Amazon.com Review If you dropped the Buddha into a modern metropolis, would he come off sounding like a 16th-century morality play or more like a drive-time disc jockey? Lama Surya Das doesn't spin platters for a living, but he does have a hip delivery that belies his years of sheltered training in Buddhist monasteries. In Awakening the Buddha Within, he borrows a time-tested bestseller format for a 2,500-year-old tradition that comes off as anything but ancient. With the "Five T's of Concentration," the question of "need or greed," and the story of the monk who bares his backside to prove a point, Surya Das invokes a path of wisdom that is as accessible and down-to-earth as a worn pair of loafers. It's not an easy path--it demands thought, effort, and discipline. But Surya Das is there for you, lighting the way to wisdom training, coaxing you into ethics training, and laying out step by step the path of meditation training. And if that's not enough to get you to live in the now, consider these words of the enlightened lama: "You must be present to win." --Brian Bruya
Product Description Lama Surya Das, the most highly trained American lama in the Tibetan tradition, presents the definitive book on Western Buddhism for the modern-day spiritual seeker.
The radical and compelling message of Buddhism tells us that each of us has the wisdom, awareness, love, and power of the Buddha within; yet most of us are too often like sleeping Buddhas.In Awakening the Buddha Within, Surya Das shows how we can awaken to who we really are in order to lead a more compassionate, enlightened, and balanced life.It illuminates the guidelines and key principles embodied in the noble Eight-Fold Path and the traditional Three Enlightenment Trainings common to all schools of Buddhism:
Wisdom Training: Developing clear vision, insight, and inner understanding -- seeing reality and ourselves as we really are. Ethics Training: Cultivating virtue, self-discipline, and compassion in what we say and do. Meditation Training: Practicing mindfulness, concentration, and awareness of the present moment.
With lively stories, meditations, and spiritual practices, Awakening the Buddha Within is an invaluable text for the novice and experienced student of Buddhism alike.
An Excellent Book...August 11, 2008 This is an excellent book. Very well written, in plain simple English with no complicated concepts to try to wrap your mind around. This is the first book I've read by Lama Surya Das, but based on this one, it will not be my last.
Intended to be a guide to Tibetan Buddhism, it goes systematically and throughly through all the necessary practices and beliefs to enable the reader to make the changes to put themselves on the path to enlightenment. The book is written with humour and insight by a Westerner who has spent 35 years studying and teaching Buddhism.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to get a grasp on Buddhism from a Western perspective. This is not only a good book for a beginner, but also very complete. A good read.
Les Center
Ruined by lousy proseJune 24, 2008 1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I naively bought this book after visiting Lama Surya Das's Dzogchen Center in Cambridge, MA (LSD was not there). I am now sorry that I spent my money on it. Somewhat new to Buddhism, I am in no position to evaluate the merits of the book's content--for all I know, it could be full of 100% accurate information, though, judging from some of the other reviews here, I doubt it. Still, there must be something of value here for the spiritual aspirant, right?
I did not have the patience to find out. I can only say that the writing style left me cold. I gamely endured about 100 pages of Surya Das's corny prose, hell-bent on getting my money's worth, until I could no longer stand the platitudes, vague questions, and saccharine proverbs. I can see why some call LSD's books "Dharma lite"--he reads like a brochure. A 400-page, Buddhist brochure. I recommend the reader skip over this one and check out any of the many excellent Buddhist authors out there, like Chogyam Trungpa, Pema Chodron, or Shunryu Suzuki. Anything but this, really.
The Buddha WithinFebruary 10, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have had an interest in Buddhism for quite some time and have only recently begun to study and research. It is a daunting, but exciting task. In this time I have read many books on the subject. Some left me so confused I was ready to give up. The Buddha Within was a delight to read......clear, insightful, informative, humorous,but most of all it left me encouraged to continue practicing and studying. This last copy I purchased is for my sister, who has just started being curious about what I'm doing. It is a perfect book for her to start with. I am re-reading it for the second time. A definite must have in your book collection on Buddhism.
Excellent for beginnersJanuary 15, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
LOVED this book! Packed full of fabulous information, background, and intructional advice. One to read and re-read.
A great introduction to the Buddhist way of life.January 7, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I heard about this book in a Revolver magazine article featuring Tommy Lee, it's one of his recommendations (don't let that deter you from it). It's an excellent read for anyone who's ever wanted to learn about Buddhism. If you have real intentions of adopting a spiritual practice, reading this book is a great way to start. It's written in terms that are understandable to young adults of at least slightly above average intelligence. It's incredibly thought provoking, and even mind-blowing at some points. He does throw in some obscure Buddhist terminology, which is a bit excessive, but that doesn't take away from the message he's sending. If you're going through a tough time or seeking purpose in your life, read this book.
