One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism [Hardcover]

Joseph Goldstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 4, 2002

We are living in remarkable times. A genuine Western Buddhism is now taking birth, writes Joseph Goldstein, one of America's most respected Buddhist teachers. The birth pangs include controversy and conflict -- and fear that genuine teachings may vanish as traditions converge in the melting pot of American practice. But Goldstein recognizes a possibility, indeed a at potential, for the essence of Buddhism to survive on Western soil, in Western minds.

His visionary synthesis points a way for Buddhism to grow and flower while remaining rooted in the teachings of the great Asian schools -- from India and Burma to Tibet and Japan. Marked by a simplicity derived from the Buddha's own pragmatic response to life, Goldstein distills the essential question that is at the base of all the traditions: What works to free the mind from suffering?

He provides a brief historical overview of early Buddhism and explores the mind-changing reflections that bring us to the Dharma path -- the teachings of liberation, free from sectarian attachments. Upon this foundation Goldstein then shows how the great masters from all traditions have pointed to the essence of ultimate freedom. This is the best kind of Dharma book: one that is based on personal experience rather than on theory, accessible to newcomers and seasoned practitioners alike, and rich in practical ways to cultivate the qualities of an awakened mind and heart.

In One Dharma one of America's foremost Buddhist teachers presents the central teachings and practices of the emerging Western Buddhism in clear, personal language. In One Dharma we discover the essential points common to all Buddhist teachings.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Insight Meditation cofounder Joseph Goldstein ponders the possibility that all Buddhist teachings could be distilled into One Dharma. As Buddhism continues to grow in the West, Goldstein shows us the value of uniting this movement rather than allowing it to become fractured by its subtle differences. He does not advocate a watering down or mixing up of the various traditions. Rather, "We can practice each of them in its own integrity and come to a genuine depth of understanding." Readers who are wary of a scholarly analysis of Buddhist nuances need not worry. Goldstein (The Experience of Insight) relies on personal anecdotes and accessible language to explore the common themes in all Buddhist teachings. Though purists will no doubt quibble, Goldstein believes that following one Dharma is the way the West will be won, weaving together the methods of mindfulness, the motivation of compassion, and the liberating wisdom of nonclinging. "These three pillars--mindfulness, compassion, and wisdom--are not Indian or Burmese, Japanese or Tibetan; they are qualities in our own minds." --Gail Hudson

From Library Journal

Separated by time and space, the several traditions of Buddhism and their many internal variations grew from the Buddha's original teachings into disparate systems of practice on the path to liberation. Having himself confronted these discrepancies, Goldstein, a highly respected teacher of meditation, cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society, and widely read coauthor (with Jack Kornfield) of Seeking the Heart of Wisdom and The Path of Insight Meditation, seeks here to define the One Dharma "the essential point common to all the teachings." To this end, he reviews the development of Buddhist traditions and explores various meanings of nirvana, liberation, lovingkindness, and other concepts as viewed primarily from Theravada, Tibetan, and Zen perspectives. Novices to Buddhist literature will find these teachings made accessible by a clear, simple eloquence and enlivened by anecdotes from Goldstein's personal spiritual journey. More experienced seekers will discover an excellent overview and a useful lead-in to David Brazier's The New Buddhism. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries. James R. Kuhlman, Univ. of North Carolina Lib., Asheville
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne; 1st edition (June 4, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062517007
• ISBN-13: 978-0062517005
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #570,256 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Dharma of Freedom, August 6, 2002

By 

Robin Friedman (Washington, D.C. United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism (Hardcover)

Joseph Goldstein has written an ambitious, short book which attempts to synthesize the wisdom and teachings of various Buddhist traditions and which offers thoughts on the possible future couse of Buddhism in the West. The book is also a practitioner's guide and a manual for those setting out on a Buddhist practice.

Each of the components of this book is difficult and important. Joseph Goldstein has valuable things to teach and suggest to the reader about the many questions raised in the book. But I found that the book had a certain lack of focus from trying to do too many things in too brief a compass.

Specifically, Mr. Goldstein's discussion of meditation practice and of Buddhist moraliity was very well put. It cannot be heard often enough, particularly for those readers new to Buddhism. But the discussion of meditation practice, for me, was not well integrated with the other themes of the book -- an attempt to show what various Buddhist teachings prevalent in the United States have in common and to show how Buddhism may develop in the United States.

The book opens with an eloquent discussion of the growing interest by many people of Buddhism in the United States. It discusses as well the three traditions which probably have received most attention in the West: Theravada, Zen, and Tibetan Buddhism, although Mr. Goldstein is fully aware that there are other traditions as well. With the transmission of the Dharma to the United States, Mr. Goldstein asks what these traditions have in common and how the Westerner is to learn to practice. He offers many stories from his own experience, beginning with his practice in Theravada Buddhism which gradually expanded to an interest in Zen and Tibetan Buddhism. There is an all-to-brief history of Buddhism and its divisions into the Theravada and Mahayana schools. For all the goood things Mr. Goldstein has to say about practice, I would have liked to have heard more about this given the theme of the book.

Mr. Goldstein stresses the pragmatic character of the Buddha's teaching with its encompassing purpose of ending suffering. He rightly emphasizes, I think, that this purpose is common to all Buddhist traditions and he suggests as well that practitioners can draw on one or the other of the traditions given their own spiritual needs and progress. In a brief compass, he also contrasts various traditions as being "top-down" on the one hand, emphasizing the pure, radiant character of the mind, or "bottom-up" on the other hand, as in the Theravada tradition, emphasizing the hold of the passions and the fetters and the need to work to purify the mind. Again, I would have liked a fuller treatment of these themes and perhaps less an emphasis on meditation technique. There are many books available which address the latter.

Mr Goldstein emphasizes, rightly, a famous verse from the Dhamamapada,(verse 183) a compilation of verses from the Theravada canon. The verse is

"Not to do any evil; to cultivate good, to purify one's mind -- this is the Teaching of the Buddhas."

This verse does indeed sum up the Buddha's teaching in all the schools. Much of Mr. Goldstein's book is a commentary on the verse. But I still was left with the feeling that a more detailed presentation was required to understand Buddhism in the United States.

As the book progresses with the treatments of nonclinging, selfnesses, and Nirvana, the differences in the various traditions becomes clear and the book assumes a better focus. There is a good attempt to show in the conclusion of the book how the various traditions of Buddhism are all paths leading to one goal -- the cessation of suffering through the attainment of wisdom. The United States offers the unique possibility of the realization of a "Dharma of Freedom.", Mr Goldstein tells us at the end of the book. It will not be tied to particular schoools or debates but rather will offer the hope of freedom from suffering and from clinging for those who choose to enter the path.

"One Dharma" is one of the few books that woould be better if it were longer. Too much is left out for the reader to see how the traditions of Buddhism, if only on the surface, differ from each other and how the transmission of Buddhism to the United States promises the opportunity of integrating teachings from the different schools.

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At the Heart of Practice, July 20, 2003

By 

James R. Willems (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism (Paperback)

To respect and understand this book, one needs to understand something of the author. Since the 1960's Joseph Goldstein has been practicing Buddhist meditation. His goal with the Dharma is alleviate suffering in himself and in others. He does not believe he will write the seminal book on Buddhist theory or the perfect koan or answer everyone's questions about the Dharma. However, if you are a serious seeker and are attempting to understand something about this wonderful phenomenon Buddhism, which is growing so rapidly in the United States, this book will help you a lot. It is a beginner book. Yet, it is also a book which will give long time practioners a chance to reflect about the meaning of their practice and the nature of the Dharma.

Over ten years ago, I, suffering from a deeply painful and debilitating bone disease, came to Joseph to find a way to live with severe physical pain. Joseph helped me with compassion, with joy, and with humility. He will always remain my core teacher.

Reading the other reviews, I can say, you will get what you look for. If you are look for scintillating Zen wit, try Genpo Merzel Roshi (a living zen master), for philosophical wisdom, try Trungpa Rinpoche. If you are looking for a teacher who will give you a framework from which to work while you sit on the pillow, you can not do better than Joseph Goldstein.

Good luck, and, please, persevere. The world needs the merit of your meditation practice.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully rendered, and often very funny., January 30, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism (Paperback)

I was knocked out by One Dharma. Mostly, as a relatively fledgling Buddhist, I was thankful to have a book that explained, in The-Precisely-Right Language, what the Dharma was and why it might be so important to me - so that this could be explained to my loved ones, and also, reiterated for myself! This quality of the book made the it immensely useful for going deeper into certain concepts with my Buddhist-curious (and very supportive) wife, and it was also a joy to read - beautifully rendered, and often very funny. The book helped my wife to understand key Buddhist concepts, and it helped me too, by putting elements of my practice into terms that made me engage them with a new clarity and focus. It's been my experience that it's rare for a book to speak so clearly to a self-identified Buddhist and also to someone who is not. 'One Dharma' does just that. Also: I have mentioned the book's clarity and humor - I want to mention, too, the writing, which is flows with incredible ease. This is a VERY enjoyable read!