Buddha Takes the Mound
Enlightenment in 9 Innings
by Donald S. Lopez, Jr., Ph.D.
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Pub Date May 05 2020 | Archive Date May 05 2020
St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Essentials
Description
In 2010 a Buddhist scroll was found in the ruins of Yankee stadium, and it proved what Buddhist scholar/award-winning author Donald Lopez, Ph.D., had suspected: the Buddha created the game of baseball.
Buddha Takes the Mound: Enlightenment in 9 Innings is The Tao of Pooh for baseball. Funny, moving, and enlightening, this is a read that will engross, enrich, and charm any baseball fan.
At once a love letter to the sport and an engaging introduction to Buddhism, it shows how the Buddha invented baseball to teach us deep truths about the world, about ourselves, and about each other. Lopez believes that Buddhism provides a lens for us to see baseball in a new way, a way that makes us love the game even more, a way that makes us ponder profound questions about winning and losing, about who we are, about finitude and infinitude, about birth and death.
As Lopez reveals, not only is Buddhism integral to baseball; but baseball is Buddhism, and baseball is ourselves.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781250237910 |
| PRICE | $19.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 192 |
Featured Reviews
Dee A, Reviewer
Put aside all your preconceived ideas and how dull reading a book about Buddhism might be. Author Donald Lopez introduces the concept of baseball through the teachings of Buddha.
While that might sound like it’s out of left field (I just set the book down, so there are probably more of those coming), Dr. Lopez calmly explains that a Buddhist scroll was found in Yankee Stadium ten years ago, proof positive that the Buddha invented baseball. This book contains the wisdom of the Buddha, packaged neatly in what is called “The Baseball Sutra.” Excerpts of the Sutra are presented at the beginning of each chapter followed by a commentary by the author. For those interested in reading the “The Baseball Sutra” on its own, Dr. Lopez provides it in the Appendix.
The book is a whimsical combination of serious tongue-in-cheek explanations of how baseball is a perfect vehicle to display the teachings of Buddhism. The author has a solid knowledge of baseball history, and due to this, can even be forgiven for being a rabid Yankees fan (while Dr. Lopez experienced much pain in 2001, I was living in Phoenix at that time and had adopted the Diamondbacks). Throughout the book, many of baseball’s stars make an “appearance.” The Buddha, from the highest spot on the field, fields questions and teaches philosophy.
This is a treat for all baseball fans, the text reminding us of our heroes. At the same time, readers will come away with a different look at the game of baseball, its players, its fans, and anyone connected in any way. And I guess it was easy to finish this review without any more baseball slang. It was a can of corn. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a complimentary electronic copy of this title.
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