| In The Heart of Buddha's Teaching, Thich Nhat Hanh | | | | ideas that are often difficult to keep straight. At |
| introduces us to the core teachings of the Buddha. | | | | points the book mentions something such as the |
| Namely, he outlines The Four Noble Truths, The | | | | Third Noble Truth while explaining one of the Twelve |
| Noble Eight-fold Path and several other basic buddhist | | | | Links, and how that relates to the second noble |
| teachings. Hanh also works into the text well | | | | truth. After a while, all of these enumerations, some |
| translated ancient buddhist texts as well as several | | | | with 40-50 entries can make ones head spin.Also, the |
| parables from the Buddha himself as well as general | | | | book does seem to assume some prior knowledge |
| buddhist tradition. Hanh references his own life as a | | | | of some Buddhist or Hindu culture and beliefs. A few |
| monk in Vietnam on occasion, both in times of war | | | | eastern terms we unfamiliar to me and not fully |
| and peace.This is the first book I've read on | | | | explained. While this was somewhat frustrating, I |
| Buddhism, and Hanh, with elegant prose opened my | | | | could figure meaning from context and it didn't really |
| eyes to a new world of spiritual belief. I've read quite | | | | negatively effect my experience with the book a |
| a bit of Western Philosophy and although I've found | | | | great deal.Overall, I would recommend reading this |
| it both interesting and well grounded, there has | | | | work.I'll leave you with the following small sampling of |
| always been something of a lack of passion to it. Not | | | | some of the interesting ideas I took from the book |
| so here. Hanh's writing reminds my old boss, for a job | | | | and facts about buddhist beliefs: Buddhism isn't in |
| I had a few years ago as a web developer. He | | | | conflict with most other religions. In fact, some of |
| managed to inspire my co-workers and I to create | | | | the Buddha's own students were monks of other |
| great software, with great care and efficiency. No | | | | "faiths" Some beliefs in buddhism relate directly to |
| one else since has been able to create that kind of | | | | the symbols of chinese writing After years of only |
| profession motivation in me. Like my old boss's kind | | | | oral tradition keeping Buddhism alive, two different |
| and soft words, Hanh's prose inspires. The Buddhist | | | | groups decided to write down the Buddha's teaching. |
| ideas he teaches regarding ending suffering, | | | | Thus, what is known of Buddhism today comes from |
| mindfullness and right action are as logical as any | | | | two sources which can be compared and scrutinized |
| philosophy of the time, but they also invoke some | | | | against one another for accuracy. |
| kind of true inspiration.Unfortunately, no book is | | | | Please click to buy: The Heart of Buddha's Teaching |
| perfect and this is not without its shortcomings. | | | | by Thich Nhat Hanh.You can read more insightful |
| Primarily, the book is filled with lists of interconnected | | | | book reviews at TristanHavelick. |