Customer Reviews

The Life Of Buddha And Its Lessons

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

 

 

Just read this on my new kindle. I've been studying Buddhism for a couple of years and have found this so far to be the most useless text so far.

It starts out talking about how great figures in many religions are exxaggerated, cautions us not to do the same thing, then starts to go on about all this weird mystical stuff that Buddha supposedly did. I was especially disappointed in the discussion about the German experimentalist who "claims to have proved that a man's soul is a 'volatile odiferous princple, capable of solution in glycerine".

Really?

Maybe I just don't understand, but the bottom line is I wouldn't spend money on this book.

A short commentary on the historical life of Buddha, as well as an overview if Buddhist thought - including tolerance, peace, benevolence, a brotherhood of all men. Against that backdrop are also balance, detachment, concepts of an illusory world and self-control and self-purification. Olcott was a theosophist, so the book reflects that worldview. Nevertheless, it is a classic and interesting work on the life and teachings of one of the great teachers of all time.

I got this book because I like learning about different cultures and religions. Although the author eventually gets on to talking about Buddhism, I feel like he spends more time defining Buddhism by what it is not - other religions and worldviews. Rather than speaking about the virtues of Buddhism, I was greatly distracted (and a little incensed) by what was instead a lot of pot-shots at other views, mainly Christianity. Want to learn about Buddhism? Don't start here. This gains a star because the writing in and of itself was pretty decent.

The life of Buddha is pure inspiration. The book is not as reader friendly as I would prefer, but it is a wonderful story. Best if you are going to read it in a group or to someone else.

Not kind to other religions other than Buddhism, especially Christianity. Exalts Buddha in relation to the other prophets (Zoroaster, Jesus, etc.). Contains some really bad science that your "soul" can be dissolved in glycerin and is chemically named "psychogen."

It does manage to succinctly express the Buddhist philosophy but then proceeds on to dissonantly proclaim that "bad Buddhists" will punished and "good Buddhists" will be rewarded.

In the end, a piece of propaganda for Buddhism. And an illogical one at that.

If you're trying to learn more about Buddhism like I was, this is the wrong book for you. If you want to be told that all great religious figures are based on lies (without any substantial evidence), but told that Siddhartha's stories were all true, then this is a great book for you.

A good but brief introduction to Buddhism although I don't think those from Western religions will get past the first few pages unless they are very open-minded. Buddhism teaches open-mindedness and compassion for all people. I suggest reading any books by H.H the Dalai Lama to get a real dose of what loving thy neighbor is all about. Peace.

This is one of the most useless tomes that I have read. Confused and superficial. i guess that sometimes you really do get what you pay for.

Although the author gets carried away on tangents, it is a rather good read that asks the important question of whether or not to take other scripture as historical reference, or to take it for what it is: an embellished story of the founder of a religion, amongst other things. Once he concentrates on the actual history of Buddha, it quickly becomes a good read that is easy and enlightening.

I'm interested in Buddhism, and this was a free eBook on my Kindle. Still, it wasn't even worth the time to read it. Short and shallow.