Buddhism for Busy People: Finding Happiness in an Uncertain World

Buddhism for Busy People is a wonderful introduction into the world of Buddhism. I can't speak highly enough of this book. It is a gentle and easy introduction into buddhism. David takes you on a life changing journey. It changed my life and it is my bible. I don't mind lending most books to people but I can't part with my copy of buddhism for busy people. It is a little gem. Thank you David. I am eternally grateful to you for writing this book.

In "Buddhism for busy people" David Michie shares with a reader his very personal emotional experience of finding the everyday support in Buddhism teaching and meditation. The book is written in an easy to read, entertaining and such a friendly way that you can feel the author's care and honest desire to tell something very valuable that he discovered in Buddhist practices, tried for himself and found that it really works in a daily life of a busy person. In the beginning of 20th century, the Russian philosopher G.I. Gurdjieff (as well as number of other western psychologists, including cognitive neuroscientist John Cutting for example)taught that the average person consists of many "I's". Each of them relatively unaware of the others and competing for attention.According to Mr. Gurdjieff, people are asleep, fully mechanical and their repetitive patterns rob them of the free will. For the western psychology and philosophy oriented reader it will be very interesting to read how the author addresses this "second Person "I" and the question of awakening with the help of Buddhist teaching that has been available for centuries. Mr. Michie in his book will walk you through the hard learned Buddha's lessons and the price of success, details of meditation practices, applicable to the modern daily life of a busy individual, the law of Karma and why the bad things happen to good people. You will read author's slightly unorthodox, but very practical view on Buddhism as the box of tools that you can use to fix things in your daily life and all of this you will learn the same way as if you just sit and talk with your best friend in time you need his support. The English language readers from the Buddhist Far East countries will be refreshed to read about the experience of a western person on his way of discovering the value of the teaching and the impact it has on his life. It is going to be awakening experience of re-valuing well-known ideas that unfortunately too often are taken for granted in the modern East. For those readers I would like to remind the words of Odaishisama in his Hannya Shingyo Hiken- "How pitiful, the children long asleep, how miserable, how painful, the mad, intoxicated people. The suffering mad ones laugh at those who are not drunk. The cruel sleepers mock the awakened. Never asking the King of Medicine for the cure, when will they see Dainichi Nyorai's light?" The greatest value of the book I see in author's kind way of talking to you very personally on daily madness of our busy life and offering help through the Buddhist practices. The book does not speak on "levels of mind", "ultimate Dharma body", "layers of Delusion" or "stages of Samadhi" It rather gives you a hand of support from a friend to go through your daily life and feel better. Much better!

Certainly wish that this book had been around when first introduced to Buddhism. A great introduction for any interested in the principles of Buddhism. The author has a softness, a clarity and engages one during his personal journey. A book for the pocket for quietening those busy times and helping to make sense of the real world. It really helps to imbue a sense of calm and peace in a busy world full of busy people. Certainly a book to be read at this point in our world's history. A great book I would recommend to anyone who may look for some sense of spirit in a world that is rushing too fast!

I have just begun to read the book for the 3rd time in full and find that each time it really helps to bring some great perspective to real life. The author is really clever at telling his story which enables you to identify with him and the kind of lifestyle, dreams and aspirations we tend to strive for as part of modern living. I often refer back to the book if ever I am frustrated or down and it really helps to remind me of how I can quite easily adopt a different view that puts me in a really calm and peaceful place! Fantastic - thoroughly recommend to anyone!

I've read at least five books on Buddhism so far, and I would highly recommend this as the best introduction to Buddhism for Westerners of any of them. The author has a great talent for explaining Buddhist principles in a way that neophytes (like myself) can understand, and his personal story is engaging, and one that many busy people will be able to relate to. I'm reading it for the second time and still finding gems of wisdom. Great book!