I am very interested in Buddhism and would like to learn more about it. I have looked for books but I am not sure which are, for lack of a better word, legitimate and will help me to get a better understanding of Buddhism.
2007-09-25 00:05:30 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Some very fine answers from others already.
The Dhammapada {the Buddha's Path to Wisdom is available to read online:
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/dhamma.htm
Since "Mindfulness Meditation" is a very important practice in Buddhism - below is an excellent
"How To Manuel" on Mindfulness Meditation:
http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe.html
http://www.purifymind.com/MindfulnessEnglish.htm
Encourage you to read the book
"What Buddhists Believe" BY:
Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda Maha Thera
which is also available to read online below:
http://www.budsas.org/ebud/whatbudbeliev/main.htm
First thoroughly Learned the
Noble Eightfold Path from the Book:
*"Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness"*
BY: Ven. Henepola Gunaratana
and How to practice Mindfulness Meditation from Henepola Gunaratana - in his 'How To Manuel'
"Mindfulness in Plain English" {which is in the website above).
Since the Practice of Loving-kindness is important to all Buddhists - there's the Book:
"Loving-kindness: the Revolutionary Art of Happiness" By: Sharon Salzberg.
*Here's an example of Loving-kindness Meditation
Loving-kindness Meditation is usually practiced right 'before' practicing Vipassana (Mindfulness) Meditation-in the mornings and in the evenings.
An Example of Loving-kindness Meditation:
1. *May I be well, happy and peaceful. May no harm come to me. May no difficulties come to me. May no problems come to me. May I always meet with success. May I also have patience, courage, understanding, and determination to meet and overcome inevitable difficulties, problems, and failures in life.
2. *May my parents and be well, happy and peaceful. May no harm come to them. May no difficulties come to them. May no problems come to them. May they always meet with success.
May they also have patience, courage, understanding, and determination to meet and overcome inevitable difficulties, problems, and failures in life.
3. *May my relatives be well, happy and peaceful. May no harm come to them. May no difficulties come to them. May no problems come to them. May they always meet with success.
May they also have patience, courage, understanding, and determination to meet and overcome inevitable difficulties, problems, and failures in life.
4. *May my teachers be well, happy and peaceful. May no harm come to them. May no difficulties come to them. May no problems come to them. May they always meet with success.
May they also have patience, courage, understanding, and determination to meet and overcome inevitable difficulties, problems, and failures in life.
5. *May my friends be well, happy and peaceful. May no harm come to them. May no difficulties come to them. May no problems come to them. May they always meet with success.
May they also have patience, courage, understanding, and determination to meet and overcome inevitable difficulties, problems, and failures in life.
6. *May all indifferent persons be well, happy and peaceful. May no harm come to them. May no difficulties come to them. May no problems come to them. May they always meet with success.
May they also have patience, courage, understanding, and determination to meet and overcome inevitable difficulties, problems, and failures in life.
7. *May my enemies be well, happy and peaceful. May no harm come to them. May no difficulties come to them. May no problems come to them. May they always meet with success.
May they also have patience, courage, understanding, and determination to meet and overcome inevitable difficulties, problems, and failures in life.
8. *May all living beings be well, happy and peaceful. May no harm come to them. May no difficulties come to them. May no problems come to them. May they always meet with success.
May they also have patience, courage, understanding, and determination to meet and overcome inevitable difficulties, problems, and failures in life.
The practice of Universal Loving-Kindness is recommended for bedtime and just after arising in the morning. Loving-kindness makes it easier to get up in the mornings. And Loving-kindness Meditation makes you more patient, gentle, compassionate, loving, friendly and open toward everybody, friend or foe, human or otherwise.
:-) *Metta to all.
2007-09-29 16:48:41 · answer #1 · answered by McLeod 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hello. I recommend a book called " THE BUDDHA IN YOUR MIRROR"----Practical Buddhism and the search for self---
And Also a book called " Basics of Buddhism " by Pat Allwright
I have one too. It really help me to clearly understand basics of principles of Buddhism and how I can apply it to my daily life. It's really good!!
2007-09-25 08:29:36 · answer #2 · answered by Happy Smile 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The "three jewels" or "the buddhas noble eightfold path" by Sangharakshita is a good starting point. He is the founder of the Friends of the Western Budhhist Order and was a monk in India for many years and studied under many teachers from different buddhist traditions.
2007-09-25 04:46:08 · answer #3 · answered by Miles D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
THE DALAI LAMA's book on Jesus and Buddha Would be a great starting point. You mus realize that Buddhism is more a philosophy and how to live primer than a religion. Meditate. love ya THE OOOLDE HIPPY
2007-09-25 00:23:04 · answer #4 · answered by ancientcityentertainment 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In This Very Life
The Liberation Teachings of the Buddha
by Sayadaw U Pandita
2007-09-25 03:36:24 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
http://buddhanet.net/e-learning/guide.htm
I heard people said Bhante (mean Ven.)
Bhante Walpola Rahula wrote
"what the Buddha taught" is very very good.
Please ck out this website, it has a lot of english Buddhism information. Hope it will benefit you, so happy to know someone is learning Buddhism. Buddhism is great and I truly enjoying learning.
http://buddhanet.net/index.html
2007-09-27 14:43:01 · answer #6 · answered by Gooch 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What is it that U seek? If U want a better understanding why
not become a monk? Lack of a better word, legitmate? Sure?
The DALAI LAMA'S BOOK OF LOVE & COMPASSION
simple, and easy to follow...2bz.
2007-10-02 23:04:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most books written by Dalai Lama
2007-10-02 23:40:37 · answer #8 · answered by Kisses an Wishes 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
BookYards has 57 books that can be freely downloaded from http://www.bookyards.com/categories.html?type=books&category_id=190
BookYards is a free online library and education portal at http://www.bookyards.com
2007-10-01 06:34:17 · answer #9 · answered by victorlamparski 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Living Buddha, Living Christ.
2007-10-02 16:52:31 · answer #10 · answered by renlove3 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So much for the books,if you need some good sites and viedo on talks by good monk, http://www.buddhanet.net, http://www.bswa.org,
youtube has some great viedos on Buddhism,this is one of them about happiness,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_30JzRGDHI,good luck.
2007-09-25 07:01:58 · answer #11 · answered by tan e 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋