Dhamma book for the completely uninitiated

Organisational work, teaching, Sunday school syllabus, charitable work, outreach, sharing of resources, artwork, etc.
Post Reply
User avatar
Epistemes
Posts: 34
Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2011 6:33 pm

Dhamma book for the completely uninitiated

Post by Epistemes »

There's a thread currently going about which book to give as a gift for somebody who already knows the basics, but what about for somebody who is completely uninitiated? What about if somebody thinks Buddhism is strange but is open to the idea of reading something on it? What's a good way of easing somebody into knowledge of the dhamma?
The wind spins without end,
one moment southward,
the next moment northward.
David2
Posts: 930
Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2011 6:09 pm
Location: Germany

Re: Dhamma book for the completely uninitiated

Post by David2 »

The books mentioned in the other thread are also good for absolute beginners in my opinion.
"Mindfulness in plain English" is very good because it does not use many Pali terms.
User avatar
Epistemes
Posts: 34
Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2011 6:33 pm

Re: Dhamma book for the completely uninitiated

Post by Epistemes »

Yes, there are a lot of good books in the other thread, but I feel many of the recommendation assume some familiarity with terms like "Buddha," "Dhamma," "Sangha," etc. Many of the recommendations in the other thread are for books that contain much to do with the Pali Canon.

"Mindfulness in Plain English" seems to be a book rooted in some knowledge of what dhamma is or, at least, some desire to want to start meditation.
The wind spins without end,
one moment southward,
the next moment northward.
Justsit
Posts: 803
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:41 pm

Re: Dhamma book for the completely uninitiated

Post by Justsit »

"Buddhism for Dummies" ?? :shrug:

(No insult intended or implied. :tongue: )
User avatar
DNS
Site Admin
Posts: 17186
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:15 am
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, Estados Unidos de América
Contact:

Re: Dhamma book for the completely uninitiated

Post by DNS »

Here is an excellent book for beginners and it is completely available online. It is currently available in 31 different languages!

http://www.goodquestiongoodanswer.net/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
Epistemes
Posts: 34
Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2011 6:33 pm

Re: Dhamma book for the completely uninitiated

Post by Epistemes »

David,

What a great resource! A link worth bookmarking.
The wind spins without end,
one moment southward,
the next moment northward.
User avatar
retrofuturist
Posts: 27848
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 9:52 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact:

Re: Dhamma book for the completely uninitiated

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings,
Epistemes wrote:What about if somebody thinks Buddhism is strange but is open to the idea of reading something on it? What's a good way of easing somebody into knowledge of the dhamma?
Buddhism For The Modern Skeptic (PDF)
http://www.justbegood.net/Downloads/e-b ... %201_1.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

:geek:

Metta,
Retro. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
User avatar
pilgrim
Posts: 1679
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:56 pm

Re: Dhamma book for the completely uninitiated

Post by pilgrim »

Ajahn Brahm's "Opening the Door of your Heart", also published as "Who Ordered this Truckload of Dung?"
Maitri
Posts: 205
Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 1:43 am
Location: United States of America

Re: Dhamma book for the completely uninitiated

Post by Maitri »

I personally love, "What the Buddha Taught" by Walpola Rahula. It's one of my favorite intro books and I think I am due for another read. I had the good fortune of giving a copy to a person seeking the Dhamma this weekend!
"Upon a heap of rubbish in the road-side ditch blooms a lotus, fragrant and pleasing.
Even so, on the rubbish heap of blinded mortals the disciple of the Supremely Enlightened One shines resplendent in wisdom." Dhammapada: Pupphavagga

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/
User avatar
Polar Bear
Posts: 1348
Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2012 7:39 am

Re: Dhamma book for the completely uninitiated

Post by Polar Bear »

The first book I came across about buddhism was "What the Buddha Taught" by Walpola Rahula. It is especially good to give this book to a skeptic because it says rather harsh things about people fabricating god and soul to comfort themselves instead of just seeing reality how it is. I also like the way it described anatta.

However, I think I'm gonna check out that book "Buddhism For The Modern Skeptic" that another poster put up because that sounds interesting
"I don't envision a single thing that, when developed & cultivated, leads to such great benefit as the mind. The mind, when developed & cultivated, leads to great benefit."

"I don't envision a single thing that, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about such suffering & stress as the mind. The mind, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about suffering & stress."
Post Reply