I want to learn more about Buddhism

[Diiz]

I have become more intrigued by religion as I grow older, but there are so many different texts on Buddhism that I'm not sure where to start. Can anyone recommend any books (I want personal suggestions, not "oh well look, I found this on Amazon"). Odd request, but thanks in advance.

[Scorch]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism

[Apossum]

wiki's a good place to start to get the overview, since it's very complicated stuff and there are ton of different kinds of Buddhism.

from there, Robert Thurman is the key buddhist figure in the U.S. and has written a lot of books about it. Start reading him before you get into the complicated translated texts and all that. That's about all I know from when I was friends with his granddaughter...If you have any other questions I can try and answer, but I haven't ever really practiced the religion, just studied it here and there.

[Brak]

Rub his tummy for good luck.

Also, the conspiracy theory that Jesus was Buddha, when he left the Bible for a few years, is pretty interesting.

[Diiz]

Yeah, I looked over the Wikipedia info, but was looking for books since I am finding myself away from my computer more and more lately (and quite frankly, I am looking for more excuses to be away from it).

Thanks for the recommendation Apossum, I'll look up some of his works.

[camoor]

I think the novel Siddhartha by Herman Hesse is a fairly painless way to learn more. Or you could just goto a temple.

[looploop]

Siddartha's a good read for sure.
I checked out "Buddhism: Plain and Simple" by Steve Hagen when I first took an interest in the philosophy. I found it pretty helpful for learning about essence of Buddhist practices.

[Liquid 2]

http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism.htm

[theHeat]

A real easy read that teaches somewhat on Buddhism is Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553208845/sr=8-1/qid=1156132459/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-8962438-8036764?ie=UTF8) it's only $5.99 and has received 4.5/5.0 stars by 411 reviewers. I'd pick that up for sure.
(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553208845/sr=8-1/qid=1156132459/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-8962438-8036764?ie=UTF8)

[jmcc]

If you're looking to start into it, I say begin by just learning to follow the Noble Eightfold Path. Buddha wasn't worried about the metaphysics, so you shouldn't be either.

[Graystone]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0670858862/sr=1-1/qid=1156136055/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-8748689-6607867?ie=UTF8&s=books

Its for Tibetan Buddhists but it still has some good info.

[Diiz]

I read Siddartha like 5 years ago but I should look at it again since I don't remember much about it (was required reading in highschool...).

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0670858862/sr=1-1/qid=1156136055/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-8748689-6607867?ie=UTF8&s=books

Its for Tibetan Buddhists but it still has some good info.


Funny... I looked at that book at borders today and wanted to pick it up but didn't wanna shell out $30. The Amazon price is much better...

[akilshohen]

wasn't siddhartha more fictiion? I mean I liked it, but I remember my teacher saying it was a liberal retelling of history.

[Apossum]

If you're looking to start into it, I say begin by just learning to follow the Noble Eightfold Path. Buddha wasn't worried about the metaphysics, so you shouldn't be either.


QFT. Unfortunately, this means giving up the deals forum ;-)

and the Tibetan book of the Dead is wayyyy out there for someone just learning :lol: that book is nuts.

[Diiz]

QFT. Unfortunately, this means giving up the deals forum ;-)

and the Tibetan book of the Dead is wayyyy out there for someone just learning :lol: that book is nuts.


Well, I'm looking to expand my knowledge, not conform to a religion. :lol:

[vietgurl]

I would go for any book that was translated into English rather than something that was originally written in English. I tend to find the American "interpretation" of Buddhism a little...odd. Also, there are different kinds of Buddhism practiced in various parts of Asia so you should keep that in mind.

[Diiz]

Is it safe to assume that while the various types of Buddhism may vary by region, the general themes and foundations are fairly similar?

[eldad9]

If only everybody went comparative-shopping for religions instead of sticking with pretty much a randomly assigned one...

[gunm]

Is it safe to assume that while the various types of Buddhism may vary by region, the general themes and foundations are fairly similar?

Well, kind of but not really. Each sect of buddhism varies enough where you can't say that one is essentially the same as another. I have a background with Jodo-shinshu, and it's not the same as Nichiren or Zen.

[jmcc]

Well, if you're not looking to actually practice Buddhism and just want to know what it is, I'll change my recommendation. It might be helpful to start out by getting an overview of Hinduism. Hinduism is sort of the Old Testiment of Buddhism. They have a similar relationship to the one Judaism and Christianity share.

edit: And it may or may not help with my above suggestion, but I really do believe that most households would benefit from a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, so maybe pick that up. That goes for everyone.

[Diiz]

Thanks again for the comments. Kind of like eldad9 had implied, I am just kind of wanting to garnish a grasp of some religions that have caught my eye over the years to see if they make more sense/hold more meaning to me than the religion I was brought up with.

[Apossum]

Maybe you should go for a history book first...something about how it started (with the Buddha sneaking out of his palace and all that) and then spread across Asia. That would give you a good grasp of it.

[Diiz]

I seem to remember Siddartha being about that, no? Siddartha might be a good read, but I don't want to rely on it if it stretches the story into a fairytale (still gonna read it again anyway though haha).

[Apossum]

I haven't read it. Go for a historical text that has been researched, cited and footnoted and all that.

[trunks982]

Buddhist's Palm, now thats some strong move.