs.org/pages/display ... yValue=104" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As far as meditation is concerned, Bhikkhu Bodhi's book contains the most important suttas on meditation. Various teachers flesh these out in various ways. The books I find useful are those that teach similar approaches to my teachers.

Books specifically on meditation that are often recommended include:
The Heart of Buddhist Meditation: Satipatthna: A Handbook of Mental Training Based on the Buddha's Way of Mindfulness, by Venerable Nyanaponika
http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Buddhist-Me ... 0877280738" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Mindfulness in Plain English by Ven. Henepola Gunaratana
Available on-line here: http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
among many others on the link I gave above.

:anjali:
Mike
Nicro
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Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:48 pm
Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Re: Which book to get?

Post by Nicro »

I think 2 books should be had; one for theory/doctrine and one of a more practical nature in regards to meditation.

For 1, I would go with "In The Buddha's Words" as others have recommended.

For meditation instruction you don't even have to spend money! Try here:

http://www.sirimangalo.org/files/HTMa5s.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

To get you going in meditation. Also look for stuff from Mahasi Sayadaw (also to be found free on the net)
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bodom
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Re: Which book to get?

Post by bodom »

Hi Adamantus,

Any one of these books would be a good place to start:

Recommended reading
http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=341" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

:anjali:
Liberation is the inevitable fruit of the path and is bound to blossom forth when there is steady and persistent practice. The only requirements for reaching the final goal are two: to start and to continue. If these requirements are met there is no doubt the goal will be attained. This is the Dhamma, the undeviating law.

- BB
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retrofuturist
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Location: Melbourne, Australia
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Re: Which book to get?

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings,
santa100 wrote:These 2 books are really good:
Mindfulness in Plain English: Revised and Expanded Edition
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana

In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon (Teachings of the Buddha)
Bhikkhu Bodhi

Also, check out the great http://www.accesstoinsight.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; site
:goodpost:

I second this.

Metta,
Retro. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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Alex123
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Re: Which book to get?

Post by Alex123 »

Adamantus wrote:I am totally new to buddhism. Can someone please tell me the most important book to get to learn about buddhism and meditation?

I really like the meditation books by Ajahn Brahm.

"The Art of Disappearing" is an excellent book. I highly recommend it. It was so exciting that I read it all in one day.
http://www.amazon.com/Art-Disappearing- ... 086171668X" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also "Mindfulness, Bliss and Beyond" is another excellent book.
http://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Bliss ... =pd_cp_b_2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"Simply this moment" is another excellent book
http://www.wat-lao.org/PDFs/Bibliothek/ ... Moment.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
nobody12345
Posts: 196
Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2010 4:05 am

Re: Which book to get?

Post by nobody12345 »

I agree with above 2 posters.
IMHO, the best book for the introduction is
In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon (Teachings of the Buddha)
Bhikkhu Bodhi.
Platypus
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Location: York, UK

Re: Which book to get?

Post by Platypus »

The Buddha and his teachings is an excellent book by ven narada. You can read it on Buddhanet too.
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