Buddhism Plain and Simple by Steve Hagen
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Book Reviews of Buddhism Plain and Simple
Book Review: Exactly what I wanted
Summary: 5 Stars
I originally picked this book up because I wanted to be more present and adept in my day-to-day high-stress negotiational interactions with other people. I had this instinct that zen Buddhism held the answer I was looking for, and I was right.
The best part is that Mr. Hagen starts this book off just right: no cultural trappings, no endless terminology, just the original teachings.
I came to this book looking for a zen primer. Something to point the mindset out to me, refine it, and let me on my merry way. I can say without a doubt that this book has been successful.
I don't envision myself necessarily heading down to my local center for meditation, but I have been engaging in the practice of just seeing in my day-to-day life.
Most of the time now, for anywhere from a moment to many minutes, I am awake. I may drift away from that or be slammed away by some thought, worry or whatever, but I find myself correcting with high frequency. This is a great place to be in, because I realize that many of my stresses and difficulties in social interactions were coming from mental pheonmena and other stuff that was NOT of the "here and now."
When I do come back to being fully in this very moment, to just seeing, to thus (as Mr. Hagen describes it), there is nothing but capability for me. My mind is un-dammed, free to pull out it's best answers, most correct actions, it's instant knowledge, etc. The important thing to note, though, is that it is a major removal, not an addition. It's not like a bunch of new parts are added to me. It's that all of my capabilities are untied.
It's a removal of barriers to functioning at or near your full potential. And it's acheived by just seeing, as described in the book. There is certainly something to this.
To just see is exactly what I was wanting to do, I just needed that finger to point me to the moon and especially to refine my understanding of what is and what is not the right way (see the book for all the right way stuff from the eightfold path).
I am very pleased with my purchase.
I also purchased some Charlotte Joko Beck books (Everyday Zen and Nothing Special), but they seem rambly and less profound to me. Everyday Zen is excerpted from talks with students (?) who seemed to already be at least somewhat initiated. It has been more wrapped up in cultural concerns and lingo, and I have only been able to nod in agreement after having read Buddhism Plain and Simple. Otherwise, I probably would have cast the Beck books aside.
OK, back to my second-to-second practice of just being present in this very moment and seeing.
Thank you, Mr. Hagen, for the fine instruction.
Book Review: A deep look into the nature of existence
Summary: 5 Stars
The title of the book reflects its contents and spirit. This is buddhism the way it was always meant to be: a deep look into the nature of existence and awareness. To learn and practice buddhism you don't have to shave your head, dress funny and withdraw from society, you just have to be willing to see the world as it is, plain and simple, and this book is an invitation to do exactly that. Plain and simple doesn't mean easy and shallow, it just means "free of the fetters and cultural trappings that [Buddhist teachings] have accumulated over twenty-five centuries".It's interesting to analyze the mindset of those who consider this book to be too simple or, at the other end, too complex. Those who think so must already have a pretty good idea of what "true" buddhism is. That idea must be something fixed and immutable, as you cannot compare against a changing standard. But we all know (don't we?) that nothing in this universe is fixed and immutable. The moment you try to pin anything down is the moment you lose it, and that applies to buddhist teachings as well. I think most of the bad reviews come from individuals who are clinging to their own ideas about buddhism. By doing so they are denying all the teachings they suposedly accept, a very peculiar position, if you ask me. The wonderful thing about buddhism is precisely its lack of dogma, and "Buddhism Plain and Simple" is a great example of what can be achieved by discussing the human condition in an open minded way, free of any pre-conceived ideas. To quote the author: "The observations and insights of the Buddha are plain, practical, and eminently down-to-earth. They deal exclusively with the here and now, not with theory, speculation, or belief in some far off time or place. Because these teachings remain focused on this moment -even as you read this- they remain relevant, and of profound value, to every culture and every person who investigates them seriuosly. It is to these uncluttered, original insights and observations that this book returns"
Book Review: The buddha-dharma
Summary: 5 Stars
The best little book on Buddhism that is available. Masterfully written. This book needs to be studied, not just read. It is worthwhile to read again and again. If you only read one book on Buddhism, then this is the one to read. The author is an American Zen teacher whose clarity of explanation will appeal to the American Zen student.Steve Hagen prefers to call Buddhism "the buddha-dharma." He states that "It's a process, an awareness, an openness, a spirit of inquiry -- not a belief system, or even (as we normally understand it) a religion. It is more accurate to call it 'the teaching of the awakened,' or the buddha-dharma."
We start by learning the four truths: (1) life involves suffering; (2) this suffering arises within us; (3) we can end the most profound and existential forms of suffering; and (4) the way we end this suffering is by following the eightfold path. The existential angst we experience from the unanswered question of what life is about is at the heart of our suffering. The buddha-dharma is like a journey. By following the middle way we can reach enlightenment and nirvana.
There are three kinds of suffering, or duhkha: (1) pain, both physical and mental; (2) change; and (3) being. Our goal is to just see. We must awaken from our confusion. We need to see reality for what it is.
The eightfold path is a concrete way for us to practice bringing about the cessation of duhkha. The eight aspects of this path are right view, right intention, right speech, right action , right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right meditation.
Nothing in this book is offered as something you are to believe. Somehow through his life of contemplation the Buddha was able to formulate these notions. They are simply a guide. The Buddha can only point the way. It is left for each one of us to find the way for ourselves.
Book Review: Short, enjoyable and practical
Summary: 5 Stars
I've done some reading on Buddhism and meditation with the intent of gaining a little more focus and clarity. If you read the book you'll find that Buddhism is not about achieving such goals (paradoxically if you make enlightenment, awakening, focus, clarity or similar ends your goals you will not achieve them).
I've found this book makes some great points, especially about our attempt to capture fluid concepts and articulate them as if they were static or modular. The tenants in this book are over two and a half millennia old, yet they are completely relevant and applicable today.
This book is not about religion, worship, robes or rituals. It explains why we have pain, conflict, suffering and why we can never be satisfied no matter what material possessions we have.
I started down this path (studying Buddhism) for a specific purpose. Despite the infinitesimal amount of time I've spent on it so far, I can see an improvement in my ability to focus on what I'm doing, to push distractions out of my head, and just be present in whatever it is I'm doing.
I'm not trying to push this book or the teachings therein as a "self help for better productivity" sort of deal. Again, that was just my motivation for starting to read about something I knew nothing about. But I've found that a gentle application of some of the basic concepts does indeed make a positive difference.
I've read this book and enjoyed it thoroughly. It has given me some good insight, and I can't think of anyone who couldn't find some benefit or enjoyment in reading it.
Book Review: Forget Buddhism. This is about Life.
Summary: 5 Stars
If you want the history of Buddhism, and an explanation of all its different forms get a different book. If you want to become a Buddhist, get a different book.
This book didn't make me convert to Buddhism, as there are a few aspects of Buddhism (as described in this and other books) that seem fairly impractical to me. However, it did give me a better understanding of Buddhism, and much more importantly, it taught me a lot about how to live with less suffering or 'Dukha', and without really trying to, it taught me a lot about how to be more forgiving of myself and others, which is tremendously helpful in healing one's soul. For that reason, I highly recommend this book to many people.
However, not everyone is ready for this book. Its explanations are not exactly plain, and changing your way of thinking, to a more enlightened way, is not exactly simple. If you have difficulty with abstract and indefinite ideas and concepts, you won't understand this book. As the Amazon reviewer said, this is heady stuff. Many of the passages require several re-reads to grasp their meaning, even for those who generally fair well with abstract concepts. So I only recommend this to people whom I believe to have above-average intelligence and a good vocabulary. It also helps to posses some humility before you come to this book. Unless you are ready to change your life, this book will do nothing for you.
Blessed be,
:-) Michael
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