Customer Reviews

Introduction to Buddhism: An Explanation of the Buddhist Way of Life

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I have four books by this author. He writes in a soothing manner and explains Tibetan Buddhism practices thoroughly. However, the other books I have did not make sense until I read this one. This one puts the basics down pat. Once I absorbed this easy read, the other texts begin to make more sense. This one is written in a flowing easy style, explaining things. It makes reference to his other books for more specifics about practice, which is why I gave it 4 stars. You will read about an overview of practice in this book and get interested in the specifics to read further see such and such book for more details. This is definitely the place for a beginner in the Tibetan approach to begin.

Here you can begin. Everything that you need to begin is here.
The author's ability to help one understand the dharma is a little astonishing. And really very wonderful. He shows
Buddhism in a very objective light while making it personal at the same time. Other authors can't seem to do this. They can either do one or the other. The chapter on karma alone will
obliterate you. I had never seen this before! And I want you to see it to. Everything that you are experiencing at this moment is the effect of some action or thought which was the cause. What you see in your room. What you feel in your body.
What you look like. Your entire range of just being alive is a manifestation of your past actions. It's like science fiction.
He explains this so simply and directly. Everything you see, touch, smell, hear, feel is an outcome of what you have done in the past. The chapters in this book are like little gemstones
that sparkle. Do I like this book? Yes. Do I think that you should buy this book? Definitely.

If you are interested in learning more about Buddhist teachings and how you can put them into practice on a daily basis you should try this book. I picked it up after attending my first Buddhist meditation class - I liked the author's style of making these often complex teachings clear and accessible even for novices.

I think this book is great at giving the essence of all the main Buddhist topics - from meditation to karma to enlightenment- without getting bogged down in detail (though I would personally have liked more detail on Buddha's life story). I can't think of another book that explains Buddhism so well in just over 100 pages!

Geshe Kelsang Gyasto's book An Introduction to Buddhism, distills all the basic, essential components of Buddhist thought and philosophy into a short, concise, clear, easy to read text that leaves the reader wanting to find out more about these beautiful teachings!

The importance of meditation can never be emphasized enough and Geshe Kelsang writes WHY meditation is ESSENTIAL to be able to experience true happiness. He also explains clearly why we experience so much mental suffering and how we can reduce the stress in our life and be proactive in our lives rather than always reacting, many times in negative ways. This information is so important, especially in this day and age when our lives seem more busy and more complicated than ever!

I have read this book many times and am constantly amazed at how each time I read it, the teachings impact me in a different way. I believe this is because Geshe Kelsang Gyatso writes in such a manner that beginners get a strong foundation of the basic principles of Buddhist thought and philosophy, and more advanced practitioners get a deeper insight into the inner workings of some of the more challenging aspects of the philosophy like the ultimate nature of reality, the true nature of suffering, karma, and the function of the mind and the role it plays in our experience of the world.

I recommend this book both to beginners and those who have more experience studying Buddhist thought and philosophy. It is a precious text that is extremely helpful in improving our meditation practice and our daily lives.

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's "Introduction to Buddhism" is a clearly written, accessible and reasonable presentation of the fundamentals of Buddism. The author writes plainly; seeming neither condescending nor simplistic. I am a fan of Thich Naht Han's philosophy as a gentle introduction to Buddhism but for a continuing path of study, I prefer Geshe Kelsang for depth and practical application without the flowery imagery of Naht Han. If you are looking for a good introduction to meditation and a clear presentation of the fundamental tennets of Buddhism, this is a great place to start.

This is every Buddhist and aspiring Buddhist's neccesity. It provides individual chapters dedicated to explaining all parts of the Buddhist religion in terms that anyone can understand. Such as: Karma, Dharma, Compassion, the Dalai Lama,the 4 Noble truths...et cetera. I look at this book as my guide to Buddhism, my spirituality. I find myself reading parts of it over again as I discover new things about the religion, it acts somewhat as a "Buddhist Bible". I definately recommend it to anyone interested or practicing Buddhism...a must.

Explained in simple text anyone can understand.This book is a must for someone just starting their enlightenment journey through Buddhism. Practicing Buddhists are reminded of why they have choosen this way of life in the first place.Very informative book,well written. In fact,even non Buddhists could benefit from the practices presented by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.

This book is written simply, yet effectively. It reads easily and is pleasurable. A great 1st book to read on Buddhism.

Read very concisely and clearly, this is a good introduction to the basics of Mahayana Buddhism - and Buddhism in general. While lacking the congeniality of, say, Jack Kornfield, this intro thoroughly covers many aspects of the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, etc. Recommended for beginners serious about exploring the Buddhist path.