Synopses & Reviews
“Writing a ‘nuts and bolts guide that is genuinely wise, charmingly conversational, and a pleasure to read requires a particular talent, and Jean Smith has proved once again that she has it.”—Sylvia Boorstein, author of
Dont Just Do Something, Sit ThereThe third of Jean Smiths Beginners Guides focuses on the Buddhas Eightfold Path—the concepts central to practicing the Buddhas teachings in daily life. The eight steps on the path are: right understanding, thought, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration. Smith explains exactly what the Buddha had in mind, using translations of his own words and then elucidating them for us. Throughout the book are wonderful quotes from a broad range of Buddhist teachers, giving a taste of the very best each of them has to offer. The Beginners Guide to Walking the Buddhas Eightfold Path is a prescription for happiness, not just for overcoming suffering, which is how many people think of Buddhism. Here is a book for Buddhists of every tradition.
About the Author
Jean Smith is the author of The Beginners Guide to Zen Buddhism, the coauthor of The Beginners Guide to Insight Meditation, and the editor of four much-admired collections of Buddhist teachings: Breath Sweeps Mind, Everyday Mind, Radiant Mind, and 365 Zen. She lives in Keene, New York, and Taos, New Mexico.