What are some well known books on Buddaism that you would recommend, what is Buddaism's holy book ?

Question

I just checked out Living Budda Living Christ from the library. I have always been interested in Eastern philosophy.

Thank you so kindly.

Answer 1

Thich Nhat Hanh has always been my favorite zen teacher.
http://www.plumvillage.org/ <<< his website

there are many works on zen texts, written by many masters, like koans, shobogenzo, platform sutra, etc...
http://www.buddhanet.net/ftp11.htm <<<<<< The Platform Sutra, by the 6th Zen Patriarch.

http://perso.ens-lyon.fr/eric.boix/Koan/Hekiganroku/index.html <<< <<
http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/zen/mumonkan.htm <<
http://www.ksridhammananda.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=0&Itemid=28 <<
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Tipitaka is an outline of the Pali Buddhist Canonical Scriptures of Theravada Buddhism...(Dhammapada is the best known and most widely esteemed text in the Pali Tipitaka, the sacred scriptures of Theravada Buddhism.)
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/tipitaka.htm

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/s_mahasutras.htm <<< mahayana sutras

Answer 2

The Holy Books are the many Sutras.

There are many "Lives of The Buddha.too."

Try Tricycle Magazine.

For Tibetan Buddhism look into anything by the Dalai Lama or Lama Yeshe or Zopa. For introductions to Buddhism in the context of other religions ,try Houston Smith's or John Hardon's Religions of the World or Martin Marty's Modern American Religions.

Google" Books on Buddhism"

Answer 3

The book you're about to read is only barely about Buddhism. Buddhism is an non-theistic religion that does not require any adherence to a creed (unlike Christianity). It also does not have a holy book, although the writings are broad and diverse. Buddhist stories are generally accepted to be teaching tales and legends, although there is likely a kernel of history held within them. There is no authoritative translation of the Buddhist canon, and in truth, no one will consider you a wise student if you start there.

Instead, Buddhism is about practice. There is teaching, but it is geared toward practice, not toward any reference to theology. Karen Armstrong's book "BUDDHA" is a good reference from someone who grew up in Christianity and so knows how to translate the philosophy and history. Stephen Batchelor's "Buddhism without Belief" is great for secular thinkers who are interested in Buddhist practice and philosophy. Also, any book by Thich Nhat Hahn would be a great resource for learning about Buddhism. He is Vietnamese, but he has spent a lot of time in the west.

If you would like to download podcasts for beginning students of Buddhism, I recommend Urban Dharma (strongly), 21st Century Buddhism, and Zencast.

Namaste.

Answer 4

I am Buddhist. I practise Theravada Buddhism, often called Southern Buddhism.

For Buddhists, the Holy Texts as it were are contained in what are known as the Suttas. These texts are written in an ancient Indian Dialect called Pali. The Suttas contain all of the wisdom of the Lord Buddha written by his disciples. they are divided into 3 Pitakas...a Pali word meaning baskets, the 3 baskets or Pitakas are grouped into what is commonly called the Tripitakas or 3 baskets.

The entire message of the Lord Buddha is called the Dharma..again another Pali word meaning Teaching and it is sometimes refered to as the Buddha Dharma, a Pali phrase meaning the Teaching of the Enlightened One, the term Buddha means Enlightened One in the Pali language.

I have 3 favourite sites which I visit regularly which give very good insights into the Buddha Dharma, you are welcome to visit them yourself for your references. One site called "Just be good.com" is a site designed for the beginner who wishes to find out the many concepts for which Buddhism, especially Southern Buddhism Teaches. It was designed with the aim of making it readable and uses very little terminology or confusing references...the 3 sites then are..

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/index.html

http://www.what-buddha-taught.net

http://www.justbegood.net

These 3 should provide you with plenty of reading and I hope enjoyment...

Peace from a Buddhist...