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a book that covers everything?

chanrattchanratt Veteran
edited June 2010 in Buddhism Basics
I ampretty new to buddhism and would like to get a book like this online only book http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/wings/index.html.
I want something that covers all the lists (eightfold path, noble truths, etc)

Comments

  • JavelinJavelin
    edited June 2010
    There are various traditions of Buddhism such as Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. Although there are some things common to them all, they all differ. A book that covers everything must have a 'what' that it covers, and as yet concepts such as the Noble Eightfold Path only exist within the shell of Buddhist traditions and a tradition is generally needed as the basis for study.

    There have been some books on Buddhism without attaching any particular school, but people may disagree that they cover everything appropriately, as each mind is associated with its tradition of preference. If you just want a lot of different material to study, which indeed will give you everything that is taught, I'd recommend BuddhaNet, at http://www.buddhanet.net. It's not a book, but it's the closest thing to the knowledge you seek that I can say at the moment. It doesn't actually contain 'all' of the knowledge (such as the entirety of the Pali Canon in this language), but it does point to it.

    Namaste
  • lightwithinlightwithin Veteran
    edited June 2010
    I agree with the suggestion to look into Buddhanet for more information. They have a lot of content of interest to anyone seeking to learn more about Buddhism and their library of e-books is pretty big and useful. Give it a try.
  • chanrattchanratt Veteran
    edited June 2010
    lightwithin wrote: »
    I agree with the suggestion to look into Buddhanet for more information. They have a lot of content of interest to anyone seeking to learn more about Buddhism and their library of e-books is pretty big and useful. Give it a try.

    thanks for the replies, but i really want all that i need in book form as i hate reading for any length of time on a computer screen. Most of my info has been obtained from dharma talks from people like Nyogen Yeo Roshi, Ajahn Brahmali as well as The Teaching Company's audio material on buddhism. I guess i have been concentrating on mahayana and zen teachings up til now and have been reading http://www.amazon.com/Buddha-His-Teachings-Samuel-Bercholz/dp/1570629609/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275616054&sr=8-12 and 'The way of zen' by alan watts. but i need something more comprehensive.
  • ValtielValtiel Veteran
    edited June 2010
    You linked to a website containing the Pali Canon (certainly comprehensive, lol), which contains the discourses attributed to the Buddha. The Pali Canon has not been fully translated into English; a complete set of what has been translated is incredibly expensive; and honestly it would be rather redundant. You can find major sections of it in book form: I would suggest either the Majjhima Nikaya (Mid. Length Discources) to start, or an anthology of the major discources from all the Nikayas.
  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    edited June 2010
    Web site with interesting articles: http://www.fpmt.org/
  • ZenBadgerZenBadger Derbyshire, UK Veteran
    edited June 2010
    Buddhism for Dummies or the Idiots Guide to Buddhism both contain the main "lists" as you put it but are quite broadbrush in their treatment of this vast subject of Buddhism itself. I don't think you are going to find everything you want in one book, Buddhists tend towards the literary so there is no single "Bible" or "Qu'ran" type source.
  • chanrattchanratt Veteran
    edited June 2010
    ok badger, well put. i think i'm going to go for http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Buddhas-Teaching-Thich-Nhat/dp/0767903692/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I115E484KUFWIV&colid=2IQMIEAUF84HF love the avatar btw....my favorite movie
  • kayakaya
    edited June 2010
    There is Buddhism: Its Essence and Development
    By Edward Conze
  • kayakaya
    edited June 2010
    Maybe something more like this -http://www.wisdompubs.org/Pages/c_teachings.lasso?gclid=CPHLqM6phqICFRBLgwodoAMQUg
  • SimonthepilgrimSimonthepilgrim Veteran
    edited June 2010
    Your question, Chanratt, is an interesting one. As you can see, there is not one, single book that adequately sums up the teachings of both the years of the Buddha's historical teachings and the centuries of additional Buddhist writings.

    You can, if you are unlucky, spend many years reading about Buddhism and even get to believe that you understand it. It will not make you Buddhist, let alone a Buddhist. For that, you need to escape from the theory and, through the practice, arrive at the Triple Jewel.

    For myself, I have found poets and story-tellers more illuminating than the dry and (to me) alien sutras, and, among them, some who speak my own languages. Of all the books that I treasure, the one I would least like to lose and which I have given away and replaced many times is T. S. Eliot's Four Quartets. You might also like to re-read Through The Looking Glass, bearing Buddhist notions in mind: Dodgson had read The Dhammapada and other Buddhist texts, which were very popular in Oxford at the time.
  • shenpennangwashenpennangwa
    edited June 2010
    Valtiel wrote: »
    You linked to a website containing the Pali Canon (certainly comprehensive, lol), which contains the discourses attributed to the Buddha. The Pali Canon has not been fully translated into English; a complete set of what has been translated is incredibly expensive; and honestly it would be rather redundant. You can find major sections of it in book form: I would suggest either the Majjhima Nikaya (Mid. Length Discources) to start, or an anthology of the major discources from all the Nikayas.

    These are the books you want.
  • ValtielValtiel Veteran
    edited June 2010
    These are the books you want.
    Dearest Shenpen, :buck:

    You are really grasping at straws these days. It must get tiring trying so hard to find new ways for me to offend you with that projected "Theravadan agenda" I have.

    The OP stated that he "would like to get a book like this online only book http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/a...ngs/index.html." This is the Pali Canon. It is available in book format. Should I link him to something other than what he directly requested?

    It's accepted by both schools, as well. But I'm sure this was another one of my "Attack on the Mahayanists," right? :rolleyesc And I just threw in a Tibetan Book of Living and Dying recommendation the other day to try throw you off? :rolleyesc

    :lol:
  • shenpennangwashenpennangwa
    edited June 2010
    Valtiel wrote: »
    Dearest Shenpen, :buck:

    You are really grasping at straws these days. It must get tiring try so hard to find new ways for me to offend you with that projected "Theravadan agenda" I have.

    The OP stated that he "would like to get a book like this online only book http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/a...ngs/index.html." This is the Pali Canon. It is available in book format. Should I link him to something other than what he directly requested?

    It's accepted by both schools, as well. But I'm sure this was another one of my "Attack on the Mahayanists," right? :rolleyesc And I just threw in a Tibetan Book of Living and Dying recommendation the other day to try throw you off? :rolleyesc

    :lol:
    Not sure what you're talking about?
    I was agreeing with you. The links that you gave in your post to Bhikkhu Bodhi's translations are excellent suggestions that fit perfectly with what the op wanted.

    OH! I just looked back at my post and I must admit that I should have directed my statement to the op. It did look a bit like I was talking to you.
    So just to clarify. I wasnt.
    Bhikkhu Bodhi's translations are amazing and they are exactly what the op is looking for.
  • ValtielValtiel Veteran
    edited June 2010
    Jesus I thought you were seriously trying to claim I was making another anti-Mahayana post. It's happened so many times before. :crazy: Well yay then.
  • shenpennangwashenpennangwa
    edited June 2010
    Valtiel wrote: »
    Jesus I thought you were seriously trying to claim I was making another anti-Mahayana post. It's happened so many times before. :crazy: Well yay then.

    Nope. I dont think you have done that in a while actually, and when it seemed like you were I dont think you were doing it intentionally. I think your posts much more clearly represent the context of your experience and no longer convey a tone of singular authority.
    I have copies of Bhikkhu Bodhi's translations myself and refer to them quite often.
  • kayakaya
    edited June 2010
    Hope you are having luck with your reading Chanratt :)
  • jinzangjinzang Veteran
    edited June 2010
    Just like the name says, A Complete Guide to the Buddhist Path covers all the Buddhist teachigs from a Tibetan Buddhist perspective.
  • jinzangjinzang Veteran
    edited June 2010
    kaya wrote: »
    There is Buddhism: Its Essence and Development
    By Edward Conze

    Out of date.
  • chanrattchanratt Veteran
    edited June 2010
    kaya wrote: »
    Hope you are having luck with your reading Chanratt :)
    yes thanks. i bought the heart of the buddhas teaching. pretty good so far
  • chanrattchanratt Veteran
    edited June 2010
    jinzang wrote: »
    Just like the name says, A Complete Guide to the Buddhist Path covers all the Buddhist teachigs from a Tibetan Buddhist perspective.

    i will look into this one
  • mikaakimmikaakim
    edited June 2010
    i was looking at this book...Anyone happen to know if it was worth reading?

    http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Guide-Buddhism-3rd/dp/1592579116/ref=pd_sim_b_2
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