The 4 best books for Buddhism beginners

If you're interested in Buddhism, you're in luck! There are a number of great books on Buddhism that are perfect reading material for beginners. In this blog post, we'll introduce you to the five best books on Buddhism for beginners. These books will help you better understand the philosophy of the Middle Way and its many teachings. So without further ado, let's get started!

The top four books are:

1. Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction by Damien Keown

2. Buddha by Karen Armstrong

3. The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh

4. Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki

1. Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction by Damien Keown

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Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction is a great book to quickly learn the basics of Buddhism. You can read it in one sitting or use it as a reference book. The book begins with an overview of the historical Buddha and the main tenets of his teachings. Then it moves on to the different schools and traditions within Buddhism.

The book is organized as follows:

Buddhism and elephants
The Buddha
Karma and Rebirth
The Four Noble Truths
The Mahäyāna
The spread of Buddhism
Meditation
Ethics
Buddhism in the West

It also includes illustrations, maps, notes on quotations and pronunciation, and a timeline.

Is Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction worth reading?

The book is an excellent starting point to familiarize yourself with the basics of Buddhism. The topics are clearly explained and it is written in an accessible style. It is therefore particularly suitable for people who are not familiar with Buddhism.

Damien Keown is a very prominent and respected scholar in the field of Buddhist studies. In this book, Damien Keown takes you by the hand and shows you around.

2. Buddha by Karen Armstrong

Karen Armstrong is a world-renowned scholar of religion. In her book The Buddha, she tells the story of Siddhartha Gautama, who became the center of Buddhist philosophy.

Buddha is structured as follows:

Annunciation
Search
Enlightenment
Dhamma
Mission
Parinibana

Is Buddha worth reading?

Karen Armstrong's The Buddha is the story of Siddhartha Gautama told in a very engaging way. If you're looking for a very casual (but engaging) way to learn about the mystical figure most people only know as Buddha, this is the book for you.

3. The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh

Thich Nhat Hanh's gift is his ability to bring people together and emphasize our commonalities. In The heart of the Buddha's teaching he brings his gift to the forefront and reminds us of our common humanity. By connecting with others, we can heal ourselves and the world around us.

In this book, Thich Nhat Hanh gives a very clear and concise overview of the main principles of Buddhism. He begins with an explanation of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. He then explains other ancient Buddhist teachings and concludes with some discourses.

PART ONE - The Four Noble Truths

Entering the Heart of the Buddha
The first Dharma speech
The Four Noble Truths
Understanding the teachings of the Buddha
Is everything suffering?
Pause. Calm. Rest, Heal
Touching our suffering
Realize well-being
Right view

PART TWO - The Noble Eightfold Path

Right thinking
Right mindfulness
Right speech
Right action
Right diligence
Right concentration
Right way of life

PART THREE - Other Basic Buddhist Teachings

The Two Truths
The Three Dharma Seals
The Three Gates of Liberation
The Three Bodies of the Buddha
The Three Jewels
The Four Immeasurable Spirits
The Five Aggregates
The Five Forces
The Six Paramitas
The Seven Factors of Awakening
The links of interdependence
Touch of the Buddha inside

PART FOUR - Discourses

Turning the Wheel of Dharma (Dhamma Cakka Pavattana Sutta)
The Great Forty (Mahacattarisaka Sutta)
Right View (Sammadithi Suta)

Is The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching worth reading?

The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching is an excellent, well-rounded book for anyone who wants to learn about the main principles of Buddhism.

4. Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind is the ideal book to learn about an offshoot of Buddhist philosophies: Zen Buddhism (in this article, we explain All differences for you).

Suzuki was a Japanese priest and teacher of Zen Buddhism who founded the San Francisco Zen Center. This book is an excellent introduction to the world of Zen Buddhism. The book is organized as follows:

PART 1 CORRECT PRACTICE

Posture
Breathing
Control
Spirit waves
Spirit weed
The pith of Zen
No dualism
Bow
Nothing special

PART 2 CORRECT SETTING

Single Minded Way
Repeat
Zen and excitement
Right effort
No trace
Give God
Error in practice
Limit your activity
Study yourself
Polishing a tile
Resistance
Communication
Negative and positive
Nirvana the waterfall

Part 3 CORRECT UNDERSTANDING

Traditional Zen Spirit
Transcendence
The quality of being
Naturalness
Blank
Calmness, mindfulness
Believe in nothing
Attachment, non-attachment
Serenity
Experience, not philosophy
Original Buddhism
Beyond consciousness
Buddha's enlightenment
Pilog: Zen Mind
Afterword by David Chadwick
Acknowledgement

Is Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind worth reading?

This book is an excellent starting point for learning the basics of Zen Buddhism. The topics are clearly explained and it is written in an accessible style. Suzuki's experience and wisdom are reflected in his writing, making the book a pleasure to read.

All right, those are the 4 books we recommend for anyone starting to learn about Buddhism and Buddhist philosophy. Do you have any other suggestions? Let us know in the comments!