 "Clarity" | 2009-07-05 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1QMI0V3JWC0ZH |
| This book is incredible. It is often difficult to get an accurate description of what Buddhism is in the Western world due to Western bias, and once one has moved through that, the next hurdle is Eastern bias. Steve Hagen shows the barest, most basic tenants of Buddhism without the cloud of confusion and mystery that accompanies most religious traditions, ex. prayer. If you think you know what Buddhism teaches because it was explained to you buy a non-Buddhist, you're probably mistaken. Thanks to Steve, now I can recognize what is and is not "Buddhism." |
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| "Freedom Beyond What You Think" | 2009-02-18 |
| - Reviewed By User: ACKCUD0D22DJG |
Zen priest Steve Hagen presents teachings which penetrate the most essential and enduring questions at the heart of the Buddha's teachings, including: How can we see the world each moment, rather than merely as what we think, hope, or fear it is?
-- Find freedom beyond what you think -- it is rewarding. |
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 "Great book, very Zen -- but where's the heart?" | 2008-12-10 |
| - Reviewed By taerom |
This book, like Hagen's /Buddhism Plain and Simple/ is very clean, logical, and aimed squarely at stripping away the delusions we all have that keep us from being spiritually and emotionally free. As others have mentioned, it does "hammer away" at repetitive points to drive home the simplicity of what Hagen is trying to wake you up to. The book is overall very insightful, and a few chapters are EXTREMELY jolting and eye-opening in my view; for example, the "Ice Forming in Fire" chapter really hit me hard, and I've come back to it many times.
But while /Buddhism Is Not.../ has a very simple and liberating perspective to offer you, I feel that it's worth pointing out two things: First, as another reviewer said, this book does have some odd and unpractical examples to try and drive its points home. Things that should be and could be illustrated in practical ways applicable to our everyday life end up being developed in abstract "what if" scenarios that don't help *me* very much.
Second, and more important, this book seems to lack what I think is a fundamental part of Buddhism: compassion. It is briefly mentioned in the book at a few points, but only in passing as a kind of "this stuff will come along later by itself." That is not helpful, and the lack of any significant understanding of *where* and *how* compassion will develop could do more harm than good. If you strictly adhere to the cool, rational logic Hagen gives you, you may end up with what Lama Surya Das calls a "hardening of the heartwaves." You may be more liberated in some ways, but at the cost of the happiness and peace of mind of others around you. In the end, that will come back to you as all deeds eventually must.
So, read this book. There is a lot to discover... But as with any spiritual idea or teaching, do not blindly obey or use it as a club to beat "less enlightened" people over the head with. Remember: "If it's wise, but lacks compassion, it is not love. If it is compassionate, but not wise, it is not love." This book can show you some wisdom, but you have to warm it up a bit with some TLC of your own. |
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| "Pointing directly and clearly to your true nature" | 2008-06-15 |
| - Reviewed By User: ACSQOHZ47X6BF |
Steve walks the reader through the typical spiritual mindset, through the inherent confusion and paradox the mind necessarily encounters on the spiritual path.
Steve continually and ruthlessly points the reader back in the direction of pure SEEing, pure KNOWING - not to the content of MIND but to the SEEING itself, where no separation exists, where the "mind" itself is nothing more than part of the totality of present experience.
Steve's skillful pointing, if read with an open mind, is pointing DIRECTLY at THAT which the reader is seeking, if only the invitation is allowed to break through the stubbornness of the mind.
If Steve's pointers are allowed to come to you in openness, it may be seen that words themselves create this dualistic and illusory world, in which the seeker himself is seen to have never existed.
An excellent book and recommended reading.
love
randall
http://avastu0.blogspot.com |
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| "Excellent for maintaining Zen perception" | 2008-03-22 |
| - Reviewed By darrenf15e |
This book really is a great treatment of Zen. Those who are saying it is repetitive or arrogant miss the entire point. There is a quote by Suzuki at the beginning that basically states (I paraphrase) "the hard part of zen is not achieving enlightenment but maintaining it in a distracting world".
When you focus more on religious belief, you create complications that cause conflicts that will never be solved. Pretty much every single person who criticizes this book here is not enlightened, which is sad because if you truly understand what this book is saying, it could very well enlighten you.
Also I love when people search for enlightenment but then call someone arrogant who is or actually claims to be. It shows your ignorance. The point is that we all can be enlightened and it is possible, and it is available to you NOW. RIGHT NOW. So you will spend many more years intellectualizing and then perhaps finally realize when you are 70 what you could have realized years earlier. It is a shame really.
This is the problem with the Christian tradition. We are all taught to aspire to Christ, but no one could or would claim to be near his level. Buddha on the other hand was just a man, and his seeing is available to you as to anyone.
It shows that the organized religion surrounding these great prophets and ideas are what corrupt their followers.
While there are many books on Buddhism to recommend, the irony of Hagen's book being criticized for its simplicity boggles with hypocrisy...that's the point. NO MIND. STILLNESS. What's the point in reading the history of Buddhism from a spiritual perspective? You become an intellectual trapped in your own barbs. You must study but then let it all go. You have to be able to do BOTH. |
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| "Great Read" | 2007-10-21 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3IVICQI4162WC |
| This book is easy to read and brilliant in it's simplicity. I have read it no less than 8 times. It's just one of those that I can pick up any time to help settle my mind. |
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