Who Loves Dies Well: On the Brink of Buddha's Pure Land

by David Brazier

This is the first introduction to Pureland Buddhism, also called Amida Buddhism. Under-represented in literature, Pureland Buddhism is closely concerned with the relationship between life and death.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1846940451
• ISBN13: 9781846940453
• Release Date: June 2007
• Publisher: John Hunt Publishing
• Length: 250 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Deeply moving

I've read at least twenty Buddhist texts in the last year, and this is the best one I've come across. Brazier is a fantastic and honest writer...he discusses in great personal detail about his mother's dying state, yet is able to shed much religious insight and spirituality. At first I was skeptical about the Amida branch and some of the differences between what Brazier stated and how I have come to understand Buddhism. But, actually, he deepened my understanding of the subject and brings in his ideas about love, suffering, and dying that we will ALL face. I underlined so many things that he wrote in his book and even cried at times...the book is extremely heart-rending and profound, regardless of creed and religion. Highly recommended!

A Must Publication

I am a Pure Land Buddhist and would say that is one of the best books (if not THE best) that I have ever read on the Pure Land. David inter-mixed the story of his dying mother with explanations of the belief practices of Pure Land Buddhism. I have finished this book with many bookmarks placed in the publication so I can refer what I found important items. I felt like I was with David in the room with his Mom. Often, I felt so helpless that I wasn't there to comfort him in his sorrow. The worst thing about this book is that it ended. I could have read volumes and volumes if it kept going on but I know it couldn't. This book may confuse people who do not know much or very little about this practice. I would rate this as a MUST read. Tom De Mann

a rare inspiration

It is rare to find a book in which a Buddhist teacher shares with us as frankly and openly as possible his inner personal world of thoughts and feelings. It is rare to find a book on Buddhism in which a teacher shares with the reader an acknowledgement that he is just a simple, fallible, doubting person like all of us. In "Who Loves Dies Well" we find and meet such a teacher, and also a lucid, deeply- thought exposition of Buddhist philosophy and metaphysics. The tension between ideals and reality is well balanced. The writing seems to be a summation and a culmination of years of thought and reflection on what it means to live and to die, and the place of Buddhist practice when "times are against us". It is the best book I know about PureLand Buddhism in the English language. In fact, I have been moved and inspired by literally every page, almost by every phrase I have read and re- read. The writing is clear, incisive and sensitive . The book can serve in clearing up many questions and potentially wrong understanding concerning the essence of PureLand tradition. So I believe this book will have value for many students and practitioners of the tradition, and also for outsiders who are interested.

Pure Land Faith and a Personal Narrative

One of the best spiritual books, I have ever read. Those interested in Buddhism and especially Pure Land should consider adding this book to their list. Dharmavidya is the dharma name of the author -- D.J. Brazier, who heads a fairly new organization in the U.K. called The Amida Trust. The book works on several levels: *It is the story of a devoted son's caring for his mother during the time preceding her death. * It is a story of how faith helps both the caregiver and the care recipient deal with a serious and emotion filled time -- the ending of life. * It is a book which intersperses the above two strands with a very interesting and helpful discussion of Amidism (Pure Land Buddhism) as it has developed in The Amida Trust. Pure Land is not a single Buddhist path. Most Westerners may be familiar with Jodo ShinShu, whose founder was Shinran. The Amida Trust seems to share aspects of several parts of the Pure Land tradition. I found the author's exposition very attractive and am considering joining The Trust in an informal way. Particularly appealing to me is their acceptance of human emotion, and their outreach to those in need of help whether it be with food, education, health, etc. This book is very well written. I give this volume a whole hearted five stars!