Books on Buddhism

The Purpose of Life, with its vibrant ink paintings that create immersive experiences, gently explains Buddha's famous parable, which delves into some fundamental questions: Why do we live, even when life is painful? What is the purpose of life?

Russian literary giant Leo Tolstoy, upon coming across this parable that portrays the true nature of human existence, declared in astonishment, “This is no fable but the literal incontestable truth that everyone may understand.” By the time you finish reading this book, you will likely feel a renewed strength to live, realizing that although life has many ups and downs, every bit of your life is a part of the process of fulfilling your one purpose in having been born human, without anything wasted.

The illustrations are by a world-renowned sumi-e artist Hidekichi Shigemoto. The English version features beautiful prose by Juliet Carpenter, a distinguished translator of many Japanese literary works.
Price: 100 PH pesos

If Life Must End, Why Do We Live?
Tannisho, translated as lamenting the deviations, is a timeless masterpiece that gives the answer to this fundamental question of life and continues to fascinate the world.
This is Buddhism is a perfect introductory book that enables even beginners with no knowledge of the message of Buddhism or its history to understand the content of this classic and reach the answer to the question, ‘why do we live.’

The Analogy to Aid in Grasping an Overall Picture of Tannisho
(1) There was a patient suffering from intractable disease whom all physicians had abandoned.
(2) Someone introduced the patient to a great physician who alone could provide a cure.
(3) The great physician promised the patient, “I will ascertain the root cause of your suffering and provide a cure.
I stake my life on it.”
(4) After a long, hard struggle, the great physician finally developed a wonder drug.
(5) The patient took the wonder drug, was completely cured, and rejoiced.
(6) Overcome with deep gratitude toward the great physician and the one who pointed him out, the completely
healed patient poured out his thanks.

“THIS IS BUDDHISM” explains each step in the analogy and offer an explanation of the overall meaning of Tannisho.
Price: 100 PH pesos

This book introduces sixty-five heart-warming stories that show what it means to learn from life s events. These simple yet beautiful tales invites us to look deeper into almost any situation in life. In the tradition of Aesop's Fables each story concludes with a moral lesson. In these lessons, the author gives us a perspective on people and events that is both rare and unexpected, demonstrating a profound understanding of the human condition. "Something You Forgot...Along the Way" is a joy to read for anyone: teenagers looking to share in the wisdom of an adult; parents and teachers who wish to share something invaluable with their children or pupils; and all people everywhere, young or old, who seek to better themselves and the world they live in. This is a book to cherish, to share and to return to over and over again.
Price: 200 PH pesos (self improvement/short stories)

The stories and anecdotes in this book are full of variety, ranging from historical incidents to family problems. Yet each one has something to teach about Buddhist truth, which permeates time and space. This little book may enable people the world over to share in the precious teachings of Buddhism and acquire an unshakable spirit.
Price: 200 PH pesos (short stories of self improvement)

This book is a manga/comic style book that depicts the life of the Buddha Sakyamuni (Siddhartha Gautama). What is happiness? What's the point of living the way I do, day in and day out? Twenty-five hundred years ago, in his youth, Buddha (Sakyamuni) had the same nagging questions that we do today. He never avoided them or gave up the search for answers, but devoted himself earnestly to discovering the meaning of life. That search is the starting point of Buddhism. Precisely because he agonized more than others, Buddha also attained a happiness greater than that of anyone else. In our desire to live with strength and good cheer, the life of Buddha is sure to provide invaluable insight.
Price: 250 PH pesos 

The ABCs of Buddhism: If You Want to Be Happy, Focus on Giving Learning about Buddhism can be a fun thing―and this book puts the teachings of Buddhism into an easy-to-digest comic format.
"My desire to present the teachings of Buddha in a fashion that even small children could enjoy was the starting point for these comics. Nothing would make me happier than for people to take this book in hand and, perhaps with a few chuckles along the way, learn the crucial teachings of Buddhism ― teachings that can transform lives. It is especially gratifying to think that the ABCs of Buddhism will be accessible through this English translation to readers not only in Japan but around the world. My earnest desire is that the Buddhist teachings of salvation for one and all may bring happiness to all people on this earth." - Hisashi Ota, author.
Price: 250 PH pesos (manga/comic)

As human beings, we have one thing in common: we search all our lives for lasting happiness. YOUR WERE BORN FOR A REASON tells us that happiness can indeed be found. But it is not found in the place we ordinarily look, such as status, achievements, or family. This book, which has sold nearly half a million copies since its original publication in Japan, shows us how to navigate life's obstacles from a deep and abiding source of inner peace. The authors: a Buddhist teacher, a psychotherapist, a philosopher, bring their combined wisdom to bear on the age-old question: what is the purpose of life? They direct us toward answers contained in often-overlooked Buddhist teachings specifically, in the words of Shinran, who is the founder of Jodo Shinshu, the largest of Japan's schools of Buddhism. In clear and compelling language, YOU WERE BORN FOR A REASON shows why human life is not only meaningful, but infinitely precious. It considers the many ills that plague modern society, suicide, murder, angst, a constant sense of futility, and guides us to the enduring truths that can renew our hearts and finally provide real happiness. CONTENTS: The Eternal Questions. Shinran's Answer/ The Root Cause of Suffering/ The Dark Mind: The Source of Suffering/ The Mind Shrouded in Ignorance/ The Dark Future Casts a Shadow on the Present/ The Tragedy at Rajagrha and the Vow of Amida/Shinran's Fulfillment of Life's Purpose/ Shinran's Masterwork Begins and Ends with a Cry of Joy/ The Clash over Whether or Not Life Has a Purpose/ The Key to the Mystery of Why We Live/ Turning a Blind Eye to Ourselves/ The Difficulty of Knowing Oneself/ Revelation of the True Self, etc.
Price: 250 PH pesos

annisho (Lamenting the Deviations) is a beloved classic text of Pure Land Buddhism that points the way to real happiness.
As a record of the words of the extraordinary Japanese Buddhist monk Shinran, who lived some 800 years ago, Tannisho has become the mainstay of the Japanese spirit. Hundreds of commentaries have been published on the meaning of Tannisho, but Unlocking Tannisho is the only definitive commentary, based entirely on Shinran's own writings.
The original Japanese version of Takamori's Unlocking Tannisho (2008) has been unusually successful for a book about Buddhism, with over 670,000 copies sold to date.
Rendered beautifully into English by Juliet Winters Carpenter, who stands unchallenged as today's finest translator of Buddhist texts, Unlocking Tannisho will help you to uncover the answer to the question, "What is real?"

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Price: 650 PH pesos (Hardback)