Want to know Best Buddha Books and Best books on Buddhism? Well you have landed on the right article.
Some individuals regard Buddhism as a religion, while others regard it as a way of life. A prince founded it at Bodh Gaya, India's northernmost city (in modern-day Nepal).
It is rather extraordinary that Gautama Siddhartha, better known as the Buddha. Opted to renounce all of his personal royal possessions in order to live a life of ceaseless searching.
Unfortunately for him, he had no idea what he was looking for.He had questions with no answers, roads to follow but no destination, the strongest desire to find the truth and the meaning of life, but no worldly desires whatsoever!
The one who founded this beautiful path to enlightenment was truly a remarkable man.
And his teachings have all been saved in books and manuscripts that have led some modern-day and even mediaeval-day authors and scholars to write some of the most eye-opening texts.
Keeping up with current events and analyzing the cultural significance of each new development can be challenging.
Many of the world’s major religions are also experiencing a period of rapid growth and change. Which books are the best in this dynamic? What should we read?
What can we take away from it all? With so many books on the topic, it’s almost impossible to know where to begin.
Thankfully, there are a number of great books on Buddhism available for readers who are interested in getting to the source and learning everything they can about the world’s most popular religion.
This list of the best books on Buddhism - religion, philosophy, spirituality, and more - will provide you with a solid resource for nourishing your faith and piquing your curiosity.
So whether you are looking to expand your knowledge of the world’s most ancient and important religion or you are simply looking for new insight into one of the world’s most fascinating spiritual practices.
These are the books on Buddhism - religion, philosophy, and more - that will satisfy your needs.
Buddhism: The Basics & The Philosophy
Buddhism is a world religion that grew out of the teachings of the historical Buddha.
He is often referred to as the “Bold One,” “The Great Teacher,” or “The Master.” Over the past 2,500 years, Buddhist teachings have been preserved and spread throughout Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.
Today, there are over 200 million followers of Buddhism worldwide, making it the second-most popular religion in the world behind Christianity.
Buddhism is a spiritual practice that encourages individuals to examine themselves and the world they live in critically and to make positive changes when necessary.
It teaches that life is a journey and that the more we appreciate and savour the present moment, the easier it is to experience joy and to be more patient and kind to others. The philosophy of Buddhism is straightforward and straightforwardly negative.
The Buddha taught that the only way to happiness is through self-reflection, which entails a process of removing one’s blinders and looking at reality as it is rather than as one wants it to be.
Buddhism teaches that there is no such thing as a perfect or easily achievable state of bliss and that each of us is individually responsible for creating our reality through our thoughts and actions.
Therefore, the philosophy of Buddhism is about transforming our thoughts and actions so that we can become the best version of ourselves, which in turn will allow us to create the world we want to see and experience.
Why Read Books on Buddhism
Reading about Buddhism can help you better understand your own thoughts and feelings, as well as the thoughts and feelings of others, and learn how to better relate to others and the world around you.
Reading about the spiritual practices and ideas of the Buddha can open your eyes to the fact that you are not the only one who experiences joy and sadness, hate and love, sadness and happiness, and so on.
Reading about the philosophy and theology of Buddhism can also help you better understand the role of religion in society and the relationship between humans and nature.
Top 10 Buddha Books
1. What The Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula
This valuable book can be considered as one of the best book on Buddha as it provides a clear and accurate explanation of the Buddha's teachings.
"For years," according to the Journal of the Buddhist Society.
"The newbie to Buddhism has lacked a straightforward and credible introduction to the subject's complexity."
Dr Rahula What the Buddha Taught meets the demand in a way.
That only someone with a clear understanding of the massive information to be processed could.
It is a model of what a book should be, aimed first and foremost at the educated and intellectual reader. This work is authoritative and concise, rational and sombre, as well as masterful.
This version includes sixteen pictures, a bibliography, a dictionary, and an index, as well as illustrative excerpts from the Suttas and the Dhammapada.
Features
Publisher: Oneworld Publications
Page Count: 184
Cost: Rs. 215
Language: English
2. Creation And Completion
Creation and Completion contain some of the most profound teachings of Jamgon Kongtrul (1813-99).One of Tibetan history's genuine spiritual and literary giants.
Though brief, it contains a lifetime's worth of counsel for anybody who wants to begin or enhance their practice of tantric Buddhist meditation.
Sarah Harding's elegantly translated and presented original text is enhanced with an in-depth commentary by modern teacher Thrangu Rinpoche.
Key Tibetan Buddhist concepts are rapidly clarified, allowing the reader to comfortably explore Tantra's sometimes misunderstood "creation" and "completion" stages.
Practitioners picture themselves in the shape of Buddha and other enlightened beings during the creation stage to break down their usual ideas of themselves and the world around them.
This meditation practise prepares the mind for the completion stage, in which one encounters the ultimate nature of thought and reality directly.
Features
Publisher: Wisdom Publications
Page Count: 129
Cost: Rs. 1000
Language: English
3. Mindfulness In Plain English By Bhante Gunaratana
Author Bhante Gunaratana, a famous meditation teacher, walks us through the myths, reality, and benefits of meditation and mindfulness practice.
Bhante's characteristic clarity and wit shine through as he tackles the tool of meditation, what it accomplishes, and how to make it work.
This extended version includes the whole content of the previous edition.
As well as a new chapter on nurturing loving kindness, which is a very essential issue in today's society.
This is an excellent resource for anybody new to meditation who wants to learn how to live a more productive and tranquil life.
Bhante's characteristic clarity and wit shine through as he tackles the tool of meditation, what it accomplishes, and how to make it work.
This book is both an introduction to mindfulness and a resource for establishing a meditation practice. Written in simple, understandable language Chapters on loving-kindness and attention are included.
With the intelligent instruction of this classic book, the reader can attain deeper insight, inner calm, and clarity via meditation practice.
Mindfulness in Plain English is a must-have for anybody studying the advantages of Buddhist meditation. It is written for people with no meditation background, but it is also a necessary handbook for seasoned trainees.
This extended edition includes the whole material of the previous edition as well as a new chapter on nurturing loving compassion.
Features
Publisher: Publications
Page Count: 208
Cost: Rs. 950
Language: English
4. Buddhism For Beginners By Thubten Chodron
This user's guide to Buddhist fundamentals covers the most often asked questions, beginning with
"What is the essence of the Buddha's teachings?" in easy English.
Thubten Chodron's answers to the concerns that always seem to emerge when people approach Buddhism.
To make this an extraordinarily thorough and approachable introduction. As well as a blueprint for living a more serene, mindful, and satisfying Life.
Buddhism for Beginners is an excellent introduction to the subject for anybody.But it's also an excellent resource for seasoned students since the question-and-answer structure makes it simple to locate exactly what you're searching for.
Venerable Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron, the author of this book, was born in 1950 near Los Angeles. In 1971, she earned a B.A. in History from the University of California, Los Angeles.
She got a teaching certificate and went to the University of Southern California to complete postgraduate studies in Education.
While working as a teacher in the Los Angeles City School System after travelling around Europe, North Africa, and Asia for one and a half years.
Features
Publisher: Wisdom Publications
Page Count: 160
Cost: Rs. 315
Language: English
5. The Lotus Sutra (Translator: Gene Reeves)
The Lotus Sutra has been recognised as one of the most prestigious scriptures in the Mahayana Buddhist canon since its debut in China.
In the third century it has had a tremendous effect on the major works of Japanese and Chinese literature, garnering.
More discussion than any other Buddhist text. And has been the object of deep adoration among generations of Buddhists in China, Korea, Japan, and other areas of the world.
As Watson points out in the introduction to his magnificent translation.
"The Lotus Sutra is a collection of religious texts, an anthology of sermons, stories, and devotional manuals.
Some of which speak with particular force to people of one type or in one set of circumstances, others to people of another type or in other circumstances.
This is without a doubt why it has had such broad and long-lasting appeal throughout history, and why it has seeped so deeply into the civilizations that have been exposed to it."
Features
Publisher: Wisdom Publications
Page Count: 504
Cost: Rs. 1224
Language: English
6. The Art of Happiness By Dalai Lama
Almost every time you see him, he's laughing or smiling. And he makes everyone around him want to smile.
He's the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual and temporal leader, a Nobel Prize winner, and a rising star as a speaker and politician.
Furthermore, he will tell you that happiness is the ultimate goal of existence and that "the whole momentum of our life is towards happiness."
The issue of how to get there has always been present.
He's attempted to respond before, but he's never had the assistance of a psychiatrist to convey the information in a way that we can all comprehend.
He's attempted to respond before, but he's never had the assistance of a psychiatrist to convey the information in a way that we can all comprehend.
The Dalai Lama teaches us how to overcome daily worry, uncertainty, wrath, and discouragement via dialogues, tales, and meditations.
One of the world's great spiritual gurus gives practical insight and counsel on how to overcome ordinary human troubles and create enduring happiness in this one-of-a-kind and significant book.
The Dalai Lama's eastern spiritual heritage is combined with Dr. Howard C. Cutler's western perspective in The Art of Happiness, a very accessible guide for a western audience.
They apply Tibetan Buddhist teachings to everyday situations and show how to reach balance and total spiritual and mental liberation, covering all essential aspects of human experience.
There has never been a book that brings the Dalai Lama's views so vividly into the real world for those who want to learn more about his way of life.
Features
Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks
Page Count: 288
Cost: Rs. 335
Language: English
7. The Heart of the Buddha’s Teachings By Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat Hanh introduces us to the essential teachings of Buddhism in The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching.
One of the best books of Buddha and his teachings .
Newly updated with fresh material and insights, and demonstrates how the Buddha's teachings are approachable and practical to our daily lives.
Nhat Hanh conveys reassuring insight into the nature of suffering and its role in cultivating compassion, love, and pleasure.
All elements of enlightenment – with poetry and clarity. The Three Doors of Liberation, the Three Dharma Seals, and the Seven Factors of Awakening.
The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching is a bright light on Buddhist philosophy for the learned and uninitiated alike, covering such key teachings as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path.
The Three Doors of Liberation, the Three Dharma Seals, and the Seven Factors of Awakening.
Features
Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks
Page Count: 288
Cost: Rs. 335
Language: English
8. Buddhism
Buddhism is practised by hundreds of millions of people all across the world, from Tibetan caves to Tokyo temples and redwood retreats.
To an outside observer, it may be difficult to identify what they all have in common.
In Buddhism, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and American Buddhist nun Thubten Chodron draw a clear line between the two primary strains of Buddhism:
the Sanskrit traditions of Tibet and East Asia and the Pali traditions of Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.
The fundamental Indian traditions and their distinct handling of such essential concepts are given significant attention. The writers seek concord and deeper understanding among Buddhist traditions across the world.
Demonstrating the numerous advantages of respectful discourse and the many ways that Buddhists of all shades share a shared heritage and aims.
Features
Publisher: Wisdom Publications
Page Count: 352
Cost: Rs. 1220
Language: English
9. The Life Of The Buddha By Tenzen Chogyel
The epic journey of Shakyamuni Buddha to enlightenment is possibly the most important narrative in the Buddhist tradition.
Tenzin Chögyel's The Life of the Buddha, written in the mid-eighteenth century and now available in a new translation.
It is a masterful storyteller's account of the Buddha's twelve acts.
Chögyel's ancient story flawlessly combines the large and the minute, the terrestrial and the celestial.
Expressing the gods' near-omnipresent assistance with the Buddha's emotional last reunion with his loving son, Rahula.
The current work provides a translation of one of the most captivating retellings of the Buddha's narrative in any language.
Tenzin Chögyel, a notable Bhutanese thinker who lived from 1701 to 1767, penned it around the middle of the eighteenth century, more than two millennia after the life of the Buddha Shakyamuni.
Tenzin Chögyel's work is titled The Life of Lord Victor Shakyamuni, Ornament of One Thousand Lamps for the Fortunate Eon.It is simply known as The Life of the Buddha, and it is provided in its entirety here.
Features
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Page Count: 208
Cost: Rs. 499
Language: English
10. Open Heart, Open Mind
Tsoknyi Rinpoche, one of the most revered of the present generation of Tibetan Buddhist meditation teachers.
Teaches in Open Heart, Open Mind that a life devoid of fear, pain, uncertainty, and doubt is not only achievable but also our inheritance.
We want serenity, the capacity to love and be loved openly and freely. And the courage and clarity to tackle the many problems we face in our everyday lives.
Each of us possesses an unrivalled spark of brightness, an infinite potential for warmth, openness, and courage, which Rinpoche refers to as "essence love."
Each of us possesses an unrivalled spark of brightness, an infinite potential for warmth, openness, and courage, which Rinpoche refers to as "essence love."
Essence love is timeless and imperishable, but it is frequently overlaid over by patterns of behaviour and belief that encourage us to seek happiness in surroundings or events that never quite live up to their promise.
Features
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Page Count: 272
Cost: Rs. 450
Language: English
Summing Up
The best books on Buddhism - religion, philosophy, and more - are those that provide a deep understanding of the topic.
And are written by people who have knowledge and experience that comes from having been in the game. While many of the books on this list will provide general information that is relevant to anyone interested in Buddhism.
There are a few books on Buddhism - religion, philosophy, and more - that are specifically written for those interested in exploring specific Buddhist practices and beliefs.
These books will provide you with a strong spiritual foundation and help you understand the topics more deeply. Enabling you to engage in critical thinking and make informed and considered decisions based on the information provided.
So whether you are looking to expand your knowledge of the world’s most ancient and important religion or you are simply looking for new insight into one of the world’s most fascinating spiritual practices.
I hope you liked our article on Best Buddha Books and Best books on Buddhism , if you have any comments or suggestions do share them in the comments below.
These are the books on Buddhism - religion, philosophy, and more - that will satisfy your needs.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Q1. History of Buddha Books
Since the increase in the popularity of Buddhism, various authors have taken inspiration from the preachings of Gautama Buddha and have published numerous books.
You can find a wide range of books available in the market as well as online platforms that discuss the history of Buddhism and the preachings of Lord Buddha.
Q2. Buddhist Psychology Books
There are various books related to Buddhist Psychology available in the market. However, I recommend reading Open Heart, Open Mind:
Awakening the Power of Essence Love By Tsoknyi Rinpoche with Eric Swanson to gain a complete understanding about this concept.
Q3. Buddhist Wisdom Books
The practice of Buddhism revolves around the concept of inner peace and sacrifice. This can only be attained by developing complete wisdom and accepting the changes that are happening in and around you.
Be sure to read Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions By Dalai Lama and Thubten Chodron to gain more knowledge about this concept.
Q4. Best Buddhism Books for beginners
To understand the very basic pillars of Buddhism, make sure to go through the insightful book Buddhism For Beginners By Thubten Chodron.
Everything about the practice of Buddhism is explained in simple words which makes it easy to apply in real-life scenarios as well
Q5. Best Books on Buddhist philosophy
You can gain complete knowledge about Buddhist Philosophy by going through the following books:
- What The Buddha Taught by Wapol Rahula
- The Heart of the Buddha’s Teachings By Thich Nhat Hanh
