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Buddhism: Buddhism for Beginners, A Guide to Buddhist Teachings, Meditation, Mindfulness and Inner Peace
☆☆“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – The Buddha ☆☆
Buddhism: Buddhism for Beginners, A Guide to Buddhist Teachings, Meditation, Mindfulness, and Inner Peace
Buddhism is one of the oldest religions in the world but until recently it has been unknown and inaccessible outside of Asia.
This book will provide you an introduction to the history of Buddhism and its teachings and practices.
Along with Buddhist philosophies there are many practices to incorporate into your daily life such as meditation and mindfulness to help calm your mind, reduce stress and anxiety.
☆☆“When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways - either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength.
Thanks to the teachings of Buddha, I have been able to take this second way.”
– The Dalai Lama☆☆
This is a guide to Buddhism for beginners but includes quotes and resources to guide you towards more advanced Buddhist teachings and writing if you wish to develop your own study of Buddhism further.
Here Is A Preview Of What’s Included…
An introduction to Buddhist Philosophies and Teachings
The history of Buddhism and the Life of the Buddha
Key Buddhism concepts such as Karma, suffering, Samsara and Nirvana
The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism
The Eightfold Path, The Five Precepts and The Middle Way
Practicing Buddhism in every day life
How to practice mindfulness to reduce stress and increase happiness
Meditation practices apps, and resources
Meditation to obtain calm and clarity over your thoughts
Much, Much More!
☆☆ “Worrying doesn’t take away tomorrow’s trouble’s, it takes away today’s peace” – The Buddha ☆☆
KINDLE EDITION:
NOTE: You do not need a kindle reader to read this, you can read this on smartphone or in a web browser
☆☆Download This Great Book Today! Available To Read On Your Computer, MAC, Smartphone, Kindle Reader, iPad, or Tablet!☆☆
☆☆To purchase this book scroll to the top and select Buy now with 1 Click ☆☆
PAPERBACK EDITION:
Kindle edition included for free with purchase of paperback
To purchase the paper, click paperback at the top of this description to purchase.
Buddhism: Buddhism for Beginners, A Guide to Buddhist Teachings, Meditation, Mindfulness, and Inner Peace
Buddhism is one of the oldest religions in the world but until recently it has been unknown and inaccessible outside of Asia.
This book will provide you an introduction to the history of Buddhism and its teachings and practices.
Along with Buddhist philosophies there are many practices to incorporate into your daily life such as meditation and mindfulness to help calm your mind, reduce stress and anxiety.
☆☆“When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways - either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength.
Thanks to the teachings of Buddha, I have been able to take this second way.”
– The Dalai Lama☆☆
This is a guide to Buddhism for beginners but includes quotes and resources to guide you towards more advanced Buddhist teachings and writing if you wish to develop your own study of Buddhism further.
Here Is A Preview Of What’s Included…
An introduction to Buddhist Philosophies and Teachings
The history of Buddhism and the Life of the Buddha
Key Buddhism concepts such as Karma, suffering, Samsara and Nirvana
The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism
The Eightfold Path, The Five Precepts and The Middle Way
Practicing Buddhism in every day life
How to practice mindfulness to reduce stress and increase happiness
Meditation practices apps, and resources
Meditation to obtain calm and clarity over your thoughts
Much, Much More!
☆☆ “Worrying doesn’t take away tomorrow’s trouble’s, it takes away today’s peace” – The Buddha ☆☆
KINDLE EDITION:
NOTE: You do not need a kindle reader to read this, you can read this on smartphone or in a web browser
☆☆Download This Great Book Today! Available To Read On Your Computer, MAC, Smartphone, Kindle Reader, iPad, or Tablet!☆☆
☆☆To purchase this book scroll to the top and select Buy now with 1 Click ☆☆
PAPERBACK EDITION:
Kindle edition included for free with purchase of paperback
To purchase the paper, click paperback at the top of this description to purchase.
96 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 23, 2016
335 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
October 22, 2017
I settled down with a cup of tea and a cheese and bacon sandwich to read this book:
Damn, I haven't been present for a meal since school lunches (to be honest, maybe that's why). I always read when I'm eating. Oh well, I reckon I can still appreciate tasty bacon while reading about Buddhism.
Goddamit!
OK, so apart from reminding me that I'm a terrible person, this book was pretty good. It's a very brief introduction to Buddhism, with a short synopsis of the Buddha's life and a quick rundown of the main principles of Buddhism. I really appreciate the way that they're organised in numbered lists: The 4 Noble Truths, The Eightfold Path, The 5 Precepts. I wonder if I'd remember more of my Sunday School teachings if the Sermon on the Mount had been called The 8 types of people who are blessed.
After the quick overview of the principles the focus turns to mindfulness, gratitude, and meditation. These are all interesting topics, and often the sort of thing that Westerners are most interested in, but I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more historical and contextual information about Buddhism. For example, I know that there are different schools of Buddhism. A religion that's been around for over 2000 years is going to have more than a few schisms, but none of that was discussed. I don't think an introduction to Christianity would make much sense without at least a brief attempt to explain the differences between Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant.
I also felt that the writing was occasionally a little wooly and could've benefited from an editor to clarify and tighten up. For example:
Essence? What does essence mean in this sentence? And does these things mean these teachings? I think so, but it's a strange way to phrase it and part of the confusion is due to the clunky structure of the first sentence. It opens with the gerund clause 'learning about these teachings' and then switches the subject to 'they' which presumbably refers to 'the teachings' but would be more elegant if it had been 'it' referring back to 'learning about these teachings'.
Another example, illustrating the fifth element of the eightfold path 'Right Livelihood':
I laughed out loud at the idea that we need to try to avoid weapons dealing. As if it were the sort of thing that one could find oneself doing accidentally or unwillingly: that awkward moment when all your friends are dealing weapons and you don't want to kill the mood by abstaining!
Of course, most of the advice is very sensible. There is a plenty of common sense stuff about not allowing yourself to be distracted, turning off notifications, and focusing on the task at hand. Either the Buddha was very prescient in his advice, or some of this is Gabriel Shaw's interpetation of how to apply Buddhist principles to modern life. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it does add to my niggling feeling that this may be an introduction to a particular interpretation of Buddhism, rather than a wider perspective. On the other hand, everything I've read about Buddhism emphasises that it's the experience that matters. You've no hope of understanding any of it until you begin to put it into practise in your own life. In that case, this is a very useful little book and, best of all, there's a recommendation list of apps and websites at the end which provide further introductionary information and guided meditations. So you've no excuse not to get down to it.
With mindful eating, you take the time to notice the smell and appearance of the food. You take the time to eat slowly, observe the taste of the food, the texture of it, you chew slowly while focusing on eating and being present.
Damn, I haven't been present for a meal since school lunches (to be honest, maybe that's why). I always read when I'm eating. Oh well, I reckon I can still appreciate tasty bacon while reading about Buddhism.
Avoid harming living beings.
[...] Many Buddhists are vegetarians and this rule can also be interpreted as not contributing to the death of anything that is living.
Goddamit!
OK, so apart from reminding me that I'm a terrible person, this book was pretty good. It's a very brief introduction to Buddhism, with a short synopsis of the Buddha's life and a quick rundown of the main principles of Buddhism. I really appreciate the way that they're organised in numbered lists: The 4 Noble Truths, The Eightfold Path, The 5 Precepts. I wonder if I'd remember more of my Sunday School teachings if the Sermon on the Mount had been called The 8 types of people who are blessed.
After the quick overview of the principles the focus turns to mindfulness, gratitude, and meditation. These are all interesting topics, and often the sort of thing that Westerners are most interested in, but I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more historical and contextual information about Buddhism. For example, I know that there are different schools of Buddhism. A religion that's been around for over 2000 years is going to have more than a few schisms, but none of that was discussed. I don't think an introduction to Christianity would make much sense without at least a brief attempt to explain the differences between Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant.
I also felt that the writing was occasionally a little wooly and could've benefited from an editor to clarify and tighten up. For example:
Learning about these teachings doesn't only make you a better person, but they also give more essence to your life. These things tell you that it's not about yourself, but it's how you see yourself in this world - you have an important role to play.
Essence? What does essence mean in this sentence? And does these things mean these teachings? I think so, but it's a strange way to phrase it and part of the confusion is due to the clunky structure of the first sentence. It opens with the gerund clause 'learning about these teachings' and then switches the subject to 'they' which presumbably refers to 'the teachings' but would be more elegant if it had been 'it' referring back to 'learning about these teachings'.
Another example, illustrating the fifth element of the eightfold path 'Right Livelihood':
It is important for you to make an effort in trying not to live for the sole purpose of getting rich.
For example, you should try not to engage in illegal trade, weapons dealing, prostitution and slavery or endeavors that lead to the violations of other's rights.
I laughed out loud at the idea that we need to try to avoid weapons dealing. As if it were the sort of thing that one could find oneself doing accidentally or unwillingly: that awkward moment when all your friends are dealing weapons and you don't want to kill the mood by abstaining!
Of course, most of the advice is very sensible. There is a plenty of common sense stuff about not allowing yourself to be distracted, turning off notifications, and focusing on the task at hand. Either the Buddha was very prescient in his advice, or some of this is Gabriel Shaw's interpetation of how to apply Buddhist principles to modern life. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it does add to my niggling feeling that this may be an introduction to a particular interpretation of Buddhism, rather than a wider perspective. On the other hand, everything I've read about Buddhism emphasises that it's the experience that matters. You've no hope of understanding any of it until you begin to put it into practise in your own life. In that case, this is a very useful little book and, best of all, there's a recommendation list of apps and websites at the end which provide further introductionary information and guided meditations. So you've no excuse not to get down to it.
January 13, 2019
A brilliant concise book that looks at the meanings behind Buddhism.
While it tells the story of Buddha it focuses on the parts of Buddhism that are easy and can be practised by everyone.
Read it and become a nicer person.
While it tells the story of Buddha it focuses on the parts of Buddhism that are easy and can be practised by everyone.
Read it and become a nicer person.
April 16, 2020
Interesting beginner book
I thoroughly enjoyed Buddhism for beginners by Gabriel Shaw it is nice and simple to follow and structured well with plenty of information to get you started. We learn of the Buddha and his life, the eightfold path,the middle way , meditation and mindfulness. There is also some great apps and resources the author recommended and includes in the book. I read it in one day and look forward to implementing Buddhist practices into my life.
I thoroughly enjoyed Buddhism for beginners by Gabriel Shaw it is nice and simple to follow and structured well with plenty of information to get you started. We learn of the Buddha and his life, the eightfold path,the middle way , meditation and mindfulness. There is also some great apps and resources the author recommended and includes in the book. I read it in one day and look forward to implementing Buddhist practices into my life.
December 16, 2020
Recommend this book to anyone who wants a basic introduction to Buddhism. It is written in plain English with good clear information.
There are the fundamentals of Buddhism covered, along with modern apps and technology towards the end to bring tech into the philosophy and religion.
There are the fundamentals of Buddhism covered, along with modern apps and technology towards the end to bring tech into the philosophy and religion.
January 13, 2025
Straight to ze point, inspired me to read more about the subject :)
May 15, 2018
A Very Good Introduction
I sat down to read this without distractions, as per the instructions in the book itself, first thing this morning. By 11am, I was finished. Yes the book was short as others have noted, but it is marketed as such in the blurb. What I found was a good introduction to the subject of Buddhism, also as promised, written in a straight-forward, easy to follow conversational style. I enjoyed it very much, and have found many ideas from reading it to take away and apply. One of those is gratitude. So thank you, Gabriel Shaw, for this light, easy to read, enjoyable and enlightening book.
I sat down to read this without distractions, as per the instructions in the book itself, first thing this morning. By 11am, I was finished. Yes the book was short as others have noted, but it is marketed as such in the blurb. What I found was a good introduction to the subject of Buddhism, also as promised, written in a straight-forward, easy to follow conversational style. I enjoyed it very much, and have found many ideas from reading it to take away and apply. One of those is gratitude. So thank you, Gabriel Shaw, for this light, easy to read, enjoyable and enlightening book.
July 20, 2017
Eh... in terms of content, a book like this certainly could be useful as it is an incredibly basic introduction to Buddhism. If you have no idea what Buddhism is or want a quick breakdown of how to mediate and be mindful, it's worth a read. The list of resources is pretty neat too.
My issue however is the format of the book. It feels like it should be a short novelty book with photos, drawings... some beautiful pictures and such. Something to flick though, enjoy looking at and also learn some things from. But it is not that at all.
The formatting of the ebook was pretty unpleasant with different sized text and inconsistencies in spacing. The occasional word missing, sometimes quotes are in italics, other times they're not. It felt rushed and unfinished. Like no editing had taken place.
There's potential here, but as it is... I agree with the meh.
My issue however is the format of the book. It feels like it should be a short novelty book with photos, drawings... some beautiful pictures and such. Something to flick though, enjoy looking at and also learn some things from. But it is not that at all.
The formatting of the ebook was pretty unpleasant with different sized text and inconsistencies in spacing. The occasional word missing, sometimes quotes are in italics, other times they're not. It felt rushed and unfinished. Like no editing had taken place.
There's potential here, but as it is... I agree with the meh.
November 15, 2020
Ok but became repetitive.
This book seems to give a very high level end brief overview of the teachings of Buddhism, but seems to progress more into opinions on how someone should live their lives in general, and starts to feel more like the author's opinion than anything else to me. There were some pretty severe instances of repetition about topics or their that made me question if I was re- rereading sections by accident. Overall it might be useful to the complete beginner looking to just understand some of the basics of Buddhist and mindfulness concepts, but I was a bit disappointed by the repetition / structuring and some seemingly contradictory statements.
This book seems to give a very high level end brief overview of the teachings of Buddhism, but seems to progress more into opinions on how someone should live their lives in general, and starts to feel more like the author's opinion than anything else to me. There were some pretty severe instances of repetition about topics or their that made me question if I was re- rereading sections by accident. Overall it might be useful to the complete beginner looking to just understand some of the basics of Buddhist and mindfulness concepts, but I was a bit disappointed by the repetition / structuring and some seemingly contradictory statements.
April 11, 2019
I felt a little lost reading this book. Like it's just information I could have found with a quick Google search. I expected something more from a book that claims to be "Buddhism for beginners", some deep information about the common stuff like the four noble trues, nirvana, karma, and everything in general.
November 10, 2020
Intended as a quick introduction, it certainly does the job. Clear, concise and with lots of suggestions on where to go next.
This is focused on the practice of Buddhism rather than being a thorough exploration of the theology/philosophy. It certainly piqued my interest and I will be reading some more.
This is focused on the practice of Buddhism rather than being a thorough exploration of the theology/philosophy. It certainly piqued my interest and I will be reading some more.
December 20, 2020
All I wanted to know in my first delve into the subject.
I recommend this book for all like me who have meant to learnt about the way of life for years but didn’t want to be overpowered. It’s a detailed synopsis for beginners and told me everything I needed to set me on my new path.
A great book.
I recommend this book for all like me who have meant to learnt about the way of life for years but didn’t want to be overpowered. It’s a detailed synopsis for beginners and told me everything I needed to set me on my new path.
A great book.
April 4, 2018
Great book
I suffer with anxiety panic attacks and whole heap of issues and I'm wanting learn more on Buddhism and mindfulness meditation I found the whole book very useful and couldn't put it down
I suffer with anxiety panic attacks and whole heap of issues and I'm wanting learn more on Buddhism and mindfulness meditation I found the whole book very useful and couldn't put it down
April 7, 2018
As I know relatively little about Buddhism, I found this beginners guide to be useful and it has inspired further reading. It’s not particularly in depth, more of an overview so more useful for absolute novices.
May 14, 2018
I enjoyed reading this book, it was quite calming and enlightening. Not pushy at all in any way, simply stated the basics of Buddhism and gave you some ideas to follow this up. I would highly recommend this as a fist step introduction. Simple to read/easy to understand.
July 29, 2018
Does exactly what it says on the cover
It’s a great introduction to Buddhism, some very memorable quotes.
Would recommend for anyone who wishes to dip their toes into these teachings.
It’s a great introduction to Buddhism, some very memorable quotes.
Would recommend for anyone who wishes to dip their toes into these teachings.
August 12, 2018
Short but informative
For anyone who is interested in first finding out the basics of Buddhism this is a great book. Not over complicated but factual. I really enjoyed it and will be trying some of the recommended meditation apps. I will certainly be reading it over.
For anyone who is interested in first finding out the basics of Buddhism this is a great book. Not over complicated but factual. I really enjoyed it and will be trying some of the recommended meditation apps. I will certainly be reading it over.
September 15, 2018
Inspirational and informative
Great introduction to the precepts of Buddhism as well as providing helpful tips and guidance on how to become a happier, kinder human being! Highly recommend.
Great introduction to the precepts of Buddhism as well as providing helpful tips and guidance on how to become a happier, kinder human being! Highly recommend.
October 15, 2018
Great book
Inspired me to want to learn more about mindfulness/Buddhism
Meditation to release stress, learning to let go of past, live in the present moment. A
Great lesson for all . Great read
Inspired me to want to learn more about mindfulness/Buddhism
Meditation to release stress, learning to let go of past, live in the present moment. A
Great lesson for all . Great read
November 18, 2018
Really enjoyed reading this book
This is a great introduction to Buddhism, I really enjoyed reading it. It doesn’t go into huge detail, but does give the basics and recommendations if you want to find out more.
This is a great introduction to Buddhism, I really enjoyed reading it. It doesn’t go into huge detail, but does give the basics and recommendations if you want to find out more.
June 28, 2019
Buddhism for beginners
I found this quite easy to read and a good introduction to Buddhism. It was informative without going too "deep". Loved the quotes interspersed throughout book. I found it a good book that has made me inquisitive about reading more on the subject.
I found this quite easy to read and a good introduction to Buddhism. It was informative without going too "deep". Loved the quotes interspersed throughout book. I found it a good book that has made me inquisitive about reading more on the subject.
September 22, 2020
Clear And Concise Introduction
This little text provides a very accessible and interesting insight into Buddhism. It is secular in its approach and draws on resources from the internet and quotations from world renowned Buddhists.
This little text provides a very accessible and interesting insight into Buddhism. It is secular in its approach and draws on resources from the internet and quotations from world renowned Buddhists.
October 14, 2020
I wanted to understand Buddhism this book did just that!
Straight to the point ,informative and interesting. Lots of advice on meditation. Well explained guidance to living a better life. Accept what is .
Straight to the point ,informative and interesting. Lots of advice on meditation. Well explained guidance to living a better life. Accept what is .
December 16, 2020
This is a pretty nice entry-level book. I appreciated this, as I've read books on Buddhism before, and if you delve into details, it's a bit of a turn off, it's a hugely complex religion (or rather, philosophy).
February 8, 2021
I have been curious about Buddhism as a way of life for some time and this book certainly outlines the main tenets of the faith in very broad brush strokes. However, I was left wanting more. Maybe there are other guides out there that go into Buddhism in more depth.
October 25, 2021
Lovely introduction.
If your interested in Buddhism and don’t know where to start - this is the book for you. Comprehensive introduction with further recommended resources for the next step of your journey.
If your interested in Buddhism and don’t know where to start - this is the book for you. Comprehensive introduction with further recommended resources for the next step of your journey.
December 13, 2021
Exactly what is says it is.
A short yet clear and concise introduction into Buddhism. I really enjoyed this read, wish it was longer and contained more information but that’s a sign of a good read I’ll say.
A short yet clear and concise introduction into Buddhism. I really enjoyed this read, wish it was longer and contained more information but that’s a sign of a good read I’ll say.
August 11, 2023
Really good introduction to the Buddhist philosophy
I liked the clarity and focus in the text. It would be ideal for anyone knowing little or nothing about Buddhism but who is curious and open-minded.
I liked the clarity and focus in the text. It would be ideal for anyone knowing little or nothing about Buddhism but who is curious and open-minded.
February 25, 2018
I am considering buddhism and this was a decent basic introduction.
May 2, 2018
Simple intro
Very simple intro to Buddhism but I felt it could have expanded a little more with some history and examples of how it has changed people's lives/
Very simple intro to Buddhism but I felt it could have expanded a little more with some history and examples of how it has changed people's lives/
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews