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Summary: A book which makes understanding Buddhism easy
Review: Steve Hagen clears the air of mysticism around Buddhism. His text is easy to read, has examples and illustrations geared to the western mind.A great book to use as the first touch with this process of awareness..
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Summary: This is the book for Buddhists without a teacher.
Review: In Asia the serious transmission of Buddhism usually takes place in the context of a master-student relationship. In contrast, most Western Buddhists do not have (and for cultural reasons sometimes do not want) access to a living Buddhist master. Using a simple, clear style that is the telltale mark of a great teacher, Steve Hagen has written an excellent book for Buddhists who do not have a master. As presented in this book, Buddhism can change your life forever - but you have to make the first move. Mr. Hagen is waiting patiently.
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Summary: Great for those that need a clear, cogent explanation
Review: I have read many chapters on Buddhism in religious/philsophy text books as a student. This boook, however, FINALLY communicated the essence of the phisosophy to me. I can say that after 15 years of wrestling with the topic, I get it!--Thanks to Hagen. Now I understand why so many are interested in this new (to the West) perspective of life, and death!
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Summary: A wonderful introduction to Buddhist insight and practice
Review: Although the author continually stresses the attainability of enlightenment and the practicality of the techniques for cultivating it, he manages to do this without ever suggesting that it is anything less than the only thing that matters - the only truly satisfying goal of a human life. Although "Buddhism Plain and Simple" generally avoids technical discussions of Buddhist philosophy, there is an extremely interesting appendix which presents one of the most "technical" subjects in Buddhism - the twelve-link chain of Dependent Arising (pratityasamutpada). Each of the twelve links is presented from two perspectives - Bondage and Liberation. For example, regarding the first link, Ignorance, Bondage is "to ignore the Reality of this moment. It is blindness to the direct perception that this moment neither arises, persists, nor perishes.". In contrast, Liberation is "to see the Reality of this moment. It is to perceive directly that this moment neither arises, persists, nor perishes." Each of the twelve links is given a similar treatment. I find this the most refreshing and compelling presentation of this subject that I have come across. END
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Summary: An Amazing Introduction to Buddhism
Review: Mr. Hagen presents the essential elements of Buddhism in a manner that is easily comprehensible to those of us with no background in Buddhism. This book has inspired me to read more on the subject. The realism manifested in the Buddhist view of the world appears to offer an effective and efficient way to deal with life.
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Summary: Bare Bones, perfectly zen
Review: Tremendous, accomplished effort in reducing the thick layers of thousands of years of teaching into a simple awareness. Truly a Zen approach.
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Summary: The best book to get started in Buddhism
Review: "~I am a newcomer to Buddhism, but when I get a hankering to learn about any subject, I read about it voraciously. This has been almost counter-productive in studying Buddhism since, as Hagen stresses, no words can really describe the reality we seek. In fact, I have read several books about Buddhism, Zen, and the like; but I own just two: Buddhism Plain and Simple, and Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh. By far, Hagen's book is my favorite. the wrong reasons -- to control my emotions, to sort out moral dilemmas, and to find peace of mind. Through Buddhism, I've made great progress in all those areas by simply eliminating them as goals and just experiencing life moment by moment. This may sound odd if you haven't practiced Buddhism, but you will quickly appreciate this lesson after reading Hagen's book. You will discover that the practice of Buddhism does not involve traveling to the Himalayas or meditating in the forest. You will learn that you don't have to abandon your religion or your friends or your job. The word Buddhism stems from the Sanskrit word for Buddha, the awakened one. Buddhism is simply the path of awakening. This book is a wonderful guide on that path. You will not be the same after reading it.
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Summary: Inaccessible
Review: I have to agree with petersmaclean. I have no prior knowledge of Buddhism and picked up this book out of intellectual curiosity. I finished it, after having forced myself to get through it all. The book is written in a fluffy and nebulous way. The author talks of "seeing" (if I see that word in italics again I'm going to puke), and his explanations build off of weak analogies. When I put the book down, I felt I had no substantial knowledge of Buddhism, aside from some foggy notion of enlightenment. Towards the end, the book reads like a cult handbook. I got the feeling that it only makes sense once you've bought into it.
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Summary: Exactly what I wanted
Review: I originally picked this book up because I wanted to be more present and adept in my day-to-day high-stress negotiational interactions with other people. I had this instinct that zen Buddhism held the answer I was looking for, and I was right.
The best part is that Mr. Hagen starts this book off just right: no cultural trappings, no endless terminology, just the original teachings.
I came to this book looking for a zen primer. Something to point the mindset out to me, refine it, and let me on my merry way. I can say without a doubt that this book has been successful.
I don't envision myself necessarily heading down to my local center for meditation, but I have been engaging in the practice of just seeing in my day-to-day life.
Most of the time now, for anywhere from a moment to many minutes, I am awake. I may drift away from that or be slammed away by some thought, worry or whatever, but I find myself correcting with high frequency. This is a great place to be in, because I realize that many of my stresses and difficulties in social interactions were coming from mental pheonmena and other stuff that was NOT of the "here and now."
When I do come back to being fully in this very moment, to just seeing, to thus (as Mr. Hagen describes it), there is nothing but capability for me. My mind is un-dammed, free to pull out it's best answers, most correct actions, it's instant knowledge, etc. The important thing to note, though, is that it is a major removal, not an addition. It's not like a bunch of new parts are added to me. It's that all of my capabilities are untied.
It's a removal of barriers to functioning at or near your full potential. And it's acheived by just seeing, as described in the book. There is certainly something to this.
To just see is exactly what I was wanting to do, I just needed that finger to point me to the moon and especially to refine my understanding of what is and what is not the right way (see the book for all the right way stuff from the eightfold path).
I am very pleased with my purchase.
I also purchased some Charlotte Joko Beck books (Everyday Zen and Nothing Special), but they seem rambly and less profound to me. Everyday Zen is excerpted from talks with students (?) who seemed to already be at least somewhat initiated. It has been more wrapped up in cultural concerns and lingo, and I have only been able to nod in agreement after having read Buddhism Plain and Simple. Otherwise, I probably would have cast the Beck books aside.
OK, back to my second-to-second practice of just being present in this very moment and seeing.
Thank you, Mr. Hagen, for the fine instruction.
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Summary: Could be simple
Review: Get this book. I mean, buy it this moment. This book explained some very difficult concepts in some very easy ways. Even if you even have a clear understanding of these concepts you'll enjoy this book, as it will give you a better way to communicate these ideas to others.
I should mention I have given this book to friends and they have had trouble with it. I think 3 out of 5 people can't use this as a Buddhist primer. However, if you've got a C of better in a community college philosophy class, you should do fine with this it. I'd give it a shot, no matter what you think your ability to understand is. As something contained in this book may really speak to you, and serve to help unravel even more.
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