Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction

This is a very informative, concise, and balanced introductory book on Buddhism. I use it to teach undergraduate courses. It follows a roughly thematic order to present the Buddhism tradition (starting from the alleged founder, the Buddha, the basic worldview in which his teachings develop, the kernel of those teaching, and the practices informed by them) but also pays attention to how the tradition evolves in history. Major branches within the Buddhist tradition receive a balanced treatment. Pros: Important concepts are given clear definitions. There are maps, charts, diagrams alongside the texts, and a timeline at the end of the book that faciliate understanding. The book is sufficiently but not excessively illustrated. Pictures help students visualize what they read in the texts. It contains short excerpts from the original texts in English translation, which gives the student a taste of the tradition's own voice. Cons: There isn't really any shortcoming of this book as gateway reading material for first-timers. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that this is a book for one who wants information about world religions rather than for spiritual seekers. Spiritual seekers may benefit from it, but the main focus of the author is to present the contour of historical Buddhism accurately and its ideas in a systematic way. For a reader searching for spiritual inspiration or guidance in life, the enumeration of the technical terms in Buddhism might be distracting.

Part of a series by Oxford University Press, this book, 'Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction', follows the same format as other texts in the Very Short Introduction series -- it has fewer than 150 pages, is well indexed, has a useful glossary, accessible and enjoyable narrative, and captures the essence in a very short space the major points of its topic. There are probably nearing 100 volumes in this Very Short Introduction series (making it, ironically, not a Very Short series), but among those that I have read, this text stands out as being one of the best. Damien Keown, of the University of London and the Royal Asiatic Society, addresses Buddhism past and present, East and West. Beginning with narrative tales the help to exhibit the principles, Keown examines in turn the major questions. First, with regard to Buddhism, is this -- is Buddhism really a religion? Often categorised as such, it is often the exception proving the rule. Many take strong spiritual and philosophical ideas from Buddhism (sometimes without knowing it) but do not subscribe the larger system of practices -- but perhaps most telling, Buddhism is a non-theistic way of being. Keown looks at seven dimensions of religion, and concludes that Buddhism does fit a broader definition of religion. Keown proceeds from there to look at the origins of Buddhism, the life of the Buddha, ideas of karma and reincarnation, and the central ideas of the Four Noble Truths in Buddhism. From these beginnings, Buddhism branches out, the largest grouping being the Mahayana (who get their own chapter), and other spreading first across Asia and then to the rest of the world. Like other books in this Very Short series, there are useful maps, a nice snapshot timeline, and suggestions for further reading, should the Very Short introduction not prove sufficient (and for many, this sample will leave the reader wanting more). I cannot speak too highly of this series, and of this volume on Buddhism by Keown in particular.

An easy book for college-educated laypersons. Seems to provide a survey of adequate breadth and a concrete foundation of concepts and terminology. Not completely objective, as one catches a glimpse of the author’s enthusiasm at times. I recommend it.

Great introduction and summary.

Gives a short introduction about the basics of Buddhism, the history within Asia, and its interaction and history with European culture and American culture. Has chapters on Buddha, Karma, rebirth, ethics, meditation, art, a short timeline and, as many books in the series have, a list of books for further reading. A great way to start learning about Buddhism if you don't know anything about or just a way to extend your knowledge of it. Small, cheap, and enjoyable to read which makes it a great gift for friends or family who may wish to learn about it without getting into a heavy 500 page tome. Get it used or new!

Very Short Introduction books do exactly that: a quick-study in whatever subject you are looking for! I was not disappointed by this book (though it was a little long-winded) and am glad to have a bit more insight into another of the world's religions.

There are many introductory texts available on Buddhism, but this is by far the best I have come across. Its great strength is its scope. Other books that I have read on the subject present some or other particular variety of Buddhism, usually a Westernized version of Zen. As Keown states on page 1, "Students of Buddhism have tended to fasten onto a small part of the tradition and assume their conclusions held true about the whole". He illustrates this with the story of the blind men and the elephant (from a Buddhist scripture called the Udana) in which each man grasps a part of the elephant - tail, trunk, tusk, etc - and bases his description of the animal on that part alone. Keown attempts a broad overview of the history, development and fragmentation of Buddhist thought, from the life of the Buddha to the present day. It is what it says - only a very short introduction - but it is packed with useful information. Keown writes well, in a lucid, concise style. A different edition of the same book is also available in the A Brief Insight series, available here on Amazon. The text in that series is (so far as I can tell) always the same as in the VSI series, but the print is larger and there are many more illustrations, some in color. You might want to check that out if you intend to read this book, which you should. [PeterReeve]

Für meine Begriffe zu analytisch. Ich war froh, zunächst "Buddhism: Plain and simple" gelesen zu haben, das zwar in seinem Fokus relativ begrenzt ist, aber die zentralen Bausteine des Glaubens viel überzeugender vermittelt. Hier bleibt die Faszination etwas auf der Strecke, dafür sind alle wichtigen Informationen enthalten.

It is well written and properly organized, very good book for people with no previous knowledge on Buddhism. I liked the historical references on the development and spread of Buddhism at various regions.

Una introduzione ben fatta e ben equilibrata, per chi è curioso e non ne sa nulla ma anche per chi è appassionato e vuole approfondire. Molto contento.

I really cannot fault this book. The Oxford University Press describe their 'Very Short Introductions' as a "stimulating and accessible way in to a new subject". You don't have to worry too much about the authenticity of the expertise in these books (Damien Keown is a prominent bioethicist and authority on Buddhist bioethics); the connoisseurs that are selected have an undeniable passion in their said subject. The issue when it comes to these books is whether the book is written lucidly and appropriately enough to be "accessible" to the layman. Generally, the temptation is that most qualified experts feel the need to indulgently show off their scope of knowledge in a subject. Fortunately in this case Keown hits the sweet spot. The introduction poises an acute balance of detail and intrigue without distancing the newbie via excessive terminology and waffle; Proff Keown has given a fair few other authors in this series a stern lesson. There are some fascinating areas covered in this book and its beyond my review to cover them all so if you are interested in this subject and want to learn more then go ahead and buy this book. Keown is kind with his references to further reading too should the appetiser leave you hungry for more. This is how the book progresses: (1) Buddhism and Elephants (2) The Buddha (3) Karma and Rebirth (4) The Four Noble Truths (5) The Mahayana (6) The spread of Buddhism (7) Meditation (8) Ethics (9) Buddhism in the West The introduction defines Buddhism as a religion highlighting the emphasis on the experiential dimension and self-transformation, harnessing the power of the mind through meditation and equanimity. We then move on to the Buddha (the religion's deceased sage) and his personal journey and subsequent Dharma (teachings). Within these teachings are the 'Karma and Rebirth' that define the cosmology of the Buddhist existence and the desire that can lead the mind into suffering. The book also covers the geographical and historical development of the religion in Asia and the 'Great Schism' leading to the distinction of the Theravada ('Doctrine of the Elders') / Mahayana ('Great Vehicle') schools. Keown makes a light comparison here to the Protestant/Catholic divide in Christianity, which is a refreshing and enlightening regularity in the book reminding us of the similarities in religious endeavor that simultaneously occurred in separate and unrelated movements throughout the world. But perhaps the most insightful area in this book is the persistent departure to meditation that crops up in all chapters - this is without doubt the central point of this anthropological religion; meditation is the route to enlightenment that all Buddhists should seek to achieve. It's difficult in this new age not to find personal interest in meditation and its potential benefits when reading this book. In fact once you have concluded the book you will see this as a Very Short Temptation, rather than just an Introduction. A compelling subject and a wonderful short book. [Note: This review is for the second edition, in Kindle format. The kindle production was faultless - but for (currently) just one pound less than the book format, it may be neater to own the real thing. One issue with the kindle productions in these VSI books is that the pictures do not correspond very well to the text]

思ったより速く着きました!商品は良かった。問題がなかった。満足｡