Buddhism: Learning to understand life, (Paperback)

Buddhism: Learning to Understand Life by Nina van Gorkom is a clear and accessible introduction to Buddhist philosophy through the Theravāda Abhidhamma tradition, exploring what life truly is at its most fundamental level. Drawing on decades of study with her teacher Acharn Sujin, Nina explains how what we call "life" is really just a rapid succession of fleeting moments of consciousness, and that what we take to be a permanent "self" is in fact an ever-changing stream of mental and physical phenomena beyond anyone's control. Through scripture, personal reflection, and dialogue, the book unpacks core concepts like suffering (dukkha), non-self (anattā), and the nature of consciousness (citta), showing how genuine understanding - not ritual or forced meditation - is the path the Buddha taught toward the end of suffering.