Best of
Buddhism

2011

Your True Home: The Everyday Wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh: 365 days of practical, powerful teachings from the beloved Zen teacher


Thich Nhat Hanh - 2011
    He is the author of numerous books, including the best-selling Living Buddha, Living Christ; Anger: Wisdom for Cooling the Flames; Peace Is Every Step; and The Miracle of Mindfulness. He has founded monastic communities in France, Vermont, and California and teaches actively around the world. Editorial Reviews - Your True Home From the Publisher 365 days of practical, powerful teachings from the beloved Zen teacher Inspiring, joyful, and deeply insightful, this book offers daily contemplations and words of wisdom from one of today's most important spiritual teachers. Thich Nhat Hanh is, with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the best-known Buddhist teacher in the world, and his teachings have touched millions. These powerful and transformative words of wisdom, drawn from the works of this best-selling and prolific author, touch all apsects of our lives, from the personal to the global, and reflect the great themes of Thich Nhat Hanh's teachings: how the practice of mindfulness brings joy and insight into every moment of our lives; how to transcend fear and other negative emotions; how we can heal our inner wounds with gentleness and awareness; how to transform our relationships through love, presence, and deep listening; and how to practice peace for our world and caring for the earth. Through Thich Nhat Hanh's great brilliance, this book presents these profound themes in short teachings that are practical yet powerful, and will uplift and inspire your day. Synopsis 365 days of practical, powerful teachings from the beloved Zen teacher Inspiring, joyful, and deeply insightful, this book offers daily contemplations and words of wisdom from one of today's most important spiritual teachers. Thich Nhat Hanh is, with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the best-known Buddhis

The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times by Pema Chodron Summary & Study Guide


BookRags - 2011
    26 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more – everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times. This detailed literature summary also contains Topics for Discussion and a Free Quiz on The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön.

The Art of Disappearing: Buddha's Path to Lasting Joy


Ajahn Brahm - 2011
    In The Art of Disappearing, Ajahn Brahm helps us learn to abandon the headwind of false expectations and follow instead the Buddha's path of understanding. Releasing our attachment to past and future, to self and other, we can directly experience the natural state of serenity underlying all our thoughts and discover the bliss of the present moment. In that space, we learn what it is to disappear. Ajahn Brahm, an unparalleled guide to the bliss of meditation, makes the journey as fun as it is rewarding.The Art of Disappearing, comprised of a series of teachings Ajahn Brahm gave to the monks of Bodhinyana Monastery, where he serves as abbot, offers a unique glimpse into the mind of one of contemporary Buddhism's most engaging figures.

Smile at Fear: A Retreat with Pema Chodron on Discovering Your Radiant Self-Confidence


Pema Chödrön - 2011
    We’re afraid to look at our habitual styles of thinking and behaving because we might not always like what we see. Ironically it is this fear of honest self-reflection that keeps us trapped in patterns of stress and discontentment. Here is a vision for moving beyond this most basic fear to discover the innate bravery, trust, and joy that reside at the core of our being. In this recorded retreat, Pema Chödrön shares teachings inspired by the book Smile at Fear, which was written by her teacher Chögyam Trungpa. She, and her teaching assistant, Carolyn Rose Gimian, also share practices they received from Trungpa Rinpoche for courageously meeting ourselves in the present moment, including: •    The Windhorse Practice: a three-step meditation on awakening confidence •    Spiritual Warrior training for meeting life with courage and compassion •    Meditation instruction for calming the mind and developing concentration 4 CDs, 4 ½ hours

Jataka Tales : The Hidden Treasure


Meera Ugra - 2011
    Fate, however, had other plans. It turned his battlefield into a magnificent palace, where he was required to woo – and win – a beautiful princess. Wit was to be his most valuable weapon. Strong, handsome and yet wise, such a battle was easy for the young man. But for the many others who coveted his throne, it was an insurmountable hurdle.

Stilling the Mind: Shamatha Teachings from Dudjom Lingpa's Vajra Essence


B. Alan Wallace - 2011
    In Stilling the Mind, he uses the wisdom of Dzogchen--the highest of all the meditation traditions--to open up the shamatha practice into a space of vast freedom. Here, Wallace introduces us to Dudjom Lingpa's Vajra Essence, one of the most cherished works of the Nyingma school from which Dzogchen stems. With his trademark enthusiasm and keen intelligence, Wallace makes obscure concepts intelligible to contemporary readers and allows us to glimpse the profound realizations of a great nineteenth-century spiritual adept.

Vivid Awareness: The Mind Instructions of Khenpo Gangshar


Khenchen Thrangu - 2011
    Intended to help people to face life’s difficulties, they include essentials of Buddhist philosophy, contemplations on the ephemeral nature of both joy and suffering, meditations for resting the mind, and guidance for maintaining equanimity in real-life circumstances. Khenchen Thrangu, a modern meditation master, describes in this book his studies with a teacher of great renown who remained in Tibet after the Chinese invasion. The deceased elder master, known as Khenpo Gangshar, is still renowned as a dynamic, unconventional teacher, widely respected for his spiritual achievement. He foresaw the difficulties coming in Tibet and realized that he had to give people some straightforward instructions that would be easy to remember and to use, because the country would soon be engulfed in turmoil and be in need of spiritual help.

Be Grateful to Everyone: An In-depth Guide to the Practice of Lojong (7 CDs)


Pema Chödrön - 2011
    For centuries, Tibetans have used fifty-nine powerful mind-training slogans as a way to transform life’s ordinary situations into opportunities for awakening. In this seven-CD program, Pema Chödrön presents her definitive audio teachings on lojong. She offers an overview of the practice and goes on to provide inspiring commentary on the slogans while paying special attention to how to apply them on the spot in our daily lives. The CDs include:    • Practical commentary to enhance our understanding of the lojong slogans    • Seven writing and reflection exercises to help us engage deeply with the slogans    • Meditation instructions to help us relax, let go, and uncover our uncaught-up mind    • On-the-spot methods to deepen our bodhichitta, our compassion for all beings    • Question-and-answer sessions that address some of the most common issues that arise in lojong practice    • Two guided meditations on tonglen—a compassion practice based on the understanding that the very thing that triggers suffering can become the foundation of happiness

Fidelity: How to Create a Loving Relationship That Lasts


Thich Nhat Hanh - 2011
    Deeply moved by the suffering that can be caused by these issues, he offers concrete guidance in his first ever writings on intimacy and healthy sexuality.Fidelity guides the reader to an understanding about how we can maintain our relationships; keep them fresh, and accepting and loving our partner for who they are. Fidelity gives concrete advice on how to stay attentive and nourishing of each other amidst the many responsibilities and pressures of daily life. Readers will learn how to foster open communication, dealing with anger and other strong emotions, learning to forgive, and practicing gratitude and appreciation.Fidelity is written for both couples in a committed relationship wanting to further develop a spiritual dimension in their lives together, and for those where infidelity or hurt may have occurred, and there is a need for best practices to re-weave the net of love and understanding. In addition to addressing every day occurrences and challenges, Thich Nhat Hanh shows how traditional Buddhist teachings on attachment, deep listening, and loving speech can help energize and restore our relationships. Written in a clear and accessible style, and filled with personal stories, simple practices and exercises, Fidelity is for couples at all stage of relationships. It the guide book for anyone looking to create long-lasting and healthy intimacy.

Breathe: A Thich Nhat Hanh Journal


Thich Nhat Hanh - 2011
    They are intended to inspire the user’s own personal reflections, sketches, or jotting down of favorite quotes or poems. Includes material on breathing and writing, and on the value of mixing writing and mindfulness. Comes with crush-proof rounded corners and elegant lay-flat binding. Makes a great personal diary or a wonderful gift.

Abiding in Mindfulness, Volume 3: On Dhamma


Joseph Goldstein - 2011
    Having looked at the first two of these traditional categories (the hindrances and the aggregates) in Abiding in Mindfulness Volume 2, Goldstein now takes us into the three remaining categories known as the six sense-spheres, the seven factors of awakening, and the Four Noble Truths.In nearly 18 hours of in-depth teaching, he guides us in discovering with exactitude and precision the process by which suffering arises in our minds and lives--and the possibilities for each of us to experience freedom here and now.After four decades studying and practicing the Sattipatthana Sutta, Joseph Goldstein concludes that the seeds of all the Buddha's teachings are contained with this revered text. Abiding in Mindfulness Volume 3 brings us an unprecedented audio series for anyone walking the Buddha's path to happiness and fulfillment. Includes study guide with glossary.Program HighlightsThe Buddha's teaching on dependent originationFreeing ourselves from mental fettersThe four hallucinations and the re-training of our perceptionOpening to the wisdom that discerns truthEffort vs. relaxation on the path to awakeningRealizing the end of cravingThe four aspects of mindfulnessThe stages and practice of equanimityDeveloping a wiser relationship to the worldEighteen hours of in-depth instruction with Joseph Goldstein, including poetry, teaching stories, practical exercises, and much moreCourse objectives: Summarize the fourth foundation of mindfulness: mindfulness of dhamma, or the categories of our experiences, such as the six sense spheres, the seven factors of awakening, and The Four Noble Truths.Discuss the process by which suffering arises in our minds and lives--and the possibilities for each of us to experience freedom here and now.Discuss the steps of the Noble Eight-Fold Path as outlined by the Buddha.Summarize the teachings from the Satipatthana Sutta on the mindfulness of dhamma, as taught by the Buddha, illuminated by Joseph Goldstein through poetry, practical exercises, teaching stories, and precise guidance for practice leading to liberation.

The Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah - Single Volume


Ajahn Chah - 2011
    These same talks are also available in the three volumes below.

The 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva


David Tuffley - 2011
    It serves as a practical guide for those people seeking to travel the path of enlightenment. Though short in length, a person could spend a lifetime perfecting the practices.The work can be seen as a companion to Santideva’s classic work the Bodhicaryavatara.While there are English translations of this text, they are a little difficult to understand for many readers living in the 21st Century. The mode of expression and the figures of speech are the product of that far-off time. This book faithfully re-expresses in modern day language the underlying message of the original text. Every effort has been made to preserve the underlying spirit of the message.While I respect the beauty of the original text, my greatest wish is to bring the even greater beauty of the underlying message to a whole new audience in the modern world who might otherwise find the original text less than easy to fully understand.Tokme Zangpo dedicates the text to:The Bodhisattva Lokesvara whose compassion extends to all sentient beings and whose example inspires me*.- Those who perceive that the physical world is but an illusion and have entered the path to enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings.- All the venerable mentors who have shown me the path to enlightenment.- All the realised Buddhas.To achieve the fullest realisation of the Dharma, one must live in full awareness of the correct practices that lead to such realisation. This text humbly attempts to explain what any Bodhisattva has done, and any would-be Bodhisattva must do in order to achieve enlightenment.* Throughout this book, the first person “I” “me” and “my” refers to the author Tokme Zangpo.Sample Practice (20)Our inner demons are our most formidable enemy, greater than any external enemy.Struggling with our inner enemies makes them stronger and greater in number. This is not the way to defeat them.Until and unless we learn to master our inner enemies they will continue to thrive and they will open the way for negative forces outside of ourselves to invade us.These enemies can only be mastered through mercy and love; therefore we work to cultivate these. When negativity arises in our mind-stream, we are mindful of its rising and immediately neutralise it with love.This is the way of the Bodhisattva.Commentary: The mental afflictions that derive from unevolved behavior can be neutralised by noticing when they arise, and mindfully replacing them with kindness and a loving attitude generally.The unevolved behavior mentioned here is how our distant ancestors behaved in a savage, uncivilised world. Being proud and competitive, fighting over sexual partners, property and land was once a helpful way to survive in the distant past. Have you noticed how many people still act this way today when it is unnecessary?This might be our instinctive behavior, but it is no help whatever for the one travelling the path to enlightenment. You must transcend this “normal” behavior and in the process transcend your base self. Identify with your highest self, not your inner caveman.

A Torch Lighting the Way to Freedom: Complete Instructions on the Preliminary Practices


Dudjom Rinpoche - 2011
    His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche’s commentary on the preliminary practices (ngöndro) is informed by his profound realization and wide-ranging scholarship, and illuminated with an array of quotations from the Vinaya, Sutra, and Tantra traditions. In addition to the commentary on the outer and inner preliminary practices, he provides other invaluable instructions on the correct view, conduct, and activity of a practitioner. Dudjom Rinpoche taught that the realization of the teachings of the Great Perfection depends entirely on the practice of these preliminary practices, thus his compassionate exposition of them here makes this book a particularly precious resource for anyone who seeks to remove the obstacles between themselves and the total freedom of enlightenment.

When the Chocolate Runs Out


Thubten Yeshe - 2011
    Author of Introduction to Tantra and many other books, Yeshe has long endured as a figure of playful wisdom and heart-striking compassion. This beautiful little book captures the essence of the teachings of this clever master who played an integral role in introducing Tibetan Buddhism to the world. When the Chocolate Runs Out delights both readers who have known Lama Yeshe for decades and those who have never met this remarkable spiritual teacher.

Dogen's Genjo Koan: Three Commentaries


Dōgen - 2011
    A deep thinker and writer, he was deeply involved in monastic methods and in integrating Zen realization into daily life. At times The Shobogenzo was profoundly difficult, and he worked on it over his entire life, revising and expanding, producing a book that is today thought to be one of the highest manifestations of Buddhist thought ever produced. Dogen’s Genjo Koan is the first chapter in that book, and for many followers it might be thought to contain the gist of Dogen’s work—it is one of the groundwork texts of Zen Buddhism, standing easily alongside The Diamond Sutra, The Heart Sutra, and a small handful of others.Our unique edition of Dogen’s Genjo Koan (Actualization of Reality) contains three separate translations and several commentaries by a wide variety of Zen masters. Nishiari Bokusan, Shohaku Okamura, Shunryu Suzuki, Kosho Uchiyama. Sojun Mel Weitsman, Kazuaki Tanahashi, and Dairyu Michael Wenger all have contributed to our presentation of this remarkable work. There can be no doubt that understanding and integrating this text will have a profound effect on anyone’s life and practice.

Laughing Buddha


Sakshi Chetana - 2011
    Sakshi Chetana brings in this book the rare combination of ancient Buddhist wisdom and its practical use in our daily lives in the modern world for living in joy. Buddha has had an immeasurable influence on the human race. The Laughing Buddha is a practical aspect of the Buddha, who, after enlightenment, showed us the way to a euphoric living right in the middle of our daily chores and responsibilities. In other words, Sakshi has brilliantly introduced the wisdom of Buddhism for ecstatic living in a market-place. This book wonderfully explores the legends and lessons from the life of Laughing Buddha, whose spirit we can imbibe for a delightful living. Lucidly and beautifully written, the “Laughing Buddha" contains the wisest spirit of Buddhism in a readily understandable and accessible form, often in a question-answer format, for even those, who are new to Buddhism. The book is an enjoyable read for everyone who aspires to live a joyful and meaningful life.

Tibetan Yogas of Body, Speech, And Mind


Tenzin Wangyal - 2011
    In a warm informal style Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche opens up Tibetan meditation practice to both beginners and experienced students placing as much emphasis on practice as on knowledge. Depending on the sources of the problems in our lives he offers practices that work with the body speech or the mind—a collection of Tibetan yoga exercises visualizations, sacred sound practices, and spacious meditations on the nature of mind. Together he says knowledge and regular meditation practice can alter our self-image and lead to a lighter more joyful sense of being. The stillness of the body the silence of speech and the spacious awareness of mind are the true three doors to enlightenment.

The Jewel of Liberation: Essential Teachings on the End of Suffering


Jack Kornfield - 2011
    We can all sense how it is possible for our own capacity for greater compassion and freedom to grow. "If this were not possible," said the Buddha, "I would not ask you to do so."For four decades, Buddhist meditation teacher Jack Kornfield has shared practical instructions for awakening the wise and compassionate heart in the midst of all we experience. The Jewel of Liberation presents 10 pinnacle dharma talks (teaching sessions) hand-selected by Jack from his personal collection to illuminate the pathways out of suffering and into the natural freedom that is both our shared birthright and our greatest gift to the world.Reclaim the Seat of Dignity, Compassion, and LovingkindnessMeditation is the practice of awakening itself; it is the fundamental tool the Buddha offered to quiet the mind and open the heart. We begin our retreat with an examination of the art of meditation and how it empowers us to see things clearly and be gracious with the flow of this ever-changing life.The Jewel of Liberation continues with guidance in managing our troubles, the "weeds" that arise even as we cultivate the seeds of abiding happiness. Our retreat culminates with an inquiry into the "laws of life," the understandings we must have if we are to experience freedom independent of our circumstances.The Possibility of Freedom Here and Now"The sure heart’s release is found nowhere else but in our own direct experience—for it is who and what we are," teaches Jack Kornfield. "The world so much needs people who are free in this way, unafraid to love every being." Here is his invitation for each of us to "be a lamp of freedom for yourself and for all."HighlightsWise understanding—the beginning of the Buddhist path• Meditation as the art of "taking your seat halfway between heaven and earth"• The transformation that occurs through the discovery of our true identity• Tending the garden of the heart• Compassion, the antidote to fear and despair• "The One Who Knows"—Ajahn Chah’s description of our innate wisdom and presence• "Enlightenments" and the infinite doorways to freedom• Seeing life the way it is with equanimity and trust• The three laws of impermanence and the secret treasures they hold• That which sustains lasting changes in our lives• A 10-hour audio retreat with Jack Kornfield including 10 pinnacle dharma talksCourse objectives:Describe wise understanding: the beginning of the Buddhist path.• Summarize the transformation that occurs through the discovery of our true identity.• Discuss compassion, the antidote to fear and despair.• Explain Ajahn Chah’s description of our innate wisdom and presence: "The One Who Knows."• Apply teachings of living with equanimity and trust.• Practice meditation to sustain lasting change in your life.

Essential Mind Training


Thupten Jinpa - 2011
    Essential Mind Training is full of guidance for cultivating new mental habits for mastering our thoughts and emotions. This volume contains eighteen individual works selected from Mind Training: The Great Collection, the earliest compilation of mind-training (lojong) literature. The first volume of the historic Tibetan Classics series, Essential Mind Training includes both lesser-known and renowned classics such as Eight Verses on Mind Training and The Seven-Point Mind Training. These texts offer methods for practicing the golden rule of learning to love your neighbor as yourself and are full of practical and down-to-earth advice. The techniques explained here, by enhancing our capacity for compassion, love, and perseverance, can give us the freedom to embrace the world.

Tiny Buddha: Simple Wisdom for Life's Hard Questions


Lori Deschene - 2011
    Lori Deschene's daily wisdom posts about mindfulness, nonattachment, and happiness became so popular that she now has more than 200,000 twitter followers who share quotes and stories about inspiration in their daily lives.Deschene asked her Twitter followers to contribute their thoughts and perspectives on the difficult questions that influence how we live our everyday lives: thoughts about the meaning of life, pain, happiness, fate, and more.Tiny Buddha, Simple Wisdom for Life's Hard Questions is a combination of the amazing responses that she received along with her own insightful essays, and insights from wise teachers around the world and throughout time. Deschene explores how these issues have played out in her own life and offers actionoriented suggestions to help people empower themselves, even in a world with so much uncertainty. The result is a guide that helps readers discover the endless possibilities for a life lived mindfully in the present, and connected to others.

A Clear Mirror: The Visionary Autobiography of a Tibetan Master


Dudjom Lingpa - 2011
    Dudjom Lingpa was a 19th century Tibetan visionary and Great Perfection master whose legacy of meditation teachings has swept across the world since his lifetime, due in part to the international presence of his re-incarnate successor, His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche. Although the genre of biography is quite common in Tibetan Buddhism, this is unlike to anything yet translated into English.This is exactly what Dudjom Lingpa does in his trilogy of auto-biographies. Although he was brilliantly successful in his multi-faceted career as a teacher to incalculable remarkable disciples, a prolific writer with at least twenty-one extant volumes of composition that are still studied around the world, and a Treasure revealer in the teaching system unique to tantric Buddhism, his stories offer us something else. In this book we are shown the very thing that high lamas regard as most sacred and intimate: spiritual evolution via the lens of inner-most visionary life, cinematic in scope, filled with fascinating beings, both divine and demonic. Dudjom Lingpa grants readers access to his enlightenment process—from learning how to meditate up to the highest tantric practices—as only he could have experienced it. This book, filled with vivid and fascinating visions and dreamscapes, is replete with adventure as well as everyday meditation advice. Anyone interested in a revolutionary outlook on personal transformation will enjoy and benefit from these stories.

The Wholehearted Way: A Translation of Eihei Dogen's Bendowa, With Commentary by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi


Dōgen - 2011
    

Minding Closely: The Four Applications of Mindfulness


B. Alan Wallace - 2011
    This book explains the theory and applications of the practice the Buddha called the direct path to enlightenment. These simple but powerful techniques to cultivate mindfulness will allow anyone, regardless of tradition, beliefs, or lack thereof, to achieve genuine happiness and freedom from suffering. By closely minding the body and breath, we relax, grounding ourselves in physical presence. Coming face to face with our feelings, we stabilize our awareness against habitual reactions. Examining mental phenomena nakedly, we sharpen our perceptions without becoming attached. Ultimately, we see all phenomena just as they are, and we approach the ground of enlightenment.Bringing in his experience as a monk, scientist, and contemplative, Alan Wallace offers a rich synthesis of Eastern and Western traditions, along with a comprehensive range of meditation practices interwoven throughout the text. The meditations are systematically presented, beginning with very basic steps, and then gradually built upon to encourage the reader to consider, investigate, contemplate, and meditate on some of the most challenging questions imaginable. Wallace stresses that the process of discovering the answers experientially is essential. The goal of these practices is the radical healing that results when mental obstacles are overcome and the fundamental nature of experience is witnessed. This insight catalyzes an irreversible transformation.

How to Practice Shamatha Meditation: The Cultivation of Meditative Quiescene


Gen Lamrimpa - 2011
    This book is a record of the oral teachings he gave to this group at the outset of the retreat. The teachings are brought to life by Gen Lamrimpa's warmth, humor, and extensive personal experience as a contemplative recluse. An invaluable, practical guide for those seeking to develop greater attentional stability and clarity, this work will be of considerable interest to meditators, psychologists, and all others who are concerned with the potentials of the human mind.

The Book of Mu: Essential Writings on Zen's Most Important Koan


James Ishmael Ford - 2011
    Discovering for ourselves the meaning of the master's response is the urgent work of each of us who yearns to be free and at peace. "Practicing Mu" is synonymous with practicing Zen, "sitting with Mu" is an apt description for all Zen meditation, and it is said that all the thousands and thousands of koans in the Zen tradition are just further elaborations of Mu.This watershed volume brings together over forty teachers, ancient and modern masters from across centuries and schools, to illuminate and clarify the essential matter: the question of how to be most truly ourselves.Includes writings from: Dogen, Hakuin, Dahui, Thich Thien-An Zenkei Shibayama, Seung Sahn, Taizan Maezumi, Sheng Yen Philip Kapleau, Robert Aitken, Jan Chozen Bays, Shodo Harada Grace Schireson, John Daido Loori, John Tarrant Barry Magid, Joan Sutherland, and many more!

Jamgon Mipam: His Life and Teachings


Douglas S. Duckworth - 2011
    Monk, mystic, and brilliant philosopher, he shaped the trajectory of Tibetan Buddhism’s Nyingma school.  This introduction provides a most concise entrée to this great luminary’s life and work. The first section gives a general context for understanding this remarkable individual who, though he spent the greater part of his life in solitary retreat, became one of the greatest scholars of his age. Part Two gives an overview of Mipam’s interpretation of Buddhism, examining his major themes, and devoting particular attention to his articulation of the Buddhist conception of emptiness. Part Three presents a representative sampling of Mipam’s writings.

A Step Away From Paradise


Thomas K. Shor - 2011
    Shor tracks down the surviving members of this visionary expedition and entwines their remarkable stories of faith and adventure with his own quest to discover the reality of this land known as Beyul. What emerges is a breathtaking story alive with possibility, bringing the reader as close to the Hidden Land as a book possibly can. As the astounding account unfolds, the reader is sure to repeat the question constantly raised by the author in his interviews: And then what happened?A Step Away From Paradise tells the story of Lama Tulshuk Lingpa’s life and his unlikely expedition to a land beyond cares while reflecting on what this means for the rest of us. It draws on both research and extensive interviews with the surviving members of this extraordinary expedition. The book is richly illustrated with portraits of those who went with Tulshuk Lingpa and the places he traveled to. The book also delves into the tradition within Tibetan Buddhism of Shambhala and the hidden valleys, which mirror legends around the world of utopias and lands of milk and honey, thus showing that the quest for the hidden land is a universal urge of humanity.WRITER AND PHOTOGRAPHER Thomas K. Shor was born in Boston, USA, and studied comparative religion and literature in Vermont. With an ear for unusual stories, the fortune to attract them and an eye for detail, he has travelled the planet’s mountainous realms—from the Mayan Highlands of southern Mexico in the midst of insurrection to the mountains of Greece and, more recently to the Indian Himalayas—to collect, illustrate and write stories, with a uniquely personal character often having the flavor of fable.Shor has lectured widely on his writings and has had solo exhibits of his photographs in Europe and in India. He is the author of Windblown Clouds and can often be found in the most obscure locales, immersed in a compelling story touching upon fundamental human themes.The author’s website is www.ThomasShor.com

The Ninth Karmapa, Wangchuk Dorje's Ocean of Certainty


Traleg Kyabgon - 2011
    Beginning with ngondro practice, Traleg Rinpoche guides students through the conditions needed to fully integrate the practice, along with instructions for shamata and vipashyana meditation, which includes visualizations and exercises. A section devoted to strengthening practice lays out common pitfalls and wrong views and how to avoid them. Finally, Rinpoche teaches the four yogas of Mahamudra one-pointedness nonconceptuality, one-flavoredness, and nonmeditation, and the ground, path, and fruition of Mahamudra in relation to the individual practitioner.

How to Be Compassionate: a Handbook for Creating Inner Peace and a Happier World


Dalai Lama XIV - 2011
    However, when these are faced with a calm and clear mind supported by spiritual practice, they can all be successfully resolved. By contrast, when our minds are clouded by hatred, selfishness, jealousy, and anger, we not only lose control, we lose our sense of judgment. At those wild moments, anything can happen. Our own destructive emotions pollute our outlook, making healthy living impossible. We need to cleanse our own internal perspective through the practice of wise compassion.When you are caught up in a destructive emotion, you have lost one of your greatest assets: your independence. At least for the time being, your mind is disturbed, which weakens your capacity for sound judgment. In the grip of strong lust or hatred, you forget to analyze whether an action is suitable, and can even speak crazily and make wild gestures. Afterward, when that emotion fades, you often end up embarrassed and sorry for what you have done. This shows us that, while you had fallen under the influence of that strong emotion, your capacity to distinguish between good and bad, between suitable and unsuitable, was nowhere to be found.Although unfavorable conditions need to be removed, when they are removed with hatred, the means of relief creates its own problems, because hatred, distorted by its bias, does not see the true situation. But unfavorable conditions can be removed through analysis—by examining the facts and discerning the actual situation—without any negative emotional side effects.Only human beings can judge and reason; we understand consequences and think in the long term. Human beings also can develop infinite love, whereas animals have only limited forms of affection and love. However, when humans become angry, all this potential is lost. No enemy armed with mere weapons can undo these qualities, but anger can. It is the destroyer. When animals act out of lust or hatred, they do so temporarily or superficially; they are incapable of committing destruction in ever-increasing strength and variety. However, humans can think from a great many points of view. Because our intelligence is so effective, humans can achieve good and bad on a grand scale.When we look deeply into such things, the blueprint for our actions can be found within the mind. Self-defeating attitudes arise not of their own accord but out of ignorance. Success, too, is found within ourselves. From self-discipline, self-awareness, and clear realization of the defects of anger and the positive effects of kindness, come happiness and peace. For instance, at present, you may be a person who gets easily irritated. However, with clear understanding and awareness, your irritability first can be undermined, and then replaced.If we allow love and compassion to be dominated by anger, we will sacrifice the best part of our human intelligence—wisdom, which is our ability to decide between right and wrong. Along with selfishness, anger is one of the most serious problems facing the world today. Anger plays a large role in current conflicts, such as those in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, as well as those between highly industrialized and economically undeveloped nations. These conflicts arise from a failure to understand how much we have in common.Answers cannot be found in the development and use of greater military force, nor can they be purely political or technological. The problems we face cannot be blamed upon one individual person or a single cause, for they are the result of our own negligence. What is required is an emphasis on what we have in common. Hatred and fighting cannot bring happiness to anyone, even to those who win. Violence always produces misery, so it is fundamentally counterproductive.How can a world full of hatred and anger achieve real happiness? If we examine our long history of turmoil, we see the obvious need to find a better way. Attempts by global powers to dominate one another through arms races—whether nuclear, chemical, biological, or conventional—are clearly counterproductive. The sale of weapons, thousands and thousands of types of arms and ammunition by manufacturers in big countries, fuels the violence, but more dangerous than guns or bombs are hatred, lack of compassion, and lack of respect for the rights of others. External peace is impossible without inner peace. As long as hatred dwells in the human mind, real peace is impossible. We can only solve our problems through truly peaceful means—not just peaceful words, but actions based on a peaceful mind and heart. This is the way we will come to live in a better world.On every level, the most mischievous troublemakers we face are anger and egoism. The kind of egoism I refer to here is not just a sense of “I,” but an exaggerated self-centeredness that leads to manipulating others. As long as anger dominates our disposition, we have no chance of achieving lasting happiness. In order to achieve peace, tranquility, and real friendship, we must minimize anger and cultivate kindness and a warm heart. As we become nicer human beings, our neighbors, friends, parents, spouses, and children will experience less anger, prompting them to become more warm-hearted, compassionate, and harmonious. The very atmosphere becomes happier, which even promotes good health. This is the way to change the world.It is time for all of us, including world leaders, to learn to transcend differences of race, culture, and ideology in order to regard each other with appreciation for our common human situation. To do so would uplift individuals, families, communities, nations, and the world at large.Those countries that have achieved great material progress are beginning to understand that the condition of society, and of our physical well-being, is closely related to our state of mind. This is where profound change has to begin. Individually, we have to work to change the basic perspectives on which our feelings depend. We can only do so through spiritual training, by engaging in transformative practice with the aim of gradually reorienting the way we perceive others and ourselves.

On Meditation


Ajahn Chah - 2011
    These teachings are extracts from longer talks printed in full elsewhere.

The New Human Revolution, Volume 23


Daisaku Ikeda - 2011
    

Life, Death and After Death


Thubten Yeshe - 2011
    Poignantly, the topic was death and rebirth; six months later, Lama Yeshe passed away. It also includes an introductory discourse by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and concludes with a teaching on transference of consciousness given by Lama Yeshe in London in 1982."Tibetan Buddhism teaches us to understand the death process and trains us to deal with it so that when the time of crisis arrives and the various illusory visions arise, instead of being confused, we’ll know what’s going on and will recognize illusions as illusions, projections as projections and fantasies as fantasies."Drawn from Lama Yeshe's teachings in London, October 1982 and Geneva, September 1983.

Ornament Of Reason: The Great Commentary To Nagarjuna's Root Of The Middle Way


Mabja Jangchub Tsöndrü - 2011
    Inspired by the Buddha's teachings on profound emptiness in the Prajnaparamita Sutras, Nagarjuna sets out to probe what appears to be the most fundamental facts of the world, challenging us to question even our most deeply ingrained ideas and what seem to be self-evident facts. In a series of unassuming and penetrating investigations, he asks basic questions such as: "What does it mean for something to occur? What is meant by 'going' or by 'coming'? Does the eye see? Does fire burn fuel? What is an example of being right? What does it mean to be wrong? Nagarjuna extends an invitation to open-minded and unprejudiced inquiry, and from his reader he asks for nothing more and nothing less than sincere and honest answers. Yet where are our answers? Once we begin to follow Nagarjuna's clear and direct steps, the gateway to the inconceivable emerges—perhaps unexpectedly. The present work contains Nagarjuna's verses on the Middle Way accompanied by Mabja Jangchub Tsöndrü's famed commentary, the Ornament of Reason. Active in the twelfth century, Mabja was among the first Tibetans to rely on the works of the Indian master Candrakirti, and his account of the Middle Way exercised a deep and lasting influence on the development of Madhyamaka philosophy in all four schools of Buddhism in Tibet. Sharp, concise, and yet comprehensive, the Ornament of Reason has been cherished by generations of scholar-practitioners. The late Khunu Lama Tenzin Gyaltsen Rinpoche, a renowned authority on the subject, often referred to this commentary as "the best there is." A visual outline of the commentary has been added that clearly shows the structure of each chapter and makes the arguments easier to follow.

Work, Sex, Money: Real Life on the Path of Mindfulness


Chögyam Trungpa - 2011
    We all hope that these aspects of our life will be a source of fulfillment and pleasure, and they often are. Yet they are also always sources of problems for which we seek practical advice and solutions. The best prescription, according to Chögyam Trungpa, is a dose of reality and also a dose of respect for ourselves and our world. His profound teachings on work, sex, and money celebrate the sacredness of life and our ability to cope with its twists and turns with dignity, humor, and even joy. He begins by breaking down the barrier between the spiritual and the mundane, showing that work, sex, and money are just as much a part of our spiritual life as they are a part of our everyday existence. He then discusses these subjects in relation to ego and self-image, karma, mindfulness, and meditation. “Work” includes general principles of mindfulness and awareness in how we conduct everyday life as well as discussion of ethics in business and the workplace. “Sex” is about relationships and communication as a whole. “Money” looks at how we view the economics of livelihood and money as “green energy” that affects our lives. The result is an inclusive vision of life, one that encompasses the biggest issues and the smallest details of every day. There are, in fact, few definitive answers in these pages. There is, however, authentic wisdom providing us with tools we need to work with the toughest stuff in our lives.

Moon by the Window: The Calligraphy and Zen Insights of Shodo Harada


Shodo Harada - 2011
    Accomplished Zen teachers from across the globe come to further plumb the depths of Zen through studying with Harada, earning him a reputation as “the roshi’s roshi”—which is to say, the master’s master.Moon by the Window is a lavishly produced presentation of 108 pieces of Shodo Harada’s calligraphic Zen masterpieces—assembled over decades—and drawn from the rich and poetic literature of the Zen tradition. Each work of art is accompanied by Harada Roshi’s sharp and glittering commentaries, making each page spiritually edifying as well as aesthetically uplifting.This generously sized book features rich endpapers, a two-color interior throughout, and glossy art-quality paper stock, making it an excellent gift and a thoroughly rewarding experience to browse through

The Lovelorn Ghost and the Magical Monk: Practicing Buddhism in Modern Thailand


Justin Thomas McDaniel - 2011
    Historically important and emotionally resonant, these characters appeal to every class of follower. Metaphorically and rhetorically powerful, they invite constant reimagining across time. Focusing on representations of the ghost and monk from the late eighteenth century to the present, Justin Thomas McDaniel builds a case for interpreting modern Thai Buddhist practice through the movements of these transformative figures. He follows embodiments of the ghost and monk in a variety of genres and media, including biography, film, television, drama, ritual, art, liturgy, and the Internet. Sourcing nuns, monks, laypeople, and royalty, he shows how relations with these figures have been instrumental in crafting histories and modernities. McDaniel is especially interested in local conceptions of being "Buddhist" and the formation and transmission of such identities across different venues and technologies. Establishing an individual's "religious repertoire" as a valid category of study, McDaniel explores the performance of Buddhist thought and ritual through practices of magic, prognostication, image production, sacred protection, and deity and ghost worship, and clarifies the meaning of multiple cultural configurations. Listening to popular Thai Buddhist ghost stories, visiting crowded shrines and temples, he finds concepts of attachment, love, wealth, beauty, entertainment, graciousness, security, and nationalism all spring from engagement with the ghost and the monk and are as vital to the making of Thai Buddhism as venerating the Buddha himself.

Selves & Not-self: The Buddhist Teaching on Anatta


Thanissaro Bhikkhu - 2011
    A series of eight talks on anatta, or not-self, given at a ten-day retreat in Provence, France. Also there are relevant selections from the Pali Canon at end of the book. Freely Available at dhammatalks.org

Sailing the Worldly Winds: A Buddhist Way Through the Ups and Downs of Life


Vajragupta - 2011
    He lives in Worcester, England, where he teaches Buddhism and meditation.

The Art of Reflection


Ratnaguna - 2011
    He also demonstrates its great value—not just as a part of life, but as a way of reminding oneself of life's true meaning.Ratnaguna is a respected member of the Western Buddhist Order.

Wisdom Wide and Deep: A Practical Handbook for Mastering Jhana and Vipassana


Shaila Catherine - 2011
    With calm, tranquility, and composure established through a practical experience of jhana meditators are able to halt the seemingly endless battle against hindrances, eliminate distraction, and facilitate a penetrative insight into the subtle nature of matter and mind. It was for this reason the Buddha frequently exhorted his students, Wisdom Wide and Deep follows and amplifies the teachings in Shaila Catherine's acclaimed first book, Focused and Fearless: A Meditator's Guide to States of Deep Joy, Calm, and Clarity. Readers will learn to develop this profound stability, sustain an in-depth examination of the nuances of mind and matter, and ultimately unravel deeply conditioned patterns that perpetuate suffering. This fully detailed manual for the mind sure to become a trusted companion to many inner explorers.

Everything Is Teaching Us


Ajahn Chah - 2011
    

Teachings from Tibet: Guidance from Great Lamas


Thubten Yeshe - 2011
    Those of us who had the good fortune to be in India and Nepal at that time were able to benefit by sitting at their feet, drinking in the nectar of their holy speech. Many of the teachings in this book were given at Tushita Mahayana Meditation Center, New Delhi. Two of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachings were published in a souvenir booklet issued for Tushita’s Second Dharma Celebration, November 1982, the first at which His Holiness spoke. Three of the others are from unpublished manuscripts.This title contains teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, Khunu Lama Rinpoche, Tsenshab Serkong Rinpoche, Song Rinpoche, Geshe Lhundub Sopa, Geshe Rabten, Gomchen Khampala, Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey, Gehlek Rinpoche, Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche. This title was published by the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive, a non-profit organization established to make the Buddhist teachings of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche freely accessible in many ways, including on our website for instant reading, listening or downloading, and as printed and electronic books. Our website offers immediate access to thousands of pages of teachings and hundreds of audio recordings by some of the greatest lamas of our time. Our photo gallery and our ever-popular books are also freely accessible there. You can find out more about becoming a supporter of the Archive and see all we have to offer by visiting the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive website.

Freeing the Heart and Mind: Introduction to the Buddhist Path


Sakya Trizin - 2011
    This book opens by sharing a private teaching His Holiness gave to a young newcomer seeking to understand this great master's spiritual heritage. His Holiness's advice inspires us to integrate the living power of these teachings into our daily lives. Full of timeless wisdom, Freeing the Heart and Mind contains, in addition to this introduction, an explanation of the teaching Matchless Compassion by the Indian saint Virupa, and a selection of commentaries on the essential teaching called Parting from the Four Attachments. Developed as the first volume in a course of study for students of the Sakya tradition, it nonetheless stands alone as an excellent entry into the teachings of the Buddha. Freeing the Heart and Mind includes a full-color photo insert of Sakya lineage masters.

The Collected Works of Dilgo Khyentse, Volume One


Dilgo Khyentse - 2011
    A complete exposition of the stages of the Buddhist path is presented through Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche's commentaries on the root texts of classic Tibetan masters including Patrul Rinpoche, Jigme Lingpa, Shechen Gyaltsab, and Mipham Rinpoche. Originally given orally to Western students, the texts afford a rare glimpse into the direct transmissions of a master teacher. Moreover, several of the texts have never been published before. Volume one of this three-volume set begins with the inspiring story of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche's life told largely in his own words and illustrated with historical photographs. This is followed by two texts that illuminate the instructions of the celebrated Ngulchu Thogme Zangpo on the Seven-point Mind Training and the Thirty-seven Practices of a Bodhisattva, teachings that constitute the heart of the Buddhist path.Volume One Contents: Journey to Enlightenment, Enlightened Courage, The Heart of Compassion

Freedom In Bondage


Trulshik Adeu - 2011
    He was recognized by an incarnation of the previous Adeu Rinpoche and enthroned at the age of seven as the Eighth Adeu Rinpoche. As a child and teenager he mastered writing, calligraphy, poetry, astrology, mandala painting, prayer, and meditation. Then, in 1958 at the age of twenty-seven, his monastery was attacked and all sacred texts and statues were completely destroyed by the Chinese as part of the Cultural Revolution. Sentenced to fifteen years in prison for his religious beliefs, the author was sent to a remote labor camp, where he watched many of his friends die under the harsh conditions. But imprisonment had an unexpected blessing: he met many accomplished masters, including the late Khenpo Munsel, and learned many practices from them. Freedom in Bondage offers a portrait of the life and philosophy of one of the twentieth century’s most respected meditation masters—his early training in spiritual practices, his flight and capture, interrogation and sentencing, and the years in prison. His voice is calm and nonjudgmental, uplifting the reader with his compassion for his captors. The title captures the author’s inner liberation in a dire situation.

Buddhism for Dudes: A Jarhead's Field Guide to Mindfulness


Gerry Stribling - 2011
    Strib takes a good look at who the Buddha was, meditation, karma, and more. With good humor and without sentimentalism (plus a sprinkling of hilarious cartoons), he explains these down-to-earth insights in everyday language. Showing how Buddhism boldly approaches life’s problems head on, unflinching and alert—like a soldier in a forward listening post in the dark of night—Strib emphasizes the Buddhist call to moral action for the good of oneself and others.

The Heart of the Revolution: The Buddha's Radical Teachings on Forgiveness, Compassion, and Kindness


Noah Levine - 2011
    In Heart of the Revolution, he offers a set of reflections, tools, and teachings to help readers unlock their own sense of empathy and compassion. Lama Surya Das, author of Awakening the Buddha Within, declares Levins to be "in the fore among Young Buddhas of America, a rebel with both a good cause and the noble heart and spiritual awareness to prove it,” saying, “I highly recommend this book to those who want to join us on this joyful path of mindfulness and awakening."

The Collected Works of Dilgo Khyentse Volumes 1-3


Dilgo Khyentse - 2011
    A complete exposition of the stages of the Buddhist path is presented through Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s commentaries on the root texts of classic Tibetan masters including Patrul Rinpoche, Jigme Lingpa, Shechen Gyaltsab, and Mipham Rinpoche. Originally given orally to Western students, the texts afford a rare glimpse into the direct transmissions of a master teacher. Moreover, several of the texts have never been published before. Students interested in the nine vehicles of Tibetan Buddhism will find here a complete array of enlightening instructions to inspire and guide them in a most authentic way.

Buddhist Sutras: The Ultimate Collected Works of 10 Famous Sutras (With Active Table of Contents)


J. Takakusu - 2011
    Amitayurdhyana SutraOne of the three major Buddhist sutras found within the Pure Land branch of Mahayana Buddhism. Amitayus is another name for the buddha Amitabha, the preeminent figure in Pure Land Buddhism, and this sutra focuses mainly on meditations involving complex visualization.Translated by Takakusu Junjiro, a Japanese academic, an advocate for expanding higher education opportunities, and an internationally known Buddhist scholar.2. THE HEART SUTRALiterally translates to "Heart of the Perfection of Transcendent Wisdom." The Heart Sutra is often cited as the best known and most popular of all Buddhist scriptures.Translated by F. Max Muller, a German philologist and Orientalist, one of the founders of the western academic field of Indian studies and the discipline of comparative religion.3. SUTRA OF TRANSCENDENTAL WISDOMThe shortest of all the great Sutras and on that account was memorised by all Buddhist monks and recited as part of the daily ritual, often many times a day.(Muller)4. AMITABHA SUTRAThe Amitabha Sutra is a Mahayana Buddhist text, and it is one of the primary sutras recited and upheld in the Pure Land Buddhist schools. In Pure Land and Chan Buddhism, the sutra is often recited as part of the evening service, and is also recited as practice for practitioners. It is frequently recited at Chinese and Japanese Buddhist funeral services, in the hope that the merit generated by reciting the sutra may be transmitted to the departed. (Muller)5. THE SUTRA OF THE FORTY-TWO SECTIONSWas translated by two ordained Yuezhi monks, Kasyapa-Matanga and Dharmaraksha, in 67 CE. Because of its early date, it is regarded as "the First Sutra" or first formula, and is accorded a very significant status.Translated by Samuel Beal, an Oriental scholar, and the first Englishman to translate direct from the Chinese the early records of Buddhism.6. SUTRA OF THE SIXTH PATRIARCHThe key topics of the discourse are sudden enlightenment, the direct perception of one's true nature, and the unity in essence of sila, dhyana and prajna.Translated by Dwight Goddard, who was a pioneer in the American Zen Buddhist movement.7. THE LANKAVATARA SUTRAThe most important doctrine issuing from the Lankavatara Sutra is that of the primacy of consciousness and the teaching of consciousness as the only reality. The sutra asserts that all the objects of the world, and the names and forms of experience, are merely manifestations of the mind. The Lankavatara Sutra describes the various tiers of consciousness in the individual, culminating in the "storehouse consciousness", which is the base of the individual's deepest awareness and his tie to the cosmic.Translated by Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki, a Japanese author of books and essays on Buddhism, Zen and Shin that were instrumental in spreading interest in both Zen and Shin (and Far Eastern philosophy in general) to the West.8. THE DIAMOND SUTRAwell-known Mahayana sutra from the Prajnaparamita, or "Perfection of Wisdom" genre, and emphasizes the practice of non-abiding and non-attachment. (Suzuki)9. THE INFINITE LIFE SUTRAThe sutra describes in great detail Sukhavati and its inhabitants, and how they are able to attain rebirth there. The text also provides a detailed account of the various levels and beings in the Mahayana Buddhist cosmology. The sutra also contains the forty-eight vows of Amitabha Buddha to save all sentient beings. The eighteenth vow is among the most important as it forms a basic tenet of the Pure Land school. (Muller)10.

Words of Ajaan Lee


Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo - 2011
    His life was short but eventful. Known for his skill as a teacher and his mastery of supranatural powers, he was the first to bring the ascetic tradition out of the forests of the Mekhong basin and into the mainstream of Thai society in central Thailand. This book is a collection of his Dharma talks and books with a TOC

The Lankavatara Sutra (With Active Table of Contents)


Gautama Buddha - 2011
    The most important doctrine issuing from the Lankavatara Sutra is that of the primacy of consciousness (Skt. vijnana) and the teaching of consciousness as the only reality. The sutra asserts that all the objects of the world, and the names and forms of experience, are merely manifestations of the mind. The Lankavatara Sutra describes the various tiers of consciousness in the individual, culminating in the "storehouse consciousness" (Skt. Alayavijnana), which is the base of the individual's deepest awareness and his tie to the cosmic." -The Lankavatara Sutra

The Cake the Buddha Ate: More Quiet Food


Buddhist Retreat Center - 2011
    Created by an exceptionally talented chef, it argues for a change in attitude toward this seemingly mundane human need—the need to eat—in order to make it a joyful, flavorful journey, full of delights and surprises. Peppered with meditations and spiritual poetry, this cookbook also includes photographs and anecdotes that will offer a glimpse into the center’s magnificent setting and varied workshops.

One Buddha is Not Enough: A Story of Collective Awakening


Thich Nhat Hanh - 2011
    The result of this event is One Buddha Is Not Enough, a book on how to become your own teacher and create your own community. One Buddha Is Not Enough offers fresh and original insights on topics such as handling grief, strengthening relationships, dealing with anger and other strong emotions, and finding happiness in the present moment. Far-reaching in its implication and tremendously encouraging, One Buddha Is Not Enough is a true expression of American Buddhism: we already contain all the insight and wisdom we need. We are surrounded by the people who can help us on our journey. Sometimes all it takes is a wake-up call to remind us of what we are capable of.

The Collected Works of Dilgo Khyentse, Volume Three


Dilgo Khyentse - 2011
    A complete exposition of the stages of the Buddhist path is presented through Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche's commentaries on the root texts of classic Tibetan masters including Patrul Rinpoche, Jigme Lingpa, Shechen Gyaltsab, and Mipham Rinpoche. Originally given orally to Western students, the texts afford a rare glimpse into the direct transmissions of a master teacher. Moreover, several of the texts have never been published before.  Volume three expands on the inner core of the Vajrayana teachings and contemplative retreat practice. It begins with a guide to authentic spiritual practice that combines the wisdom of three of the greatest masters of the Tibetan tradition. This is followed by a witty manual of advice for solitary retreat; discussion of the four empowerments and the three samadhis; a commentary on an important dzogchen text; and quintessential teachings on the ultimate nature of the mind. The volume concludes with a selection from the few poems by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche that have been translated into English. All but one of the books in this volume is published here for the first time. Volume Three Contents: Zurchungpa's Testament, A Wondrous Ocean of Advice for the Practice of Retreat in Solitude, Pure Appearance, Primordial Purity, The Lamp That Dispels Darkness, Selected Verse

The Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah: Formal Practice


Ajahn Chah - 2011
    The second book in the three volume set of the complete collection of all the talks by Ajahn Chah that have been translated into English and are currently available for free distribution.

Preparing For Tantra: Creating The Psychological Ground For Practice


Rob Preece - 2011
    They can enable experiences to unfold, and they can clear the way when there seem to be problems or hindrances practitioners are struggling with. In Preparing for Tantra, Preece draws on his experience as a Tantric Buddhist practitioner, meditation teacher, and psychotherapist to explain how to make the preliminary practices psychologically meaningful and spiritually transformative. He examines each of the practices with an eye to revealing how they may be used to heal and transform psychological trauma and offers practical suggestions for integrating them into daily life—as well as ensuring that practitioners are prepared psychologically, emotionally, and energetically to start out safely on the tantric path. Preparing for Tantra is an accessible guidebook for engaging in ngondro, the preliminary practices that are done before engaging in a long tantric retreat. These practices are also powerful tools for purifying negativities and alleviating guilt, healing difficult experiences, and enriching our minds with goodness so that we will be able to progress in our Dharma practice and gain realizations of the path.

The Whisper of Your Soul


Karen Hackel - 2011
    A Guide Book for your Spiritual Journey of Awakening, Discovery and Enlightenment Chanelled messages about universal topics including love, faith, death, time, healing, suffering, silence, solitude and living life to the fullest. These poems can be read aloud or silently. One will find new ideas and wisdom with each reading. They can be read again and again for deeper understanding because these writings tap into one's innermost truths, where the heart and soul meet the universal mind. An excerpt from the book: Live this day As if it were your first Live this day As if it were your last Live it with purpose Live it in spirit Live it with spirit The day is here And then it is gone Be in this day All that you can be Regardless of how you use these writings, you will feel calm and peaceful as you read. So read a passage or two before bed, or pick up the book and read a random segment when you feel unusual stress. Peruse a few pages to jumpstart your day. With every reading, you will be reinvigorated and inspired. I hope this book answers some of your questions and provides feelings of peace, love, comfort and healing. May it help guide you back to your true self, your essence, your core for it is a book about awakening and listening to the whisper of your soul.

Pearl of Wisdom (Buddhist Prayers and Practices)


Thubten Chodron - 2011
    

Awareness Itself


Ajaan Fuang Jotiko - 2011
    After Ajaan Lee’s death, Ajaan Fuang continued on at Wat Asokaram, Ajaan Lee’s bustling monastery near Bangkok. A true forest monk at heart, Ajaan Fuang left Wat Asokaram in 1965 in search of greater solitude more conducive to meditation, and ultimately ended up at Wat Dhammasathit in Rayong province, where he lived as abbot until his death in 1986.This book is a compilation of Ajahn Fuang Jotiko teachings collected and translated by his student Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Ajaan Fuang was a man of few words who spoke in response to circumstances: If the circumstances warranted it, he could give long, detailed explanations.

Karma Is Negotiable: Destiny and the Divine Power of Love


Nikias Annas - 2011
    Karma is not blind destiny or divine judgment, but is the principle the describes the natural reverberation that emerges from every action, whether that action is physical, emotion, mental, or spiritual. Suffering and pain are not punishment from a tyrant God, nor are they "normal" or mere "coincidence." When we truly understand the law of action and consequence, we can see that our lives are a result of our own moment to moment ignorance of the effects of our actions. We create our own suffering, therefore, we can create our own happiness instead, if we know how. No matter what religion or background we come from, through conscious action from moment to moment, we can originate a new set of causes, which in turn will generate a new set of results. This is how we can revolutionize our life. The power to change is in our hands.

Jataka Tales of the Buddha: An Anthology, Volume I


Ken Kawasaki - 2011
    The most popular collection of Buddhist stories is, without doubt, the Jātakas. These are the stories of the Buddha's past births, relating his experiences as he passed from life to life on the way to becoming a Buddha. At times he takes the form of a bird, at times he is born as a hare, a monkey, a prince, a merchant, or an ascetic, but in each case he uses the challenges he meets to grow in generosity, virtue, patience, wisdom, and compassion. This anthology of Jatakas, ably told by Ken and Visakha Kawasaki, remains faithful to the original yet presents the stories in clear and simple language. It thereby makes the Jātakas accessible even to young readers and to those for whom English is not their first language.I hope that this collection of Jātaka stories–entertaining, uplifting, absorbing, at times amusing, but always fascinating–will enable the modern reader to appreciate the impressive literary heritage of Buddhism and the simple beauty of its basic teachings.Ven. Bhikkhu BodhiThis volume, the first of three, contains 110 stories. The entire anthology contains 217 of the original 547 Jātakas. This is not a new translation from the Pali, but rather a retelling of the stories in modern English.

Theravada Buddhism - Simple Guides


Diana St. Ruth - 2011
    Written by experts in the field, they offer an engaging and sympathetic description of the key concepts, beliefs and practices of different faiths.Ideal for spiritual seekers and travellers alike, Simple Guides aims to open the doors of perception. Together the books provide a reliable compass to the world’s great spiritual traditions, and a point of reference for further exploration and discovery. By offering essential insights into the core values, customs and beliefs of differentsocieties, they also enable visitors to be aware of the cultural sensibilities of their hosts, and to behave in a way that fosters mutual respect and understanding.

Compassion NOW!


Ogyen Trinley Dorje - 2011
    Compassion NOW! is a work that not only focuses on how love and compassion are the root of all Buddhist practices, but is a call to put these compassionate feelings into action in the world. From a teaching given in India in 2010, His Holiness the Seventeenth Karmapa sets forth that compassion for oneself is the starting point from which we can expand to other beings with whom we have a close connection, and then further to an immeasurable compassion for all beings through the Mahayana practice of mind training, which he discusses with clarity and insight. An overview of the Vajrayana method of meditation on Chenrezik, the bodhisattva of compassion, is also included, where His Holiness guides our attention to the central role of the practice: cultivation of compassion.

Seeing the Way: Discerning Timeless Truth in Traditional Buddhist Teachings


Ajahn SumedhoAjahn Sundara - 2011
    An Anthology of Transcribed Talks and Essays by Monks and Nuns of the Forest Sangha Tradition.The book is distributed for free, both in print and as an online copy, which is available on the site of the publisher:http://forestsanghapublications.org/a...

Solid Ground: Buddhist Wisdom for Difficult Times


Sylvia Boorstein - 2011
    Sylvia Boorstein, Zoketsu Norman Fischer, and Tsoknyi Rinpoche draw on their own experiences with suffering, as well as their many years of practice, to illustrate how we can find serenity and compassion in even the most stressful situations. Solid Ground offers humor, insight, and practical advice as well as five guided meditations for soothing our thoughts and increasing our capacity for equanimity and joy.