What Would Buddha Do?: 101 Answers to Life's Daily Dilemmas [Paperback]

Franz Metcalf (Author), Franz Aubrey Metcalf (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 12, 2002

A unique approach to Buddhism, What Would Buddha Do? shows that anyone can find guidance in Buddha’s teachings. It demonstrates how to use the advice of Buddha to become a better person at work, at home, and in society. Presented in a reader-friendly format, with each page offering a question, a Buddhist quote, and advice from the author, What Would Buddha Do? applies this question to 101 problems confronted in everyday life and reveals how Buddha’s teachings are still meaningful after 2,500 years.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Would Buddha recommend a book called What Would Buddha Do? Since Buddha favored any effective means to getting a person on the road to enlightenment, the answer would have to be yes. Franz Metcalf, a long-time teacher of Buddhism, draws on the vast store of Buddhist literature in cobbling together a how-to book for living in the modern world. What would Buddha do when he can't resist having dessert? or when his child misbehaves? or when faced with close-minded people? The answers are all here in well-chosen snippets from Scripture, plus Metcalf's own sage comments. To be sure, Buddha would have edited out some of Metcalf's informal chatter, but when it comes to boiling down profound notions, Metcalf is right on the mark. The abiding themes are mindfulness, the interrelatedness of all things, and compassionate regard for others. What would Buddha do if he wanted practical advice for questions large and small? He'd get a small book called What Would Buddha Do?. --Brian Bruya --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Buddhist Spirituality contributor Metcalf applies sacred Buddhist teachings to road-rage, maxed-out credit cards, competitive co-workers and more in this tidy gathering of insights that serve as brief but astute reminders that enlightenment is obtainable, even when you're stuck in traffic. Metcalf "plumbed a deep reservoir" of Buddhist practices, texts, rituals and myths to uncover practical, soothing and surprisingly contemporary advice on topics such as addiction, personal identity struggles, relationship conflicts and financial worries. Each page begins with the phrase, "What would Buddha do?" and then considers his enlightened behavior in taxicab queues, kitchens and offices (Buddha, for instance, would defeat office enemies with grace). Buddha's answers, as interpreted by Metcalf, range from the profound to the puzzling. Essentially a collection of 101 spiritual Post-it notes, the book may appeal readers looking for a quick spiritual fix. (Metcalf offers a list of suggested further readings for those seeking more substance.)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Ulysses Press (March 12, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569752982
• ISBN-13: 978-1569752982
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 5.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #384,059 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buddha Would Approve, December 6, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: What Would Buddha Do? 101 Answers To Life's Daily Dilemmas (Hardcover)

My impression is that Buddha would have been in favor of anything that might help alleviate suffering in this world - and this book does just that. Its charm lies in the fact that it focuses not on dry dogma or meditation techniques, but on simple questions, such as how the Buddha might have dealt with that barking dog next door that JUST WON'T SHUT UP! (By the way, the author doesn't deal with the noisome problem as well as The Enlightened One probably would have!) This is a delightul book, and a deceptively breezy read.

My only quibble was with a few grammatically-challenged chapter titles. But these are surely attributable to the publisher rather than Metcalf, whose prose is otherwise impeccable.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, simple advice, October 25, 2002

By 

"tess73" - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Would Buddha Do? (Hardcover)

A great little appetizer, filled with flavourful pieces of advice and snippets of common sense that we can all use in our daily dealings with the world, most of which are taken from Buddhist sacred texts.

One wonderful example of this is, "What would Buddha do about that coffee habit?", to which the response is: "Our country is full of sickly-looking, skinny people, just because we don't drink tea. Whenever people feel weak, they should drink tea (Kissa Yojoki)". In that simple piece of advice, we're told both a common sense and medicinal answer to that coffee habit (the author tells us that tea is healthier than coffee, which is truthful). The author expands on the passage, giving a short interpretation of the lesson including "...When we have to have something, the truth is that thing has us. Ask yourself who is master, who or these things you 'need'. If it's not you, something is wrong". It's passages such as this that make us stop, and think "oh yeah...".

To a serious scholar of Buddhism, this book may lack substance and true contextual meaning, and may leave the some readers gasping like a fish out of water, reaching for a more substantial main course. However, it does successfully bring Buddhist teachings into our daily lives, and can be a great tool for living a simpler, better life.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smart, witty, playful., November 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: What Would Buddha Do? 101 Answers To Life's Daily Dilemmas (Hardcover)

This book offers a thoughtful -- and fun -- way into Buddhist teachings. I liked the question and answer format -- it's quick, pithy, and sharp. The questions raised range from sexual temptation to road rage (!). Some of the answers will surprise you. Trendy? Yeah, but also informative and well-written. The author includes a helpful list of further readings.