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Complete Idiot Guide To Understanding Buddhism
 
 

Complete Idiot Guide To Understanding Buddhism (Paperback)

by Gary Gach (Author) "We humans are curious ..." (more)
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)

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Gary Gach is like that teacher you always wanted--easygoing, full of information, able to communicate in humorous and meaningful ways, and a little bit wacky. So he's the perfect author for The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Buddhism. In this trademark easy-to-read format, Gach introduces us to a very human Buddha, along with the rules for living that make a Buddhist a Buddhist. In addition to the various kinds of meditation, he shows us how to meditate at meals and be aware of the interconnections in life. We learn about popular branches of Buddhism, like Zen and Tibetan, with an emphasis on practicing here and now. There is the theoretical: emptiness, nothingness, impermanence, as well as a very strong dose of the practical: Buddha at work, Buddhist films, environmental concerns, Buddhist celebrations, etc. Gach brings it all together with a light touch and an enthusiasm that makes you want to get up and do something Buddhist. --Brian Bruya


Lama Surya Das

... a fine job ... lending a

helping hand to lift ourselves toward the spiritual

goal of awakened enlightenment.


Inside This Book (Learn More)
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We humans are curious. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Complete Idiot Guide To Understanding Buddhism
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Complete Idiot Guide To Understanding Buddhism 4.1 out of 5 stars (25)
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Customer Reviews

25 Reviews
5 star:
 (15)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:
 (4)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (25 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most helpful customer reviews

 
3.0 out of 5 stars Okay, but too much opinion, Mar 18 2005
By Steph (Edmonton, Alberta Canada) - See all my reviews
The book is a fair introduction to Buddhism, but I just did not like how the author put so much of his own opinion into the text. I am quite certain that he didn't realize how much of his own opinion was in the book, because he wouldn't be much of a Buddhist otherwise (since Buddhism is about self-discovery).
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5.0 out of 5 stars The best books are still in trees. And yet, and yet ..., Nov 11 2004
By A Customer
by Buddhism? Well, here you are! Don't let the flippant title deter you. This marvelously complete guide is a bountiful resource not only for the many who are new to the path, but also for those who have made a bit of the journey already. I've identified myself as a Buddhist for almost ten years; yet, not willing to pursue scholarly discourse, my actual knowledge has been sorely lacking. Gach has now provided me with answers to all I wondered about, or didn't even know I wondered about. There is seemingly enough information here to keep my monkey mind chattering away for a good long time. And while swinging around in the pages, I just may learn how to quiet that noisy creature. Gach's extensive work has been amazingly organized into an easy-to-read format. Twenty chapters and 400-plus pages traverse the historical Buddha and his time under the Bodhi tree, how to meditate, food issues, Dharma, Sangha, the different schools, and how to engage the world. I simply don't know why another Buddhist guidebook ever n
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5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent overview for the beginner, or for a refresher, Nov 11 2004
By erin kaye darling (Bellevue, Washington) - See all my reviews
Initially, I had great skepticism - c'mon a "Complete Idiots" book to get me started down the Buddhist path? Really? It just seemed so...so...*American*. But, I had to start somewhere, and my good friend Ben recommended it to me, so I gave it a shot. Now, having finished the book, I realize I owe both my friend and Gary Gach an immense debt of gratitude - this book is really amazing.

One problem I (and many others) have had with other beginning Buddhism books is that the format isn't one that's easy to soak up; the flow isn't as logical as this one's, or not enough detail or context is given to drive points home to a more understandable place. Gach has done a phenomenal job of keeping things simple enough not to overwhelm a newcomer, yet goes into enough detail to keep things interesting and real.

Gach goes beyond teaching the basic belief system into giving examples of how to apply what we've learned in real life, and where else to look for more information. He offers dozens of anecdotes, many koans, a plethora of historical tales and data points, a glossary, and a multitude of other items. One small criticism I have of this book is that he very often doesn't cite his sources when giving statistics.

Throughout the book, Gach returns to important concepts, but not in a manner which I found to be condescending at all - it was merely helpful to be reminded of X, Y, and Z at certain points throughout the book, because they were important to the current subject. The author gives the reader a very solid foundation to build his or her beliefs upon, should the reader desire, including a rich and detailed historical background of Buddhism throughout the world.

I will be unreservedly suggesting this book to anyone who expresses an interest in this spiritual path.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars AN excellent overview for the beginner, or for a refresher
Initially, I had great skepticism - c'mon a "Complete Idiots" book to get me started down the Buddhist path? Really? Read more
Published on Nov 11 2004 by erin kaye darling

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't Waste Your Time On This Book !
I can't comment on the whole book, because I only got a few chapters into it. I have read a few other books on Buddhism, so I know a little about the subject. Read more
Published on May 1 2004 by David

4.0 out of 5 stars An good overview and a start on the White Path
First, one has to accept what this book's (almost all of the series)
purpose is: overview and a guide/introduction. Read more
Published on April 2 2004 by M. Nishimura

4.0 out of 5 stars It's Ok
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Buddhism by Gary Gach, Michael Wenger may work for some but for those people who want easy to read information, it is an often... Read more
Published on Jul 13 2003 by MotherLodeBeth

2.0 out of 5 stars Avoid this book...
This book is just plain poor. I purchased the Idiot's Guide to Understanding Buddhism because I had previously read the Understanding Hinduism and Understanding Islam book of the... Read more
Published on Jun 17 2003 by cardozo26

3.0 out of 5 stars Started off well, but lost momentum
Gary Gach does a good job of discussing the basics of Buddhism - the Three Jewels, the Eightfold Path, etc. Read more
Published on Mar 14 2003 by mickeyj

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
There's a whole lot more to Buddhism than meditation. This fascinating, fun book gives it to you in simple terms and simple steps. Read more
Published on Dec 30 2002 by Standard Course

3.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Good for a Beginner
I wanted to get a basic idea of what Buddhism is about. I read this book with absolutely no prior knowledge of Buddism. Read more
Published on Nov 1 2002 by Cynthia K. Heyman

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad at all
Being a very new follower of Buddhism, I can only review this from a the approach of a novice. Having said that - it left me feeling a little...empty. Read more
Published on Oct 30 2002 by tess73

5.0 out of 5 stars written in the spirit of Buddhism
Wow, I wasn't able to put this book down once I started it! It's really very engaging, told with a sense of humor and light-heartedness that are hallmarks of Buddhist practice... Read more
Published on Oct 15 2002 by Sami Hussain

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