Is modern Buddhism relevant to the problems of daily life? Or has Buddhism become too detached, so still and quiet that the Buddha has fallen asleep?

Clark Strand's Waking the Buddha offers an absorbing, perceptive look at the often-misunderstood Soka Gakkai International movement and at how it is redefining not just the practice of Buddhism but religion itself. An eye-opening book, both fascinating and important.-Dinty W. Moore, author of The Mindful Writer: Noble Truths of the Writing Life

A practical guide for anyone searching for the answer to the question: 'How can I incorporate Buddhist principles in all aspects of my life?' If your practice is waking up, this book is for you-Koshin Paley Ellison, Co-Founder, New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care

One of the great challenges that religions face is translating timeless wisdom into timely action for this day and age. No Buddhist tradition has done this as successfully as the SGI, and this book examines the history and future of the movement. A must-read for anyone interested in Buddhism and its transmission.-Varun Soni, Dean of Religious Life, University of Southern California

Clark Strand is a spiritual writer and former Zen Buddhst monk who serves as contributing editor of Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.

Contents

1 The spark-An idea ahead of its time
A change in the life of one individual
The flame of reform
A thing of lasting beauty
2 The foundation-The creation of the Soka Gakkai
Just one verse of the lotus sutra
Understanding our common humanity
The power of ideas
Opening a way toward the future
Personal transformation through group discussion
3 The development-The discovery of modern Budhism
Religion serving life, not life religion
Glimmers of a gobal movement
A global spiritual shift
Passing the flame of reform
4 The completion-The spread of religious humanism
Waking the Buddha
The culture of mentorship
The oneness of mentor and disciple
Spiritual independence
Even to the fiftieth person
The ultimate declaration
5 The future-A religion for the twenty-first century
The foundation for a happy life
Boomers, Buddhism, and beyond
Facing the challenge ahead
Entering the age of life

Waking the Buddha is an excellent book for many types of people. It is wonderful for those of other religions/spiritualities to help gain an understanding an empathy for those who do not believe/practice what you do. It is also great for those new to Buddhism and those who have been practicing for years as well. It was the second book I read on my journey to converting to SGI Buddhism and played an integral role in my decision to convert. However, it is not evangelical in any way, nor does it read as propaganda. It is simply an awakening to the basic principals and understandings of Nichiren Buddhism and its parallels to other religions. As someone who was raised as a Christian, this book helped me to see that all "religions" have many parallels and are essentially working toward the same cause, they just all have a different way of getting there. This book was easy to read and great for a good basic understanding of Nichiren (SGI) Buddhism. ( )

I DNF this one.

I found it difficult to read and to follow. I got to about half and then gave up ( )

I DNF this one.

I found it difficult to read and to follow. I got to about half and then gave up ( )

I DNF this one.

I found it difficult to read and to follow. I got to about half and then gave up ( )