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Star-Spangled Buddhist
- Zen, Tibetan, and Soka Gakkai Buddhism and the Quest for Enlightenment in America
- Narrated by: Kevin Young
- Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins
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Publisher's summary
The full story of Buddhism in the United States - illuminated and enlightened for today’s listener.
Approximately four million Americans claim to be Buddhist. Moreover, hundreds of thousands of Americans of various faiths read about Buddhism, are interested in its philosophical tenets, or fashionably view themselves as Buddhists. They’re part of what’s been described as the fastest growing religious movement in America: a large group of people dissatisfied with traditional religious offerings and thirsty for an approach to spirituality grounded in logic and consistent with scientific knowledge. Star-Spangled Buddhist is a provocative look at these American Buddhists through their three largest movements in the United States: the Soka Gakkai International, Tibetan/Vajrayana Buddhism, and Zen Buddhism.The practice of each of these American schools, unlike most traditional Asian Buddhist sects, is grounded in the notion that all people are capable of attaining enlightenment in “this lifetime.” But the differences are also profound: The spectrum of philosophical expression among these American Buddhist schools is as varied as that observed between Reformed, Orthodox, and Hasidic Judaism.
Star-Spangled Buddhist isn’t written from the perspective of a monk or academic but rather from the irreverent view of author Jeff Ourvan, a lifelong practicing lay Buddhist. As Ourvan explores the American Buddhist movement through its most popular schools, he arrives at a clearer understanding for himself and the listener about what it means to be - and how one might choose to be - a Buddhist in America.
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The Eightfold Path is the most widely known formulation of the Buddha's teaching. It is ancient, reaching back to the Buddha's very first discourse, and it is highly venerated as a unique treasury of wisdom and practical guidance. The teaching of the Eightfold Path challenges us to grasp the implications of that vision, and asks us to transform ourselves in its light. Like the teaching itself, this work covers every aspect of life.
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Excellent
- By Anthony on 06-22-07
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The Guru Drinks Bourbon?
- By: Amira Ben-Yehuda, Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse
- Narrated by: Tom Pile
- Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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Devotion to one's teacher is the lifeblood of the Vajrayana path. Because the guru can and will use whatever means it takes to wake us up, this relationship may require us to drop our most deeply held beliefs and expectations. Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse addresses some of the most misunderstood aspects of this powerful relationship and gives practical advice on making the most of this precious opportunity for transformation.
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Poor pronunciation of Tibetan & dharma terms
- By Marzi on 04-21-18
By: Amira Ben-Yehuda, and others
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Hidden Wisdom
- A Guide to Western Inner Traditions
- By: Richard Smoley, Jay Kinney
- Narrated by: Ethan Sawyer
- Length: 11 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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The co-editors of Gnosis magazine explore the many esoteric traditions that Western culture has to offer. While terms from Eastern spiritual practices such as Zen, mantra, and karma have become part of our daily lexicon, the traditions of Western spirituality have been largely unexplored by people searching for non-mainstream routes to spiritual experience. But for those who identify with Western culture, Western religious traditions have their own wisdom teachings that are more suitable to their needs and expectations.
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Interesting, enjoyable, not too deep
- By DBruno1987 on 03-03-15
By: Richard Smoley, and others
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God and the Evolving Universe
- The Next Step in Personal Evolution
- By: James Redfield, Michael Murphy, Sylvia Timbers
- Narrated by: Chris Ryan
- Length: 7 hrs
- Unabridged
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In God and the Evolving Universe, James Redfield and Michael Murphy present an important message of hope and a vision for the future. The authors contend that thousands of years of human striving have delivered us to this very moment, in which each act of self-development is creating a new stage in planetary evolution and the emergence of a human species possessed of vastly expanded spiritual experience.
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higher is better
- By Tommie on 04-20-07
By: James Redfield, and others
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The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali
- A Biography
- By: David Gordon White
- Narrated by: Peter Ganim
- Length: 7 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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Consisting of fewer than 200 verses written in an obscure if not impenetrable language and style, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra is today extolled by the yoga establishment as a perennial classic and guide to yoga practice. As David Gordon White demonstrates in this groundbreaking study, both of these assumptions are incorrect. Virtually forgotten in India for hundreds of years and maligned when it was first discovered in the West, the Yoga Sutra has been elevated to its present iconic status.
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Academic Hubris
- By John on 10-31-14
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The Monk and the Philosopher
- A Father and Son Discuss the Meaning of Life
- By: Jean-Francois Revel
- Narrated by: David Shaw-Parker
- Length: 14 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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Twenty-seven years ago, Matthieu Ricard gave up a promising career as a scientist to study Tibetan Buddhism - not as a detached observer but by immersing himself in its practice under the guidance of its greatest living masters. Years later, this project was born, and Richard met with his father, Jean-Francois Revel - a French philosopher who became world famous for his challenges to both Communism and Christianity. At an inn, these two profoundly thoughtful men explored questions that have occupied humankind throughout its history.
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The dialogues themselves proved tranquility is attainable.
- By Mingster on 05-16-19
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The Heart Sutra
- A Comprehensive Guide to the Classic of Mahayana Buddhism
- By: Kazuaki Tanahashi
- Narrated by: P. J. Ochlan
- Length: 4 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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The Prajna Paramita Hridaya Sutra is among the best known of all the Buddhist scriptures. Chanted daily by many Zen students, it is also studied extensively in the Tibetan tradition, and it has been regarded with interest more recently in the West in various fields of study - from philosophy to quantum physics. In just 35 lines, it expresses the truth of impermanence and the release from suffering that results from the understanding of that truth with a breathtaking economy of language.
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Awful
- By Anonymous User on 08-21-17
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No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners
- Clear Answers to Burning Questions About Core Buddhist Teachings
- By: Noah Rasheta
- Narrated by: Will Damron
- Length: 2 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Presented in a practical Q&A format, No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners is the most clear-cut introductory guide to understanding the essential concepts of Buddhism and how they relate to your daily life. How is an awakening different from enlightenment? Can agnostics and atheists be Buddhist? In No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners, renowned Buddhism teacher and host of the popular Secular Buddhism podcast, Noah Rasheta, delivers an easily accessible introduction to the teachings of Buddhism that answers these common questions and many more.
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Perfect for someone curious in Buddism
- By Wolf_CPT on 09-01-19
By: Noah Rasheta
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The Heart of Meditation
- Discovering Innermost Awareness
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Jeffrey Hopkins - editor/translator
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 3 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama provides intimate details on an advanced meditation practice called Dzogchen using a visionary poem by the 19th-century saint Patrul Rinpoche, author of the Buddhist classic Words of My Perfect Teacher. The Dalai Lama deftly connects how training the mind in compassion for other beings is directly related to - and in fact a prerequisite for - the very pinnacle of Buddhist meditation.
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What a deep book....
- By Cian on 01-31-18
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
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Hinduism
- Adopting Hinduism as a Way of Life + The Ultimate Guide to Hindu Gods, Hindu Beliefs, Hindu Rituals and Hindu Religion
- By: Cassie Coleman
- Narrated by: sangita chauhan
- Length: 2 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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Hinduism is the oldest and the third largest religion by population. There are more than a billion Hindus in India, Nepal, Indonesia (Bali), Mauritius, Canada, New Zealand, Kenya, and elsewhere in the world who practice the faith. However, many scholars and practitioners believe that Hinduism is not a religion at all - it is a way of life.
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informative
- By Rose Ericson-Caen on 04-24-19
By: Cassie Coleman
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The Gradual Path
- By: Miles Neale PsyD
- Narrated by: Miles Neale
- Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins
- Original Recording
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Dr. Neale presents a seven-session audio course to immerse you in the teachings and practices of the Lam Rim - Tibetan Buddhism’s time-tested path for psychological maturity and awakening. Created as an audio companion to Dr. Neale’s book Gradual Awakening, this course brings you a guided experience in the traditional Lam Rim journey, updated with insights from science and psychotherapy to root each step in our modern experience.
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Wonderfully Inspiring Teacher
- By Mr. Mindfulness on 03-27-19
By: Miles Neale PsyD
What listeners say about Star-Spangled Buddhist
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- cmurray
- 08-26-18
Clear and thorough
This is a very well researched and explained book. I knew very little about Buddhism - just enough to teach a Short unit to ninth graders -and now feel I have a much stronger grasp.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 04-02-24
interesting if reductive but narration isn't great
To survey American Buddhist while leaving out Theravadan Buddhism and reducing the Mahayana schools into three broad categories is reductive. The author also gives short shrift to issues such as Buddhism and violence. Also, the narrator is wooden and seems to have no idea how to pronounce basic Buddhist words and names.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Edward Tang
- 10-31-13
well intentioned but lots of mispronunciations
Would you try another book from Jeff Ourvan and/or Kevin Young?
Jeff is well intentioned, but is a bit of a Soka Gokkai cheerleader, and leaves out entire fundamental traditions of Buddhism which are practiced in the US. Kevin Young has a decent voice but his mispronunciations of basic words like "Rinpoche" are cringe inducing.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Brian Redfern
- 02-05-15
I should have listened to the reviews.
Would you try another book from Jeff Ourvan and/or Kevin Young?
No
Has Star-Spangled Buddhist turned you off from other books in this genre?
No
How could the performance have been better?
It was more the writing than the reader.
What character would you cut from Star-Spangled Buddhist?
N/A
Any additional comments?
Very disappointed in the blatant self promotion and lack of substance. Glossing over hypocritical statements for the benefit of the viewpoint.
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1 person found this helpful
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- jason
- 07-20-14
This book is so boring!
This is just a very boring book. I found nothing useful or original about it. And the reader just put me to sleep.
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3 people found this helpful
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- B. Wilson
- 05-15-20
Very disappointing
If you’re looking for a book that will bring out all the dirty laundry from Zen an Tibetan Buddhism while glossing over SGI issues, this is for you.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Rashid
- 02-12-14
Heavily Biased
What disappointed you about Star-Spangled Buddhist?
It's a shame that such a great idea to introduce the differing sects of Buddhism and how they operate in the west can be marred by such an incredible lack of morality when it comes to following the Fourth Precept (truthfulness). The author goes into GREAT detail about how Zen priests are often accused of sexual immorality, how Tibetan Lamas are chain-smoking womanizers but when it comes to the sect (cult) of Buddhism the author belongs to (Sokka Gakkai) comes up almost nothing incriminating is mentioned. At no point in the book does he mention that the President (who he lovingly refers to as a "mentor to millions" rather than a millionaire cult-leader) has said"I recommend that you accumulate good fortune [through chanting] in this life, so that in the next existence of life, you can be born into a family possessing five Cadillacs."and has "encouraged to chant for the destruction" of rivaling sects of Buddhism and their respective priests.
Has Star-Spangled Buddhist turned you off from other books in this genre?
No
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7 people found this helpful