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That's Funny, You Don't Look Buddhist: On Being A Faithful Jew and a Passionate (Philosophies, and Movements; 11) Kindle Edition

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 86 ratings

This “touching and funny” book by a Jewish Buddhist “giv[es] a sense of the richness that comes with opening to more than one way of spiritual observance”(San Francisco Chronicle).

“How can you be a Buddhist and a Jew?” It’s a question Sylvia Boorstein, author of
It’s Easier Than You Think, has heard many times. Can an authentic Jewish faith be wedded with Buddhist meditation practice? In this landmark national bestseller, the esteemed Buddhist teacher addresses the subject in a warm, delightful, and personal way. With the same down-to-earth charm and wit that have endeared her to her many students and readers, Boorstein shows how one can be both an observant Jew and a passionately committed Buddhist.

“An incisive exploration of the process of religious participation—one that will be widely read and intensely important to many people.” —Elaine Pagels,
New York Times-bestselling author of The Gnostic Gospels

“A beautiful book for Jews and Buddhists alike—warm, honest, heartfelt.” —Jack Kornfield, author of 
The Wise Heart

Includes a foreword by Stephen Mitchell

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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Boorstein is an accomplished and respected teacher of Buddhist Insight Meditation and has also remained an observant Jew. Here she thoughtfully and clearly discusses how she resolved these two aspects of her life in a fulfilling and complementary way. (LJ 2/1/97)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Boorstein, author of It's Easier Than You Think: The Buddhist Way to Happiness (1995), is a wonderfully commonsensical Buddhist teacher and an observant Jew. This combination of faiths is not uncommon; in fact, so many Jews are drawn to Buddhism, it is becoming a genuine spiritual movement. Rodger Kamenetz examined this phenomena in The Jew and the Lotus (1994), and now Boorstein devotes her newest book to answering the question, "How is it possible to be both a Jew and a Buddhist?" Warm and direct, she expresses her gratitude for knowing "two vocabularies" of faith: Buddhism is her "voice of understanding," and Judaism is the voice of her heart. Uneasy, at first, about this unsought "dual citizenship," Boorstein slowly realized that she became a more observant Jew because she has a meditation practice, that meditation brought her closer to her spiritual essence, which is, by birth, Jewish. Boorstein's mindful elucidation of her balance of faiths is inspiring and enriching. When it comes to spirituality, more is more. Donna Seaman

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003YCOOR6
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperOne; Reprint edition (October 5, 2010)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 5, 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4522 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 196 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 86 ratings

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Sylvia Boorstein
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4.4 out of 5 stars
86 global ratings

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Customers find the book insightful and interesting. They appreciate the thoughtful writing style and warm narrative voice of the author.

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5 customers mention "Insight"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's insights and bridging of spiritual practices. They find it interesting and humorous, with a compassionate and understanding teacher. However, some readers found the book boring and didn't finish it.

"Superbly written and enlightening book...." Read more

"...Ms Boorstein's writing is warm and insightful: reading each new chapter reminds me of spending time with a compassionate, understanding teacher...." Read more

"...Once the book arrived, I set out to read it. While there were wonderful elements, I didn't finish the book. Boring!..." Read more

"Excellent book; wonderful insights. This book is a must for those of us who layer Buddhism with other spiritual traditions." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing style"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's writing style. They find the tone thoughtful and warm. The author, Sylvia Boorstein, is a well-known writer and teacher on Buddhist meditation.

"Superbly written and enlightening book...." Read more

"...Ms Boorstein's writing is warm and insightful: reading each new chapter reminds me of spending time with a compassionate, understanding teacher...." Read more

"...The truth is very different, of course. Boorstein has a gentle, kind narrative voice...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2016
    Superbly written and enlightening book. A short easy read, but not sure 20-something and 30-somtheing young kids have lived long enough to understand it when they read it. She explains that "Life is a DOG," (my words not hers), but it is a DOG that you can deal with even though you know you are going to get bitten from time to time. Those of us who try to go through life without getting bitten, and then scream and cry when we do, make ourselves more miserable than we need to. We need to employ mindfulness and gracefully manage our wounds.

    I love this book. I taped Sylvia Boorstein on "New Dimensions Radio" with the legendary Michael Toms in the early 1990's and have listened to the tape on and off all these years and finally decided to buy this book along with some of her other books. Folks, I'm telling you that I struck GOLD.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2014
    Sylvia Boorstein is a well-known writer and teacher, and the author of several books on Buddhist meditation. In this book--really a series of short essays-- she looks at her return to Jewish observance, and how it is shaped by and how it shapes her Buddhist practice. I was particulary drawn to the book as someone who is both Jewish and a very novice student of mindfulness meditation--never mind to the droll title! While I can't say that I learned much about either tradition per se, I thoroughly enjoyed the conversational, thoughtful tone of the book. Her essays were not so much analytical as contemplative or reflective. They offered me a model for living a life that combines the two practices, and a sense that it would be not only possible, but deeply rewarding. Ms Boorstein's writing is warm and insightful: reading each new chapter reminds me of spending time with a compassionate, understanding teacher. I recommend it highly for anyone looking for encouragement and insight into their own spiritual practices.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2012
    Whenever you search for categories like non-dual Judaism, Sylvia Boorstein's That's Funny, You Don't Look Jewish, keeps coming up. For years I steered clear of the book, thinking that the gag title would treat the subject irreverently, or at least, be the outward marker of an inwardly frivolously book about the conjunction of Buddhism and Judaism.

    The truth is very different, of course. Boorstein has a gentle, kind narrative voice. She is a Buddhist, after all, and her compassion shines through in her voice. She takes her subject seriously and calmly. For Boorstein, Buddhist practices led her back to Judaism. This odd premise worked well for her. She began to see Judaism as a discipline, much as the practice of Buddhism is a discipline, and was able to renew her Jewish life.

    For many, the interconnection with Judaism and other religions is far more problematic. There are Messianic Jews who believe Jesus was the Messiah, but still follow Jewish law. Jews usually condemn this fusion religion, while maintaining a neutral stance about Buddhism. Christianity was long a foe of Judaism, and old antagonisms die hard. Buddhism appears to be more neutral to many Jews. But there is still a tension between Buddhism, Buddhist practice, and Judaism. This is explored in Boorstein's book, but is not the central concern. Buddhism and Judaism work for Boorstein. In this book she explains how.

    For a book that outlines the problems of being Jewish and Buddhist, read Tatz's Letters to a Buddhist Jew, where challenges of being Buddhist and Jewish are detailed in abundance.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2022
    This book is in great shape and it came more quickly than I expected --thank you!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2019
    I heard the author interviewed on Fresh Air and thought her book would be a valuable addition to my library. Once the book arrived, I set out to read it. While there were wonderful elements, I didn't finish the book. Boring!

    If I wanted to read an academic journal, I would have purchased one.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2014
    Excellent book; wonderful insights. This book is a must for those of us who layer Buddhism with other spiritual traditions.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2019
    Another gem by Sylvia Boorstein.
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2017
    very interesting and humorous.
    2 people found this helpful
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