Rating: 
Summary: Buddhist "All you can eat"
Review: Mr. Moore's book hit home for me. I was raised a Catholic during the time period he grew up (on the other coast - California), and experienced Catholic schools in much the same way. This is one of funniest and clearest explanantions of Buddhist belief systems in America, told from the point of view of someone that does not come accross as holier than thou at all, but more like a friend telling a great story. It's an easy read that really throws light on the modern American Buddhist experience. It is a perfect read/reminder of what we should be doing in a time of anger and frustration! Hope Mr. Moore writes more....he has a gift! This one is getting sent out to all of my family for XMas!
Rating:
Summary: Funny and honest
Review: Not only is this book an easy, funny read, but I found it to be very honest. I found that many of my inner thoughts are similar to the author's - and I laughed out loud at his description of his "Monkey Mind", because mine is the same way. I also share some of his cynicism, although perhaps not as strongly. The book really resonated with me.
Rating:
Summary: Seeking the Self and the elusive Moment
Review: Dinette Moore was raised as your typical Good Irish Catholic boy, but even in childhood he didn't feel terribly connected to his family faith. Later in life as a professional writer and college instructor, he became curious about Buddhism. Specifically he became curious about how Buddhism and Zen would incorporate itself into the Judeo-Christian society of the United States where Buddhism is taking root. With more and more people meditating, going to Zen retreats and business seminars on mediation principals for relaxation, is there, he wondered, such an animal as American Buddhism?? American life is so hectic and full of multitasking demands: we read while we eat, talk on the phone while we drive, etc. Is there space in the complicated, busy American life for something as simple as sitting still and meditating?? Do we even have the TIME?? Mr. Moore asks: "Compassion, enlightenment, mindfulness, karma-- these are all wonderful gifts, perhaps-- but except those members of the Rockefeller or Lue family who practice Buddhism, non many of us can, in reality, just sit on a cushion and breathe... If I am going to be a Buddhist, and stay married, hold my job, walk with two feet on the ground, how do I do it?" In the process of investigating Buddhism in America Mr. Moore visits a sleek Zen monastery in New York as well as a poor, "please pardon our dust, we're remodeling... constantly" Tibetan retreat in rural West Virginia. He hears the Dali Lama, and interviews the editor of "Tricycle: the Buddhist Review" magazine. The more he learns about Buddhism in the U.S., the more he comes to find that to the Western mind, Buddhism is like holding wet soap: the harder you squeeze, the more it slips out of your fingers. What's fascinating though is not so much what he finds out-- how to sit, how to meditate, how to breathe, the Four Noble Truths, what to call a meditation cushion ("zafu")-- but how he slowly finds himself wondering if he's becoming Buddhist: "Before long, I, too, was hooked. I hadn't counted on actually liking it." Readers should note that this is not a book ABOUT Buddhism, nor will it teach one how to become a Buddhist. Mr. Moore explores a good deal of different types of Buddhism in the states, but it's more of a journal of experiences in these different areas than it is a history or how-to. It is the story of one man's curiosity and exploration into this practice that is so often enigmatic to the Western mind. Like an anthropologist, Mr. Moore first goes to experience and observe, and one day finds himself living among the natives because he finds that this way of life suits him. If you're looking for a history of Buddhism or a how two, you won't find it here. If you're finding yourself thinking, like Mr. Moore, "now, what is this all about?" or if you like to read other peoples experiences, this is an excellent starting point. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: The Importance of Experience
Review: What I have really enjoyed about this book is that it highlights the interesting experiences of the author. Many books on Buddhism overemphasize concepts and quotations which may overwhelm someone new to Buddhism, but Moore really shows the reader his personal experiences of interviewing Buddhist practitioners and monks alike. He also describes his time on meditation retreats, candidly discusses his difficulties with concentration, and even explains his aversion to some of Buddhism's concepts. Overall, I would really recommend this book to anyone seeking entry-level Buddhist knowledge. The only issue on which I disagreed with the author was that of Buddhist vegetarianism. While Moore portrays Buddhists as meat-eaters, the truth is that most Buddhists are vegetarians. Moore focuses on the fact that the Dali Lama is not a vegetarian, but that's the condensed version of the truth. The Dali Lama was a strict vegetarian, but began eating meat because of a medical condition. The vegetarian aspect of Buddhism is really very unappealing to many American Buddhists and I believe this is one of the cases where Buddhism is being sacrificed to fit the American lifestyle. Either that or it is because this book is written by Dinty Moore of canned beef stew fame! Just kidding.
Rating:
Summary: Insightful, Funny, REAL...
Review: OK. I have just begun to read this book and I have to say that it is probably one of the best books I have read (next to the Harry Potter series) in a long time. I could NOT put it down! The wording and the experiences the author describes are so to the point and real. Thanks to Dinty Moore, I now have a better understanding of Dharma and how the East has met West and merged seamlessly.
Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable, interesting book.
Review: The author of this book set out on a search to find out what American Buddhism might be like. What we have in U.S. is Tibetan Buddhism, Japanese Zen Buddhism, Vietnamese Buddhism, etc. All Asian. If you stripped away all the cultural adornments, what would Buddhism look like in modern America? Is it even possible? Or is Buddhism so naturally Asian that when you strip it clean of Asian-ness, nothing is left? That was Dinty's question. The Accidental Buddhist is the story of his search. He went to weekend retreats where he meditated all day (and sometimes got to ask the head Buddhist dude some questions), he set up personal interviews with some of the most famous Buddhists in America. He talked to John Daido Loori of the Zen Mountain Monastery, the Tibetan Monk Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi, Father Robert Jensen Kennedy (Zen teacher and Jesuit priest), Helen Tworkov, the editor of Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, Bhante Henepola Gunaratana (author of the excellent book, Mindfulness in Plain English), and he even got to ask the Dalai Lama a question. Dinty found many different kinds of Buddhism, many different levels of intensity of practice, but they all shared the core of Buddhist principles, which, by the way, I found beautifully explained in a book called The Heart of Buddhism by Guy Claxton (who is a British writer, and ironically, is the closest I've seen to what Dinty was looking for: American Buddhism). Dinty tells you what he found, and in the process, you get a pretty good understanding of what Buddhism is about. Dinty is honest, charming and disarming. He's got a great sense of humor. The writing is good (easy to read, flows well, not academic-ese), and the author is very human and easy to identify with. I'm the author of the book, Self-Help Stuff That Works, and the principles of Buddhism work. But what we need is exactly what Dinty was searching for: Those principles without the shaved heads, chanting in a foreign language, superstitious beliefs, etc. The Accidental Buddhist is a broad look at several different forms of Buddhism, and points the way, in an entertaining book, of how we might find our own American Buddhism.
Rating:
Summary: Humorous, Honest, Enjoyable
Review: I had studied East-Asian Religions in college and keep finding myself drawn back to Buddhism. I have never been ready to fully commit to any philosophy, and after reading this book, I found I am not alone. Moore's book explains the struggles most Western born and bred thinkers have when it comes to escaping the "monkey mind". His approach gives hope to anyone who has been interested in experiencing some of what Buddhism has to offer, while setting the beginners mind at ease. I definitely think this approach is the way to go over a "for Dummies" approach. Get it, relax, enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: This book can save a lot of time.
Review: Most reviews start off with saying Dinty W. Moore was searching for some sort of American Buddhism, and maybe he was. However his statement was "I am an accidental Buddhist. I never intended to find a new religion, I was just passing curious. ... Before Long I, too, was hooked. I hadn't counted on actually liking it." His travels and insights allow us to start where he left off. And it takes American Buddhism from theory to reality. The book is in three parts and has 14 chapters and a Prelude. The is a list of Buddhist terms and a Suggested further reading section. The best thing about this book is that these are first hand experiences and not a rehash of some theory.
Rating:
Summary: A great introductory book to several different Buddhisms
Review: This is a fine and funny book which shows the author's introduction to both Zen and Tibetan buddhist practice. It is particularly useful for someone wanting to further explore Buddhism, but not sure which direction to take. Moore gives a number of examples of what it's really like being a stranger to Buddhism, and of his experiences as he ventures forth into various temples and sitting groups. The reader can follow along, and address the fears of "what do I do, how do I act", that is common among newcomers to Buddhist practice. Written to appeal to Americans, Moore intersperses his observations with anecdotes about his own Catholic upbringing in this charming and heartfelt book. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Amusing and Enlightening Read
Review: For anyone who's ever wondered about spirituality outside the hallowed halls of WASP tradition, Dinty W. Moore provides a front row seat to a thoughtful exploration of American Buddhism in the latter part of the 20th century and the people who seek out its promised transcendatal calm. Approached not just from a personal perspective (although this does comprise the majority of the book), Moore also examines Buddhism through the lenses of a seasoned reporter, doing research, conducting interviews with people in the know and spending countless hours on a floor mat, locked into the lotus position, in order to understand the mystery of this ancient faith. If you've ever done a little spiritual thrillseeking yourself, you will appreciate and even revel in Moore's exploits. Good reading list at the end of the book for those who want to learn about Buddhism.
|
