Buddha

Buddha
By Karen Armstrong
Viking, 2001. 205 pgs. Nonfiction

It seems that no one would argue that the Buddha was a remarkable and dedicated individual. Siddhatta Gotama  was born to privilege, was married and a father when he renounced the conventional way of life. Initially he sought someone who could teach him the path to enlightenment and although he learned various approaches to meditation and living he ultimately created a new method of his own which transformed his life completely and evolved into one of the world's great religions.

This short biography is a good introduction to the Buddha--it presents all the relevant aspects of his life and provides some historical and philosophical context. In the introduction Armstrong discusses her sources and her approach. There is a helpful glossary at the back of the book for those that continue get their Dhamma and Dhārāna confused.

SML