I have to blame the audiobook, the narration was robotic and I felt that the contents are not properly structured and organized and I often felt difficult to follow. A big cheat...nothing else...didn't even feel like reading the book. I think the problem is the huge amount of information: the four noble truths, the twelve turnings of the wheel, the eight fold path, the twelve links of interdependent co-arising, I could go on... And although each item made sense, the overall feeling was indigestion but perhaps that's what happens when a whole tradition is being covered in ONE book. We’d love your help. But the matter in the book is good. That is why the Buddha advised us to look. Also, I really liked the way he said that even when our heart is feeling pain, we can still enjoy many of life’s wonders. Whether you're starting out on the path or consider yourself an adept, The Heart of the Buddha's teaching is a must-have for your book shelve. Many of his other books can be read almost as a philosophy of Buddhism; here he explains the basic religious tenets in depth (and with more clarity than I'd previously encountered in introductory texts). Born Nguyen Xuan Bao, Thich Nhat Hanh joined a Zen (Vietnamese: Thien) monastery at the age of 16, and studied Buddhism as a novitiate. I've had this book on my shelf for years, and I've attempted to read it several times, but I've always abandoned it part way through. Drishtadharma nirvana means 'nirvana in this very life.' After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. This page works best with JavaScript. Don't let the concision of this book fool you, it's a surprisingly comprehensive and nuanced look into all of Buddhism's central teachings alongside practical applications and illustrations for how to implement them into your life. The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching is a timeless piece written for westerners in an attempt to describe the most important teachings of the Buddha. It has a beginning and an end. Refresh and try again. I think the problem is the huge amount of information: the four noble truths, the twelve turnings of the wheel, the eight fold path, the twelve links of interdependent co-arising, I could go on... And although each item made sense, the overall feeling was indigestion but perhaps that. This page works best with JavaScript. A book full of great wisdom. I might go back and reread a chapter or two. If you've been interested in Buddhism for some years now, there might be little for you in terms of novelty. repeat. "-"When you feel despair, fear, or depression, it may be because you have ingested too many toxins through your sense impressions" I do believe that everyone should know the teaching of buddha to know our true problems and find solutions from this book. I first read this book about five years ago. Adding this one to the list of "books that have changed my life." Only then will the full flavor of the symbols be drawn out, and one can understand what the story-teller was getting at. I listened to this, which was probably a mistake. A general idea of Buddhism. Overview. Reviewed in Australia on 20 November 2014. Covers the four noble truths and noble eightfold path in exhaustive detail and clear, modern language, with a deep exploration into suffering, desire, it's causes and how to break the cycle of samsara. Thanks to Amazon. Book Review by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat. Prime members enjoy unlimited free, fast delivery on eligible items, video streaming, ad-free music, exclusive access to deals & more. Many of his other books can be read almost as a philosophy of Buddhism; here he explains the basic religious tenets in depth (and with more clarity than I'd previously encountered in introductory texts). A superb overview of Buddhist practice. As a poet, the author manages to teach us everything we need to know about the Dhamma and make us feel heart-warm at the same time through the use of beautiful analogies. As soon as I got the book it looked a fake version..the cover is a fake.. photocopy kinda version of the original print. He almost covered everything like 4 noble truths, noble 8 fold path. Mind you, it’s not the easiest, nor the simplest book on the subject out there. I took in kindle it’s a wonderful book Buddha teaching explained very well.