In Search of the Way

[troglodyteking]

If one wanted to learn about Buddhism, where should one start? I know vaguely about it, enough to know there are various branches, etc. and the basic-basic core philosophy (life is suffering, etc.), but don't know where to go from there to get a better sense of the philosophy/discipline/religion/outlook. Can someone suggest books, either

Comments

[doublefeh]

If you're willing to primarily dive into Japanese Buddhism, Sources of Japanese Tradition is a good read. It has more than just Buddhist stuff in it, being a more general history of Japan, but a large portion of Japanese culture in the time period it covers (~600-1600AD) is driven by Buddhism.

If you want to learn about Buddhism in general, it might be a bit off base, but it's at least a good historical case study of Buddhism's introduction to and influence on a culture.

[solar_diablo]

Secondary: http://www.amazon.com/What-Buddha-Taught-Expanded-Dhammapada/dp/0802130313/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243961324&sr=8-1

Primary: http://www.amazon.com/Buddhist-Scriptures-Penguin-Classics-Donald/dp/014044758X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243961369&sr=8-2

Alternately, living in the Pacific Northwest you should be able to find a Buddhist temple or Zen center quite readily, I imagine. I suspect they'd be more than willing to speak to you.

[adularia]

Thich Nhat Hanh's Old Path, White Clouds is a semi-historical life of the Buddha, and the second half is mostly sutras (or object lessons, if not the sutras themselves) phrased in biographical narrative form.

I actually found it an incredibly frustrating and didactic book, and it left me feeling consistently lectured that caring strongly about *anything* in life was a Horrible Moral Failure. In later discussion I learned that the intent was less... fundamentalist? than that, but I really want to find complementary books on living an engaged and caring life while practicing.

[emily_arete]

I'll bring the Lotus Sutra when I come up.

[emily_arete]

A couple more random thoughts

[troglodyteking]

Actually, the context of the term 'the way' I was thinking of, which is also not Buddhist, is Taoism. I've read the Tao Te Ching (twice?) and Taoism comes up in some of Le Guin's writing. But it was probably also somewhat in my mind from seeing Journey in Search of the Way (or something else with 'the Way') lying around your room.

[emily_arete]

I thought you were off in the woods! What are you doing replying to comments?
I would also like to learn more about Taoism.

[rustedlemon]

Usually Buddhist temples offer free (or virtually free) meditative classes. It might be a good place to start to understand many of the base philosophies of Buddism and you learn a useful skill like meditation. (and believe me, it can be useful)