This was a really nice collection of excerpts from various Buddhist texts and teachings. As someone who has been studying and practicing Buddhism for over a decade, I found the collection very engaging, highly readable, and found some interesting moments of juxtaposition in Kornfield's arrangement of his selections. That being said, I do not believe that this would be a good jumping off point for someone who was curious about the basic ideas of Buddhism. I think a more secondary overview would be a better recommendation for that situation. Nonetheless, I think Kornfield's collection could easily be read and appreciated by someone with even a cursory background in Buddhist philosophy.

People interested in learning about the basic principles and teachings of Buddhism should look no further than Teachings of the Buddha by Jack Kornfield. This revised edition of the classic text has representations from Indian, Tibetan, Chinese, and Japanese teachings. An updated section on the role of women in the early years of Buddhism provides a broader view of the religion.

In addition to the core teachings, instructional sections on meditation, creating a sense of calmness and living with compassion for all life creates a well rounded book for anyone seeking spiritual fulfillment.

This lovely little book contains some of the most famous and thought-provoking teachings of Buddha. It draws on Indian, Tibetan, Chinese, and Japanese source material, combining stories and quotes from sutras. I’ve enjoyed dipping into it a little each day.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

A thoughtful book filled with millennium-old insights from Buddhist teachings. This is the ideal book to pick up on a daily basis and read one teaching or to keep around for when you need some refreshment on the teachings and how to re-ground yourself.

A short and enlightening little book that holds much to ponder and meditate on.

I enjoyed my time reading this and pondering these millennia old notions.



Thank you to Shambhala and NetGalley for the DRC