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BuddhistGAF: Great Learnings from the Teacher

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Mecha_Infantry

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I know GAF has many from all religions, but one religion (or if you believe it's a philosophy) that doesn't get too much negative or positive talk is the way of the Buddha.

I originally was baptised and confirmed from a young age, but my religion drifted off during my elder years due to personal conflicts and life. But when a family member died through self inflicted ways, his mother blamed these people he was seeing. It worked out these people were "Buddhists" of some sort, I have no idea. But anyway this lead me to reading more about Buddhism: the 4 noble truths, the 8 fold path, the early days of the Buddha, etc and it was amazing.

From then I've done a lot of practising in the Buddhist ways such as meditation, and acting positively towards my karma but it's been hard! So maybe we can act as a sub-Sangha to each other to offer tips, general discussion etc.

I'll also be going on a Buddhist retreat to..........New York :lol, (Description: Located amidst the mountains and rivers of the Catskill range, the Monastery's main grounds unfold gently within the southern bowl of Tremper Mountain, bordered by the juncture of two of upstate New York's finest waterways, the Beaverkill and Esopus rivers.) I know it's not really Buddhist like in terms of county, but I have been advised to go to an English speaking retreat first for a few weeks and then venture East to follow my Mahayana form of Buddhism.

So am I alone in this place......
 
My high school buddy/freshman college roommate dropped out and moved to a Buddhist commune in Rhode Island. I never saw or heard from him again.
 
I increasingly consider myself a 'buddhist' atheist.

The Buddha didn't say shit about reincarnation or any metaphysical existence (god, afterlife, etc). He was all about learning how to end your suffering and be happy in this life. The beliefs of many Buddhists these days aren't based on the teachings of the original Buddha.
 
beermonkey@tehbias said:
I increasingly consider myself a 'buddhist' atheist.

The Buddha didn't say shit about reincarnation or any metaphysical existence (god, afterlife, etc). He was all about learning how to end your suffering and be happy in this life. The beliefs of many Buddhists these days aren't based on the teachings of the original Buddha.
Click to expand...


Me and you are the same. I don't believe or have to believe the meta stuff. I just love the credo and the teachings.

Pema Chodron is actually a good resource for learning about the suffering aspect, and she tends to avoid reincarnation. People (Oprah, et al) have tried to co opt Pema Chodron as the new religious escape, but she's had none of it. She just wants to teach and I love her for it.

The reason I bring her up is because I don't have a resource (except for eSangha) for my studies of Mahayana Buddhism where I live. West Virginia is funny like that.

Anyway, Mecha, good luck. I would love to do that... but that would be tying myself to something.. and.. hoo boy Buddhism can be confusing.
 
AlexMogil said:
Me and you are the same. I don't believe or have to believe the meta stuff. I just love the credo and the teachings.

Pema Chodron is actually a good resource for learning about the suffering aspect, and she tends to avoid reincarnation. People (Oprah, et al) have tried to co opt Pema Chodron as the new religious escape, but she's had none of it. She just wants to teach and I love her for it.

The reason I bring her up is because I don't have a resource (except for eSangha) for my studies of Mahayana Buddhism where I live. West Virginia is funny like that.

Anyway, Mecha, good luck. I would love to do that... but that would be tying myself to something.. and.. hoo boy Buddhism can be confusing.
Click to expand...

You know one of the sayings of a Buddhist is as follows: *looks for the quote, can't find it*

But it said you don't need to believe in the ways of Buddhism, but if you practise them that is enough. I'll try and find the quote again though.

Veritas_ said:
I know a little about Buddhism, so I might peak in here now and again. Good idea for the thread, Mecha.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Ask away if you don't know much as everyone here can teach each other, I'm going to be a lot more knowledgeable (hopefully) after the sensi teachings out in NY, so I hope to bless this thread with a lot more info

AlexMogil said:
Anyway, Mecha, good luck. I would love to do that... but that would be tying myself to something.. and.. hoo boy Buddhism can be confusing.
Click to expand...

Cheers! I'm scared though as I'm going by myself to NY and then to a lodge in the wilderness!
 
Well I've told my mum that I'm a practising Buddhist and I'll be taking retreat for a week -> 3 weeks and she wans;t too happy. She is worried about them "filling my head with all those stupid thoughts"

Eh...parents
 
Reporting in :D

I'd like to contribute to this thread but I'm on an iPhone right now :)
 
BocoDragon said:
Reporting in :D

I'd like to contribute to this thread but I'm on an iPhone right now :)
Click to expand...

Yay! Let's play, let's plaaaaay! :lol

Currently reading the Manual of Zen Buddhism...I can't wait to get a teacher :|
 
Buddha said:
“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”
Click to expand...

There are a lot of rituals and traditions in the different schools of Buddhism which are counter-intuitive to the core teachings of the Buddha. It is acceptable to ignore them if you think that way.

Also, the Buddha spoke of rebirth (he described having many lives) and how you define it is entirely up to you. It is also taught that you don't need to believe in it. Here's what I think about death through my understanding of Buddhism:

What we experience in life is a dream that dissolves when our mind believes itself to be dead. That state is like existing as all possible things at all possible times and trying to rationalise it is like trying to give form to the formless.

It makes sense to me when you consider the Buddha often stated that the "true self" is neither this or that and we shouldn't try to define it using our limited perceptions. It sort of fits in with ideas of quantum physics and the double slit experiment where an unobserved particle exists in multiple states (IMHO).

If, when we die, we still have desires and attachment for the "real world" then we'll return or a new life will reform. I think that the Buddha taught us to live our life in preparation for death so that when it comes we can dismiss the illusions of self and separateness.

Mecha_Infantry said:
Well I've told my mum that I'm a practising Buddhist and I'll be taking retreat for a week -> 3 weeks and she wans;t too happy. She is worried about them "filling my head with all those stupid thoughts"

Eh...parents
Click to expand...
Buddhism teaches you to control all thoughts (stupid or otherwise). Becoming negative or angry is that illusory ego rearing its ugly head so try to be impartial when you hear her say things like that.
 
beermonkey@tehbias said:
I increasingly consider myself a 'buddhist' atheist.

The Buddha didn't say shit about reincarnation or any metaphysical existence (god, afterlife, etc). He was all about learning how to end your suffering and be happy in this life. The beliefs of many Buddhists these days aren't based on the teachings of the original Buddha.
Click to expand...

I notice myself gravitating towards the exact same thing.
 
My sister recently camped with some Buddhist monks on her trip through India. They played computer games and listened to Nirvana.
 
As someone who was raised Roman Catholic I've become more and more interested in converting to Buddhism in recent years.

How did the OP 'Start' and when did you really call yourself a Buddhist?
 
speculawyer said:
I will resist the urge to make Tiger Woods jokes.
But I wouldn't mind if someone else did it.
Click to expand...
Tiger Woods caused harm to others through his thoughts and actions. That really is the complete opposite of what Buddhism teaches.
Sorry, no joke!

Subliminal said:
As someone who was raised Roman Catholic I've become more and more interested in converting to Buddhism in recent years.

How did the OP 'Start' and when did you really call yourself a Buddhist?
Click to expand...
You don't really need to convert to Buddhism. You just try to understand your mind (through analysis, reason and meditation) and live an unselfish life and show compassion for all beings.

You can do that whilst remaining a Roman Catholic if you like but it is unlikely you'll stay one as you uncover the truth of things.
 
Napoleonthechimp said:
Buddhism teaches you to control all thoughts (stupid or otherwise). Becoming negative or angry is that illusory ego rearing its ugly head so try to be impartial when you hear her say things like that.
Click to expand...

Yeah I controlled it, I didn;t react to her, I just tried to explain to her what it entailed and said we'll sit down together and I'll read her some stuff but she didnt want to know. So I couldn;t do much :(

Subliminal said:
As someone who was raised Roman Catholic I've become more and more interested in converting to Buddhism in recent years.

How did the OP 'Start' and when did you really call yourself a Buddhist?
Click to expand...

Like Napolean said it's less of a conversion, more of an understanding of things, life and yourself.

But to directly answer your question I started just by understanding what I felt inside myself, then I started reading about Buddhism, the different Buddhist schools, and then just kept reading. I won't call myself a "true" Buddhist just yet, I feel I want to do my month -> 1 year retreat in a Buddhist monastery and learn from others, practise more in my meditation, cleaning up my life and make sure I just understand things better..hence why I still say I'm practising, rather than I'm an out right Buddhist :)
 
I'm not a Buddhist, per se, but I have a strong fondness for the Buddha's teachings and have many books on his teachings. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread to see what more I can learn.
 
I'm not really a buddhist, but his theory makes a lot of sense. One of the most "logical" religions actually... It seems very realistic to me, but it's a very sad religion nonetheless.

I'm just living Aristotele's "Happiness is good." right now. I kind of simplified his theory, but this just makes the most sense for me.
 
Mecha_Infantry said:
Yeah I controlled it, I didn;t react to her, I just tried to explain to her what it entailed and said we'll sit down together and I'll read her some stuff but she didnt want to know. So I couldn;t do much :(
Click to expand...
As the Buddha said:
Buddha said:
No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.
Click to expand...
Concentrate on your own enlightenment, show compassion and if she asks for help then guide her.

God's Beard said:
Siddhartha Gautama was a terrible father and an all around slacker.
Click to expand...
His son became one of his disciples and attained enlightenment at the age of 18. One of the central tenants of buddhahood is to strive for the enlightenment of all beings, he left his family because he understood that. To call him a slacker is just absurd as the path he took required years of hard work, all of which paid off in the form of a religion that for over 2,500 years has called only for peace and understanding.
 
I consider myself Agnostic, but "Desire is the cause of suffering" ( paraphrased) was one of those mind blowing things that I learned from reading like three pages of a Buddhist book. Reading that very literally changed my life. I really should have read more but I needed to digest that line fully, I'm ready for more.
 
God's Beard said:
Siddhartha Gautama was a terrible father and an all around slacker.
Click to expand...
The funny thing about this religion is that it's not a "revealed" religion. Its truth doesn't necessarily rest upon the miraculous origin story of the founder, but in its practical application to ones life. If I discover that Jesus wasn't real, for example, I have debunked Christianity... but no matter what anyone discovers about Buddha, it really has little bearing on Buddhism.

So you say Buddha was a jerk. Maybe so.. I don't know. Like any religion, especially one that is 2500 years old, we are so far removed that we can't know anything solid about the founder. Perhaps he was a bum who swindled followers into a cult. I think it'd be foolish to assume that as the one form of truth, but it's certainly possible!

Here's some other food for thought: You called him "Siddartha Gautama" to try and lower his position to that of a normal man.. Guess what, the name "Siddartha" is just as much as of a reverent title as "Buddha" is! It was not used until roughly 500 years after he was to have lived! The earliest stories about Buddha feature him existing as a normal man.... And also include stories about his birth being foretold by a prophet, and his immaculate conception through a slit in his mother's side.. From the very earliest we can know about, he is described in both human and godlike terms. Which is the truth? A man who was later deified.. or a god who was later humanized? As well, any saying attributed to the Buddha was certainly not written by him, but words put into his mouth by Buddhist followers who wanted to illustrate their teachings with an authoritative punch. Most "sayings of the Buddha" have many different writers between 2000-500 years ago.

And yet, it is possible to know all this... and still be a Buddhist. Because I don't care about Buddha.. it's the practice which matters. Sure, I revere this Buddha story because it serves a purpose of inspiring practice in my own life... but if you found a time machine, proved Buddha was a huckster, it wouldn't affect the value I find in my practice in the slightest. Buddha is to Buddhism what Santa Claus is to Christmas... You could still enjoy both Buddhism and Christmas without having a belief in either of these men.
 
Technically anyone who achieves enlightenment can be considered Buddha, so those quotes may very well have been said by a number of different people and it still wouldn't invalidate them.
 
Napoleonthechimp said:
Technically anyone who achieves enlightenment can be considered Buddha, so those quotes may very well have been said by a number of different people and it still wouldn't invalidate them.
Click to expand...
They do imply that it is the founder, though.

I still think those quotes are totally valid... perhaps MORE valid. Think of it this way... instead of those quotes being Buddhist because they are sourced to the mouth of the Buddha, those quotes are Buddhist because they were deemed worth of being put into the mouth of Buddha by later followers. A saying wouldn't have been attributed to Buddha unless it was deemed as a fundamental part of the practice....

Besides, the people who wrote as the Buddha did so as their skillful means to inspire people in their practice.... it has a point directly related to the aim of enlightening people... which is more essentially "Buddhist" than a history text about the founding of Buddhism (which would be of interest to modern scholarship, but irrelevant in the actual practice of becoming enlightened).
 
God's Beard said:
I called him Siddhartha Gautama because buddha means a lot of things.
Click to expand...
Sure, I understand you on that... you're talking about a specific person.

But let me have my so very interesting aside about "Siddhartha" ok? :lol
 
BocoDragon said:
The funny thing about this religion is that it's not a "revealed" religion. Its truth doesn't necessarily rest upon the miraculous origin story of the founder, but in its practical application to ones life. If I discover that Jesus wasn't real, for example, I have debunked Christianity... but no matter what anyone discovers about Buddha, it really has little bearing on Buddhism.

So you say Buddha was a jerk. Maybe so.. I don't know. Like any religion, especially one that is 2500 years old, we are so far removed that we can't know anything solid about the founder. Perhaps he was a bum who swindled followers into a cult. I think it'd be foolish to assume that as the one form of truth, but it's certainly possible!

Here's some other food for thought: You called him "Siddartha Gautama" to try and lower his position to that of a normal man.. Guess what, the name "Siddartha" is just as much as of a reverent title as "Buddha" is! It was not used until roughly 500 years after he was to have lived! The earliest stories about Buddha feature him existing as a normal man.... And also include stories about his birth being foretold by a prophet, and his immaculate conception through a slit in his mother's side.. From the very earliest we can know about, he is described in both human and godlike terms. Which is the truth? A man who was later deified.. or a god who was later humanized? As well, any saying attributed to the Buddha was certainly not written by him, but words put into his mouth by Buddhist followers who wanted to illustrate their teachings with an authoritative punch. Most "sayings of the Buddha" have many different writers between 2000-500 years ago.

And yet, it is possible to know all this... and still be a Buddhist. Because I don't care about Buddha.. it's the practice which matters. Sure, I revere this Buddha story because it serves a purpose of inspiring practice in my own life... but if you found a time machine, proved Buddha was a huckster, it wouldn't affect the value I find in my practice in the slightest. Buddha is to Buddhism what Santa Claus is to Christmas... You could still enjoy both Buddhism and Christmas without having a belief in either of these men.
Click to expand...

:)

Lin Chi Zen Master said, "If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha. If you meet a Patriarch, kill the Patriarch." Zen Master Seung Sahn says that in this life we must all kill three things: First we must kill our parents. Second, we must kill the Buddha. And lastly, we must kill him! This kind of speech is sometimes perplexing to people raised in the Judaeo-Christian tradition since we would never say this about Jesus or one of the Prophets. But the meaning here is very interesting and goes far beyond the martial language of the metaphor. Buddhism is quite unique in that its founder never said, "Believe what I say." Buddhism means find out for yourself.. i.e., kill the Buddha.

At one time, the citizens of Kesaputta asked the Buddha what they should believe. They were very confused by the many religions in vogue at that time. The Buddha said, "Do not accept anything by mere tradition. Do not accept anything just because it accords with your scriptures. Do not accept anything because it agrees with your opinions or because it is socially acceptable. Do not accept anything because it comes from the mouth of a respected person. Rather, observe closely and if it is to the benefit of all, accept and abide by it." This Sutta - the Kalama Sutta - is the root of Zen-style inquiry into the true self.

The Buddha says in the Diamond Sutra that in his whole teaching career he never spoke a single word. In Zen, we are admonished that understanding cannot help us. The wind does not read. So, what are we left with? just before he died the Buddha said, "Life is very short, please investigate it closely." We are left with the great question: What am I? What is a human being? In his great compassion the Buddha leaves us only with footprints pointing the way... in the end he cannot help us; we must find the answer ourselves. Zen, too, asks the question but does not have the answer. But you do, if you look inside.
Click to expand...
 
BocoDragon said:
Sure, I understand you on that... you're talking about a specific person.

But let me have my so very interesting aside about "Siddhartha" ok? :lol
Click to expand...

So his dad gets a message in the mail that's all, "your son will be a great political or religious leader", and he's like, shit, let's get this politickin ball rollin.
So SG(straight gangster), grows up boozing, fucking bitches and generally being an all around bro of a dude.
Then somebody lets an old dude out, and SG is all like WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT SHIT?
I'M GONNA BE LIKE THAT? NOT. ON. BROS.
So he's like, fuck you guys, I'm avoiding this shit, and heads out in the woods.
Basically alone for the fist time ever, he pretty much shits his pants with all the bears around and shit.
"This is bullshit, maybe some spiritual jainist bros know what's up"
Then he cruises with those cats, and learns nothing. "Yo this is bullshit, ima jet. peace out"
So basically he knows he's gotta solve it himself and it might take a while, so he chills out under some shade.
he's trying to concentrate and some skeezy ho Mara shows up to mack on his ass
"Yo bitch, I'm busy, so pick up some other john, son"
Then he gets all enlightened up in his shit
"fuck, man. it's about moderation, dude. I gotta tell the bros"
Then he walks around and shit.


Then the smug bastard hindis get all indignant, seein all their cats getting stolen by this hippie, so they open up their religion to the non-thinking, hardworking loverboy types.

The end.
 
"Do not accept anything by mere tradition. Do not accept anything just because it accords with your scriptures. Do not accept anything because it agrees with your opinions or because it is socially acceptable. Do not accept anything because it comes from the mouth of a respected person. Rather, observe closely and if it is to the benefit of all, accept and abide by it."

That's pretty great
 
If I were forced to pick a religion it would be this one.

Also, meditation is one of the best things you could do for yourself. It will slowly and subtly make your whole life better. It's not that hard to do. I know all of this and still can't manage to actually do it regularly =/.
 
I recently heard the description that every sentient being's buddhahood is like a fully formed bird inside an egg. Once the outer shell is cracked it can immediately fly free and soar into the air.

I suppose the task is to remember what we are and realise that each one of us is trapped in our own "golden cage" (as the Buddha called it) to which we all have the key. A lot of people like it in there so they don't feel much incentive to be free... I've certainly grown tired of it all so I can't share in that sentiment.
 
The Teachings of the BUDDHA said:
So his dad gets a message in the mail that's all, "your son will be a great political or religious leader", and he's like, shit, let's get this politickin ball rollin.
So SG(straight gangster), grows up boozing, fucking bitches and generally being an all around bro of a dude.
Then somebody lets an old dude out, and SG is all like WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT SHIT?
I'M GONNA BE LIKE THAT? NOT. ON. BROS.
So he's like, fuck you guys, I'm avoiding this shit, and heads out in the woods.
Basically alone for the fist time ever, he pretty much shits his pants with all the bears around and shit.
"This is bullshit, maybe some spiritual jainist bros know what's up"
Then he cruises with those cats, and learns nothing. "Yo this is bullshit, ima jet. peace out"
So basically he knows he's gotta solve it himself and it might take a while, so he chills out under some shade.
he's trying to concentrate and some skeezy ho Mara shows up to mack on his ass
"Yo bitch, I'm busy, so pick up some other john, son"
Then he gets all enlightened up in his shit
"fuck, man. it's about moderation, dude. I gotta tell the bros"
Then he walks around and shit.


Then the smug bastard hindis get all indignant, seein all their cats getting stolen by this hippie, so they open up their religion to the non-thinking, hardworking loverboy types.

The end.
Click to expand...
.
 
Siebzehn50 said:
What are some good resources to read for somebody interested in Buddhism?
Click to expand...

This. I've always been interested in Buddhism and really, don't know too much about it. Could anyone recommend some books to get me and people like me started?
 
VALIS said:
:)

Lin Chi Zen Master said, "If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha. If you meet a Patriarch, kill the Patriarch." Zen Master Seung Sahn says that in this life we must all kill three things: First we must kill our parents. Second, we must kill the Buddha. And lastly, we must kill him! This kind of speech is sometimes perplexing to people raised in the Judaeo-Christian tradition since we would never say this about Jesus or one of the Prophets. But the meaning here is very interesting and goes far beyond the martial language of the metaphor. Buddhism is quite unique in that its founder never said, "Believe what I say." Buddhism means find out for yourself.. i.e., kill the Buddha.

At one time, the citizens of Kesaputta asked the Buddha what they should believe. They were very confused by the many religions in vogue at that time. The Buddha said, "Do not accept anything by mere tradition. Do not accept anything just because it accords with your scriptures. Do not accept anything because it agrees with your opinions or because it is socially acceptable. Do not accept anything because it comes from the mouth of a respected person. Rather, observe closely and if it is to the benefit of all, accept and abide by it." This Sutta - the Kalama Sutta - is the root of Zen-style inquiry into the true self.

The Buddha says in the Diamond Sutra that in his whole teaching career he never spoke a single word. In Zen, we are admonished that understanding cannot help us. The wind does not read. So, what are we left with? just before he died the Buddha said, "Life is very short, please investigate it closely." We are left with the great question: What am I? What is a human being? In his great compassion the Buddha leaves us only with footprints pointing the way... in the end he cannot help us; we must find the answer ourselves. Zen, too, asks the question but does not have the answer. But you do, if you look inside.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
.

I want to read more of wherever it is that's quoted from :)
 
I have been drifting towards Buddhism for years. The 4 Noble Truths are something I have to make myself re-read every few months, with monkey brain doing its best to push it out of my thoughts.

I'm not sure if I'll ever completely embrace it, though. I do love me some sarcasm, and that surely de-buffs your karma a wee bit.
 
Napoleonthechimp said:
I recently heard the description that every sentient being's buddhahood is like a fully formed bird inside an egg. Once the outer shell is cracked it can immediately fly free and soar into the air.

I suppose the task is to remember what we are and realise that each one of us is trapped in our own "golden cage" (as the Buddha called it) to which we all have the key. A lot of people like it in there so they don't feel much incentive to be free... I've certainly grown tired of it all so I can't share in that sentiment.
Click to expand...

I've always like this saying

When an ordinary man gains knowledge, he is a sage;
when a sage gains understanding, he is an ordinary man
 
Sorry gues, I haven't been as active in this thread, but a question!

Does anyone know of a temple in Paris? I am going there for work tomorrow and would like to visit and help for a few hours

Cheers...
 
beermonkey@tehbias said:
I increasingly consider myself a 'buddhist' atheist.

The Buddha didn't say shit about reincarnation or any metaphysical existence (god, afterlife, etc). He was all about learning how to end your suffering and be happy in this life. The beliefs of many Buddhists these days aren't based on the teachings of the original Buddha.
Click to expand...
That's interesting, tell me more.
 
beermonkey@tehbias said:
I increasingly consider myself a 'buddhist' atheist.

The Buddha didn't say shit about reincarnation or any metaphysical existence (god, afterlife, etc). He was all about learning how to end your suffering and be happy in this life. The beliefs of many Buddhists these days aren't based on the teachings of the original Buddha.
Click to expand...

i agree 100% people have deified him and totally missed the point.
 
Siebzehn50 said:
What are some good resources to read for somebody interested in Buddhism?
Click to expand...

This was a real good intro for me:

0385530986_bg.jpg
 
cool, gonna look that book up.

my interest philosophically has worked backwards from bushido stuff to zen, most of which ive read from alan watts..not necessarily the most approachable as an intro, but some of it spoke to what im looking for.
very interested in more info, and secular places here in miami, though checking out a temple would be cool. my only fear is wu-tang lyrics and shaw brothers films have no doubt created a very different image in my head from what im likely to see. :lol
 
IrishNinja said:
cool, gonna look that book up.

my interest philosophically has worked backwards from bushido stuff to zen, most of which ive read from alan watts..not necessarily the most approachable as an intro, but some of it spoke to what im looking for.
very interested in more info, and secular places here in miami, though checking out a temple would be cool. my only fear is wu-tang lyrics and shaw brothers films have no doubt created a very different image in my head from what im likely to see. :lol
Click to expand...

Have you ever read The Unfettered Mind written in the 17th century by a zen monk as a letter to a sword master which is a primary source on the application of zen to swordsmanship and other martial arts? There is of course a fundamental contradiction raised by the application of Buddhism towards violence and killing which would become very dangerous in Japanese history, but much of the philosophy this text provides on how zen can apply to a physical practice is sound and valuable.

In a very different direction another zen book I have enjoyed and learned much from is "Zen Flesh, Zen Bones", a collection of zen parables and koans.
 
I'm in a similar situation as a few of the folks here. I've found the book What the Buddha Taught to be pretty good.

I understand if you don't want to enter the fray, but it'd be nice to have a bit more diversity than atheist vs. Christian in the Religion thread.
 
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