Discover Buddhism – through Dominique Side’s latest book
Rigpa
In some ways Westerners are now widely aware of Buddhism. Statues of the Buddha replace gnomes in the garden, and images of peaceful meditators appear in ads for insurance companies that offer to guarantee your peace of mind. And yet this is just surface knowledge, piecemeal glimpses into the richness of what Buddhism is today and has been for 2,500 years.
What is the book about?
Whether we have a beginning interest in Buddhism or have been a Buddhist practitioner for many years, our experience can only be made more rich when we understand the depth of this tradition, where it began, how it evolved over centuries, and what makes it uniquely attractive in our world today.
In her new book, Discovering Buddhism, in a clear accessible way Dominique Side, gives an overview of Buddhism in terms of its history, key ideas traditions and practices. More than just a book to be read, there are also reflections, essay and discussion questions on each topic.
For those already familiar with Buddhism, the book educates us about traditions other than our own, giving us a comprehensive view of the vast Buddhist landscape. It is also an ideal entry point for anyone just beginning to explore Buddhism or for friends and family of Western Buddhists, who are curious about Buddhism simply because of their Buddhist friend or family member.
How did the book come about?
Dominique explains, “Almost 20 years ago I wrote a textbook on Buddhism for use in schools. I was in London teaching 17-18 years olds who have exams in Buddhism as part of the World Faiths paper, and I found it was difficult to gather all the resources necessary to give my classes. The textbook was well received but the publisher closed and the book went out of print. Many people asked me to republish it so I decided to do so while at the same time updating it, expanding it and making it suitable for a broader audience.”
Unlike other books on Buddhism
About the book, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche said:
“As long as I have known Dominique Side, she has not only been a critical searcher and academic, but she has also personally seen the value of the Buddhist path and encountered many great masters of this century. That’s why her book is not like most introductory books that present Buddhism as a religion along with lots of facts, figures, and logical arguments.
“Instead, it presents a different way of looking at life and the world, and it encourages the kind of critical exploration, questioning, and reflection that can actually enrich the reader’s personal understanding. That’s why I’d sooner recommend this book than some compilation of materials based primarily on academic credentials and references.”
Dominique’s aspiration for this book:
"I hope to present a clear and comprehensive overview of Buddhism as a whole to the general public, as well as to those already interested. I think it's always stimulating to drill into another religion and culture. I hope to also clarify myths and misunderstandings about what the Buddha said.”
‘Discovering Buddhism’ is currently available in English as an ebook and hardcopy.
French and German translations will come out later this year.
Watch Dominique’s recent Dharma Talk ‘Discovering Buddhism’ on Prajna
Dominique Side has been studying and practising Buddhism since 1970s mainly in the Tibetan tradition. She holds a Ph.D. in Madhyamaka philosophy, taught Buddhism and Critical Thinking in London schools and has edited two books by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. More recently she was responsible for establishing the Milinda study programme for training Buddhist teachers under the auspices of Khyentse Foundation. Read more about Dominique.