Buddhism for Beginners

For those searching for mindful moments or for a more engaged way of navigating life in the twenty-first century, Buddhism for Beginners is the essential guide to opening the door to Buddhism's key concepts and practices. The authors tap into their years of training and study in meditation, martial arts and Eastern philosophy to bring readers a comprehensive introduction to the spiritual tenets and attainments that mark the pathway to enlightenment.

The Simpkins walk readers through:

• The history of Buddhism
• The key themes and belief systems (the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, Mahayana, nirvana and more)
• Ways of integrating Buddhist principles and philosophy into the everyday
• The organizing notions and overarching thesis of Buddhism: to live fully aware in the moment, to see things as they truly are, and to recognize yourself as part of the whole

Buddhism for Beginners then completes this introduction to meditation and mindful moments by offering simple exercises, practices and prompts reflective and supportive of the Buddhist teachings and tenets laid out in the volume, including filling- and clearing-the-mind meditations, performing acts of compassion and inner-peace and conflict-resolution exercises.

An essential purchase for people looking to integrate Buddhist principles into their lives or for those seeking a more meaningful, mindful or meditative path.

About the Author

Drs. C. Alexander and Annellen Simpkins have been involved with Eastern philosophy for over thirty years. They were first introduced to these ideas through the practice of martial arts which they began in the 1960s, and their interest continued to deepen over time.

As psychologists they have specialized in studies of the mind as well as hypnosis. They are authors of numerous books on Eastern philosophy including a series on meditation: Principles of Meditation, Living Meditation and Meditation from Thought to Action, a historical and practical book on Zen entitled Zen Around the World, and the Simple series on different Eastern philosophies: Simple Zen, Simple Taoism, Simple Confucianism, Simple Buddhism , and Simple Tibetan Buddhism .

Dr. Simpkins lives in San Diego, California.