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    Buddhism for Beginners: All you need to start your journey
    Buddhism for Beginners: All you need to start your journey
    Buddhism for Beginners: All you need to start your journey
    Ebook59 pages36 minutes

    Buddhism for Beginners: All you need to start your journey

    By Richard Johnson

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    About this ebook

    Whether you are interested in learning about Buddhism or looking to make changes in your life, Buddhism for Beginners has you covered. Written in a style that is simple and engaging, it explores the history of Buddhism, its philosophies, and its relevance in today’s society. The book provides numerous meditative exercises that will allow you to experience the wondrous teachings of this ancient wisdom.

    The author explains how Buddhism is more than a religion; it’s an internal science. Rather than relying on dogma or sacred texts, Buddhism teaches us to look inward and challenge our most deep-seated beliefs for the purpose liberating ourselves from our minds.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRichard Johnson
    Release dateNov 19, 2017
    ISBN9781386940944
    Buddhism for Beginners: All you need to start your journey

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    • 5/5
      This is definitely a book that I will be referring to time and again....so many jewels in it! Thank you Mr. Johnson!

    Book preview

    Buddhism for Beginners - Richard Johnson

    Buddhism for Beginners

    All you need to start your journey

    Copyright © 2017 by Richard Johnson.

    All rights reserved.

    Table of Contents

    Introduction

    A Brief History of Buddhism

    The Spread of Buddhism

    The Servant or the Master: Which One are You?

    Self-Identification with the Mind and Body

    Meditation

    The Presence of Mindfulness

    The Principle of Karma

    Dualistic versus Non-Dualistic Perspectives

    The Principle of Non-Substantiality

    One’s Life and the Environment

    Sentient and Non-Sentient Beings

    Attachment

    The Ten Worlds

    Conclusion

    Introduction

    There is a famous Buddhist parable called the Jewel in the Robe. In this parable, a homeless man wanders the countryside as he looks to eke out a living. He spends his time begging on the streets for food and money.

    One day, a rich man is driving through the streets and sees the man sitting on the side of the road. The rich man notices that he is struggling and offers him a ride. As the rich man drives, he gets to know the poor man and invites him to spend the night at his house. The poor man accepts the generous invitation and soon finds himself being able to wash up, eat a warm meal, and sleep in a comfortable bed.

    As the poor man lies sleeping, the rich man sneaks into his bedroom and finds the poor man’s robe. He has a precious jewel in his hand, which he hides in the lining of the robe. With the valuable jewel securely placed in the robe, he returns it to the room. The next morning, the poor man thanks the rich man for his kindness and continues his journey.

    Many years have passed when the rich man encounters the poor man again, sitting on the side of the road. It is clear to the rich man that the poor man is no better off than when he first encountered him.

    He asks the poor man why is it that he is still struggling when he has such a precious jewel in his possession. The poor man then feels the lump in the robe’s lining. In disbelief, he realizes that he has struggled all this time while possessing a fortune that was beyond his wildest dreams.

    Through symbolism, parables help us make connections with ideas that that may be too abstract for us to understand. In this parable, the poor man symbolizes each one of us. The rich man signifies a profound teaching, such as Buddhism. As for the jewel, it represents our most essential nature.

    Just like the poor man, we all face struggles in life. We struggle because we are unaware of the precious jewel that lies within us. There is, however, one important difference between the parable and our lives. In the parable, the rich man placed the jewel in the poor man’s robe. The jewel that is found within us is not placed there. Rather, it is an inherent aspect of us. It is our most fundamental nature.

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