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
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!
Who and how Buddha really was you can learn here
Looking for more beginner books from other philosophical schools?
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