i'm interested in reading some books about buddhism. i'm new to the subject. can anyone recommend some books for a starter. i'd appreciate it.
Depends wh ich sect of buddhism you are looking to get into... which one do you find yourself more into... theravada or mahayana.. here is a few good zen/mahayana books: A glimpse of nothingness - janwillem van de wetering (stories of a man living in a zen buddhist place in america) rising sun - janwillem van de wetering (same concept but the guy is in Japan) Books to avoid: Siddhartha(because it's stories are false)
check out a nice buddhist magazine website @ www.tricycle.com hmmmm, books about buddhism, eh? well: three pillars of zen the gospel of the buddha the light of asia zen mind, beginners mind selling water by the river the dhammapada (well, that's a start, mmm?)
If you are interested primarily in the philosophy behind Buddhism, and not so much in the religion, then I HIGHLY suggest you read this book: What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula Darrellkitchen (now a Buddhist monk, so you won't see him on these forums anymore) recommended this book to me, and it explains almost all of what the Buddha taught in a very no-holds-barred and simple manner. An excellent book if you want to stare right at the guts of Buddhism. Since it teaches exactly "what the Buddha taught," hence the name of the book, the book isn't subject to the different sects of Buddhism. It's more or less universal. Happy hunting, man!
It depends what you are looking for. I found Thich Nhat Hahn really brilliant for basic ideas about living in the moment and finding a certain base of peace to build on. If you are looking for more 'practice' oriantated books then look for 'Words of my perfect teacher'. Also Sogyal Rinpoche's 'The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying' is also brilliant but quite a demanding read.... good luck *hugs* Uma x
I'd read this first as it is very complete and a joy to read. 1. Old Path White Clouds, Walking in the Footsteps of Buddha, Thich Nhat Hanh, 1991. The life and teachings of Buddha taken from 24 Pali, Sanskrit, and Chinese sources. Written in the style of a novel, covers Buddhas' 80 year life. Very easy to read and very good. 572 pages with ink illustrations. A little expensive at $26.00 for soft cover but worth it. 2.A Buddhist Bible, edited by Dwight Goddard, 1938. The book Jack Kerouac carried with him. Includes Mahayana, Pali, and Tibetan texts. A harder read than the above, but also very good. Sections on the historic Buddha, The Diamond Sutra, Tao-te-king, Tevigga Sutta, and lots, lots more. 659 pages, $21.00 soft cover. 3.The Teachings of the Compassionate Buddha, edited by E.A. Burtt, 1955. A Mentor Religious Classic. Includes early discourses, the Dhammapada, and later writings. 239 pages, a small pocket paperback. Mine is so old I got it for $.95. 4. Buddhism: Its Essence and Development, Edward Conze, 1951. 212 pages with a time line in the back. Again mine is old so it didn't cost much. Check your public or university library or the used section of Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.com!
anything by the current Dalai Lama might be good. same with Thich Naht Hahn Alan Watts *may* help you out, too, but he gives a very americanized version of buddhism, so watch out. maybe read up on some other stuff first, then check out some of alan watt's stuff, just to see how he americanizes it. i think he seems to teach a hybrid of buddhism and taoism, yet never really differentiates the two. as long as you're getting a good message across, i suppose it really doesnt matter.
