Any good books that could teach a beginning learner about Bu
Any good books that could teach a beginning learner about Bu
I have recently been doing a lot of soul searching and research into religion. I've been learning about Christianity and have read finished reading the gospels as well as multiple books by C.S. Lewis on Christianity such as Mere Christianity. I was wondering if anyone here knows of any good books that summarize what Buddhism is all about like Mere Christianity does for Christianity? Also does Buddhism have a holy book which is the equivalent to the bible?
Re: Any good books that could teach a beginning learner about Bu
"What the Buddha Taught" by Walpola Rahularybak303 wrote:I have recently been doing a lot of soul searching and research into religion. I've been learning about Christianity and have read finished reading the gospels as well as multiple books by C.S. Lewis on Christianity such as Mere Christianity. I was wondering if anyone here knows of any good books that summarize what Buddhism is all about like Mere Christianity does for Christianity? Also does Buddhism have a holy book which is the equivalent to the bible?
http://www.amazon.com/What-Buddha-Taugh ... 940&sr=8-1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Its pretty often the first good book on Buddhism and should be available from your library.
As for holy books: there are 'holy' books of a sort, but you would need a large bookshelf if you wished to own them (they take up 12 or more feet). It is called the Tipitika. You can go to http://www.accesstoinsight.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and read a lot of teachings from the Tipitika. Each individual teaching is called a 'sutta'. If you want a book of suttas, many people here have gotten a great deal from "In the Buddha's Words"
I've heard good things about it, for sure.
Last edited by Reductor on Fri Sep 10, 2010 8:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Any good books that could teach a beginning learner about Bu
hi rybak
Welcome to Dhamma Wheel!
Not having read Carroll's book, I don't know whether there is an equivalent.
A couple of books I regularly recommend to those interested, are:
The Noble Eightfold Path: The Way to the End of Suffering by Bhikkhu Bodhi: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... toend.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
and
Buddhism in a Nutshell by Narada Mahathera http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... shell.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Buddhism doesn't have just one 'holy' book, but many, and they are referred to as the Tipitaka (three baskets): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipitaka" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
kind regards
Ben
Welcome to Dhamma Wheel!
Not having read Carroll's book, I don't know whether there is an equivalent.
A couple of books I regularly recommend to those interested, are:
The Noble Eightfold Path: The Way to the End of Suffering by Bhikkhu Bodhi: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... toend.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
and
Buddhism in a Nutshell by Narada Mahathera http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... shell.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Buddhism doesn't have just one 'holy' book, but many, and they are referred to as the Tipitaka (three baskets): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipitaka" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
kind regards
Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
Re: Any good books that could teach a beginning learner about Bu
I'll second What the Buddha Taught. It's a pretty perfect first Buddhist book.
And here is a great intro to Buddhist meditation by a very respected monk: http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/mindfuln ... nglish.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
And here is a great intro to Buddhist meditation by a very respected monk: http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/mindfuln ... nglish.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"To reach beyond fear and danger we must sharpen and widen our vision. We have to pierce through the deceptions that lull us into a comfortable complacency, to take a straight look down into the depths of our existence, without turning away uneasily or running after distractions." -- Bhikkhu Bodhi
"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man." -- Heraclitus
"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man." -- Heraclitus
Re: Any good books that could teach a beginning learner about Bu
Thank you everybody!
- texastheravadin
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Re: Any good books that could teach a beginning learner about Bu
Here's what I recommend...
Buddhism is sort of a "come and see" religion. In order to really get a feel for it, you need to attempt to practice it somewhat.
What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula is the "what" of Buddhism, simply the best intro to Buddhism out there IMHO! Not just for Theravadins but for Mahayanists as well, by the way
Mindfulness in Plain English by Henepola Gunaratana ("Bhante G") is the best meditation manual for Vipassana to date (again, IMHO). That will give you the "how"
As far as holy books, check out The Dhammapada first. Buddhism does not have a "bible" as it were. The Pali Canon is several volumes and thousands upon thousands of pages long. A set would run you in the $1000s, definitely not a good idea for someone who's just starting out! However, there have been several attempts to create or condense major Buddhist teachings into a single volume like a "Bible" over the years, mainly for beginners like you (and me!) The Dhammapada has been championed as one of those all purpose Buddhist "Bibles", because it's short, to-the-point, and contains teachings on so many of the Buddha's main themes (generosity, virtue, heaven, Nibbana, etc.) Translations abound, but I would go for one that was translated by a Buddhist. Access to Insight has several available free online. The translation by Acharya Buddharakkhita is the one I am currently studying, and so far it's the best I've seen. If you like one you can follow the links to order/purchase it!
Regards,
Josh
Buddhism is sort of a "come and see" religion. In order to really get a feel for it, you need to attempt to practice it somewhat.
What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula is the "what" of Buddhism, simply the best intro to Buddhism out there IMHO! Not just for Theravadins but for Mahayanists as well, by the way
Mindfulness in Plain English by Henepola Gunaratana ("Bhante G") is the best meditation manual for Vipassana to date (again, IMHO). That will give you the "how"
As far as holy books, check out The Dhammapada first. Buddhism does not have a "bible" as it were. The Pali Canon is several volumes and thousands upon thousands of pages long. A set would run you in the $1000s, definitely not a good idea for someone who's just starting out! However, there have been several attempts to create or condense major Buddhist teachings into a single volume like a "Bible" over the years, mainly for beginners like you (and me!) The Dhammapada has been championed as one of those all purpose Buddhist "Bibles", because it's short, to-the-point, and contains teachings on so many of the Buddha's main themes (generosity, virtue, heaven, Nibbana, etc.) Translations abound, but I would go for one that was translated by a Buddhist. Access to Insight has several available free online. The translation by Acharya Buddharakkhita is the one I am currently studying, and so far it's the best I've seen. If you like one you can follow the links to order/purchase it!
Regards,
Josh
"Indeed, the Blessed One is worthy and rightly self-awakened, consummate in knowledge & conduct, well-gone, an expert with regard to the world, unexcelled as a trainer for those people fit to be tamed, the Teacher of divine & human beings, awakened, blessed." — AN 11.12
Re: Any good books that could teach a beginning learner about Bu
If it's information on Buddhism you're looking for it is all available online, easily digestible. What you will get in various books are monks clarifications, usually, or in some books more studious versions of the same. To that end you must understand that the western mind tends towards specificity and verbosity, meaning that some of these concepts that might not take much time for an easterner to grasp take a long time for us to understand as easily. For information about the eight fold path and meditation I personally love Bhante. Gunaratana's books. "8 mindful steps to happiness" will assist you in living a better life even if you don't subscribe to Buddhism.
Re: Any good books that could teach a beginning learner about Bu
This thread has some too. Good luck in your exploration.
http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=148" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=148" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Theoretical approaches have their place and are, I suppose, essential but a theory must be tempered with reality.
-J. Nehru
-J. Nehru