Buddhism for Beginners by Thubten Chodron

Buddhism for Beginners Reviews

• 
  Amanda NEVER MANDY

  This book was read to fuel one of many different thought trains I currently have circling around in my mind. It wasn’t the greatest read and I credit the Q&A format for a bulk of that dislike. I have never been a fan of that kind of setup because I see it as a way around coming up with decent transitions and all of the stops and starts kill the thought flow. Also, it reminds me of the disappointment I feel when I am at the end of a book and realize the ending I thought stretched through a few more pages is actually done and those remaining deceptive pages are filled with author Q&A.
  
  On the positive side, I did walk away with some additional knowledge and I am thankful for that.
• 
  Jammin Jenny

  Good introduction to Buddhism, how it is performed/followed around the world, and how we can all become our own inner Buddha. I found it interesting and uplifting.
• 
  Pearl of the Dark Age

  Despite the fact that there was no conclusion in the form of a conclusion that I'm accustomed to, it was an amazing mind churner of a book. I was very pleased personally with it, because as I was reading it I was thinking to myself, "This is what I believe already!" without ever having learned about Buddhism before. I think that this book relates to a lot of people of many different faiths, and I think many seeking happiness, love, and a deeper understanding of the fundamentals about Buddhism will love this book.
• 
  Oskars Kaulēns

  grāmata lieliski izpilda tai uzticēto uzdevumu - informēt un izglītot, nevis aģitēt vai pārliecināt.
• 
  toolie

  Świetna podstawa dla dalszych poszukiwań i odnajdywania odpowiedzi na egzystencjonalnie pytania. Dla mnie była to wspaniała powtórka z tego wszystkiego o czym uczyłam sie kiedys na studiach i tak bardzo pokochałam. Temat wrocil, tak jak wróciły pytania, a powyższa książka stała sie wspaniałym punktem wyjścia. Ktoś poleciłby cos z tematyki zen? Z wadżrajany książki juz namierzone :-)
• 
  H.A. Fowler

  I think this isn't called "Buddhism for the Curious" for a reason -- you have to have at least some ground level familiarity with Buddhism for it to be of real use to you. However, that being said, if you are a new, progressing student, or someone who has moved beyond, say, "Buddhism For Dummies", this book definitely answers some questions people are left with.
  
  Another thing that should be made clear that a lot of people don't understand -- there isn't just one kind of Buddhism, anymore than there is one kind of Christianity. All of them have common beliefs, but there are differences beyond those commonalities -- rituals, beliefs, etc. Rev Thubten Chodron is a teacher in a particular Tibetan tradition. Particulars about deities and reincarnation, the purposes of Buddhist practice, etc, are not the same as in other traditions. This is not "Buddhism" as some monolithic entity, it is one view of one tradition under the auspices of the Buddha's wisdom.
• 
  Bill McDavid

  Recently I took my son (at his request) to a Buddhist Center for an orientation session. I wanted to read a book that would give me a basic understanding of Buddhism without getting bogged down in too many details or confusion. This book gave me exactly that. I would recommend it highly to anyone who hopes to understand the basics of Buddhism in a helpful Q&A format.
• 
  Chase Wilde

  I was hoping this would be more of a guide on how to implement secular Buddhist teachings into your life but it was more about the doctrine of Buddhism. May be better for someone looking to become an actual spiritual Buddhist.
• 
  Jules Crawford

  Really clearly and nicely written, I like a lot of the philosophy found in Buddhism but some of it doesn’t fully gel with me. It was for sure entertaining and I’ll be giving Zen Buddhism a deeper look especially, otherwise when it comes to life philosophies both Taoism and Stoicism are more interesting to me.
• 
  Alyssa Gonzales

  After hearing 10% happier I wanted to learn a little bit more about Buddhism. This book (free on audible) is a perfect introduction on Buddhism and its teachings. Will keep reading about Buddhism and mindfulness.
• 
  Ardyth

  First: do no harm.
  
  Written specifically for English speaking Westerners (raised in a Christian social context even when not self-identifying as Christian themselves), this addresses many common questions about Buddhism in plain English.
  
  There are the obvious basic tenets to cover, of course, but also other less obvious ones that are still fundamentals. Do Buddhists believe in evolution? Where did the universe come from? Is Buddha a god? If not, what's wih the altars and offerings? How does prayer work? What are the different branches / sects of Buddhism, how and why are they different? Can women attain enlightenment? How should a Buddhist deal with conflicts about faith, e.g. friends and family who don't follow Buddhism? Etc etc
  
  I can highly recommend this to Westerners trying to get a better sense of this facet of Asian (South, East and Southeast) cultures.
• 
  Carlee

  Just finished this great introduction to Buddhism written in a simple Q&A format. It spans everything from, "Do we have to be a Buddhist to practice Buddhism?" to how to meditate to Buddhist perspectives on the environment, ethical issues, & love.
  
  It came highly recommended by a more experienced member at the Buddhist Kadampa Center in Raleigh, NC as the best book to read for a true beginner, and I would highly recommend it again to anyone interested in learning more about Buddhist perspectives, Buddhist spirituality, meditation, or who just wants to learn about leading a more compassionate & happy life free from anger, attachment, hatred and jealousy.
• 
  Ann Schwader

  I'm rating this three stars rather than four due to the audio format. It's very well presented, but there is simply too much information in this short book to absorb in audio.
  
  That said, this is a very good introduction to Buddhism for the curious, with an amazing amount of data packed into four hours of listening! It's clear and well-organized, and covers several different traditions. I suspect a hard copy or Kindle edition is the way to go with this one -- it seems intended for reference, as well as for reading straight through.
  
  
• 
  Trisha Swed

  This was the first book I’ve read about Buddhist teachings that made me say, “wow, Buddhism can be filled with judgmental nonsense.” So either that mean this book was very good or not so good and borderline dangerous.
• 
  planetkimi

  I plan to keep this book around as a reference book - it does a great job of defining buddhist terms in easy-to-understand ways.
• 
  Michael Huang

  This appears to me an underrated little book. The author didn't set out to initiate the mass or make you interested in buddhism. As explained in the introduction, she has these FAQs that she answers in some center. As the title suggests, it's meant for the more introductory questions.
  
  Buddha’s teaching is to avoid hurting others and help them as much as possible. Recognize that everyone is similar to us in trying to have a good life and be happy (this latter part is perhaps a more modern day wording). Stop judging them and have empathy. The three jewels are Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. A buddha is anyone that is enlightened. Dharma is his teachings. Sangha are (ordained) people to guide you practice the way. The three jewels are analogous to doctor, medicine, and nurses.
  
  The book explains what the path should be: 1. Become a good person that lives harmoniously with others; 2. Once our actions and speech are calmer, we can develop our mind with single pointed concentration — meditative stabilization; 3. Higher training in wisdom is to cut the root of suffering (to perceive that there is no independent existence).
  
  There are some advices on daily life. For instance, practice meditation: first practice breathing, then quiet time to digest our experience, look at our lives, and cultivate our good qualities. In the evening, take a little time to review the day's events, purify any harmful attitudes or behavior, rejoice in the changes and positive attitudes you're developing.
  
  It doles out little packets of wisdom: Children learn largely through examples, the best way to teach is through examples. It's not always easy. They also provide the best and most difficult challenge to practice patience. (100% agree) So one should learn about antidote for anger from buddhism (I'll work on that.)
  
  The author discusses many little questions people asked and is very honest about things she doesn't understand (e.g., why after death, the intermediate stage -- bardo -- lasts only 49 days).
  
  An interesting piece of side information you can obtain is the *questions* people ask. They give you a glance of people drawn (for whatever reason and in whatever degree) to buddhism: some are interested in the more technical (e.g., the meaning of "om mani padme hum"); others wonder if prayers will be answered.
• 
  Kiko Čabala

  3.5, fajne intro pre niekoho kto sa vobec nevyzna, cele napisane ako QnA / FaQ, zoradene do kategorii
• 
  Michelle Mclean

  A straightforward introduction, covering common questions about Buddhism. Easy-to-follow style and good pace (audio book). A little more depth on the topics would have earned an additional star.
• 
  Brian Gray

  Any book which uses the argument that something is real based on people being unable to disprove it deserves one star.
  
  Abortions are also not bad karma.
• 
  Rachel

  A bit dry at times but I liked the question/response layout and there were more in depth discussions than what I've seen in other beginner's books.
• 
  Cudipeich Grijander

  Como introducción para entender los conceptos budistas no está mal, la estructura de preguntas y respuestas es adecuado. Los capítulos más interesantes son los primeros ya que se refieren a los conceptos esenciales del budimos: kharma, dharma, vacuidad, etc.
• 
  Lucas Coelho

  This one was a quick listen but a productive one. Being read a few other books on buddhism before I found this one to be both a good reminder of basic principles and most likely a good intro if you are completely unfamiliar with buddhism. Some topics addressed here were things I always wanted to clarify and that was super helpful.
  
  I enjoyed the listen with the question and answer format a lot, ir almost felt like I was listening to a podcast, but I can understand how some people here found the reading a bit boring with this format.
  
  I would recommend the listen if you are interested not only on a overview of the religion but also on understanding its view on current topics. ☺️
• 
  Michael Williams

  I can echo the sentiments of several previous reviewers, but with this difference: 5 stars for the first half of the book, which was (I believe) genuinely helpful for THIS beginner. Less helpful (3-4 stars?) in its second-half distinctions between various branches/schools of Buddhism--that's the kind of information I'll no doubt need up the road, but as of now is too specialized and particular for someone in search of introductions and overview. It's called "Buddhism for Beginners", but I need practice swimming before I'm tossed into the middle of the lake. Still, I'd recommend the book.
• 
  Erik

  One of my problems when I was initially interested in learning about Buddhism was that I'd overwhelm myself with too much information. I'd find myself thumbing through multiple books at a time, picking bits from each, but ultimately retaining nothing. I could have saved myself from my self-induced flood of information by reading this wonderful book by Venerable Thubten Chodron. It offers the history, the path, the practical advice, and it plants the perfect seeds for further development if it is what you wish. This book would benefit everyone from the curious, to the skeptical, to the seeker.
• 
  Mario

  Tal y como se puede esperar a partir del título, esta es una obra escueta, pero es algo para lo que ya estamos prevenidos. Cumple adecuadame con la función de acercar el budismo a toda persona iniciada interesada en el tema, además toca asuntos muy cotidianos relacionados con el dogma budista, algo muy interesante. De todos modos, si te interesa el budismo, no recomiendo que te quedes únicamente con la lectura de esta obra.