What's a budding Buddhist to do?
Buddhism in the west has been packaged and mass-marketed under the march of capitalism since the 1950's. The newcomer to Buddhist literature now has hundreds, if not thousands, of titles to choose from, and it's a daunting choice indeed!
You can find many excellent Buddhist books by academics, historians, scholars and Buddhist monks; but you may also be unlucky enough to purchase titles that present more of the authors own beliefs and biases than the actual teachings of the Buddha. Worse, you could get hold of something that's little more than hurriedly-assembled money-making venture with no regard for accuracy whatsoever.
When I first ventured into Buddhism, the sheer quantity of texts seemed overwhelming and almost off-putting. With time (a lot of it), I'd cut a swathe through many works - the good, the bad, and the ugly - and a few came to the fore as being concise, entertaining and accurate. I decided to create this page as a useful time-saving device so that the newcomer to Buddhism could avoid the literary lemons.
The list below is a solid introductory course for any new Buddhist (or even just for interested Non-Buddhists). It is presented in recommended reading order from #1 (read it first) to #10 (read it last). These books will help you form a well-rounded, accurate perspective of the Buddha's teachings, and will give you a clear understanding of what Buddhism is, what it isn't, and how it may be able to bring a whole new level of peace and happiness to your daily life.
Enjoy!
~PCS
You can find many excellent Buddhist books by academics, historians, scholars and Buddhist monks; but you may also be unlucky enough to purchase titles that present more of the authors own beliefs and biases than the actual teachings of the Buddha. Worse, you could get hold of something that's little more than hurriedly-assembled money-making venture with no regard for accuracy whatsoever.
When I first ventured into Buddhism, the sheer quantity of texts seemed overwhelming and almost off-putting. With time (a lot of it), I'd cut a swathe through many works - the good, the bad, and the ugly - and a few came to the fore as being concise, entertaining and accurate. I decided to create this page as a useful time-saving device so that the newcomer to Buddhism could avoid the literary lemons.
The list below is a solid introductory course for any new Buddhist (or even just for interested Non-Buddhists). It is presented in recommended reading order from #1 (read it first) to #10 (read it last). These books will help you form a well-rounded, accurate perspective of the Buddha's teachings, and will give you a clear understanding of what Buddhism is, what it isn't, and how it may be able to bring a whole new level of peace and happiness to your daily life.
Enjoy!
~PCS
Contents
- 1. "Buddhism For Dummies" by Jonathan Landaw
- 2. "Buddha" by Karen Armstrong
- 3. "What The Buddha Taught" by Walpola Rahula
- 4. "Buddhism Without Beliefs" by Stephen Batchelor
- 5. "Old Path, White Clouds" by Thich Nhat Hanh
- 6. "When Things Fall Apart" by Pema Chodron
- 7. "The Heart Of The Buddha's Teachings" by Thich Nhat Hanh
- 8. "Mindfulness in Plain English" by Bhante H. Gunaratana
- 9. "The Dhammapada" by Jack Kornfield and Gil Fronsdal
- 10. "In the Buddha's Words" by Bhikku Bodhi
- Honorable Mentions
- Did I miss something? What do YOU think?
- Please sign my guestbook!
1. "Buddhism For Dummies" by Jonathan Landaw
A light and accessible overview of all Buddhist traditions
While many Buddhist scholars might have an aneurysm hearing me say this, I believe the best place to start is with a friendly, relatively accurate and easy-to-read overview of all the Buddhist traditions. In this respect, you just can't beat the Buddhism for Dummies book.While perhaps not particularly spiritually moving or inspiring, Buddhism for Dummies answers the common questions most beginners have in simple and accessible language. It lays a great foundation for future understanding. You'll learn about the historical context of Buddhism and how it spread from it's origins in India across the world. You'll find broad explanations of all the different Buddhist traditions, how they are similar and where they differ.
The author, Jonathan Landaw, spent six years as editor for the English translation bureau of the Dalai Lama in India and is a respected teacher of Buddhist meditation.
Buy "Buddhism For Dummies" on Amazon
Buddhism For Dummies (For Dummies (Religion & Spirituality))
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 01/01/2010) 
Used Price: $4.25
2. "Buddha" by Karen Armstrong
An academic historians take on Buddha's life and teachings
I didn't read Karen Armstrong's Buddha until fairly late into my studies, but boy do I wish I'd found it earlier!Armstrong - a former Catholic nun and prominent author of books on comparative religion - paints a compelling portrait of what the real human face behind the mythical figure of Buddha may have been like.
Pulling on historical theories and archaeological evidence, this book creates a vivid and realistic vision of India in the axial age - 2500 years ago. Through these tumultuous social and economic conditions, Armstrong follows Buddha from birth to death and explains how he may have come to his profound revelations. The result is a fresh, engaging speculative biography that humanizes Buddha and makes his life and teachings more comprehensible to westerners.
This book makes it early into my introductory list because I feel it's important for newcomers to understand the historical and geographical context of his teachings. We don't really know who Buddha was, or if he even truly existed, but this book probably gets as close to the truth as one could hope for.
3. "What The Buddha Taught" by Walpola Rahula
An accurate and scholarly overview of what Buddhists believe
Now you've read Buddhism for Dummies for a broad overview of Buddhism and Karen Armstrong's Buddha for a solid vision of who the man really was, it's time to get to the nitty-gritty - what he really taught.For a concise description of the core teachings of Buddhism - that is, those principals that almost every school and tradition agree upon - it doesn't get much better than Walpola Rahula's What the Buddha Taught. This book was written in 1959 and the fact that it continues to be re-printed to this day is testimony to how good it is. It lays out the basics of Buddhist thought in a succinct and straightforward manner, and it's the yardstick by which all other Buddhist introductory books should be measured.
Buy "What The Buddha Taught" on Amazon
What the Buddha Taught: Revised and Expanded Edition with Texts from Suttas and Dhammapada
Amazon Price: $10.08 (as of 01/01/2010)
Used Price: $5.67
4. "Buddhism Without Beliefs" by Stephen Batchelor
A brave and refreshing agnostic view of Buddhism
Once in a while a book comes along that really shakes up the establishment. For Buddhism, that book was Stephen Batchelor's Buddhism without Beliefs.Batchelor took the brave step of critically examining Buddhism and attempting to strip away some of the dogmatism and mythological speculation that he believes has accumulated over the centuries. He makes a strong case for agnostic Buddhism - claiming you can adhere to, and benefit from, the basic tenets without necessarily needing a belief in the metaphysical and supernatural aspects.
An astonishing amount of criticism and animosity has been leveled at Batchelor over his claims, but I would argue that Buddhism is the world's most flexible and evolving religion, and this book offers a healthy and fresh take on it.
Buy "Buddhism Without Beliefs" on Amazon
Buddhism Without Beliefs: A Contemporary Guide to Awakening
Amazon Price: $9.36 (as of 01/01/2010)
Used Price: $5.13
5. "Old Path, White Clouds" by Thich Nhat Hanh
A warmer tale of the Buddha's life
Armed with the healthy Skepticism provided by some of the previous titles, you can now venture into more reverent and poetic Buddhist writings - such as those of the famous Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh - and enjoy them more fully.Old Path, White Clouds is another biography of the Buddha but written from the exact opposite angle than Karen Armstrong's Buddha (see title #2 above). While Armstrong approaches the Buddha's life through a historical lens, Thich Nhat Hanh comes at it from the mythical angle. Old Path, White Clouds is a beautiful storybook, purely and gently told in a simple, non-scholarly style. It tells the story alternately through the eyes of the Buddha himself and through the eyes of Svasti - one of his followers.
A visit to any Buddhist school or online forum will reveal how many people love this book. Its gentle and peaceful tone are often cited, and some people have said that reading it is like "walking with Buddha by your side."
Buy "Old Path, White Clouds" on Amazon
Old Path White Clouds
Amazon Price: (as of 01/01/2010)
Used Price: $23.50
6. "When Things Fall Apart" by Pema Chodron
An emergency survival kit for difficult times
A lot of people find themselves drawn to Buddhism during a difficult period in their lives: perhaps the loss of a close family member or the prospect of facing a chronic illness. Buddhism starts from the principal that such things will happen to all of us sooner or later. The inevitable truth is that, as much security as we try to build in our lives, we cannot possibly avoid all troubles.In this wonderful little book, Pema Chodron - a renowned teacher of Tibetan Buddhism - reminds us that Buddhism also offers tried and tested methods of coping with life's most difficult moments. A reviewer on Amazon described the book as "An Emergency kit for when your world turns upside down" and I couldn't agree more. This book should be on everyone's shelf, because you just never know when you will need the precious advice within its pages.
Buy "When Things Fall Apart" on Amazon
When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times
Amazon Price: (as of 01/01/2010)
Used Price: $2.67
7. "The Heart Of The Buddha's Teachings" by Thich Nhat Hanh
A concise and detailed overview from one of Buddhism's most celebrated teachers
Another great title from Thich Nhat Hanh (there are many). This book, similar to Walpola Rahula's What the Buddha Taught (see title #3 above), describes the principles and core teachings of the Buddha. It begins with the turning of the dharma wheel (the Buddha's first sermon) and continues through the four noble truths, the noble eightfold path, and on to more advanced concepts such as the Buddhist view of causality.The difference between this book and Walpola Rahula's acclaimed work, though, is that Thich Nhat Hanh's soothing and peaceful tone clearly conveys his advanced spirituality. Read Walpola Rahula's book for a sharp textbook explanation of the Dharma teachings... read Thich Nhat Hanh's version for a deeper, gentler, more emotional perspective.
Buy "The Heart Of The Buddha's Teachings" on Amazon
The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 01/01/2010)
Used Price: $5.37
8. "Mindfulness in Plain English" by Bhante H. Gunaratana
A nuts-and-bolts guide to insight meditation
By now, if you've read the titles listed above, you'll have a broad overview of the religion of Buddhism, a clear portrait of the Buddha himself, and a good understanding of his philosophy and teachings. But Buddhism is about more than that, it is a practical spiritual path. It requires that you not only learn and think, but that you do as well. It's time to roll up your sleeves and get those hands dirty.Vipassana or "insight" meditation is the cornerstone of Buddhist practice. It's a form of meditation that requires careful, alert observation of the body and the mind, and with time it bears great fruits. If you wonder why the Dalai Lama always looks so happy and peaceful on his book jackets... chances are, it's because he meditates a lot.
Meditation is best learned with a good teacher, but for those who cannot find a teacher, you could do a lot worse than Bhante Gunaratana's book. It's an instruction book - a nuts-and-bolts "how-to" manual that guides the beginning meditation student through all the basics with a clean and pragmatic hand.
Buy "Mindfulness in Plain English" on Amazon
Mindfulness in Plain English, Updated and Expanded Edition
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 01/01/2010)
Used Price: $8.33
9. "The Dhammapada" by Jack Kornfield and Gil Fronsdal
One of the better translations of this classic Buddhist text
Now we come to the real deal. The Dhammapada is one of the best loved works in the Buddhist canon and its verses are traditionally ascribed to Buddha himself. Every Buddhist should own a good translation of this text. The problem arises when you realize the original version of the Dhammapada is in Pali and has been transcribed countless times both accurately and inaccurately. So the question is, how do you tell if the version you buy is a good one or not?
Fortunately many excellent scholars have closely examined and analysed various versions of the Dhammapada and a few good ones are consistently cited. There is a popular and respected version by Acharya Buddharakkhita, another by Narada Thera, and a few others. Gil Fronsdal's version, listed here, is also said to a reliable translation - though perhaps not quite as scholarly as Buddharakkhita's. I chose it because it's the version that resonated most with me, and it seems somehow better geared to western minds.
Buy "The Dhammapada" on Amazon
The Dhammapada: A New Translation of the Buddhist Classic with Annotations
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 01/01/2010)
Used Price: $4.25
10. "In the Buddha's Words" by Bhikku Bodhi
The definitive collection of the Buddha's teachings
I left the best for last. If Buddhism had a bible, then this would be it!Let me elaborate a little more: Buddhism does in fact have a bible of sorts. It's called the Pali Canon, but unless you want to devote your entire life to sitting in a monastery studying its forty-plus volumes, then you're probably better off studying this book instead.
In this epic work, celebrated scholar and translator Bhikku Bodhi has selected the most important parts of the vast Pali Canon and distilled them down to one easily digestible ten-chapter volume. Each chapter uses the Buddha's own words to carefully illuminate a key principal of his teachings. Bhikku Bodhi also includes introductions before each chapter than describe in simple language the concepts that follow. The result is a perfectly focused roadmap of the Buddha's teachings. If you only choose one book to read from this list, then this should be it.
Buy "In The Buddha's Words" on Amazon
In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon (Teachings of the Buddha)
Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 01/01/2010)
Used Price: $11.28
Honorable Mentions
These books didn't quite make my top-ten list for various reasons, but each is valuable and engaging in it's own right. If you're looking to expand your Buddhist library, these are all great choices...
Longing for Certainty: Reflections on the Buddhist Life
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 01/01/2010)
The Three Pillars of Zen: Teaching, Practice, and Enlightenment
Amazon Price: $10.88 (as of 01/01/2010)
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (Shambhala Library)
Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 01/01/2010)
How to See Yourself As You Really Are
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 01/01/2010)
Answer Your Love Letters: Footnotes to a Zen Practice
Amazon Price: $22.50 (as of 01/01/2010)
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byPlease sign my guestbook!
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- spirituality spirituality Oct 26, 2009 @ 11:46 am
- Welcome to the http://www.squidoo.com/groups/buddha Buddha and Buddhism group. Since groups no longer get automatic links to them, it would be appreciated if you'd link back to it voluntarily.
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- PatinKC PatinKC May 4, 2009 @ 6:02 pm
- I'm happy to welcome this very informative lens to the World of Buddhism Group.
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- susannaduffy susannaduffy Apr 8, 2009 @ 7:07 am
- NIce books, nice lens, nice idea - would you care to add this lens to the Bookworms Group? (/groups/bookworms)
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- spirituality spirituality Nov 3, 2008 @ 5:28 am
- These are great books.
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- RinchenChodron RinchenChodron Oct 28, 2008 @ 8:36 am
- Hi -
I LOVED "When Things Fall Apart" as well as any books by Pema Chodron. She is great. I appreciate your choice of suggested reading. Thanks for joining the Buddhist Dharma Group Five big stars *****
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by PerCapitaSmile
PerCapitaSmile (aka Craig Watson) lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his wife, two cats, and a large collection of snowflakes. He has been a student o... (more)
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