Buddhism for Beginners
- ISBN13: 9781559391535
- Condition: New
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Answers fundamental questions and issues that arise in the minds of modern Western individuals who are beginning this tradition of practical spirituality.
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(out of 32 reviews)
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Review by J. Wong for Buddhism for Beginners
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I was looking for a good beginner’s book on Buddhism, and found it with this one. Thubten Chodron did an excellent job in teaching the basics of Buddhism, it’s history, and the difference in interpretations by various nations. She breaks down the chapters into various topics, from “Meditation” to “Social Activism & Ethical Issues.” Each chapter is composed of Q&A’s, like “What is karma? How does it work?” After reading this book, I got a great idea of how Buddhists view their world. This book is rather brief (150 pages) but it accomplishes it’s intended purpose well.
Review by for Buddhism for Beginners
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Venerable Thubten Chodron is a wonderful writer – she explains things simply and sometimes humorously, and always holds the reader’s interest. If you are beginning to practice Buddhism or are contemplating doing so, this book is a great place to start. It is the perfect book to give to friends or family members who are not familiar with Buddhism but want to understand your newfound spirituality.
Review by for Buddhism for Beginners
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I read this book after I finished a more scholarly book on Buddhism. It was quite refreshing to read “Buddhism For Beginners”, as it is an easy read. The book is full of questions and answers from cover to cover. You can pick up the book, read it for an hour or so, or just read it for 5 minutes with ease. You can thumb through it looking for subjects that interest you, or you can go from cover to cover. Either way, it is a nicely written book, with clear and simple text. For one who actually wants to begin studying and practicing Buddhism I also suggest they read “Buddhism Plain and Simple” by Steven Hagen. These are both very good books!
Review by SG101 for Buddhism for Beginners
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This is a great book for beginners with a little bit of knowledge about Buddhism already. If I knew nothing at all I think it would be very overwhelming because of the amount of information presented so quickly. It answers some great questions about the practice of Buddhism and I would certainly recommend it. My only advice is that if you do get overwhelmed and you really are just beginning, don’t give up learning about Buddhism- it is a wonderful practice!
Review by Neal J. Pollock for Buddhism for Beginners
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This book grew out of a smaller work entitled “I Wonder Why;” it “is not designed to be a comprehensive introduction to Buddhism, but to clarify points, provide Buddhist perspectives on modern issues, and stimulate the curiosity and questioning minds of the readers” (p. 10). The author makes some profound statements about questions: p. 7: “In the beginning one should remain skeptical and rely on questioning and checking the teachings based on one’s understanding” and p. 9: “I believe that spiritual practice is more about holding questions than finding answers. Seeking one correct answer often comes from a wish to make life-which is basically fluid-into something certain and fixed.” The latter applies directly to Buddhism itself: p. 77-8: “As the Buddha’s teachings spread from one country to another, they adapted to the culture and mentality of the people in each place without changing the essential meaning…The external forms and ways of doing things are not the Dharma.” Thus, she differentiates between true practitioners and p. 118: “joss stick Buddhists.” Needless to say, this book is for people truly interested in or at least honestly curious about Buddhism. The author corrects many incorrect views: p. 42: “There is nothing inherently wrong with the world; the real problem lies in our disturbing attitudes” and p. 63: to set reachable short-term goals as well as long-term resolve when purifying negative traits and actions. In addition to considerable information on helping the dying, a mantra to say when about to eat meat (p. 109: “Om Ahbirakay tsara hung” said 7 times & pray for animal to have fortunate rebirth), types of Buddhist nuns and robes, and especially children (p. 132: “When children see an adult sitting peacefully, they get the idea that they can as well” and p. 134: “Love is more important to children than material possessions. Choosing to earn more money at the expense of good family relations may mean later having to spend that extra income on therapy and counseling for both parents and children!”). Her words are worth considerable thought though they are quite basic and virtually nonsectarian. It’s worth your time now since: p. 41: “No one dies thinking, `I should have worked more overtime.'”