Buddhism: The Religion of No-Religion

This book explains PLAINLY and SIMPLY what exactly Buddhism actually is. It benefits the reader immediately. No wonder he is the "Master of Communication."While reading this book, studying the "Concepts of Buddhism", they began to settle in my mind, coming through in my meditation. Without the "Concepts", meditation seems like autohypnosis. With these ideas from the Awakened One, meditation starts to have a lasting effect. I have had days of Nirvana without a thought in my head! I did feel as if there were no difference between myself and another. The time passed as if it were a dream. Silence. What a change from the noise that used ot go on. I owe it to Alan Watts. What an amazing man!Used in conjunction with Alan Watts' audio cassette, "Alan Watts Teaches Meditation", this is the most practical and effective book I have ever read!WOW!

Alan Watts delivers an interesting perspective on Buddhism and its various evolutions.Done with humorous intent I found the style engaging and informal while delivering accurate information.Alan Watts simply and directly delivers concepts and explains them in clear and understandable language.An excellent and informative book for persons curios about background and philosophy.

This volume nicely paralleled the content of a recently broadcast of a Watts talk on KPFK-FM (Los Angeles), which I found very satisfying. On the subject of Oriental metaphysics, Alan Watts is THE BEST!!!

After first providing a sketchy Indian historical perspective, Alana Watts proceeds to describe the dialog that bridges Eastern Buddhism with Western Buddhism, that is, the way Westerners would most likely understand and think of Buddhism. Not to be found in the book are lengthy lists and sub-lists which characterize so many introductions to Buddhism, so it is not an introduction in that sense; instead, it attempts to lift and inspire the reader into Alan Watts' dream and imagination where his spirit of Buddhism resides. He successfully pries his way beyond Buddhist orthodoxy, doctrine, practice, and static tenets and into the world of Buddhism, a living dialog that can grow into every person and uplift each person into awakening in the true Mahayana spirit. Traditional religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam, as part of their evolution into dispensers of doctrinal morality and social control, have become cluttered with appendages that obscure the true meaning. It is precisely this true spirit of Buddhism that Alan Watts captures: a) his description of rebel monks, their ideologies, their art; b) his personal forward looking interpretation of sutra passages; c) his distillation of doctrine into the quintessential. It's funny. This book is all about self-help through a religion which proclaims no self; and that, in a whimsical broad brush idea, is what Buddhism: The Religion of No-Religion is all about. Despite that many practicing Buddhists might dislike the book because of its somewhat iconoclastic style, I highly recommend the book as one of his best.

Anyone who is familiar with Alan Watts has to have this book. I have long been a devotee of Watts. I was not disappointed with this book. He has a way of simplifying any concept. I had to add this book to my collection of his works.

Helped me when I was searching for something to help me feel centered.

I was an utter emotional wreck after having recently stopped my anti-depressant. I remembered listening to Dr. Watts' lectures on the radio many years ago. After purchasing this book and beginning to read just the first few pages I immediately recognized, in this book, the same wit, humor and insight of his famous lectures. Almost to the point where, at the end of certain phrases or paragaphs, you can almost hear the late dr. laugh. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who remembers Dr. Watts' lectures, who is interested in Zen philosophy or especially to anyone who is searching for their spiritual or emotional center.

Wow! Best explanation of Buddha I ever heard or read and trust me I have read many. Einstein said(something like this😉)..if you can explain something in simple terms,you don't understand it

After a dismissal of Alan Watts as being superficial and lacking genuine scholarship, I have lately read a few of his books and been forced to concede that he seemed to have a true grasp of the Dharma. The talks here, six of them, are a bit uneven but nevertheless worth a read. I say this even though in the last of the talks his references to Pure Land Buddhism are to my mind very much found wanting in insight, even knowledge. But hey ho, there you go!

An enlightened master of words

Good, not one of his best

Nice book to have a good summary of buddism.Short but thorough