Ben Connelly, a dharma heir in the Dainin Katagiri lineage of Soto Zen, has written a wonderful and accessible piece based on Vasubandhu’s 30 Verses. He enlivens an explanation of the Buddhist psychology presented in the verses with personal anecdotes that give us a direct entry point to practice.

This easy-to-read translation and commentary is a gateway into the very foundations of non-dual Buddhist thought and the foundational framework for deep meditation practice. What I love about this system is how it presents a rigorous intellectual exploration of the way we create our reality and how our reality creates us.

In my view, the most powerful teachings will include:

• a coherent and rational philosophical perspective.
• a rigorous intellectual examination of non-rational belief structures.
• an actual practice that leads to a hyper-rational experience that proves the validity of the first two.

Yogacara checks all the boxes!

Thich Nhat Hanh brings a soft, accessible and engaging tone to his expression of Buddhist teachings. This makes this fairly comprehensive introduction to them an easy and rich read to enjoy casually or contemplate deeply.

His overview explores teachings common to all forms of Buddhism, as well as those more specific to Mahayana Buddhism, including:

• The Four Noble Truths
• The Noble Eightfold Path
• The Two Truths
• The Three Dharma Seals
• The Three Doors of Libreation
• The Three Bodies of Buddha (trikaya)
• The Three Jewels
• The Four Immeasurable Minds
• The Five Aggregates
• The Five Powers
• The Six Paramitas
• The Seven Factors of Awakening
• The Links of Interdependent Co-Arising

Who should read this book?

Anyone interested in a modern overview of the essential Buddhist teachings by a highly influential teacher. I would encourage those newly interested in Buddhism, and those who have engaged in significant study to read this book. For the new student, it’s a fantastic foundation from which to explore and deepen one’s understanding. For the advanced student, there is plenty here for deeper contemplation or comparative study, as well as examples on how to talk about difficult topics accessibly.