Customer Reviews

Buddhism Plain and Simple

5 star:		(128)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

Over the last fifteen years, a growing number of books have shown up in trade paperbackland on the subject of Buddhism. More seem to arrive daily, invited or not. Most of them are aimed at the general reader and beginning buddhist. This makes it progressively more difficult to sort out the superlative from the merely satisfactory.

Of all that I've read [and I've read them all] "Buddhism: Plain and Simple" stands out from the rest. Steve Hagen succeeds in one of the hardest tasks in writing: being straightforward without being dull; being concise without seeming frugal. No essential point of Buddhism is left uncovered, yet the author never pontificates or short-changes the reader.

The book is a gem of both inspiration and practicality. It takes a subject that often seems far too idealistic and places it at a level that resonates with the daily Western experience of life. It is a "quick read" without ever coming off as "Buddhism For Dummies." All this and at a price that will make it a convenient and affordable present for all those friends that have so often asked us, "what the heck is Buddhism?"

Find it, read it and buy another copy for someone you love. Better yet, give it to someone you don't love. It might just change their life.

"~I am a newcomer to Buddhism, but when I get a hankering to learn about any subject, I read about it voraciously. This has been almost counter-productive in studying Buddhism since, as Hagen stresses, no words can really describe the reality we seek. In fact, I have read several books about Buddhism, Zen, and the like; but I own just two: Buddhism Plain and Simple, and Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh. By far, Hagen's book is my favorite.

the wrong reasons -- to control my emotions, to sort out moral dilemmas, and to find peace of mind. Through Buddhism, I've made great progress in all those areas by simply eliminating them as goals and just experiencing life moment by moment. This may sound odd if you haven't practiced Buddhism, but you will quickly appreciate this lesson after reading Hagen's book. You will discover that the practice of Buddhism does not involve traveling to the Himalayas or meditating in the forest. You will learn that you don't have to abandon your religion or your friends or your job. The word Buddhism stems from the Sanskrit word for Buddha, the awakened one. Buddhism is simply the path of awakening. This book is a wonderful guide on that path. You will not be the same after reading it.

This book is one of the most life altering reads of My 55years. My Ego is strong and my soul is steeped in the academic knowledge of Western Culture. Steve Hagan succeeds in explaining the Buddha's transformation to enlightenmemt and his affect upon his contemporary world and the following 2500 years of human existence without preaching and with respect for other philosophical concepts. I can honestly say my life has been made better and happier by the experience of reading this book.

There are already many English books about Buddhism way of thinking written by Japanese and western authors. But many of them describe only the history and facts of Buddhism and repeat old Asian style puzzling logic that is not valid for the modern mind. This is the first English book I have read that describes the genuine meaning of Buddhism in simple words. Simplicity is not elementary. It is true understanding. The only regret is that this book still insists much on liberation from anguish and less on the creative and positive side of Buddhism.

In Buddhism: Plain and Simple, Steve Hagen has managed to capture the complexity of Buddhist practice without pushing the reader away with jargon, dogma, or judgment. He writes with beautiful simplicity and great empathy about the challenges of living fully when our mind does not necessarily want to cooperate! I have read this book several times and learn something each time. I would say that this book and The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying form a wonderful introduction to Buddhist practice and philosophy.

I purchased this book in an effort to seek a better understanding of Buddhism without feeling like an idiot because of a lack of spiritual training. It was the best book I could have chosen. Coming from a Catholic background I was a bit hesitant about reading this book; however, I found that it's simplicity enlightens the reader and gives a better understanding of the principles of Buddhism. It was a gentle approach that let the reader become aware of the basic values and teachings of Buddhism. A very quick and spiritually rewarding read.

The title of the book reflects its contents and spirit. This is buddhism the way it was always meant to be: a deep look into the nature of existence and awareness. To learn and practice buddhism you don't have to shave your head, dress funny and withdraw from society, you just have to be willing to see the world as it is, plain and simple, and this book is an invitation to do exactly that. Plain and simple doesn't mean easy and shallow, it just means "free of the fetters and cultural trappings that [Buddhist teachings] have accumulated over twenty-five centuries".
It's interesting to analyze the mindset of those who consider this book to be too simple or, at the other end, too complex. Those who think so must already have a pretty good idea of what "true" buddhism is. That idea must be something fixed and immutable, as you cannot compare against a changing standard. But we all know (don't we?) that nothing in this universe is fixed and immutable. The moment you try to pin anything down is the moment you lose it, and that applies to buddhist teachings as well. I think most of the bad reviews come from individuals who are clinging to their own ideas about buddhism. By doing so they are denying all the teachings they suposedly accept, a very peculiar position, if you ask me. The wonderful thing about buddhism is precisely its lack of dogma, and "Buddhism Plain and Simple" is a great example of what can be achieved by discussing the human condition in an open minded way, free of any pre-conceived ideas. To quote the author: "The observations and insights of the Buddha are plain, practical, and eminently down-to-earth. They deal exclusively with the here and now, not with theory, speculation, or belief in some far off time or place. Because these teachings remain focused on this moment -even as you read this- they remain relevant, and of profound value, to every culture and every person who investigates them seriuosly. It is to these uncluttered, original insights and observations that this book returns"

When I read 'Buddhism: Plain and Simple' the first time, I wasn't especially impressed. I've since gone back and re-read most of it and I have to recant. Hagen describes basic Buddhist philosophy in a way that speaks directly to our lives. There are no trappings of monasticism here, no obcurantist metaphysical mumbo-jumbo, just well, Buddhism: plain and simple! Especially useful were the sections on 'Morality' 'Freedom' and 'Practice.' There is a little nuts-n-bolts instruction here on the mechanics (or how-to) of meditation. I gather that Hagen feels that that is best left for personalized 'one-on-one' interaction with a spiritual teacher. And I don't think Hagen is concerned that you do it EXACTLY a certain way, only that you meditate in a way that helps you directly experience reality. I would recommend this book to the novice & experienced meditator. Hagen trained under the late Dainin Katagiri Roshi, a Japanese Zen master who moved to Minnesota after working with Shunryu Suzuki in California.

This book cuts through a lot of the layering that has fallen on top of the original Dharma. It is written in a Western style for Western readers and presents the Dharma in a manner which makes sense to the Western mind. There is a minimal useage of jargon and a maximization of plain talk. We started out with the complex tome of Sogyal Rinpoche and have come full circle with the utter simplicity and great depth of Steve Hagen. Each author has his own points.

I recommend this book highly. In fact, so highly that this is the first time I've been moved to post to Amazon about a book. Praise indeed.

This book cuts through all the cultural stuff to expose the heart of Buddhism, is amazingly clear as to what the Buddha taught, and explains in practical terms how his teachings can be applied to our daily life. I recommend it to anyone who wants to find out about Buddhism, whether you are a complete layman or someone who has been studying it for years.