Rating: 
Summary: Great Guided Tour Of The Eight-Fold Path
Review: (4.75 Stars)I really liked this book. I liked that it speaks in a current voice and is still full of wisdom. I dig Buddhism books that give examples and situations of what they are talking about. This book has classic stories and classical examples of old Tibetan Lamas and has current stories and examples of the author in now times in New York City. The famous phrase that really sums up the experience of reading with the author - Lama Surya Das - is the Deli Lama - again Awakening The Buddha Within is full of great Tibetan wisdom of old and it's related to today. The emphasis in Awakening The Buddha Within is the eight-fold path. This is one of the best journeys down the eight-fold path I've taken. Each aspect of the path is explained in detail, spirit and examples. It really is one of the best explanations of the eight-fold path I've read and experienced. If you're a student of Buddhism and want to explore the eight-fold path this is definitely the book for you. If you're new to Buddhism to this is a fantastic 2nd step to being introduced to the Buddha within.
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: Good Read
Review: A very good book, suitable for persons of any background and religion. It gives a good sense of Buddhism and the mindset involved with it. Definitely a positive book for all who read it.
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: 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.
Rating:
Summary: part of a great trilogy...
Review: I recommend Lama Surya Das' three books to anyone interested in Buddhism, spirituality, or the search for happiness. His background as a Jewish kid growing up in NY allows him an understanding of the Western world that even the Dalai Lama doesn't have.
His books are written in a plain-talk style instead of a textbook style.
But, most importantly, he explains how you can incorporate Buddhist practices and beliefs into your daily life without abandoning your native religion and/or converting to Buddhism.
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 TRUE AND SIMPLE UNDERSTANDING OF BUDDHISM
Review: Lama Surya Das is a Dzogchen lineage holder and founder of the Dzogchen Foundation. I found this to be one of the most complete and easily understood books written on Buddhism, which is often a complex philosophy to understood by the lay reader. "Awakening the Buddha Within" is similar in nature to the book, "The World of Tibetan Buddhism" a series of essays based on a three-day lecture given in London, England by the Dalai Lama and translated into English. However, if you are a novice to Buddhism, I would strongly recommend you first read, "Awakening the Budda Within". This book is much easier to understand, and the author simplifies the concepts of Buddhism in everyday terms for the western world. Lama Surya Das explains The Three Jewels of Buddhism - the commitment of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha or spiritual community, the Eight-Fold Path to Enlightenment, the Four Noble Truths and the importance of meditation in our lives. If you are searching for a better understanding of Buddhism in the contemporary world, or simply a more peaceful way of life, I highly recommend purchasing the "Awakening the Buddha Within." It is spiritually uplifting, refreshing and inspirational, and definitely one you will want to use as a reference, time and time again.
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: 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.
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