The Buddha before Buddhism: Wisdom from the Early Teachings

Good for meditation.

This is an excellent book. The Atthakavaggo Sutta is considered by many Buddhist scholars as one of the oldest texts of the canon. It lacks most of the doctrine inserted into the canon by later monks. Although it's impossible to know what the Buddha actually taught, it is possible to surmise it from the earlier works. Mr Fronsdal's commentaries of the sections of this sutta provide us with excellent teachings on how to live the Buddha's way. I believe the book is directed to those of us who are Secular Buddhists, looking for a way to live the current life without all the speculation and make-believe of Religious Buddhism. If you want to think for yourself, try on Secular Buddhism. If you want to expand your understanding of Secular Buddhism, read this book. There is much good in it.

Nice book

Great food for thought about the Buddha's teachings. Deceptively simple, yet it completely overturns the great majority of religions' (Buddhism included!) claims to the "truth".Gil does a great job explaining that much of the Who, When, and Where's of the book isn't really known. Having said that, he provides context for the writings and illuminates the more esoteric ideas by relating them to other common vedic ideas that were floating around at the time.I found the book to be both facsinating on a scholarly level and inspiring on a personal level. Definitely worth a read!

Excellent book. Well written with engaging and thoughtful introductions. Mr. Fronsdal put a great deal of thought into the analysis of each discourse. Interesting look at early-ish Buddhist poems with an engaging translation. The poems demand immediate attention with the simplicity of the language and the essential elements of the Buddha’s teachings. A book worth reading for the poetry alone, the content essential for anyone interested in the Buddha’s Teachings.

Gil did a great job on this book. I'm not really a bubbhist but I listen to his dharma talks regularly and practice mindfulness and meditation along with some Christianity. His advice and discussions are very influential yet he does not try to force ideas or concepts on the reader or listener. I find his work very honest and mindful yet extremely powerful for the mind to digest. Thanks

I appreciate in this book that Gil tries to get to the core of Buddhism, which is beautifully simple yet profound. I enjoy learning the Suttas, and these Suttas are minimalist and elegant. My only complaint about the book is that some poems need more explanation, and I found myself having to look things up online while reading the book. If you enjoy learning Suttas, I highly recommend this book.

worth perusing, but excessive historical detail, for me, tended to detract from the whole of the effort.

Gil Fronsdal delivers here a very enjoyable and readable translation of one of Buddhism's most ancient recorded series of poems. The presentation and commentary, along with the poems themselves, present the teachings of the Buddha in a slightly different light than usual. Taken alone, this book offers a take on Buddhism that is quite close to the philosophical school of Skepticism of ancient Greece and Rome, which taught that peace could be attained only by letting go of all claims of ultimate truth and doctrines. The author does not try to reconcile this more skeptical strain of Buddhist thought with the rest of the canon, prefering instead to let the poems speak for themselves and letting the reader decide what to make of it, in contrast to other translations of the same texts by Bhikkhu Bodhi who frames it more in the classical Theravadan interpretation provided by ancient commentaries. Gil Fronsdal's approach is more likely to appeal to fans of the secular Buddhist movement who are uneasy with the metaphysical baggage often present in Buddhist text, as the author's choice of text and commentary is devoid of reference to it. Traditional religious buddhists will probably prefer Ven. Bodhi's version available from Wisdom publication (The Suttanipata - an ancient collection of the Buddha's discourses).

Having studied and practiced various flavours of Buddhism for over 25 years, I feel I have a 'handle' on the core meaning of what he taught, this book having crystallised the teachings with the emphasis on becoming peaceful by living peacefully, not grasping at doctrines, paths or attainments.

The author’s attempt to express early Buddhism teachings is applaudable. He articulated ‘Atthakavagga’ (early Buddhist sutta) and explained it very well. Although he slightly altered translation of few Pali words, it was necessary to represent the essence of the sutta. It was nice experience to read the book and been gained by it. Thank you.

Very relevant.

Clear, straightforward and quite a revelation.