Buddhist Handbook [Paperback]

This book really is an excellent, comprehensive guide to Buddhism. It will orient you in the wide array of Buddhist practices going on today, with historical and conceptual background from the Indian roots of Buddhism, through its spread over Asia and into the West, so you can get a clear understanding of what the differences are between Zen, Theravada, the various Tibetan schools, etc. At the end is a "Who's Who" of contemporary teachers a Westerner might meet or want to know about; then a list of useful addresses in the US and Canada; a festival list; a "further reading" list; and an index. I want to keep this book on my shelf for long term reference.

This is a great companion for anyone interested in Buddhism. Features include history and practice as well as suggestions for daily life. Also included is a resource for buddhist organizations worldwide. Easy read, but a complete reference.

This is a highly enjoyable book which covers the development & spread of Buddhism from its inception to the late 20th c. It includes all major types of Buddhism, explains a number of terms in each, provides short bios of major participants (up to 1991 or so), addresses of many Buddhist organizations, list of festivals, & some exposition of Buddhist principles. Most of the book is historical rather than explanatory, however. It can serve as a useful reference work (though can be read through) but is not a definitive work on Buddhist theology, philosophy, or psychology. I found much of the historical information fascinating; amazingly, the author shows how many 21st c. arguments/approaches began much earlier--which was unknown to me, but : p. 53: "As the Buddha himself foresaw, even the dharma itself is subject to change & degeneration." Snelling does discuss the ideas of soul, self, sutra/tantra, the roots of Buddhist social activism, the development of a Western brand of Buddhism (lay oriented, with less emphasis on a guru), psychoanalysis & meditation, women in Buddhism, etc. enough to whet one's appetite without satisfying the need. I like his consistently nonsectarian writing as well as his down-to-earth & matter-of-fact approach, esp. to the Westernization of Buddhism. Much has occurred since this book was published (so parts are a bit dated) but these events were, per this book, foreshadowed by what went before. While some updating would be nice (a new addition, hint, hint...) & it's hardly "A Complete Guide to Buddhist Schools, Teaching, Practice, & History" (it's a bit light on the teaching & practice portions), the present volume is still well worth having on one's bookshelf.