Fundamentals of Tibetan Buddhism

by Rebecca McClen Novick

Book Overview

In Tibetan, the word for Buddhist means "insider"--someone who looks not to the world but to themselves for peace and happiness. The basic premise of Buddhism is that all suffering, however real it may seem, is the product of our own minds.Rebecca Novick's concise history of Buddhism and her explanations of the Four Noble Truths, Wheel of Life, Karma, the path of the Bodhisattva, and the four schools help us understand Tibetan Buddhism as a religion...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0895949539
• ISBN13: 9780895949530
• Release Date: March 1999
• Publisher: Crossing Press
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.6" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Best, easy to read introduction to Tibetan Buddhism

I am a Buddhist monk (American) and I teach Buddhism. This is by far the best and easiest to understand book on a very complex subject. I use it in my classes and we use it at our Monastery in Seattle, Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism. You can't miss with this for a good basic understanding of Tibetan Buddhism.

The Simple and the Complex

The author has admirably succeeded in her goal of setting forth the basics of an intricate and powerful worldview. I don't quite know how she managed it, but the text cogently introduces concepts typically presented to beginners--such as the Four Noble Truths, the subject of Shakyamuni Buddha's very first teaching--as well as more complex ideas and ritual practices, for example visualizations and tantra. As a result, the book really is a valuable resource for those who are intrigued with the basics of Tibetan Buddhism, those who are studying it more intensively, or those who seek to introduce others to the teachings. I expect to refer to the text frequently, as one of the characteristics of dharma study/practice is that it walks a spiral path, reintroducing basic concepts at more intricate levels as you proceed. In addition, the Buddha was a prodigious list-maker--it is useful indeed to have a concise reference tool such as this. May all beings benefit from its availability.