I think I've got an addiction for buying Books.. I have over 200 books on buddhism/zen alone!

zenmyste

I buy a new book almost every day..
I read them, (sometimes ill be reading books at once)

I don't know why I buy them, as I'm not necessarily 'searching' for something that I hope is in the books.

I guess I just buy them coz I enjoy reading buddhism books and love reading books on ZEN...

Anyone else like this and do u think I just try and stop or is it a good investment perhaps..


(Better than going out and spending my money on alcohol..

X

Cinorjer

When people say Zen cannot be described in words so we should remain silent like Buddha handing out a flower, I always laugh and remind them that we have a thousand sutras and books telling us what Zen is all about, so maybe we ought to examine that little bit of dogma a little more closely.

ThailandTom

Then give them away to people who would benefit from them I know I would like some more books But being serious, if you think you have an addiction then why not just give them away or at least the ones you have read to death?

Cinorjer

So you're a reader. So you love books. Welcome to the club. We don't have to justify our little obsessions.

I spent a lot of time trying to instill in my grandchildren a love of reading. My grandson grew up to think anything that wasn't an animal documentory is boring, but my granddaughter loves to read everything she can get her hands on. Guess who gets my library and the rights to everything I've published in my will?

zenmyste

Guess who gets my library and the rights to everything I've published in my will?

may i ask what you have published?
anything buddhist related?

RichardH

200 books on Zen Buddhism is neither here nor there. But if there is no regular Zazen, they can only provide a big Zen Buddhist view. Zazen is physical.. it is whole body practice. That is one reason why it is "beyond words". The other reason is that words are relative...conveying relative valuing. Zazen is single.. too simple for words, not a valuing..

IMHO.

BTW.. . and this is just based on my own experience, I think the constant collecting of books on Buddhism.. is about a lack of experiential confirmation and clarity. It is a way of trying to fix a sense of uncertainty. Buddhism is still mostly a view.. and views always need buttressing and reinforcing... endlessly .. a new book.. just to be sure.. just to sure etc.

genkaku

Gautama was said to have left his walled palace at the age of 29. Behind those walls, he had been safe and cared for and offered what others imagined might lead to contented and fulfilling life.

Keep your books. Buy more and more and more. Learn more and more and more. Build a magnificent palace. See what happens. Eventually the walls will fall down without any effort whatsoever.

I should admit, in the interest of full disclosure, that it was only within that last year that I got around to giving my Buddhist books away.

ZendoLord84

I buy a book about buddhism/spirituality about once a year.

RichardH

My partner and I gave our books to our local lay Forest Sangha library.. the Zen books too.

But I still hold onto my old friend "Chinul: Tracing back the Radiance"

Sabre

Oh my, that is a lot of books.. That's an entire library! There is nothing wrong with it, but friend, the Dhamma is not in books. So I would consider spendinging part of your time you now spend on reading/buying on meditation or other practices instead.

“The heart is the only book worth reading.”
― Ajahn Chah

But I'm the other extreme, I rarely buy a book no Buddhism and it's even more rare for me to read one. But I do read some suttas now and then.

With metta!

DaltheJigsaw

I do the same thing, however, my main concern for me is to actually put in the work...Sitting down and practicing. That is what the books cannot teach you.

DaltheJigsaw

Oh my, that is a lot of books.. That's an entire library! There is nothing wrong with it, but friend, the Dhamma is not in books. So I would consider spendinging part of your time you now spend on reading/buying on meditation or other practices instead.

“The heart is the only book worth reading.”
― Ajahn Chah

But I'm the other extreme, I rarely buy a book no Buddhism and it's even more rare for me to read one. But I do read some suttas now and then.

With metta!

Do you tend to practice more?

DaltheJigsaw

200 books on Zen Buddhism is neither here nor there. But if there is no regular Zazen, they can only provide a big Zen Buddhist view. Zazen is physical.. it is whole body practice. That is one reason why it is "beyond words". The other reason is that words are relative...conveying relative valuing. Zazen is single.. too simple for words, not a valuing..

IMHO.

BTW.. . and this is just based on my own experience, I think the constant collecting of books on Buddhism.. is about a lack of experiential confirmation and clarity. It is a way of trying to fix a sense of uncertainty. Buddhism is still mostly a view.. and views always need buttressing and reinforcing... endlessly .. a new book.. just to be sure.. just to sure etc.

Very true! Especially with the last part! Thanks for the reminder!

ThailandTom

I do the same thing, however, my main concern for me is to actually put in the work...Sitting down and practicing. That is what the books cannot teach you.

This came to mind when I read the OP, just like any knowledge, it is totally useless if it remains in the mind as mere knowledge.

Cinorjer

Guess who gets my library and the rights to everything I've published in my will?

may i ask what you have published?
anything buddhist related?

Nope, I write fiction. If interested, you can start with my blog at http://theweaving.blogspot.com/ I don't make a living at it and don't want to turn this into a trolling venue.

Sabre

Do you tend to practice more?

More compared to what? Compared to when I would be reading a book a day? Of course.

Compared to not reading at all? Probably not because sometimes reading can inspire. Especially the suttas do this for me.

So we all have to find our own balance. My balance seems to be tilted very much towards practice, for others this may be different. But when reading becomes an escape from meditation practice, it has lost its use long ago.

I see this more often; people think they can understand Buddhism if they just read enough or think about it enough. But this is not the case (at least in 99.9999% of the cases I would say). For example, someone can read 6 books on mindfulness but still not know what it is or where it comes from.

zenmyste

Do you tend to practice more?

More compared to what? Compared to when I would be reading a book a day? Of course.

Compared to not reading at all? Probably not because sometimes reading can inspire. Especially the suttas do this for me.

So we all have to find our own balance. My balance seems to be tilted very much towards practice, for others this may be different. But when reading becomes an escape from meditation practice, it has lost its use long ago.

I see this more often; people think they can understand Buddhism if they just read enough or think about it enough. But this is not the case (at least in 99.9999% of the cases I would say). For example, someone can read 6 books on mindfulness but still not know what it is or where it comes from.

I understand what your saying, but may i ask; 'so do you think meditation is the most important, over what the buddha actually taught?

Im just curious. :-)

Im just wondering if thats what your saying? because if so, then one could also say the vice versa, that meditating alone isnt good enough because just by meditating one wont fully understand the 'actual teachings' and the 'path' that is set out for Buddhists to follow in order to attain enlightenment etc etc..

When you say ''My balance seems to be tilted very much towards practice''
What is your ''practice'' ?

Sabre

I understand what your saying, but may i ask; 'so do you think meditation is the most important, over what the buddha actually taught?

[..]

When you say ''My balance seems to be tilted very much towards practice''
What is your ''practice'' ?

The Buddha taught the 8-fold path. If you practice just a few of those factors and neglect others, the path will not develop. So if someone just trains wisdom by reading, that will not work. If someone just meditates, that won't work either.

But in my eyes, most people actually have all the theoretical knowledge they need (the four noble truths should be enough), they just need to realize what is spoken about. Of course reading more can help (it can be a seen as part of the practice), but the path only works when implementing all the other factors of the path proportionally.

My practice is mindfulness whole day through (I try at least ) and mindfulness of breathing in the morning & evening. Walking meditation daily. Some metta now and than. Of course training in virtue also. Aside from that some occasional books & sutta reading, but mainly for inspiration. Or sometimes listening to a dhamma talk.


Metta!

minimayhen88

I adore books on Buddhism .... perhaps invest in a Kindle !!! .... although saying that, I got given a Kindle ... and then bought another book!! x

Arthurbodhi

I have a lot of books, not s much as 200 but, this and you guys are my principal source of dharma because I don't have a sangha nearby. Not all my book I bought it, a good number a recieved like gift from sites like Dharma Material and JustBeGood, I'm very grateful for this.

But you are rigth, if somebody have a lot of books but don't put in practice the teachings in real life, all that books are useless.

David

I've always loved reading and I also have a collection going. I've given away everything I owned twice but both times I put my books in someone's care.

I have books from different schools of thought and don't take them as gospel but really enjoy hearing other views on the discourses.

Jeffrey

You are correct that meditation alone won't bring enlightenment. Neither will spaghetti noodles alone make spaghetti. You are missing a piece if you even think that meditation is not part of Buddha's teaching

SeaOfTranquility

I too am an avid reader of all Buddha teachings and I am very fortunate to have a library close by.

The teachings from the books I read are a great source of inspiration and knowledge.

Knowledge leads to understanding.. But knowledge without practice is probably not very helpful. Knowledge of how to end suffering is not the same as ending suffering. The teachings if not realized to be true through a practice can become little more than the subject for a philosophical debate. Without a meditation routine your chances of waking up are zero.

There are 8 spokes on 8FP wheel. Each is important. But then you read so you already know that.

Best Wishes

zombiegirl

I'm a bit of a book hoarder myself, but what helps me the most is going to used book stores. The store down the street from me gives me a 100% bonus on any trade, so it's quite worth it to trade in a few books to get a new one... and good for my bookshelf

Sometimes instead of keeping a book, I will write down my favorite passages into a Buddhism journal of a sort. That way, when I try to remember something I've read, I don't need to flip through the book looking for it... and I also have no need to keep the book.

RichardH

200 books on Zen Buddhism is neither here nor there. But if there is no regular Zazen, they can only provide a big Zen Buddhist view. Zazen is physical.. it is whole body practice. That is one reason why it is "beyond words". The other reason is that words are relative...conveying relative valuing. Zazen is single.. too simple for words, not a valuing..

IMHO.

BTW.. . and this is just based on my own experience, I think the constant collecting of books on Buddhism.. is about a lack of experiential confirmation and clarity. It is a way of trying to fix a sense of uncertainty. Buddhism is still mostly a view.. and views always need buttressing and reinforcing... endlessly .. a new book.. just to be sure.. just to sure etc.

Very true! Especially with the last part! Thanks for the reminder!

Hi Leon. My first point is pretty generic... the second point is sharp. More info... more buttressing.. more confirming.. it all stems from a lack of experiential base in practice. Once that base is established, books are like something you can chime with... but are not necessary... more theory isn't necessary. Until then it is "trying to get it sorted out".. trying to settle. It can be endless. I have a friend who is in his sixties, and who's bookshelves are groaning with every conceivable book on Buddhism, including all kinds of old teachings and bios published by monasteries in southern Asia that look very "authentic". But he has never applied himself to practice and is continually perfecting his knowledge... buffing it, checking again, confirming and reconfirming. Buddhism is a very complex thing for him.. and practice is too simple...

Dakini

Do you actually read them all, or is it more of a compulsion? Do you have room in your place for all those books, and more? Can you afford to buy a book almost every day? If in any way it's causing a problem, then you might take a look at what's at the root of the compulsion.

Buying books isn't really investing, it's spending. Is spending money on books hindering you from meeting financial goals? idk, zenmyste... 20 books/month, or however many it is sounds extreme. And it sounds like you're trying to justify it various ways: "it's an investment", "I'm learning what the Buddha said". Most of us can learn about what the Buddha said without 200 books. To be honest ( you asked, right? you want us to be honest?), I think you may indeed have an addiction. A fairly benign one, but still... an attachment.

DaltheJigsaw

200 books on Zen Buddhism is neither here nor there. But if there is no regular Zazen, they can only provide a big Zen Buddhist view. Zazen is physical.. it is whole body practice. That is one reason why it is "beyond words". The other reason is that words are relative...conveying relative valuing. Zazen is single.. too simple for words, not a valuing..

IMHO.

BTW.. . and this is just based on my own experience, I think the constant collecting of books on Buddhism.. is about a lack of experiential confirmation and clarity. It is a way of trying to fix a sense of uncertainty. Buddhism is still mostly a view.. and views always need buttressing and reinforcing... endlessly .. a new book.. just to be sure.. just to sure etc.

Very true! Especially with the last part! Thanks for the reminder!

Hi Leon. My first point is pretty generic... the second point is sharp. More info... more buttressing.. more confirming.. it all stems from a lack of experiential base in practice. Once that base is established, books are like something you can chime with... but are not necessary... more theory isn't necessary. Until then it is "trying to get it sorted out".. trying to settle. It can be endless. I have a friend who is in his sixties, and who's bookshelves are groaning with every conceivable book on Buddhism, including all kinds of old teachings and bios published by monasteries in southern Asia that look very "authentic". But he has never applied himself to practice and is continually perfecting his knowledge... buffing it, checking again, confirming and reconfirming. Buddhism is a very complex thing for him.. and practice is too simple...

I definitely needed that! As I tend to be like your friend. However, in the recent months, I have been fully focused on my practice. It has been tremendous! Thank you!

Invincible_summer

Do you actually read them all, or is it more of a compulsion? Do you have room in your place for all those books, and more? Can you afford to buy a book almost every day? If in any way it's causing a problem, then you might take a look at what's at the root of the compulsion.

Buying books isn't really investing, it's spending. Is spending money on books hindering you from meeting financial goals? idk, zenmyste... 20 books/month, or however many it is sounds extreme. And it sounds like you're trying to justify it various ways: "it's an investment", "I'm learning what the Buddha said". Most of us can learn about what the Buddha said without 200 books. To be honest ( you asked, right? you want us to be honest?), I think you may indeed have an addiction. A fairly benign one, but still... an attachment.

I agree, especially when the OP says:

I buy a new book almost every day..
I read them, (sometimes ill be reading books at once)

I don't know why I buy them, as I'm not necessarily 'searching' for something that I hope is in the books.

zenmyste

Yes i honestly read them ALL..

I do have room (at the moment) as i have a 'shrine room/library' where i like to meditate/read...

Its a place where i go to chill out and relax and just READ.

I honestly just enjoy reading books on buddhism. Theres something peaceful about reading other peoples thoughts and opinions on things. (hence, why i always ask strange questions on here about buddhism) i dont mean anything of it and its just a genuine interest..

yes i do believe i have an addiction. but like i said, its better than blowing my money on DRUGS or Achohol etc etc..

Floating_Abu

Knowledge leads to understanding.. But knowledge without practice is probably not very helpful. Knowledge of how to end suffering is not the same as ending suffering. The teachings if not realized to be true through a practice can become little more than the subject for a philosophical debate.

Nicely said.

Thanks.

Floating_Abu

I buy a new book almost every day..

:rolleyes:

zenmyste

I buy a new book almost every day..

:rolleyes:

what you rolling your eyes for?

(I suppose book collecting is just my hobbie. And i enjoy reading.

I work right next to 'waterstones bookstore' and a Buddhist Centre which sells Thousands of books, and I always pop in after work. Have a cup of tea, chat and then end up buying a book.
I bought 2 more this evening)

So like i asked; What with the eyes?

Floating_Abu

My partner is also big into books, bought a tonne over the years, but even over the years, no time to read them all as you say you can.

I am not sure your story sounded (sounds) very credible to me, buy it every day and read it all, and yet also not believe in practice...it's all very odd a combination to me and if you were a politican I certainly would not vote for you.

Just stating my perception, I could be wrong, but that was the reason for the eyes, man.

B5C

It's not an addiction!!! It's an hobby!!

*Continues to download free ebooks on his kindle."

Kindle stats: Read 2 out of 250+

how

I think everyone has hobbys & addictions.
I usually think of a hobby as just something I choose to spend my time on. If I got twisted out of shape by not being able to spend time on it, an addiction seems like the better word for it. Anyone wondering which is which need only try walking away from it for a month.

lamaramadingdong

I have about 3 1/2 feet of Buddhist books on my shelf. The way I see it, it is cheaper than therapy and I have found it to be more effective as well.

Zayl

Crap man, I've always wanted a room where the walls are full of shelves of books. The books would be on everything I liked. From Buddhist living to Mythology and Legends, Astronomy, etc. etc. I'll have it be my own little Inner sanctum.