The Five-minute Buddhist Returns

A jargon-free, plain-language introduction to the foundational ideas of Buddhism and real-world tips for practicing Buddhism while balancing life in the real, modern world.This follow-up to the immensely-popular "Five-Minute Buddhist" continues the tradition of easily-understood application of Buddhist principles and ideas to your everyday life.After a brief "Buddhism Refresher," this book presents approximately 150 short topics, mostly reader-submitted questions and answers. How do you use Buddhism in your life? Find out how we do it in short, five-minute chunksTable of Contents [Page numbers are from the print version]?Table of ContentsIntroduction 13?Buddhism RefresherWhat is Buddhism? 15Who was Buddha? 17The Four Noble Truths 20The Eightfold Path 24The Five Precepts 29?Applications of BuddhismQuestion: Am I One? 33Question: Meditation and Medical Conditions 34Gudo Revisited 35Koan: If You Love, Love Openly 36Koan: No Loving Kindness 36Compassion 37The Fifth Precept Once Again 38Koan: The Moon Cannot Be Stolen 39The Last Poem of Hoshin 39To Guru Or Not To Guru? 40Anti-Christian Bias? 42Koan: The Story of Shunkai 44Zen In The Dark 46Koan: The Happy Chinaman 47Taking Refuge in the 3 Jewels 48Book: The Gift of Loving Kindness 49Loving Kindness Meditation, Step by Step 51Movie: Zen Noir 52Buddha's Ghostwriters and Hinduism 53Our Buddhist President: Politics and Religion 55Beating Fear and Anxiety 57Koan: Shoun & His Mother 57Buddhist Conversion: 59Setting Up a Buddhist Shrine at Home 60The Sangha Situation: Nowhere to Go 62The Return of "Buddha Boy" 63Four Foundations of Mindfulness 65Koan: Gisho's Work 66Converts vs. Background Buddhism 66The Dog Story 68More on "Right Effort" 70Sleepy Legs in Meditation 71Koan: Stingy in Teaching 72Buddhism: Half-Empty or Half-Full? 74A Buddhist Christmas 75Past Lives and Reincarnation 78Meditation Schedules 79Meditation on a Whoopee Cushion 80Buddhists and Chanting 82Koan: "Buddha" by Kosen 83Ahimsa and the First Precept 84Koan: A Mother's Advice 85Great Expectations 85Insults and Quips 86Koan: My Heart Burns Like Fire 87Koan: Eshun's Departure 88Life and Death 89Buddhist Funerals 90Koan: Reciting Sutras 91Mindfulness and Creativity 91Koan: Three Days More 92A Buddhist Diet 93Beginner's Buddhism Books 94Koan: Trading Dialogue for Lodging 96Words of Advice for the New Buddhist 98Enlightenment: Are We There Yet? 101Starting Buddhist Practice: How? 102Christians and Buddhists 105Koan: Open Your Own Treasure House 107Playing Well With Others 107Koan: A Calling Card 108He Made Me So Angry That I 109Koan: No Water, No Moon 111Koan: Everything Is Best 111I, Being of Sound Mind and Body 111Resentment, Fear, and Anger 113Koan: Mokusen's Hand 114Living Death 115Buddhists vs. Jehovah's Witnesses: The Jihad 116Rewards and Punishment 118Buddha the Hindu and Jesus the Jew 122Koan: A Smile in His Lifetime 124Choices and Responsibility 125Racism and Buddhism 126Koan: Every-Minute Zen 128Violence and the First Precept 128Too Many Choices 130Koan: Flower Shower 132Confessions and Guilt 132You and Your Property 133Can Karma Be Shared? 135Publishing the Sutras 137Starting Out 138Sign Language in Buddhism (ASL) 140Dealing With Hatred 141Koan: Sleeping in the Daytime 146Is Buddhism A Lonely Path? 146Koan: Joshu's Zen 147What Do I Need to Do? 148Paradoxes 150Don't Fear the Karma 151Buddhist Tattoos and Books 153Koan: Zen in a Beggar's Life 154Koan: The Thief Who Became a Disciple 154Sin & Skepticism in Buddhism 155Mindfulness at Work 156Koan: Wright and Wrong 157Playing Mix & Match with Religion 157Trouble In Texas 158Ignorance and Arguments 160Koan: How Grass & Trees Become Enlightened 162Rebirth Revisited 163Help with Mindfulness and Meditation 164Poetic Impermanence 166Aging and Suffering 166Ambition 16812 Steps, Higher Powers, and Buddhism 169...And 40 additional topics.