Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic
Review: I recently retired after 40 years of working
with the federal government. Most of my
time was spent in the military and civilian law enforcement. I rose to the top position in my field and
I became well known within federal law
enforcement circles for my accomplishments.
I was in Germany when the Berlin Wall went
up in 1961 and I was an Infantry Officer with
the US Army in Vietnam during the first tet
offensive. My life has been nothing but stress and striving to better myself. In searching
for some inner peace I have talked to countless
numbers of people, I have attended all kinds
of various religious institutions, and I have
volunteered my time. I have read everything
from Chopra to Easwaran to Dyer to Mitchell
and M Scott Peck. I even tried to return to the
church of my youth (ignorance is truly
bliss). The book by Lama Surya Das is what
I needed. He makes sense! To be frank, I
was hesitant to begin reading about a Buddha, because I thought it ran counter to what we
were taught about The Bible and Jesus. What
I found though is that this book helps me to
put my earlier teachings into proper perspective
and actually I think I'm a stronger Christian
because of these things. I'm just starting to
meditate and it is not what I thought it was,
nor is it easy, but it's the truth. I never even
heard of Lama Surya Das prior to picking up
his book several weeks ago, but I now consider him, Eknath Easwaran, John Kabat-
Zinn, Stephen Mitchell and Richard Carlson
to be folks whose books and advice I can't
be without. I loved the 8 steps book from
the opening page to the final chant
Rating:
Summary: Best Introduction to Vajrayana I've Seen
Review: This is an incredibly good (the best I've come across) introduction to Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or Mantrayana). The author has also written the fine sequel "Awakening the Buddhist Heart" as well as "Awakening to the Sacred" (which I didn't like as much as the others. He's also written a book of Buddhist stories or myths entitled, "The Snow Lion's Turquoise Lament" which I didn't find all that impressive. But the book at hand is, IMHO, his best. No wonder it's a best seller Buddhist book. Since the author is a Westerner, he can describe Tibetan Buddhism (and Buddhism in general) in a simple, direct manner without using lots of Tibetan/asian mythology, assumptions, etc. It's relatively easy to pick out such things in other people's religions but not so easy to do your own. Kind of like withdrawing your projections (per both Jung and Mahamudra). Surya Das writes in an easy-to-read, engaging style that's almost sure to please the reader. And, most impressive, he doesn't claim to have all the answers. Thus, my favorite quote from this book:
p. 12 "The French writer Andre Gide once wrote, `believe those who are seeking truth. Doubt those who find it.'"
This was in addition to the Hasidic story of the Baal Shem Tov about his evaluation of a potential son-in-law. He liked that the son-in-law admitted not knowing the answers to the questions. An open mind can learn. A closed mind cannot.
So, keep an open mind about this book. It's great. You can follow it up by reading more Surya Das or by reading some of Pema Chodron's works. She also includes practical activities and meditations to help one along the path of life, whether Buddhist or not.
Rating: 
Summary: Good introduction to Buddhism
Review: It probably took me longer to read this book than any other -- over two years. But I like to think that I read it in a very Buddhist manner, that is, I savored and absorbed small chunks of it as I needed and could understand them. Written from a Western point of view, this book gives a thorough grounding in Buddhist principles and practices. I have never encountered a spiritual practice that seems so logical and natural for me as Buddhism does. I know I'll be exploring more, and also returning to this book time and time again for inspiration and grounding.
Rating:
Summary: A Fresh Look on Life
Review: Awakening the Buddha Within is the absolute perfect book for any one who is seeking to relieve the stress that we bring to ourselves and others by not completely taking the time to notice the world around us. Ideal for any westerner, Awakening the Buddha Within is a balanced blend of meditations, teachings, and stories from Lama Surya Das'past (which are very interesting). You don't have to be a Buddhist or even want to be a Buddhist to read this book, just someone who is looking for love and happiness. This book is a very enjoyable read and I think everyone will walk away from reading this book at least a little more satisfied with life than they were before. I know I did.
Rating:
Summary: Enlightening
Review: Surya Das has produced an excellent insight into the basics of Buddhism. I found it both interesting and very well written. I would recommend it as a source for anyone who is getting to know what Buddhism is about.
Rating:
Summary: Start here, progress elsewhere, practical guide.
Review: A basic, clear and uncluttered approach to the core elements of Buddhism, without venturing into a lot of the dogma. Nicely written, easy to read, without being too scholarly or dictatorial. Not preachy or pushy, rather a practical approach.You can progress to deeper commitments in Buddhism through other sources. Here you get a taste of it to whet your appetite. Buddhism, particularly Tibetan Buddhism, is undergoing an evolution as it spreads through the West. Buddhism went through similar changes as it spread through India and Asia. Now it has come here and merging with western thought, ideas and practices. Western Buddhism will be different, perhaps shorn of a lot of its older mythologies and practices, but still contain the core teachings. Even the Dalai Lama has written similar elementary, practical works for the western reader that bypass the denser theology of Tibetan belief. This is one of many books riding that change: trying to introduce readers to the concepts in a way that makes it easier for westerners to accept, understand, approach and practice. It's a good first step for people unfamiliar with the path, and a pleasant reminder of the stepping stones for those who are. The underlying theme here is simple: you choose how your life proceeds on its path; so here is a roadmap if you choose to take a compassionate, meaningful route.
Rating:
Summary: An accessible approach to Buddhism for western minds
Review: Lama Surya Das is one of the most well-known western lamas (priest and spiritual master teacher) hailing from the Dzogchen tradition. He was born in the U.S., and has studied Zen, vipassana, yoga, and Tibetan Buddhism with the great masters of Asia, including the Dalai Lama's own teachers. Das' approach to Buddhism is sometimes controversial for the same reasons that it is so popular. He brings forth the ideas of Buddhism in a way that is graspable for Western minds, and he outlines practices that are compatible with Western lives. One of the main difficulties with many other informative and instructional books is that they require belief in concepts such as reincarnation which is not likely to happen for most Americans. Or they describe things in vague terms unfamiliar to us and leave us doubting the validity of what has been said. Das stands above most other authors in that he has tweaked his writing to make it applicable to American lives now. In addition to the thought-provoking content of this book, Das is a good writer. The book is fun to read, because it is filled with attention-grabbing stories and amusing phrases. I highly recommend this book if you are curious about Buddhism and wonder how the tenets might be applicable to Western life. It is quite useful for those who wish to incorporate Buddhist philosophy into their daily activities, or for people who just wish to have more peace and happiness in their lives. This book is also a wonderful gift for a friend who is unsure that Buddhism has a place in the modern world if you are already convinced.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction to Buddhism
Review: excellent book - not one you'd read cover to cover but certainly one I've referred back to regularly over the years. Contains many gems, useful passages and quality instruction. Very readable and straightforward introduction to Buddhism.
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