The Buddha Next Door: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Stories

by Zan Gaudioso, Greg Martin

Through personal experiences, this anthology illuminates how the practice of Nichiren Buddhism has changed people’s lives for the better. These first-person narratives—representing people from all across the country of various ages and ethnic backgrounds—examine the challenges of daily life associated with health, relationships, career, and aging, and the ensuing experiences of hope, success, inspiration, and personal enlightenment that come about as a result of living as Nichiren Buddhists.

Genres: Buddhism, Nonfiction

307 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Izzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good little testimonials of different people experiencing success by chanting Nam myoho renge kyo. Some are heartwarming, others made me smile.

[Deborah Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of personal accounts of Lotus Buddhists who tell how their faith changed their lives. Very inspiring! I also bought copies for friends.

[Lisala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stories of every day Buddhas. Inspiring.

[Sebastien Helary · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Buddha Next Door" is a collection of stories by Soka Gakkai Internation (SGI) members which recounts how Nichiren Buddhism has changed their lives for the better. Each story is 3 to 4 pages long which makes this a fast and easy read. If ever you're going through hard times, this book will show you that others were able to overcome their hardships and life challenges by successfully "changing poison into medicine" through the practice of Nichiren Buddhism. Some of the passages are difficult to read but overall this book should give you hope no matter what you are going through. It does, however, get a little repetitive and redundant at times.

[Shaina Minocha]

Want to read this book

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF, just couldn't get into it. The whole book is about people with problems who chanted their problems away.

[Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was passed to me by a Buddhist friend. The stories are very repetitive (bottom line: chanting will bring you whatever you want). I always like hearing about people using a belief system to navigate their lives. I have issue, though, with the idea that we can change the universe- which many of the stories imply. I think that prayer/chanting/meditation help us change ourselves. I didn't finish the book.

[Alex Lately · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! As a eager new buddhist on the path to enlightenment, this book came at a perfect moment in my my life. I was faced with similar challenges to many of the stories that i've read, and i found them very uplifting and motivated me to hold firm in my new found faith. This novel will be my go to book when i need a little inspiration, Nam myoho renge kyo. :)

[Bassaidai88 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring. Ordinary people with boring lives. There are 58 short (4-6 pages) stories that fill this nearly 300 page book. After reading 4 of them, they all fit the same pattern. There is some sort of struggle, followed by despair and then they found Buddhism and everything was rainbows and unicorns. I didn't find anything insightful at all here.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If there is any religion that could cope with modern scientific needs it would be Buddhism." --Albert Einstein

"It is never too late to be what you might have become." --George Eliot

"You are all the Buddha." --Shakyamuni Budha

[Cameo Arias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Book!!!! Very inspiring.

[Orlando · Rating 3 out of 5]

easy, uplifting reading. it's a collection of essays on how people have overcome adversity in their lives through nichiren buddhist chants.

[Andie Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of inspirational stories of SGI members whose lives have been transformed through the faith, practice and study of Nichiren Buddhism.