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62 EASTERN HORIZON | BOOK BRIEFS

BOOKS IN BRIEF BOOKS IN BRIEF

Peter Skilling, Buddha’s Words for Tough Times. An This book has four parts. Part 1 is a general introduction
Anthology. Wisdom: USA. 2024. pp 520. US$49.95 that attempts a brief account of how the Buddhist
www.wisdomexperience.org scriptures were transmitted from the Buddha’s time
to the present, highlighting the linguistic background
With a Foreword by Dzongsar Jamyang Lhyentse and diversity of our scriptural heritage. Part II presents
Rinpoche, this full-color anthology by Peter Skilling translations of 20 texts of varying length. These are
comprises 20 translations of texts that were transmitted texts from both the Pali Canon as well as the Kanjur
by several Buddhist orders or schools. Hence, as the or Tibetan Canon. Part III gives historical and literary
author mentioned in his Preamble, this book is non- studies of each of the texts individually. Part IV is a
sectarian and at the same time it is poly-sectarian and glossary of proper names, technical terms, and titles for
pan-sectarian, or Rime in Tibetan which means to value readers of Buddhist texts.
all Buddhist traditions and regard themall as worthy
of respect and consideration. Thus, we have in this Though the Buddha’s teachings are more than 2,500
Anthology, translations from sources in Tibetan, Sanskrit, years old, change and loss have always been part of the
and Pali. Peter also uncovers the complex history of the human condition, but in today’s world, the pace and
vast writings of the Buddhist canons, and his skill in intensity of uncertainty has reached new extremes.
revealing the meaning of twenty gems from within those The Buddha observed the truth of impermanence and
riches brings them alive for English readers. diagnosed the source of the anxiety it engenders so
incisively that his prescription still resonates and heals
here and now. In these texts are the Budda’s response to
our difficult times for us to remain resilient. EH