Four Books That Drew Me To Buddhism
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ค. 2024
- Let's talk about four books that drew me to Buddhism, and why. Please put any books that drew you to Buddhism in the comment section below!
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✅ The books:
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones amzn.to/2DVH2EO
What the Buddha Taught amzn.to/2GQOSm8
Nāgārjuna: The Philosophy of the Middle Way amzn.to/2BMa9Ki
Confession of a Buddhist Atheist amzn.to/2V862zC
✅ Two more worth considering:
Siderits/Katsura translation of Nāgārjuna's classic text: amzn.to/2VaUpYN
Anālayo's thorough analysis of the classic text on mindfulness: amzn.to/2GXVL5n
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#dougsdharma #dougsseculardharma #buddhism #secularbuddhism
-----------------------------
Please visit the Secular Buddhist Association webpage!
secularbuddhism.org/
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I born buddhist in india...never read any books on buddha but what my parents taught me help me to understand buddha...they told me buddha said everything has a reason...that help me to become logical human being...at present i started reading to read books...i wish people start reading and following buddha teaching...it will make world peaceful ..u r doing great job 👍
Thank you Tushar, glad to hear! 🙏
I am 53 and just started on the path this year. For me it was listening to the lectures of Thich Nhat Hanh and Ajahn Brahm. However, since I have been very much harmed by Christianity, it is your secular Buddhism that attracts me most. The overly religious ceremonies of ANY religion make me very... uncomfortable. I hope this will change in time. I am lucky enough to live in the Far East, so I am surrounded by Buddhism and temples (got three just down the road). Have not ventured to ask for assistance as yet, but I am building the courage. I have started reading Dhammapada. Yesterday, I bought a little meditation Buddha, as I have been meditating every day for about a month now. I thought it was time to welcome the Buddha into my home. I will have it blessed soon. Thank you for your wonderful videos. They are an endless source of inspiration and encouragement. It feels so refreshing to be starting something so very new... so very late in life. Thank you.
Wonderful to hear, thanks so much for your comment! 🙏😊
I got so much information from the Internet. I discovered the Dharma at the age of 57. I’m 67 now. I formally took the Refuges and precepts at 59. Whew!!! I’m old.
I read so much on the web. I learned about the Four Noble Truths, Noble Eightfold Path. Dependent Origination, etc, primarily from the Web. And so I dove right into studying the Majjhima Nikaya, and Satipathanna Sutta. However the books which I read during that time were
“What the Buddha Really Taught” by Walpola Rahula”, “
“The Life of The Buddha” by Nañamoli Bhikkhu
“Mindfulness in Plain English” by Bhante G, “
“Buddhsim beyond Belief” by Stephen Batchelor
, “The Buddha” by Karen Armstrong,
“Secular Buddhism” by Stephen Batchelor
“After Buddhism” by Stephen Batchelor
“The Buddha before Buddhism” by Gil Fronsdal
And lots of the Secular Buddhist Association podcast
Etc.
Thanks for that list Ricardo Francis. Yes, there is an amazing amount of information now on the web, we hardly need to read physical books anymore it seems!
Hi Doug, All of those books are available as audiobooks. I learn through listening. It stays with me more organically. There are a relatively few Suttas on Audiobook, certainly not as many compared to the numerous recordings of the Dhammapada.
“In the Buddha’s Words” compiled, translated and edited by Bhikkhu Bodhi
is a substantial work. It is available on Audiobook. And I’m glad it is. There is a lot of density in Bhikkhu Bodhi’s commentary on each of the Suttas contained in the book. I don’t think I could have gotten through the book if I had to read it. Nonetheless, I think it’s a “must have” book. It’s brilliant.
Yes "In the Buddha's Words" is a wonderful book as well, I mentioned it in several earlier videos of mine. Thanks!
Thank you. Regards
Great.
The Tibetan book of the dead is what got me into Buddhism when I was 27.
I was living in phoenix and found a sangha and one of the members had recommended that I learn about the four noble truths as well as the eightfold path. After that I was hooked and I soon bought a book about emptiness, a book about the middle way, as well as a book about no self. Now at age 37 I feel as though I am more mindful about my words and my actions and those who I feel like sharing my life with. I also really enjoy the work of thich nhat hanh. Thank you for sharing these books, my friend also recommended mastering the core teachings of the Buddha.
My pleasure!
I have read quiet a few books but “What The Buddha Taught” by Walpole Rahula was the one that helped me get a full understanding of the Buddha’s teachings.
Yes it's a good book Victoria, thanks!
I would also add that I too found “What The Buddha Taught” by Walpole Rahula to be very helpful. His expansive knowledge of Buddhist literature means that his distillation of the texts makes the essence available to us laymen.
"Zen Flesh, Zen Bones" first appeared in 1961; when I found it in 1968, I was in high school. The content is mostly Mahayana and Zen Buddhism, but it also contained an excerpt from the Dhammapada which stated that misery comes to both the winners and losers in war, and that he who transcends victory and defeat finds happiness--which nobody else was saying during the Vietnam War. Quite a revelation...
Ah I hadn’t realized that, thanks Patrick!
Thich Nhat Hanhs “Heart of Awakening” is really very beautifully written commentaries of several of the core Buddhist Sutra's
I remember learning mindfulness practices and learning to meditate around the age of 6. I felt that I was surrounded by beautiful light and felt a great sense of ease practicing. When I mentioned to my mother and my aunt about how wonderful my practice was they were terrified for me, and told me to never again do this as "emptying my mind" would make room for evil to enter my young mind. I was frightened by their words and struggled with what might be the truth (their words or my direct experience) . I heard the dhamma explained for the first time in the fifth grade and immediately knew it was true - but I couldn't reconcile it with my belief in the Christian God and my inherited ideas of theology. I pondered that question in silence for years afterwards.
Some years later in my late teens I was in church learning how to disprove other world religions, and so Buddhism was also covered. But through learning the dhamma more closely, even from those who didn't understand dhamma, I understood finally that I resonated deeply with the Buddhist teachings and not the biblical ones. From that moment on I became deeply interested in Buddhism and mindfulness practices in general. I bought any books I could and kept them under my mattress in secret (though I know now my mom found them anyways) one of which was Jack Kornfield's The Awakened Heart. I have since restarted my life overseas and happily embrace secular Buddhism~
That's very interesting Adeline, I'm glad you were able to practice the right path for you!
The Buddha never wanted aspirants to deny their own religion. If they found the dhamma to be of use then it was yours to follow and to practice.
"Buddha in you backpack" by Franz Metcalf was the book that turned me into Buddhism. Such a great read for people my age. I was 16 whenever I borrowed this book from my Highschool's library. I'm now 18, and after a 2 year journey of "discovering my beliefs" I'm back again coming to learn the teachings in Buddhism. I'm not implying my "journey" has ended, but rather that Buddhism always made me feel at peace and comfortable from the beginning. This books are a great way to get back into it. Thanks a lot!
Interesting, thanks Gerardo!
I believe that if you find the texts bring peace into your life then they are kusala (wholesome in their effect)
The Dhammapada is the most important scripture I’ve ever read.
Yes, it's a wonderful book!
@@DougsDharma I found the Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma as that which turned me to Buddhism.
Dude it was the BEST buddhist book I've ever read so far...
You should read the bible!
@@TheGLD bible is ok but the dhammapada has alot of practical things bible is just alot of stories or gumbo jumbo.
Thanks for sharing Doug. TH-cam videos-namely yours, Koi’s Corner, and Enthusiastic Buddhist-sparked my interest!
Cool, glad to hear it Thomas! 😀
Some of my choices also.
I was officially turned to Buddha Dhamma, when I was about 15 years old and read Dhammacakkappavattana sutta translation for the first time. That time, I remember when I read it, my mind was blowed and amazed, and then I got a little bit in my eyes... After reading it, I knew I can't ignore the message and I was soon turn to Buddha image and knee down... Proclaiming myself as his follower forever.
Before that I was a non-religious boy and coming from a family background with Taoism belief.
Interesting story Life! Thanks, yes the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta is a great work indeed.
I grew up with oldschool Franco American (Quebecois) conservative Catholicism. I decided that before I fully committed to believing in what I was born into I would look into other beliefs and philosophies, so I read the Qran, Mahabharata/Gita, etc. When it came to Buddhism there were soooooooo many books by westerns, like 'Here is my opinion on Buddhism', but I wanted to read the more ancient and original texts to decided for myself. Being raised in such an inductive, built up, authoritarian, dogmatic religion, I was always looking for the absolute rules, dogma, creed, or catechism of Buddhism, and just felt confused. I read the dhammapada which was nice but I didn't feel clear about what Buddhism was still. Luckily I found Bikkhu Bodhi's book, 'In the Buddha's Words', an anthology of the Theravada Pali Tipitaka. It was the kind of Buddhist text 'close to the core origination' that I had been searching for, and it radically transformed my life. Now, 16 years later... I still don't really feel clear on what 'Buddhism is' lol, other than an adjective, a description of schools of thought, a deductive tradition of reasoning and inner exploration. I would say ultimately our 'crown jewel' of values in Buddhism, the one thing we might hold as 'dogma' perhaps, is dharma, or Truth, and central to that is compassionate-kindness. Thanks for the videos Dough, great work!
My pleasure Sean, thanks for the comment!
The book for me was a book on Buddhism through the Open University in the UK. It was a comparative religion course where you study the big 6 religions. I was particularly looking forward to the Buddhism unit. When I read about the 4 noble truths and the 8 fold path I felt like a big hand had just lifted off my shoulders at my desk as it seemed so logical and relevant.
That's great Ian, yes I had a similar feeling with my first university class on Buddhism.
I just started reading Stephen Batchelor and it is an outstanding working through of some of the most challenging issues in keeping Buddhism relevant for our times.
Yes that's right Joshua, this is one of his important tasks.
What The Buddha Taught, was my first- In 1985- And I just ordered another one on ebay for 99 cents, with free shipping. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is another of my favorites.
Thanks!
For me it was “The Heart of The Buddha’s Teaching” by Thich Nhat Hanh. As I kept reading it resonated very strongly.
🙏😊
Thank you for this amazing video. I was born in Bihar (Patna). So I feel I m so lucky. I Visited Bodh Temple. And I was also lived in Ladakh In my Childhood Days just because my father was Posted there because he is serving in the Indian Army. there are two lines that are more attractive to Buddhism. Desire is the main cause of sorrow and chooses the middle way path to success. Present I am 29 years old and I want to become a Monk. It's very hard to say to my Parents. It's very hard to understand my feeling to them. I read lots of books about Buddhism and see lots of movies and podcasts.
If u find the way to nibbana in this long sansara journey dont forget me.❤️
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying opened the door for me. At the time I did not know Tibetan terms but I sensed that something deep was there.
Interesting, thanks kayakjim!
I remember that one, by Sogyal Rinpoche. That was one of the first books on Buddhism that I read (I think in the mid 90s).
really loving this channel, so glad i stumbled onto it
Welcome aboard! 🙏😊
"What the Buddha taught" by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is the most accurate book on Buddhist teaching and philosophy. it's short and encapsulates all aspects of Buddhism in the most raw and concise form.
Thanks Smriti, I did an earlier video on Dr. Ambedkar that might interest you if you haven't yet seen it. th-cam.com/video/qlH_qieCgCA/w-d-xo.html
B R Ambedkar wrote the book the Buddha and his Dharma
@@DougsDharma Ambedkhar's movement is known as political Buddhism
You are very hard worker 🙏🙏🙏 thank you for spreading love means Buddhism ❤️🙏
You're very welcome Ashok, glad to help! 🙂🙏
Thanks so much! I’m reading What The Buddha Taught now
You're very welcome Kyle! That book is a fine place to start.
Great.
I took your advice at the beginning of the video to think about the books that turned me on to Buddhism or sparked or reignited my interest at different points along the way, and thought okay, Zen Flesh, Zen Bones would have to be the first...needless to say I had a literal laugh out loud moment when you started your own list with that book. Our lists converged at the end too, Confession of a Buddhist Atheist having served a very similar, pivotal role for me in recent years as I began to approach Buddhism again after having put it to one side for many years. Uncanny really. I have to say I came to your channel very recently during a re-reading of Confession, and so it was heartening to hear about the role it played in your own journey.
Hey that's very cool to hear oceanzmat! Yes these are really great books, very inspirational. 🙏
Thanks Doug, for all your videos. My book was *Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism" by Chögyam Trungpa. I had been deeply involved with a Vedanta/Shaivite/Tantric/Guru-centric group, and had great experiences. But it ended up not sustaining me. Trungpa Rinpoche addressed that very thing, but also provided a good initial introduction to Buddhism, from Hinayana (to him, basic practices, not a denigration of early Buddhism per se...), to his Mahayana core, and an intro to tantra. It led me lots of interesting and fruitful places.
Interesting, Paul. Yes I liked his essay on spiritual materialism and actually did a video on the topic quite awhile back now: th-cam.com/video/cSHKsFBytM0/w-d-xo.html
i think there is no boundary to gain knowledge . thats why came to here to know spiritual things.
Blessed to know about these books .
THANK U SIR❤
You're very welcome Dhrubani! 🙏
Also ordered 'Confession of a Buddhist Atheist'!!
Great, hope you enjoy!
I was introduced to Buddhism by books of two authors:
>Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnameese Zen Buddhist teacher. I really loved the first day I read his books. They were light, simple, and easy to practice.
>Osho, a 20th century Indian mystic. Despite the controversies surrounding -- his wisdom is immense, and I love him as one loves a wise friend.
>and the much loved, 'Zen mind, beginner's mind' , by Suzuki roshi. That book is pretty whole in itself-- so is its title.
I really loved these authors' works. each one of them.
Other few also I read, but they didn't seem that good to me.
Thanks for these recommendations.
Also, there's Shohaku Okumura roshi,, his works are marvellous. I don't think I'm worthy enough to comment on him. I do absorb his texts/vidoes. They are priceless. He has really a damn solid grasp of the Soto Zen tradition, and has really walked the talk.
And, I've observed, there's a difference between reading books on Buddhism and collecting dry-knowledge.
Versus,,
actually practicing the Dhamma,, living by the Dhamma. Every moment, every breath. Day and night.
The latter brings peace and understanding,, and the former, intellectual superority, or 'buddhist ego'.
That's , ofcourse, in my insignificant, humble view,,
As a chineese master once said,,
'fill your heart with compassion, and your mind will be filled with tranquility'..
I've observed, that's pretty true.
with love,,
and thanks for the uploads, they help.
Thanks for the suggestions and your thoughts! 🙏
Hi Doug I just had to pop in and say that you're the 1st person who agrees with me that Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist is Stephen Batchelor's best. Everyone was always recommending some other Stephen Batchelor book. Confessions is actually in my top five favorite books of any kind.
Yes it's a great book!
Teachings of the buddha was a great book, It is ~180 pages and I ripped through it in 3 hours. I highly recommend it
Great!
I discovered the Dharma at the age of 17, about two years ago. Don't remember exactly what, I've just got hooked on reading endless pages about Buddhist people and doctrines on Wikipedia. Here in Brazil there's this famous Zen nun called Coen Rōshi, and I loved listening to her talks. I felt a lot of identification when I finally got to read texts like the Dhammapada or the Heart Sutra. Although I'm getting more used to it, everything still feels so fresh and new I think I can't get enough of it. And, although I'm more into later traditions (currently Tibetan Nyingma, but also considering Zen or Shingon), I love your work. Your videos and podcasts always give me some insight. Thank you!
My first introduction to Buddhism was reading Roger Zelazny's incredible "Lord of Light" when I was 12 and then later in my teens Shunryu Suzuki's "Zen Mind Beginner's Mind". Then Alan Watts. As youtube goes some of my favorite Dhamma talks are by Robina Courtin, Annie Tenzin Palmo, Joseph Goldstein and Bhanti Vimalaramsi...FWIW.
Good selections there shawn6669, thanks. Suzuki Roshi's book is also one of my favorites. 🙏
Alan Watts -- So under appreciated because he refused to take on the mantel of academia and squeeze the life out of whatever academia gets it's hands around. Highly recommended and his talks are all over youtube now and he just happens to have one of the best speaking voices of all time and is constantly laughing like a true Zen Master. He's the tiny guy in the landscape picture who is laughing himself sick while a deadly avalanche bears down from the upper corner of the frame. An original. There will be a Stephen Batchelor every twenty years; there will never be another Alan Watts. IMHO>
In the Buddha’s Words, by Bikkhu Bodhi. Wonderful translation. Clear. Succinct. Authentic. Pure.
Yes, Bhante Bodhi is a great teacher.
Some of my earliest readings in Buddhism:
Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind (Shunryu Suzuki)
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones
A Buddhist Bible (ed. Dwight Goddard)
Minding Mind (trans. Thomas Cleary)
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying (Sogyal Rinpoche)
Awakening the Buddha Within (Surya Das)
The Practice of Zen Meditation (Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle)
The Way of Zen (Alan Watts)
The Three Pillars of Zen (Philip Kapleau)
Great, thanks!
Trying to understand suffering brought me to Buddhism. I understand it now… but I still have days where I think it f’ing sucks. Namaste
Yes, I agree. But the practice can help. 🙏
The first books I read were collections of Takuan Soho, while I was practicing martial arts. Later my interest regrew when I started researching meditation as a psych major (Kabat Zinn, Goldstein and Gethin). From there I got back into Zen through Brad Warner, who demonstrated to me that even a serious practicioner can be "different". Perhaps THE most important book for me was "Zen Training" by Katsuki Sekida. It pushed me over the edge to actually practice seriously and it is a book I always come back to. Probably the most down to earth book on Zen I know.
Recently I have been studying the early texts more, while also comparing it to Chan/Zen (Shobogenzo in particular). A bridge that seems both short and long to build.
The book that got me into Buddhism is the book that is my life. I don’t want to continue to suffer as I have, and Buddhism is a path that leads to the end of suffering 🙏
Good point, Atomic.Thanks!
The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac and a biography of his friend, the poet Allen Ginsberg, actually got me interested in Buddhism initially. But I only came back to it a few years later, after watching the movie The Big Lebowski… I heard the attitude in it was similar to Buddhist teachings.
Interesting, thanks Scott!
Thank you Doug. My very first being drawn in to was a documentary movie about life and practice in the zen monastery antaiji under the abbot muho. Title " Zen for Nothing", directed by Werner Penzel. So I started zazen in 2018 with any reading. In this year 2021 I began to look for readings, actually mostly intriguing was reading the first suttas of gautama. Your videos are very helpful, provided me with significant insights. Best. Jorgos Papastefanou
Ah, nice to hear, Jorgos. Yes, Zen practice can be quite wonderful.
Was into martial arts as a teenager. Picked up a book called “zen in martial arts”. Started reading more about zen and learned its association to Buddhism.
Ah yes I think a lot of people come to Zen through martial arts. Thanks Josue!
just reminded me of zen and the art of archery! a great one from my youth.
Tibetan Book Of Living And Dying really sparked my interest back in 1997 or 98. Great book- I really loved the first half about living and then I got bogged down in the second half about death, I’ve gone back and reread the second part later in life and it resonates completely now. Funny.
Also, I don’t think that the Snow Leopard gets enough credit as a Buddhist book- probably because technically it’s not I suppose. However, Peter’s descriptions of Buddhism and especially of Om Mani Padme Hung are just awesome and so well written. And his musings on death from a Buddhist perspective are also really great (he dives pretty deep since he was dealing with the inevitable death of his wife from cancer). I don’t know…it’s one of my favorite books and I read it while I was trekking for two months in Nepal and got a great deal from it.
Nice work Doug!
Great, thanks so much! 🙏
Thanks for the video. After years and years of wandering around traditions,I came across Everyday Zen from Charlotte Joko Beck. That really stroke me on. I have been sitting for 5 years now :)
That's nice to hear, Caio. Thanks!
I just discovered this channel and actually secular buddhism itself, ‘If you want to live a kinder, wiser, calmer life...’
That is so powerful and so captivating, so.... here goes!
Great, glad to hear it kidd!
@@DougsDharma thanks so much!
Just recently read Confessions of Buddhist Atheist. I would like to quote from that book: Buddhism is like a living organism. If it is to flourish outside self-enclosed ghettos of believers, it will have to meet the challenge of understanding, interacting with, and adapting to an environment that is strikingly different from those in which it has evolved.
Yes like all things, Buddhism will change as the culture in which it appears changes.
Wow you are so kind thanks a lot I already subscribed ❤❤☺
Thanks for subscribing Aeiyana! 🙏
In my case, it were several documentaries I think since I was little but what really got me into Buddhism were my uncles who started teaching me with their Nichiren Shoshu magazines and then I started searching by myself and a friend recommended "Buddha" a book by Karen Armstrong and "The Buddha in Your Mirror", although isn't easy to get books on Buddhism in Spanish ._.U
Ah yes it can be difficult in Spanish though I've been seeing more and more translations out of English recently. Thanks Karla. 🙏
If first became interested in Buddhism when i read "Religions of the World" by Huston Smith in around 1980. I liked Buddhism Without Beliefs by Batchelor also. I've listened to many of Stephan Batchelor's lectures on Dharma Seed.
Great, thanks!
You are helping me get into buddhism
Great, happy to help Sebastian!
The secret of the golden flower, so loved
Ah I don't know that one Brigett, thanks for letting us know.
Another great post. Thank you.
I like the early buddhism as well. Alot of intellectual and thereotically learning and reading. However, we also need to apply buddhism into the present time and engaging with society. I wonder how many individuals will have the patience and time to really read or study and yet apply what they learn into their daily practice. The current conditions of dharma degenerating and increasingly three poisons, I'm not sure if early buddhism alone is enough to support the society. Just want to share my two cents. I hope it's okay. Thank you!!
No problem Michael, no one approach is going to be right for everybody, all we can do is walk our own path and hope it's beneficial for society. 🙏
I read Mindfulness in Plain English about 10 years ago when I started becoming interested in meditation, then some Alan Watts and Wikipedia, but I'm not really into religions so I didn't go much further because I viewed Buddhism as a religion only. It took me a while to discover Stephen Batchelor and from there I got interested in early Buddhism. At about the same time I did a few vipassana retreats and more recently started reading the suttas directly. I don't consider myself a Buddhist but Buddhism has a good influence on me and I'll keep reading books about its history and secular dharma.
Thanks for the video and everyone in the comments for the suggestions 🙏
Thanks Vincent, yes Bhante Gunaratana is a great place to start. Good options! 🙏
"The Little Buddha" introduced me to Buddhism. I sort of lean to the Golden Mean . . . focus on this life and subsequent lives. Of course I could argue if you take care of This Life, you automatically take care of Subsequent Lives.
Yes that's how I see it too. Thanks Sharon!
Beautiful journey to enlarge 👍🙏🏻
Yes! 😄
Doug WHAT THE BUDDHA TAUGHT was essential for me. THE DHAMMAPADA and THE ANTHOLOGY OF DISCOURSES made much more sense after reading Rahula's book. Complete renunciation looks mighty tempting, and i have one comment/ question : Theravada seems austere to me, they don't fool around. Very strict... are there any Mahayana communities to speak of in the lower 48 ? Lay residency appeals to me: get up early and work/meditate/dhamma talk all day.... RH, pgh pa
Yes those are wonderful resources, Jarred. As to communities, there are masses of Mahāyāna ones in the lower 48 of the US. Most Zendos to my knowledge include lay helpers, though how many residents they would have (or how many in Vajrayāna ones) I'm not sure. It would surely depend on the individual temple. Theravāda runs the gamut, there are certainly strict centers, but there are also lay-oriented ones that are more relaxed.
I myself don’t subscribe to Buddhism, but as a student of philosophy I’ve found it to be among the most fascinating areas of thought I’ve encountered.
Ah yes it is also fascinating as philosophy Red.Falcon97, though the more elaborate philosophical stuff mostly comes later, with the abhidhamma and beyond. The early material, while philosophical as well, is more directly practice-oriented.
Yeah, there's good crossover application in Shopenhauer, Heidegger and Wittgenstein....
What exactly don't you like about it? Do you find it too ritualistic or restrictive? Those would be my issues personally but I find there is a lot I can learn from it even if I don't practice it or consider myself to Buddhist in the strictest sense. I have gone to several Buddhist meditations and always find them to be very enlightening.
Yes, it's an impressive edifice, isn't it?
really enjoyed Stephen Bachelor's translations of his Korean Zen Master Kusan Sonim called Koran Zen. Also has a very nice explanation of the 10 Ox Herding Images
Thanks, Matt!
Your mentioning the book “Zen Flesh, Zen Bones” is coincidentally one of the first books for me as well, but the pivotal work for my subsequent studies and practice was “The Supreme Doctrine” by Hubert Benoît. I still read it after nearly forty years of having first encountered it. It might seem a strange book for the purposes of uncovering the treasure of Gautama Buddha’s thought, but the contents saved my life twice. I bow to the translator with all my heart.
Interesting, I'm not familiar with that work Peter. Glad that you found it pivotal in your life!
It is a book through which I instantly knew I held a treasure in my hands. Who knew I could hold the treasure in my heart? In looking back, it is obvious to me now that I required the dense intellectual style of the text to order my thoughts and feelings differently than before the ‘spiritual crisis’ of my mid-thirties, and to open the realm of options and ways of regarding and perceiving. The shocks and joys it can elicit, and the depth of its insights, lead inexorably to spiritual well-being, I figure. Again, I thank you for answering.
“After Buddhism” got me reading the sutras. I think it also made a good case that much of what I found problematic came later. I am interested in the practice both on and off the cushion. To me, it is primarily a way of life. The profundity lies in the realization that subjective experience is not how we always imagined it to be. Deep meditation reveals much of the “mental” occurs outside consciousness presenting only an end result.
Yes I think it is a way of life, thanks Dread.
The four books that turned me on to Buddhism are as follows: 1) The Sound of Silence by Ajahn Sumedho. 2) Being Dharma by Ajahn Chah. 3) Secular Buddhism by Stephen Batchelor and 4) The Buddha's Teachings on Social and Communal Harmony translated by Bhikku Bodhi. I got a range of perspectives from them, and there is a tremendous amount of value in them - they are all fairly recent and scholarly too. I have read a lot of others but these four keep coming back to me.
Yes that’s a wide range Richard, thanks! 🙏
I started with Daniel Golemans books, which sparked a minor but continuous interest. I read "Waking up" by Sam Harris and "10% happier" by Dan Harris, both of which inspired me a bit more.
I also read "Why Buddhism is true" from Robert Wright, which made it clear to me that I had to really get deeper. It truly inspired me.
So I went really deep after reading the book by Daniel Ingram, Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha (MCTB). That was the next big turning point for me.
After that I had some deep experiences last year, and also read the incredible and practical book "The mind illuminated" by Upasaka Culadasa (John Yates), as well as the more conceptual book "The science of enlightenment" by Shinzen Young.
Now I have read MCTB2 from Daniel Ingram, and I often clock at least 1-2 hours a day of meditation, as well as minor meditation moments throughout the day that will sometimes just happen or sometimes require effort.
Thanks for the recommendations Krasbin.
The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh was one of the first books I read and helped me and still is helping me in my path. My first would be In the Buddha's Words by Bhikkhu Bodhi. This one was a bit of a hard read for me though lol.
Yes it's a bit harder to read, Bhikkhu Bodhi is more of a scholar ...!
@@DougsDharma Hello and I hope you are doing well. I have a question regarding a sect in buddhism called Pureland. Have you discussed this before? Is this part of early buddhism or did was it developed much later. Thank you in advance 🙏
My two most inspiring books were the Dhammapada and the Bhagavad Gita, both of which exhort the reader to meditate with visible urgency.
"The man who meditates not will come to envy the man who does." (B.G.)
See the Gita translation by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood, with a brilliant preface by Aldous Huxley and an appendix explaining the Hindu cosmology.
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"Opening the Door of Your Heart" by Ajahn Brahmavamso (alternative title: "Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung?).
Thanks A456, yes Ajahn Brahm is a lot of fun. 😄
Awesome talk. For me, it was a broad range of books, plus the TV show Kung Fu. Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, books by Lobsang Rampa, Alan Watts, and others.
Thanks B4H!
The Places That Scare You by Pema Chödrön brought me back after a long absence.
Interesting, thanks! 🙏
Graet choices: my four were “The Way of Zen” by Alan Watts. Conversations tell me that this was a first book for a lot of us. “The Wheel of Life” by John Blofeld was fascinating and fun. “Zen Flesh, Zen Bones” funny, wise, memorable and smart. “Zen and the Art of Archery” was also a key early book for me. It put a lot that I wondered about into concrete terms. I’d like to strongly recommendRichard Gombach’s “What the Buddha Thought.” Grombach does a convincing job of looking at Buddha’s teaching within the culture and history of his time, especially in relation and as a response to the Upanishads. “The Platform Sutra” has been important to me in the years I’ve continued to study Buddhism, but it may not be the best first book to read (unless your instincts are very well-tuned).:Finding a good treatment of Nagarjuna is crucially important if you’re willing to look at the development of Buddhist thought, post the actual, historical teaching of Buddha. But the expression of his thought is difficult to follow for a modern English language reader. I found Peter Harvey’s treatment of it in his excellent “An Introduction to Buddhism” a good first glimpse. Mark Siderts’ “Buddhism as Philosophy” is also excellent. If those books have made you want to dive deeper, look to Jay L. Garfield’s translation and commentary “The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way,” and “Empty Words.”
Finally, I think Robert Wright did a great job presenting and thi king through Buddhism in his unfortunately titled book “Why Buddhism is True.”
Good list, thanks! 🙏
I got really interested in Buddhism through Peter Adamson’s History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps podcast series. Then I started looking at Jay Garfield translation and commentary on the Mulamadhyamakakarika and Jan Westerhoff’s Nagarjuna’s Madhyamaka: A Philosophical Introduction, both of which approached Madhyamaka using terminology from Western epistemology and metaphysics I was already familiar with.
Thanks Dan, yes those are fine scholars of the later material. 🙏
What brought met to look into eastern philosophy and learn about Buddhism was Star Wars.
Interesting Jeremiah! Yes, George Lucas's vision had a lot of elements from Japan and elsewhere in Asia.
I was born into Buddhism (Thai Therawada) but most my early teachings I encountered were pretty much misleading and interpreted in favor of parents to control their children.
Most converted Buddhists are more knowledgeable than born Buddhists in terms of Buddhist ideology as they really learned the idea and appreciated it and see the importance of practicing Buddhism beyond just blindly following their ancestors.
I agree with you completely. When we are born into something we just end up going through the motions. I think its really important for people to look into different practices and find what speaks to them. It creates a more meaningful spiritual experience.
Thanks for your thoughts Wiput J and C Newt. 🙏
Same shit happened to Chinese Buddhism in terms of parents controlling children.
True, Dr Ambedkar was one of them. Who Brought Buddhism back to India
@@ThePitakArchives What scripture is used in Dr. Ambedkar's organization? Pali Canon? In its original Pali language version or its English translation?
Old Path, White Clouds by Thich Nath Hanh is a precious book which inspire me to practice.
Ah yes Thich Nhat Hanh is wonderful.
Thank you!
You're welcome!
Besides your channel,that I learned a lot of secular Buddhism. My first book was "The life of Buddha". Which is basic a chronological recollection (based on the Canon Pali) as the title says, of the life of the Buddha
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@@DougsDharma Hey buddy! I was trying to find a book about the history of the many different schools of Buddhism (Zen, Tibetan and so on). A more academic book focus in the spread and development of Buddhism throught the world. Do you have any recommendations? I really love your videos and I watched some about these topics, but I'd like to take a closer look. Have a nice day!
My shelves are bowed with the writings of Dogen, Suzuki, but also Ajahn Chah, Ramana, Nisargardatta, and the sutra translations of Red Pine and lots of modern westerners. But at the critical moments my practice was growing roots I found the writings and talks of Adyashanti to speak to my middle american, late empire, angst-ridden self. It was the cultural translation I needed and got. Don’t attend him much anymore - but grateful. In some ways a truly inspiring teaching puts itself out of work, like a Buddha raft. It’s kinda funny how the texts/teachings arise... How did I collect a hundred books that say it can’t be found in books?
😄 Good question August! I think books and dharma talks can be a great way to get us on the road. But then we actually have to walk it ourselves. Books and talks can't help with that (except maybe to help us from falling into ditches along the way) because we have to do it ourselves. 🙏
A friend of mine gave me the book “Being Nobody, Going Nowhere,” by Ayya Khema. This gave me my first foundation for meditation practice. Years later I re-read it and then purchased “The Foundations of Buddhism,” by Rupert Gethin.
Interesting, thanks Corsair!
Your track through Buddhist thought parallels mine almost exactly - except for diving into academia (comparative ideas, Buddhist schools, etc, and general philosophy)
it's remarkably the same.
I did a few survey courses, logic, critical thought, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. but i never dove into any depths or into any subset or Buddhist school.
After initial reading on any vien I dropped them straightaway seeing mainly boring digressions, and derived interpretations. I went to one class where the professor was an infectiously bad sample of egomania (self aimed narcissism set to academic school-approved standards). I never got passed the first class. I walked out.. not my cup of tea, I was there for more permanent serious matters - to my mind - not personal no judgement made of teacher, other than he was a bloody bore. Sad too!
After reading the most basic score of Gautama Buddha's life in Northern India and his original ministry, I invariably came away seeing whatever author/school/practice as falling short somehow, until I encountered zen in my early 30's. Bouncing in and out of it (so much to unpack) I seemingly always came back to it. It soothed a spiritual sore spot, scratched a nagging itch. Movies and TV shows helped foster my mindset on the matter. Whatever Buddha taught and led by example was my own personal journey, my own school. Somehow zen always came into the picture as a kind of, direct from the source, do it yourself methodology - but always carful not to be seduced by powerful personalities.
I especially liked books by Stephen Bachelor, Alan Watts, Steve Hagen, Shiunryu Suzuki, Archic J Bahm, music of Leonard Jikan Cohen, and so so many Rinzai zen (koan) stories and general Buddhist folklore.
I'm sure I'm leaving out many others, too many perhaps, but that's what shaped my inner world. Alan Watts especially because he openly claimed he wasn't trying to sell anything at all - and when under fire for his womanizing and alcoholic lifestyle, Shiunryu Suzuki - roshi defended him, citing Watts as a living Bodhisattva, outside the moral rails of usual society.
That heavily impressed me about Watts; he was immensely spiritually leaned but so down to earth that he didn't care what anyone thought. He marched to his own drum, chimed his own gong, measured himself by his own council (quintessential zen, no?).
Amazing man! Even today his recorded lectures often surpass. He in death has become a guru, though many debate it. That's my zen Buddhism story.
Neat! Yes, many similarities here. Thanks, W. J. 🙏
I consider myself a Shin Buddhist these days but the book that sparked my interest is Warrior of Zen. The Zen teachings of Bodhidharma translated by Red pine followed soon after and was very influential. Much later on The Essential Shinran of course. And just recently No Abode: the Record of Ippen. I still turn to these books more than any others. As far as Movies my two favorites are Temptation of a Monk and Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter....and Spring.
Neat, thanks Radzo!
I really enjoyed Tulku Thondup's book "Healing Power of Mind". I also liked Thich Nhat Hanh's books "Anger" and "Miracle of Mindfulness". But I would say that I was introduced to Buddhism through "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" by Suzuki Roshi. I also love Bhante G's books, including "the four foundations of mindfulness in plain english."
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I am not really interested in the religious aspect of Buddhism (not that I have anything against it) but I'm looking more for it's philosophical aspect and it's teachings. Having grown up in a Balkan country, I haven't really had any contact with the Religion and I'm fascinated with what I can learn from it and how it can help me grow as a person. I hope that I'll find what I'm looking for in atleast one of these books
Yes, the religious aspects interest me somewhat less as well. But many of those can also be understood philosophically and practically. After all, Buddhism is a very practical teaching.
Thank you for the video. Seven months ago, after I involved in teaching in middle schools, seeing all suffering in youth. I started searching the answer for how should we live as a society to end young ones’ emotional suffering.
First book lead me to Buddhism is Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse.
Second one The Heart of the Buddha’s teaching by Thick Nhat Hanh. Last five months I have been reading this book every day over an over. I recommend it to everybody. I think my third book will be your suggestion “What the Buddha Taught” by Walpola Rahula.
Thanks very much Başak, yes it's so important!
İş Bankası yayınlarından Dhammapada'yı öneririm Başak
Thank you so much. It will be helpful for me during search for truth. Regards
Glad to hear, Sudip! 🙏
for me it was Phil Jackson's Eleven Rings that got me interested I started looking into Zen after hearing him talk about it in his book
Interesting, thanks! I recall hearing that Phil Jackson was interested in meditation.
2 thumb up for you sir 👍🙏
As weird as this sounds, the recourse that first got me interested in Buddhism is the Wikipedia articles on Buddhist concepts. Something about the linear cut and dry definitions just clicked with me. Then I went on to delve deeper into the concepts with mentors and primary sources.
Interesting!
Well, I first have to declare that it was, without a doubt "dukkha" - or my suffering caused by the severe anxiety that I had, in combination that my then current psychologist recommended the added, daily practice of "Mindfulness-meditation", beyond the exercises within CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)...since the CBT didn't seem to help me very much.
And, since I rather soon could notice for myself that the daily meditation-practice really helped me (even though it of course didn't "magically" disappear, could see it improving - and within 2-3 years, my anxiety was gone. And has never come back! :-) ) - I naturally became curios and wanted to know more. But my psychologist didn't know much more than it was a buddhist practice....so, since then I turned to books to find out more. And I have read ALOT of books about Buddhism since then, which was about at least 15 years ago now - if I were to guess.
Anyway...I'm not going to include the more philosophical or scholarly works here - but instead the one's that I thought (and mostly still think) were the most inspiring ones:
(In the chronological order in which I read them, at least as well as I can remember:)
But damn, it's just soo hard to boil them all down to just 4 books! So - I'll make a compromise, and hope that it's alright? I'ld like to give 4 tips of the books that has been most influential on me - on the topic of: "Buddhism", as a whole. But also I'ld like to include 4 on the topic of "Buddhist Meditation/Practice" as well - if that's alright? OK? Here we go...on, Buddhism:
1. "The essence of Buddhism" - Jo Durden Smith
2. "What the Buddha taught - Walpula Rahula
3. "Tibetan Book of the dead" - "Padmasambhava"
4. "Heartwood of the Bodhi Tree" - Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, and....on:
Buddhist Practice/Meditation:
1. "How to practice" - Dalai Lama
2. "Gesture of Balance" - Tarthang Tulku
3. "Illuminating the path to Enlightenment" - Dalai Lama
4. "The art of Awakening" - Dzogchen Ponlop
Thanks Matt*ma*!
@@DougsDharma You're very welcome. It's interesting to see what other's found to be inspiring to them.
As well as perhaps also get some new tips on book that I might not have read yet! ;-)
Just to share my experience as an Asian Buddhist growing up in a multicultural and multireligious society, rather than books, the spark of Buddhism grew inside me from interactions with people I got to meet in the Chinese/Buddhist temples. Observing the devotion from the adherents, their conducts as they maneuver life, then their words and advise helped me to understand the essence of this practice. More importantly, the value of having a good guru to guide you with dharma should never be underestimated. I have had the good fortune of meeting a bhikkuni who accepted me as a student and and helped me to understand the finer, more subtle points of the dharma.
Thanks for that Dennis. Yes, having a good spiritual friend, teacher, or guru can be a real help. The dharma is at times difficult to understand so having wise guidance can make all the difference.
I would have to say what peaked my interest in buddhism in a strange way was Thomas Merton the American Trappist monk with his discovery of Buddhism and that lead me to Thich Nhat Hanh and his book The Miracle of Mindfulness. after that i just starting wandering around reading about different schools. Buddhism is so vast in scope and history.
Yes it is James. The Miracle of Mindfulness is wonderful, isn't it.
It was most hilarious 😂 thumbnail Doug ever used to put on his video
I knew nothing as a teenager, of philosophies of the east. But by a complete fluke I heard of yoga. Then a chance to use a branch library near my new home, aged 16, I found a section on Indian/oriental philosophies. I borrowed an armful of books by one Lobsang Rampa. Later somewhat discredited.....they nevertheless set fire to my interest in the east and it’s various philosophies. I went on to study Indian philosophy under Karel Werner at Durham University, UK. Still none the wiser.....but alive and seeking!
Glad to hear it Felicity, keep looking! It may seem that wisdom hasn't arisen, but I bet it has, even just a little can make a difference.
For me, Matthieu Ricard, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo and His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche were the main influencers that drew me to Buddhism.
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The first book on Buddhism that I read was The Way of Zen by Alan Watts. I was 17 at the time and that was way back in 1975. After that I read Outlines of Mahayana Buddhism by D.T. Suzuki, which was his first book. Then I read The Tibetan Book of the Dead translated by Francesca Freemantle and Chogyam Trungpa. I still have the copy I bought back in 1976 in Eugene, Oregon. At 19 I read Zen Bones, Zen Flesh. I have a copy of that one and I still like it. I have read other translations of one of the koan collections in that book which is called the Gateless Gate or the Gateless Barrier. At 21 I read Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki. After that I lost interest in Buddhism and didn't come back to it until I was in my early 30s. At that time I was into vipassana and I read Heartwood of the Bodhi Tree by Buddhadassa, What the Buddha Taught, The Wings To Awakening by Thanissaro Bhikkhu and a bunch of others. Too many to mention here. It's funny but The Way of Zen blew my mind at 17 but when I read it again after practicing Buddhism for several years it didn't seem earth shattering anymore. Of course I'd read so many better books on Buddhism by then.
Great list of books, thanks!
I gradually come to understand the belief in rebirth, or in any other supernatural phenomenon, is not required to Nibanna.
Yes, nibbāna is all about letting go.
This is by no means an inherently Buddhist book, but something that got me more interested into learning about Buddhist philosophy was reading David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas. It is a book that couches six stories within one another like a Russian nesting doll. Each chapter ends preemptively and begins a new story with a character who is in some way majorly shaped by the actions of the story prior. While the story suggests that these people are all the same, a soul in transit, I was more interested in the way it showed interdependence and conditioned arising. While reading more about that, Buddhism invariably popped up, which lead me to Rahula's book and then ultimately to Batchelor.
Interesting Sesserdrix! It's neat how fiction can sometimes bring us back around to important things in our lives. 🙂
I was converted by the Encyclopedia Britannica general article on Buddha in about 1968. Took awhile to do anything formal about it, though. I am sewing an okesa and coming up on my 70th birthday. Oh, well. ^_^
Nagarjuna: Whatever is dependently co-arisen / That is explained to be emptiness.
That, being a dependent designation, / Is itself the middle way.
Interesting, the encyclopedia! I hope the article was good, I guess it was! 😀 Thanks for that Risa Bear.
Huang Po. Ryokan. Uchiyama. Sato. Red Pine's translations. Dogen. The Eight Awakenings of Great Beings. Stonehouse said: "These poems aren't really poems ... they won't be any use to you if you chant them. Only if you sit on them will they do you any good."
Philosopher Owen Flanagan's Buddhism Naturalized (2011) was the spark for me. Before that, I was only nominally interested in Buddhism for reasons I'm not sure of. I was born in Finland, went to mandatory Evangelic-Lutheran religion classes while being practically a pantheist, later atheist. They did teach of other religions in some of the classes too, I guess, but I don't remember anything about Buddhism catching my attention then. Although, I do remember paying attention to Lisa Simpson being a Buddhist. Later on I had heard of Flanagan's book from Sam Harris, perhaps, and it really outlined the philosophy in terms I found appealing as a very scientifically minded individual. What particularly resonated with me was how practical Buddhism seems to be in contrast to our current age of polarization and outrage.
Yes I agree incollectio, at its core Buddhism is a very pragmatic, practical approach to life.
Alan Watts turned me into a Buddhist from atheist. He lit the fire and you are also a great source of wisdom. BTW my parents were Buddhist, did rituals etc but were never deep onto Buddhism.
Interesting, thanks nayanmalig! 🙏
@@DougsDharma You are welcome
Congratulations on your journey...🚶
My mom purchased a box of books from and auction and said I could have any that I wanted and there was a book called “Awakening the Buddha Within” by Lama Surya Das. This really started my interest in Buddhism.
Interesting! Nice that that happened.
Greatest understanding
Thanks Lakshmi.
Four books that I would recommend to anyone venturing into Buddhism (to be read in the following order):
(1) Mind Unshaken - John Walters
(2) Why Buddhism is True - Robert Wright
(3) What the Buddha Taught - Walpola Rahula
(4) The Heart of Buddhist Meditation - Bikkhu Nyanaponika
Thanks!
"Zen: Direct Pointing to Reality" by Anne Bancroft" was the book that got me interested, back in '79.
Interesting, thanks!
I cant quite remember exactly when I started being interested in buddhism, it has been a progressive interest mostly due to different experiences and exposures during my early 20's or so. I know I took some college classes involving different religions and Asian religions specifically. I want to say I came across it through TH-cam by chance. But actually delving into it took classes and then a spark to read more about it which lead me to a few different books which I have found interesting. As I searched for books to read, I wanted the most pure writings I could find, still have yet to actually find legitimate copies of them. But, the books I own are: The Dammapada by Eknath Easwaran, The World's Religions by Huston Smith, The Essence Of Buddha by Ryuho Okawa, and The Quantum and the Lotus by Matthieu Ricard and Trinh Xuan Thuan. The reason behind the world religions class was my exploration of different views, I wanted to see what would most connect with me, which was mostly buddhism and a bit of jainism but I went with the buddha's teachings. I also frequently watch youtube videos on the subject but have become sort of bored with the content. So the search and learning goes on without refute. I also downloaded this app, The Dammapada, it seems to be a good summary of the first teachings which I later confirmed with a website I cannot include because of memory , but I will include the link too the app:
Dhammapada (English)
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.intradarma.dhammapada.en_buddharakkhita
Thanks much! 🙏