The Buddha in a Box (Buddhism) [Hardcover]

Manuela Dunn Mascetti (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1999 | Series: Buddhism

The all-compassionate one finds a beautiful home in this portable shrine, illustrated hardcover, and meditation tool all in one. The book, which slides into the box to make an elegant backdrop for a statue of seated Buddha, tells the story of Prince Gautama, from the prediction of his destiny at birth through his encounter with the Four Sights to his enlightenment and the education of his first students. Illustrated with art from Japan, China, and India, the book also relates a brief history of Buddhism and includes sutras, mantras, and prayers. Buddha in a Box makes a handsome mini-shrine for prayer and meditation practices, an ideal travel companion, and a thoughtful and practical gift for anyone interested in Buddhism.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The tiny Buddha statue that is included with this book evokes Zen Master Shunryu Suzuki's response when he was asked why he bowed to a statue of the Buddha everyday. He said that the statue reminds us that Buddha is everywhere, including inside ourselves, so that when we bow to the Buddha, we bow to our own true nature.

Manuela Dunn Mascetti has a knack for producing gorgeous books. In a brief 90 pages, she presents the core of Buddhism, while stunning Japanese paintings and woodblock prints shine forth from every other page. The effect is enchanting. With a summary of the Buddha's life and teachings, samplings from the Heart Sutra and the Dhammapada, and with a few traditional prayers, blessings, and chants, the entire package is a beautiful invitation to bow to, and to discover, our own true natures. Plus, you get the statue and a nifty little altar to boot. --Brian Bruya

Review

We accept the graceful falling
Of mountain cherry blossoms,
But it is much harder for us
To fall away from our own
Attachment to the world. Mountain Falling Flowers, sutra by Buddhist Nun Rengetsu

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; Book and Access edition (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811819507
• ISBN-13: 978-0811819503
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 4.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,179,688 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully executed, February 9, 2000

By 

GrenfellHunt - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Buddha in a Box (Buddhism) (Hardcover)

This is a beautiful presentation of a leading world religion: the box, the buddha, and the book--a beautifully done combination. The book includes a basic introduction to the life of Buddha and his teachings (89 pages hardback). 36 of the 89 pages contain breathtaking prints from classical Buddhist art. The table of contents includes:

Introduction 7; The Legend of an Awakening Buddha 11; The Way of the Master 27; The Psychology of the Buddhas 39; The Sutras [i.e., the words of the Buddha] 45; Prayers, Blessings and Mantras 61; Bibliographical References 85; Further Reading 86; Acknowledgments 87.

The book gives Buddha's birth at 586 BC; the standard long chronology puts his dates at 566-486 BC, with other options being 624-544 BC (as held in Sri Lanka and South East Asia) or 448-368 BC (as held by many Japanese scholars). The book gives a standard life of Buddha from tradition, but does not mention that the earliest surviving written sources date from the first century AD. The book tries to give a mainstream presentation of Buddhism without discussing the differing traditions within Buddhism. The long chapter on Prayers, Blessings and Mantras is taken almost exclusively from Tibetan Buddhism. The very important Therevada Buddhist tradition is omitted in the book altogether. But the recommendations for further reading are very helpful in providing resources for the various other traditions that make up Buddhism.

Highly recommended--as a concise introduction to Buddhism, as an attractive presentation of a major form of human spirituality...and as an attractive addition to a desk or bookcase.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A miniture treasury of a book, a buddah, and wisdom, April 18, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Buddha in a Box (Buddhism) (Hardcover)

To have this Book and Buddah in a box is more of an experience, than one would think. The serenity you feel as soon as you embrace the book is near the serenity you see in the words. Truely wise, and simple. If only everyone had one of these sitting on their desk at work, or by their computer, they would be compelled by the enlightenment offered by just reading, and then the embodiment of the meaning.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful overview of Siddhartha Gautama's awakening., July 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Buddha in a Box (Buddhism) (Hardcover)

The simplistic beauty of Buddhist truth is touched upon within this wonderful gift set. The book itself is worth more than its words for it brings the reader to a point like that of a sleeping baby about to be awakened by a gentle mothers kiss.