Buddhist Boot Camp

In my World Religion class at my high school we have learned about Buddhism and I was immediately drawn to it because it was all about looking within and finding peace and tranquility, I believe that this book demonstrates all of those characteristics that I love about Buddhism. As I am suffering from a personal dilemma lately I now more than ever look to this book for guidance about how I should view my life and this situation. This book tells us that we must follow thoughts of love and avoid those of fear, it also tells us to train our mind and not succumb to cravings, which this book calls "Uncontrollable Urges." One of my favorite sections of this book talk about how flowers continue to smell lovely even if we do not stop to smell them, and how the sun continues to shine even if we do not appreciate its beauty - so the book advises that we continue to spread love unconditionally and be kind even if those around us to not notice. Another important message that this book gave me was that "the opposite of what you know is also true" this means that we must accept other opinions and reasons for doing things because we do not understand other's circumstances and they might call for different plans of actions then ours do. I love the writing of this book because as other comments said it can be read in any order and it does not require endless sessions of reading, if someone simply wants to hear a few words of wisdom, inspiration or support they can look to this book, read a few of the two page chapters and be uplifted. This is perfect kind of religion book in my opinion, because instead of forcing certain ideals or telling the history it gives relatable advice that is both relevant to the religion of Buddhism as well as to simply having a good and caring life.

Great insight and reflection.

Only one "truth" needs to be known - the source of all your suffering, anger, and anguish is You. Grow up. Stop pouring negative energy into things beyond your control. Stop blaming other people for your unhappiness. Start accepting responsibility for the way you feel, think, and act. Learn to accept the possibility that there are various truths, all relative to time, place, and circumstance but existing all at once. Exercise patience, forgiveness, and compassion instead of trying to control what is beyond your control. Love instead of hate. Let go of what you think you know and you will find a more likely truth - you are where you are at for a reason. It's not mystical or spiritual but logical. This book opened my eyes to reason, forgiveness, compassion. This book changed everything. I didn't know where I went wrong before I got the book, after I read it I knew it didn't matter because I learned it was me. I had to change and this book taught me the lessons that would be the basis for making that happen. The lessons that would be the basis for my new humanity. Why this book worked for me when no others did, I cannot say. There is nothing religious or particularly "spiritual" about it. The lessons are presented logically, the content is simple and reasonable. There is no prescription for behavour, no exercises to improve mind control, yet somehow it is effective. When I closed the book, I was different. Your mind can only believe one truth about any given situation at a time, present it with other possibilities, and you open, essentially free, your mind from bias. When this happens you see everything and you see it clearly.

At times, Buddhist teachings can be a tough nut for the Western mind to crack. Buddhist Boot Camp offers an introduction to Buddhist thought and practice that is accessible to beginners and can start you on the path (or at least point you in the direction of the path)to enlightenment and happiness. This is a book that will bring people together in harmony, rather than one that passes judgment on the paths that others have chosen to take. The teachings are practical and useful. The writing style is pleasant and to the point.

I truly enjoyed it's short, thought-provoking chapters which offered a refreshing perspective on mindfulness, compassion, and personal growth! A great read for anyone who needs a positivity and gratitude reset.

"Buddhist Boot Camp," by Timber Hawkeye is a beautiful hardback book that is compact and ideal as a perfect gift for all those you know, love, and/or care about. If you are feeling lost, anxious, out-of-touch, or suffer with PTSD...this book can be an especially endless source of solace and peace for you, while at the same time providing strength. As the author notes, this book is not religion-based; you can be any religion (or religion-free) and be able to find yourself in these pages. If you are not sure if this book is a good fit for you, do yourself a quick favor and Google his TED Talk (in another window so you won't lose your spot here). After you hear his (Tedx Honolulu) message, you will gain a succinct summary of which, in part, his book is based. "Be grateful." Do yourself a favor; keep his book nearby each day, watch his Ted Talk often, 'friend' him on Facebook, and keep practicing the seeding of good thoughts and actions. I want to note that there is no summary which could completely encompass how truly far-reaching and uplifting his message and this book are, so please, if you must, take a leap of faith, do yourself a loving favor and order this book. Changing and improving the quality of your life begins with one small step; will you trust me if I tell you that this is a step in the right direction?

I bought this book many years ago and have purchased Timber's subsequent books as well. This book got me started on my own self-awareness journey. It is very easy to read, as the chapters are short and each has a profound message. If you are looking for a way to understand the nuts and bolts of Buddhism, or want to be a better [fill in whatever you want here] then this is the guide book.

This book is a collection of some very insightful commentary about our inner lives, society, our interactions with each other, materialism, etc. I especially enjoyed the quotes at the end of each chapter and the easily digestible format. I found the sections on "Success" and "Living in Gratitude" to be especially poignant and helpful. Many chapters prompted me to stop and reflect on what I had just read and how it applies to my own life. However, there is a major problem with this book...hypocrisy. In the introduction, the author says "Is is very possible...for someone who is Catholic, Muslim, Atheist or Jewish, for example, to still find the Buddha's teachings inspirational." That's great...very inclusive, supportive of people from organized faiths who are picking up this book because they're interested in deepening their spirituality. He also repeatedly says, "The opposite of what you know is also true," encouraging us to respect other people's truths, even if we don't agree. Then, in the section "Understanding," the author goes on to mock organized religion--particularly in the chapter "One Man's Truth is Another Man's Blasphemy." Here, the author doesn't merely explain his own beliefs or share his spiritual journey; instead, he makes assertions like: "The Bible is a story depicting somebody else's experience of God." "As for the church? Well, it's a business....It is easy to dismiss the church altogether because you'd think there would be some consistency in what they teach and there isn't." "It has naturally become easier to do away with the church altogether than to try and make sense of it." "As for Jesus...We mistakenly worship the teachers instead of the teachings, and even idolize them to have been more than mere humans." All those statements are the author's point of view, which of course is fine. But they target religion (specifically, Christianity) and basically write it off. Whether or not the author believes that the Bible is the literal word of God, Jesus is a deity, etc., there are millions of people who do believe that...and to write off their beliefs in the same book that he repeatedly tells us to validate other people's truths is pure hypocrisy. Even at the end of this chapter, he concludes: "We need not agree with, only learn to peacefully live with, other people's freedom of choice." I totally agree...but then why target organized religion (Christianity in particular) and dismiss the beliefs of some of your readers? To be clear, I'm actually not a conservative Christian at all and was not expecting this book to uphold or even mention Christianity or any organized religion. But I do take issue with the author specifically addressing any one religion and dismissing its tenets, even while he encourages open-minded acceptance of other people's truths. He doesn't even address, say, Judaism and Islam in the same fashion--that'd at least be more consistent. Rather, he specifically addresses one organized religion. Basically, this book has some truly inspirational and touching anecdotes and lines. But the theme of acceptance and non-judgmentalism doesn't quite ring true. There are too many areas where the author's own biases and prejudices creep in. It's worth reading, but I found it quite hypocritical, and also way more of a collection of musings (as he readily admits it is) than some of "primer" on Buddhist principles, which is what I was hoping for. Many of the reviews indicated that this is a good introduction to Buddhist teachings, but I found it to be more of a blog about the author's spiritual journey as opposed to an informative outline of major principles sprinkled with anecdotes.

I have found great meaning in many Buddhist teachings, but sometimes the stumbling block has been the language and metaphors used. In Buddhist Bootcamp, Timber Hawkeye not only explains everything simply and effectively but speaks in a plain contemporary language. He is easy to understand and his words, instantly connect with. Each subject is succinct and short (no more than 2-3 pages,) making it easy to read small nuggets on the go, for example, without being overloaded. The author leaves just enough room for contemplation and deliberation of each subject. The autobiographical stories used to illustrate each subject, will probably ring true with many people because they share many common experiences and help form a mutual understanding. I would recommend that anyone who has an interest in the Buddhist path purchase this book, it wont disappoint.

If you have interest in Buddhism, it is a good book for you. You don't have to be a Buddhist to be enlighten.

… would describe the book as well and then again, it would be a very misleading title. The boot camp bit is very important – it means, that you can instantly feel and (most important) LIVE buddhism. Buy and get ready to get your spiritual ass kicked. This book is awesome.

Compré este libro para regalarlo a un amigo, pues su mensaje me pareció enriquecedor y transformador. En mi opinión, es un excelente libro que nos recuerda la belleza de la simplicidad y la importancia de la gratitud en la vida. Su formato breve hace de la lectura algo ameno, y sobre todo útil: es como un método de entrenamiento mental que nos inspira a ser la mejor versión de nosotros mismos cada día. Fácil de leer y muy transformador. Un regalo ideal para la familia y amigos.

I first found out about this book through Facebook - I kept seeing it quoted and the essence of each message would continually make me stop and think. There's a lot of cliché and banality in the selfy-helpy world (I'm a psychotherapist so I trawl through an unusual amount) but the goodness and wisdom of Timber Hawkeye shine through all the triteness, and straight to truth. What does it take to be happy? What is that worth? What can we honestly contribute? What does enlightenment really mean? What have I got in my heart and what can I do about it?... these are questions we all should ask ourselves, and without any sense of preachiness or judgment, this book helps you find your own answers. Deeply personal, at the same time its insights apply to everyone. Although the author calls himself 'religionless' and some may find that unsettling, there is nothing that contradicts the essence of good religion here; rather, I personally feel greater respect for all who live authentically the ideals of non-judgment, forgiveness and goodwill - whether part of a religious denomination or not. I've bought copies to give away and keep one for myself - a moment of uplifting peace is guaranteed whenever I dip into it.