Amazon.com You might want to digest this book slowly, a few pages at a time. Although Zen teacher Steve Hagen has a knack for putting the philosophy of Buddhism in a "plain and simple" package, it may take a while to sink in. There is so much there. Seeing reality, realizing the wisdom of the self, breaking free of dualistic thinking--this is pretty heady stuff. Thankfully, Hagen passes it along in the form of examples from life, psychological tidbits, and stories from Buddhist teachers past and present. And when it clicks in, it can be life-transforming. Hagen explains this shift in outlook and how the fundamental way we look at the world affects everything we do. As an outline, Hagen follows the basic teachings of the Buddha, and we see that, rather than dogmatic truths, they are reminders for us as we reconsider the life we have taken for granted for so long. As it turns out, Buddhism is life, plain and simple. --Brian Bruya
Book Description “A beacon light of clarity and wisdom, a sobering teacher for us all. Simple and outstanding. Highly recommended.” - Charlotte Joko Beck, author of Everyday Zen
“This is. . . . about awareness. Not awareness of something in particular, but awareness itself'being awake, alert, in touch with what is actually happening. It's about examining and exploring the most basic questions of life. It's about relying on the immediate experience of this present moment. It's about freedom of mind.” - Steve Hagen
The observations and insights of the Buddha are practical and eminently down-to-earth, dealing exclusively with awareness in the here and now. Buddhism Plain and Simple offers listeners these fundamental teachings, stripped of the cultural trappings that have accumulated around Buddhism over the past twenty-five centuries. The newcomer will be inspired by the clear, simple principles found in Buddhism Plain and Simple, and those familiar with Buddhism will welcome this long-needed overview.
“Buddhism Plain and Simple is a delightfully direct pathway toward our true heart.” - Steven Levine, author of Who Dies?
Get this bookAugust 8, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Hands down, the best book on buddhism out there. Skip the frills and cultural trappings and get this book. 160 pages but it's really all you need to know. Excellent!
I don't feel so stupid nowMarch 21, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have been searching for answers. This book gives them plainly and makes concepts easy to understand. Great book and I will buy others from this author.
Good exposure to the topic.....but not plain, simple or easy.March 6, 2008 4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I found this book (Buddhism Plain and Simple by Steve Hagen) a great introduction to the principles and teachings of Buddhism. Steve Hagen takes the reader into meditation techniques, the wisdom of self and the levels of awareness. I found his examples from life to be helpful in describing the "wisdom of self".
However, you will need to take it slowly. Read it a chapter at a time and reread chapters before advancing to the next stage. Why, because it is hard to explain the "reality" of Zen Buddhism. It is hard to understand the concepts of Buddhism, and even harder to explain those same concepts to another person who has no foundation to build on.
Buddhism (which comes from Buddha -the awakened one) in a nut shell is a fundamental way of looking at life. Live life for the moment; take it in for what it is. Enjoy the connection to the universe and do not let material things, mental worries and belief systems interfere with understanding the reality of living.
As you can see from the last paragraph- words cannot really describe Buddhism plain and simple. No book can describe the reality of the world around us. So this book may be a bit of a hard read for the very beginner.
By Sam Hendricks, Author of "Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Fantasy Football" and the soon to be released "Fantasy Football Almanac: 2008"
Pass it on!January 12, 2008 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book takes the mystery out of Buddhism. As I am neither a student of religion nor a psychologist, I can't tell whether what the author describes are the actual beliefs of Buddhism or just plain common sense and knowledge of the human psyche, but I give it to everyone I know.
A beautiful overview of a complex subject, but may not be the best introduction to Buddhism for some readers.December 15, 2007 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This eloquent little book gives even a casual student of Buddhism a very readable and provocative overview of a very complex subject. Having said that, the fact is that one needs a certain mindset to begin the study of Eastern philosophies, so while the author does present the material in plain and simple language, if you have not done any other reading on the subject, you may find it a bit of a tough go. While I recommend this book highly and have given away numerous copies to friends who have expressed an interest, there are other introductory books such as "The Buddha In Your Mirror" by Hochswender, Martin & Morino, for those readers who would benefit from a more structured and practical initial presentation of the subject.
