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What is the Dharma?
- The essential teachings of the Buddha
- Narrated by: Jinananda
- Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Politics & Social Sciences, Philosophy
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Summary
What is the Dharma? To walk in the footsteps of the Buddha, we need a clear and thorough guide to the essential principles of Buddhism. Whether we have just begun our journey or are a practitioner with more experience, What is the Dharma? is an indispensable exploration of the Buddha's teachings as found in the main Buddhist traditions.
Constantly returning to the question "how can this help me?", Sangharakshita examines a variety of fundamental principles, including karma and rebirth, nirvana and shunyata, conditioned coproduction, impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, insubstantiality, ethics, meditation and wisdom. The result is an informative, refreshing and inspiring book that lays before us the essential Dharma, timeless and universal, in a clear and practical manner.
Urgyen Sangharakshita, the English-born Buddhist teacher, is one of the most influential and respected figures in Western Buddhism. Ordained initially into the Theravadin tradition, he broadened his scope to involve all the Buddhist traditions. After 20 years in India, he returned to the West and founded the Western Buddhist Order, later renamed the Triratna Buddhist Order. With centres all over the world, it has played a major role in adapting the Buddhist traditions to the contemporary world, making Dharma practice its central pillar.
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What listeners say about What is the Dharma?
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Adisha
- 11-04-16
Excellent survey of Dharma!
A clear and concise treatise of vast subject matter beatifully distilled into bitesize sections. I highly recommend this thought-provoking, well organised and self-empowering audiobook!
4 people found this helpful
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- P. Donovan
- 09-02-20
Thorough but somewhat hard to follow
This is a beautifully narrated overview of the history and meanings of The Dharma in addition to how we can apply The Buddha's message. Some of the explanations were quite hard to follow but, I am sure, that this will repay repeated listenings.
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- kim d
- 11-01-18
easy to listen to and informative
I wish this had been longer! I really enjoyed it. It taught me so much.
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- Coatsie
- 16-12-17
Well Worth It
For anyone interested in Buddhism this is an excellent resource, full of clear explanations and insight.
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- luke
- 24-10-16
Awesome read!
Any additional comments?
I wish that this book was around when I was first delving into Buddhism. This book is a must read for anyone. Wether you are a student of Buddhism or just curious. The author lays out the Dharma and so many of the basics of Buddhism in way that is clear to understand and digest. I look forward to getting my paws on more material by this Sangharashita fellow.
2 people found this helpful
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- Brian W
- 02-01-20
great read
anyone who has interest in religion should read this. in spite if the author adding things it's still a great book.
1 person found this helpful
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- Carol E. Meacham
- 12-01-18
Engrossing for the practicing Buddhist
Sure to spark connections and new paths of thinking. I re-listen a couple times a year.
1 person found this helpful
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- Brian
- 14-11-20
Fantastic
This is quite easily one of the best books I've ever encountered. So well-written, just amazing.