Zen/Buddhism Primer

[Regnad Kcin]

I'd very much like to begin examining this philosophy. Can anyone recommend a starter guide or two?

Thanks.

 

[Lisa Simpson]

This website is a good introduction to Buddhism.

 

[Kopji]

Tircycle is a large US Buddhist site/magazine, they have an intro there too.
http://www.tricycle.com/new.php?p=Buddhist Basics

 

[Dancing David]

It is not about Zen, but I like Tich Naht Hanh The Heart of the Buddha's Teachings , it is a little heavy in places but a good place to get understanding.

 

[Lisa Simpson]

It is not about Zen, but I like Tich Naht Hanh The Heart of the Buddha's Teachings , it is a little heavy in places but a good place to get understanding.

I like his "Living Buddha, Living Christ". As someone who grew up nominally Christian, it was a good introduction to the similarities between Buddha's and Christ's teachings.

 

[phildonnia]

Avoid anything by Alan Watts.

 

[Bodhi Dharma Zen]

I'd very much like to begin examining this philosophy. Can anyone recommend a starter guide or two?

Thanks.

The Three Pillars of Zen, by Philip Kapleau

 

[Regnad Kcin]

Thanks for the responses.

 

[Nex]

Avoid anything by Alan Watts.

I'll second that. Nothing he's written has impressed me in the slightest.

Try finding a Buddhist Meditation Center or somesuch near you -- there may be classes or something similar. I've found it's always more informative and enlightening (pardon the pun) to speak with actual practitioners than to learn strictly from books.

 

[Ryokan]

This website is a good introduction to Buddhism.

But be critical when you read that site! I'm a Buddhist myself, and use buddhanet.net at times, but their version of Buddhism is a little weird.

The denomination behind buddhanet.net is that of Pure Land Buddhism, a part of Mahayana Buddhism and Zen. They believe that if you chant a certain text every day, you will go to a land ruled by Amitabha Buddha (not THE Buddha) called the Pure Land when you die, a nice sort of land where everyone is happy.

The first thing I would want a non-Buddhist to look at, and very appropriate for a sceptic site, is the Kalama Sutra.

http://www.mahasati.org/library/kalama_sutta.shtml

After that, with the Kalama Sutra fresh in mind, I'd try to tackle the Four Noble Truths, the core teaching of Gautama Buddha.

http://www.4truths.com/ (very basic)

http://www.allsands.com/religious/fournobletruth_xwi_gn.htm (still basic, but a little more 'meat')

And whatever you do, don't get your info from THIS site : http://www.onebillionwait.org/

 

[Wudang]

Not introductroy but I've found Hui Hai fascinating.

here's a website http://www.selfdiscoveryportal.com/cmHuiHai.htm

 

[Bodhi Dharma Zen]

I do like Alan Watts, like so many other things, its matter of personal taste.