The everything Buddhism book : learn the ancient traditions and apply them to modern life PDF
Preview The everything Buddhism book : learn the ancient traditions and apply them to modern life
THE BUDDHISM BOOK Learn the ancient traditions and apply them to modern life Jacky Sach The Everything® Buddhism Book Dear Reader: Like many Westerners, I was not raised a Buddhist but came to Buddhism on my own. My family did not practice any organized religion , though spirituality was strong in my home. I was introduced to Buddhism while working in publishing. Many books were coming across my desk that spoke of emptiness, suffering, and awakening to truth. My interest was piqued and Buddhism warranted further investigation. I discovered the Zen Mountain Monastery in the Catskill Mountains of New York and took an introductory weekend on Zen practice. To my surprise, I discovered that practice was hard, but there was something about it that kept bringing me back. Well, as they say: When the student is ready the teacher appears, and so it was for me. After moving from New York City to the farm country of New Jersey I had no reason to hope that I would stumble across, as I did, a sangha and a teacher and that my life would become so wonderfully alive because of it. But the world has a way of wanting you to wake up and if you open your mind you will see the lessons everywhere. The discovery of Buddhist practice is a blessing like none other. The EVERYTHING Series ® Editorial Publishing DirectorGary M. Krebs Managing EditorKate McBride Copy ChiefLaura MacLaughlin Acquisitions EditorEric Hall Development EditorMichael Paydos Production EditorKhrysti Nazzaro Production Production DirectorSusan Beale Production ManagerMichelle Roy Kelly Series DesignersDaria Perreault Colleen Cunningham Cover DesignPaul Beatrice Frank Rivera Layout and GraphicsColleen Cunningham Rachael Eiben Michelle Roy Kelly Daria Perreault Erin Ring Series Cover ArtistBarry Littmann Interior ©2001 Brand X Pictures Photographs: and ©Corel–Spirit of Buddha Visit the entire Everything® Series at everything.com Copyright © 2003, F+W Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews. An Everything® Series Book. Everything® and everything.com® are registered trademarks of F+W Media, Inc. Published by Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc. 57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 U.S.A. www.adamsmedia.com ISBN 13: 978-1-58062884-6 ISBN 10: 1-58062-884-2 Printed in the United States of America. J I H G F Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Sach, Jacky. The everything Buddhism book / Jacky Sach. p. cm. (Everything series) ISBN 1-58062-884-2 1. Buddhism. I. Title. II. Series. BQ4012.S23 2003 294.3–dc21 2002154917 This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. —From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters. This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases. For information, call 1-800-289-0963. Contents Acknowledgments Top Ten Pearls of Buddhist Wisdom Found In This Book Introduction 1 Under the Bodhi Tree: The Buddhist Way Budhism Today Religion or Philosophy? Practice, Practice, Practice Everything Is Nothing Refuge The Sinless World Buddha’s Contemporaries 2 The Buddha: History and Legend Siddhartha Gautama Youth of Luxury and Pleasure Finding the Path: The Renunciation The Five Ascetics The Middle Way Enlightenment 3 The Buddha’s Teachings: The Four Noble Truths The First Sermon: The Dharma Wheel Turns The First Noble Truth: All Life Is Suffering The Second Noble Truth: The Cause of Suffering Is Desire The Third Noble Truth: Suffering Can End! The Fourth Noble Truth: The Way 4 The Buddha’s Teachings: The Eightfold Path The Way Right Understanding Right Thought Right Speech Right Action Right Livelihood Right Effort Right Mindfulness Right Concentration The Parable of the Poison Arrow 5 The Buddha’s Ethics The Five Precepts Do Not Destroy Life Do Not Steal Do Not Commit Sexual Misconduct Do Not Lie Do Not Take Intoxicating Drinks The Five Hindrances More Precepts The Precepts Versus the Ten Commandments Ethical Dilemmas Today 6 The Buddhist Community The Three Jewels The First Jewel: The Buddha The Second Jewel: The Dharma The Third Jewel: The Sangha Finding the Three Jewels Today 7 Karma Popular Misconceptions of Karma Karma As the Moral Center Karma and Cycles of Birth Rebirth: Life As the Wheel of Samsara The Power of Karma 8 The Buddhist Cosmos Past Lives The Three Realms The Realm of Desire The Realm of Form The Realm of No-Form Making Sense of the Cosmos 9 Buddhism in India: Life after Buddha The Buddha’s Life and Death The Followers The First Council: The Council at Rajagriha The Second Council: The Council at Vesali King Ashoka and the Third Council: The Council at Pataliputra The Fourth Council: The Council at Jalandhar The Eighteen Schools The Pali Canon and Mahayana Scriptures
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