Thoughts on introductory books.

Patriot83

Hi all, totally new to the site. As introductory books to buddhism i have been recommended:
How to see yourself as you really are.
How to expand love.
Essence of the heart sutra.

All of the above are by His Holliness the Dalai Lama.

Do you think these are a good starting point for someone totally new? If not then do you have alternative recommendations?
Thanks.

Stephen

I've read eight or so books on Buddhism, but I can't recommend any of them as a "standalone" and perfect example. The first thing I did was go to http://www.AccessToInsight.org and http://www.BuddhaNet.net and learned the basics, and from there moved onto freely accessible books from the internet (most probably from those sites) as well as translations of the Pali Canon and audio lectures.

The nice thing about doing some online self-study first is that you can get an overview and only go deeper into the teachings when you're interested in doing so, as opposed to the strict rigidity of book learning (where the author is the one to determine what you should know next, and more importantly might flood you with "too much info" all at once when what you really want is that initial "light" education).

Jeffrey

I think that there is more than one 'starting points'. Many of the books written out there are on the level of something you could understand just by listening to the author. In other words, not a lot of concepts or prior experience expected. Its interesting that such a book can also be interesting even when you have read and meditated and so forth for several years.

Of course some books are rather difficult to read, but not so much what is available at a bookstore in my opinion.

LesC

If we're REALLY talking about beginners here...
don't overlook "Buddhism for Dummies" it's an excellent introduction to Buddhism IMHO. Maybe also "Coffee with The Buddha".

Patriot83

Thanks folks, had a quick look at the second site and it seems there is a lot on there that i can read or listen to so thankyou. LesC i have actually read Buddhism for Dummies lol, it was a good while ago now though.

MatSalted

I recommend The Buddha's Discourses and Wittgenstein:p That's a joke. Its not very good:/

Dazzle

Hi Patriot83,

If you are a beginner, as well as browsing the sites suggested by Aldrisang, I strongly recommend that you read "In the Buddha's Words" by Bhikkhu Bodhi.

You might also like to read the ABC's of Buddhism by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu.

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:T4YFxIuSGhIJ:www.what-buddha-taught.net/Books6/Buddhadasa_Bhikkhu_ABC_of_Buddhism.pdf+The+ABC'S+of+Buddhism&hl=en&gl=uk&sig=AHIEtbTufsYDu-ZvXtuYMcCpJNFOmKXhJg


Kind regards,


Dazzle

fivebells

Dazzle wrote: »

You might also like to read the ABC's of Buddhism by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu.

Let us study these in the process of Idappaccayatā. We will begin with the first pair, eye
and form, as an example. Eye dependent on form gives rise to eye-consciousness. Now,
we have three things: eye, form and consciousness. When these three come together in
function, we call it contact (phassa).

Sounds pretty advanced to me, especially in the choice of esoteric terminology.

jati

I'm reading "Buddhism Plain And Simple" by Steve Hagen the second time these days. I think it's pretty recommendable. But I'm a newbie, too. So I presume there's a lot more good stuff out there ;-)

Geoff-Allen

Hi All

I would recommend Awakening the Budha within - excellent step-by-step through the basics of Buddhism. Can be read over & over

Namaste

Patriot83

Just wanted to say thankyou to all who replied, i appreciate the input. I'm an avid reader and you've given me a lot to sink my teeth into.:)

SouthernBelleGen

I was just given my first book on Buddhism. It is called "The Wisdom of No Escape and the Path of Loving-Kindness" by Pema Chodron. I am only a few pages into it at the moment. I am really trying to digest it before I move on. It has basic instructions of meditation and a few teachings that feel like she is speaking directly to you. It is great so far.

Geoff-Allen

Hi Patriot (& anyone else who may be reading this thread

I love reading spiritual books - gives me loads to contemplate & meditate upon.

You might also try this old thread -

http://newbuddhist.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14

I also recommend Pema! Finished one of her books in less than two days. Very wise & compassionate

Namaste

SouthernBelleGen

Geoff-Allen wrote: »

I also recommend Pema! Finished one of her books in less than two days. Very wise & compassionate

I agree! She is already helped me so much, and the way she writed makes it easy for a beginner like myself to really understand. I have literally only been researching the path for a little over a week. lol

Glow

I also recommend Pema Chodron. Although... perhaps not as an introduction to Buddhism. My first book of hers was When Things Fall Apart when I knew very little about Buddhism. I had a somewhat violent reaction towards that work when I read it. I hadn't yet learned much about the Buddhist approach to suffering and found many of the things she said somewhat confounding and even cruel. Years later (when I was more familiar with Buddhism itself), I picked up the book up again and found it spoke to me at a profound level. Some of the chapters are meditations in themselves. Perhaps it's just that one book that is rather intense. I've read The Places That Scare You as well and don't remember that being as... intense.

My introduction to Buddhism was Eknath Easwaran's translation of the Dhammapada. His translation isn't as accurate as more recent ones (Glenn Wallis and Gil Fronsdal in particular), but his lengthy though engaging introduction makes Buddhism feel highly approachable to the completely uninitiated. I might recommend Glenn Wallis' translation in lieu nowadays for being more accurate, but Easwaran was a fine starting place.

Geoff-Allen

A week do you say?!

It took me ten years 2 get around 2 Pema!

Best quote of hers - hard 2 pick one out but maybe this:

Somehow, without cultivating unlimited friendliness for ourselves, we don't progress along the path.

Namaste

SouthernBelleGen

I won't lie, it is very very slow going, but I really am enjoying her. And I am doing my own research and discussion online, like this. My boss gave me the book. He has been Buddhist for about 16 years, and has done tons of research, so I am able to talk to him as well when I have a question, but I really want to go to the temple tomorrow to perhaps talk to a monk as well. I want to get as much information as possible. I have all these questions, and I'm not so much looking for the actual answers as I am excited that I am on the path, so it is hard, almost, to know exactly what to ask. I just want to keep learning!

Geoff-Allen

Hi all

Just found this interview with the Dalai Lama & Pema Chodron ...

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/faithandreason/print/faithandreason107_print.html

Enjoy!