Good book for buddhism?

Question

I am looking for some good book to learn more about buddhism, I want to learn what I can learn by books, if someone knows the good stuff I would appreciate.

I already have been told some books but I would like to have the opinions of other that knows about them, and if there would be other good books for me, I would be greatful, thank you for reading.

These are the one I plan to read

These for beginner meditation :

Mindfulness in Plain English and Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness, by the same author
http://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Plain-English-Updated-Expanded/dp/0861713214/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243852222&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/Eight-Mindful-Steps-Happiness-Walking/dp/0861711769/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377049045&sr=1-1

And for more general buddhism introduction :

What the Buddha Taught: Revised and Expanded and/or The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching
http://www.amazon.com/What-Buddha-Taught-Expanded-Dhammapada/dp/0802130313/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243851601&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Buddhas-Teaching-Transforming-Liberation/dp/0767903692/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376962727&sr=1-2

Answer 1

These look good, as well as reading explainations by monks I also enjoy reading the suttas themselves, a good introductory text is the Dhammapada:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Dhammapada-Translation-Buddhist-Annotations/dp/1590303806/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377050271&sr=8-1&keywords=dhammapada and more advanced is the Sutta Pitaka of the Pali Canon, which is divided into five parts (the Dhammapada being found in the fifth part, the Khuddaka Nikaya, with other little texts). The first four parts have excellent translations by Bhikkhu Bodhi:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Long-Discourses-Buddha-Translation/dp/0861711033/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377050093&sr=8-1&keywords=digha+nikaya

http://www.amazon.com/The-Middle-Length-Discourses-Buddha/dp/086171072X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1377050093&sr=8-3&keywords=digha+nikaya

http://www.amazon.com/The-Connected-Discourses-Buddha-Translation/dp/0861713311/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1377050093&sr=8-2&keywords=digha+nikaya

http://www.amazon.com/The-Numerical-Discourses-Buddha-Translation/dp/1614290407/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1377050093&sr=8-7&keywords=digha+nikaya



One other book I found very useful was a monks guide to samatha jhana meditation, Mindfulness, Bliss and Beyond - A Meditators Handbook:

http://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Bliss-Beyond-Meditators-Handbook/dp/0861712757/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377050210&sr=1-1&keywords=mindfulness+bliss+and+beyond

Answer 2

I recommend "Mindfulness in Plain English" by Bhante Gunaratana.

I notice that you have it earmarked. You don't have to buy it ... it is free to read online at this site

http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe.html



This book is a Theravadan Buddhist book. The first few chapters have the best explanation of what Buddhism and meditation is and isn't, that I have ever read. And I've been a Buddhist for over 13 years.

The rest of the book is an excellent instruction piece on how to meditate, on how to handle problems that arise while you meditate.

The book is the next best thing to have a live teacher.



If you decide you want to continue to practice Buddhism, sooner or later you WILL need a live teacher to guide you.

And if you want to practice Zen or Tibetan Buddhism, it is an absolute necessity right from the start, to have a live teacher. Theravadan is the only school of Buddhism that does not rely on having the direct guidance of a live, present, qualified teacher.



I would also recommend any books, tapes, mp3 downloads, cd's by Pema Chodron. Her teachings have helped me greatly in using Buddhism as a way of living inwardly, of being mindful. The first teaching I listened to (on cd) was "Practicing Compassion"

https://pemachodrontapes.com/store/



I myself practice Tibetan Buddhism. That's because the only live, qualifed teacher that lives in my city is one of the Dalai Lama's monks. It really doesn't matter which school of Buddhism you practice .. they all lead to the same place.

Answer 3

Please refer the link below.

http://buddhism-explained.blogspot.com/