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Buddhism For Beginners
This user’s guide to Buddhist basics takes the most commonly asked questions—beginning with “What is the essence of the Buddha’s teachings?”—and provides simple answers in plain English. Thubten Chodron’s responses to the questions that always seem to arise among people approaching Buddhism make this an exceptionally complete and accessible introduction—as well as a manual for living a more peaceful, mindful, and satisfying Life. Buddhism for Beginners is an ideal first book on the subject for anyone, but it’s also a wonderful resource for seasoned students, since the question-and-answer format makes it easy to find just the topic you’re looking for, such • What is the goal of the Buddhist path? • What is karma? • If all phenomena are empty, does that mean nothing exists? • How can we deal with fear? • How do I establish a regular meditation practice? • What are the qualities I should look for in a teacher? • What is Buddha-nature? • Why can't we remember our past lives?
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 22, 2001
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About the author
Thubten Chodron
71 books164 followersBorn in 1950, Venerable Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron (Ch: 圖丹.卻淮) grew up near Los Angeles. She graduated with a B.A. in History from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1971. After travelling through Europe, North Africa and Asia for one and a half years, she received a teaching credential and went to the University of Southern California to do post-graduate work in Education while working as a teacher in the Los Angeles City School System.
In 1975, she attended a meditation course given by Ven. Lama Yeshe and Ven. Zopa Rinpoche, and subsequently went to their monastery in Nepal to continue to study and practice Buddha's teachings. In 1977, she received the sramanerika (novice) ordination, and in 1986, received bhikshuni (full) ordination in Taiwan.
She studied and practiced Buddhism of the Tibetan tradition for many years in India and Nepal under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tsenzhap Serkong Rinpoche, Zopa Rinpoche and other Tibetan masters for many years. She directed the spiritual program at Lama Tzong Khapa Institute in Italy for nearly two years, studied three years at Dorje Pamo Monastery in France, and was resident teacher at Amitabha Buddhist Center in Singapore. For ten years she was resident teacher at Dharma Friendship Founation in Seattle, where she continues to be spiritual advisor.
Ven. Chodron was a co-organizer of Life as a Western Buddhist Nun, and took part in the conferences of Western Buddhist teachers with H.H. the Dalai Lama in 1993 and 1994. She was present during the Jewish delegation's visit to Dharamsala, India, in 1990, which was the basis for Rodger Kamenetz' The Jew in the Lotus, and attended the Second Gethsemani Encounter in 2002. She is keen on interreligious dialogue. She has also been present at several of the Mind-Life Conferences in which H. H. the Dalai Lama dialogues with Western scientists.
Ven. Chodron travels worldwide to teach the Dharma: North America, Latin America, Israel, Singapore, Malaysia, and former communist countries.. Seeing the importance and necessity of a monastery for Westerners training in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, she founded Sravasti Abbey and is currently involved in developing it.
Ven. Chodron emphasizes the practical application of Buddha’s teachings in our daily lives and is especially skilled at explaining them in ways easily understood and practiced by Westerners. She is well-known for her warm, humorous, and lucid teachings.
In 1975, she attended a meditation course given by Ven. Lama Yeshe and Ven. Zopa Rinpoche, and subsequently went to their monastery in Nepal to continue to study and practice Buddha's teachings. In 1977, she received the sramanerika (novice) ordination, and in 1986, received bhikshuni (full) ordination in Taiwan.
She studied and practiced Buddhism of the Tibetan tradition for many years in India and Nepal under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tsenzhap Serkong Rinpoche, Zopa Rinpoche and other Tibetan masters for many years. She directed the spiritual program at Lama Tzong Khapa Institute in Italy for nearly two years, studied three years at Dorje Pamo Monastery in France, and was resident teacher at Amitabha Buddhist Center in Singapore. For ten years she was resident teacher at Dharma Friendship Founation in Seattle, where she continues to be spiritual advisor.
Ven. Chodron was a co-organizer of Life as a Western Buddhist Nun, and took part in the conferences of Western Buddhist teachers with H.H. the Dalai Lama in 1993 and 1994. She was present during the Jewish delegation's visit to Dharamsala, India, in 1990, which was the basis for Rodger Kamenetz' The Jew in the Lotus, and attended the Second Gethsemani Encounter in 2002. She is keen on interreligious dialogue. She has also been present at several of the Mind-Life Conferences in which H. H. the Dalai Lama dialogues with Western scientists.
Ven. Chodron travels worldwide to teach the Dharma: North America, Latin America, Israel, Singapore, Malaysia, and former communist countries.. Seeing the importance and necessity of a monastery for Westerners training in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, she founded Sravasti Abbey and is currently involved in developing it.
Ven. Chodron emphasizes the practical application of Buddha’s teachings in our daily lives and is especially skilled at explaining them in ways easily understood and practiced by Westerners. She is well-known for her warm, humorous, and lucid teachings.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 331 reviews
January 15, 2009
The book is only 150 pages long, so I really should have finished it in an afternoon. Instead, I found myself distracted at every turn by other books that were simply far more interesting. Now that I’ve finished it, I suppose I should go ahead and tell you my thoughts.
First let me start by addressing the book as a *book* - setting religion aside for the moment. The work is entitled Buddhism for Beginners, and as such, I was hoping to find a work which would present Buddhism to me, a person wholly ignorant on the topic, in a logical way. The book sort of accomplished this, albeit not in the sort of format I had hoped for. Chodron compiled a list of commonly asked questions pertaining to Buddhism, and organized them into chapters by topic. (Ex: Meditation, Dharma in the Daily Life, Buddhism and Social Activism, etc.) This may sound all well and good until one considers that in order to *ask* the majority of these questions, one must already have some knowledge of Buddhism. Take the third question in the book: What are the Three Jewels? How do we relate to them? The Three Jewels had yet to be mentioned in the book, and as such I was pretty thrown off. Hell, Siddartha (the historical Buddha) hadn’t even been mentioned by that point! Even after reading the answer to the Three Jewels question, it was difficult for me to place the Three Jewels into a mental image of Buddhist worship/life.
While I found the book informative, it really wasn’t what I had hoped for. I guess I had been hoping for something that would start with the life of Siddartha, and move into his beliefs and practices, followed by the evolution of Buddhist practices and faith in the 2500 years since his death. In short, I probably should have purchased Buddhism: A History. (I don’t suppose any of you have read that?)
Now, putting the book review aside, let me share what I think about Buddhism as a religion after completing Buddhism for Beginners. I guess my main problem with Buddhism as a religion is the same essential problem I have with all other religions: I simply don’t believe in it. When it comes to things such as omniscient beings and infinite rebirths and the like, I simply lack the capacity for belief. As Rachel Weisz’s character in The Mummy says, I believe if I can see it, and I can touch it, then it's real. That's what I believe. Certainly there are a lot of aspects of modern Buddhist morality which are appealing – but there are aspects of Christian morality which are appealing too, and I’m obviously no Christian.
Also, I would just like to add that every time I hear the phrase “Three Jewels” I think Silmarils. Truly.
First let me start by addressing the book as a *book* - setting religion aside for the moment. The work is entitled Buddhism for Beginners, and as such, I was hoping to find a work which would present Buddhism to me, a person wholly ignorant on the topic, in a logical way. The book sort of accomplished this, albeit not in the sort of format I had hoped for. Chodron compiled a list of commonly asked questions pertaining to Buddhism, and organized them into chapters by topic. (Ex: Meditation, Dharma in the Daily Life, Buddhism and Social Activism, etc.) This may sound all well and good until one considers that in order to *ask* the majority of these questions, one must already have some knowledge of Buddhism. Take the third question in the book: What are the Three Jewels? How do we relate to them? The Three Jewels had yet to be mentioned in the book, and as such I was pretty thrown off. Hell, Siddartha (the historical Buddha) hadn’t even been mentioned by that point! Even after reading the answer to the Three Jewels question, it was difficult for me to place the Three Jewels into a mental image of Buddhist worship/life.
While I found the book informative, it really wasn’t what I had hoped for. I guess I had been hoping for something that would start with the life of Siddartha, and move into his beliefs and practices, followed by the evolution of Buddhist practices and faith in the 2500 years since his death. In short, I probably should have purchased Buddhism: A History. (I don’t suppose any of you have read that?)
Now, putting the book review aside, let me share what I think about Buddhism as a religion after completing Buddhism for Beginners. I guess my main problem with Buddhism as a religion is the same essential problem I have with all other religions: I simply don’t believe in it. When it comes to things such as omniscient beings and infinite rebirths and the like, I simply lack the capacity for belief. As Rachel Weisz’s character in The Mummy says, I believe if I can see it, and I can touch it, then it's real. That's what I believe. Certainly there are a lot of aspects of modern Buddhist morality which are appealing – but there are aspects of Christian morality which are appealing too, and I’m obviously no Christian.
Also, I would just like to add that every time I hear the phrase “Three Jewels” I think Silmarils. Truly.
August 10, 2016
This book was read to fuel one of many different thought trains I currently have circling around in my mind. It wasn’t the greatest read and I credit the Q&A format for a bulk of that dislike. I have never been a fan of that kind of setup because I see it as a way around coming up with decent transitions and all of the stops and starts kill the thought flow. Also, it reminds me of the disappointment I feel when I am at the end of a book and realize the ending I thought stretched through a few more pages is actually done and those remaining deceptive pages are filled with author Q&A.
On the positive side, I did walk away with some additional knowledge and I am thankful for that.
On the positive side, I did walk away with some additional knowledge and I am thankful for that.
March 27, 2019
Good introduction to Buddhism, how it is performed/followed around the world, and how we can all become our own inner Buddha. I found it interesting and uplifting.
January 18, 2011
Despite the fact that there was no conclusion in the form of a conclusion that I'm accustomed to, it was an amazing mind churner of a book. I was very pleased personally with it, because as I was reading it I was thinking to myself, "This is what I believe already!" without ever having learned about Buddhism before. I think that this book relates to a lot of people of many different faiths, and I think many seeking happiness, love, and a deeper understanding of the fundamentals about Buddhism will love this book.
July 25, 2011
I think this isn't called "Buddhism for the Curious" for a reason -- you have to have at least some ground level familiarity with Buddhism for it to be of real use to you. However, that being said, if you are a new, progressing student, or someone who has moved beyond, say, "Buddhism For Dummies", this book definitely answers some questions people are left with.
Another thing that should be made clear that a lot of people don't understand -- there isn't just one kind of Buddhism, anymore than there is one kind of Christianity. All of them have common beliefs, but there are differences beyond those commonalities -- rituals, beliefs, etc. Rev Thubten Chodron is a teacher in a particular Tibetan tradition. Particulars about deities and reincarnation, the purposes of Buddhist practice, etc, are not the same as in other traditions. This is not "Buddhism" as some monolithic entity, it is one view of one tradition under the auspices of the Buddha's wisdom.
Another thing that should be made clear that a lot of people don't understand -- there isn't just one kind of Buddhism, anymore than there is one kind of Christianity. All of them have common beliefs, but there are differences beyond those commonalities -- rituals, beliefs, etc. Rev Thubten Chodron is a teacher in a particular Tibetan tradition. Particulars about deities and reincarnation, the purposes of Buddhist practice, etc, are not the same as in other traditions. This is not "Buddhism" as some monolithic entity, it is one view of one tradition under the auspices of the Buddha's wisdom.
March 23, 2023
There is definitely more positive than negative to be found in this book and it's very much a good place to start. However, many questions desperately need rewritten and some answers fail to be simple enough for the common reader. I would also be remiss if I didn't mention the obvious bias against Western Buddhism displayed through the book which offers judgement in comparison to Eastern process and teachers. Negative experience can be found everywhere in the world.
September 12, 2022
grāmata lieliski izpilda tai uzticēto uzdevumu - informēt un izglītot, nevis aģitēt vai pārliecināt.
February 16, 2017
Świetna podstawa dla dalszych poszukiwań i odnajdywania odpowiedzi na egzystencjonalnie pytania. Dla mnie była to wspaniała powtórka z tego wszystkiego o czym uczyłam sie kiedys na studiach i tak bardzo pokochałam. Temat wrocil, tak jak wróciły pytania, a powyższa książka stała sie wspaniałym punktem wyjścia. Ktoś poleciłby cos z tematyki zen? Z wadżrajany książki juz namierzone :-)
September 30, 2024
Buddhism being a school of thought rather than a religion is the main reason I have always been so intrigued to know what exactly it is all about. This was a basic general introduction, very beginner friendly and I enjoyed reading it. I do have doubts and inhibitions about certain aspects but it’s great when spiritual practices encourage those queries rather than manipulating you into fearing the supreme power and to never question it as most religions do. Overall a calming experience and I will be surely exploring further.
April 11, 2009
Recently I took my son (at his request) to a Buddhist Center for an orientation session. I wanted to read a book that would give me a basic understanding of Buddhism without getting bogged down in too many details or confusion. This book gave me exactly that. I would recommend it highly to anyone who hopes to understand the basics of Buddhism in a helpful Q&A format.
April 19, 2009
Can only read a small section at a time as the concepts are so radically different from our western ideas of reality, but it's clearly and simply written to try to explain these simply elegant ideas for peace and clarity.
September 18, 2020
I was hoping this would be more of a guide on how to implement secular Buddhist teachings into your life but it was more about the doctrine of Buddhism. May be better for someone looking to become an actual spiritual Buddhist.
January 29, 2025
Obviously, Buddhism has a lot of valuable ideas and concepts to offer, both psychologically and philosophically. This book however, presents wild theories and opinions as facts, a lot of its interpretations could surely be disputed. A very arrogant certainty pervades her version of truth.
It also gets very silly at points as she ties herself up in knots trying to defend metaphysical concepts like karma and reincarnation. She suggests that the reason the human population is growing is that we are beaming down alien consciousnesses. There’s talk of hungry ghosts and reading Buddhist wisdom to dogs in order to assist their spiritual passage to that of a higher and happier human.
Mad as a box of unenlightened frogs and definitely the least of the Buddhist perspectives I have encountered.
It also gets very silly at points as she ties herself up in knots trying to defend metaphysical concepts like karma and reincarnation. She suggests that the reason the human population is growing is that we are beaming down alien consciousnesses. There’s talk of hungry ghosts and reading Buddhist wisdom to dogs in order to assist their spiritual passage to that of a higher and happier human.
Mad as a box of unenlightened frogs and definitely the least of the Buddhist perspectives I have encountered.
February 6, 2022
Really clearly and nicely written, I like a lot of the philosophy found in Buddhism but some of it doesn’t fully gel with me. It was for sure entertaining and I’ll be giving Zen Buddhism a deeper look especially, otherwise when it comes to life philosophies both Taoism and Stoicism are more interesting to me.
August 27, 2021
After hearing 10% happier I wanted to learn a little bit more about Buddhism. This book (free on audible) is a perfect introduction on Buddhism and its teachings. Will keep reading about Buddhism and mindfulness.
Read
March 16, 2023I think I should not rate this. My reasoning is that it is the first time I read about Buddhism. How can I rate the information I know nothing about?
My thoughts?
I think is a very informative book. I think the author does a good job explaining some of the buddhist views. The explanations were short but with good analogies. However, I cant determine the accuracy of the information. I will continue to learn about Buddhism and return to rate the book.
My thoughts?
I think is a very informative book. I think the author does a good job explaining some of the buddhist views. The explanations were short but with good analogies. However, I cant determine the accuracy of the information. I will continue to learn about Buddhism and return to rate the book.
January 3, 2015
A clearly written book to introduce western folks to buddhism.
Before reading this book I looked up Thubten Chodron on the internet and found that ''She is renowned for giving very clear explanations of Buddism''.
I have to admit that's absolutely true.
Despite the fact that's she sometimes uses words of which you can't possibly know the meaning as a Western dummie, There's a defining word list which comes in really handy every now and again!
If you're thinking that this book is going to teach ''how to be a buddhist''; I can tell you; it's not going to teach you how to be a buddhist.
This book is only introduction to buddhism, intending to protect newbies of being completely overwhelmed by buddhist lifestyle if you're planning to become a buddhist.
However there're two things that should be added to this book;
- A short autobiography of Thubten herself, answering questions such as ''How did I become a Buddhist?''
- An ending conclusing. The book should have a chapter with final tips or whatsoever.
Before reading this book I looked up Thubten Chodron on the internet and found that ''She is renowned for giving very clear explanations of Buddism''.
I have to admit that's absolutely true.
Despite the fact that's she sometimes uses words of which you can't possibly know the meaning as a Western dummie, There's a defining word list which comes in really handy every now and again!
If you're thinking that this book is going to teach ''how to be a buddhist''; I can tell you; it's not going to teach you how to be a buddhist.
This book is only introduction to buddhism, intending to protect newbies of being completely overwhelmed by buddhist lifestyle if you're planning to become a buddhist.
However there're two things that should be added to this book;
- A short autobiography of Thubten herself, answering questions such as ''How did I become a Buddhist?''
- An ending conclusing. The book should have a chapter with final tips or whatsoever.
June 1, 2024
This primer on Buddhism by American Buddhist nun Thubten Chodron is an excellent introduction to the belief system, which I’ve become increasingly interested in over the past few years since turning 60.
Chodron uses the first part of the book to answer common questions about Buddhism, in turn dispelling a number of misconceptions along the way.
What I find most attractive about this belief system, particularly in comparison to the fear-driven Irish Catholicism I was raised under, is its tolerance for other worldviews and its strong focus on love, compassion and the inevitability of suffering.
It also makes intuitive sense in its conception of our inter-connectedness with nature and the notion that the solutions to our problems are within our selves. This means giving up on constant craving and instead living each day at a time.
A highly recommended primer for those unfamiliar with the key tenets of the faith.
Chodron uses the first part of the book to answer common questions about Buddhism, in turn dispelling a number of misconceptions along the way.
What I find most attractive about this belief system, particularly in comparison to the fear-driven Irish Catholicism I was raised under, is its tolerance for other worldviews and its strong focus on love, compassion and the inevitability of suffering.
It also makes intuitive sense in its conception of our inter-connectedness with nature and the notion that the solutions to our problems are within our selves. This means giving up on constant craving and instead living each day at a time.
A highly recommended primer for those unfamiliar with the key tenets of the faith.
March 16, 2022
First: do no harm.
Written specifically for English speaking Westerners (raised in a Christian social context even when not self-identifying as Christian themselves), this addresses many common questions about Buddhism in plain English.
There are the obvious basic tenets to cover, of course, but also other less obvious ones that are still fundamentals. Do Buddhists believe in evolution? Where did the universe come from? Is Buddha a god? If not, what's wih the altars and offerings? How does prayer work? What are the different branches / sects of Buddhism, how and why are they different? Can women attain enlightenment? How should a Buddhist deal with conflicts about faith, e.g. friends and family who don't follow Buddhism? Etc etc
I can highly recommend this to Westerners trying to get a better sense of this facet of Asian (South, East and Southeast) cultures.
Written specifically for English speaking Westerners (raised in a Christian social context even when not self-identifying as Christian themselves), this addresses many common questions about Buddhism in plain English.
There are the obvious basic tenets to cover, of course, but also other less obvious ones that are still fundamentals. Do Buddhists believe in evolution? Where did the universe come from? Is Buddha a god? If not, what's wih the altars and offerings? How does prayer work? What are the different branches / sects of Buddhism, how and why are they different? Can women attain enlightenment? How should a Buddhist deal with conflicts about faith, e.g. friends and family who don't follow Buddhism? Etc etc
I can highly recommend this to Westerners trying to get a better sense of this facet of Asian (South, East and Southeast) cultures.
April 9, 2025
This was ok, pretty generic introduction to Buddhism, its practice and tenets; for a deep dive into Buddhist philosophy please refer to these excellent introductions; The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation and the magisterial China Root: Taoism, Ch’an, and Original Zen.
July 25, 2011
Just finished this great introduction to Buddhism written in a simple Q&A format. It spans everything from, "Do we have to be a Buddhist to practice Buddhism?" to how to meditate to Buddhist perspectives on the environment, ethical issues, & love.
It came highly recommended by a more experienced member at the Buddhist Kadampa Center in Raleigh, NC as the best book to read for a true beginner, and I would highly recommend it again to anyone interested in learning more about Buddhist perspectives, Buddhist spirituality, meditation, or who just wants to learn about leading a more compassionate & happy life free from anger, attachment, hatred and jealousy.
It came highly recommended by a more experienced member at the Buddhist Kadampa Center in Raleigh, NC as the best book to read for a true beginner, and I would highly recommend it again to anyone interested in learning more about Buddhist perspectives, Buddhist spirituality, meditation, or who just wants to learn about leading a more compassionate & happy life free from anger, attachment, hatred and jealousy.
January 22, 2010
This book is an excellent, simply, well-written, clear-cut introduction to Buddhism. What are the basics. Buddhism 101. It's very wonderful, and I learned a great deal from it. Some of the books is written in a question and answer style, and I found that very appealing based on the subject matter. Some of the sections seemed a bit odd to me, but I imagine that they are there for other people.
I would highly recommend this book to pretty much everyone. You should at least know about one of the world's major religions, even if you don't care to follow the tradition at all.
I would highly recommend this book to pretty much everyone. You should at least know about one of the world's major religions, even if you don't care to follow the tradition at all.
February 5, 2017
I'm rating this three stars rather than four due to the audio format. It's very well presented, but there is simply too much information in this short book to absorb in audio.
That said, this is a very good introduction to Buddhism for the curious, with an amazing amount of data packed into four hours of listening! It's clear and well-organized, and covers several different traditions. I suspect a hard copy or Kindle edition is the way to go with this one -- it seems intended for reference, as well as for reading straight through.
That said, this is a very good introduction to Buddhism for the curious, with an amazing amount of data packed into four hours of listening! It's clear and well-organized, and covers several different traditions. I suspect a hard copy or Kindle edition is the way to go with this one -- it seems intended for reference, as well as for reading straight through.
December 6, 2011
I must be really dumb because I had a terrible time with Buddhism for Beginners. So often, I just couldn't understand terms in sentences or whole sentences that seemed totally abstract. I would read them over and over and just not know what the author was talking about.
Then, I read other people's reviews and they seemed to have had no trouble grasping the concepts. I had to give up; I need Introduction to Buddhism for Beginners.
August 26, 2022
This was the first book I’ve read about Buddhist teachings that made me say, “wow, Buddhism can be filled with judgmental nonsense.” So either that mean this book was very good or not so good and borderline dangerous.
May 7, 2009
I plan to keep this book around as a reference book - it does a great job of defining buddhist terms in easy-to-understand ways.
January 15, 2023
Any book which uses the argument that something is real based on people being unable to disprove it deserves one star.
Abortions are also not bad karma.
Abortions are also not bad karma.
September 3, 2025
The book does a good job of laying out the basics of Buddhist thought in a clear and accessible way. The language is simple, which makes it easy to follow even if you’ve never read about Buddhism before. I appreciated that it avoided being overly academic or heavy with jargon.
That said, the book feels more like a surface-level overview than a truly comprehensive guide. Some sections felt a bit repetitive, and I found myself wishing it included more practical applications or deeper explanations of core practices like meditation and mindfulness. If you’re looking for a quick, beginner-friendly overview, this works well. But if you’re hoping to really dive into Buddhist philosophy or daily practice, you’ll likely need to supplement it with other books.
That said, the book feels more like a surface-level overview than a truly comprehensive guide. Some sections felt a bit repetitive, and I found myself wishing it included more practical applications or deeper explanations of core practices like meditation and mindfulness. If you’re looking for a quick, beginner-friendly overview, this works well. But if you’re hoping to really dive into Buddhist philosophy or daily practice, you’ll likely need to supplement it with other books.
January 18, 2020
This appears to me an underrated little book. The author didn't set out to initiate the mass or make you interested in buddhism. As explained in the introduction, she has these FAQs that she answers in some center. As the title suggests, it's meant for the more introductory questions.
Buddha’s teaching is to avoid hurting others and help them as much as possible. Recognize that everyone is similar to us in trying to have a good life and be happy (this latter part is perhaps a more modern day wording). Stop judging them and have empathy. The three jewels are Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. A buddha is anyone that is enlightened. Dharma is his teachings. Sangha are (ordained) people to guide you practice the way. The three jewels are analogous to doctor, medicine, and nurses.
The book explains what the path should be: 1. Become a good person that lives harmoniously with others; 2. Once our actions and speech are calmer, we can develop our mind with single pointed concentration — meditative stabilization; 3. Higher training in wisdom is to cut the root of suffering (to perceive that there is no independent existence).
There are some advices on daily life. For instance, practice meditation: first practice breathing, then quiet time to digest our experience, look at our lives, and cultivate our good qualities. In the evening, take a little time to review the day's events, purify any harmful attitudes or behavior, rejoice in the changes and positive attitudes you're developing.
It doles out little packets of wisdom: Children learn largely through examples, the best way to teach is through examples. It's not always easy. They also provide the best and most difficult challenge to practice patience. (100% agree) So one should learn about antidote for anger from buddhism (I'll work on that.)
The author discusses many little questions people asked and is very honest about things she doesn't understand (e.g., why after death, the intermediate stage -- bardo -- lasts only 49 days).
An interesting piece of side information you can obtain is the *questions* people ask. They give you a glance of people drawn (for whatever reason and in whatever degree) to buddhism: some are interested in the more technical (e.g., the meaning of "om mani padme hum"); others wonder if prayers will be answered.
Buddha’s teaching is to avoid hurting others and help them as much as possible. Recognize that everyone is similar to us in trying to have a good life and be happy (this latter part is perhaps a more modern day wording). Stop judging them and have empathy. The three jewels are Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. A buddha is anyone that is enlightened. Dharma is his teachings. Sangha are (ordained) people to guide you practice the way. The three jewels are analogous to doctor, medicine, and nurses.
The book explains what the path should be: 1. Become a good person that lives harmoniously with others; 2. Once our actions and speech are calmer, we can develop our mind with single pointed concentration — meditative stabilization; 3. Higher training in wisdom is to cut the root of suffering (to perceive that there is no independent existence).
There are some advices on daily life. For instance, practice meditation: first practice breathing, then quiet time to digest our experience, look at our lives, and cultivate our good qualities. In the evening, take a little time to review the day's events, purify any harmful attitudes or behavior, rejoice in the changes and positive attitudes you're developing.
It doles out little packets of wisdom: Children learn largely through examples, the best way to teach is through examples. It's not always easy. They also provide the best and most difficult challenge to practice patience. (100% agree) So one should learn about antidote for anger from buddhism (I'll work on that.)
The author discusses many little questions people asked and is very honest about things she doesn't understand (e.g., why after death, the intermediate stage -- bardo -- lasts only 49 days).
An interesting piece of side information you can obtain is the *questions* people ask. They give you a glance of people drawn (for whatever reason and in whatever degree) to buddhism: some are interested in the more technical (e.g., the meaning of "om mani padme hum"); others wonder if prayers will be answered.
October 8, 2023
Very helpful book, i do wish it was a but simpler, but it did helped a lot with the questions. Helped me understand Buddhism more, i am in a new journey with spirituality and this book help me seek out more information on Buddhism. This book helps and explain the gist of Buddhism, it explains it by answering common questions. Buddhism beliefs is the closest that i feel connected with. I am thankful for this book and excited for my new spiritual journey
Displaying 1 - 30 of 331 reviews