Comments on: Buddhist Books

By: Doug M

Doug M — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 05:27:08 +0000

…and thank you for finding the “Dream” book on Amazon. I did search there, but am embarrassed to say I couldn’t find it.

By: Chong Go Sunim

Chong Go Sunim — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:04:24 +0000

Hi Doug,
Thanks for the recommendation. I’ve seen the book around, but never got around to looking through it.
Here’s a link to amazon’s page for the book “Dream Conversations.” He was a Yogacara monk, but the book title could just as well have been
“Cautions for Practitioners.”

Amazon.com: Dream conversations: On Buddhism and Zen (9781570622069): Muso Kokushi: Books

By: Doug M

Doug M — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 08:01:53 +0000

Hello Sunim and welcome! I don’t get too many visitors who are ordained, so the visits are always appreciated, along with the book advice. Also, nice to meet another Dune fan.

I was unable to find the “Dream Conversations” book online, but I was able to find the Gene Reeves companion which looks pretty interesting. In general, I do find Yogacara thought pretty interesting, and still have a book on my shelf that covers it in more detail, provided I ever have the time to read it.

Speaking of Buddhist monks and dreams, another good book is the life of Myoe Koben, which is touched on briefly in a book called “Shingon Refractions” talking about the Mantra of Light. Great book about a pretty eclectic but sharp monk of his time (also in the 1200′s).

Thanks and take care!

By: Chong Go Sunim

Chong Go Sunim — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 05:05:30 +0000

Hi Doug,
If you’re interested in Yogacara, you might like “Dream Conversations” by Muso Kokushi (in the 1200′s) and translated by Thomas Cleary. He was a National Teacher, and is one of the most impressive Japanese practitioners I’ve read.

Also, Gene Reeves has a new book out that’s something of a companion for his translation of the Lotus Sutra, called “The Stories of the Lotus Sutra.”

p.s. I love it that you have a “Dune” page on your blog!

By: Doug M

Doug M — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 17:20:10 +0000

Hi Paula, and welcome to the JLR! Glad to be of assistance.

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:27:20 +0000

Thanks for blogging this booklist.

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:26:22 +0000

Ha ha ha, glad to someone else has read Ven. Yin-Shun. I think he’s quite underrated.

By: Hanzono

Hanzono — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 20:46:19 +0000

Hi Doug

Have read the first two books (but another read would also be good) and can really recommend them. Currently busy studying “Way to Buddahood” and the Threefold Lotus Sutra with our small sangha.

My Taiwanese Chan teacher recommended these books so i tried them and found them very good. He gave us as a gift Honen; The Buddhist Saint” , although he prefer the Chinese Pure Land Patriachs (Shan Tao etc). Doing currently a personal study of Shan Tao . The temple close to me where I received most of my training is Nan Hua (the biggest Buddhist Temple in Africa…and perhaps in the southern hemisphere…the Aussies might just beat us at it though )

Envy you for not only staying the most beautiful city in the world (Seattle) but having all that Japanese people around you.