Only One

If you could have only one buddhist book to study for the rest of your life, what would it be? (This can include Sutta compilations or teachings as well as single volumes or multi-volume sets) Why this one book or set? Also, what tradition do you practice and how long have you been practicing?

Not strictly Buddhist but definitely grounded in Buddhism: Time, Space, Knowledge. I have now read it once (and am re-reading it) and I feel it has told me so many things. Not just the in 'normal' content of the words, but just reading this book has a meditative effect, it does something to my mind beyond what I understand of the book.

I started out studying Chogyam Trungpa's Tibetan Buddhism, in 1993 or so. I have left that organisation in 2001 and since then I'm floating. I definitely think Buddhism makes most sense of the religions that are around, but I haven't found a tradition or teacher (yet) that I really want to be with.

Nectar of Manjushri's Speech is a good candidate. I have read several commentaries on Shantideva's root text, though not (yet) this one.

I am pretty much a Karma Kagyu Buddhist, though I try not to be narrow minded!

For me it would be Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki. It's all there, it suits my way of thinking, and for me it rewards multiple readings.

My studies originally were centered in Theravada Buddhism, but I'm very much a Western open-minded Buddhist.

For me it would be a manual that prompts one to put the book down and practice, since:

"Just as a brilliant flower,
Full of color, (but) scentless,
So is a well-spoken word fruitless
For one who does not do it."

In the Zen tradition, it would be Approach to Zen by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi- a treasure of a book.

In the Tibetan Tradition, most likely Geshe Sopa's commentary on the Lamrim Steps on the Path to Enlightenment

I am drawn to various aspects of Theravada, Tibetan and Zen Mahayana practice.