The Accidental Buddhist: Mindfulness, Enlightenment, and ... (ISBN 1565121422)

A Favorite!:
I've been reading about Buddhism for the last 3 years, and this is definitely one of the most user-friendly books I've come across. I really enjoyed reading about his experiences with the different schools of Buddhism (he's quite funny), and I immediately identified with his impressions. So dependent are we on rules and rituals of organized religion, many of us feel we MUST pick a school of "this" or become a follower of "that." Those with this tendency may feel Buddhism is in danger of becoming watered down in America. I feel just the opposite. Here in America, we have the chance (if we like) to put aside the cultural influences and instead get to the meat of the philosophy, the very basics. And I find the basics enough of a challenge for one lifetime.

Thank you Mr. Moore:
I started reading this yesterday, and just finished it a few minutes ago. It pretty much sums up what I've gone through myself in personal Buddhist research. Tibetan buddhism seems browbeating, Zen is more palatable, but still can be a bit too strict - but the core points always hit home. Still your mind, that's all. It was nice to see that others search for the same thing, and also that there are so many others interested in Buddhism in the US. Mr. Moore shares his experiences of going to different Buddhist retreats and meeting with various kinds of Buddhists from different parts of the US, and its much more varied than one might think. I'm not sure that religion will ever really take off in this country, because for something to take off here, it has to be somewhat organized, which is NOT the case with Buddhism here - I bet most who are truely Buddhists here at heart are very hesitant to say that they are, for various reasons. Thank you, Mr. Moore for sharing your experiences with us. Your book has really helped me digest everything I've tried unsuccessfully to piece together over the years.

Entertaining Intro to American Buddhism:
I loved Sarah McDonald's (Holy Cow) and wanted to find something similar that introduced the various approaches to Buddhism. (The Accidental Buddhist) did that in part. The author, hoping to discover the many faces of American Buddhism, chronicles his time at retreats ranging from Zen Mountain Monastery in the Catskills to a Tibetan community outside Atlanta and a Theravada community in West Virginia. Along the way he discusses theology with a Jesuit Buddhist, attends the third annual Change Your Mind day in Central Park, visits with a Buddhist meditation cushion maker who runs Carolina Mornings Designs from her rural farm, takes a road trip to hear the Dali Lama speak and drops in on meditation groups in suburban Chicago and Iowa City. Over the course of his "American Buddhism Project," the author shares his struggles with monkey mind and stiffness from long stretches of meditation. He continually assesses aspects of Buddhism in terms of his Roman Catholic upbringing and aspects of his life (such as releasing ladybugs to control aphids in his garden) in terms of Buddhist tenets. The book focuses perhaps a bit too much on the author's self-chiding and failure to find the big answers, but for someone who doesn't know much about Buddhism as it's practiced in America today, it's an easy-to-read and enjoyable introduction.

DailyBuddhism Review: Monkey Mind's Revenge?:
This is a fun book, and I"ve read it a couple of times. It explores the state of Buddhism in America today, following the author as he travels around America visiting and talking to various Buddhist groups. He visits a Zen monastery, a Catholic priest who teaches Buddhism, Buddhist magazine publishers, Tibetan freedom advocates, zafu makers, and even an interview with the Dalai Lama himself. What are the problems and joys of being a Buddhist in America? And what will the neighbors think? Buddhism evolved in the East, and the East evolved around Buddhism, but that's not the case in America. It's not a perfect fit, and there are many dilemmas and problems that the author humorously notes. Although the book is not really a "what is Buddhism" book, you'll glean a lot of insight into all things Buddhistic in this one. I would definitely call it appropriate for any beginning-level Buddhist, and anyone who has been reading the Daily Buddhism for any length of time should have no problem at all with any of the terminology. The book is filled with humor; the author has some of the best (and funniest) quotes about "monkey mind" that I've ever come across. But the book also has a serious undertone to it. Why would the Dalai Lama suggest that maybe Americans shouldn't become Buddhists? How can monks in America support themselves? And will that monkey ever shut up? Again, this is not a "how to" book, but I strongly recommend it.

American Buddhism: An Oxymoron?:
Buddhism in America may strike you as a square peg ramming into a round hole, but if that's the case, why has the "religion" attracted so many Americans? Something about our way of life must drive it... something about the fast pace and materialism of our culture must be whetting the appetite of these seekers. Thus, the premise of Dinty Moore's THE ACCIDENTAL BUDDHIST. Though now 10 years old, the book's chronicling of one man's search for Buddhist truth in America still flies because, well, neither America nor certainly Buddhism has changed much. Moore visits monasteries, priests, Buddhist "concerts," retreats, and even individuals in his journey. All of this, of course, is flavored heavily with his own observations and doubts. Brought up a Catholic who was terrorized (in a sense) by his nun teachers in school, Moore wanted a gentler, kinder "God" over the punitive one he had come to know. He especially wanted a belief system that discounts Hell. Thus, Buddhism. As it turns out, the idea and the book itself are a win/win proposition because the answer turns out to be no answer (proving the protean nature of Zen). Yes, Moore's definitions of common Buddhist terms (including a glossary at the end) are instructive, but his frustrations and compromises are even more so. With its sense of humor and self-effacing (Eureka!) manner, THE ACCIDENTAL BUDDHIST is a perfect fit for beginning Buddhists and those simply curious about its precepts alike. We are the book and the book is us, in other words. Enjoy.