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Blood-Soaked Buddha/Hard Earth Pascal
Marking a significant departure from Cicero's fictional and poetic works, Blood-Soaked Buddha/Hard Earth Pascal is a lucid philosophical treatise. Rather than entertain dogma, Cicero approaches a discussion of Buddhism from the refreshing perspective of the everyman, providing a profound spiritual analysis as well as a sharp critique of capitalism. There are even some pretty good ghost stories. Introduction by Brad Warner.
196 pages, Paperback
Published November 13, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 18, 2018
Most book things now (with a few exceptions) are just built around nice, safe books written for nice and safe book club readers. These are usually the books you see on display at Barnes and Noble. These internet writers are, like, literally terrorists to me. They’re training as we speak. They’re getting ready to invade. They’re building an army.
(Scott Mcclanahan)
(Scott Mcclanahan)
October 2, 2022
For how highly recommended this book was to me I was not that impressed.
It presents a short and readable summary of the author's belief system and why he thinks it's the best one. However, much like many similar books (looking at you, Reason for God), it presents other philosphical paths as strawmen, making them easy to dismantle and ridicule. This, of course, rubs me the wrong way. It also - in my opinion - goes too far in some of its suggestions. For example, it preaches not just forgiveness, but forgetting wrongs done to you or anyone else. Yet, I would argue, not learning from one's past (or history) is the road to damnation.
In summary, it's worth the short read that it is (180 or so A6-sized pages) to refine your understanding of "buddhism"-related philosophy and developing your own ideas about what's right and wrong, but should on no account me taken as a guidebook.
It presents a short and readable summary of the author's belief system and why he thinks it's the best one. However, much like many similar books (looking at you, Reason for God), it presents other philosphical paths as strawmen, making them easy to dismantle and ridicule. This, of course, rubs me the wrong way. It also - in my opinion - goes too far in some of its suggestions. For example, it preaches not just forgiveness, but forgetting wrongs done to you or anyone else. Yet, I would argue, not learning from one's past (or history) is the road to damnation.
In summary, it's worth the short read that it is (180 or so A6-sized pages) to refine your understanding of "buddhism"-related philosophy and developing your own ideas about what's right and wrong, but should on no account me taken as a guidebook.
September 26, 2020
Honestly, I bought this purely for how badass the title is.
I mean come on: BLOOD.SOAKED.BUDDHA.
Tell me that's not inspired.
Blood-Soaked Buddha/Hard Earth Pascal is a sort of personal, informal rumination on buddhism. Anyone looking for a discussion of Buddhist theory or dogma or similar academic discourse will not find it here. Noah Cicero is clearly very familiar with those traditions, but this isn't an explication, it's a reflection, and it's all the better for it.
Cicero writes pragmatically, at times even movingly, about experiences of foolishness, futility. and failure. And how learning to let go of one's desires and expectations of control can help free us from the tiresome feelings that those expectations tend to produce. He does this in a way that is relaxed and very relatable. I wasn't expecting to care that much... but I ended up loving it.
I mean come on: BLOOD.SOAKED.BUDDHA.
Tell me that's not inspired.
Blood-Soaked Buddha/Hard Earth Pascal is a sort of personal, informal rumination on buddhism. Anyone looking for a discussion of Buddhist theory or dogma or similar academic discourse will not find it here. Noah Cicero is clearly very familiar with those traditions, but this isn't an explication, it's a reflection, and it's all the better for it.
Cicero writes pragmatically, at times even movingly, about experiences of foolishness, futility. and failure. And how learning to let go of one's desires and expectations of control can help free us from the tiresome feelings that those expectations tend to produce. He does this in a way that is relaxed and very relatable. I wasn't expecting to care that much... but I ended up loving it.
May 28, 2018
every line of this book bleeds truth and wisdom and zero-bullshit compassion. think noah cicero might have just gone and changed my life
March 9, 2024
Well, that’s the last time I get got by a flashy goodreads title. The author writes with the dogmatism of an angsty college undergrad, and seems to lack compassion for other world and religious views while preaching his own. You don’t come across this in truly learned buddhist philosophers. The truth should speak for itself. This gave me the impression that just about anybody can write a book like this and as long as they give it an aesthetic look it’ll get 4.5 stars on goodreads. But more than anything I just don’t think he has a coherent grasp on something he wrote an entire book about. That being said, I think he had some strengths as a writer and if he does fiction I would read that. There were some decent underlying points too, and the end got me, so 3 stars.
October 3, 2022
2 passages.
“Shen-hui said, of course we hurt when we are hit, when we are humiliated, when we have suffered at the hand of others. Of course we hurt. We all hurt when we’ve been attacked or have been mistreated, and we hurt in very much the same way as others. But we can’t cling to the hurt. We can’t cling to the pain. Of course there are people who have hurt us, but being obsessed with them only gives them the power. Better to forget.”
“If you let go of all the miseries, if you make it through the dark night, you one day end up eating a sandwich. The sandwich falls apart. You smile and put the sandwich back together. You finish the sandwich, then sit there giggling.”
“Shen-hui said, of course we hurt when we are hit, when we are humiliated, when we have suffered at the hand of others. Of course we hurt. We all hurt when we’ve been attacked or have been mistreated, and we hurt in very much the same way as others. But we can’t cling to the hurt. We can’t cling to the pain. Of course there are people who have hurt us, but being obsessed with them only gives them the power. Better to forget.”
“If you let go of all the miseries, if you make it through the dark night, you one day end up eating a sandwich. The sandwich falls apart. You smile and put the sandwich back together. You finish the sandwich, then sit there giggling.”
October 11, 2020
Terse. Direct. Plain-spoken. One hundred percent no bullshit.
Every day I’ve read in this small but deep book, its words have taken residence in my head and my heart.
I will read this many times again.
Every day I’ve read in this small but deep book, its words have taken residence in my head and my heart.
I will read this many times again.
October 11, 2018
I like Noah Cicero’s books. Honest writing and well intentioned thoughts on Buddhism and America in this one. As a side note, the cover is exquisite.
August 15, 2020
Like what else I've read of Cicero, but I did not care for this at all.
April 6, 2021
Outstanding. I felt similar delight listening to this audio book that I felt while watching Season 1 of the Good Place.
October 16, 2023
Pretty childish, condescending, phony and simpleton book all around (when not foolish/clearly wrong-headed).
To its deffense, at least it mentiones some times that its targeted towards a North American audience, and I’m only saying it because if it were in my native tongue I’d be unable to finish it (I’ve learned some new words, ya know) due to the aforementioned cringy reasons (cupcakes for all! Love your life-wasting [life = time] menial job cos Buddhism [try to escape from it, a far more spiritual and rebellious take, I'd say]!).
3 heavenly stars cos it’s nice and easy, like a candy or burger.
A couple of important thingies, y’all,
Video games are the ninth art, and playing a good Final Fantasy (VII), Resident Evil (1, remake for NGC, for example), Metroid (Fusion for GBA or Prime for NGC), Zelda (there are at least five masterpieces you can choose from)… is much more of an aesthetic/spiritual/trascendent/you name it experience than touching rocks, trust me on that one.
The Bible notoriously says (contrary to what Noah assumes on page 69) that “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground”, which means putting labor forward as punishment after the fall from Grace (making people/slaves viewing life, that “vale of tears”, as hell, indeed).
Peace 🍀
To its deffense, at least it mentiones some times that its targeted towards a North American audience, and I’m only saying it because if it were in my native tongue I’d be unable to finish it (I’ve learned some new words, ya know) due to the aforementioned cringy reasons (cupcakes for all! Love your life-wasting [life = time] menial job cos Buddhism [try to escape from it, a far more spiritual and rebellious take, I'd say]!).
3 heavenly stars cos it’s nice and easy, like a candy or burger.
A couple of important thingies, y’all,
Video games are the ninth art, and playing a good Final Fantasy (VII), Resident Evil (1, remake for NGC, for example), Metroid (Fusion for GBA or Prime for NGC), Zelda (there are at least five masterpieces you can choose from)… is much more of an aesthetic/spiritual/trascendent/you name it experience than touching rocks, trust me on that one.
The Bible notoriously says (contrary to what Noah assumes on page 69) that “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground”, which means putting labor forward as punishment after the fall from Grace (making people/slaves viewing life, that “vale of tears”, as hell, indeed).
Peace 🍀
February 7, 2025
One of the hardest parts of reading is coming to understand what the author is attempting to communicate without getting caught up misunderstanding the semantic subjectivity. This book is one of those that, I believe, has a lot to offer, but one must try to understand the relations and experiences Cicero is describing without getting lost in his semantic choices. I will admit I cannot agree with a decent amount of the words and ideas he uses to get his point across, Even still there is much about this book that gives me the chance to better understand how I would and wouldn't want to express my own ideas about the subjects that Cicero goes into. All in all for anyone who is unfamiliar with Buddhist philosophy and is used to western, specifically American, forms of thought I believe this book would be a good launching off point into a new way of thinking.
December 15, 2023
Gosh do I adore Noah Cicero's work, especially this one. This little pocketbook is full of profound & funny insights I love to revisit. It often comes along with me as a travel companion in my backpack. Safe to say this book (and reading his poetry + short essay collections after) inspired me to explore the southwest and more national parks in the last few years. My favorite thing about Noah's writing style is his bluntness, which packs a punch. Melodramatic, gifted, and really fucking hilarious. His words can make you feel like you're learning something for the first time but that you somehow also knew it all along.
February 17, 2025
Everyone should probably read this why isn’t it way more popular
July 8, 2025
There's something inherently accessible to Cicero's translations of Buddhism and Buddhist practices, a relatability to his examples and ease of understanding to his impression. Heading never really read anything on Buddhism before the ideas put forward have a definite appeal in the way that Cicero describes them.
There were sections where Cicero seemed to focus more on what other religions were not as opposed to what Buddhism was, and some of the learnings felt a little lost as a result, but I’ve found myself more and more trying to apply the ideas contained within to my life, that focus on the present, letting go of those things we hold onto, and putting aside ideas of goals and future planning, and I’ve definitely noticed a shift as a result. That alone, surely, gives a book worth, when we read, understand and apply.
Best served with an analogy, a present moment and something forgotten
There were sections where Cicero seemed to focus more on what other religions were not as opposed to what Buddhism was, and some of the learnings felt a little lost as a result, but I’ve found myself more and more trying to apply the ideas contained within to my life, that focus on the present, letting go of those things we hold onto, and putting aside ideas of goals and future planning, and I’ve definitely noticed a shift as a result. That alone, surely, gives a book worth, when we read, understand and apply.
Best served with an analogy, a present moment and something forgotten
February 23, 2024
He writes about this idea of having a book that no matter how many times you’ve read it , you can still read year after year or the idea of a book u keep in ur bag , for safe keeping and emergencies, small enough that you aren’t pressed about removing it. This is my pocket book , a book I’ll keep forever on me , accessible at all times . I truly love this book.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews