A Little Bit of Buddha: An Introduction to Buddhist Thought

by Chad Mercree

Discover the essential principles of Buddhism and how they can enrich your life with this accessible introduction to this ancient spiritual philosophy.At its heart, Buddhism blossoms from one the words and life of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. Yet this single source has given life to a profoundly rich and varied spiritual tradition—one that continues to grow and evolve today. Chad Mercree, a lifetime student of Buddhist philosophy and meditation, reveals in simple language how Buddhism can yield personal growth in the modern world. Because every journey is unique, Mercree relates his own story, as well as the experiences of famous Buddhists throughout history, to help you apply Buddhas principles to your personal path.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Buddhism, Religion, Philosophy

115 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 6, 2015

About the author

Chad is the author of The Way of the Psychic Heart and A Little Bit of Buddha. He's working on additional nonfiction projects as well as a fiction series. When he's not writing he makes films, practices martial arts and travels.

Reviews

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, comprehensive, and flows from one chapter to the other with ease. Its a basic introduction, and I mean basic but that doesn't take away any power away from this little book. Short, little, yet powerful in intro.

[Jason Kordyban · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was curious so I checked this out at a thrift store. Buddhists share my feelings on the inportance of self awareness and several other things, however like most 'religions', the useful introductory philosophy and techniques that earn your trust and confidence give way to more fantastical rhetoric.

I do not know what will happen when I die and am not bothered by that, I am unafraid of this unknown variable, I will deal with it when I arrive. Anyone who claims to know, I will always be wary of. That being said, a few useful suggestions and quotes were found, I also enjoyed the passive aggressive jabs at Christianity, a clear sign that the author has some attachment to past experiences that he must let go of!

[Ishani D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good introduction to Buddhism. Comprehensive without being overwhelming. Some of the messages definitely hit deep and I could relate a lot of the concepts to my personal meditation journey. Overall it was a very enjoyable experience reading this book, and I intend on continuing my exploration on Buddhism by reading some of the books listed in the Additional Resources.

[Amy Mercree · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book sounds like a really comprehensive and interesting account of Buddhism. And it's quick and to the point since it is a mini-book. I'm excited to read it!

[Veronica Turbay · Rating 5 out of 5]

pretty good collection!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an excellent way to learn more about the beliefs of the philosophy of Buddhism. It was interesting to me to learn that Buddhists believe that this world is merely an illusion. The world may be an illusion, but consciousness is real, and the goal of Buddhist philosophy is to spiritually awaken from within and perceive true reality in order to reach the enlightened state of Nirvana.
Personally, I am a practicing Christian, and I became interested in the teachings of Buddha by accidental encounters I had while learning and practicing meditation in order to soothe my anxiety. There are several aspects of Buddhism that I think everyone would benefit from adopting, although I confess that the whole idea of this world be an illusion and nothing we experience being real was actually mind-blowing and I had to spend most of the book wrestling with that idea, and reminding myself that this was a core belief of Buddhism.
In short, "Buddhism is a nonjudgemental philosophy in that it accepts all people's incomplete natures as a necessary truth. It is only through personal effort that we can be made whole and wake up from within." This aspect of do-it-yourself enlightenment must be a key attraction to practitioners who follow the Buddha's teachings. Many other religions rely on the judgement or approval of a deity, but there I go again- comparing Buddhism to a religion. In the book, it is clearly discussed. Buddhism is a philosophy, not a religion, and there are many people who take up Buddhist practices while still following a chosen organized spiritual doctrine. The morality of Buddhism is aimed at severing attachments, and living peacefully is an inherent part of Buddhist culture. This is an aspect that really appeals to me, and has me interested in learning more about the teachings of the Buddha. The book insists that, "Buddhism cultivates kind, helpful, and conscientious citizens who do not shy away from work or responsibility. Buddhism spreads a message of joy and compassion for all life and actually requires its followers to live what most religions would consider a holy, morally upright life."
And doesn't that sound wonderful, and worth further exploration? I will recommend this book as a resource for anyone who is interested in learning more about Buddhism, in order to reach Nirvana, or (like me) to educate themselves about other schools of thought. My next steps will be to read the words of the Buddha himself, by picking up a copy of The Dhammapada.

[Cade Mclaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfect for anyone who may be interested in learning more about Buddhism. It is a quick and simple read to learn the basics. Mercree does a good job of simplifying the ideas that would otherwise seem complicated to many. The book also flows smoothly from chapter to chapter. Every idea is smoothly transitioned to the next. This book has really expanded my mind, and because of it I'm going to further my studies in Buddhism. I would also like to visit monasteries to meet and learn from people who follow the religion/philosophy themselves. Such a great and short read.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone coming into Buddhism with no prior experience, I think this book did a good job at laying out Buddhist practices and moralities. This seems to be a very structured philosophy, and the book did a good job of summarizing these different aspects and practices without overwhelming the novice reader.

From here, I will find additional information and resources on certain aspects of the philosophy that most interested me, but happy to own this and use a reference point.

[Irmakafsar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect introduction to buddhism! Concise and clear. I took note of things that specifically interested me, such as Tibetan death meditations and Zen buddhism and was pleasantly surprised to find additional reading sources at the end! I don’t know enough about buddhism to be able to provide a commentary on the accuracy of the information provided but I have to say that I really think the way it was delivered was just right.

[Shanteatime · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a practicing Buddhist I must say having this pocket sized book on an introduction to Buddhism is very very nice. Now whenever I meet someone who knows nothing about Buddhism but wants to learn I always hand them this book. It's short and sweet! Definitely one to read over and over again!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great book for discovering the principle Buddhist teachings an believes in a nutshell.

I recommend to anyone looking to learn more about Buddhism.

[Nathan Suttie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and sweet run-down of the ins and outs of Buddhist philosophy. I think our culture, and our science, stands to gain a lot from these ideas, even if we're a few thousand years late to the party. It seems that the brain can be trained in remarkable ways.

[BreesBeachinBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this basic introduction to Buddhism. It gives you a general understanding of Buddhism while also giving you the opportunity to think outside the box and look within. It is one of my all time favorite books!

[lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a quick, informative read for any beginner. It’s great because it also includes references if you want more information. I recommend for anyone new to Buddhist thought

[Samantha Mead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good introduction to the concepts of Buddhism without being overwhelming.

[Lochran Doherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read, relatively informative for a small book.

[sejal thacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to buddism, if soemone wants to gather a summary of what is Buddhism should read this

[Rachel Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series!

[Taye Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great intro, for what it is. Gave me a better baseline on what to look into further

[Tracey Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. Easy to understand guide of the fundamentals of Buddhism in a cute pocket-sized, beautiful package.

[Hayden Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to ready for a beginner to learn the basics of Buddhism.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book on Buddhism! It, alone, could guide you from beginning to advanced Buddhist practitioner, with a biography of the Buddha and the highlights of its spiritual teachings!

[Kerri Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Little Bit of Buddha: An Introduction to Buddhist Thought by Chad Mercree. Sterling Ethos: New York. 2015.

One of the early books of the “A Little Bit of” series, and one of the best I have read so far. It is extremely well organized, thought out, and presented.

Topics include the life of Buddha, The Four Noble Truths, The Noble Eightfold Path, The Process of Awakening, The Three Jewels, and how to begin your own journey into Buddhism.

Mercree is very informative and explains how Buddhism works in connection with numerous religions. His writings are encouraging and never preachy, educational, and never condescending.

A great little intro book that entices me to learn more.

[Johan Candelaria · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok was expecting a great book for a person that was not well versed on Buddhism and Buddha but there where where some things in this book that where just not correct at all so would recommend you read this is you just want to learn about it but take it with a grain of salt because everything about it is not correct. Now that said most of the book is correct so you can read this and say you know bout Buddhism and the teachings of Buddha plus the things that are not correct are not huge things so just do your research and don't just take this as if it is written in stone. would recommend for someone that knows nothing of the subject but is interested on knowing more about it

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little introductory/basic book on Buddhism. Simple to follow, the book is in a good order from beginning to end. It has provoked further interest and reading from a beginners perspective. Great for future reference to refer back to. Would highly recommend to anyone with an interest in Buddhism and those starting to understand Buddhist philosophy.

[Kary Díaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a good tool for someone new to Buddhist thought. It presents the principal information in a simple and understandable way. At the end of the book you can find other sources of information to keep reading about Buddhism.

[morag Sarkar · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the simple story of Siddhartha, but I found the book very 'instructional'.
He knew all the Paths—the Truths, The Jewels, and The Wheel—but I found myself forgetting what I had just read, so I drew pictures of them to remember.

It's like a A-z of concepts without the mystic vibes

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good insight to Buddhism

[Audri Gonzales]

Starting point