Star-Spangled Buddhist
Zen, Tibetan, and Soka Gakkai Buddhism and the Quest for Enlightenment in America
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $19.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Kevin Young
-
By:
-
Jeff Ourvan
About this listen
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.
©2013 Jeff Ourvan (P)2013 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Happiness Becomes You
- By: Tina Turner
- Narrated by: Adrienne Warren
- Length: 4 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tina Turner - living legend, icon to millions, and author of the "brave and wry" (Vulture) memoir My Love Story - returns with a deeply personal book of wisdom that explores her longstanding faith in Buddhism and provides a guide to these timeless principles so you can find happiness in your own life.
-
-
Read by Tina Turner (not another)
- By Amazon Customer on 12-12-20
By: Tina Turner
-
Buddha in Your Mirror
- Practical Buddhism and the Search for Self
- By: Woody Hochswender, Greg Martin, Ted Morino
- Narrated by: Dan Worren
- Length: 4 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
While the notion that “happiness can found within oneself” has recently become popular, Buddhism has taught for thousands of years that every person is a Buddha, or enlightened being, and has the potential for true and lasting happiness. Through real-life examples, the authors explain how adopting this outlook has positive effects on one’s health, relationships, and career and gives new insights into world environmental concerns, peace issues, and other major social problems.
-
-
Best Book on SGI Buddhism/ Nichiren Buddhism
- By S. Randel on 12-27-20
By: Woody Hochswender, and others
-
The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching
- Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation
- By: Thích Nhất Hạnh
- Narrated by: René Ruiz
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, now revised with added material and new insights, Nhat Hanh introduces us to the core teachings of Buddhism and shows us that the Buddha’s teachings are accessible and applicable to our daily lives.
-
-
Great overview of Buddhism
- By Nick on 06-24-16
By: Thích Nhất Hạnh
-
Why Buddhism Is True
- The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment
- By: Robert Wright
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From one of America's greatest minds, a journey through psychology, philosophy, and lots of meditation to show how Buddhism holds the key to moral clarity and enduring happiness. In Why Buddhism Is True, Wright leads listeners on a journey through psychology, philosophy, and a great many silent retreats to show how and why meditation can serve as the foundation for a spiritual life in a secular age.
-
-
Clear Explanation of How the Mind Works
- By George on 08-10-17
By: Robert Wright
-
No Self, No Problem
- How Neuropsychology is Catching Up to Buddhism
- By: Chris Niebauer PhD
- Narrated by: Charlie Varon
- Length: 3 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this groundbreaking audiobook, neuropsychology professor Chris Niebauer explains how after decades of research on the brain, Western science may have inadvertently confirmed a fundamental tenet of Buddhism: anatta, or the doctrine of "no self". Niebauer shows how findings in neuropsychology suggest that our sense of self is actually an illusion created by the left side of the brain and that it exists in the same way a mirage in the middle of the desert exists: as a thought rather than a thing.
-
-
Everyone should be reading this!
- By Mary Lou on 01-02-20
-
Can Zen Buddhism Offer a Life Free of Problems Through Its Ancient Spiritual Remedies?
- How to Overcome Depression & Addition. Zen & Taoism for Beginners. Learn Mindfulness and Walking Meditation
- By: Anit Korpal
- Narrated by: Sunny Wong
- Length: 5 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The book, Can Zen Buddhism Offer a Life Free of Problems Through Its Ancient Spiritual Remedies?, takes us through the nooks and crannies of Zen Buddhism. As it demystifies several ancient notions about Zen Buddhism, it also highlights the current state of several aspects of Zen Buddhism.
-
-
Embracing Mindfulness for Everyday Life
- By Tilly Hughes on 06-21-23
By: Anit Korpal
-
Happiness Becomes You
- By: Tina Turner
- Narrated by: Adrienne Warren
- Length: 4 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tina Turner - living legend, icon to millions, and author of the "brave and wry" (Vulture) memoir My Love Story - returns with a deeply personal book of wisdom that explores her longstanding faith in Buddhism and provides a guide to these timeless principles so you can find happiness in your own life.
-
-
Read by Tina Turner (not another)
- By Amazon Customer on 12-12-20
By: Tina Turner
-
Buddha in Your Mirror
- Practical Buddhism and the Search for Self
- By: Woody Hochswender, Greg Martin, Ted Morino
- Narrated by: Dan Worren
- Length: 4 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
While the notion that “happiness can found within oneself” has recently become popular, Buddhism has taught for thousands of years that every person is a Buddha, or enlightened being, and has the potential for true and lasting happiness. Through real-life examples, the authors explain how adopting this outlook has positive effects on one’s health, relationships, and career and gives new insights into world environmental concerns, peace issues, and other major social problems.
-
-
Best Book on SGI Buddhism/ Nichiren Buddhism
- By S. Randel on 12-27-20
By: Woody Hochswender, and others
-
The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching
- Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation
- By: Thích Nhất Hạnh
- Narrated by: René Ruiz
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, now revised with added material and new insights, Nhat Hanh introduces us to the core teachings of Buddhism and shows us that the Buddha’s teachings are accessible and applicable to our daily lives.
-
-
Great overview of Buddhism
- By Nick on 06-24-16
By: Thích Nhất Hạnh
-
Why Buddhism Is True
- The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment
- By: Robert Wright
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From one of America's greatest minds, a journey through psychology, philosophy, and lots of meditation to show how Buddhism holds the key to moral clarity and enduring happiness. In Why Buddhism Is True, Wright leads listeners on a journey through psychology, philosophy, and a great many silent retreats to show how and why meditation can serve as the foundation for a spiritual life in a secular age.
-
-
Clear Explanation of How the Mind Works
- By George on 08-10-17
By: Robert Wright
-
No Self, No Problem
- How Neuropsychology is Catching Up to Buddhism
- By: Chris Niebauer PhD
- Narrated by: Charlie Varon
- Length: 3 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this groundbreaking audiobook, neuropsychology professor Chris Niebauer explains how after decades of research on the brain, Western science may have inadvertently confirmed a fundamental tenet of Buddhism: anatta, or the doctrine of "no self". Niebauer shows how findings in neuropsychology suggest that our sense of self is actually an illusion created by the left side of the brain and that it exists in the same way a mirage in the middle of the desert exists: as a thought rather than a thing.
-
-
Everyone should be reading this!
- By Mary Lou on 01-02-20
-
Can Zen Buddhism Offer a Life Free of Problems Through Its Ancient Spiritual Remedies?
- How to Overcome Depression & Addition. Zen & Taoism for Beginners. Learn Mindfulness and Walking Meditation
- By: Anit Korpal
- Narrated by: Sunny Wong
- Length: 5 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The book, Can Zen Buddhism Offer a Life Free of Problems Through Its Ancient Spiritual Remedies?, takes us through the nooks and crannies of Zen Buddhism. As it demystifies several ancient notions about Zen Buddhism, it also highlights the current state of several aspects of Zen Buddhism.
-
-
Embracing Mindfulness for Everyday Life
- By Tilly Hughes on 06-21-23
By: Anit Korpal
-
Buddhism
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Damien Keown
- Narrated by: Coleen Marlo
- Length: 4 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This very short introduction offers listeners a superb overview of the teachings of the Buddha, as well as a succinct guide to the integration of Buddhism into daily life.
-
-
Engage the services of a Very Short boatman
- By Darwin8u on 10-22-18
By: Damien Keown
-
Tantra Illuminated: The Philosophy, History, and Practice of a Timeless Tradition
- By: Christopher D. Wallis
- Narrated by: Christopher D. Wallis
- Length: 19 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tantra Illuminated takes the listener on a fascinating journey to the very heart of original Tantra: its key teachings, foundational lineages, and transformative practices. Since the West's discovery of Tantra 100 years ago, there has been considerable fascination, speculation, and more than a little misinformation about this spiritual movement. Now, for the first time in the English language, Tantra Illuminated presents an accessible introduction to this sacred tradition that began 1,500 years ago in the far north of India.
-
-
Tantric knowledge
- By David Ibrahim, LMFT, LAADC on 03-22-16
-
Buddhism for Beginners: How Mindfulness and Meditation Will Change Your Life
- By: K. Connors
- Narrated by: Greg Young
- Length: 1 hr and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
If you want to focus on personal spiritual development and strive for a deep insight into the true nature of life, then continue reading.... "We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves." -Buddha If our present suffering is the result of bad karma from a prior life, what is the real present remedy for suffering in this life? Who is the karma judge? And why mindfulness and meditation? If you don't understand the immediate answers to the above, you're not alone.
By: K. Connors
-
Original Sin Is A Lie
- How Spirituality Defies Dogma and Reveals Our True Self
- By: Bob Peck
- Narrated by: Bob Peck
- Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this book, author Bob Peck takes us through his own highlights of the “spiritual buffet line”: from present-embracing Zen Buddhists to insightful Indigenous shamans and compassionate karma yogis. He explores the avatar doctrine of the Bhagavad Gita, the work of Byron Katie, new science in relation to spirit, and the true loving message of Jesus. As Peck articulates, the Bible is not infallible, but in certain moments, it does point to the reality of who we are, as does Sri Ramana Maharshi, Carl Jung, Anandamayi Ma, the Gospel of Thomas, and A Course in Miracles.
-
-
Fabulous work.
- By Joseppi Hedges on 10-12-22
By: Bob Peck
-
The Way of Zen Buddhism & Zen Mind for Beginners
- Zen Master's Teaching/Zen Psychology; Zazen Practice for Living & Work Life, Japanese Artistic Life, Key to Enlightenment, Happiness, and Freedom
- By: Anit Korpal
- Narrated by: Samantha Novak
- Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The book The Way of Zen Buddhism & Zen Mind for Beginners goes beyond teachings of spirituality. The main focus of the book is to empower you to reach your full potential as an individual. Here, you’ll be introduced to Zen minimalist aesthetics, which will help you go from zero to abundance in no time.
-
-
static
- By Justin on 12-05-24
By: Anit Korpal
-
Zen
- The Authentic Gate
- By: Yamada Koun
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Why practice Zen? What sets Zen apart from religion? What are its different practices? These questions, and more, are examined and answered by Zen Master Koun Yamada, whose Dharma heirs include Robert Aitken, Ruben Habito, and David Loy. Through compelling stories and a systematic approach, he guides the listener through creating and sustaining a lifelong practice. Warm and ecumenical in tone, Koun uses the insights of Zen to bring a deeper understanding of faith.
-
-
Slow down and listen
- By Captain Morgan on 11-22-22
By: Yamada Koun
-
Awakening the Buddha Within
- By: Lama Surya Das
- Narrated by: Lama Surya Das
- Length: 3 hrs and 5 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Buddhism offers a profound yet practical path to enlightenment. In this loving and generous book, the American-born and Tibetan-trained Lama Surya Das offers at once a definitive and nonsectarian guide to the wisdom found in ancient Tibetan teachings and a tried and true path of spiritual transformation. The radical and compelling message of Buddhism tells us that each of us has the wisdom, awareness, love, and power of the Buddha within; yet most of us are too often like sleeping Buddhas.
-
-
Wonderful guidance!
- By Deborah on 05-15-03
By: Lama Surya Das
-
Toward a True Kinship of Faiths
- How the World's Religions Can Come Together
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Narrated by: Richard Gere
- Length: 6 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
No person today is untouched by what happens in the rest of the world. With this historic development, the Dalai Lama understands that the essential task of humanity is to cultivate peaceful coexistence. But this has long been problematic with religion, and while previous conflicts over religious differences may have been significant, they did not threaten the very survival of humanity. Now, when extremists have access to powerful technologies, a single spark could ignite a powder keg of frightening proportions.
-
-
Please Listen to This Book
- By Elizabeth on 07-27-10
-
Buddhism 101
- From Karma to the Four Noble Truths, Your Guide to Understanding the Principles of Buddhism
- By: Adams Media
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 7 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Learn everything you need to know about Buddhism in this clear and straightforward new guide. Buddhism was founded thousands of years ago and has inspired millions of people with its peaceful teachings. Buddhism 101 highlights and explains the central concepts of Buddhism to the modern listener, with information on mindfulness, karma, The Four Noble Truths, the Middle Way, and more.
-
-
Title is true
- By Caryn Bonnell on 06-24-19
By: Adams Media
-
Buddhism for Beginners: Learn the Way of the Buddha & Take Your First Steps on the Noble Path
- By: Luna Sidana
- Narrated by: VOXYFOX
- Length: 1 hr and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Buddhism is one of the world’s oldest spiritual traditions - having existed for more than 2,500 years. It’s currently practiced by more than 480 million people all across the globe. While countless religions have been abandoned through the centuries, the insights and practices of Buddhism are still carried on today in every corner of the world. In this beginner’s guide, we will provide the basic outlines of the understanding of the world that informs Buddhist practice. Key concepts and terms will be introduced one by one.
-
-
it is well worth
- By kriz on 04-26-18
By: Luna Sidana
-
Buddhism: How to Find Fulfillment and Still Your Mind Through the Teachings of Buddha
- By: Elias Axmar
- Narrated by: Craig Beck
- Length: 1 hr and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Learn how to find fulfillment and still your mind through the teachings of Buddha. This book contains a brief overview of Buddhism. Like many heroic stories, the tale of this religion starts with one man's quest. Siddhartha Gautama was no ordinary man. He was a prince who gave up riches and a life of comfort in order to pierce the veil of body, mind, and spirit. With his fearless confidence and deep compassion for others, he achieved what few before him had ever known.
-
-
Highly Recommended from David
- By David on 10-11-17
By: Elias Axmar
-
The Good Heart
- A Buddhist Perspective on the Teachings of Jesus
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Geshe Thupten Jinpa - translator, Robert Kiely - editor
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 6 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this landmark book of interfaith dialogue, the Dalai Lama provides an extraordinary Buddhist perspective on the teachings of Jesus, commenting on well-known passages from the four Christian Gospels including the Sermon on the Mount, the parable of the mustard seed, the Resurrection, and others. Drawing parallels between Jesus and the Buddha - and the rich traditions from which they hail - His Holiness delivers a profound affirmation of the sacred in all religions.
-
-
Amazing book!
- By Bradley Thomas May on 02-26-20
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
Editorial reviews
Jeff Ourvan mixes his personal experiences as a practicing Buddhist with informative overviews that demystify the histories and practices of the three major schools of American Buddhism, organized in sections by the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Kevin Young's leisurely, upbeat performance highlights the clarity and the touch of self-effacement that make Ourvan's Star-Spangled Buddhist so accessible.
Perceptive and passionate, this succinct outline articulates how Buddhism's emphasis on acceptance and the quest for personal enlightenment has appealed to Americans, changed through its contact with them, and why it might be the faith that is most adaptable to an increasingly interconnected global culture.
Related to this topic
-
Hinduism
- A Comprehensive Guide to the Hindu Religion, Hindu Gods, Hindu Beliefs, Hindu Rituals, and Hinduism History
- By: Cassie Coleman
- Narrated by: Dryw McArthur
- Length: 2 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Explore the Hindu religion with its fascinating rituals and history! This audiobook has eye-opening information about Hinduism that will help you to understand the religion, gods, beliefs, and rituals and how the religion has evolved over time. You will discover more than you ever imagined exists in Hinduism, and by the end of this audiobook, you’ll know a lot about a religion that has over one billion followers worldwide.
-
-
Avoid this overly simplified view of Hinduism
- By Peter on 03-24-23
By: Cassie Coleman
-
Secular Buddhism
- Imagining the Dharma in an Uncertain World
- By: Stephen Batchelor
- Narrated by: Ralph Lister
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As the practice of mindfulness permeates mainstream western culture, more and more people are engaging in a traditional form of Buddhist meditation. However, many of these people have little interest in the religious aspects of Buddhism, and the practice occurs within secular contexts such as hospitals, schools, and the workplace. Is it possible to recover from the Buddhist teachings a vision of human flourishing that is secular rather than religious without compromising the integrity of the tradition?
-
-
Good, but repetition of old material
- By Ludwig on 02-25-18
-
Buddha is as Buddha Does
- The 10 Original Practices for Enlightened Living
- By: Lama Surya Das
- Length: 5 hrs and 8 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Of all the Buddha's teachings, perhaps his greatest gift can be found in "the Bodhisattva ideal", a template for living in the world as an "Awakener", a servant of the highest good for all. With his previous best-sellers including Awakening the Buddha Within, American-born Tibetan Buddhist teacher Lama Surya Das has made the helpful, healing insights of the Buddha accessible to millions.
-
-
Puts the heart into mindfulness meditation
- By Steven on 01-18-18
By: Lama Surya Das
-
What Is Zen?
- Plain Talk for a Beginner's Mind
- By: Norman Fischer, Susan Moon
- Narrated by: Norman Fischer, Susan Moon
- Length: 6 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The question-and-answer format makes this introduction to Zen especially easy to understand - and also to use as a reference, as you can easily look up just the question you had in mind. The esteemed Zen teacher Norman Fischer and his old friend and teaching colleague Susan Moon (both of them in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki, author of Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind) give this collaborative effort a playful tone: Susan asks a question on our behalf, Norman answers it, and then Sue challenges him.
-
-
Zen; An Introduction
- By Michael on 08-15-16
By: Norman Fischer, and others
-
The Middle Way
- The Story of Buddhism
- By: Jinananda
- Narrated by: David Timson, Anton Lesser
- Length: 3 hrs and 55 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
General interest in Buddhism has never been higher. The story and teachings of a man who lived 2,500 years ago have a special resonance for us today, perhaps because he taught a way of life that was not based on belief in a creator god but rather on personal experience. "Test my words for yourself," he said. But what lies behind those distinctive images of the Buddha, seated with unshakeable poise, with eyes half-closed and a slight smile? Jinananda, a Western-born Buddhist, divides the subject into the Three Jewels....
-
-
Rocking...
- By LeperSmurf on 11-16-04
By: Jinananda
-
50 Spiritual Classics
- By: Tom Butler-Bowdon
- Narrated by: Richard Poe
- Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Discover the books that have already changed the lives of millions. This unabridged guide to the literature of the spirit surveys 50 of the all-time classics, giving you their key ideas, insights, and applications - everything you need to know to start benefiting from these legendary works.
-
-
useful as review or starting point
- By connie on 01-03-09
-
Hinduism
- A Comprehensive Guide to the Hindu Religion, Hindu Gods, Hindu Beliefs, Hindu Rituals, and Hinduism History
- By: Cassie Coleman
- Narrated by: Dryw McArthur
- Length: 2 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Explore the Hindu religion with its fascinating rituals and history! This audiobook has eye-opening information about Hinduism that will help you to understand the religion, gods, beliefs, and rituals and how the religion has evolved over time. You will discover more than you ever imagined exists in Hinduism, and by the end of this audiobook, you’ll know a lot about a religion that has over one billion followers worldwide.
-
-
Avoid this overly simplified view of Hinduism
- By Peter on 03-24-23
By: Cassie Coleman
-
Secular Buddhism
- Imagining the Dharma in an Uncertain World
- By: Stephen Batchelor
- Narrated by: Ralph Lister
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As the practice of mindfulness permeates mainstream western culture, more and more people are engaging in a traditional form of Buddhist meditation. However, many of these people have little interest in the religious aspects of Buddhism, and the practice occurs within secular contexts such as hospitals, schools, and the workplace. Is it possible to recover from the Buddhist teachings a vision of human flourishing that is secular rather than religious without compromising the integrity of the tradition?
-
-
Good, but repetition of old material
- By Ludwig on 02-25-18
-
Buddha is as Buddha Does
- The 10 Original Practices for Enlightened Living
- By: Lama Surya Das
- Length: 5 hrs and 8 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Of all the Buddha's teachings, perhaps his greatest gift can be found in "the Bodhisattva ideal", a template for living in the world as an "Awakener", a servant of the highest good for all. With his previous best-sellers including Awakening the Buddha Within, American-born Tibetan Buddhist teacher Lama Surya Das has made the helpful, healing insights of the Buddha accessible to millions.
-
-
Puts the heart into mindfulness meditation
- By Steven on 01-18-18
By: Lama Surya Das
-
What Is Zen?
- Plain Talk for a Beginner's Mind
- By: Norman Fischer, Susan Moon
- Narrated by: Norman Fischer, Susan Moon
- Length: 6 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The question-and-answer format makes this introduction to Zen especially easy to understand - and also to use as a reference, as you can easily look up just the question you had in mind. The esteemed Zen teacher Norman Fischer and his old friend and teaching colleague Susan Moon (both of them in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki, author of Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind) give this collaborative effort a playful tone: Susan asks a question on our behalf, Norman answers it, and then Sue challenges him.
-
-
Zen; An Introduction
- By Michael on 08-15-16
By: Norman Fischer, and others
-
The Middle Way
- The Story of Buddhism
- By: Jinananda
- Narrated by: David Timson, Anton Lesser
- Length: 3 hrs and 55 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
General interest in Buddhism has never been higher. The story and teachings of a man who lived 2,500 years ago have a special resonance for us today, perhaps because he taught a way of life that was not based on belief in a creator god but rather on personal experience. "Test my words for yourself," he said. But what lies behind those distinctive images of the Buddha, seated with unshakeable poise, with eyes half-closed and a slight smile? Jinananda, a Western-born Buddhist, divides the subject into the Three Jewels....
-
-
Rocking...
- By LeperSmurf on 11-16-04
By: Jinananda
-
50 Spiritual Classics
- By: Tom Butler-Bowdon
- Narrated by: Richard Poe
- Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Discover the books that have already changed the lives of millions. This unabridged guide to the literature of the spirit surveys 50 of the all-time classics, giving you their key ideas, insights, and applications - everything you need to know to start benefiting from these legendary works.
-
-
useful as review or starting point
- By connie on 01-03-09
-
A Concise History of Buddhism
- From 500 BCE-1900 CE
- By: Andrew Skilton
- Narrated by: Jinananda
- Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Andrew Skilton - Senior Research Fellow in Buddhist Studies, Kings College, London - explains the development of the basic concepts of Buddhism and its spread across the continents during its 2,500 years of history. He begins with a close look at Buddhism in India, where it flourished until the 12th/13th century CE, charting the growth of different schools and practices. By the time it disappeared from its homeland midway through the millennium, it had become established in Central Asia and the Far East in a variety of forms.
-
-
Difficult for the indoctrinated
- By Heavypen on 04-18-18
By: Andrew Skilton
-
Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path
- By: Urgyen Sangharaskhita
- Narrated by: Kulananda
- Length: 5 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
Excellent
- By Anthony on 06-22-07
-
The Guru Drinks Bourbon?
- By: Amira Ben-Yehuda, Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse
- Narrated by: Tom Pile
- Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
Poor pronunciation of Tibetan & dharma terms
- By Marzi on 04-21-18
By: Amira Ben-Yehuda, and others
-
Hidden Wisdom
- A Guide to Western Inner Traditions
- By: Richard Smoley, Jay Kinney
- Narrated by: Ethan Sawyer
- Length: 11 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
Interesting, enjoyable, not too deep
- By DBruno1987 on 03-03-15
By: Richard Smoley, and others
-
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
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
higher is better
- By Tommie on 04-20-07
By: James Redfield, and others
-
The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali
- A Biography
- By: David Gordon White
- Narrated by: Peter Ganim
- Length: 7 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
Academic Hubris
- By John on 10-31-14
-
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
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
The dialogues themselves proved tranquility is attainable.
- By Mingster on 05-16-19
-
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
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
Awful
- By Anonymous User on 08-21-17
-
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
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
Perfect for someone curious in Buddism
- By Wolf_CPT on 09-01-19
By: Noah Rasheta
-
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
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
What a deep book....
- By Cian on 01-31-18
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
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
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
informative
- By Rose Ericson-Caen on 04-24-19
By: Cassie Coleman
-
The Gradual Path
- By: Miles Neale PsyD
- Narrated by: Miles Neale
- Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
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.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- 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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- 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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- 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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- 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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- 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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- 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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- 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
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
7 people found this helpful