My ancestors from Japan brought their Buddhist beliefs and practices to California in the 1800s. As a fourth-generation Japanese American, those traditions have now been passed down to me.
But I have also come to see them as more than just distant inheritances from my great-grandparents. The Buddhist religion and philosophy of facing up to life and suffering is an inheritance from 500 B.C.
Given the endless choices of books, I created this list as a path for beginners, as these books have helped me on my journey to understand the practice. Enjoy these 8 best books on Buddhism and meditation, whether you’re new to the philosophy or a seasoned practitioner: