The everything Buddhism book : learn the ancient traditions and apply them to modern life

351 Pages·2003·2.53 MB·English

by  Sach

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.
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An Everything® Series Book.
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Published by Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc.
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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.
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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