Buddha as Person, Buddha as Experience is a spiritual travelogue that invites readers on an inner journey guided by one of the most profound figures in human history. The Buddha, a man of extraordinary resolve and boundless compassion, emerges as both our hero and our guide, with his teachings serving as luminous signposts that point towards liberation. Yet, in this exploration, we, the practitioners, become the true protagonists, with the unfolding of our practice forming the heart of the narrative and our insights illuminating the path with moments of transformative joy.
To engage with the Buddha is to tread two intertwined paths: one that honours the man who walked among us, his story etched into time, and another that embraces the living experience of his teachings, a realm that transcends temporal and cultural boundaries. Siddhartha Gautama (known as the Buddha after his awakening) lived a life that took him from sheltered prince to ascetic, probing the depths of suffering, and finally to the serene, awakened one who offered a way out of life’s disquiet. His struggles and triumphs, marked by the same desires and doubts that echo in our own lives, become a mirror through which we may recognise our potential.
Yet, the essence of this journey lies not merely in recounting history or interpreting teachings. The Buddha’s path is one that must be lived. As we live it, our practice becomes the vessel that carries us forward, and with each moment of awareness, we touch upon the truth the Buddha himself encountered under the Bodhi tree. In this way, his teachings cease to be distant doctrines and transform into living, breathing experiences — tangible and immediate.
Buddhist Publishing Group, Published: 2025, Paperback 332 pages, and Kindle.
Richard St Ruth is one of the editors at Buddhism Now.
On Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk and most other Amazon sites.
Or from your local bookshop using this ISBN 9780946672028
Click here to read more extracts from Buddha as Person, Buddha as Experience.
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Categories: Beginners, Buddhism, Buddhist Insights, Buddhist meditation, Buddhist Publishing, Everyday Buddhism, History
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