The January 2009 issue of Shambhala Sun includes “Meaningful to Me,” a roundup of favorite Buddhist books of the past thirty years, as chosen by Judith Lief, Joan Sutherland, Sylvia Boorstein, Ajahn Amaro, Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi, Susan Piver, John Tarrant, and Sumi Loundon Kim.
You can see their selections here. But we also want to know: which Buddhist book of the past thirty years has meant the most to you? Perhaps it was the first such book that you ever read, or maybe it was the fiftieth, but something about it made things go click! for you. Comment away!
(And no, you don’t have to stick to just one.)
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Buddhism Without Beliefs by Stephen Batchelor and most recently Sailing Home by Norman Fischer.
the Shambhala pocket classic version of the Dhammapada put me on the path.
that’s great, dharmabum and ben. i’m wondering, too, what it was about these books that resonated for you…
Shantideva’s ‘Way of the Bodhisattva’ and Padmasambhava’s ‘Dakini Teachings’ and ‘Advice from the Lotus Born.’Ruthless exposure of ultimate truth, shed of pretense and infused with pure, loving heart. I also really love the original sutras of Shakyamuni Buddha compiled in the Digha and Majjhima Nikayas. I’m a little dismayed that few people I meet (esp. those in Tibetan traditions)have actually read these. They’re surprisingly lively and funny, and of course immaculate in their wisdom and compassion.
‘Opening the Lotus’ by Sandy Boucher provided a view of Buddhism in America from a the perspective a queer, feminist woman. To have this very different perspective, in a voice that resonated with me, was very important. Reading it lead me to start checking out Dharma groups in my community. I was delighted to have been in a retreat co-led by Sandy over the New Year of 2008.
Sandy’s Boucher’s book encouraged me to seek in Buddhism and ‘Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind’ by Suzuki Roshi led me to Zen. Reading it gave me the idea, the hope of possibility in following that path.
For now… “One Dharma” by Joseph Goldstein, “What the Buddha Taught” by Walpola Rahula, “The Pocket Buddha Reader” by Anne Bancroft, “Issue At Hand” by Gil Fronsdal.
For a long time, I had two parallel commitments that didn’t feel to me like they needed to be separate: Buddhist practice and the rigorous academic study of Buddhism. John Makransky and Roger Jackson’s Buddhist Theology: Critical Reflections by Contemporary Buddhist Scholars offered ideas and tools for me as a committed “scholar-practitioner” who was feeling a little lost at sea. I knew from various experiences that bringing one’s practice to study (and vice versa) didn’t have to be anathema, but could rather inspire new and exciting contributions. I just hadn’t seen so many rich thoughts on the matter put together in writing until Buddhist Theology. In it, I found both an affirmation and a guiding light. And years now after first reading it, it continues to stimulate and influence me.
I just finished the most wonderful book–the poetry pieces particularly validated my internal experience–recommended it to patients and others on my small blog and then learned the author’s website is the last place in which to purchase it. Amazon has evidently sold out.
Check out: “St. Nadie in Winter: Zen Encounters With Loneliness” by monk, artist, writer, Terrance Keenan.
http://www.terrancekeenan.com
My biggest “teacher” thus far is Ezra Bayda’s “Being Zen: Bringing Meditation to Life”. Reading it, for me, is akin to gazing into a wise, wise mirror. Blows me away. The best practical wisdom I’ve encountered in the Tao According to Yours Truly. (smiling)
Namaste.
Oops, here’s my address in case you want to read a recent post I did about “St. Nadie in Winter”:
http://lassieandtimmy.blogspot.com
Thanks.
I was 17 when I first read the Dhammapada. I remember reading the introduction by Ram Das where he tried to emphasize the importance of the text that I was about to and thought “wow, I’ve never been told to read like this before”. So I did as was instructed and slowly took in the words of the Buddha. It was amazing. These words unlocked something in me that I had never felt before. It was electric and connecting. I felt as if I was coming home in some way. Later, when I heard the expression a flash of lighting in the dark of night, I felt like screaming a Charlie Brown “THAT’S IT!”. Many books have poked and prodded me along the path since then, but there’s nothing like that first connection.
I’ve read a bunch of books over the past few years from various teachers, scholars, etc but a book that really resonated with me recently was Calvin Malone’s “Razor Wire Dharma”. I’d post exactly why but I already did at http://preciousmetal.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/book-review-razor-wire-dharma/
thanks, everyone. this is great!
Right now, the Dharma book that I can’t seem to put down is Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche’s “Vajra Speech”. “Words of My perfect Teacher” is also amazing as is Ricard’s “The Life of Shabkar”.
http://blog.gordoneaton.com
The Great Awakening by David Loy. It did a great job explaining the conflict between science and religion.
Easily it’s Against The Stream by Noah Levine. He explains Buddhism in simple terms, so that anyone can understand. It has given me much inspiration.
I love No Escape, Pema Chodron. Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, Trungpa. Book of Five Rings is a fun one. I wrote my best recs for beginner’s books here: http://www.elephantjournal.com/2008/07/best-classic-beginners-buddhist-books-ever/
“Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind”, by Shunryu Suzuki really put me on the path of the dharma. I am reading “Crooked Cucumber” right now, which is a bio of Suzuki Roshi. “The Places That Scare You” by Pema Chodron, also, was influential to me.
gassho
But I guess the first book that got to me was 'The Dharma Bums', by Kerouac. Far from a 'real' buddhist book, but still it meant a lot. My English teacher in highschool suggested 'On The Road', but I settled for this one – though I didn't know what dharma was back then. I was hooked by the curious highspeed description of a totally radical, rebellious, obnoxious and sometimes really messed up bunch of guys that were into meditation (and drugs, iknow, that too). Until then I thought only new-agey middle-aged people that never got angry were into that kind of thing. Though I didn't start sitting until I was way in my twenties, the revelation that it could also be something for 'high volume' kids was very important for me as a teenager and it stayed with me forever.
Sitting for real started with 'Meditation Made Easy' by lorin roche (and I don't know if I would've sticked with it without that book).
I've started loving koans while reading the slightly cynical 'Afterzen' by Jan Willem van de Wetering. After that came Brad Warners' 'Sit down and Shut up' and 'Hardcore Zen'. All for more or less the same reasons as stated above. And finally Mark Epstein (especially 'Going to pieces without falling apart') made me realise how very much the dharma isn't about ideology, but about reality. Pema Chodron and Tsultrim Allione are on my new-books-pile.
[edit: without the first 'but' - ofcourse]
“Selling Water By The River” the first Buddhist book I read so long ago that tipped me to the right direction.
It’s still hard to beat “Zen Mind, Beginners Mind” for intermediate zennies. The “Three Pillars…” is a wonderful intro to Zen. And for beginners, even though there’s not much about technique in it “The Way Of Zen” is a good book, even though it is generally not held in very high regard.
I’m obviously in learned company here, where I do not belong. So…I will take others’ recommendations to heart, but will add a couple:
I’m a fan of Glenn Wallis’ version of the The Dhammapada and his “Basic Teachings of the Buddha.” I have gained much from the teachings of Achaan Chah in “A Still Forest Pool” along with “No Fear No Death” and other works by Thich Nhat Hahn.
I keep re-reading Three Pillars of Zen (Philip Kapleau). I also like Pema Chodron for something more modern/practical.
Thanks, everyone. These recommendations are sure to help others find the right book in the right moment..!
“No River to Cross” by Zen master Daehaeng Sunim.
Without a doubt this is the one book I have learnt most from.
Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness, Bhante Gunaratana; A practical, practice guide to the Noble Eightfold Path
Anapanasati Sutra.
Wang Wei.
Basho.
Paul Reps: Zen Telegrams.
Thoreau (especially the quotes with Eliot Porter’s photos).
Brad Warner's commentary regarding Shobogenzo in his book "Sit Down and Shut Up" makes studying Shobogenzo considerably easier.
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones
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