Buddhist Bible – Buddhism books for beginners

Last week a reader contacted me on E.y.D with the subject line: Buddhist Bible?

Message:  “Just stumbled upon your site, and it is very inspiring. I need something to bring peace to my life. I just hit 50 and realized how miserable I have been for most of my life. Anyway, is there a Buddhist book similar to a Bible? What should I begin with? Again, wonderful site.”  Thanks, Katrina

I responded to Katrina and recommended the Dhammapada, which is essentially the words and teachings of The Buddha. I also promised to dig deeper and give a recommended reading list on Buddhism books for beginners.

But before we get to that, I have a confession to make. I am not a Buddhist. I am no Yogi, Zen Master or Guru. The only Nirvana I’ve ever reached was synthetically produced.  What I am, is a man trying to find peace and wisdom in this insatiably crazy world of ours. I’m the product of a hardcore Catholic family. My aunts are known to pass out  pamphlets at family picnics about the end of the world. (Seriously they do) And when a few of them found my site, they immediate thought I had become a Buddhist. The Truth is, I try to see the beauty in all religions. And the teachings of Zen and enlightenment help me live a better life.

By my own admission, I will always be a Catholic, but that won’t stop me from opening my eyes to the world and seeking joyful wisdom at every turn. My favorite English teacher, Mr. Nabaan, would explain to his students on their first day of class: “There is an infinite amount of knowledge in the world, and if you can grasp even a little speck of it, then you have accomplished something great.” Then he asked: “What knowledge do you want your life to be filled with?” That question has stuck with me for over 15 years now, and for good reason.

Buddhism books for beginners – Buddhist Bible

Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life by Thich Nhat Hanh

“Breathing in, I calm my body.
Breathing out, I smile.
Dwelling in the present moment,
I know this is a wonderful moment!”

Buy Peace Is Every Step on Amazon

“If we do not have peace and joy right now,
when will we have peace and joy – tomorrow, or after tomorrow? What is preventing us from being happy right now?” Thich Nhat Hanh

Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind – S. Suzuki / Weatherhill / April 1972

Buy Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind on Amazon

“For Zen students the most important thing is not to be dualistic. Our “original mind” includes everything within itself. It is always rich and sufficient within itself. You should not lose your self-sufficient state of mind. This does not mean a closed mind, but actually an empty mind and a ready mind. If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything; it is open to everything. In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind there are few.”
Shunryu Suzuki-roshi (1905 – 1971)

The Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology by Jack Kornfield

“To undertake a genuine spiritual path is not to avoid difficulties but to learn the art of making mistakes wakefully, to bring to them the transformative power of our heart.” Jack Kornfield

Buy “The Wise Heart” on Amazon

The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living by Dalai Lama

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”

Buy “The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living” on Amazon

“I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. That is clear. Whether one believes in religion or not, whether one believes in this religion or that religion, we all are seeking something better in life. So, I think, the very motion of our life is towards happiness…” Dalai Lama

The Way of Zen by Alan Watts

“I have realized that the past and future are real illusions, that they exist in the present, which is what there is and all there is.”

Buy “The Way of Zen” on Amazon

“We feel that our actions are voluntary when they follow a decision and involuntary when they happen without decision. But if a decision itself were voluntary every decision would have to be preceded by a decision to decide – An infinite regression which fortunately does not occur. Oddly enough, if we had to decide to decide, we would not be free to decide”. Alan Watts

“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.”
Alan Watts quote

The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching by:
Thich Nhat Hanh

“The Buddha said many times, ‘My teaching is like a finger pointing to the moon. Do not mistake the finger for the moon,’” p. 17.

Buy “The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching” on Amazon

“I grew up in a time of war. There was destruction all around—children, adults, values, a whole country. As a young person, I suffered a lot. Once the door of awareness has been opened, you cannot close it. The wounds of war in me are still not all healed. There are nights I lie awake and embrace my people, my country, and the whole planet with my mindful breathing,” p. 5.

How to Practice : The Way to a Meaningful Life by his Holiness the Dalai Lama

“I believe that whether a person follows any religion or not is unimportant, he must have a good heart, a warm heart. This is essential for a happy life, which is much more important than Buddhahood.”

Buy “How to Practice : The Way to a Meaningful Life” on Amazon

“Basically, a human being is a social animal. So, if you create some short moment of happiness for people, you get deep satisfaction.” Dalai Lama

Buddhism Plain and Simple by Steve Hagen

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“So you don’t have to do the long search, the frantic chase, the painful quest. You’re already right where you need to be.” We often think the purpose of taking up a spiritual practice is to produce good actions as opposed to bad. According to the Buddha-dharma, however, this is completely beside the point. The point is, rather, that we become aware of when and how we act out our intent.”  Steve Hagen, Buddhism Plain and Simple.

Awakening the Buddha Within: Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World by Lama Surya Das

Buy Awakening the Buddha Within” on Amazon

“The next time you feel so angry you could scream, ask yourself: Who is making me angry? Perhaps the anger is subtly directed at yourself. When our expectations are not met, we tend to blame others and get angry. But is our discontent really their fault? Shantideva said that anger is the greatest evil because it is so destructive and can cause so much harm. The trained mind of the Bohdisattva, like a peaceful lake, is able to transcend anger. Even if people throw sparks into it, it doesn’t explode because it’s like water and not volatile. The untrained mind, on the other hand, can be likened to a big pool of gasoline. Every spark makes it explode. In life, there will always be sparks. But does there have to be an explosion? That’s your responsibility. Nobody can make us angry if we have no seeds of anger left inside.” Lama Surya Das, Awakening the Buddha Within, Page 209.

Mindfulness in Plain English, Updated and Expanded Edition by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana

Buy “Mindfulness in Plain English, Updated and Expanded Edition”

“Discipline” is a difficult word for most of us. It conjures up images of somebody standing over you with a stick, telling you that you’re wrong. But self-discipline is different. It’s the skill of seeing through the hollow shouting of your own impulses and piercing their secret. They have no power over you. It’s all a show, a deception. Your urges scream and bluster at you; they cajole; they coax; they threaten; but they really carry no stick at all.” Bhante Henepola Gunaratana

Zen Flesh Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings by Paul Reps and Nyogen Senzaki

Buy “Zen Flesh Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings”

“An instant realization sees endless time.
Endless time is as one moment.
When one comprehends the endless moment
He realizes the person who is seeing it.”
Paul Reps, Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, p. 158

The Accidental Buddhist by Dinty W. Moore

Buy “The Accidental Buddhist” on Amazon

“Though we often tend to blame them, it is not the external things like families, jobs or money that create problems for us in our lives. Rather, what actually makes us unhappy is our tendency to desire that these things bring us happiness. This expectation that family, job, money, a new car, whatever, will make us happy is what binds us and causes our discontent.” (p. 42)

“Being human, I succumb to this weakness constantly, wanting to be thinner, richer, taller, less gap-toothed, less busy. But I can catch myself, laugh at what a big silly guy I am, before the knot I am tying myself into becomes too tight to ever release itself. Humor and laughing at oneself is not Buddhism, but it can be a way into Buddhism.” Dinty W. Moore

The Blue Cliff Record by Thomas Cleary

Buy “The Blue Cliff Record” on Amazon

“Even to speak the word Buddha
is dragging it in the mud soaking wet.”

“The excitable observer will pass judgement first and then make knowledge conform to judgement; the prudent observer will first learn to know and then judge according to knowledge.” Thomas Cleary

Thanks Katrina for inspiring this post.  I hope you enjoy the list and find more happiness in your life. Kindest Regards, Jonathan

“You are perfect as you are, and you could use a little work.”
Shunryu Suzuki-roshi (1905 – 1971)

“Wisdom says we are nothing. Love says we are everything. Between these two our life flows.” Sri Nisargadatta

Please add any book recommendations to this list in my comment section below.  Or just ask me a question -  about anything.  Peace  E.y.D

Buddhist Bible – Buddhism books for beginners.