I'm an atheist but I want to learn more about buddhism. I don't have any buddhist friends or know anyone who's buddhist for that matter so I have no idea where to start. Anyone know what books I should buy, where I can get them, or anything I should know about buddhism?

Well, Buddhist are Atheist....Technically Speaking although it's Gray Area, Sort of like Pantheists.....Sorry, I'm not a Buddhist an offer No expert opinion, Although I do Meditate Like ONe. Just hit the Book Store and browse the Philosophy & even the Martial Arts Section, they all pretty much overlap in Same Principles...

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"He was dead just long enough for the murder rap to blow over. And then he had lunch." - Kujan

"Buddha" means "the enlightened one."

Buddha never claimed to be a god or know god, but he does claim enlightenment after fasting and meditating for many days. He was probably hallucinating

One of the main tenants of buddhism is that life sucks; know this and expect it, and you'll find peace.

Ring bells or a gong to clear your mind while meditating.

Have fun with it

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"If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so." - Thomas Jefferson my grow

Thanks guys, I just bought the dhammapada off amazon hopefully it'll interest me

My suggestion for you, go check out a book called Be Here Now. It's got a trippy blue cover. Not a theological book in any sense, but functions more as a guide to a doorway that you seem to have already open (by being curious in Eastern religions). The book really put a focus on where I need to begin. Anyway, check it out.

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http://www.amazon.com/Buddhism-Dummi.../dp/0764553593

Read "Buddhism for Dummies." It changed my life for the better.

Hey man. Check out www.buddhanet.net. They have a nice ebook library. The first book I read on Buddhism was the Handbook for Mankind, by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu. At that time I was an egocentric bastard, but Bhikku's teachings really shook me up. I suggest you read that first, then read the Dhammapada from the Tibetan Translation Series. Its the best translation by far.

The four noble truths:

1.Life is suffering.

2.Suffering is caused by craving and aversion.

3.Suffering can be overcome and happiness can be attained.

4.The way to overcome suffering is the noble eightfold path

Buddhist philosophy is the science of attaining happiness.

The Dhammapada is a great start. Get a book on Tibetan or Zen meditation and practice the eightfold path.

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my multistrain perpetual
http://www.rollitup.org/grow-journal...ack-herer.html

If you have to read a book to become 'enlightened' arnt you are missing the point?

I mean isnt it something people should discover on their own?

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"I turned my little brothers desk in his room into a stealth box-thing. The Mom wouldn't expect him to be doing something like this."

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense. "
- Gautama Buddha


Reading a book on buddhism wont make you enlightened, but it can teach you some valuable things. Sometimes we might need a little help to see the truth.