The Buddha Said...: Meeting the Challenge of Life's Difficulties

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 464 pages
• Published by: Watkins February 1, 2007
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 1842931156
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-1842931158
• Book Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 1.4 inches
• Weighs: 15.2 ounces

Product Description
Osho, one of the best-known and most provocative spiritual teachers of our time, presents The Sutra of 42 Chapters—a scripture compiled in the first century C.E by a Chinese emperor. Using wonderful anecdotes throughout, Osho weaves his own unique insights into this profound ancient wisdom and expands its meaning for our time. As we travel with the Buddha on a path of radical wisdom, we’ll laugh or shake our heads at the folly, the ineptitude, or the goodness of the characters in the stories—and gain knowledge and understanding at the same time. Osho engages us at every level to help us experience the Buddha’s teachings and take in their timeless truths. A powerful, inspirational gem of a book.

Reader Reviews
For most of the last decade, I have journeyed toward Buddhism again and again, attracted by its emphasis on meditation, on peace, on compassion, on all the true human values. But each time I approached Buddhism with an open mind, I became lost in the maze of scriptures, in the archaic language, in the vast and indecipherable terminology. Most of all, I turned away from what seemed a vacuousness in the Buddha's teaching. Too often, it seemed to me, he was just saying, "live rightly and not wrongly, this is the key to happiness." As a born-and-raised Christian, Buddha's teaching seemed much more clinical and sterile than Jesus' "love your neighbor as yourself" teachings. I'm sorry, but "think rightly and not think wrongly," and "there is suffering, and there is a way out of suffering, and the way out of suffering is to live rightly" just wasn't cutting it for me. Time and again, then, I turned away from Buddhism, frustrated. But nonetheless I could not help but feel I must be missing something; like I did not have the key in front of me to really unlock the meaning and teaching of Buddhism. This was true, despite the fact that I bought probably 50 Buddhist-based books. Some of these, like "Being Dharma" by Ajahn Chah, really struck a chord in me. But that master seemed like his own light, and I didn't really understand Buddha's teaching any better from it. The point of my review here is that this book by Osho, "The Buddha Said..." is the beacon shining on the hill, that is illuminating Buddhism for me, at last. It took this deeply educated Indian guru--who understands the West as well as the East--to really unlock the apparent contradictions, terminology, and truisms of the Buddhist scriptures. Those of you familiar with any of Osho's books will instantly recognize him here. The format is basically identical to his books on Zen and Tao, such as "No Water No Moon" and the entire "Insights for Living" series. The difference here is the entire book methodically tackles the Buddha's "Sutra of Forty-Two Chapters" which is the succinct summary doctrine by which Buddhism was introduced to China. Osho takes you through each verse, and dissects it line by line, never omitting to explain--in clear modern terms--the real meaning of the verses. Reading this book, my jaw has dropped at how incredible it is. This book is literally bringing Buddhism to life for me. Every page is just packed with insights and explanations, that will change the way you look at Buddhism. I am seeing Buddhism clearly in its beauty and power for the first time. For instance, just his explanation that Buddha sets forth everything logically, so that nothing can be refuted, and tying this to Wittgenstein's statement that what you cannot say, you must pass over in silence, hit me with great force. So, one reads further, that when Buddha says you must give up the idea of the self, because there is no self, Osho explains that Buddha did not mean there would be nothing left. Rather, if you have this spiritual experience derived from meditation, you will see no-self inside, but the result--what is left for you, in terms of bliss, peace, and heart filled with ever expanding compassion for humanity--is in fact the true self, that cannot be put into words. So, Buddha is inviting you to come along with him, to see for yourself. I cannot say enough about this book. This may be Osho's most magnificent accomplishment. This book is truly a treasure, because it has opened up Buddhism for me, unlike any book I have ever read. What an exciting thing it is, to have the Buddha's teaching opening up for me at last....