Accidental Buddist Being a Widespread

Accidental Buddist

Being a widespread religion, Buddhism attracts numerous followers everyday, making it possible for more and more individuals to engage in studying it. Dinty Moore's "The Accidental Buddhist" is a book that follows the author (who is also the protagonist) as he attempts to inform the public regarding Buddhism and about the interaction between an American and the religion.

Unlike most books written on the subject of religion, "The Accidental Buddhist" provides the readers with a more reader-friendly account, as the author frequently involves humor in his writings.

In order to learn as much as he could in relation to the ancient Eastern religion, Moore went further than most individuals, entering the world of Buddhism practices. In spite of the fact that the author felt an attraction towards religion in general, he never got engaged in the process of being religious. This of course, lasted until he stumbled upon Buddhism, which to his own surprise managed to captivate him more than anything else he came across until the time. The elements that he finds in Buddhism serve as an enforcer to the concept of religion, and to how one can get drawn to it.

Despite his rather comical approach to religion, the public he addresses cannot actually be determined. The book provides important information for any individual who was ever interested in Buddhism. The author does not only attempt to explain Buddhism to the common citizen, but he also attempts to explain it to the common American, incorporating the topic in a more general American context.

Buddhism is definitely a mystical religion and even with the large number of texts relating to the subject, it is still difficult for one to understand it for what it is. Moore makes it easier for Buddhism to be understood by the readers (the American ones especially).

It is curios that Moore chose to consider Buddhism as the best religion for one to study in order to better identify with the domain, taking into account that it is among the most improbable places where on will regain their lost faith (bearing in mind that it is not amid the easiest religions to study and it normally takes long years of practice for one to recognize it).

The author embarks on a heroic adventure, somewhat similar to early legends involving a young individual struggling to discover a community. He goes behind the scenes on Buddhism, visiting temples, zendos, contemplation halls and numerous places where Buddhist monks practice the religion.

Most readers will find the book entertaining and the least tedious, because of its amusing character. The text is more than interesting for the reason that it does not want to put forward Buddhism in the manner in which it is usually presented by individuals who want to narrate on the topic.

One of the main elements which make the book more interesting for Americans who are fascinated about Buddhism is the fact that the book concentrates on the American landscape and on the Buddhists in the country, rather than focusing on the religion's background and on the connection that it has to the East.

Moore paid special attention to Buddhism, learning about the religion from several sources. By doing this the author eventually takes pressure of the shoulders of the ones which want to receive an impartial story concerning the religion. The places where Moore looks for information on Buddhism are assorted, ranging from a Catholic priest who lectures on Buddhism to the Dalai Lama himself.

The author does not want Buddhism to have a wrong impact on people, as he is perfectly aware that American Buddhism is not very similar to the one present in Asia. He does not deny the fact that practicing Buddhism is a joy for everyone who wants to follow the religion. However, he also presents the problems which American Buddhists are likely to come across in the effort to understand Buddhism.

Moore explains how the Buddhism in the U.S. is very different from the one taught in Asia. While the religion's Asian followers have a history in practicing it, it is to a certain extent new in America, making it more difficult for people in the U.S. To properly understand the religious conviction.