Product Description

2,500 years after the passing of Buddha, his message continues to resonate. This highly accessible, best-seller covers topics such as: Who was Buddha?; The nature of our mind; Past and future lives; Karma; Why and how to meditate; The path to enlightenment. The book explains the essential principles of the Buddhist way of life and what it means to be a Buddhist. Meditation is explained clearly and simply as a tool for developing qualities such as inner peace, love, and patience. Those developing an interest in Buddhism and meditation will find this book an ideal guide.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14652 in Books
• Published on: 2001-04-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 190 pages

Review
'A brilliantly clear and concise introduction to this vast subject, helpful to readers of all levels including those who have no previous knowledge. Very highly recommended.' - Yoga & Health Magazine 'This book succeeds admirably in presenting its subject with clarity and insight.....a highly commendable and deeply felt work that I can recommend without hesitation.' - Chalice 'A perfect little journal of Buddhist education with material to challenge any student of Buddhist thought.' - Shambala Sun

Chalice
"This book succeeds admirably... a highly commendable and deeply felt work that I can recommend without hesitation."

Shambhala Sun
"A perfect little journal of Buddhist education with material to challenge any student of Buddhist thought."

Customer Reviews

A clear introduction to Buddhism
Anyone wishes to know what the practice in Buddhism is really about, should read this book. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, is a fully ordained Buddhist monk and teacher from Tibet. I believe he has written about 19 books from the introduction, to actual practices from the Sutra to the Tantra. This is not some MGM or Tourist version, but the real thing. The text is clear with great examples and the constant message is to practice gaining a happy and content mind for oneself as others. It also provides the same teaching as the Buddhist monks in Tibet receive over many years and Geshe Kelsang has managed to present an introduction to these teachings in a language that we can understand, without having a degree in philosophy.

If you really want a realistic introduction to Buddhism than this book is a must read.

Clear and 100% un-preachy
I didn't find this book sect-ish at all! I found it clearly explained alot of the aspects of buddhism which can be hard for an agnostic westerner to understand (well me anyway!); other books had avoided illustrating concepts like re-incarnation altogether. It is an unafraid, clear and beatifully written book on the subject. It's up to the reader to take on board the authors analogies, they aren't forced down the readers throat. Fully recommended!

Clear and To The Point. Excellent Introduction.
OK: first things first. This book will challange some of your beliefs, so if you don't want that, then don't buy it. Otherwise, buy it, suspend judgement for a few hours, and enjoy! Remember that when the author uses words like 'should' he is only expressing his personal opinion, it's up to us to decide whether we agree with it or not.

Since this sort of book is explaining the views of another religion, one that is very different to what we might be used to, it's always going to be tempting to label it 'cultish' or 'extreme', unless it's read with a very open mind. Having read the book, I can't find anything cultish about it - no one, having read and understood this book, is going to try and abandon their family or have their brain washed or anything like that. Quite the opposite, in fact: by explaining things clearly, the author makes it quite easy for the reader to make up his or her own mind about what's put forward. Sure, it might take a few readings to fully make sense of, and some of the ideas might seem a little strange at first, but I think that's to be expected from a religion that's comparatively new to the West.

I know from having read some of the author's other books that he makes a point of explaining that this strand of Buddhism should be practised in conjunction with your everyday life, not apart from it. This to me seems particularly heart-warming, since you're not being asked to give up your family or friends to get the benefits out of the practice of meditation. I've found some of the things in this book difficult to understand at first, but at least I can come away knowing that I don't have to climb a mountain or become a monk to put the ideas that I did like, into practice.

The clarity of presentation is impressive: maybe some difficult ideas or unfamiliar terminology, but on balance this is a particularly accessible introduction to Buddhism. I think there's even a glossary that explains some of the unfamiliar words. The book repays repeated reading with an open mind: be prepared to have some of your beliefs and assumptions challanged but don't feel as though you *have* to believe anything. Make your own mind up. I think this book was written as a simple explanation rather than a rulebook of what Buddhists should and shouldn't believe.

All in all, this seems like a practical and illuminating book that makes for a rewarding read. Recommended.