The Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen (Paperback)

by Shambhala (Author)
Key Phrases: Tózan Ryókai, daitó kokushi, Kyórin Chóon, Chinese Ch'an, Japanese Zen, Tibetan Buddhism (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Translated from a larger German work, this excellent A-Z dictionary of 1500 terms commonly encountered and more esoteric was compiled by a team of Buddhist scholars.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
With over fifteen hundred entries and forty-six illustrations, The Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen is the most complete compact reference work of its kind available in the English language. It is designed not only for students and meditators but also as a took to help familiarize all readers with Buddhist terms and concepts—such as chakra, karma, koan, nirvana, and tantra—that are encountered with increasing regularity in the literature of a wide range of fields today. The lives and teachings of important philosophers and meditation masters, the variety of practices, the basic texts and scriptures, and the range of sects and schools of thought are among the subjects covered. Pronunciation tables, a comprehensive bibliography, and a Ch'an/Zen lineage chart are also provided.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala; 1st edition (November 26, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877735204
• ISBN-13: 978-0877735205
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #114,702 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A useful reference book for anyone interested in Buddhism, February 19, 2001

By	Kim Boykin (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This dictionary includes over 1,500 entries; a helpful guide to the pronunciation of Sanskrit, Chinese, Japanese, and Tibetan terms; a five-page chart of the major Ch'an/Zen lineages (from the Buddha mainly through the 11th century, plus a few later figures like Dogen and Hakuin); and an extensive bibliography of primary and secondary sources on Buddhism.

I occasionally find this dictionary frustrating when I know only the English version of a term that the editors apparently expect me to know in Sanskrit (e.g., there's no entry for "dependent origination," not even a cross-listing sending you to "pratitya-samutpada"). And there's a strange dearth of information about Korean Buddhism (e.g., no entries for Chinul, Son, or the Chogye Order). But all in all, this is a very good dictionary, and it makes good browsing for learning more about Buddhism.

You might want to compare this dictionary with Damien Keown's "Dictionary of Buddhism," which is more up-to-date and has more entries, including more extensive coverage of Western Buddhism, but the coverage of Zen isn't as good. (John Powers's "Concise Encyclopedia of Buddhism" is less comprehensive than the Shambhala dictionary and only a little less expensive, and Charles S. Prebish's "Historical Dictionary of Buddhism" is less comprehensive and a lot more expensive.)

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have for students of Buddhism & Zen., June 27, 2000

By A Customer

As a fairly new student of Buddhism, I found this book to be a very useful tool in furthering my education & undertstanding of the religion & philosphy. After 20 years in Korean Buddhism, my Lama also decided this book would be of great use in further enriching his studies in the understanding. This has proven to be a good reference tool for any level of interest in Buddhism & Zen in its depth & knowledge of terms.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Invaluable Guide to Buddhism, November 8, 2003

By A Customer

I bought this book several years ago and it has proven an invaluable reference. For anyone wanting to deeply study Buddhism and Buddhist sutras this book is very helpful. The entries are clear and accurate, with extensive cross-references. There are entries for each of the major sects of Buddhism as well as various doctrines and teachers. Like one reviewer above, I too was at first nonplussed by the "and Zen" in the title. Then I re-read the first page, "Guide to Using This Dictionary," where it explains that "Zen, although frequently considered to be one among many schools of Buddhism, had its own independent development to such an extent that it is here treated as a separate subject area. This also corresponds to its own understanding of itself as 'outside the orthodox teaching.'" There has been an occasional time when I cannot find a Sanskrit or Pali term in the Dictionary, but for all the basics, this book is excellent.