This is the kind of book I feel bad to rate in the middle. There are always little gems, little crumbs of enlightenment, but the sheer size and disjointed presentation made it more of a slog than a real enjoyment. Still, might hit the right person in the right spot.

Good introduction to the four noble truths and eightfold path.

Liked:
-Unique take on each of the points in the eightfold path. Before these had seemed more like platitudes to me, but he really described each one beautifully.
-The idea that Buddhism is meant to be adapted and modified by the culture around it, and how Buddhism in the West is responding to the needs and outlook of Westerners.

Didn't like so much:
-A lot of the anecdotes about his gurus and mentors over the years. This probably comes from his Tibetan Buddhist slant, but I am skeptical of some of the veneration for authority figures that comes through here.
-Some of the sections were a bit esoteric for my taste: bardos, dream yoga, just to name a few. Once again, I think some of these are because of his Tibetan bias.

I finally feel as though I have an owner's manual for being human! Many valuable concepts explained through story and example making them accesable. I believe this will be worthy of a few re-reads as it has much to take in however, that being said the book is a fun and easy read. Most enjoyable.

I constantly return to this book, I've read it and reread it and never tire of Lama Surya Das.

This is the book that turned me on to Buddhism. I read it originally in 1999, at my therapist's recommendation and it changed my life. I started meditating twice every day and shifted my focus away from how miserable I felt and toward how I could be a positive force in the world. This shift pulled me out of a major depression, improved my relationships with my family and allowed me to find my soul mate. Since then it has been a sort of Bible for me. Whenever I need help in dealing with a difficult situation or person or just need an attitude adjustment I return to it and it has never failed me.


It is an introduction to Buddhism for Westerners. The Lama grew up in a Jewish family on Long Island; his mom jokingly referred to him as the Deli Lama. He has a way of presenting the ideals of a very Eastern tradition that makes perfect sense to those of us raised in other faiths. One of the things I like best about his approach is that there is very little to believe and very much to practice. If you are curious about Buddhism or just need an attitude adjustment yourself, you should check it out.

Beautifully written, comprehensive and reads with joy. Would recommend to anyone interested in Buddhism as a starting point. Grateful to my yoga teacher who introduced me to the work of his teacher! :)

I'd hoped that I would have found enlightenment by the end of the book. Alas, not so. Still, it has some good insights into how to live with a mind that's always crawling up the walls and dashing in the wrong direction when you wish it wouldn't.

This is another book I have read

A friend lent this book to me some six months ago. I held onto to it for most of that time, and only began it about a month ago. This often happens when I put a book on my "to read" list-I have to wait for the time to be right.



There is so much information in this book. It is, in some ways, a primer of Buddhism, and it was helpful for me to really get a window into that tradition for the first time. I've read many things in the past about Buddhism and mindfulness, but this book has been one of the books that has helped things "click" for me. I've commented to several people that I think there is something to the fact that the author is a native English speaker. So much of understanding is nuance, and I have always felt that I am not getting the full, original meaning in a translated work, or even a work written by someone whose native language is not English. Even with an excellent translator, in my mind, it really isn't the same. This may not be true...maybe this book was just better than other things I've read.



This book really progressed me, I think, in terms of examining my own thoughts and motivations. It's been helpful in terms of mindfulness and meditation. It's no coincidence that, in the midst of reading this book, I came across another book that I am reading now, Mindfulness in Plain English, which I believe will be even more helpful.

This was the first buddhist book I ever read. It is the reason for me finding my home in spirituality. It is well written, clear and moving. You will learn a lot from this book and it will help you find your path. I recommend this book to anyone searching for a spiritual direction.

I read this book when I was a freshman or sophomore in high school. I got it from the library and I’d say it was the first book I ever seriously read, and took it seriously I did. Ever since this book I learned to take ideas seriously, that they manifest in reality (not literally but figuratively). I am as far from Buddhism as you can be, but back then, I loved this book. This book changed my life and turned me onto philosophy so it will always have a special place in my memory.

De lo más completo que he encotrado: con tanta información, que me hubiera encantado tenerlo en papel y leerlo despacito. Es como ver un panorama muy amplio de un camino muy largo y al final, invita a buscarlo poco a poco.