Radiant Mind: Essential Buddhist Teachings and Texts

by Jean Smith (Editor), B. Alan Wallace, Joseph Goldstien

Buddhist sutras appear in anthologies, and there are collections of recent writings on Buddhism. Now Jean Smith has brought two genres together in a book that provides an outstanding look at the foundations of Buddhism. She begins sections on basic Buddhist teachings with selections from sutras or from ancient masters. She then follows them up with several commentaries on the same topic taken from the writings of present-day authorities. Across the spectrum of sects and schools, Smith draws on the collective wisdom of such respected contemporaries as Thich Nhat Hanh, Charlotte Joko Beck, Henepola Gunaratana, the Dalai Lama, and Joseph Goldstein. Buddhist teachings stress that understanding is gained by approaching single topics from a variety of viewpoints, and Radiant Mind provides a rare opportunity to do just that. --Brian Bruya

Genres: Buddhism, Philosophy, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Self Help, Religion

335 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Tom Wiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to study Buddhism in systematic way, this is the perfect place to start. Radiant Mind features translations of important Buddhist texts and short essays from many different authors describing the fundamental beliefs of Buddhism. That this book engages with these ideas from many different perspectives is an immense gift. There are well-known Buddhists authors such as the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh in here but many other great lesser known writers as well.

[Brett W. Copeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

You ever feel like you traveled to another city to walk into a bookstore and pick up a life-changing book you otherwise wouldn’t have looked at? This opened the door to Buddhism and trauma recovery for me.

[Shiwani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites... I read this and the other two Tricycle books early in my Zazen practice and I have read them all repeatedly.

[Vicki Meesseman · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's now a reference book if that says anything for the book. I reread favorite passages.