One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism

by Joseph Goldstein

One of America's most respected Buddhist teachers distills a lifetime of practice and teaching in this groundbreaking exploration of the new Buddhist tradition taking root on American soil.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Meditation, Philosophy, Religion, Zen

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Joseph Goldstein (born 1944) is one of the first American vipassana teachers (Fronsdal, 1998), co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) with Jack Kornfield and Sharon Salzberg, contemporary author of numerous popular books on Buddhism (see publications below), resident guiding teacher at IMS, and leader of retreats worldwide on insight (vipassana) and lovingkindness (metta) meditation.

While the majority of Goldstein's publications introduce Westerners to primarily Theravada concepts, practices and values, his 2002 work, "One Dharma", explored the creation of an integrated framework for the Theravada, Tibetan and Zen traditions.

Reviews

[robin friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dharma Of Freedom

Joseph Goldstein has written an ambitious, short book which attempts to synthesize the wisdom and teachings of various Buddhist traditions and which offers thoughts on the possible future course of Buddhism in the West. The book is also a practitioner's guide and a manual for those setting out on a Buddhist practice.

Each of the components of this book is difficult and important. Joseph Goldstein has valuable things to teach and suggest to the reader about the many questions raised in the book. But I found that the book had a certain lack of focus from trying to do too many things in too brief a compass.
Specifically, Mr. Goldstein's discussion of meditation practice and of Buddhist morality was very well put. It cannot be heard often enough, particularly for those readers new to Buddhism. But the discussion of meditation practice, for me, was not well integrated with the other themes of the book -- an attempt to show what various Buddhist teachings prevalent in the United States have in common and to show how Buddhism may develop in the United States.

The book opens with an eloquent discussion of the growing interest by many people of Buddhism in the United States. It discusses as well the three traditions which probably have received most attention in the West: Theravada, Zen, and Tibetan Buddhism, although Mr. Goldstein is fully aware that there are other traditions as well. With the transmission of the Dharma to the United States, Mr. Goldstein asks what these traditions have in common and how the Westerner is to learn to practice. He offers many stories from his own experience, beginning with his practice in Theravada Buddhism which gradually expanded to an interest in Zen and Tibetan Buddhism. There is an all-to-brief history of Buddhism and its divisions into the Theravada and Mahayana schools. For all the good things Mr. Goldstein has to say about practice, I would have liked to have heard more about this given the theme of the book.

Mr. Goldstein stresses the pragmatic character of the Buddha's teaching with its encompassing purpose of ending suffering. He rightly emphasizes, I think, that this purpose is common to all Buddhist traditions and he suggests as well that practitioners can draw on one or the other of the traditions given their own spiritual needs and progress. In a brief compass, he also contrasts various traditions as being "top-down" on the one hand, emphasizing the pure, radiant character of the mind, or "bottom-up" on the other hand, as in the Theravada tradition, emphasizing the hold of the passions and the fetters and the need to work to purify the mind. Again, I would have liked a fuller treatment of these themes and perhaps less an emphasis on meditation technique. There are many books available which address the latter.

Mr Goldstein emphasizes, rightly, a famous verse from the Dhamamapada,(verse 183) a compilation of verses from the Theravada canon. The verse is "Not to do any evil; to cultivate good, to purify one's mind -- this is the Teaching of the Buddhas."

This verse does indeed sum up the Buddha's teaching in all the schools. Much of Mr. Goldstein's book is a commentary on the verse. But I still was left with the feeling that a more detailed presentation was required to understand Buddhism in the United States.

As the book progresses with the treatments of non-clinging, selflessness, and Nirvana, the differences in the various traditions becomes clear and the book assumes a better focus. There is a good attempt to show in the conclusion of the book how the various traditions of Buddhism are all paths leading to one goal -- the cessation of suffering through the attainment of wisdom. The United States offers the unique possibility of the realization of a "Dharma of Freedom.", Mr Goldstein tells us at the end of the book. It will not be tied to particular schools or debates but rather will offer the hope of freedom from suffering and from clinging for those who choose to enter the path.

"One Dharma" is one of the few books that would be better if it were longer. Too much is left out for the reader to see how the traditions of Buddhism, if only on the surface, differ from each other and how the transmission of Buddhism to the United States promises the opportunity of integrating teachings from the different schools.

Robin Friedman

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent book that needed to be written.... my only complaint is that, among the list of *truly* essential core elements of buddhism, there's an almost bizarrely dogmatic chapter insisting that some sort of literal, concrete, transmigration of souls style reincarnation is a central tenant. This is not so, if only in that both the historical Buddha and subsequent teachers reframed and reinterpreted this term away from its Hindu origin. What is "reincarnation" when there is no self? Who is going where? This book opts to simplify and ignore any real meaning, attempting to read a Christianized pie-in-the-sky-by-and-by type moral ethos into Gautama's teachings. For a great synopsis of the real function of teaching reincarnation socially, and the different understandings of the concept between monastics and the laity, check out Faith Adele's "Meeting Faith." Every other chapter is great!

[Phillip Moffitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book describes the commonalities between the three main traditions of Buddhism and points to the emergence of a Western school of Buddhism that incorporates qualities and teachings from all three traditions. In Goldstein’s view, mindfulness is the common means of practice, compassion is the result of practice, and wisdom is the essence that is being cultivated.

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joseph Goldstein is one of the Americans who first brought Buddhism to the States in the 1970's. In this book, he shares a brief history of the philsophy of Eastern Buddhism, which like many American religions, has many different branches. And he writes about the truth they all share--one dharma. Recently I attended a retreat where Goldstein was primary teacher and enjoyed hearing his voice again in the book. (You can also hear Goldstein's talks at dharmaseed.org) Both in person and in the book, he readily shares experiences from his own life to illustrate the teachings; he is both wise and very human. One of my favorite examples of his is that training our minds is like training a young puppy to sit still. It keeps getting up and running around, and you have to use gentle persistence over time to bring the puppy back again and again to stay and be settled. It is a book worth reading--and re-reading. I did not grasp it all the first time.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I found most valuable in this book is that it explains the philosophical arguments that caused different branches of Buddhism to separate and also how those different branches are now fusing together in the US, which is a magnet for spiritual movements.

But I didn't completely get how he was trying to unify the different approaches.

Was he trying to look for points in common among the different traditions or is he arguing for a completely new approach?

Probably if I was more knowledgeable about the different traditions I might have got his argument a bit better.

So I think this book is best not for the complete beginner, but for someone who knows a bit about Buddhism and is interested in understanding how different Buddhist traditions are coming together in Western countries, especially the US.

[Steve Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goldstein is a very clear writer and his deep understanding of Buddhism and Buddhist practice makes his work accessible to anyone. In this small volume he isolates the basic tenets common to all schools of Buddhism and deals with them from the perspective of a western student. A very valuable little book

[Rob the Obscure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Other than the sutras, and possibly "What the Buddha Taught" (Rapola), this is probably the best book I've read on Buddhism. It makes an important point, one that dearly needs to be made and made strongly.

The misguided sectarianism in Buddhism detracts from its value as life method. Highly recommended.

[Emily Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book by Joseph Goldstein. I appreciated his reflection on the different traditions within Buddhism all point to the same Dharma. Very inspiring and motivating

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I keep on my nightstand and read occasionally when the mood hits. I've read it straight through a couple of times and I'm sure there are chapters I've read more than a dozen times. This book is just what I was looking for in my exploration of Buddhism. It separates Buddhist essentials from cultural add-ons showing that the core philosophy of Buddhism fits easily into western culture. This is a must-read for anyone trying to figure out if they can work Buddhist principles into their western lives.

[Robert Schwab · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always felt that religion harms itself and weakens its potential for good by evolving (or devolving) into dogma and doctrine. The reasons for this are complicated, but it seems to me we lose sight of the basic beauty and usefulness of various approaches to the great existential questions by insisting that only one way is correct. One Dharma addresses this for Buddhism, which some may call a religion, but I think of as a practice, a way to live a better human life. The author provides historical context for various Buddhist traditions, but focuses on the commonalities that all share. I've read a lot of books on Buddhism, but I think this one is the clearest distillation of its essence. I recommend it to anyone curious about Buddhism, and for those trying to adopt the practice, I think this book will provide sound guidance regarding focus.

[Rubi Valentin-Jaranson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have tremendous gratitude for kind souls like Mr Goldstein, who after going through their spiritual journeys, have taken the time and effort to share what they have learned and discovered with others. In this book, Mr Goldstein puts together basic principles shared among the various schools of Buddhism. It’s a great introduction for those new to Buddhism and a good review for more seasoned practitioners. With so many eastern teachings now available, it’s normal to wonder which is “the right way”.
To me, the most insightful piece of advice was - get a foundation first, keep an open mind, and you’ll find the common essence.

[Jim Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, worth reading. My favorite Goldstein book is still "Insight Meditation," but I can't say if it's because it's truly his best book or because it was the book that I most needed at the time I read it (coming up on 30 years ago...). This didn't carry that same punch for me, but I'm not the person I was back then.

Simply put, this is an effort to get to the "One Dharma" behind the various schools and practices within Buddhism, to sort of synthesize them into a "Western" Dharma as Buddhism continues to grow in Europe and the United States. Not the first book I've read with this theme. Certainly better than some.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely a comprehensive look at the core concepts of Buddhism from the perspective of many different traditions. Goldstein postulates that while history has seen the division of Buddhism into many different traditions, it’s arrival in the West has heralded a reunification of the teachings of the Buddha. This is seen as a positive outcome, one that offers those on the path with many vantage points with which to guide them along their own path towards awakening. Definitely a must read for anyone interested in Buddhism.

[Jasper Chance-Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Dharma speaks to the essence of buddhism. As Buddhism is spreading West Goldsteins nicely ties up the core ideas and practices that run through all schools of buddhism. Rather than being different in approach, he argues that all schools aim at the same essence, they just go about it in different ways - these 'differences' are explained most in the penultimate chapter - nirvana. As this book emphasises, through practice and experience we cultivate wisdom, Goldsteins words act a safety barrier to prevent one from becoming misguided from this essence and wisdom.

[Gonpo Dorje · Rating 4 out of 5]

This living ancestor speeks well

I think it possible that I have a bias toward this ancestor as whilst in retreat I listened to one of his dharma seeds and then directly recognised the empty nature of the All. This book is more of the simple nature easefully expressed for us all to access, that seems come a well grounded place. I recommend a read . 4stars to this modern Masters work

[Romulo Vallejo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear and concise: A fantastic introduction to western Buddhism

I truly enjoy the writings of Joseph Goldstein.

This book encouraged me to explore the idea that all Buddhist traditions are skillful means from which to draw wisdom and that western buddhism is a vivid example of a thriving community that aims to share the values of these ancient traditions and apply them to make a difference in how we live.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts off strong and maintains that strength the majority of the way through. Gets into a compare and contrast exercise mostly Buddhist scholars would appreciate for the last couple chapters which I found tedious. My main takeaway was that I'm not as interested anymore in associating with a particular school (one Dharma included) as much as pursuing what works.

[sahajafield · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I can remember checking out from my small town's library when I originally became interested in Buddhism....I give three stars for the overall content, and an extra honorary star for the ecumenical underpinnings that are the thesis of the book, and a strong influence on me even today.

[Jason Comely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surely it was the right time for me to read this book, as it seemed to answer all my questions even as they arose in my mind, as if anticipating them. Buddhist doctrine can be a bewildering rabbit-hole but Joseph Goldstein manages to harmonize the various traditions and teachings.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful, Easy to read,

I really enjoy rd this great Spiritual guide to understanding a Western practice of Buddhism. Deep and profoundly informative. This book is filled with Wisdom.

[Marla Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great review of the different Buddhist teachings presented in a non sectarian way. He is very non judgemental in his discussion of the different approaches. Highlights the key teachings of the Buddha
Mindfulness, compassion and wisdom.

[DChristina]

Wonderful insights shared, various aspects of different Buddhist paths clearly explained, and great inspiration for Buddhism as a way of life (building wisdom, compassion for self and others, as well as freedom from mind's suffering) rather than a religion of do's and don'ts.

[Marty · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The essence of One Dharma is wisdom. We practice paying attention - to our bodies, our thoughts, our emotions, to awareness itself - and through a deepening concentration and stillness of mind, we gain insight into some basic truths.”

[Chance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joseph Goldstein is a one of a kind communicator of the Buddhist ideals. While I wish this book was more historical and technical, I cannot help but enjoy Joseph’s perspectives every time I am able to read or hear them.

[Ellie Syverud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. - with very useful philosophy. Expect I will be referring to it many times.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the book interesting and compelling, but he does not touch Pure Land, and that leaves out a big amount of Buddhism.

[Waco Glennon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth multiple readings

I know i will be returning to this book over and over. It teaches and it offers practical applications. Thanks

[Vince · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather dry, but this does a fine job of tying together common threads across different Buddhist traditions.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting background about the various Buddhist sects and meditation in the US. Accessible and has good insight into people's lives.

[Rick Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

U have read all of his work and this too stimulated so much spirit and growth. Peace an thank you