Customer Reviews
Life changing book - By: M. Crowther, 21 Aug 2008 
I'm no Buddhist & don't claim to understand Buddhism to any degree, but despite the title I'm going to suggest that's not the core message of the book. The core message is about seeing what's really there, being open & receptive to reality as it is, not as we imagine or desire it to be. The fantasy we livein & the pain we cause ourselves because of it.
This is one of two books that I would say changed my life. After reading it the message & insights affected my mindset & outlook so much it remained with me for more than a year before diminishing. To this day it is the book I have given away more copies of than any other because I wanted others to learn from it as I had.
One example - n the book is an image but it's unclear what it is. It's used as an example of what enlightenment is & it blew me away. I stared & stared but couldn't work it out so I looked at the answer. I looked back & still couldn't see it, then suddenly `boom' there it was, my enlightenment moment. That sealed it for me.
Should say "introduction to zen buddhism" - By: Andrew I. Ourtenay, 25 Dec 2007 
This was the first book I ever read on buddhism. Since then I have never stopped practising & reading around, & it's been three years. This book ignited a strong interest but itin no way helped me be lessed stressed. I tried to put what the book said into practise - but all it suggested was to "see". I saw myself being miserable, didn't help.
I feel really lucky that I discovered "mindfulnessin plain englsish - bhante gunaratana" which gave instructions on how to practise meditation. After that buddhism really helped me. Meditationin Hagen's book is mentioned almost as a side point, something not particularly important.
After reading around for three years it's also clear that this book offers an intro to "zen buddhism", not to "buddhism". The eightfold path for example is given the most basic of elaborations, which all fitin with his idea of "just seeing". The elaborations of the eightfold pathin the original suttasin the pali canon are extensive & say an awful lot more than "just see". I could go on.
Overall if you want some nice philosophy this book is great.
If you want real advice on "self help" from a buddhist standpoint get something else which actually has practical instructions & advice.
If you want an introduction to buddhism, go somewhere else. If you read the suttas most reliably attributed to the buddha you'll be amazed how different they are to Hagen's assertions.
If you want to read something on Buddhism by someone who has practised Buddhism intensely for almost his whole life, read "path to arahantship" by Ajahn maha boowa.
Not a religion - By: D. A. Hughes, 12 May 2007 I have read this book twice, it explains Buddhism as a way of thinking & understanding life, not a religion as I thought. If you want to learn about Buddhism, rather than being told about rituals & how to practice a belief you must read a copy. It informs you rather than convert you.
A positive step towards awakening - By: Greedo, 22 Feb 2007 The best compliment I can give this book is that if someone is interestedin learning what Buddhism "is", this is the book that I give them.
You might get the impression from one or two of the other reviews on this page that this is "Buddhism Lite" i.e. that it lacks the comprehensiveness & history of some other books. I don't really think that's the case personally. If the essense & purpose of Buddhism is to become awake, then to me this is the most emphatically "Buddhist" of books. Certainly I would start here, as you can always progress onto more detailed books about the Buddha's lifein due course.
Indeed I wouldn't say that this book is only for the novice either, as it would also serve as a useful reminder & meditation to someone more versedin Buddhism. One review below states that it's message is rather repetitive, but I imagine that this is on purpose, & it didn't deter me at all. Without constantly reminding yourself of the message contained within (through various means), the ego tends to re-impose itself, so repetition is necessary.
If you're interestedin this subject, I whole-heartedly recommend this book.
Easy Peasy!! Get this one FIRST. - By: Terry Tozer, 09 Feb 2007 This HAS to be one of the BEST {["Introductions"]} to Buddhism I've ever come across. Plain (yes it is!!) simple - yes, & easy to understand & digest. Short, concise & to the point. In fact it's ALL of the positive comments made here above already. Refreshing & intelligently written. More importantly it's very "enlightening" (pun intended).
A perfect starter book if you want to get an inkling for what "all the rage" is about, especially if you're a student of any kind & short on study time.
Even if you're not a Buddhist, or not even thinking about becoming one, it's good to have some understanding of this "up & coming" religion so that you may have a better & more informed understanding of the people from the lands that practice it & where you may go one day on holiday too!
