Reviewed by Leonard Smuts for Readers' Favorite

The teachings of the Buddha have brought enlightenment, spiritual guidance, and comfort for many centuries. The Lion's Roar: The Wisdom of Buddhism by Joel Hopkinson explores Buddhist history, beliefs, practice, its rich traditions, and its secular evolution, noting that wisdom and compassion are timeless and the principles of Buddhism remain universal and relevant. The movement was founded by Siddhartha Gautama (the historical Buddha) in the fifth century BCE. He renounced his life of luxury to seek the meaning of life and an end to suffering. In doing so, he traveled widely and delivered discourses known as sutras. The author examines Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana, the three main Buddhist traditions. He explains how each relates to the Middle Way, the Four Noble Truths, and the Three Jewels. All of these are described in detail. The Five Precepts provide an ethical framework. Many readers will be familiar with the Noble Eightfold Path, which forms a part of the Noble Truths. Together, these teachings cover all aspects of life to create a solid foundation and provide guidance for daily living. Other topics explored include karma (cause and effect), nirvana (peace and liberation), samsara (the cycles of birth, death, and rebirth), diet, and meditation.

The Lion's Roar by Joel Hopkinson expands on the search for inner peace in an uncertain world, highlighting the transformative powers of the Buddhist teachings. It also provides details on lesser-known aspects including symbology (such as seen in statues), temple etiquette, chanting and mantras, prayer beads, Zen Sickness, the Zen tea ceremony, Buddhist art, martial arts, Tibetan Buddhism, and monasticism. An interesting aside is the mention of Maitreya, the future Buddha, who is yet to incarnate. No work on Buddhism would be complete without mention of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, an international spiritual icon, and he receives due recognition. Illustrations add depth and serenity to the book, and a glossary defines key terms. This detailed, clear, and informative work will serve as an introduction to Buddhism that will have wide appeal, as well as providing inspiration for further study by those actively engaged in Buddhist practice.