Buddhism, the Religion of No-Religion: The Edited Transcripts (Love of Wisdom Library) [Hardcover]

Alan W. Watts (Author)

Book Description

Series: Love of Wisdom Library | Publication Date: March 1996

In this dynamic series of lectures, Alan Watts takes us on an exploration of Buddhism, from its roots in India to the explosion of interest in Zen and the Tibetan tradition in the West. Watts traces the Indian beginnings of Buddhism, delineates differences between Buddhism and other religions, looks at the radical methods of the Mahayan Buddhist, and reviews the Four Noble Truths and The Eightfold Path

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The taped lectures of Alan Watts have inspired a generation. Now, in handsomely designed little volumes, of which this is the first, they are appearing in print form. Few people in the middle of the century spoke as eloquently as Watts about Zen. Here, five of his justly famous lectures?three of the so-called "Japan Lectures" and two, delivered on his Sausalito house boat, on Tibetan Buddhism?are now transcribed and compiled. Especially welcome is the transcription of the renowned "Religion of No Religion" lecture in which some of the most difficult Buddhist concepts are presented with such lucidity as to make us gasp. Watts, an Episcopal priest who became a Zen scholar, was an accomplished stylist; and although his famous voice and happy laughter are missing now, his penetrating vision of Buddhism remains, and his lectures become brilliant prose in book form. This series, and this volume in particular, will be important to any new student of the East's religions.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Alan Watts begins with scholarship and intellect, and proceeds with art and eloquence to the frontiers of the spirit." -- Los Angeles Times

"Alan Watts had the gift of being able to communicate with an intuitive intelligence and humor." -- The Inner Directions Journal

"Watts displays his famous breezy, devil-may-care style...it's easy to see why his influence remains strong." -- The New York Times Book Review --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 98 pages
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing; 1st edition (March 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804830568
• ISBN-13: 978-0804830560
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 4.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #177,644 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Introduction to Buddhism Out There, October 31, 2004

By 

K. Brown "El Rudo Lucky Pierre!" (Walnut, Ca USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Buddhism the Religion of No-Religion (Alan Watts Love of Wisdom) (Paperback)

Transcribed from recordings of lectures by Alan Watts, this book contains the most dynamic and comprehensive introduction to Buddhism I have yet to read. I have plenty of books that try too hard to attack the novice readers with multiple Zen riddles and the "complexities that are not complex." By the time the curious readers get to the third chapter of such books, a fascinating subject dwindles away.

Not so with this book. The credit goes to both Alan Watts ---for his smooth and concise lectures--- and the person/people who edited the transcripts. The result is 98 pages of a keen and precise overview of Zen Buddhism, where concepts of "The Religion of No-Religion" and "The Middle Way" are easily accessible to readers who are going into the subject matter knowing nothing.

I especially liked the way Watts explains how the concept "The Cause of Suffering is Desire" is often misunderstood, emphasizing that when translated into English, "desire" might better be represented with words like "craving, clinging, or grasping." He then does an excellent narrative into the paradox of students trying to eliminate "desire" from their existence, only to learn they are still desiring something: not to desire. Watts walks the reader through these way-out riddles in a way few people can.

I would go as far to recommend this work above Alan Watts' better known "The Way of Zen" if this is your first venture into Buddhism. After reading this book, "The Way of Zen" is a great follow-up, and the other complex introductions to Zen Buddhism will begin to make more sense. Nothing esoteric here, just straight talk on Buddhism.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buddhism clarified, April 27, 2006

By 

Al Link and Pala Copeland "4 Freedoms Sacred ... (Pembroke, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buddhism the Religion of No-Religion (Alan Watts Love of Wisdom) (Paperback)

This is a collection of Watts' recorded lectures in which he lays bare with lucid description the most difficult Buddhist concepts.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buddhism without Buddhism, December 24, 2007

By 

David (Kentucky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buddhism the Religion of No-Religion (Alan Watts Love of Wisdom) (Paperback)

Watts was great about overlooking "religion" to get the essence of something's metaphysics. This offers a portrait of Buddhism without it's overtly religious aspects.