The Five-Minute Buddhist Returns (Volume 3)

A jargon-free, plain-language introduction to the foundational ideas of Buddhism and real-world tips for practicing Buddhism while balancing life in the real, modern world. This follow-up to the immensely-popular "Five-Minute Buddhist" continues the tradition of easily-understood application of Buddhist principles and ideas to your everyday life. After a brief "Buddhism Refresher," this book presents approximately 150 short topics, mostly reader-submitted questions and answers. How do you use Buddhism in your life? Find out how we do it in short, five-minute chunks Table of Contents [Page numbers are from the print version]
 Table of Contents Introduction 13 
Buddhism Refresher What is Buddhism? 15 Who was Buddha? 17 The Four Noble Truths 20 The Eightfold Path 24 The Five Precepts 29 
Applications of Buddhism Question: Am I One? 33 Question: Meditation and Medical Conditions 34 Gudo Revisited 35 Koan: If You Love, Love Openly 36 Koan: No Loving Kindness 36 Compassion 37 The Fifth Precept Once Again 38 Koan: The Moon Cannot Be Stolen 39 The Last Poem of Hoshin 39 To Guru Or Not To Guru? 40 Anti-Christian Bias? 42 Koan: The Story of Shunkai 44 Zen In The Dark 46 Koan: The Happy Chinaman 47 Taking Refuge in the 3 Jewels 48 Book: The Gift of Loving Kindness 49 Loving Kindness Meditation, Step by Step 51 Movie: Zen Noir 52 Buddha’s Ghostwriters and Hinduism 53 Our Buddhist President: Politics and Religion 55 Beating Fear and Anxiety 57 Koan: Shoun & His Mother 57 Buddhist Conversion: 59 Setting Up a Buddhist Shrine at Home 60 The Sangha Situation: Nowhere to Go 62 The Return of “Buddha Boy” 63 Four Foundations of Mindfulness 65 Koan: Gisho’s Work 66 Converts vs. Background Buddhism 66 The Dog Story 68 More on “Right Effort” 70 Sleepy Legs in Meditation 71 Koan: Stingy in Teaching 72 Buddhism: Half-Empty or Half-Full? 74 A Buddhist Christmas 75 Past Lives and Reincarnation 78 Meditation Schedules 79 Meditation on a Whoopee Cushion 80 Buddhists and Chanting 82 Koan: “Buddha” by Kosen 83 Ahimsa and the First Precept 84 Koan: A Mother’s Advice 85 Great Expectations 85 Insults and Quips 86 Koan: My Heart Burns Like Fire 87 Koan: Eshun’s Departure 88 Life and Death 89 Buddhist Funerals 90 Koan: Reciting Sutras 91 Mindfulness and Creativity 91 Koan: Three Days More 92 A Buddhist Diet 93 Beginner’s Buddhism Books 94 Koan: Trading Dialogue for Lodging 96 Words of Advice for the New Buddhist 98 Enlightenment: Are We There Yet? 101 Starting Buddhist Practice: How? 102 Christians and Buddhists 105 Koan: Open Your Own Treasure House 107 Playing Well With Others 107 Koan: A Calling Card 108 He Made Me So Angry That I… 109 Koan: No Water, No Moon 111 Koan: Everything Is Best 111 I, Being of Sound Mind and Body… 111 Resentment, Fear, and Anger 113 Koan: Mokusen’s Hand 114 Living Death 115 Buddhists vs. Jehovah’s Witnesses: The Jihad 116 Rewards and Punishment 118 Buddha the Hindu and Jesus the Jew 122 Koan: A Smile in His Lifetime 124 Choices and Responsibility 125 Racism and Buddhism 126 Koan: Every-Minute Zen 128 Violence and the First Precept 128 Too Many Choices 130 Koan: Flower Shower 132 Confessions and Guilt 132 You and Your Property 133 Can Karma Be Shared? 135 Publishing the Sutras 137 Starting Out 138 Sign Language in Buddhism (ASL) 140 Dealing With Hatred 141 Koan: Sleeping in the Daytime 146 Is Buddhism A Lonely Path? 146 Koan: Joshu’s Zen 147 What Do I Need to Do? 148 Paradoxes 150 Don’t Fear the Karma 151 Buddhist Tattoos and Books 153 Koan: Zen in a Beggar’s Life 154 Koan: The Thief Who Became a Disciple 154 Sin & Skepticism in Buddhism 155 Mindfulness at Work 156 Koan: Wright and Wrong 157 Playing Mix & Match with Religion 157 Trouble In Texas 158 Ignorance and Arguments 160 Koan: How Grass & Trees Become Enlightened 162 Rebirth Revisited 163 Help with Mindfulness and Meditation 164 Poetic Impermanence 166 Aging and Suffering 166 Ambition 168 12 Steps, Higher Powers, and Buddhism 169 ...And 40 additional topics.