Presents practical, Buddhist-based guidelines to achieving happiness in romantic relationships through a series of inspirational quotes complemented by thematic watercolors and divided into three sections that explore the concepts of illusion, reality, and life.

    Offered are ways for mothers to reconnect with their inner selves and become calmer and happier—with the recognition that a happier mother will be a better parent. This realistic look at motherhood acknowledges the sorrows as well as the joys of mothering and offers real and achievable coping strategies for mothers to renew their lives on a deep level.

    It is Thich Nhat Hanh's answer to our deep-rooted crisis of violence and our feelings of helplessness, victimization, and fear. As a world-renowned writer, scholar, spiritual leader, and Zen Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh was one of the most visible, revered activists for peace and Engaged Buddhism—the practice he created that combines mindful living and social action. Having lived through two wars in his native Vietnam, he works to prevent conflict of all kinds— from the internal violence of individual thoughts to interpersonal and international aggression. Now, in perhaps his most important work, Thich Nhat Hanh uses a beautiful blend of visionary insight, inspiring stories of peacemaking, and a combination of meditation practices and instruction to show us how to take Right Action. A book for people of all faiths, it is a magnum opus—a compendium of peace practices that can help anyone practice nonviolent thought and behavior, even in the midst of world upheaval. More than any of his previous books, Creating True Peace tells stories of Thich Nhat Hanh and his students practicing peace during wartime. These demonstrate that violence is an outmoded response we can no longer afford. The simple, but powerful daily actions and everyday interactions that Thich Nhat Hanh recommends can root out violence where it lives in our hearts and minds and help us discover the power to create peace at every level of life—personal, family, neighborhood, community, state, nation, and world. Whether dealing with extreme emotions and challenging situations or managing interpersonal and international conflicts, Thich Nhat Hanh relied on the 2,600-year-old traditional wisdom and scholarship of the Buddha, as well as other great scriptures. He teaches us to look more deeply into our thoughts and lives so that we can know what to do and what not to do to transform them into something better. With a combination of courage, sweetness, and candor, he tells us that we can make a difference; we are not helpless; we can create peace here and now. Creating True Peace shows us how.

    From Fear to Fearlessness brings you into the company of beloved teacher Pema ChAdrAn to discover these four "immeasurables"-maitri (loving-kindness), compassion, joy, and equanimity. By practicing them, you will begin to experience a supreme steadfastness and peace independent of conditions. Join the bestselling author of When Things Fall Apart to learn: How self-acceptance overcomes the judging mind * Using honesty as a conduit to the parts of ourselves that need kindness and love the most * Maitri: the meditation practice that multiplies love, and more.

    Three-hundred sixty-five photographs provide an evocative new image every day--each accompanied by a choice Buddhist quote.

    He demonstrates the practical and direct applicability of Buddhist teachings to today's issues, from the Palestinian-Israeli tragedy to the threat of terrorism and the degradation of our environment.Opening the Heart of the Cosmos shines sixty years of study and practice upon one of the crowning scriptures of the path of the Buddha. It is destined to be known as one of the most significant writings by Thich Nhat Hanh.

    Machik's Complete Explanation, the most famous book of the teachings of Machik Labdron, the great female sain and yogini of the 11th-12th century Tibet, addresses these issues in a practical, direct way. This valuable text is now finally translated in its entirety into English. Machik developed a system, the Mahamudra Chod, that takes the Buddha's teachings as a basis and applies them to the immediate experiences of negative mind states and malignant forces. Her unique feminine approach is to invoke and nurture the very "demons" that we fear and hate, transforming those reactive emotions into love. It is the tantric version of developing compassion and fearlessness, a radical method of cutting through ego-fixation.Sarah Harding is a lama in the Shangpa Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. She became a student of the late master Kalu Rinpoche in 1972 and completed the first traditional three-year retreat for westerners under his guidance in 1980. She works as a teacher and translator. She has been a faculty member of the Naropa University since 1992, where she teaches a full range of religious studies classes. She is currently working on textual translation and research as a fellow of the Tsadra Foundation. Published work includes Creation and Completion, Lion's Gaze, Machik's Complete Explanation, and The Life and Revelations of Pemalingpa. She lives in Boulder, Colorado with her two children.

    Growing up happens whether we like it or not, but maturity must be cultivated. Challenged to consider his own sense of maturity while mentoring a group of teenage boys, Fischer began to investigate our preconceptions about what it means to be "an adult" and shows how crucial true maturity is to leading an engaged, fulfilled life. Taking Our Places details the marks of a mature person and shows how these attributes can help alleviate our suffering and enrich our relationships. Discussing such qualities as awareness, responsibility, humour, acceptance, and humility, Fischer brings a fresh and at times surprising new perspective that can turn old ideas on their heads and reinvigorate our understanding of what it means to be mature.

    She says, "Think of all the time you've wasted hesitating or feeling distracted, or expending useless energy feeling jealous or angry, or being selfish. At the time of death, you'll look back and it will all seem like a dream." The book includes contemplative exercises that encourage us to appreciate the tremendous potential of the human body and mind. They focus on how we can learn to see this life as a gift—and how, by achieving peace in our own lives, we can bring a seed of happiness to other people. Although raised in Asia, Khandro Rinpoche is well-versed in Western culture, which allows her to translate Tibetan Buddhist wisdom to Westerners with remarkable authenticity and immediacy. She is also one the most highly trained living Tibetan masters and has been teaching in the United States and Europe for over fifteen years, during which time she has attracted thousands of students. She brings a unique feminine perspective to the wisdom tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

    It opens with the question: Is free will possible? This concept becomes a leitmotif as the author considers how the mind functions and how we can work with it to cultivate more freedom and understanding, how to be in closer touch with reality, and how to create the conditions for our own happiness. Nhat Hanh discusses the connection between psychology, neuroscience, and meditation. He describes the importance of creativity and visualization in a successful meditation practice, presents basic Buddhist practices (particularly walking and sitting meditation), and writes movingly about the importance of brotherhood and sisterhood in finding love, happiness, and harmonious coexistence with others. Punctuated with memorable stories from the life of the Buddha as well as anecdotes and observations from his own life, Buddha Mind, Buddha Body conveys powerful life lessons in Nhat Hanh’s characteristically light, humorous style.

    It offers a detailed, uniquely comprehensive presentation of instructions on both the view and the practice. In the teachings contained in this book, Thrangu Rinpoche has distilled the essence of the Ninth Karmapa's massive text into manageable proportions and has given pointed guidance on the implementation of its instructions. According to Thrangu Rinpoche, Mahamudra practice is especially appropriate for Westerners and contemporary practitioners because it can be realized in the context of virtually any lifestyle. Mahamudra dissolves the artificial separation between phenomena and emptiness, revealing the radiant display of mind. The availability of the translation of this text has traditionally been restricted to advanced students. However, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche has kindly consented to the publication of these core teachings on the text, which were transcribed from a wonderful 2001 retreat he led in the mountains of British Columbia for one hundred and forty Western students. His compelling presentation provides teachers and students with a systematic approach to some of the highest practices in the Kagyu tradition. Thrangu Rinpoche's extraordinary wisdom and insight make this new commentary a peerless jewel in the canons of spiritual literature.

    Here, the gifted Tibetan meditation master and author of Carefree Dignity , Drubwang Tsoknyi Rinpoche, in his exceptional and skillful teaching style, guides us through the methods to be at ease with our surroundings and ourselves. He shows us how to develop confidence and be in harmony with every situation as the basis for true compassion and intelligence.As confidence grows stronger, you find yourself turning into a real warrior—a compassionate bodhisattva warrior. The true bodhisattva spirit grows out of this personal sense of freedom. With this sense of security and freedom, you begin to direct your attention to the needs of others. The compassion expands. This is my point about inner simplicity as the basis for living fearlessly in a complex world. We are now open and spacious and from within that sense of fearless simplicity, you can accommodate all phenomena. You can naturally care for others unpretentiously; no one is a threat any longer.— Drubwang Tsoknyi Rinpoche

    The experience of Mahamudra, or "great symbol," is an overwhelming sense of extraordinary clarity, totally open and nondualistic. Dzogchen, or "great perfection," is the ultimate teaching according to the Nyingma tradition and also represents the pinnacle of spiritual development. These are the two paths that provide practitioners with the most skillful means to experience the fully awakened state and directly taste the reality of our mind and environment. And yet these concepts are notoriously difficult to grasp and challenging to explain. In Wild Awakening, Tibetan Buddhist master Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche presents these esoteric teachings in a style that reveals their surprising simplicity and great practical value, emphasizing that we can all experience our world more directly, with responsibility, freedom, and confidence. With a straightforward approach and informal style, he presents these essential teachings in a way that even those very new to Tibetan Buddhism can understand.

    This book offers an alternative: the 2,500-year old practice of Buddhism.Written in a style that will have immediate appeal to young "seekers" and those wanting to understand the ancient teachings, this book addresses such relevant topics as peer pressure, emotional difficulties, stress, fostering peace, and even protecting the environment. For everyone looking for self-help, self-esteem, and self-awareness, this book offers advice on:•Discovering truth in a world of hype•Finding peace amid the ups and downs of life•Accepting ourselves•Working with difficult emotions•How to meditate•Dealing with temptations and making the right decisions about sex and drugs•Advice on volunteering, working for peace, and protecting the environment

    Goenka, collected together under one cover, with biographical information and a commentary by S.N. Goenka.The story of U Ba Khin and his teaching of the Dhamma is set in context through an extensive interview with S.N. Goenka, conducted by Pierluigi Confalonieri, who also edited this tribute. It was published to commemorate the centenary of Sayagyi's birth.

    While there are many translations available, few have an inclusive – and lyrical – sensibility. In studying various versions of this sacred text, Larkin noted many discrepancies and embarked upon an entirely original translation. Each instalment gets tested at the Still Point Zen Buddhist Temple in Detroit, a remarkable Zen centre in the heart of one of the roughest neighbourhoods in the country.This small gift hardcover will have the appeal of the Thomas Byrom/Ram Dass edition, but will be made even more accessible with each chapter's introduction containing a powerful contemporary anecdote from the Still Point Temple community. This 'Downtown Dhammapada' will appeal not only to Buddhists, but to those who also appreciate beautifully rendered sacred texts as simply good reading.

    Written in contemporary, nonacademic language, this book is a radical challenge to the misconception that inner Vajrayana is primarily an esoteric system of ritual and liturgy. The authors teach that emotions can be embraced as a rich and profound opportunity for realization. This fiercely compassionate battle cry rallies all who are audacious enough to appreciate emotions for their supreme potential as vehicles for awakening.

    Like a master instructing every reader who has the dedication to read this book, the author maintains direct and unrelenting perspective, giving Fingers Pointing to the Moon its status as one of Zen Buddhism's essential classics. The depth of understanding evinced by Wei Wu Wei places him with Paul Reps, Alan Watts, and Philip Kapleau as one of the earliest and most profound interpreters of Zen.

    - Advertising in Buddha Dharma, Shambhala Sun, and Tricycle- Author tour to include Ottawa and Toronto

    / Thus we bow to life as it is. This verse is an important reminder, says Ezra Bayda, of what the spiritual life is truly about: the willingness to open ourselves to whatever life presents—no matter how messy or complicated. And through that willingness to be open, we can discover wisdom, compassion, and the genuine life we all want. In At Home in the Muddy Water , Bayda applies this simple Zen teaching to a range of everyday concerns—including relationships, trust, sexuality, and money—showing that everything we need to practice is right here before us, and that peace and fulfillment is available to everyone, right here, right now, no matter what their circumstances.

    His thousands of extemporaneously composed songs communicate complex ideas in a simple, lucid style. This volume features the best and most highly esteemed of the religious leader's songs of love and compassion that include lessons on the negative aspects of ambition and the importance of finding inner peace. In addition, he stresses the briefness of life: ". . . so apply yourself to meditation. Avoid doing evil, and acquire merit, to the best of your ability, even at the cost of life itself. In short: Act so that you have no cause to be ashamed of yourselves and hold fast to this rule."

    Ajahn Amaro reflects on the teachings of The Natural Great Perfection from the Dzogchen teachings and compares it with those familiar in the Pali Canon and in the Thai Forest Tradition.

    Robert Beer provides a deep and encompassing insight into the vast array of symbols and attributes that appear within the complex iconography of Tibetan Buddhism. The succinct descriptions that accompany his detailed line drawings reveal the origins, meanings, and functions of these symbols. Beer unravels the multiple layers of symbolism and meaning contained within the iconography, affording the reader a panoramic vision into the deeper dimensions of this sacred art. Drawn largely from Beer's monumental work The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs, the meticulous brush drawings in this book depict all of the major Buddhist symbols and motifs, including the various groups of auspicious symbols; cosmological symbols; natural and mythical animals, such as the dragon, garuda, and makara; the entire assembly of ritual tantric implements and weapons; magical and wrathful symbols; handheld emblems, attributes, and plants; esoteric Vajrayana offerings; and mudras, or ritual hand gestures.

    To transform this century of war into a century of peace, we must cultivate the limitless inherent power of human life. This is the 'human revolution', and it will be the theme that flows consistently throughout the novel." So wrote Daisaku Ikeda when he began The New Human Revolution, which chronicles the growth of the Soka Gakkai from the time he became president in 1960. This is the story of Josei Toda's disciples as they strive to carry on his spirit to share the humaism of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism throughout the world. Much more than a novelized history, The New Human Revolution is also a pertinent textbook of how to practice Buddhism and build a movement for peace today.

    It is also one of the most difficult texts for Westerners to understand. In Living, Dreaming, Dying, Rob Nairn presents the first interpretation of this classic text using a modern Western perspective, avoiding arcane religious terminology, keeping his explanations grounded in everyday language. Nairn explores the concepts used in this highly revered work and brings out their meaning and significance for our daily life. He shows readers how the Tibetan Book of the Dead can help us understand life and self as well as the dying process. Living, Dreaming, Dying helps readers to "live deliberately"—and confront death deliberately. One thing that prevents us from doing that, according to Nairn, is our tendency to react fearfully whenever change occurs. But if we confront our fear of change and the unknown, we can learn to flow gracefully with the unfolding circumstances of life rather than be at their mercy. Of course, change occurs throughout our life, but a period of transition also occurs as we pass from the waking state into sleep, and likewise as we pass into death. Therefore the author's teachings apply equally to living as well as to dreaming and dying. Through meditation instructions and practical exercises, the author explains how to:    •  Explore the mind through the cultivation of deep meditation states and expanded consciousness    •  Develop awareness of negative tendencies    •  Use deep sleep states and lucid dreaming to increase self-understanding as well as to "train" oneself in how to die so that one is prepared for when the time comes    •  Confront and liberate oneself from fear of death and the unknown

    The subtle analyses presented in this treatise were closely studied and commented upon by many realized masters from the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Using Nagarjuna's root text and the great modern master Ju Mipham's commentary as a framework, Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso explains the most important verse from each chapter in the text in a style that illuminates for modern students both the meaning of these profound teachings and how to put them into practice in a way that benefits both oneself and others.

    iBecoming the Compassion Buddha/i is one of a series of his books that examine key Tantric deity practices in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. As with his book iIntroduction to Tantra,/i his teachings make coherent and understandable to the general reader practices that once were considered to be for highly-realized beings only. Lama Yeshe strongly believed practices that help develop compassion and wisdom should not be limited to advanced practitioners, but that the all beings could benefit from them. In this book he provides a commentary on a short guru yoga practice written by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. This extraordinary book opens new doors for countless readers.

    These five Buddhist archetypes manifest the feminine wisdom energy that has been stripped from religions and cultures--energy that is so desperately needed in the world today.During her quest for a spiritual practice that honored her challenges and concerns as a woman, Tsultrim Allione discovered Tibetan Buddhist Tantra in Nepal. There she learned of the mandala principle and the five dakinis--wild, impassioned, dancing expressions of feminine energy. These female images are sexual and spiritual, ecstatic and intelligent, wrathful and peaceful. Each has the power to transform unenlightened or "encumbered" qualities into wisdom.Here, you will learn: - What empowered Buddhist women and leaders over time have brought to Buddhism - How the very energies that cause our suffering are, when the struggle is released, our innate wisdom - Why wisdom is not something imported--it is uncovered- The profound symbolic power of the forms, symbols, and accoutrements of the five dakinis, as they represent our own fierce feminine potentialJoin Tsultrim Allione as she guides you through The Mandala of the Enlightened Feminine, where you'll be introduced to the five dakinis and their transformative powers through rich, image-filled sessions of contemplation. Discover what it means to embody each of these archetypes of enlightenment that bring peace and illumination to your life and to our world.

    Written by Gampopa (born 1079 CE), the main spiritual son of the great hermit Milarepa, this important text lays out the stages of the Buddhist path and explains how an enlightened attitude is strengthened by practicing the six perfections of generosity, discipline, patience, exertion, meditation, and knowledge.For the first time, this sometimes difficult text is made accessible to Western readers in a clear and engaging commentary. Tibetan teacher Ringu Tulku explores this classic work of Buddhist practice and philosophy with the playful and fresh style that has made him so popular among students of Buddhism. Using folksy examples and anecdotes, he brings this text to life, discussing topics such as: - seeing through the illusions that cause us to suffer - advice on acting with kindness, generosity, and patience - instructions on how to put others first - guidance for attaining peace and lasting compassion

    Seeking common ground through dialogue, this ambitious work broaches questions about issues that face today’s society, such as cancer, AIDS, death with dignity, in vitro fertilization, biomedical ethics, and more. The discussions cut through linguistic and cultural barriers to present a vision of the potential—and the inherent challenges—of being human. Avoiding scientific jargon, the book begins with a medical discussion of cancer and AIDS, as well as the problem of social discrimination against those infected. Questions about the fundamental nature of a harmonious existence are considered, as are specific issues such as the nature of brain death and ethical problems relating to fertility and childbirth. The origins of life, evolution, and the birth of humanity are also discussed.

    

    Today, in a world overabundant with stimuli, these embodied practices are more relevant and useful than ever. Meditating with the Body guides you into the rejuvenating experience of body-based meditation to help you: "Digest" the stressful events and experiences of your day• Settle and calm your mind• Channel revitalizing energy throughout your body• Connect with the healing effects of the earth (viewed in Tibetan Buddhism as a living, enlightened being)• Uncover your body's untapped powers of perception, intuition, and wisdomJoin esteemed teacher Reggie Ray as he teaches you this complete series of six Tibetan-based meditations, including prana breathing, body awareness, abdominal breathing, earth-based meditation practice, and more.Note: Excerpted from the full-length audio course Buddhist Tantra.

    Rinpoche leads the reader through a detailed and lucid exploration of the nature of mind, pointing out inevitable pitfalls in spiritual practice and showing how they can be avoided.

    Evading his Chinese guards, the fourteen-year-old spiritual leader began a grueling, dangerous journey to India. The Karmapa's picture has appeared all over the world since then, yet his own words are hard to find. Now for the first time in print, Music in the Sky offers a series of the Karmapa's profound teachings an extensive selection of his poetry and a detailed and gripping account of his life and flight from his homeland. Readers will be captivated by this wonderfully accessible and profound book. Music in the Sky concludes with brief biographies of all sixteen previous Karmapas, specially composed for this collection by the highly respected Seventh Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. Here the reader will discover the compelling histories of the first Tibetan masters to be recognized as reincarnate lamas. Music in the Sky presents a definitive portrait of the Seventeenth Karmapa, strengthened and illuminated by an authoritative depiction of his place in one of the world's most revered lines of spiritual teachers.

    In Daughters of Emptiness, Beata Grant renders a great service by recovering and translating the enchanting verse - by turns assertive, observant, devout - of forty-eight nuns from sixteen centuries of imperial China. This selection of poems, along with the brief biographical accounts that accompany them, affords readers a glimpse into the extraordinary diversity and sometimes startling richness of these women's lives.A sample poem for this stunning collection:The sequence of seasons naturally pushes forward,Suddenly I am startled by the ending of the year.Lifting my eyes I catch sight of the winter crows,Calling mournfully as if wanting to complain.The sunlight is cold rather than gentle,Spreading over the four corners like a cloud.A cold wind blows fitfully in from the north,Its sad whistling filling courtyards and houses.Head raised, I gaze in the direction of Spring,But Spring pays no attention to me at all.Time a galloping colt glimpsed through a crack,The tap [of Death] at the door has its predestined time.How should I not know, one who has left the world,And for whom floating clouds are already familiar?In the garden there grows a rosary-plum tree:Whose sworn friendship makes it possible to endure.- Chan Master Jingnuo

    He stresses the importance of communication in all our relationships as the basis for resolving difficulties and maintaining an atmosphere of harmony in sanghas, families, and in our daily encounters.Based on the experience of the Buddhist monastic community in Plum Village, the book presents both traditional and evolving practices that are applicable to current global concerns of peace and security, reconciliation and mediation. It provides very concrete methods for nonviolent communication that can help any community to live together in joy and harmony, and serves as a guideline easily adaptable for use by lay people, families, and even nations.

    Written by one of the first Tibetan masters to live and teach in the United States, this modern classic entertains, inspires, and motivates readers as it leads them along the entire path to enlightenment. This book clearly and movingly explains the Lamdre (Path with Its Result) system of meditation, which has been unique to the Sakya tradition for almost nine centuries. According to the Lamdre teachings, there are three main stages, or "levels of perception," on the spiritual path: the perception of ordinary beings, the vision experienced by those who have begun meditation practice, and the pure vision of those who have attained enlightenment. These three levels are ultimately shown to be inseparable. This new edition of The Three Levels of Spiritual Pereception has been revised to make the language and meaning even more clear. Wherever you may be on the path, you will find in this book welcome instructions and motivation for taking the next step.

    In this follow-up to Buddhist Himalayas, Olivier and Danielle Follmi have once more worked in vivid colour to document the beauty of the majestic Himalayan landscape, while delving yet deeper into the wisdom of the Tibetans.

    It not only places the language in its natural context but also highlights along the way key aspects of Tibetan civilization and Vajrayana Buddhism. The Manual, which consists of forty-one lessons, is illustrated with many drawings and photographs and also includes two informative political and linguistic maps of Tibet. Two CDs provide an essential oral complement to the manual. A detailed introduction presents a linguistic overview of spoken and written Tibetan.

    As such it represents a major contribution to both Western Zen practice and English-language Zen scholarship. In Japan the traditional Rinzai Zen koan curriculum includes the use of jakugo, or capping phrases. Once a monk has successfully replied to a koan, the Zen master orders the search for a classical verse to express the monk's insight into the koan. Special collections of these jakugo were compiled as handbooks to aid in that search. Until now, Zen students in the West, lacking this important resource, have been severely limited in carrying out this practice. Zen Sand combines and translates two standard jakugo handbooks and opens the way for incorporating this important tradition fully into Western Zen practice. For the scholar, Zen Sand provides a detailed description of the jakugo practice and its place in the overall koan curriculum, as well as a brief history of the Zen phrase book. This volume also contributes to the understanding of East Asian culture in a broader sense.

    

    

    Yet, until the late eighteenth century when Sir William "Oriental" Jones broke the Brahmins' prohibition on learning the sacred language of Sanskrit, the Buddha's teachings were treasures unappreciated in the West. Uncovering clues about Buddhism's origins from inscriptions on pillars and rocks, Jones pioneered an enthusiastic band whose search for the Indian subcontinent's secret religion is chronicled in this book of high adventure and monumental historical detection. Acclaimed narrative historian Charles Allen brings to life extraordinary eighteenth- and nineteenth-century characters and travels to lost holy places across the Eastern world as he tells the story of how Westerners found the Buddha. Allen has recorded the Western birth of a religion whose influence in America has increased tenfold in the just the past forty years.

    

    This companion volume to Glimpses of Space is a practitioner's guide to the trikaya, or the three bodies of enlightenment.

    It carefully guides readers through the basic ideas and practices of the Buddha, including kamma (karma), rebirth, the not-self doctrine, the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, ethics, meditation, non-attachment, and Nibb�na (Nirvana).The book includes an account of the life of the Buddha as well as comparisons of his teaching with practical and theoretical aspects of some Western philosophical outlooks, both ancient and modern. Most distinctively, Philosophy of the Buddha explores how Buddhist enlightenment could enable us to overcome suffering in our lives and reach our full potential for compassion and tranquillity.This is one of the first books to introduce the philosophy of the Buddha to students of Western philosophy. Christopher W. Gowans' style is exceptionally clear and appropriate for anyone looking for a comprehensive introduction to this growing area of interest.

    Everyone has the desire to create and live in an environment that is a "Pure Land"—a place of peace and harmony.

    It includes an analysis of where the mind is located, an explanation of the origin of the cosmos, a discussion of the specific workings of karma, a description of all the realms of existence, and an exposition on the fifty kinds of samadhi-concentrations, which, if we become attached to any of them, can delude us in our search for awakening. Also, in this Sutra, twenty-five enlightened sages explain the methods they used to become enlightened. The Venerable Ananda presents seven ideas on the location of the mind. The Buddha shows how each one is incorrect and then explains the roots of the false and the true.

    His serendipitous beginning as a Buddhist resulted from being a civilian prisoner of the Japanese in the Second World War, where he found R. R. Blythe, the great haiku master, and D.T. Suzuki, the most important and popular chronicler of Zen in English, as fellow detainees. After the war he returned to Japan on several occasions to study in traditional monastic settings. He has been a leader of the contemporary move to establish Zen Buddhism in the West and was a founding member of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship.With material never before collected in book form, The Morning Star includes writings from his first book, A Zen Wave, and from eight collections of essays and poems published over the last three decades. The introduction to this volume offers Robert Aitken’s latest presentation of Zen practice, addressing the Great Matter from a historical and personal perspective.

    Approaching the Great Perfection looks at a seminal figure of this lineage, Jigme Lingpa, an eighteenth-century scholar and meditation master whose cycle of teachings, the Longchen Nyingtig, has been handed down through generations as a complete path to enlightenment. Ten of Jigme Lingpa's texts are presented here, along with extensive analysis by van Schaik of a core tension within Buddhism: Does enlightenment develop gradually, or does it come all at once? Though these two positions are often portrayed by modern scholars as entrenched polemical views, van Schaik explains that both tendencies are present within each of the Tibetan Buddhist schools. He demonstrates how Jigme Lingpa is a great illustration of this balancing act, using the rhetoric of both sides to propel his students along the path of the Great Perfection.

    Tibetan Buddhist teachers expected their students to study Buddhist philosophical texts as well as practicing reflection and meditation; present-day students have also realized that awakening has its source in study as well as in reflection and practice. This volume, Esoteric Instructions, deals with meditation, specifically tantric meditation. Esoteric Instructions is a collection of intimate records of personal teaching by masters. They simplify tantric meditations by providing pertinent examples and very personal and helpful hints to disciples based on the masters's own experience. Although originally oral in nature, they have been codified and passed down thorough specific lineages from teacher to student.

    To achieve a better understanding of the universe of ideas, activities, and institutional structures within which early self-proclaimed bodhisattvas lived, the author first considers the Ugra as a literary document, employing new methodological tools to examine the genre to which it belongs, the age of its extant versions, and their relationships to one another. She goes on to challenge the dominant notions that the Mahayana emerged as a reform of earlier Buddhism and offered lay people an easier option.A Few Good Men will be compelling reading for scholars and practitioners alike and others interested in the history of Indian Buddhism and the formation of Mahayana.

    Her journal starts in 1950 when the Swami started to teach her meditation in the Hindu tradition of Vedanta. Marie Louise Burke, as she was then known, went on to become a prominent literary figure in the Vedanta movement and later a respected monastic. This story takes readers on a powerful inner journey as Swami Ashokananda transforms the author's self-doubt into a rich and joyful spiritual quest.Sister Gargi is to be thanked for another important entry in the archives of world spirituality.-HUSTON SMITH, author of The World's ReligionsTouching, well-written portrait.-LIBRARY JOURNALThoughtful and uplifting.-MIDWEST BOOK REVIEWRare treasure of a book.-LIGHT OF CONSCIOUSNESSDeeply inspiring and a sheer pleasure to read.-VRAJAPRANA, author of Vedanta: A Simple Introduction

    The women's doubts and hesitations are masterfully resolved in these impassioned exchanges. The wonderful material in this book is part of a terma (treasure) revealed by Pema Lingpa (1450–1521), the greatest terton (treasure-revealer) of the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. The pithy collection is rounded out by Pema Lingpa's astonishing life story..

    Meditation on these steps has been a core practice of Tibetan Buddhists for centuries. The Lamrim Chenmo presents the Buddha's teachings along a continuum of three spiritual attitudes: the person who worries about rebirth, the person who wants to escape rebirth, and finally the person who strives for buddhahood in order to relieve the suffering of all beings--this is the supreme aspiration of the bodhisattva. Given over two months to a group of Western Students in Dharamsala, India, Yangsi Rinpoche's commentary revitalizes our understanding of Tsongkhapa's work, giving readers renewed inspiration.

    This short gem of a book shows how distorted perceptions and disturbing emotions—arising from our misunderstanding of reality—can be completely uprooted, resulting in freedom from suffering.

    Finally, we are pleased to make this volume available to all other interested readers. Whether they are drawn to this discipline or put off by it, through this book, their judgement can be informed by direct experience of the Dorje Kasung teachings. For all audiences, True Command presents an excellent example of how Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche's unique application of the Buddhist and Shambhala teachings is profoundly helpful in addressing the fundamental societal and cultural challenges of our time."True Command, Volume One: The Town Talks includes every major address that the Dorje Dradul gave to the Dorje Kasung in an urban setting. It is in these 'town' talks that the basic framework and evolution of the Dorje Kasung practice are revealed. Though not an official history, this book contains material from all the historic occasions and events which form the heart of the Dorje Kasung teachings. It is not meant to be the complete teachings of the Dorje Kasung, but we felt it would be helpful to include supporting materials that fill in parts of the story and give it practical meaning. It is not possible to codify these teachings, but this is the most complete presentation you will be able to find."-- from the Introduction by James GimianIncludes Forewords by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and Lady Diana Mukpo, an Introduction by James Gimian, and a color reproduction of the Dorje Dradul thangka painted by Noedup Rongae.Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche (1939-1987)--meditation master, scholar, and artist--was well-known throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe as a Buddhist teacher as well as founder and president of Vajradhatu, Naropa Institute, and Shambhala Training.taken from: http://www.samadhicushions.com/produc... .

    These three sutras make up the most important scriptures of the Pure Land School of Buddhism, which centers around the Buddha of Infinite Light & Life, known in Japanese as the Amida Buddha. [Taisho Tripitaka #360, #365, and #366] [Ch: Wu-liang-shou-ching; Kuan-wu-liang-shou-fo-ching; A-mi-t'o-ching] [Jpn: Mu-ryo-ju-kyo; Kan-mu-ryo-ju-butsu; A-mi-da-kyo]

    Though not lengthy, these teachings gather what are said to be Buddha's utterances over many years as collected by his disciples. His words reveal nothing less than the Buddhist Law of the Universe. Simple and profound, these truths are the key to understanding Buddhism.

    Lillian Too introduces us to over 50 of the most important and well-known Buddhist deities, presenting their major characteristics, functions, and histories, along with the prayers, meditations, visualizations, and special rituals and blessings associated with each.

    Written for the beginner by a practicing Buddhist scholar, many entries read like short storeis.

    It describes various techniques for using the practice of investigation to forcefully subdue an unruly mind when more traditional methods for attaining samādhi are not effective.“A spiritual masterpiece.”— Thomas Merton, Trappist monk and author All Forest Dhamma Books is for free distribution only. The digital format of the books can be downloaded for free at http://www.forestdhamma.org

    They're not otherworldly gods with superhuman qualities, but shining examples of our own highest potential. Zen teacher and scholar Taigen Dan Leighton takes us through the ages to meet the people who have shaped history and society with their compassion and wisdom. Faces of Compassion emphasizes the universality of spiritual ideals, and the power each of us has to change our world.

    Stories tell of giant snakes, bandits, boatmen, midwives, and guardian spirits and collectively portray a Buddhist culture in all its imaginative and geographical concreteness. By juxtaposing these eyewitness accounts, Kamala Tiyavanich presents a new and vivid picture of Buddhism as it was lived and of the natural environments in which the Buddha's teachings were practiced.