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Hi

want2knowwant2know
edited October 2010 in Buddhism Basics
Hi everyone, I don't know much about Buddhism but I want to learn. Can anyone recommend any websites or books that are very beginner friendly?

I've had a look in the book section but I want to make it very clear that I really know very little, and want something very simple to read.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Comments

  • seeker242seeker242 Zen Florida, USA Veteran
    edited September 2010
    Hi! This site is good. They have a lot of stuff from beginner to advanced.

    http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/basic-guide.htm
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    edited September 2010
    want2know wrote: »
    Hi everyone, I don't know much about Buddhism but I want to learn. Can anyone recommend any websites or books that are very beginner friendly?

    I've had a look in the book section but I want to make it very clear that I really know very little, and want something very simple to read.

    Any recommendations would be appreciated.

    The best reader-friendly book I could recommend is by Lama Surya Das.
    Very anecdotal, fun to read, and informative.
    His "Awakening" trilogy is worth looking at.
    Surya Das is the author of the "Awakening Trilogy" -- AWAKENING THE BUDDHA WITHIN: Eight Steps to Enlightenment (Broadway Books, 1997),....AWAKENING TO THE SACRED: Building a Spiritual Life from Scratch (Broadway Books, 1999; and AWAKENING THE BUDDHIST HEART: Integrating Love, Meaning and Connection into Every Part of Your Life (Broadway Books, 2000).

    (From here. The above titles are provided as links to the books themselves)
  • andyrobynandyrobyn Veteran
    edited September 2010
    Agree, frederica, the "Awakening Triology" would be good introductory read. Also have found Pema Chodron's books a popular introduction selection chosen from my bookshelf by interested friends :)
  • DazzleDazzle
    edited September 2010
    Hi Want2know,

    I agree with seeker242 about the Buddhanet site where there is a beginners section.

    You might like to look at the teachings of Ajahn Chah and then Bhikkhu Buddhadasa after that, as well as others on this site:

    http://www.what-buddha-taught.net/

    Its also good to investigate the teachings of the historical Buddha first.

    This book is a recommended introduction (and there are excerpts available to read at Buddhanet)

    http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Buddhadhamma-Natural-Laws-and-Values-Life-/380195654107?pt=US_Nonfiction_Book&hash=item588



    Kind wishes,

    Dazzle

    .
  • bodhiactivitybodhiactivity
    edited September 2010
    Can recommend Gates to Buddhist Practice and Change of Heart by Chagdud Tulku.

    Also, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche

    And Dharma Paths by Khenpo Kathar, The Four Noble Truths by Geshe Tashi Tsering

    And books by Dalai Lama are very clear.
  • bodhiactivitybodhiactivity
    edited September 2010
    Also some of the books by Kalu Rinpoche, i've found to be very simple and clear for beginners...
    like
    Foundations of Tibetan Buddhism
    Luminous Mind
    Gently Whispered: Oral Teachings
    Profound Buddhism: From Hinayana to Vajrayana
  • zider_redzider_red Explorer
    edited September 2010
    if you want to get right down to the basics then an excellent book, that is also fun to read, is http://www.amazon.co.uk/Buddha-Beginners-Jane-Hope/dp/1874166188/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1285412015&sr=1-11
  • want2knowwant2know
    edited September 2010
    WOW, loads of replies, thanks everyone!

    Very much appreciated.

    I'll let you know which books I go for ;-)

    And I'll check out that website.


    And those of you who practise buddhism, how strict are you with it? Would love to see loads of replies again :)
  • jspacemanjspaceman
    edited October 2010
    I'm fairly new to all this as well, but this site just keeps coming up with the answers! I don't post every day, but I check it out daily as there is always some advice or quote that helps me through. I cannot recommend this forum highly enough.

    It is not about where you are from, but where you are at.
  • jeniferjenifer
    edited October 2010
    I am also newbie and feel good to get into this forum. Thanks.
  • ToshTosh Veteran
    edited October 2010
    I quite like the talks given by this British Buddhist:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNiS2OI-bSk

    He's easy to follow, human, and sometimes funny (though he repeats the same jokes :D).
  • want2knowwant2know
    Thanks again to all who have replied, appreciated.

    Can I ask why and how you came to Buddhism? I'm curious, that's all.

    Thanks again.
  • Rmurray1985Rmurray1985
    You know... I think a lot of practitioners here would say that their whole life led them to Buddhism...

    But, I think a lot of people also continue to study and practice because they're just unsatisfied with life in general... They reach a point where they just see so many fundamental flaws in mundane life... Realizing exactly what it is that can truly bring them happiness...
  • Ficus_religiosaFicus_religiosa Veteran
    I think the simplest book ready at hand is "Good Question, Good Answer" from buddhanet. Just google "good question, good answer.pdf" :)
  • DakiniDakini Veteran
    WOW, loads of replies, thanks everyone!

    And those of you who practise buddhism, how strict are you with it? Would love to see loads of replies again :)
    There's a thread on "How Strict Are You With The Precepts?" Look it up, then if you still need to ask, start a new thread.

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