Buddhism In Five Minutes

In Buddhism in Five Minutes, academic specialists offer answers to over 80 questions about Buddhism that people curious about Buddhism might ask. The questions cover the Buddha, what the Buddha taught, Buddhist monasticism and the role of lay people, the historical development of Buddhism, Buddhist art, Buddhist ethics, Buddhist responses to other religions, and Buddhist thought on contemporary issues. They include: Who is the fat Buddha figure? Can we know what the historical Buddha taught? What is Nirvāṇa? Why do Buddhists meditate? Does Buddhism support gender equality? What is Zen Buddhism? Are Buddhists pacifist? What do Buddhists think about those who are LGBTQI? Are alcohol and drugs ever acceptable to Buddhists? How do Buddhists view Artificial Intelligence? Are there Buddhists in Latin America? Taken together the questions cover most aspects of Buddhist belief and practice in the contemporary world. The collection is sponsored by the UK Association for Buddhist Studies but contributors are drawn from Asia, North America and Latin America, as well as Europe. The questions are answered in accessible, non-specialist language without too many footnotes. Each should take not much more than five minutes to read.

A jargon-free, plain language introduction to the foundational ideas of Buddhism and real-world tips for practicing Buddhism while balancing life in the real, modern world. This book goes easy on the mystical mumbo-jumbo and simply introduces the ideas that will help you live in the present and feel different about the world and your place in it. Geared towards people who were raised outside of Asia and people with a secular or Christian background who want to learn more of the philosophy that can change your life. This toolkit gives short lessons in what Buddhism is, and more importantly, how to apply it in situations with which you are already very familiar. Section I: The Basics What is Buddhism? Who was Buddha? What Buddhists Don''t Believe The Four Noble Truths The Eightfold Path Five Precepts Five Faultless Gifts Three Poisons Theravada & Mahayana Pure Land Tantric Buddhism / Vajrayana Tibetan Buddhism Zen Buddhism Buddhist Symbology Lotus Conch Parasol Golden Fish Treasure Vase Victory Banner Endless Knot Dharma Wheel Buddha Jokes Section II: Q&A And Special Topics Vegetarianism Beginner''s Advice Global Suffering Souls, Karma and Moving On Disappointment Buddhist Movies Zen Enough? The Three Jewels include the Sangha Self-Help Buddhism Koan: A Diamond In The Road Suicide? What are Stupas? Yama & Naraka: Death and Hell Mara The Tempter Bodhisattvas Book Review: The Universe in a Single Atom by the Dalai Lama Koan: Is That So? Creation and Evolution The Other Precepts Koan: Obedience Mandalas Namaste! No-Self Dependent Origination So You Want To Be A Buddhist? Buddhist Weddings Dealing with the Family Book Review: The Accidental Buddhist Faith or Not? The Pesky Fifth Precept Koan: Great Waves Do Christians Have Karma? Buddhist Jargon and Terminology Buddhist Pet Food The Karma of Performance Reviews Controlling Karma Book Review: Buddhist Scriptures, by Edward Conze, Ed. Buddhist Service Obligations? Koan: A Buddha Koan: The Muddy Road Meditation Breath Watching & Insight Meditation Empty Mind Meditation Walking Meditation and Kinhin Mindfulness Meditation Mantra Meditation Conceptual Meditation Other Forms of Meditation The Forty Meditation Themes Buddhist Rosary Beads Book Review: Footprints in the Snow Prayer in Buddhism Fat Buddha, Skinny Buddha, Laughing Buddha Zen Gardens Maya Pajapati / Mahapajapati Kwan Yin Koan: Not Far from Buddhahood If You Meet the Buddha on The Road, Kill Him Buddhism and Homosexuality Book Review: The Method of No-Method: The Chan Practice of Silent Illumination To Meat or Not to Meat? The Four Seals The Four Immeasurables Koan: The Strawberry Koan: The Sound of One Hand A Sensitive Topic: Masturbation Buddhist Parenting and Discipline I, Cannibal: Horror and Buddhism Buddhist Temples Why Do Buddhists Pray To Idols? Just Sitting or Just Goofing Off? Rebirth, Death, Heaven and Nirvana Am I Buddhist Enough? War and Peace Rebirth and Karma Why Do Buddhists Fall In Love? Koan: The Voice of Happiness Hinduism and Buddhism Does Nirvana Mean Death to Everything? Compassion and Pity How Can I Desire Enlightenment? Stringing Us Along Reincarnation, God, and Other Things You Don''t Believe Creation and the Origin of the Universe Closet Buddhism Being In the Present Koan: The Dead Man''s Answer Learning Non-Materialism Wishing Your Life Away Attachment To Buddhism Depression and Drugs Koan: The Stingy Artist

Religion in Five Minutes provides an accessible and lively introduction to the questions about religion and religious behaviour that interest most of us, whether or not we personally identify with - or practice - a religion. Suitable for beginning students and the general reader, the book offers more than 60 brief essays on a wide range of fascinating questions about religion and its study, such as: How did religion start? What religion is the oldest? Who are the Nones? Why do women seem to play lesser roles in many religions? What's the difference between a religion and a cult? Is Europe less religious than North America? Is Buddhism a philosophy? How do we study religions of groups who no longer exist? Each essay is written by a leading authority and offers succinct, insightful answers along with suggestions for further reading, making the book an ideal starting point for classroom use or personal browsing.

A Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness for the Modern Day In our never-ending search for happiness we often find ourselves looking to external things for fulfillment, thinking that happiness can be unlocked by buying a bigger house, getting the next promotion, or building a perfect family. In this profound and inspiring book, Gelong Thubten shares a practical and sustainable approach to happiness. Thubten, a Buddhist monk and meditation expert who has worked with everyone from school kids to Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and Benedict Cumberbatch, explains how meditation and mindfulness can create a direct path to happiness. A Monk’s Guide to Happiness explores the nature of happiness and helps bust the myth that our lives and minds are too busy for meditation. The book can show you how to: - Learn practical methods to help you choose happiness - Develop greater compassion for yourself and others - Learn to meditate in micro-moments during a busy day - Discover that you are naturally ‘hard-wired’ for happiness Reading A Monk’s Guide to Happiness could revolutionize your relationship with your thoughts and emotions, and help you create a life of true happiness and contentment.

Welcome to the world of Buddhism! Americans and others in the West have certain expectations and images that come to mind when the word "Buddhist" comes up. Most people have seen the Dalai Lama on the news or in magazines, and he has almost become synonymous with Buddhism in general. The truth is that by far, the majority of the world's Buddhists are not bald Asian men in orange robes. Buddhists look like you or me— just normal people who try to fit the ideas developed by Buddha into a normal modern life. What follows is a compilation of the very foundations of Buddhism. There are many sects or denominations of Buddhism, and they are all very distinctive, but the material included here is common to all of them. Whether you want to practice Buddhism as a religion or as a philosophy, whether you want to experience Zen or Tibetan, whether you want to pray or meditate, you'll need to understand the basics. There are five short chapters: What is Buddhism? Who was the Buddha? The Four Noble Truths The Eightfold Path The Five Precepts What is not included? You will not find any religious doctrine, prayers, or rituals beyond some very basic ideas. The Buddha set down some very clear philosophical ideas, and those ideas were later expanded into may varied religious traditions. You will also find very little jargon and only a few foreign words. Note: This short introductory booklet is made of excerpts from “The Five-Minute Buddhist.”

A Buddhist life is lived with peace, joy and contentment: each day can be a step along the path to true enlightenment. To live by these values every day takes patience, skill and knowledge, but it is hugely rewarding. This book can show you how to begin to do so – in just 20 minutes.

Presents lessons on using an almanac.

A jargon-free, plain-language introduction to the foundational ideas of Buddhism and real-world tips for practicing Buddhism while balancing life in the real, modern world.This follow-up to the immensely-popular "Five-Minute Buddhist" continues the tradition of easily-understood application of Buddhist principles and ideas to your everyday life.After a brief "Buddhism Refresher," this book presents approximately 150 short topics, mostly reader-submitted questions and answers. How do you use Buddhism in your life? Find out how we do it in short, five-minute chunksTable of Contents [Page numbers are from the print version]?Table of ContentsIntroduction 13?Buddhism RefresherWhat is Buddhism? 15Who was Buddha? 17The Four Noble Truths 20The Eightfold Path 24The Five Precepts 29?Applications of BuddhismQuestion: Am I One? 33Question: Meditation and Medical Conditions 34Gudo Revisited 35Koan: If You Love, Love Openly 36Koan: No Loving Kindness 36Compassion 37The Fifth Precept Once Again 38Koan: The Moon Cannot Be Stolen 39The Last Poem of Hoshin 39To Guru Or Not To Guru? 40Anti-Christian Bias? 42Koan: The Story of Shunkai 44Zen In The Dark 46Koan: The Happy Chinaman 47Taking Refuge in the 3 Jewels 48Book: The Gift of Loving Kindness 49Loving Kindness Meditation, Step by Step 51Movie: Zen Noir 52Buddha's Ghostwriters and Hinduism 53Our Buddhist President: Politics and Religion 55Beating Fear and Anxiety 57Koan: Shoun & His Mother 57Buddhist Conversion: 59Setting Up a Buddhist Shrine at Home 60The Sangha Situation: Nowhere to Go 62The Return of “Buddha Boy” 63Four Foundations of Mindfulness 65Koan: Gisho's Work 66Converts vs. Background Buddhism 66The Dog Story 68More on “Right Effort” 70Sleepy Legs in Meditation 71Koan: Stingy in Teaching 72Buddhism: Half-Empty or Half-Full? 74A Buddhist Christmas 75Past Lives and Reincarnation 78Meditation Schedules 79Meditation on a Whoopee Cushion 80Buddhists and Chanting 82Koan: “Buddha” by Kosen 83Ahimsa and the First Precept 84Koan: A Mother's Advice 85Great Expectations 85Insults and Quips 86Koan: My Heart Burns Like Fire 87Koan: Eshun's Departure 88Life and Death 89Buddhist Funerals 90Koan: Reciting Sutras 91Mindfulness and Creativity 91Koan: Three Days More 92A Buddhist Diet 93Beginner's Buddhism Books 94Koan: Trading Dialogue for Lodging 96Words of Advice for the New Buddhist 98Enlightenment: Are We There Yet? 101Starting Buddhist Practice: How? 102Christians and Buddhists 105Koan: Open Your Own Treasure House 107Playing Well With Others 107Koan: A Calling Card 108He Made Me So Angry That I… 109Koan: No Water, No Moon 111Koan: Everything Is Best 111I, Being of Sound Mind and Body… 111Resentment, Fear, and Anger 113Koan: Mokusen's Hand 114Living Death 115Buddhists vs. Jehovah's Witnesses: The Jihad 116Rewards and Punishment 118Buddha the Hindu and Jesus the Jew 122Koan: A Smile in His Lifetime 124Choices and Responsibility 125Racism and Buddhism 126Koan: Every-Minute Zen 128Violence and the First Precept 128Too Many Choices 130Koan: Flower Shower 132Confessions and Guilt 132You and Your Property 133Can Karma Be Shared? 135Publishing the Sutras 137Starting Out 138Sign Language in Buddhism (ASL) 140Dealing With Hatred 141Koan: Sleeping in the Daytime 146Is Buddhism A Lonely Path? 146Koan: Joshu's Zen 147What Do I Need to Do? 148Paradoxes 150Don't Fear the Karma 151Buddhist Tattoos and Books 153Koan: Zen in a Beggar's Life 154Koan: The Thief Who Became a Disciple 154Sin & Skepticism in Buddhism 155Mindfulness at Work 156Koan: Wright and Wrong 157Playing Mix & Match with Religion 157Trouble In Texas 158Ignorance and Arguments 160Koan: How Grass & Trees Become Enlightened 162Rebirth Revisited 163Help with Mindfulness and Meditation 164Poetic Impermanence 166Aging and Suffering 166Ambition 16812 Steps, Higher Powers, and Buddhism 169...And 40 additional topics.