A True Friend of the Buddha: Revealing the Essence of the Buddha's Teachings

Becoming a true friend of the Buddha is within our reach—all we need is a discerning eye and an open mind.

In A True Friend of the Buddha, Thich Nhat Hanh employs the spirit of investigation and free inquiry to revisit and critically assess some key Buddhist teachings. Even in the time of the Buddha, there were many people—including those in the monastic community—who did not recognize the true spirit of what the Buddha taught. As such, misunderstandings have been introduced throughout history into many of the Buddha’s teachings. By revisiting these teachings with a discerning eye, Thich Nhat Hanh demonstrates how to remove inconsistencies and errors that have persisted, in some cases, since the Buddha’s own time. 

Using clear and direct language, Thich Nhat Hanh investigates the teachings passed down on key Buddhist teachings such as emptiness, non-self, nirvana, and the Twelve Nidanas, among others. Through these examples, the Zen master helps us to hone our capacity for critical examination of the teachings so that we become free from dogma. This is how to look with the eyes of a real student—and a true friend—of the Buddha.