Q-60pxChristians have “The Bible.” Jews have the Torah. Muslims have the Quran. If someone wanted to go to one source to learn as much as they could about the essence of Buddhist teachings, what book should they turn to? And what will they find in it?

 

A-60pxBuddhists in general do not have a single “book” to follow. Instead, we have the Tripitaka which is the collection of the Sutras (words of the Buddha) and commentaries.

There are several versions of the Tripitaka, and they differ by language and various Buddhist schools. For example, the usual scholarly languages are Pali, Sanskrit, Chinese, Tibetan and Japanese, and each of these languages has a Tripitaka that is larger than the previous language.

There is no agreement on what would be considered an “official” Tirpitaka. To the Buddhist way of thinking, this is fine and all versions should be considered official and valid.

In each of the various schools, only a single Sutra or a small group of Sutras is emphasized. For Shin Buddhists, this would be the Triple Sutras of the Sukhavati Sutra, the Contemplation Sutra and the Amida Sutra. But these are scholarly books and not read for “inspiration” or direct understanding. Buddhism is both too broad and too personal to have a single book.

There is no “one source” in Buddhism. Each person has to “discover” their own Awakening or Enlightenment. Currently, each tradition, school or sect of Buddhism offers a gateway, or a starting point, to begin our personal journey.

One should keep in mind the Three Treasures: the Buddha (the teacher), the Dharma (the teachings) and the Sangha (fellow travelers). One can study and understand doctrine, but there is also the balance of respect to the Teachers and Masters, as well as, a group of fellow travelers so that one can live the Buddhist life. There is a whole society or a whole civilization that embraces Buddhist teachings, thoughts, attitudes, art, culture and actions that makes one a Buddhist.

One can start by attending services and activities at the Midwest Buddhist Temple. Plus there are so many good books to suggest. My personal suggestions:

“What the Buddha Taught” by Walpala Rahula. This book provides a basic understanding of the Four Noble Truths form the Pali perspective.

“Ocean—An Introduction to Jodo-Shinshu Buddhism in America” by Kenneth Tanaka. This book is a wonderful introduction to Shin Buddhism.

“River of Fire, River Of Water— An Introduction to the Pure Land Tradition of Shin Buddhism” by Taitetsu Unno. This book is both profound and an easy read.