A Buddhist Bible: the Favorite Scriptures of the Zen Buddhist Sect

The Buddhist Bible was first published in 1932 by Dwight Goddard. It contains edited versions of foundational Buddhist texts, and is designed to provide readers with the heart of the Zen message. Written when Buddhism was greatly misunderstood in the West, Goddard hoped to bring a new and deeper understanding to light. His goal was not only to explain Buddhism to Westerners, but to show how this ancient religion could be made relevant to the 20th Century. The Buddhist Bible made a huge impact when it was published, and is known to have influenced the views of Beat author Jack Kerouac.