books on Buddhism, Shinto, or other eastern religions?

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what are the essential books to read to learn about these religions?

either from an academic perspective or from an instructional

― A Nairn (moretap), Monday, 24 May 2004 02:06 (twenty-two years ago)

In terms of a meaningful read, I highly recommend...

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0834800799.01.LZZZZZZZ.gif

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Monday, 24 May 2004 02:09 (twenty-two years ago)

For Hinduism (aside from the Bhagavad Gita, obviously) I'd suggest Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda. You can get it for about $6 new at any book store.

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying is an excellent summary of Tibetan Buddhism. Most of Thich Nhat Hanh's books are good, but he has a tendency to get off topic and be a little... airy, I guess.

― stephen morris (stephen morris), Monday, 24 May 2004 02:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Instant Zen: Waking Up in the Present (Cleary's translation of teachings of Foyan):

http://www.audiobooksdownload.com/Books/BK_ALIT_000021.htm

Dream Conversations on Buddhism and Zen (Cleary's translation of teachings of Muso):

http://whatthebook.co.kr/book/1570626715

And the third book which I found extremely useful is The Zen Teaching of Huang Po (Transl. by John Blofeld):

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0802150926/dabaseanunoffire/104-3185829-9057529

This is a classy trio of books.

Also, check out the Shambala range of books on these subjects (they are particularly strong on Buddhism and Taoism).

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Monday, 24 May 2004 02:53 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.shambhala.com/

They have instructional and academic texts. Another publisher worth checking is Snow Lion (Tibetan Buddhism & Bon).

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Monday, 24 May 2004 02:56 (twenty-two years ago)

If you just want to know about core Buddhism as a philosophy:

Buddhism plain and Simple -- Steve Hagen

Brilliant, brilliant book. Comparatively short, doesn't go into a lot of depth, but very very concise. It covers the four truths and the eightfold path with brilliant use of analogies. The author has a Zen history, but really it deals only with the basic principles of any branch of Buddhism.

As has already been said, Living and Dying's excellent too, but big, and goes on a bit. I've not finished that one.

― You're the Wish You Are I Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Monday, 24 May 2004 03:01 (twenty-two years ago)

There is no definative holy book like to Koran or Bible or Bhagavad Gita for Shinto, right?

― A Nairn (moretap), Monday, 24 May 2004 03:38 (twenty-two years ago)

For Tibetan Buddhism it's be The [Tibetan] Book of the Dead I guess.

― Pack Yr Romantic Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Monday, 24 May 2004 03:39 (twenty-two years ago)

One of Chogyam Trungpa's many books many be helpful, as he has a knack for explaining Tibetan symbolism (incl the symbolism in the Tibetan Book of the Dead)in Western, psychological terms. All his books as far as I know are published by Shambhala.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Monday, 24 May 2004 03:44 (twenty-two years ago)

List of works by Trungpa:

http://www.dharma-haven.org/tibetan/teachings-chogyam-trungpa.html#INDEX%20OF%20WORKS

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Monday, 24 May 2004 03:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Alan Watts to thread, dude.

― hstencil (hstencil), Monday, 24 May 2004 04:21 (twenty-two years ago)

He and Trungpa are probably having a few stiff drinks in Nirvana right now.

Note Trungpa also recommends Aaron's recommendation, Suzuki's 'Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind'. It's a very good introductory text which is instructional.

In Buddism, Hunduism and Taoism, many classic texts are already on line, especially the sutras.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Monday, 24 May 2004 04:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Then there's Tarthang Tulku's Dharma Publishing. They not only translate and publish canonical Tibetan texts, but also seem to be launching their own brand of Buddhism (they don't even call it Buddhism though, they call it TSK) which is sort open-ended and exploratory, and based around mental enquiry into fundamental concepts like time, knowledge etc as a meditiation exercise. I find it quite interesting anyway:

http://www.dharmapublishing.com/page.cfm?doc=TimeSpaceAndKnowledge&wikiid=1168

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Monday, 24 May 2004 04:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Teachings of the Tibetan Bon tradition (pre-Buddhist, and somewhat shamanic, but very much in the psychological vein that is charatceristically Tibetan):

http://www.ligminchastore.org/index.asp

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Monday, 24 May 2004 04:33 (twenty-two years ago)

The Three Pillars of Zen by Roshi Philip Kapleau was pretty influential in introducing actual Zen practice to America. It details his training in Japanese monasteries.

He also died recently, after leading the Rochester Zen Center for several decades. Fascinating guy.

― spittle (spittle), Monday, 24 May 2004 04:39 (twenty-two years ago)

For general light Zen and Taoist reading online sign up to www.dailyzen.com also. They often have good texts pop up, or even a saying here and there that (for me anyway) cuts to the heart of things.

On a similar note, can anyone recommend what they regard as a good, reliable translation of the Tao Te Ching? Ive never been terribly happy with the few Ive come across.

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 24 May 2004 04:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Trayce, John C Wu's translation I found very good, and cruising around the net, it seems to be recommended widely:

http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=2-0877733880-4

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Monday, 24 May 2004 05:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Ta Col I'll have a look at it :)

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 24 May 2004 05:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Basho.
Analects.

― anthony, Monday, 24 May 2004 06:54 (twenty-two years ago)

about that Steve Hagen book, this review really makes me not want to read it:

"This book is not much of an introduction to Buddhism as far as I can see; its tone is very much "I see you've got problems, and here's the answer to them". It is a self-help book; it tells you little or nothing about Buddhism as a religion, and is full of dodgy analogies that often don't really add up. If this is really what Buddhism is about, then it's very surprising that it ever caught anyone's imagination."

― A Nairn (moretap), Saturday, 5 June 2004 17:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Steve Hagen does come off as a bit of a hardass, but I think that just makes his books more worth reading, really. I don't think knowing about Buddhism "as a religion" is really the point, anyway.

― Chris F. (servoret), Saturday, 5 June 2004 18:16 (twenty-two years ago)

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