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Good beginner books to introduce friends and relatives
xabir
Veteran
Ok, I know probably this topic has been discussed before so if that's the case maybe someone can point out to me.
I am looking for a good dharma intro book - reliable and yet not overly difficult and complicated, which introduces the essentials of what Buddhism is about. Target audience: absolute beginners, something I can pass to anyone - my dad, mom, relatives and friends to introduce them to Buddhism. Hopefully something interesting to hook their interest and attention on Dharma.
Any good ones you've read to share?
Reason I posted this: I wish to pass my dad something so he can learn about and practice Buddhism.
I am looking for a good dharma intro book - reliable and yet not overly difficult and complicated, which introduces the essentials of what Buddhism is about. Target audience: absolute beginners, something I can pass to anyone - my dad, mom, relatives and friends to introduce them to Buddhism. Hopefully something interesting to hook their interest and attention on Dharma.
Any good ones you've read to share?
Reason I posted this: I wish to pass my dad something so he can learn about and practice Buddhism.
0
Comments
http://www.amazon.com/The-Illustrated-Encyclopedia-Buddhist-Wisdom/dp/0835607860
by ajahn brahm
http://www.amazon.ca/Who-Ordered-This-Truckload-Dung/dp/0861712781
The Buddha also taught that teaching dharma is the way to repay parents' kindness so I think it is the duty of every Buddhist to intro the dharma to their parents:
{II,iv,2} "I tell you, monks, there are two people who are not easy to repay. Which two? Your mother & father. Even if you were to carry your mother on one shoulder & your father on the other shoulder for 100 years, and were to look after them by anointing, massaging, bathing, & rubbing their limbs, and they were to defecate & urinate right there [on your shoulders], you would not in that way pay or repay your parents. If you were to establish your mother & father in absolute sovereignty over this great earth, abounding in the seven treasures, you would not in that way pay or repay your parents. Why is that? Mother & father do much for their children. They care for them, they nourish them, they introduce them to this world. But anyone who rouses his unbelieving mother & father, settles & establishes them in conviction; rouses his unvirtuous mother & father, settles & establishes them in virtue; rouses his stingy mother & father, settles & establishes them in generosity; rouses his foolish mother & father, settles & establishes them in discernment: To this extent one pays & repays one's mother & father."
I just spat coffee everywhere...that is seriously a title for a Buddhist book :clap:
I also found this quite nice for as far as I've read it:
Answers from the Heart: Practical Responses to Life's Burning Questions
by Thich Nhat Hahn
http://www.amazon.com/Answers-Heart-Practical-Responses-Questions/dp/1888375825
I only know that many, many people are offended by evangelism, and it doesn't matter if it happens to be Buddhist evangelism or Christian evangelism.
Today people don't respond to being swayed by debate and are turned off by existential threats so any sort of conversion attempts I don't think would fall under skillful means. Also, teaching to others isn't supposed to be done unless requested. I do think though that an offer of a book to a parent or friend in order to help them understand yourself or the teachings would be fine as they can then choose to read it or not.
The first Buddhist book I ever read was.......
wait for it....
"Buddhism for Dummies"
I found it in a closing down store for $5. I can honestly say for someone who had never read a thing...it wasn't that bad.
Let the jokes and laughter commence
Pema Chodron's Taking the Leap
Jon Kabat-Zinn's Wherever You Go There You Are
So they were discussing why is this so... I remembered them saying the inaccessibility of english dharma books (or perhaps it is just that the ordinary bookstores here don't sell as much dharma books as I hoped they do - I think those bookshop owners are mostly Christians) as compared to the texts of other religions. People generally read in English nowadays, but there is a lack of english materials on dharma, and furthermore a lack of "marketing" of dharma. We need to be able to present the dharma to others.
I think so too - the lack of dharma materials and good marketing is preventing the knowledge of buddhism from becoming widespread, at least in my country. And this thread is relevant, because to "market" our teachings to the masses, we need more accessible, reliable yet not obscure, intro/beginner books to impart the teachings of Buddhism to a general audience.
Many Blessings,
KwanKev
Ajahn Sumedho gives a basic orientation in a really plain speaking way.. but with real precision. His little book "The Four Noble Truths" is free online.. and can be printed off.
http://www.buddhanet.net/4noble.htm
...
Is like a comic book, but is quite decent.
The Buddha is despited more like a fakir, (actually is based in the author own appearance), but like the author said, no one knows how Buddha really look likes.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1571745955/
The Spanish version's (that I have) re-editors maybe believe this could confuse some readers so they change the cover.
Blessings.