THE ESSENTIAL BUDDHISM (Special Nook Edition) An Introduction to Buddhism, Buddhist Thought, Buddhist Religion, Buddhist Philosophy and Buddha for Beginners (Including Shinto, Zen, Tibetan and Other Buddhist Traditions) NOOKbook BUDDHISM [NOOK Book]

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Overview

OVERVIEW

Buddhist scriptures and other texts exist in great variety. Different schools of Buddhism place varying levels of value on learning the various texts. Some schools venerate certain texts as religious objects in themselves, while others take a more scholastic approach. Buddhist scriptures are written in these languages: Pāli, Tibetan, Mongolian, Chinese, along with some texts that still exist in Sanskrit and Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit.

Unlike many religions, Buddhism has no single central text that is ...
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More About This Book

Overview

OVERVIEW

Buddhist scriptures and other texts exist in great variety. Different schools of Buddhism place varying levels of value on learning the various texts. Some schools venerate certain texts as religious objects in themselves, while others take a more scholastic approach. Buddhist scriptures are written in these languages: Pāli, Tibetan, Mongolian, Chinese, along with some texts that still exist in Sanskrit and Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit.

Unlike many religions, Buddhism has no single central text that is universally referred to by all traditions. The size and complexity of the Buddhist canons have been seen by some as presenting barriers to the wider understanding of Buddhist philosophy.

The aim of this volume is to provide an introduction to the essentials of Buddhism by by bringing together a selection of its beautiful sentiments, and lofty maxims, and particularly including some of those which inculcate mercy to the lower animals.

On this point a far higher stand is taken by Buddhism than by Christianity—or at any rate than by Christianity as understood and interpreted by those who ought to know. Not only is the whole question of our duties to the lower animals commonly ignored in Christian works as, for instance. Very different in this respect is the tone of the average Buddhist treatise, with its earnest exhortations, recurring as a matter of course, to show mercy on every living thing; and this difference alone is an adequate reason for compiling a Buddhist anthology.

In regard to the sources quoted from, they do not all, by any means, possess canonical authority. But they are all distinctly Buddhist in character. The dates of the originals range from at least the third century B. C. to medieval and later times.

Of the numerous Buddhist works which have now been translated from some eight or ten eastern languages, the greater number, when regarded purely as literature, occupy a very low level. At times they are so remarkably dull and silly that the reader is inclined to ask why they were ever translated. But the one redeeming feature in the voluminous compositions of Buddhist writers is the boundless compassion which they consistently inculcate.

If we sometimes give to this injunction the sense of extending our sympathy to the lowest sentient being, and not causing pain to living creatures while they live, we shall perhaps not be doing violence to the spirit of mercy by which it was prompted. There are many passages in Buddhist works which advocate preference for the spirit over the letter, or the exercise of judgment in accepting what we are taught.


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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 43 )

Rating Distribution

5 Star

(28)

4 Star

(3)

3 Star

(3)

2 Star

(3)

1 Star

(6)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 43 Customer Reviews

  • Posted March 23, 2011

    Waste of money

    Based on the lofty title of this "book," I was compelled to buy it. This is actually NOT an introduction to anything at all; it is simply 24 pages of quotes from other works. No context is given for any of the quotes, and, although the introduction hints at a comparative study of Buddhism and Christianity, nothing is presented other than the aforementioned list of quotes. This ebook is a failure on every level..

    6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 4, 2011

    Great introduction to Buddhism

    I had always wanted to learn more bout Buddhism and Eastern religions, and this was a very good and easily accessible introduction, which provides some good nuggets of thoughts.

    I know that Buddhism is one of the great religions, and so a book like this will not do justice to the full depth of the religion, bt for a beginner like me, this provided a good sampler of the riches that lie ahead of me.

    6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 30, 2011

    Ridiculous

    It is not a book, it's a collection of a couple quotations. I bought it hoping to to learn about Buddhism, not just read quotes. I wish I could get my money back.

    Some of the quotations are really enlightening, but it's still not at all what I wanted or expected nor is it what it claims "An introduction to Buddhism etc)

    And it's only 24 pages....

    5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 20, 2011

    Beautiful, just beautiful

    Wonderful short volume of Buddhist excerpts

    4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted April 16, 2011

    Nice introduction to Buddhism

    This is a nice introduction to Buddhism

    3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted October 15, 2011

    MISLEADING DESCRIPTION

    I was very disappointed in this book. I look for reviews first and there were none. Are now. I thought I was getting all scriptures. If I'd known I would have bought something else. Total waste of momey.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 20, 2011

    Nice short taster of Buddhism

    Good for people who want to begin exploring this philsophy and way of life.

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 16, 2011

    Nice short introduction to Buddhism

    This is a nice introduction to Buddhism for those who are interested in this profound philosophy and way of life.

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted April 2, 2011

    Very disappointed with the short length of the book

    Sounds like an extensive tome in the description, but is in fact only 24 pages. Shame on you, B&N

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 18, 2012

    Odd little pamphlet

    I'm old enough and small-town enough to have encountered Barnes & Noble first as a publisher before I'd heard of them as booksellers. I still hope to see them picking up the occasional out-of-print masterpiece for publication at reasonable cost. This one is not such a masterpiece. It seems to be an early 20th century collection of Buddhist aphorisms from a wide variety of sources arranged by topic. It would be nice to know more about its provenance, but not too nice.

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    Posted February 13, 2011

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    Posted March 9, 2011

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    Posted September 23, 2011

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