Thrillhouse

I recently began reading The Art of Happiness: A Hand Book For Living by the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler. Before that, I did a little research from some online sources on what Buddhism really is. To say the least, I am interested to find out more about their philosophy.

I must say though, I am an atheist. I am not looking for a god or a faith. Am I barking up the wrong tree? From what I have read, it appears that Buddhism is about finding happiness and peace which is something I think we all could use.

With all this being said, are there any books or websites you would recommend (books preferably)?

Thank you for your input!!!

Smoke Jaguar

The way of Zen by Alan Watts, Siddhartha by herman hesse, and Franny and Zooey by JD salinger

jivatum khantina

Happiness in Plain English
Mindfulness in Plain English

Both by Bhante Gunaratana

lenrek

I think I have this little book, unfortunately, can't find it in the net.

But there is another link Buddhist Concept Of Happiness, that is also from same author.

A direct link will be better: http://www.budsas.org/ebud/mfneng/mind0.htm

lenrek

I personally think, Access to Insight is good start. However this site offer Theravada Buddhism, for more general link stuff, I think you can find more in the sticky thread.

Buddhism has its fair share of teachings that also require some faith in believing (hey, what do you expect? It is after all, a religion). As a Buddhist, I find faith can be good, but I also notice, most people here dislike faith.

If you like those portion of teachings that is more about reason, understanding, and less emphasis on faith, by all means, go ahead and read about it. No one is needed to call himself a Buddhist in order to apply the teachings where the Buddha had explained. But, I think, you should keep an open mind and read about them as well.

I believe all religions try to give/preach/teach their version of happiness and peace to their believers. Buddhism, perhaps, offer something that is different, but not everyone would like it.

Puskara

Hiya Thrillhouse:

Allow me to give my own perspective. My line of thinking is more along the line of the Soto Zen Sect.

Of course I think that Soto Zen is more in line with what the historical Buddha taught but that is just my perspective and I encourage you to pay it no heed. Soto Zen essentially believes in right now. You are here right now, reading this, and that is it. The important thing is realizing that that is enough. That reality as it is right now is OK and better than any heaven you can dream up because you ARE HERE.

Buddhism is unconcerned with "god" and things like "heaven" are at best uprovable and are more likley just comforting superstition. I must disagree with Lenrek and state that Buddhism is not a religion, and requires no belief. If you choose to practice Buddhism you may infer or deduce some things which you cannot prove and thus develop beliefs but that is your own business, your truth. As long as you are trying to honestly understand what we are, to see reality as it is without a pre-ordained filter of what it should be then chance are, your a Buddhist. There are some official ceremonies too, they of course have no meaning other than that which you bring to them but some Buddhists will cry foul if I don't mention them.

Of course like any other thing Buddhism has mixed with the cultures around it and formed lots of variations. If people believe these variations blindly and do not actually pursue truth then I suppose one could say they are practicing a religion. There is nothing wrong with these variations and it is best to select one that makes sense to you as long as you remember not to belive in it.

I would suggest the following book.

Hardcore Zen: Punk Rock, Monster Movies, and the truth about reality

See you around.

Puskara

premjan

I think we always see reality through the lens of some assumptions (only some of which can be described as true), but over time those assumptions can become fewer and more general.

rossum

Thrillhouse,

It is perfectly OK to treat Buddhism as a menu of different techniques from which you can select the ones that work for you.

Brad Warner, the author of the book, also has a website: Sit Down and Shut Up!. Worth a look, and you learn about Japanese monster movies as well.

rossum

David B

Suasan Blackmore. She originally worked in the field of the paranormal. She really wanted to find something, from what I gather, but what she did find was that when she attempted to replicate published work, but tightening up on experimental procedures, she found that there was nothing to indicate anything paranormal happening.

Since then she has written a book called 'The Meme Machine', which takes Dawkins idea further than he perhaps intended (my slant on it) but is possibly right.

She claims to be a Buddhist.

And, reading what she says, I can sort of dig it.

I claimed to be a Buddhist, too, back in the late 60s and early seventies. I'd read Alan Watts and Kerouac (BTW the little known Kerouac work 'The Scripture of the Golden Eternity - or something like that- contains remarkably beautiful words) and some other stuff, and it seemed to fit in with my world view. Then I got a real hit off being inititiated into TM, and went down the Hinduistic line instead.

Still I've long thought that the relationship of Hinduism to Buddhism has parallels with the relationship of Catholicism to Protestantism, with Buddha taking the role of Luther, and Shankara taking the role of Loyola. None of them knowing enough about reality to realise that human beings are evolved forms of life who developed in a little planet round a little star in a not untypical galaxy among myriads of galaxies.

Another thing I've long thought is that if you want to not quite understand life, the universe and everything in a rather more sophisticated way than you failed to quite understand it before, then trying to understand Hofstadter's GEB is a good way to go about it. Interesting bits about Zen in it.

David B (Thinks the right tree to bark up is some of the writings of Dawkins, Dennett, Pinker which are relevant to living happily with an atheistic world view - but Blackmore too)

perfectbite

Go back and read the Buddha, Theravadan AND Mahayanist, start with Dhammapada stanzas one and two.