I am looking for books, or info on Buddhism?

Question

I am just looking for some spirituality. The info I have read sounds pretty much what i am looking for. Any insight?

Answer 1

Buddhism

Buddha did not represent another powerful invisible figure to preach his knowledge and was his own master. To the layman he taught how to live a good, sincere, happy and a purposeful life and proposed some guidelines to follow to achieve these objectives. Those who do good deeds are rewarded with positive results and vice versa he said. He also said those who want to improve the mind should practice to eliminate selfishness, hatred, anger and ignorance. He said right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration will lead to cessation of sorrow and to attain Nirvana the ultimate peace.

Buddha

Buddha, unlike in some religions did not represent another powerful invisible figure to preach his knowledge. He was his master and preached the knowledge he gained through enlightenment. To the layman he taught how to live a good, sincere, happy and a purposeful life and proposed some guidelines to follow to achieve these objectives. For the intellectuals he said the life is sorrow and taught the way to eliminate the sorrow, by enlightenment. Enlightenment could only be attained through improvement of knowledge thus the improvement of conscious or mind hence some consider it as a philosophy. Worshiping is not a requirement in Buddhism though many do it as a habit and a custom.

Long before Newton, Buddha said every action has a reaction including in all conscious deeds. Those who do good deeds shall be rewarded with positive results and those who do harmful actions (with a evil intension) may experience in adverse results. The results of our righteous or sinful deeds Buddha said shall follow our soul in subsequent lives. Apart from heaven and hell he also said there are other forms of lives after this life.

Just like in thousands of present day books which provide self improvement techniques. Buddha provided an enormous amount of advice to the layman to improve one's self. He said selfishness, hatred, anger and ignorance prevent one from self improvement. One who want to improve the mind should learn to eliminate these four status of mind. He said right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration will lead to cessation of Sorrow.

Improved Mind

Buddha is said to have supernatural powers such as reading others thoughts. We already know some people possess super natural powers and extra ordinary abilities. Such status could be achieved by improving one's mind thought it is not the ultimatum of the Buddhism. Self improvement or the learning process since the childhood is a way of improving our mind or thinking. It is by improvement of one's mind that the truth could be understood.

It is not necessary for anyone (including Buddhists) to believe in Buddha or his teaching if they do not wish to. It is up to the individual to understand what he teaches.


Buddhism is a very logical religon which reveals about the mind ,life ,and the nature of the world.
There are two types of Buddhist followers in the world.They are
1. Theravada Buddhist followers (Sri Lankans,Thailanders,)
2.Mahayana Buddhist followers (Chinese,Japanese,)

I am a theravada buddhist.To learn more about theravada buddhism go to buddhist web sites and read buddhist books.
To have a great idea about Buddhism and how it is different from other religons you have to read lot of different articles about Buddhism.You have to be patient.You can't learn Buddhism in one day.They are lot of Buddhist temples around the world search for Buddhist temples in your country and go and meet Buddhist monks there.


Here are some good links

1.http://www.metta.lk/

2.http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bullitt/theravada.html

Answer 2

Oh, what a wonderful choice.

Take a look here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism

Basically (hope I don't get mixed up with Hinduism here) nothing you see is real. The universe is simply energy that flows, and everything is just an extension or facet of that.

Your objective is to realize this completely and fully. There are tiers of life. You live as you should according to 4 and 8, and you will move up. You live as a dreadful person, and you will move down.

Buddha is not a "God". He is simply one who achieved enlightenment.

But there are Bodhisattvas. These are ones who have achieved enlightenment, but they hold off on it so they can help others achieve it also.

There is a great deal of information about it - too much to put here.

I highly suggest you take a class on eastern religions if you can.

Answer 3

The best book I have ever read is Zhuan Falun (Truning the Law Wheel). It is the book that guides the practice of Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) which is a genuine and upright cultivation practice of the Buddha School.
There is also an introductory book called Falun Gong (Law Wheel QiGong).
Both of these books so clearly answered all the questions I had about life and the universe.

Previously I have bought and read numerous Buddhist books, but never have I had the questions that I wondered about so clearly answered until I read Zhuan Falun and Falun Gong.

These books are also available for free online! You can view them at the following website:
http://www.falundafa.org/eng/books.htm...
Some bookstores also carry these books, but you can download/read them for free online!

You can learn the exercises (QiGong) of Falun Dafa for free and there are never any charges for any Falun Dafa activities. There are probably practitioners in your area that can help you and answer any questions you may have.
On the website: http://www.falundafa.org/ , there is a link on the right for 'Falun Dafa in your area'
You can also view and download videos for exercise instruction for free online.
Email me if you have any questions!

Enjoy!!

Answer 4

Karen Armstrong wrote a book titled 'Buddha' some time ago. I haven't read it personally, but I have read several of her books. She is, in my opinion, the best author in the religious genre today. If her other books are any indication, then 'Buddha' is well worth the effort.

Answer 5

http://www.metta.lk Read the Thripitaka free online - there's everything on Buddhism.
You may also try Google Book Search. You can read sample pages of books there.

Answer 6

"What the Buddha Taught" -- Walpola Rahula

"Visuddhimagga" -- Buddhaghosa

Answer 7

self realization fellowship