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As in all the major religions, there is a wisdom behind the theology of Buddhism that informs the believer in daily life. Stephen Batchelor would argue that the difference with Buddhism is that the wisdom is in fact independent of the theology and is not informative to believers only, but to everyone. In Buddhism Without Beliefs Batchelor lays out the major tenets of Buddhist wisdom, commenting on their relevance to modern life. The Buddha said that seekers must find the Truth for themselves, and Batchelor offers this book as a roadmap.
Book Description
Those with an interest in Buddhism will welcome this new book by Stephen Batchelor, former monk and author of Alone With Others and The Awakening of the West. But those who are just discovering this increasingly popular practice will have much to gain as well-for Buddhism Without Beliefs serves as a solid, straightforward introduction that demystifies Buddhism and explains simply and plainly how its practice can enrich our lives. Avoiding jargon and theory, Batchelor concentrates on the concrete, making Buddhism accessible and compelling and showing how anyone can embark on this path-regardless of their religious background.
Customer Reviews:
The Fake who keeps giving this book one star!.......2007-09-14
I found it interesting to realize that the majority of the one start votes given to this book were obviously written by the same nut job who keeps changing his screen name and continuously adding new hate responses to this book.
Don't take my word for it, browse through the half dozen 1 start ratings of this book and see for yourself.
The childish rants are almost all worded with exactly the same repetitious drivel.
While the majority of the reviews give this book a 4 to 5 start rating.
When I consider buying a book, I not only look for the most ratings near 5 stars, I also look for the lunitics who seem to hate the books. I figure the authors must be doing something right is they can rattle the nuts from the trees and also please the majority of kind readers and reviewers.
I have ordered, but not yet read the book, But I'm going to give it a 5 star rating just to give the expert Budholigist a coronary ;) Guess that's going to really mess with my karma ;)
As they used to say on the X-Files, "Question Everything" :)
Where you should start.......2007-09-13
I started to explore buddhism several times, only to turn away quickly from weird nonsense. Like any other great idea, many have attempted to "improve" it in various ways since its realization. I am finally starting to see the true path, through the forest of flawed teachings. Only the original ideas are pure and clear. Anything that has been added since then is (usually) so much mud in the water. If you want the original teaching, why it was taught, and what it means, this book is the best starting point. When you go forward from this book, it's more easy to spot the nonsense, and not fall for the traps offered by the numerous "improvements".
Batchelor spent several years studying in two very established sects. Like any person of intelligence and integrity, he retained what was important, and left the nonsense behind. I am thankful he has the wisdom to abandon the nonsense, and the courage to share his hard-won knowledge with the world.
I also recommend these books, for similar reasons:
- "The Heart of the Buddha's Teachings" by Thich Nhat Hanh
- "How to Meditate" by Lawrence LeShan
Buddhism Through the Author's Eyes.......2007-09-03
Buddhism Without Beliefs is Stephen Batchelor's take on philosophical Buddhism. Batchelor, originally from Scotland, has travelled widely in the East and studied his subject intensively in monasteries from Tibet to Korea. This small but intensive volume introduces the reader to what he regards as the essential teachings of Gautama, the Buddha, or Fully Awakened One. Batchelor believes that these include the Four Noble Truths, which deal with the realization that life is suffering (anguish in B.'s rendering) the cause of this dislocation, and the path leading to it's remedy, to liberation. There is much to commend the author's views that Gautama was in many respects an agnostic, that he was more concerned with the practical aspects if his teachings, and that it was devoid in general of mysticism, ritual, and any dogmatic concept of that which we call God. He strongly recommends that we get rid of the non-essentials like belief in reincarnation, karma, anf in any type of afterlife, as well as any cosmological teachings. What's left is what Batchelor characterizes as an agnostic, existential Buddhism which would be just right for today's world. In fact, reading his take on it all made me feel somewhat nostalgic, as it reminded me of my own views at an earlier time. The main objection I would have with it is that it expresses Batchelor's views just as much as Gautama's. True, he takes his main inspiration from the teachings and insights of this ancient Indian sage. And, again, he is right in the main thrust of his book about what the Buddha realized was important. But when confronted by teachings of the Buddha that don't strike his fancy, such as reincarnation and karma, he dismisses them as inconsequential cultural accretions with no relevance to today's world, and in effect seems to apologize for the Buddha for including them. Also, as far as the Buddha's self-impression, while he (the Buddha) had the true humility that only a great teacher could have, he seemed to believe that he had reached a pinnacle of knowledge and awareness that no one else in his time had, and that it was his mission "to save this world of gods and men." Batchelor disputes that he in any way regarded himself as a savior. As far as any metaphysical insights claimed by Gautama, while, to repeat, he was concerned primarily with the practical liberating effects of his teachings, the Buddha does seemed to have believed that his insights had laid bare the inner workings of what we regard as existence, and that at their core was that indescribable source of all being for which he used the term Nirvana. This term had occasionally been used in Hindu writings, such as the Gita, but the Buddha gave it a new emphasis. Certainly not a personal God, it did nevertheless have some similarities to the western philisophical concept of the Godhead. Finally, the author describes an ideal society where decentralized communities of loving, concerned members will support each other in Dharma Practice, seeking awareness and liberation, improving society and the earth in general, and basically living enlightened lives with an underlying philosophy of agnostic existentialism. This may very well be fulfilling for some. I think, tho, that Batchelor underestimates the religious impulse in people. He describes the modern world as essentially secular-humanist and agnostic, while in actual fact the great majority of the world's people are adherents of one or another of the world's major faiths. This may not be in keeping with his ideal, but it is a fact of life. Overall, however, I think Buddhism Without Beliefs if a great intro to many of the essential teachings of the Buddha, and will provide valuable insights for readers who do not just want to learn for the sake of historical knowledge, but for their own betterment, without those beliefs that don't go along with modern western attitudes.
Profound but not practical.......2007-07-26
The book is primarily a stream-of-consciousness style series of pithy abstract statements, with only a hint of tangible examples or down-to-earth advice on practical applicability. The statements are profound, and many conjure a warm fuzzy feeling. But it's like a root text that just begs for another book to be written about it, a commentary for us normal folks to be able to understand in ways that apply to our daily lives. The exception is the chapters on Emptiness and Compassion (pp. 75-90), which I found to be superb due to the inclusion of useful analogies.
I was disappointed by Mr. Batchelor's sometimes-huffy dismissal (although not rejection) of concepts like karma and reincarnation, explaining them away with claims that the historical Buddha was merely adhering to the conventions of his time. I would have preferred some actual supportive evidence of those assertions. He does not seem to offer a (believable, if you will) replacement for those motivating concepts that I personally feel are vital to effective dharma practice-- not a *belief* in them, but rather their serious consideration as hypotheses. The Buddhist teachers that I have learned from have never claimed that we should "believe" those things... rather, we can experiment by taking them as hypotheses and seeing what resonates with us after some experiential learning.
Buddhism without jargon.......2007-07-13
After reading most of the other reviews for this book, I'm wondering if maybe I read a different edition than everyone else. The 1-star folks claim that this book throws away such venerable Buddhist ideas as karma and rebirth, that author Batchelor asserts his view of a "Buddhist agnosticism" as the "original, pure, true" Buddhism, and that this book is tantamount to heresy and should be reviled. Most of the 5-star reviews view this book as something akin to the Fourth Turning of the Wheel of Dharma. From where I'm sitting, this book is significantly less offensive and dismissive than the 1-star people would have you believe, while also being slightly less earth-shattering than most other 5-star reviewers assert.
Basically, *Buddhism Without Beliefs* boils down to Buddhism without jargon. Batchelor discusses a good deal of traditional Buddhist ideas, but he does so without using the Pali and Sanskrit terminology and threadbare traditional examples that can hinder clear communication. In fact, it is this judicious reframing and masterful retranslation of many received Buddhist teachings that makes this book so powerful. For example, instead of discussing the Four Noble Truths (always written with initial caps), he talks about "four ennobling truths." While this might seem to be a mere exercise in semantics, he makes it clear that it is not: "Yet in failing to make this distinction [i.e., that each truth requires a particular action on the part of the practitioner], four ennobling truths to be acted upon are neatly turned into four propositions of life to be believed" (p.5) Right out of the gate, Batchelor's point is clear. If Buddhadharma is to be a lived reality, a practice with efficacy in one's life, then for many of us it cannot be approached like an ossified belief system.
The rest of the book is equally powerful and lucid. "We discover that we have been thrown, apparently without choice, into a world not of our making" (p. 22). How much more succinctly and clearly can one summarize the existential dilemma---*dukkha* in Pali---intuited by the Buddha? And using language that also invokes Western thinkers like Heidegger and Ortega y Gasset in the bargain! "Evasion of the unadorned immediacy of life is as deep-seated as it is relentless" (p. 25) Breathtaking and to the point! He discusses Buddhism's unique approach to ethics (*shila*) in his chapter on integrity--"Dharma practice cannot be abstracted from the way we interact with the world. Our deeds, words, and intentions create an ethical ambience that either supports or weakens resolve. If we behave in a way that harms either others or ourselves, the capacity to focus on the task will be weakened" (p. 45). Spiritual friends and gurus, like the Socratic ideal, "are like midwives, who draw forth what is waiting to be born. Their task is not to make themselves indispensable but redundant" (p. 51).
About awareness and mindfulness he says, "one of the most difficult things to remember is to remember to remember" (p. 58) That is one of the craziest things I've ever read, precisely because it captures my own often absurd experiences on the zafu so vividly! Commenting that "focused awareness is difficult not because we are inept at some spiritual technology but because it threatens our sense of who we are," Batchelor could be accused of channeling Trungpa Rinpoche (p.62), hardly the model heretic.
And in his most provocative chapter, he does not dismiss the possiblity of rebirth out of hand, as many reviewers have alleged: rather, as he says quite clearly, "it may seem that there are two options: either to believe in rebirth or not. But there is a third alternative: to acknowledge, in all honesty, *I do not know.*...Dharma practice requires the courage to confront what it means to be human....To cling to the idea of rebirth can deaden questioning" (p. 38) Again and again and again, in cogent chapter after chapter, Batchelor explores what it means to practice Buddhadharma without necessarily clinging to a religious orthodoxy that can numb as easily as it can awaken.
Does someone who gets a good deal out of this book have to then chuck any tendencies toward Buddhist religiosity that naturally arise within them? Of course not. Readers also, if they are like me, don't have to get rid of any tendencies toward Christian religiosity that naturally arise within them either. That's the beauty to me of Batchelor's Buddhist agnosticism. It is about experiencing what arises without prejudice and just seeing what happens. In that sense, this book echoes all the other meaningful dharma books I've read. What it adds is an openness to doctrinal uncertainty and ambiguity that is refreshing for those of us looking to awaken while taking refuge from dogmatic religiosity.
Customer Reviews:
Great Service.......2005-09-20
Thank you so much for your service and quick respond. Best regards. Elena
Book Description
One of the world’s leading authorities on Zen Buddhism, D. T. Suzuki was the author of more than a hundred works on the subject in both Japanese and English, and was most instrumental in bringing the teachings of Zen Buddhism to the attention of the Western world. Written in a lively, accessible, and straightforward manner, An Introduction to Zen Buddhism is illuminating for the serious student and layperson alike. Suzuki provides a complete vision of Zen, which emphasizes self-understanding and enlightenment through many systems of philosophy, psychology, and ethics. With a foreword by the renowned psychiatrist Dr. Carl Jung, this volume has been generally acknowledged a classic introduction to the subject for many years. It provides, along with Suzuki’s Essays and Manual of Zen Buddhism, a framework for living a balanced and fulfilled existence through Zen.
Customer Reviews:
Another Finger Pointing At the Moon.......2007-09-29
D.T. Suzuki is considered one of the best spokesman for Zen Buddhism to non-Asian readers. He seems to do his best to make Zen clear and intelligible to the Western mind. He does give hints as to the nature of ideas like Satori and koans, the difference between Zen and Dhyana, and the structure of monastic life. He discusses the difference between Zen and Indian and Western rationalism and intellectualism, and he tries to show how Zen transcends Western logic. Nevertheless, I found the book baffling and unintelligible, but tantallizingly suggestive. I guess it's just another finger pointing at the moon, but it's a pretty eloquent finger.
Good intro..........2007-05-14
As my first book and intro to Zen Buddhism I chose this book, so take the 3 stars w a grain of salt.
I am 3/4s through the book and it feels authentic and you can feel the passion. Well written (with a few translation snaffus).
An easy read which I think, so far, a good intro.
Passionate Introduction to Zen.......2006-10-10
The stoic nature of the Japanese culture is well known but reading this introduction to Zen by D.T. Suzuki you can feel the passion in every word. This book is exactly what the title says, an introduction, designed to dispel common misconceptions (such as the charge of nihilism) and whet the reader's appetite for more with hilarious stories of the old Ch'an masters and give the briefest glimpse of what it might be like to experience satori (enlightenment). Can't recommend this book enough for anyone interested in Zen. Yes, he has some unkind words for Therevada Buddhism which is odd considering Zen seems to rely on one's own willpower more than other forms of Mahayana, but you must also consider that he may be talking about how those sects are practised in the modern era which can be and often is quite far from the ancient and venerated philosophies on which they are based.
Inspired, readable introduction to Japanese Zen .......2006-02-15
D.T. Suzuki was quite possibly born to write this book in particular, as enthusiasm and inspiration are his memorable talents as a writer on Japanese Zen. Suzuki is known as the designated guide to the modern West on the subject since the 1950's American love affair with all things Japanese.
When I first read this (I won't count the years now), I was blown away and felt like I had been somehow cheated not to have known about this book before. I didn't know how to incorporate Suzuki's lofty Japanese aesthetic of Zen into my own life, so I made my own authentic adaptation without fully realizing it. Yet, this is a kind of a blueprint for the optimium Zen experience, written with the aesthetic and the intellectual specifically in mind, but by no means pandering to either. See Suzuki's own Zen and Japanese Culture for a more aesthetically oriented take on Japanese Zen as a purely cultural phenomenonm but this is the introduction of all introductions to the true spirit and values of Japanese Zen.
Practical Spirituality.......2005-10-21
This book feels authentic and does not burden the reader with dogma or moral code. It is a simple look at a simple life practice, the art of zen. Suzuki is easy to understand without being overly simplistic. A good introduction to Zen.
Book Description
According to Buddhism, every human being has the potential to achieve profound and lasting happiness. And according to the tantric teachings of Buddhism, this remarkable transformation can be realized very quickly if we utilize all aspects of our human energy, especially the energy of our desires. Introduction to Tantra is the best available clarification of a subject that is often misunderstood. This new edition of the classic text includes a new foreword by Philip Glass and new cover art, but leaves untouched Lama Yeshe's excellent original text, edited by Jonathan Landaw. Tantra recognizes that the powerful energy aroused by our desire is an indispensable resource for the spiritual path. It is precisely because our lives are so inseparably linked with desire that we must make use of desire's tremendous energy not just for pleasure, but to transform our lives. Lama Yeshe presents tantra as a practice leading to joy and self-discovery, with a vision of reality that is simple, clear, and extremely relevant to 21st-century life.
Customer Reviews:
Incredibly insightful book.......2007-04-08
I've read two and a half chapters in this book and it's given me so much vital information.
I highly suggest it to anyone looking into buddhism.
Lives up to its title.......2007-03-27
This is a very good book for learning what Tantra is and what tantric practices and visualizations are, but it should be understood - and probably is by many or most - that this is not a substitute for real study under a qualified teacher. Lama Yeshe makes this clear from chapter to chapter. My only caution is that readers should not expect to read this book and feel as though they are completing some kind of introductory-level "training" in Tantra, or that they will accomplish "Transformation of Desire." It is an introduction and overview for outsiders looking in (taught by a highly qualified and respected insider), not a "manual" for beginning practitioners to achieve readiness for intermediate or advanced tantric instruction. Insofar as this is understood, Lama Yeshe does a very good job describing and explaining Tantra and its practices, and I learned quite a lot about it.
Great Tantra Introduction book.......2007-01-09
I recently started to learn Tantra and my teacher recommended me to buy this book and start reading and learning from it. I'm about 1/2 way thru the book and it is well written and has a great wisdom in it. I would recommend this book to get inner look on what is Tantra about!
An amazing book and probably the best introduction to tantra available!.......2006-05-25
Tibetan Buddhism is a very complex and difficult topic to explain to anyone, especially people from the West. Lama Yeshe had a rare gift to take difficult concepts, present them logically and concisely, in a way that brings the essence of tantra to life.
What this book is not about, is "tantric sexual practices" as they are so often presented out of contex in the West. Rather, it is about the tantrayana (resultant) path of harnessing all of your energies and realizing your true nature in the present moment, which is love, compassion and wisdom. This is in contrast to the sutrayana (causal) path, which is the more gradual path of cleansing the mind and replacing conditioned responses in a slow and systematic way with more beneficial responses characterized by love and wisdom.
In a nutshell, tantrayana is the fast path. This book explains this complicated system very well in approximately 168 pages. For people looking for more in-depth explanations and lots of history, try "Secret of the Vajra World" by Reginald Ray. However, I would still get Lama Yeshe's book as a roadmap or excellent short summary presented in a different style.
Lastly, Lama Yeshe has a gift for words. While the many of the concepts of tantra are presented in other reputable works, there is something about Lama Yeshe's presentation that carries a combination of depth and simplicity that sinks in deeply and touches the heart.
on death and after death.......2006-04-27
This is primarily a non-sexual exploration of Tantra. Al particularly liked the section on the subject of death and after death.
Book Description
We all have the potential for self-transformation, and a limitless capacity for the growth of good qualities, but to fulfill this potential we need to know what to do along every stage of our spiritual journey. With this book, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso offers us step-by-step guidance on the meditation practices that will lead us to lasting inner peace and happiness. With extraordinary clarity, he presents all Buddha’s teachings in the order in which they are to be practiced, enriching his explanation with stories and illuminating analogies. Following these practical instructions, we shall come to experience for ourselves the joy that arises from making progress on a clear and structured path that leads to full enlightenment.
Customer Reviews:
Good primer for Tibetan Buddhism.......2007-01-04
Read very concisely and clearly, this is a good introduction to the basics of Mahayana Buddhism - and Buddhism in general. While lacking the congeniality of, say, Jack Kornfield, this intro thoroughly covers many aspects of the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, etc. Recommended for beginners serious about exploring the Buddhist path.
THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE INTRODUCTION TO BUDDHISM OUT THERE!.......2006-07-06
Geshe Kelsang Gyasto's book An Introduction to Buddhism, distills all the basic, essential components of Buddhist thought and philosophy into a short, concise, clear, easy to read text that leaves the reader wanting to find out more about these beautiful teachings!
The importance of meditation can never be emphasized enough and Geshe Kelsang writes WHY meditation is ESSENTIAL to be able to experience true happiness. He also explains clearly why we experience so much mental suffering and how we can reduce the stress in our life and be proactive in our lives rather than always reacting, many times in negative ways. This information is so important, especially in this day and age when our lives seem more busy and more complicated than ever!
I have read this book many times and am constantly amazed at how each time I read it, the teachings impact me in a different way. I believe this is because Geshe Kelsang Gyatso writes in such a manner that beginners get a strong foundation of the basic principles of Buddhist thought and philosophy, and more advanced practitioners get a deeper insight into the inner workings of some of the more challenging aspects of the philosophy like the ultimate nature of reality, the true nature of suffering, karma, and the function of the mind and the role it plays in our experience of the world.
I recommend this book both to beginners and those who have more experience studying Buddhist thought and philosophy. It is a precious text that is extremely helpful in improving our meditation practice and our daily lives.
Quite a good guide for basic buddhism but....erm..........2006-03-02
Do take note that the author, Kelsang Gyatso was apparently kicked out of the Sera Monastery for insulting the Dalai Lama and persisting doing an unorthodox practise that is not in line with the mainstream buddhism. Even so, the first few chapters of basic buddhism are correct and it's very easy to understand.
Beautiful Introduction to Buddhism. 10 Stars!.......2004-04-28
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso always writes with such wonderful compassion, and shares in his joy to reach and awaken humanity. "Buddha" means "awakened" and that is just what this wonderful book will guide you towards on your path, and bring you closer to the loving compassion and right mindfulness that will clear up and clarify so much for you.
I take the teachings into my heart, mind and soul where true "AHA" moments of newfound enlightenment transform prior suffering into a state of being "awakened." Just as each drop in a bucket will fill that bucket, each drop of heartfelt right thought and action, detachment, and compassion for oneself and all of humanity will transform your life.
Gyatso's teachings are genuine, and you will find yourself coming that much closer to being awakened when you allow your heart to open fully, and give understanding and compassion.
The teachings are simple and profound. They are pure and potent. They are eternal and everlasting in their truth, and in the positive impact they bring to humanity by bringing genuine heartfelt understandings of exactly HOW Buddha became "awakened."
I HIGHLY recommend this book, along with "Transform Your Life: A Blissful Journey" "The New Meditation Handbook" and "Universal Compassion" all by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.
I hope they have the immeasurable impact on your life that they have had on mine.
start here with this author's works.......2004-02-26
I have four books by this author. He writes in a soothing manner and explains Tibetan Buddhism practices thoroughly. However, the other books I have did not make sense until I read this one. This one puts the basics down pat. Once I absorbed this easy read, the other texts begin to make more sense. This one is written in a flowing easy style, explaining things. It makes reference to his other books for more specifics about practice, which is why I gave it 4 stars. You will read about an overview of practice in this book and get interested in the specifics to read further see such and such book for more details. This is definitely the place for a beginner in the Tibetan approach to begin.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent work from an historical perspective.......2007-08-12
Dr. Momen wrote an excellent illustrated book. Even the printing layout is very good with a rather large typeface readable even by oldies.
Dr. Momen gave due attention to details like exact transliteration, differences between Arabic and Farsi spellings and pronunciations, careful complete footnotes, glossary and reference lists, etc.
The book also contains several charts that make it much easier to gain an overview of the subject matter, in particular of politico-historic events compared to theological developments.
Dr. Momen does not claim to be an esoterist but rather has chosen an historic (zahiri) viewpoint without at all closing the door to the esoteric side (batini).
Dr. Momen makes it clear and plausible how Twelver Shi'ism has especially since Safavid rule in Iran moved towards a concentration on exoteric law with the legal experts gradually assuming several prerogatives original held reserved to the occulted 12th Imam. In other words, it seems that the Sunni Al-Azhar University's published opinion considering 12er Shi'a a 5th school of orthodox Islamic jurisprudence in addition to the four still extant Sunni schools is factually based. In all fairness, however, we should bear in mind that tendencies towards legalism are currently not restricted to Shi'i Islam but, alas, observable worldwide.
The more esoterically minded (batini) amongst the 12er ulama (doctors of theology) who do not share the view that jurisprudence (fiqh) is the central theme of Islamic knowledge have apparently gradually withdrawn and gone underground in a kind of relative occultation.
This reviewer heartily thanks Dr. Momen and hopes he is alive and well and will soon publish a second updated edition of his excellent work.
good study of evolution of shiaism.......2007-07-13
good for explaining the convuluted history of shiaism and as an ex-12 Imami shia I found the argument convincing that the 12er shiaism is a invention of much later age ....almost no details on origins of shias though for that we need more details of first fitna
Excellent resource for beginners.......2007-03-18
A good place to begin the study of Shi'ism. Very readable. Well referenced. Lacks in detail though. Particularly useful are the chapters related to contemporary marjaes and the Iranian revolution.
One of the best books I've ever read on Shia Islam.......2007-01-04
I would recommend this book to anyone, but especially to Shia parents wishing to explain Shia Islam to their children. The book is easy enough for a high-schooler and up to read. As someone who grew up in a relatively small Shia community in the United States, this book was especially helpful in educating me over the years. Recently, many of my friends (who are of the college and professional school age) and who have not necessarily grown up in a household that stresses Shia Islam but who want to learn more about the area, have also turned to this book for understanding.
Classic introduction to Shiism.......2006-10-23
I got this book when it first came out almost 20 years ago. it has helped me to understand the religious underpinnings of the feelings of people in iran and the shiites of iraq as well as the shiite minorities of pakistan and arabia. The author assumes no knowledge of islamic history or religion, so it is just what it says-- an "introduction" for the non muslim to shiite history and theology. A highly recommendedbook for someone just starting their studies of iran or middle east nations with shi'a minorities. And contrary to what an earlier reviewer said, it is an easy read for anyone with an eight grade education.
Book Description
The Bahá'í Faith is a recognized independent world religion attracting increasing attention--and followers--in the U.S. and around the globe as people from all walks of life search for practical spiritual direction and meaning in these deeply troubled times. Founded nearly 160 years ago, the Bahá'í Faith is today among the fastest-growing of world religions. With more than six million followers in 236 countries and territories, it has already become the second-most widespread faith, surpassing every religion but Christianity in its geographic reach.
The history and teachings of the Bahá'í Faith center around the inspiring person of its Founder, Bahá'u'lláh (1817-1892). The character traits He displayed throughout the course of a long and turbulent life, His voluminous and comprehensive body of written works, and impact He has already had in the world undeniably qualify Him as a major figure in world religious history.
Customer Reviews:
Worth a read or two or three.......2006-07-19
I have read this book a few times, not because it is hard to understand, but because it is so very exciting. If you want to understand how God interacts with humanity, how all religions have the same foundation, and why we who live now are extraordinarily blessed, pick up this book and savor it.
A Wonderful Introduction..........2006-06-05
This book is a wonderful introduction to the Baha'i Faith. I enjoyed the detailed history of the faith in the beginning chapters very much. Kenneth Bowers did an amazing job on what I believe is his first book!
Wow.......2006-01-31
This book was beyond insightfull!!! I couldn't put it down for days. Mr.Bowers truly did an amazing job!
Stunning.......2004-12-21
This is an outstanding introduction to the Baha'i Faith, for the followers of all religions or no religion. The book is eminently readable. The assertion from "Publishers Weekly" that "God Speaks Again" is "...at times becomes proselytizing, even preachy-quotes from Baha'i writings are sometimes whole pages in length..." is at best misleading and at worst a misrepresenation of what the author wants to convey. Would it be considered "proselytizing" (i.e., being needlessly pushy) for a book on Christianity to quote the Bible, or for one on Hinduism to quote the Bhagavad Gita, for example? The Baha'i Faith is an emerging global religion, and Bowers only seeks to acquaint us with the vast respository of original writings from Baha'u'allah.
Furthermore, at the end of the book, the author clearly states that "in the end, each of us must decide for ourselves whether Baha'u'allah's claims are true." How can such a statement be considered "preachy?"
An Engaging Book.......2004-05-15
From the moment I read the first sentence I was captivated by the Ken Bower's style of writing and the material he presented in his new book, God Speaks Again. In a simple, engaging style he presents the Baha'i Faith in a way that people who have never heard of the Faith or people who have been Baha'is for a long time will learn something new and find, perhaps, answers needed for living in the world today. Unlike many books on religion Ken Bowers lets the subject speak for itself, he doesn't preach, he doesn't attempt to convert the reader. The historical information and facts that he wove into his narrative, added to enjoyment of the book. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in religion or who is interested in learning about the Baha'i Faith.
Customer Reviews:
Very Informitive .......2007-04-03
This book was a huge help in the test preperation. It was up to date and test ready.
DSST preparation for the Introduction To World Religions.......2002-08-15
There is some good information in this book, but your time would be much better spent on the actual reference materials listed on the Chauncey official website e.g. Religions of the World, Hopfe. I took the test today and it is fresh in my mind. The practice tests in this book quizes on information that will be usefull if one ends up on Jeopardy someday, but my advice would be to stick to the actual reference material. Good luck!
Now I'm learning a hundred new definitions.......2001-06-06
I recommend this book. Even if you feel that you're ready for the test, this book will have you doing much more research and backtracking. The questions are very detailed and a little tricky so it enables you to get a better understanding of the subject. I haven't taken the test yet. When I took the practice tests in this book I rescheduled it for a later date. I want a few more weeks to study.
Passed the Dantes World Religions test.......2000-07-26
I bought this to help me prepare for the Intro. to World Religions test. I thought the test would be fairly easy because I know a good bit about other religions. The fact is that the test was hard but I passed. The book has about 20 different tests with the answers in the back of each. Every test has about 25 questions. They are really hard and obscure questions. The questions on the real Dantes test were not exactly like the ones in this book (although they were similar), but by studying these, I managed to pass.
Book Description
This systematic introduction to Buddhist ethics is aimed at anyone interested in Buddhism, including students, scholars and general readers. Peter Harvey is the author of the acclaimed Introduction to Buddhism (Cambridge, 1990), and his new book is written in a clear style, assuming no prior knowledge. At the same time it develops a careful, probing analysis of the nature and practical dynamics of Buddhist ethics in both its unifying themes and in the particularities of different Buddhist traditions. The book applies Buddhist ethics to a range of issues of contemporary concern: humanity’s relationship with the rest of nature; economics; war and peace; euthanasia; abortion; the status of women; and homosexuality. Professor Harvey draws on texts of the main Buddhist traditions, and on historical and contemporary accounts of the behaviour of Buddhists, to describe existing Buddhist ethics, to assess different views within it, and to extend its application into new areas.
Customer Reviews:
Generally, a useful study........2005-07-05
People who wish to learn more about 'Buddhist Ethics' will find this book useful. Along with Damien Keown's books, Peter Harvey's study will be invaluable for those who have neither the time nor the resources to explore primary sources for themselves.
Why only 'four stars' then? Like other reviewers, I'm not so sure that Buddhist Ethics can be reduced to 'natural ethics' - or regarded as analogous to natural ethics, on the assumption that as no 'God' is involved, we are safely outside 'theistic' considerations. In the wish to distance themselves from theocentric ethics, some Buddhists have tried to present Buddhism as 'natural' religion. But in actual fact, the terminology involved - either way, reflects Western categories of thinking.
Consider some of the problems here. Neo-pagans, the followers of 'Wicca' etc.- might well define themselves as adherents of 'natural' religion. Are we to conclude, then, that they are Buddhists - by another name?
Admittedly, much that we would define as 'ethical' - in Buddhism, is safely rooted in empirical experience. But on further examination, notions like 'karma' and karmic retribution cannot be 'explained' along purely naturalistic lines at all. Indeed, taken at face value, one could argue that nature per se, provides little evidence to support the idea of karma, which is quite important to the ethical world view of the Buddhists. I'm not questioning karma - in its proper context, I'm just stating that when push comes to shove, Buddhists do not attempt to account for karma in crude 'naturalistic' terms. Rather, it is part of an essentially spiritual world-view.
Hence, if not informed by 'theocentric' considerations, Buddhist ethics are - at their upper end, as it were, informed by assumptions of a 'transcendental' nature. I make this observation, because it is all too easy to approach Buddhism from the outside, believing that it is all neatly packaged, without any of the complications found in theocentric ethics.
This is not a criticism of Buddhism, just a reminder that it cannot be confined to 'natural' ethics, and may not be the simple, strictly 'rational' creed we once imagined.
For the most part, the ethical world view of the Buddhists is marked by impartiality, cool detachment, nothing fevered. Such detachment is evidently derived from something deeper than mere 'natural' religion.
Excellent intro to Buddhist Ethics, a rare standard........2002-09-29
Peter Harvey, Professor of Buddhist Studies at the University of Sunderland, has a lot of experience in the field of Buddhist Studies and it shows. Starting with the `Shared Foundations of Buddhist Ethics', he goes on with key `Buddhist Values.' Then he covers the `Mahayana emphases and adaptations,' after which he deals with the practicalities of Buddhist ethics: the Natural world, economic ethics, war and peace, suicide and euthanasia, abortion and contraception, sexual equality, and homosexuality and other forms of `queerness.' It is amazing how he managed to gather so much information on this area, not to mention his impressing knowledge of the texts of most traditions. This sometimes leads to too many traditions cited per chapter, making it hard for the reader to distinguish between them (unless, of course, you are familar with the sources cited.) It can be used most fruitfully when critically taught.
A good introduction... though it has its faults...........2000-11-28
This is a really good introduction for people who a) are knowledgable about Western ethical theories and want to see things from a different perspective of b) people getting into Buddhism who want a good general introduction into what people have thought about what people have thought that Siddhartha Gotama thought and taught. This book is divided into sections first which illustrate bases of Buddhist ethical practices and then how these practices have effected different issue-areas (the environment, homosexuality, etc.) Thus far, this is a remarkable book.... I like it a lot....
The problems that I have with this book are but a few. First, in the first chapter outlining bases for Buddhist ethics, the author cites a few suttras almost exclusively when others could make the points that he is trying to make better. (Don't worry, reader-- I'm not going to belabor this point....) The Asokavedanta (Life story of Asoka, the, I believe, second to last Mauryan Emporer in India) which is revered in Sri Lanka being foremost of these those I thought of off the top of my head... Another is that he occasionally cites Western sources when the primary texts would do.... These little thinks irked me, but I suppose that the author had a reason for them, and they don't really detract from the strength of the whole of the book....
As to the last reviewer saying that this book provides a good insight into non-theistic ethics... I'm not so sure about that. Off the top of my head, I can think of no titles.... but this book deals with Buddhist ethics... which is a broad enough field.... and not EXACTLY non-theistic (although generally so...)
I'd recommend this book to about anyone though especially to the two groups of people I mentioned at the opening of this review....
Right and wrong.......2000-10-05
This is an easy to understand account of the basis and content of ethical teachings in Buddhism as a global tradition.
Starting with the foundations of Buddhist ethics, Harvey then describes the major precepts in turn as they apply to ordinary practitioners.
He then looks at the implications of these ethics from the social and historical context in many countries from Sri Lanka to Japan. He gives special treatment to topics like Enviromentalism, Feminist issues, Economics and Homosexuality in a Buddhist context and gives an overview of many accounts expressed on these topics. The treatment is sometimes academic, always balanced and frequently too objective.
It is an important book for people who are interested in Natural Justice and the role of Human Rights vs Human Responsibilities in the context of human legal codes and religion. It is also a must for anyone who wants to know the difference between right and wrong and why from a non Theistic position.
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Alone with Others: An Existential Approach to Buddhism
What the Buddha Taught: Revised and Expanded Edition with Texts from Suttas and Dhammapada
Buddhism Plain and Simple
Meditation for Life
The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching
