{"product_id":"buddha-for-beginners-9781939994332","title":"Buddha for Beginners","description":"\u003cp\u003eDespite the widespread popularity of Buddhist practices (like meditation), there is little understanding of the complex philosophy behind Buddhism. The historical Buddha, Gautama, was a real person--a radical--who challenged the religious leaders of his day. \u003ci\u003eBuddha For Beginners\u003c\/i\u003e introduces the reader to the historical Buddha, to the ideas that made him change his life, and to the fascinating philosophical debates that engaged him and formed the core of Buddhism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eBuddha For Beginners\u003c\/i\u003e compares Buddha's philosophy with those of his contemporaries, the later Buddhist schools, and Western Philosophy. The book includes a survey, distinguishing the philosophical differences among later schools of Buddhism, such as Theravada, Madhyamaika, Tantric, Zen, and others.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eBuddha For Beginners\u003c\/i\u003e is not a book you read, it is a book you experience. It makes you stop and close your eyes. Through some magical combination of words, drawings, and intuitive wisdom, Buddha For Beginners conveys not only the facts of Buddhism, but the peace, the silence...the feel of it. It is historically accurate, spiritually challenging, and the white spaces mean as much as the words.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eStephen T. Asma, PhD\u003c\/b\u003e, is Professor of Philosophy in the Department of Humanities, History, and Social Sciences at Columbia College Chicago, where he currently holds the titles of Distinguished Scholar and Fellow of the LAS Research Group in Mind, Science and Culture. In 2003, Dr. Asma was Visiting Professor at the Buddhist Institute in Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia. He is the author of several books including \u003ci\u003eWhy I Am a Buddhist\u003c\/i\u003e (Hampton Roads, 2010), \u003ci\u003eOn Monsters\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Gods Drink Whiskey\u003c\/i\u003e. He frequently writes on topics that bridge the humanities and sciences, including articles for the \u003ci\u003eChicago Tribune\u003c\/i\u003e, In \u003ci\u003eThese Times\u003c\/i\u003e magazine, the \u003ci\u003eSkeptical Inquirer\u003c\/i\u003e, the \u003ci\u003eChronicle Review, Skepticmagazine\u003c\/i\u003e, and Chicago Public Radio's news-magazine show Eight-Forty-Eight.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"For Beginners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50525204775186,"sku":"9781939994332","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_eb2d9ccb-b712-4a8a-9509-3b2cc01d9e17.jpg?v=1731207827","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/buddha-for-beginners-9781939994332","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}