Buddhism: A Beginners Guidebook for True Self Discovery and Living A Balanced and Peaceful Life: Learn To Live in The Now and Find Peace from Within Discover: Mindfulness, Compassion, Happiness

by Sam Siv

Unlock the Secrets of Inner Peace and A Beginner's Guide to Buddhism Are you ready to discover the path to inner peace and happiness?
This beginner's guide to Buddhism will unlock the secrets of this ancient wisdom and show you how to apply it to your daily life. Learn about the principles of Buddhism, mindfulness practices and how to use them to improve your mental and emotional well-being.

Discover the role of Buddhism in modern society and how it can help you build better relationships and find inner peace. Whether you are new to Buddhism or looking to deepen your understanding, this book will guide you on your journey to spiritual growth and enlightenment.

Don't wait, start your journey to inner peace and happiness today!

Genres: Buddhism, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Religion, Meditation

93 pages, Hardcover

First published April 25, 2015

Reviews

[Nicholas Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

I literally found this book by typing "Buddhism" into YouTube and found a free audio book. It's...fine. I liked that it was written with a Western perspective in mind for obvious reasons. It's just so cut-and-dry, sparse, and direct it feels weird giving it any stars? It's just an explainer to a very popular religion I just plain didn't know enough about (and still don't really).

So I'll give the world religion Buddhism 4 stars and this book 3.

[Danii · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice and easy introduction to the Buddhism philosophy/religion, including:
- historical insights about Buddha and the start of the Buddhism religion
- lifestyle principles
- practical advices about meditation and mindfulness
- details about the different Buddhist religion branches/schools

[Rebecca Markus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before listening to A Beginners Guide I only had knowledge of Buddhism in a general sense. It was a thing that some celebrities subscribed to and even a few people I'd known in college. Buddhism and Zen are words that get thrown around in Western culture without much understanding of their real meaning. A Beginners Guide gives a brief history of the Buddha and clearly outlines the basics of the practice. Siv also tells us how to apply the ideals of Buddhism to everyday life, which is invaluable for anyone wanting to start today.

I especially liked the author's explanation of Karma, which is another word that gets misused a lot. It does not mean, as many people believe, a supernatural form of justice. And now that I understand that I can release my mind of the worry that the guy who cut me off in the construction zone may or may not get his just desserts.

This is a great guide for anyone considering the Buddhist practice, or just looking for a way to bring peace and acceptance into everyday life. It will give you a general idea of the practice and what you can expect. By the end you'll most likely have made up your mind about whether or not Buddhism and meditation are right for you.

[Jesse Ofner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview and provides a good place to start investigating the practice and learning a high level of its many forms.

As I continue learning more about the art of mindfulness and meditation I am pushed deeper into the exploration of the Buddhist traditions. I find a strong alignment of belief and experience with their teachings. I also find parallels between Stoicism and Buddhism interesting. This books is a good place to start to understand the teachings and the practices including meditation and how to get started.

[Michelle Jerome · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple, easy, to the heart of the matter

Are you looking to calm your crazy life, your thoughts that won’t stop, your feelings of discontentment? This book offers an easy to understand way to view the world without its baggage. A freeing way to take the weight off that you are mentally carrying and find a way to live in peace with yourself which in turns guides how to live in peace with the rest of the world. Sound good? It’s because it is good.

[TJ Totland · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the title says, a Beginners Guidebook. It is a great overview of Buddhism and each chapter touches the core concepts to give the reader the big picture. The rest of the title (true self discovery and Living a Balanced and Peaceful Life) is not possible in a beginners book. But I was not expecting the book to change my life, rather just to give an overview of Buddhism and it did it beautifully.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, comprehensive and to the point book that is really enough to understand buddhism. Love the last part about the book. I am paraphrasing, but it goes like this, “When someone points to the moon, you don’t look at the finger. So similarly is this book. The book in itself isn’t important, but it’s what it’s trying to convey.” Path can be shown. But you have to walk it yourself. Buddhism, as always, simple and cryptic at the same time.

[Michael Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A relatively quick but largely satisfying account of the basics of Buddhism, from its origins to how to apply its teachings to your day to day life. It’s more interested in explaining core beliefs than trying to convert anyone (though I’m sure the author wouldn’t mind if people did end up joining Buddhism in part because of this book).

Good stuff, would recommend to anyone curious about Buddhism.

[Jesse Pace · Rating 5 out of 5]

At less than 100 pages this book is a quick no-nonsense beginners manual for Buddhism. If you are someone who is interested in Buddhism this is a great place to start. It briefly goes through all the important information for someone who wants to start their practice or is just simply interested in the teachings of the Buddha. This book covers all the basics; how to meditate, the life of Siddartha Gautama and what Buddhists believe. Would recommend.

[Melissa Dally · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a mixed bag for me. The first half was a really good overview of Buddhism as a whole. Good review or good introduction for beginners. The second half that focused on Zen Buddhism just did not flow as well and was kind of boring. Also it was odd that the book only went in depth on Zen specifically and not the others.

[Vlad Stepanov · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers a quick overview into Buddhism. The author is quite respectful of others' beliefs and encourages readers to take what is helpful and drop what is not. It was nice to hear his version of Buddhism.

[Долгион · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook available on youtube. It's a nice, easily digestible introduction into the basic fundamentals of what Buddhism is. Found it very useful and informative. The audiobook is very "listenable" too.

[Brooke Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great quick read! Meditation was better explained to me in this book than any other book so that’s a plus! Great read, and I would read it again.
Now just a book to better explain the chakras lol. I believe in all that, I just would like the details explained a bit deeper.

[Joe Teibel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cliff notes but fairly poor writing

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice beginners guide.
Focuses more on the history and general practices which are the base for all Buddhist branches.
Loved the background into Buddha's life.

[Janet Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to Buddhism, including the different types. If you’re interested in converting but not sure where to begin, this would be a good place to start.

[PJ Wiltcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Easy read - easy to understand! Great introduction to Buddhism. Very happy I got this book - 😊 very satisfying purchase.

[TJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to Buddhism. Thank you!!

[Anjalica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome knowledge and wisdom refresher

[Oznasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good introduction to Buddhism in the modern world.

[Iami Menotu · Rating 3 out of 5]

One cannot rate less than three stars with a book containing Buddha's teachings. The frills around the core are only those - frills. I personally prefer the direct words of the Buddha.

[Grizabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice layman's guide to the tenants of Buddhism that was easy to understand and thorough without being overly long.

[Brittney Crenshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a easy to follow, read that taught and intrigued me 🫶🏼

[Eleazar Labriola · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are beginning Buddhism from 0 then this Is a good placer to start.

[Jon Tav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't get stock on the teachers or the teaching. Speak your moon. Faind your way.

[Jan S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good introduction to Buddhism!

[Zuz Drozdowska · Rating 2 out of 5]

Edit: changed my opinion about this book, 2/5

3/5
Was hoping for more information in depth about Buddhism

[Elise the Cursed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Precisely what I needed to become more educated and deeply connected with this beautiful way of living, that so happens to be also a "religion" of sorts. This was all very new to me, as I have been brought up in Europe all my life, and in my country especially, beliefs are scarce.

I knew the very basics of Buddhism from when I studied religions in high school, so the text was very concise. I've now converted to the ways of Buddhism, maybe two months ago? I'm an atheist and I had no idea at all Buddhism is that much of a spiritual way of life, and it can be practiced by ANYone and EVERYone, regardless of their initial beliefs. How truly selfless and well intended. It goes to show what it truly means to be the most peaceful and loving religion out there.

To leave out my personal opinion on Buddhism and Buddha, I truly enjoyed this book. I listened to the audiobook version, and, to quickly mention, the narrator's voice was a delight to listen to. His condensed take on the most eminent knowledge for beginners was beyond informative. You must understand it's for beginners, and likely that means no convoluted content is involved.

So, as a beginner myself, a practicing Buddha, I find this quite enriching and adequite, above all. I appreciate the author fostering such suitable mindset for Buddhism and putting it into fruition by echoing it to others in need or pursuit of finding peace and kindness.

I say, that by reading or listening to this book, takes you one step closer to the correct cultivation of mind and understanding that falls under the teachings and guidance of the supreme Buddha, Siddhartha. Namo Buddhaya

Here are some things that I extracted from this book, and will be taking with me:

☸ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝.

☸ 𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤.

☸ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬.

☸ 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞.

☸ 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡.

☸ 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧.

☸ 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞'𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝.

☸ 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧. 𝐎𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐰𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝.

☸ 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬.

☸ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟.

☸ 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫.

[Joshua Nykamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to business
Buddhism, it only took a few hours to get through

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

People in general like labels. I have always had my own eclectic ways taking from different spiritual paths. What I felt most "labeled" me was Pagan. So that is what I have for over 3 decades have told others when they ask. After reading this book I am rethinking my "label." Without knowing it I have adopted many Buddhist ways. I am not sure if "Bugan' is a thing but that is now how I see my path.