Rating: 
Summary: Plain English
Review: "Accidental Buddhist" was exactly the book I was looking to discover. I have been searching for someone to explain the philosophy of Buddhism to me, instead of searching the "...for Dummies". Though I first started with the "dummy" book, I found more information through Dinty's encounters of "self discovery". I felt I was he having those same experiences and thoughts come about - I too suffer from "Mind Monkeys". I am glad to have a name for them now, as well as knowing I am not the only one who needs to get a chain for them.
I was shopping in a local market this past weekend, when I came upon several different Buddha statutes. Looking and looking at these delights, I saw one with gold coins. I questioned the the shop keeper about the gold coin buddhas.
"They are to bring your household money," he answers me.
"You are not to have attachments in Buddhism," I replied.
As if straight from Dinty's mouth came the whole section about from "The Work Koan" chapter on the whole money issue.
"In order for us here in America to survive, we must have money, otherwise you are out in the street living on garbage," the Buddhist man told me.
I thought I was rereading the book.
If you are curious about Buddhism, especially in America, this is an excellent book to read,not to mention utterly hilarious reading. I was chuckling with every chapter.
Rating:
Summary: A Humorous, Lighthearted Look at Buddhism in America.
Review: "The Accidental Buddhist" describes one man's search for American Buddhism. We follow him to the Zen Mountain Monastery in Mt. Tremper, NY, to a Tibetan non-residental retreat in Georgia, to a mini-Woodstock gathering for meditators in New York City and to a Theravadan retreat center in West Virgina. Moore talks to a Jesuit priest who is also a Zen master, a couple attempting to pursue the Buddha's ideal of Right Livelihood and we laugh and learn all the way as Moore comes to terms with the teachings of the dharma in his own life. Not deep on the philosophy of the dharma but this is an entertaining and humorous book for the newcomer. A welcome change from all those dharma books that take themselves oh, so seriously. This book would make the Buddha smile.
Rating: 
Summary: Stewing About Zen
Review: As a perpetual plodder on the spiritual path, I'm always buying some book or another that promises to simplify religion -- maybe so that I can feel empowered by newfound knowledge or, at the very least, emboldened by my own intellectual standing relative to the author.The author of *this* particular volume is one Dinty W. Moore, a beefy, would-be Buddhist and creative writing professor whose singular mission is to catalog the evolving essence of American Buddhism. Rife with anecdotes from his experiences at retreats of all stripes, an Indiana appearance by Tibet's beatific Dalai Lama, and several face-to-face encounters with "real American Buddhists," Moore manages to create for the reader an entertaining, enlightening (small "e") vantage point from which to witness his slow shuffle towards Shakyamuni (the Buddha). The result is a book that is light enough for an airplane, but deep enough for the bathtub. Recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Learn about American Buddhism - the 'lite' way...
Review: Dinty Moore (doesn't this guy make beef stew?) is a young middle-aged Irish-American Catholic who, in a very readable and humorous manner, outlines his journey into the world of Buddhism, most specifically American Buddhism. Although the tale is a bit self-absorbed at times, this book provides the reader with some excellent instruction in a religion that most American are rather ignorant of. What Moore seems to run up against much of the time is that he can't seem to quite locate the path to `true wisdom'. In a culture like the American one, full of hyper-commercialism, and an expansive sense of materialism - it is hard for any American to put this all aside and find simple inner peace - that is, to quiet the chattering monkeys in one's head.
Like many people who look to Eastern religions, Moore is seeking to find more meaning in his life... to put in their proper place the information overload, the bombardment of advertising, and mostly the pressures that many Americans feel to hurry, to compete, to be the best, to better their neighbors, to arrive at life, rather than to enjoy it as it comes. While some reviewers didn't like the humor - I found that Moore's jokes, and humor helped me to see that he wasn't one of those "true-believers" out there intent on proselytizing or urging me to "find my peace". It was a relief to read about someone's honest journey in understanding a religion completely foreign to his own. If he hadn't found things funny, light, or unreasonable, I don't think it would have felt like an honest piece of writing. I think this book is an excellent source for those who might be interested in knowing more about Buddhism without the intense rhetoric of an instructional text.
Rating:
Summary: Lousy Buddhists Are the Best Kind
Review: Dinty Moore's exploration of the meaning of Buddhism is America is as humorous as it is engaging and illuminating. Moore describes how his failed attempts at being Catholic led him to a spiritual void he thought might be bridged by a new meditative focus. He uses his skills as an investigative journalist to get the most from meetings with monks and Buddhist enthusiasts. His book isn't a handbook on Buddhism but rather a gentle invitation to the topic. His honest treatment would be of interest to anyone who is curious enough to learn a bit more about this Eastern philosophy. Moore claims to be a "lousy Buddhist," but I'm convinced he's too hard on himself; in fact, he's an inspiration.
Rating:
Summary: An amusing description of American Buddhism in the late '90s
Review: For seasoned spiritual seekers and curious novices alike, Dinty Moore takes the reader on a lighthearted journey to discover what the surgence of the Buddhist religion in America is all about. Anyone reading the author's witty and humorous account of wading in the waters of Eastern thought will soon begin to realize that Buddhism is not a mystical, bugaboo religion, but a viable path that doesn't challenge Judeo-Christian principles. The teachings of Buddha precede Jesus by 500 years and in many ways parallel each other, and the three types of Buddhism Moore describes in his encounters -- Zen, Tibetan, and Theraveda -- can peacefully co-exist with each other and any other religion in our complex society. I'd highly recommend this book to the aging American boomers who are tired of the material stuff of life and want to inject more peace and tranquility into their daily lives. Moore writes about the challenges of quieting his "monkey mind" through meditation. I got a kick out of how he "enlightened" my "monkey mind." I bet Oprah would, too.
Rating:
Summary: Not the good book but a good book
Review: I consider myself a lapsed Buddhist or rather a non-practicing one since I stopped sitting some years ago. (This new religion came about for me as I was prior to this a lapsed Catholic) I try to maintain as many of the Buddhist principles as I can, however. I found that this book has inspired me to return to sitting meditation, not because Moore makes it sound easy, but rather becase he made me realize that I was missing something very important. I am familiar with many of the concepts of Buddhism and its various branches. But Mr. Moore review and introduction was very refreshing and well-written. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in finding out about Buddhism or for any dabblers like myself.
Rating:
Summary: Not the good book but a good book
Review: I consider myself a lapsed Buddhist or rather a non-practicing one since I stopped sitting some years ago. (This new religion came about for me as I was prior to this a lapsed Catholic) I try to maintain as many of the Buddhist principles as I can, however. I found that this book has inspired me to return to sitting meditation, not because Moore makes it sound easy, but rather becase he made me realize that I was missing something very important. I am familiar with many of the concepts of Buddhism and its various branches. But Mr. Moore review and introduction was very refreshing and well-written. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in finding out about Buddhism or for any dabblers like myself.
Rating:
Summary: Lighter Side of Buddhism
Review: Raised as a Roman Catholic, Dinty Moore begins by telling about his childhood. 12 years of Catholic school, the retreats and the nuns. Then things changed. The Catholic Youth recruiter who he wanted to lose his virginity to took up with a lifeguard, his mother divorced and remarried someone he didn't like, he failed religion and his father "fell off the wagon". Soon he stopped attending church, stopped praying and felt God had let him down. Fast forward twenty years and he finds himself in the doorway of a Buddhist monastery. He soon realizes that no one is talking about venial sins and there are no confessionals, just a feeling of peace. After his short retreat at the monastery, he attends another while on a business trip. A Tibetan Monk explains that what makes us unhappy is our tendancy to desire things that make us happy. For example, by thinking that as soon as I get a new job, I'll be happy. But one we get the job, the happiness and expectations are dashed. He also says that while it's ok to have a comfortable home, a nice car and deliberately arrange our lives in such a way that these things become possible, but don't depend on them to make you happy. Happiness is internal, not external. After attending the retreat he realizes that he sat though "basically a six hour sermon". Being a former catholic as well, I know the feeling all too well. Even a fifteen minute sermon was always too long. They were "endless, irrelevant and forced up me by a condescending adult." It's reassuring to know that a Tibetan monk isn't going to tell you that you're a terrible person and you're going to hell. It's a rather humorous book and Moore is always referring to his "Monkey Mind", meaning that his mind is always on something else when he's trying to meditate or understand what the monks and nuns are saying. It's one's desire for things to be a certain way that will make you unhappy. Becoming upset because someone is late has nothing to do with the person, but your reaction to the tardiness.. bascially, it's not the fault of the other person, it's the way you are dealing with it.
Rating:
Summary: A painless intro to Buddhism
Review: The Accidental Buddhist is a great little romp through a delightful little religion. With an author named "Dinty Moore" (tragically, no stew connections are made in the book), I couldn't not buy it. And I was glad I did. Moore uses his own experiences as a springboard for Buddhism as a whole-- rather than reading like a religious textbook, the book feels like a travelogue, with insights into different sects (although it focuses mostly on his own Zen experiences). "What do I do now?" "Just sit." I've recommended this book to quite a few people who've asked me about Buddhism-- it's really a lighthearted way to break into a great subject, and it dabbles in the American Monestery experience, breaks into the Christianity/Buddhist overlap and brings up the Tibetans, all without preaching or going too deep into the slower, more philosophical aspects of Buddhism. It's no textbook: if you're looking for something that'll sit you down and teach the ins and outs of all aspects and all sects of Buddhism, this book isn't it. But if you want a quick read for a lighthearted overview, then by all means, buy this book.
|
