Five Theravada Buddhist books

Editors, Wisdom Quarterly; Ameredian.com

Over at Ameredian the question came up, What are some good Theravada Buddhist books?

They came up with a list that aims to represent the topic through select outstanding texts, balancing classic and modern titles, popular ones as well as less well-known must-reads. Here’s what they came up with:

1. A Still Forest Pool by Ajahn Chah. Thai Forest Tradition Buddhist Meditation Master Ajahn Chah’s insights -- compiled by Jack Kornfield and Paul Breiter -- reflect the quiet, intensive, and joyous practice of the forest monks of Thailand.

This book awakens the spirit of inquiry, wonderment, understanding, and deep inner peace monks can enjoy.

2. Buddhism Without Beliefs: A Contemporary Guide to Awakening by Buddhist atheist and former monk Stephen Batchelor.

This lucid examination of the Buddha’s core teaching demystifies Buddhism by explaining, without jargon or obscure terminology, what "awakening" (enlightenment, bodhi) is and how to practice for its attainment.

3. Modern Buddhism: Buddha’s Ancient Teachings for the Modern Person by Devean Chase (online $2.99). This is a Buddhist philosopher and mystic’s take on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. This book is definitely the newest (and shortest) book on this list but a remarkable one. Looking for a fresh perspective on Theravada Buddhism? Try this from a former Sri Lankan Buddhist monk.

4. Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart: Buddhist Perspective on Wholeness by Dr. Mark Epstein, M.D. A Buddhist psychiatrist challenges the preoccupation of Western psychology with the ego and its satisfaction, showing readers how to attain true happiness through Buddhist spirituality that he says favors being over doing. Source

Are there any female writers?

Pure Abodes or human nun?

But what Buddhist list would be complete with a text by an enlightened Buddhist nun, particularly a modern writer? There are many. Sayalay Susila on the Abhidharma with our very own Seven as editor comes to mind. There's the Jewish Ayya Khema (Ilse Kussel) and the Americans Shaila Catherine (Amazon), Ruth Denison, Sharon Salzberg... There are even non-Theravada ones like Americans Roshi Joan Halifax, Pema Chodron (Deirdre Blomfield-Brown) and British Tibetan-Buddhist nun Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo (Diane Perry).

5. The Happiness of a Beautiful Mind by Sayalay Dipankara (FREE)