Overview
Originally published by Writers and Readers in 1998, this is an iconoclastic, illustrated romp through the life of the Buddha—both a credible exploration of his life and teachings and an entertaining introduction to the philosophy of Buddhism.
Many Westerners know about the meditation practices of Buddhism, but few understand the Buddha's philosophical teachings. This book puts the teachings (dharma) in their proper context and unravels some of the more dense knots of Buddha's thinking. And it does all this while entertaining the reader with humorous illustrations and pop-culture sensibility. This primer, constructed like a graphic novel, cuts through the New Age nonsense that is often mistaken for Buddhism. Asma is perceptive and passionate. Buddha for Beginners is truly a book that engages the intellect, opens the heart, and expands the spirit.
Synopsis
Originally published by Writers and Readers in 1998, this is an iconoclastic, illustrated romp through the life of the Buddha--both a credible exploration of his life and teachings and an entertaining introduction to the philosophy of Buddhism.
Many Westerners know about the meditation practices of Buddhism, but few understand the Buddha's philosophical teachings. This book puts the teachings (dharma) in their proper context and unravels some of the more dense knots of Buddha's thinking. And it does all this while entertaining the reader with humorous illustrations and pop-culture sensibility. This primer, constructed like a graphic novel, cuts through the New Age nonsense that is often mistaken for Buddhism. Asma is perceptive and passionate. "Buddha for Beginners" is truly a book that engages the intellect, opens the heart, and expands the spirit.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
Revising his 1996 illustrated primer, Asma (The Gods Drink Whiskey) explores the key tenets of Buddhism in the style of a graphic novel. A sparse text punctuated by extensive illustrations-some cartoonlike and others more serious and detailed-describes Siddhartha Gautama's enlightenment, what the Buddha taught and how Buddhism developed as the Buddha's followers encountered various Asian cultures. Asma, a professor of philosophy at Chicago's Columbia College, argues that Buddhist ideas are "deeply misunderstood in the West," and he distinguishes these from Buddhist culture. Placing Buddhism in the context of Hindu philosophy, Asma explores the four noble truths, the eightfold path, the five aggregates, the concept of no-self and other ideas critical to this Asian religion. He liberally references specific Hindu and Buddhist scriptures and tackles such tricky subjects as how reincarnation can occur if an immortal self doesn't exist. Asma also briefly touches on the role of women as Buddhism developed. His take on which current forms hold closest to the Buddha's teachings may provoke disagreement from some practitioners. This brief, irreverent tour of Buddhism and the sometimes humorous, sometimes grotesque, illustrations won't be to all tastes; the book includes adult images. (Jan.)A
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.