Reviews

The Buddha and the Terrorist: The Story of Angulimala by Satish Kumar, Allan Hunt Badiner

is_db_n's review

hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

makcar03's review against another edition

4.0

This book was an incredibly quick and easy read, but that doesn't make it bad. This book is full of Buddhist teachings and proverbs, being a retelling of a traditional Buddhist story. It's written well, if sometimes a bit cheesy and repetitive. But the moral behind this story, and the lesson being taught is very interesting and a great idea. The main lesson of the book is that everyone deserves a second chance and that every person has the ability to be good. The message is delivered through proverbs and through an account of a terrible murderer who decided to follow the Buddha's teachings and become a monk. By doing so he gave up violence and decided to be peaceful and help people, rather than spread anger and sadness. I don't know the original story, and so cannot compare this book and the original story, to say if one is better or the ways in which they're similar. Only knowing the one version is somewhat of an advantage though, because I was able to read everything with a fresh mind and absorb the story as a first telling. Despite the repetitiveness of the story, and the fact that people spoke in proverbs, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and would love to read more like it.

pigeonpersona's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A beautiful tale of the encountering of violence with the help of an enlightened teacher, and the ultimate bringing of a terrorist into a tradition if non-violence. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Blood, and Violence

Minor: Abandonment

marionleary's review against another edition

4.0

This was a really good little book which everyone should have to read. It makes you really think about how to be nice to people and accept the people it is hardest to be nice to and accept. I love that Buddha!

shannak's review against another edition

4.0

This was not what I expected. I appreciated the moral lessons offered within these pages, but it felt very short, and ended abruptly.

I wish that our world were this receptive to teachings of love and compassion as the village in the story, but it feels like we can’t hear one another through the hate speech and shouting. We are not listening to listen/understand, we are listening to react/respond. I hope we can change for the better.