Page 63 - EH75
P. 63
BOOK BRIEFS | EASTERN HORIZON 61
BOOKS IN BRIEF BOOKS IN BRIEF
Haemin Sunim, The Things Chade-Meng Tan and Soryu
You Can See Only When You Forall, Buddhism for all: The
Slow Down. How to be Calm in Joyful Path to Enlightenment.
a Busy World. Penguin Life: UK. Buddhism.net Publishing:
2018. pp 265 £10.99 Cuppertino, USA. 2023.
www.greenpenguin.co.uk pp 358. Buddhism.net
This book by Venerable Haemin comprises 8 This is a very interesting introductory book that
chapters which is like a guidepost to our well-being clearly depicts the Buddha’s teachings as a positive
and happiness. Each chapter opens with an essay, psychology instead of a pessimistic philosophy
which is followed by a series of short messages that of life. Written by the well-known contemporary
we can apply in our moments of anxiety or despair. mindfulness author and early Google engineer Chade-
Meng Tan (Meng) and American Buddhist abbot
The eight chapters cover topics that directly points Soryu Forall, this book is divided into 17 chapters
to our everyday experience. For instance in Chapter with unique catchy titles relevant for our modern
1, the authors asks, “when everything around me digital age – “Honey, Did you Order Suffering Pre-
is moving so fast, I stop and ask, ‘Is it the world Installed (First Noble Truth)”, “Click Here to Uninstall
that’s busy, or is it my mind’”. This is then followed Suffering (Fourth Noble Truth)”, “Don’t Mind My Right
by another short chapter where the author advices Mindfulness (Exploring Right Mindfulness)”, and “You
us to “rest a moment when life disappoints”. There Don’t Have to Be a Buddhist to be a Buddhist (The
are also chapters on how to be mindfulness of our Amazing Inclusiveness of Buddhism”.
emotions, how to tamper our eagerness, how to
Thus, both authors have carefully pored over
maintain a good relationship, forgiveness, and the
the entirety of the early Buddhist texts (EBTs) to
true spiritual paths.
faithfully deliver their profound wisdom, packaged
with Soryu’s incisive sagacity and Meng’s uncanny
Throughout the book are color illustrations by
ability to explain deep concepts humorously and
Youngcheol Lee; these are intended as calming
understandably. This book is personally blessed by
interludes, to be lingered over much like the
the Dalai Lama, and vetted and approved by many
meditation prompts are meant to be.
highly esteemed Buddhist masters, some of whom
praise its daring scope, both in breadth and depth.
The best way to read this book is to take your
Within this book are the essentials about Buddhism
time and reflect on what you have just read before
that everyone needs to know.
moving on to a new chapter. In this way, you allow
the message to crystalize in your mind so that you
The publishers also mentioned in their website that
find deeper meanings in it. It is also important to
the same content in the book is available for free in
reflect analytically on what is said in the book and
their Buddhism for All web series. Their intention is
how we can apply what we read in our busy life.
to share this book freely with everyone in the world,
so people don’t have to pay to access the Buddha’s
This book is not only inspirational but shows us a precious teachings. But still, readers can buy the
practical path to inner peace and balance amid the paperback or e-book on Amazon or wherever books
overwhelming demands of everyday life. EH so as to have a copy in their home library to read at
anytime. EH
