Religion & Beliefs
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Discovering Buddhism introduces Buddhism as a culture and civilization, a system of thought and a religion. This fascinating book presents the views and practices of all the main Buddhist traditions without bias and addresses the history of Buddhism, the key topics taught by the Buddha, and a selection of contemporary issues. It also includes critical assessments of the material, connecting traditional accounts with contemporary scholarship.
The author makes each subject relevant and interesting so readers can engage in personal reflection and inquiry. This encounter with Buddhist ideas invites readers to question their outlook on life and can help make their views more aligned with reality.
The book is written in a clear and accessible way for the non-specialist and provides up-to-date information for the teaching of Buddhism in schools complemented by the educational resources available on the Windows into Buddhism website. Authoritative and comprehensive, Discovering Buddhism is the go-to resource for anyone who is curious to know who the Buddha was, what he said, and why so many Westerners today find meaning in his teachings.
Here's what readers have to say about this book....
Dominique Side's book is beyond excellent. It is so clear and well written. She gives a good survey of how positive modernisation of Buddhism has occurred from the Theravada to the Mahayana - the Pure Land schools and Zen - and Vajrayana. She shows how modernisation can occur when it's anchored in the truth of the Buddha's words.
Dominique Side writes a book that is helpful to new-comers to Buddhism but not in the usual way. Side posits Buddhism through the lens of changing one's life with what are principles of Buddhism but is not wed to Buddhism itself. A new way of looking at oneself and the world around us is quite enlightening - at least for me. The contextualization, history, and culture of Buddhism offer a grounding in a wider area of Buddhist thought. It is presented in the way of an author without an agenda. I enjoyed this book.
I wish I had this book when I was taking religion in college. This is one book that gives Buddhism in its basics and in an understandable manner. I recommend this book.
Discovering Buddhism is a go-to resource for us all; If you are a teacher looking for inspiring lesson content, you will find it here. If you are a teenager questioning life and death's big questions, you will find satisfying material here. If you are a Buddhist and want a clear overview of the Path, you will find it here. All readers interested in experiencing wisdom, cultivating it as it has been cultivated through the ages, will find avenues to explore here. This reliable resource is written with both clarity and warmth. The clarity helps us understand the depth and breadth of Buddhist culture. The warmth invites us to experiment with the content, bringing colour to as-yet unexplored areas of our lives.
Most of the parents who send their children to the Middle Way School do not identify as Buddhists but they are curious and open and want to learn more. To introduce these parents to the history, philosophy, and culture of Buddhism, we have long relied on a textbook for high school students in the UK that was written by Dominique Side, wishing that it was more readily available. We are so happy that she has now published this even more comprehensive and clear book. We highly recommend Discovering Buddhism for any dharma library.
