Books to read?
 

Hello everyone,I'm new to Buddhism and I am wondering if anyone could please recommend any helpful good books I could read on the subject.Thankyou.

The book that got me into Buddhism (which I think is a great introduction) was You Are Here by Thich Nhat Hanh.

Angutta Nikaya Anthology - An anthology of (the Buddha's) discourses from the Anguttara Nikaya - selected and translated by Nyanaponika Thera and Bhikkhu Bodhi

The Dhammapada - Gil Fronsdal

Mindfulness in Plain English by Ven. Henepola Gunaratana

Food for the Heart - The collected teachings of Ajahn Chah

The Way it Is - Ajahn Sumedho

Intuitive Awareness - Ajahn Sumedho

Don't Take Your Life Personally - Ajahn Sumedho

There are also excellent free books available from Forest Sangha Publications

http://forestsanghapublications.org/books.php

Hello Jacaranda,

"In the Buddha's Words" - edited and introduced by Bhikkhu Bodhi - is a wonderful book. He makes an outstanding presentation and introduction of what Buddha taught where suttas are grouped thematically.

"Handbook for Mankind" -by Bhikkhu Buddhadasa is another excelent introduction about what the Buddha taught.

"Buddhism Plain and Simple" - by Steve Hagen - a wonderful reading that can help to discern about the core aspect about what Buddha taught.

I'm currently working through books from here http://shop.fpmt.org/Free-Seconds_c_192.html
They are written usually towards a western audience in a clear, concise and practical manner which I find very useful. Best of all the books are free :) (well apart from shipping)

Wow,thankyou so much everyone!Should make some interesting reading.Really appreciate your help!xx

Buddhadhamma for Students by Buddhadasa

Two Kinds of Language by Buddhadasa

Constitution for Living by PA Payutto

Anguttara Nikaya (and here, scroll to bottom of webpage)

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ies/flower.gif

I would recommend this book too, as it is what it says on the cover http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/wink.gif

What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Sri Rahula

http://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Buddha-...8191370&sr=8-1

The Buddhas Path to Deliverance by Ven. Nyanatiloka Thera

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Buddhas-Path...8191482&sr=8-1

Hi Jacaranda. There are some nice books and even more bad ones. But this I found the best meditation instruction, which is as close as possible straight from the lips of the original Buddha to the Dead Tree Format: http://www.google.com/search?q=majjhima+nikaya . All the best wishes for your goal.

Thanks once again for the suggestions,I am making a list and will start buying some of the books you've all kindly recommended.

Hello Jacaranda,

The above suggestion from Traveller can be download here.

It is an excellent reading!

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/grin.gif

Thankyou Kaarine,will take a look.x

I'm coming towards the end of a fantastic book, probably not suitable for the complete beginner, but it explains emptiness really well. That's been one of those topics I constantly struggle with but through reading this 90% of my questions regarding the topic have been answered (though I still have one more chapter left for that remaining 10% and if that doesn't help there is also other resources :) ). It's called How Things Exist by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. If you're interested it's available here.

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Thanks.

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