We have a well-stocked bookshop in the reception at the Brighton Buddhist Centre, managed by Paul Bonett. Any questions about the library please email buddhistbooksbrighton@gmail.
Thrilled that we have just taken delivery of both Ryokan’s poetry, ‘One Robe One Bowl’, a wonderful compilation of his timeless expressions of a Zen life and Jack Kornfield’s superbly titled ‘After the Ecstasy, the Laundry’, a great Buddhist teacher, easy to comprehend whilst conveying deep life lessons.
On sale in the bookshop at the Centre.
Paul's previous review of " The History of my Going for Refuge" by Sangharakshita:
Over time, I have come across several books with unprepossessing titles; this must be one of them!
But then, when you give it a chance and get to the content, you realise this is a book that pulls no punches in talking about the development of the Triratna movement.
From his early days in northern India to his return to a hostile reception back in the UK, Sangharakshita’s realisation that Buddhism needed a fresh approach to deal with the exigencies of the late 20th century was met with stiff opposition.
Much of what he saw and experienced here in the UK as well as in the Theravadan and Zen communities in the East, seemed to be more about what the practice looked and sounded like and intellectual repartee, rather than what really mattered; the daily practice and life as a Buddhist.
The book challenged him and makes us look critically at what we see and what we do: Does our practice measure up to our intentions, to the Buddhist precepts we espouse verbally? Are we really prepared to take a hard look at our lives, examine our motivations at all levels and plunge into the stream? This is a short volume, but a great introduction to the challenges and experience of life as a practicing Buddhist.
Furthermore, it demonstrates Sangharakshita’s uncompromising courage and conviction to turn a vision of a fresh approach to Buddhism into what we can explore today.
Paul Bonett
