Buddha is as Buddha Does

The 10 Original Practices for Enlightened Living

By: Lama Surya Das

Length: 5 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Of all the Buddha's teachings, perhaps his greatest gift can be found in "the Bodhisattva ideal", a template for living in the world as an "Awakener", a servant of the highest good for all. With his previous best-sellers, including Awakening the Buddha Within, American-born Tibetan Buddhist teacher Lama Surya Das has made the helpful, healing insights of the Buddha accessible to millions. Now, with Buddha Is As Buddha Does, he helps listeners to discover:

How to become a Bodhisattva, a peacemaking spiritual warrior, an embodiment of wise compassion in action

How to actively practice the ten paramitas in daily life: generosity, ethics, patience, energetic effort, meditation, wisdom, skillful means, higher aspiration, powers, and pristine awareness

The Seven Jewels of the Bodhisattva: Faith and Devotion, Self-Discipline, Discriminating Wisdom, Charity, Learning, Honesty, and Modesty

Inspirational lessons from history's legendary Bodhisattvas, including Tara, Avalokitesvara, and Manjushri - plus contemporary examples of enlightened action based on the realization of the oneness of all life.

©2007 Lama Surya Das (P)2007 Sounds True

Critic reviews

"An accomplished Western interpreter of the Tibetan branch of Buddhism, which has its arcane aspects, Surya Das explains each of the 10 virtues, offering numerous exercises and tips to apply his teaching. This is all firmly grounded in traditional stories and the examples of historical figures in Buddhism. Surya Das also offers examples of Westerners who embody these virtues, from the Catholic saint Damien, who worked with lepers on the Hawaiian island of Molokai, to Oprah Winfrey, a model of shrewd and skillful action." (Publishers Weekly)

Puts the heart into mindfulness meditation

Would you listen to Buddha is as Buddha Does again? Why?

I have listened to this book twice already, and intend to listen to it many more times to come. I have practiced mindfulness meditation for multiple decades, and have become increasingly proficient over the years with concentration on a pre-defined object of focus. That has brought a calm and equanimity that pervades my life.However, I have always struggled with the lack of heart, warmth, empathy, and love in my practice. I believe in such values, and certainly the mindfulness teachings mention the importance of bodhichitta, compassion, metta, etc. But it was always conspicuously lacking in my practice. Lama Surya Das puts the bodhisattva values at the forefront, making the timeless truths of love, generosity, and understanding somehow palpable. His words echoed in my mind and heart throughout the days I was listening to the book, and beyond. I have come to hold the bodhisattva idea on an equal footing with mindfulness itself, and have even experimented with meditating on the sensations of generosity and other pure emotions. I feel like new opportunities in meditation have been laid out before me thanks to this book's creativity-inducing message and presentation.The book addressed the paradox of being warm yet detached with true understanding. I have always been troubled by this and other ostensible contradictions in Buddhism, but he points them out and clarifies them, without providing any pat answers. Somehow, I felt something approaching an answer in my heart, even if I couldn't say what verbally.LSD speaks with such confidence and conviction, without ever preaching. There is not a trace of guilt-tripping or shaming in this book. He has so much understanding for the limitations of his readers, yet seems to hold us in high esteem! What a great man and teacher.

Book Great! Sound aweful

While the content of this book is great. I will probably go buy the print version. The sound quality was terrible. I was constantly having to turn the volume up as the voice trailed off.Then quickly had to turn back down as the voice vibrated my eardrums this process had to be repeated throughout the entire book.

Wisdom that has No Price

Such amazing Spiritual Insights & Teachings . Condensed, Westernized and Updated to the 21st Century.

This should be required reading.

Why become a Buddhist when you can become the Buddha?!these are words to live by now and forever. Namaste.

Reader is difficult to listen to

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

different reader

What was one of the most memorable moments of Buddha is as Buddha Does?

Was not able to finish the book, actually could not get past the 1st hour, due to reading style, mix between a NY bronx accent with Jewish values all mixed into a Buddhist. Quite distracting!

Any additional comments?

Book was a much better read then listen, if interested I would recommend buying a paper copy.

Endless Replay Value, Timeless Wisdom

I'm busy today but I feel obligated to take some time out and leave a review on this marvellous audio book.

This is one audio book I can listen to again and again. It's jam-packed with wisdom, little stories, sayings, quotes, insights etc. from the monk with the New York accent Lama Surya Das.

The first I heard of Lama Surya Das was "Awakening the Buddha Within", and wow! did that inspire and rejuvenate me spiritually. I was actually on a spiritual high for about a month or so afterwards - wanting to do better, wanting to contribute more good to the world.

Unfortunately, the high wore off a bit... but "Buddha is as Buddha Does" has fit in perfectly as sort of a spiritual coach to keep me on track. It works like that because it doesn't have a linear narrative like "Awakening the Buddha Within". I can pick up anywhere on this one and just start listening.

If you have even the tiniest curiosity or desire to get this one, do it. The value here is incredible.