Buddhism Is Not What You Think

Finding Freedom Beyond Beliefs

By: Steve Hagen

Narrated by: Paul Heitsch

Length: 6 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Best-selling author and renowned Zen teacher Steve Hagen penetrates the most essential and enduring questions at the heart of the Buddha's teachings: How can we see the world in each moment, rather than merely as what we think, hope, or fear it is? How can we base our actions on reality, rather than on the longing and loathing of our hearts and minds? How can we live lives that are wise, compassionate, and in tune with reality? And how can we separate the wisdom of Buddhism from the cultural trappings and misconceptions that have come to be associated with it?

Drawing on down-to-earth examples from everyday life and stories from Buddhist teachers past and present, Hagen tackles these fundamental inquiries with his trademark lucid, straightforward prose. The newcomer to Buddhism will be inspired by this accessible and provocative introduction, and those more familiar with Buddhism will welcome this much needed hands-on guide to understanding what it truly means to be awake.

By being challenged to question what we take for granted, we come to see the world as it truly is. Buddhism Is Not What You Think offers a profound and clear path to a life of joy and freedom.

©2003 Steve Hagen (P)2018 Vibrance Press

enjoyed the content, but not the narrator

I enjoyed the author's book before this one so I bought his next book, the message of this book is also great, but the the narrator seemed to be just "hammering away" at the narration, it becomes a bit grating and forced at times, feels disconnected with the subject, his throat seemed to be so dry, it's just not a smooth or soothing listen.

great message, annoying narrator

my completely subjective reflection: Narrator doesn't sound or feel very Zen to me. There is no stillness in his being, no silence emanating deeply from between his words. I feel tension there instead. Listen to Manly P Hall, Eckhart Tolle or Allan Watts talk...you instantly feel calm. I must not be zen enough to accept it but the guy reading sounds like the whitest person I have ever heard in my life. His approach expressed via his inflection to these subjects really makes it feel like he has no actual grasp of the principles or practices. He emphasises things he feels are important because he assumes they are, not because he knows them. He legit sounds like your quant neighbor who always waves at you over his white picket fence in a suberb cul-de-sac. I would have preferred a monotonous reader with lower pitch and not such an abrasive tonality. I think the books delivery suffers for it. Its kind of cringey. Hahaha judge me

Great read for beginners

This is a great book. It made me understand Buddhism better as well as zen and meditation.

More than what I thought!

I listen to this book almost daily. The plain, direct language, along right the narrator’s passionate and no-nonsense delivery make this book a staple for me.

What is it?

Here we find what Mr. Steve Hagen alluded to in the text. Nothing in particular.

Left me with more questions than answers

I am super new to the idea of Buddhism but I thought this book my help me on my start. I felt like the exact same things were said over and over again which made it hard to follow and know when key points were being made. Also it wasn't a book on how to begin practicing buddhism, it was a look at the religion through examples of people doing it all wrong. It's hard to explain why I didn't like this book and I plan to revisit this when I become more knowledgable but for now this was a disappointment.