<p>Specifically of <em>auto</em>-biographies, I enjoyed <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0385527071" rel="nofollow"><em>Confession of a Buddhist Atheist</em> by Stephen Batchelor</a> and of course <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/1570627142" rel="nofollow"><em>Born In Tibet</em> by Chogyam Trungpa</a></p>

<p>Of biographies, <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0143106228" rel="nofollow">Life of Milarepa</a>, even if mythical, remains an inspiring life story.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-27T23:47:04.333Z
2014-07-27T23:47:04.333Z
Andriy Volkov
<p>I can thoroughly recommended <a href="http://www.thezensite.com/ZenBookReviews/DipaMa_The_Life_and_Legacy_of_a_Buddhist_Master.htm" rel="nofollow">Dipa Ma-The Life and Legacy of a Buddhist Master</a>, a short biography of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipa_Ma" rel="nofollow">Dipa Ma</a>, She was an housewife, mother and highly developed Buddhist teacher living in Calcutta. I think it's inspirational, particularly for people interested in how to practice Buddhism in the modern world.</p>

<p>Also I've been personally recommended <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3995627-wild-ivy" rel="nofollow">Wild Ivy</a> which is an biography of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakuin_Ekaku" rel="nofollow">Hakuin</a> the 18th century Japanese Zen master. I haven't personally read this but I have attended study groups when we have been taking reading from this and it is excellent.</p>

<p>Finally <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10211707-gautama-buddha" rel="nofollow">Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of The Awakened One</a> is a well recommended recent biography of the original Buddhist teacher. I have received a fair few personal recommendations that this is a good one even if you think you are very familiar with the story of the historical Buddha. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-27T03:52:53.367Z
These must be great books, even though OP asked about auto-biographies.
Andriy Volkov
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-27T07:39:21.727Z
@AndreiVolkov hahahaha missed that. I'll let the answer stand though as they are great books. Still maybe someone has the proper answer
Crab Bucket
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-26T10:24:12.740Z
2014-07-26T10:24:12.740Z
Crab Bucket
<p>Can you recommend any good autobiographies of Buddhist teachers and monks? I'm currently reading <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/9460900054" rel="nofollow">Getting Off, A Portrait of an American Buddhist Monk</a> and I find it very interesting. </p>

<history><texts><teachers><learning-materials>
Autobiographies of Buddhist masters
# Autobiographies of Buddhist masters

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-07-26)

Can you recommend any good autobiographies of Buddhist teachers and monks? I'm currently reading [Getting Off, A Portrait of an American Buddhist Monk](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/9460900054) and I find it very interesting.

**Tags:** history, texts, teachers, learning-materials


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-07-27. Score: 2

Specifically of *auto*-biographies, I enjoyed [*Confession of a Buddhist Atheist* by Stephen Batchelor](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0385527071) and of course [*Born In Tibet* by Chogyam Trungpa](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/1570627142)

Of biographies, [Life of Milarepa](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0143106228), even if mythical, remains an inspiring life story.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2014-07-26. Score: 2

I can thoroughly recommended [Dipa Ma-The Life and Legacy of a Buddhist Master](http://www.thezensite.com/ZenBookReviews/DipaMa_The_Life_and_Legacy_of_a_Buddhist_Master.htm), a short biography of [Dipa Ma](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipa_Ma), She was an housewife, mother and highly developed Buddhist teacher living in Calcutta. I think it's inspirational, particularly for people interested in how to practice Buddhism in the modern world.

Also I've been personally recommended [Wild Ivy](http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3995627-wild-ivy) which is an biography of [Hakuin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakuin_Ekaku) the 18th century Japanese Zen master. I haven't personally read this but I have attended study groups when we have been taking reading from this and it is excellent.

Finally [Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of The Awakened One](http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10211707-gautama-buddha) is a well recommended recent biography of the original Buddhist teacher. I have received a fair few personal recommendations that this is a good one even if you think you are very familiar with the story of the historical Buddha.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: These must be great books, even though OP asked about auto-biographies.  
> **username_2**: @AndreiVolkov hahahaha missed that. I'll let the answer stand though as they are great books. Still maybe someone has the proper answer  

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