All About Buddhism
Type
Book
Authors
ISBN 10
9810019882
Category
205 Buddhism - Buddhist Scriptures (Tipitaka & Commentaries)
[ Browse Items ]
Publication Year
1990
Publisher
Buddha Dhamma Mandala Society, Singapore
Tags
Description
https://www.amazon.com/All-About-Buddhism-S-Dhammika/dp/9810019882
It is comprehensive and comprehensible. Simple but not simplistic. It answers many questions I have wondered about Buddhism, in a down-to-earth and clear manner. Venerable Dhammika has set out to write a book for the layman, to educate, to illuminate. Even a long-time Buddhist will find this book has many information that he did not know, and would be helpful in his spiritual path.
This book is arranged into 4 major sections:
1.Theory
2.Practice
3.Realisation
4.Sources
While most books on Buddhism starts with the birth and life of Siddartha, this books starts with the concept of the creation and the universe and compares the different theories and shows you how Buddhist concept is the most plausible. It does not push the Buddhist postion as the one and only truth - but asks that you examine the different theories (both religion and evolutionary), compare with available scientific knowledge, and show you see what is the most plausible.
And this is the approach throughout the book, appealing to reason and not blind faith, and is supported through Buddhist scriptures where relevant.
Another portion about the book I like is that at the end of the book, there is a table drawn up showing the various Buddhist scriptures so you can see what these are and briefing what they cover. This helps the reader to further explore readings on his own.
What I like is the approach the unlike religious of the book which claim the infallibility of their scriptures, Buddhism's approach to scriptures is more broad minded. Scriptures are not seen as THE TRUTH, but as guidance, and that we need to understand that some of Buddha's teachings have universal and timeless truths, and some are contextual to a specific incident or specific culture of a certain period in time. So this syncs with Buddha's teaching that one should examine any teaching, including his own, before adopting it. It is a religion of empowerment, not of surrender of discernment.
Truly, this book is a gift to anyone who wants to learn about about Buddha's teachings.
For more about Ven Dhammika, go to his blog at http://www.sdhammika.blogspot.sg/
Ven Dhammika's Good Question, Good Answer booklet on commonly asked questions about Buddhism has been translated into many languages.
It is comprehensive and comprehensible. Simple but not simplistic. It answers many questions I have wondered about Buddhism, in a down-to-earth and clear manner. Venerable Dhammika has set out to write a book for the layman, to educate, to illuminate. Even a long-time Buddhist will find this book has many information that he did not know, and would be helpful in his spiritual path.
This book is arranged into 4 major sections:
1.Theory
2.Practice
3.Realisation
4.Sources
While most books on Buddhism starts with the birth and life of Siddartha, this books starts with the concept of the creation and the universe and compares the different theories and shows you how Buddhist concept is the most plausible. It does not push the Buddhist postion as the one and only truth - but asks that you examine the different theories (both religion and evolutionary), compare with available scientific knowledge, and show you see what is the most plausible.
And this is the approach throughout the book, appealing to reason and not blind faith, and is supported through Buddhist scriptures where relevant.
Another portion about the book I like is that at the end of the book, there is a table drawn up showing the various Buddhist scriptures so you can see what these are and briefing what they cover. This helps the reader to further explore readings on his own.
What I like is the approach the unlike religious of the book which claim the infallibility of their scriptures, Buddhism's approach to scriptures is more broad minded. Scriptures are not seen as THE TRUTH, but as guidance, and that we need to understand that some of Buddha's teachings have universal and timeless truths, and some are contextual to a specific incident or specific culture of a certain period in time. So this syncs with Buddha's teaching that one should examine any teaching, including his own, before adopting it. It is a religion of empowerment, not of surrender of discernment.
Truly, this book is a gift to anyone who wants to learn about about Buddha's teachings.
For more about Ven Dhammika, go to his blog at http://www.sdhammika.blogspot.sg/
Ven Dhammika's Good Question, Good Answer booklet on commonly asked questions about Buddhism has been translated into many languages.
Number of Copies
1
