Buddhism Is Not What You Think

Book excerpt: A practical, straight-forward guide to the true purpose of Buddhism, examining the essential & enduring questions at the heart of the Buddha’s teachings. Bestselling author and renowned Zen teacher Steve Hagen penetrates the most essential and enduring questions at the heart of the Buddha’s teachings: How can we see the world in each moment, rather than merely as what we think, hope, or fear it is? How can we base our actions on reality, rather than on the longing and loathing of our hearts and minds? How can we live lives that are wise, compassionate, and in tune with reality? And how can we separate the wisdom of Buddhism from the cultural trappings and misconceptions that have come to be associated with it? Drawing on down-to-earth examples from everyday life and stories from Buddhist teachers past and present, Hagen tackles these fundamental inquiries with his trademark lucid, straightforward prose. The newcomer to Buddhism will be inspired by this accessible and provocative introduction, and those more familiar with Buddhism will welcome this much needed hands-on guide to understanding what it truly means to be awake. By being challenged to question what we take for granted. We come to see the world as it truly is. Buddhism Is Not What You Think offers a profound and clear path to joy and freedom. Praise for Buddhism Is Not What You Think “Hagen’s writing flows in a tranquil way, like a spring trickling up effortlessly from the earth. One tends to stop judging it and just appreciate it for its own sake. Since this appreciation is his advice for dealing with everything, the sentences themselves actually create what they are describing.” —Robert M. Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance “This is not just another nice book about Buddhism, one telling us what we like to hear and are used to hearing. No—it is a clear and challenging showing of the fundamental truth of our lives. This is an exceptional book. Make good use of it.” —Charlotte Joko Beck, author of Everyday Zen