Pocket-sized with bold black-and-white illustrations by Jason DeAntonis, How to Sit provides explicit, simple directions on the mechanics of posture and breathing, along with instructions for how best to achieve the awakened, relaxed state of clarity to cultivate concentration and compassion. Following the instructions, Thich Nhat Hanh shares a series of secular guided meditations that help us return to our breath, spend some time in the present moment, and come home to ourselves.The function of meditation practice is to heal and transform. Scientific studies indicate that meditation contributes tremendously to well-being, general health, and longevity. How to Sit is a unique gift for those who want a comprehensive yet simple guide to getting started with meditation practice, as well as meditators with training in any spiritual tradition who want to be reminded of the foundation of practice.

    Starting from simple and easily accessible understandings of emptiness, Burbea presents a unique conception of the path along which he escorts the practitioner gradually, through the careful structure of the work, into ever more mystical levels of insight. Through its precise instructions, illuminating exercises and discussions that address the subtleties of both practice and understanding, Seeing That Frees opens up for the committed meditator all the profundity of the Buddha’s radical teachings on emptiness. This is a book that will take time to digest and will serve as a lifelong companion on the path, leading the reader, as it does, progressively deeper into the territory of liberation. From the Foreword by Joseph Goldstein:"Rob Burbea, in this remarkable book, proves to be a wonderfully skilled guide in exploring the understanding of emptiness as the key insight in transforming our lives... It is rare to find a book that explores so deeply the philosophical underpinnings of awakening at the same time as offering the practical means to realize it."

    In No Mud, No Lotus, Thich Nhat Hanh offers practices and inspiration for transforming suffering and finding true joy. Thich Nhat Hanh acknowledges that because suffering can feel so bad, we try to run away from it or cover it up by consuming. We find something to eat or turn on the television. But unless we’re able to face our suffering, we can’t be present and available to life, and happiness will continue to elude us. Nhat Hanh shares how the practices of stopping, mindful breathing, and deep concentration can generate the energy of mindfulness within our daily lives. With that energy, we can embrace pain and calm it down, instantly bringing a measure of freedom and a clearer mind. No Mud, No Lotus introduces ways to be in touch with suffering without being overwhelmed by it. With his signature clarity and sense of joy, Thich Nhat Hanh helps us recognize the wonders inside us and around us that we tend to take for granted and teaches us the art of happiness.

    Refuge Recovery is a systematic method based on Buddhist principles, which integrates scientific, non-theistic, and psychological insight.Viewing addiction as cravings in the mind and body, Levine shows how a path of meditative awareness can alleviate those desires and ease suffering. Refuge Recovery includes daily meditation practices, written investigations that explore the causes and conditions of our addictions, and advice and inspiration for finding or creating a community to help you heal and awaken.Practical yet compassionate, Levine's successful Refuge Recovery system is designed for anyone interested in a non-theistic approach to recovery and requires no previous experience or knowledge of Buddhism or meditation.

    Through her eyes, rocks convey faith, ponds preach stillness, flowers give love, and leaves express the effortless ease of letting go. The book welcomes readers into the garden for Zen lessons in fearlessness, forgiveness, presence, acceptance, and contentment. Miller gathers inspiration from the ground beneath her feet to remind us that paradise is always here and now.

    By offering guidance on how to approach the process and giving instruction for specific meditation and contemplation techniques, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche provides gentle yet thorough commentary, companionship, and inspiration for committing to the Buddhist path.

    Drawing from his own experiences, stories shared by his students, and old chestnuts that he delivers with a fresh twist, Ajahn Brahm shows he knows his way around the humorous parable, delighting even as he surprises us with unexpected depth and inspiration.

    In just thirty-seven verses, Tokmé Zongpo summarizes the bodhisattva path. While this revered and loved text from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition has been translated many times, Ken McLeod's plain and simple English beautifully reflects the simplicity and directness of the original Tibetan. McLeod's commentary is full of striking images, provocative questions and inspiring descriptions of what it means to be awake and present in your life. Practical instruction, brief and to the point, is found in each of the verse commentaries, providing straightforward responses to the question, "How do I practice this?"McLeod is clearly writing from his own experience. Yet, instead of anecdotes and personal history, he challenges the reader to engage various scenarios, and consider for ourselves how compassion, clarity, presence and balance could take expression in his or her life.This masterful translation and commentary shine the light of wisdom on the challenges of contemporary life and illuminate a path the modern reader can tread to freedom, peace and understanding.Reflections on Silver River has three parts. The first is an informative introduction to the text and to Tokmé Zongpo. The introduction is followed by the translation of Tokmé Zongpo's Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva. The third section is the main part of the book, a traditional verse-by-verse commentary. At less than 200 pages, Reflections on Silver River is a highly accessible introduction to Tibetan Buddhist practice as well as a valuable resource for the experienced practitioner, regardless of his or her tradition of training.McLeod himself is a teacher, translator, author and business consultant. He pioneered one-on-one meditation instruction, has taught numerous retreats and classes, published a highly regarded translation of Mahayana mind-training under the title The Great Path of Awakening, wrote an encyclopedic treatment of meditation practice in Wake Up to Your Life, and composed a poetic and evocative commentary on the Heart Sutra in An Arrow to the Heart.

    After all, it is when we take some responsibility for our predicament, then we are empowered to make the necessary changes to improve our lives.

    N. Goenka, poems, theoretical expositions, a question-and-answer section, and compelling essays by or about meditators confronting the end of life. With humility, tenderness, and often a smile, they learn to accept their own impermanence, suffering, and nonself. Much of this material was collected from the archives of the International Vipassana Newsletter.

    But it's another thing to walk the walk--or to put into practice the good advice we've been given. What does it mean to walk the walk in our everyday lives? According to Pema Ch�dr�n, it means being down-to-earth, genuine, and perhaps most importantly, it means engaging in the teachings in order to actively confront anything and everything we've heretofore rejected in our attempts to find happiness. Created to help us respond with compassion and authenticity when our spiritual ideals are put to the test, Walking the Walk brings you four inspirational sessions with Pema Ch�dr�n, as you explore:Stabilizing the Mind--awareness, presence, and the foundation of the spiritual path- Unconditional Friendship with Yourself--getting unstuck from the patterns that create our own misery- Freedom from Fixed Mind--how to release biases and prejudices to revitalize your everyday experiences- Taking Care of One Another--essential guidance in the ability to truly be there for othersThe teachings in these sessions are not about perfection or unrealistic standards. Baby steps are okay when learning to walk the walk, explains Pema. No matter the situation you find yourself in, here is a program for remaining true to the values we seek to live by, and staying open to the kindness and love that is always available to support us.Course objectives: Discuss how the practice of Stabilizing the Mind, through awareness and presence, is the foundation of the spiritual path.- Define and practice Unconditional Friendship with Yourself as a way to get unstuck from the patterns that create suffering, while opening to the kindness and love that is always available to support us- Summarize how the practice of Freedom from Fixed Mind invites you to release biases and prejudices to revitalize your everyday experiences- Discuss the practice of Taking Care of One Another as essential guidance in the ability to truly be there for ourselves and others

    With The Truth of Our Existence, she immerses listeners in one of Buddhism's essential distillations of written wisdom known as The Four Marks of Existence.These marks that shape all of us, teaches Pema Chodron, are like forgotten gifts waiting to be found. And while they may ring familiar to some, they hold vast layers of often-unrealized understanding to both new and seasoned ears alike. In this six-session learning program, Pema Chodron illuminates for us: * The truth of the impermanence of all phenomena * The truth of egolessness -- the insight that we do not exist as separate, individual beings * The truth of the existence of suffering * The truth of peace that liberation or nirvana is available when we shed the veils of misunderstanding created by the first three marks * How to use the wisdom of this profound sutra to touch the open and abundant expanse in which we truly dwell With The Truth of Our Existence, Pema Chodron invites us to see that there is, in reality, no score to settle, and that we can step out of confusion, frustration, and fear and into in the open space of heartful awareness.

    This book goes beyond theory to show how to bring these teachings into practice in daily life. Containing profound truths for all people from every culture, it reveals the secret for attaining happiness for both oneself and others through the process of self-reformation. Based on the teachings of Nichiren, a 13th-century Buddhist teacher and reformer, the scriptures of the Lotus Sutra show how every person can attain Buddhahood.

    Through personal accounts, reflection, and dialogue with Laoshi, we witness the novice’s evolution in his search for the spirit of the art—and the resulting bond forged with his instructor. Together, student and teacher examine the philosophical and martial aspects of tai chi. They demonstrate what it means to pursue principle, and they see the ease with which it can be lost to that trickster and provocateur, the ego. Engaging, sincere, and at times lighthearted, this fictional memoir narrated from the student’s perspective addresses themes familiar to all who study tai chi and the martial arts. Laoshi is a journey into tai chi and a meditation on life and living without fear. COMMENTS: “Located at the intersection of tai chi and life, technique and principle—the veteran, beginner, and even nonpractitioner will find wisdom that never descends into cliché. Mr. Kauskas delivers a highly edifying and entertaining cornucopia of anecdote, aphorism, and apocrypha, destined to become a modern classic.” > DOUGLAS WILE, Ph.d. “This book allows us to meet that one teacher we all wish we could just spend our entire lives with. We can't help but feel inspired to not just be better martial artists, but better human beings.” > JWING-MING YANG, Ph.D. “. . . informative and entertaining . . . . People who want to learn more about tai chi, or Eastern philosophy in general, will be well served, and those who practice tai chi will find answers to many of their questions in this book.” > KEN VAN SICKLE “Jan Kauskas covers all the topics and challenges we face in tai chi practice beyond the physical movements. He shows the entire learning process, written beautifully as dialogue between the student and his master, Laoshi. A really inspiring book for all who are playing tai chi or would like to begin.” > HELMUT OBERLACK “Laugh, cringe, and marvel with a young warrior encountering his own issues and blind spots while navigating the labyrinth of martial arts training . . . . our protagonist stumbles and soars in his quest for mastery and enlightenment.” > TRICIA YU

     Buddhism is an agnostic religion. It neither acknowledges the existence of a god nor denies it. It simply teaches that we must live by a moral code because it is our nature to do so, regardless of whether a god exists or not. To choose good in the hopes of reward, while avoiding evil out of fear of punishment, is not true goodness. It is sheer hypocrisy — a selfish desire to do something in return for our own benefit. To understand the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, we first have to understand the word “dukkha.” This is often mistranslated into English as “suffering,” giving people the idea that Buddhism is a pessimistic religion. Nothing can possibly be further from the truth. While dukkha can certainly be understood to mean “suffering,” it would be more accurate to translate this word as “anxiety,” “stress,” or “dissatisfaction.” This book endeavors to explain the Buddha’s perspective on dukkha, and how one can live in spite of it, even striving to move beyond it. If you’re ready to learn more about dukkha and the path to liberation, let’s get started! Here Is A Preview Of What You'll Learn... About Buddhist Diversity Understanding Dukkha The Four Noble Truths The Eightfold Path Panna – Wisdom Śila – Ethical Conduct Samādhi – Concentration Nibbāna – Blown Out Much, much more! Download your copy today! Tags: eight-fold path, nirvana, the four noble truths and the eightfold path, four noble truths and eightfold path, buddhism, buddhist, theraveda buddhism, Eightfold Path, four noble truths, nibbana, eightfold path of buddhism, the eightfold path, noble eightfold path, eight fold path

    Ajahn Buddhadasa Bhikkhu makes the case for dependent co-arising as a natural law, and builds a compelling presentation from there of Buddhist philosophy, meditation, and practice. Basing himself squarely on the Buddha’s own words as preserved in the Pali Canon, he brings clarity and simplicity to what is typically a thorny philosophical knot. By returning dependent co-arising to its central place in Buddhist theory and practice, Ajahn Buddhadasa provides perspective on the Buddha’s own insights and awakening. Under the Bodhi Tree is another excellent entry from one of the most renowned Buddhist thinkers of modern times.  For students who wish to study further, a companion guide is available from liberationpark.org.

    Thousands have been introduced to the beginning anew practice at the retreats led worldwide each year by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. When we're upset with someone, we're often afraid to say anything. We tell ourselves, "Oh, it's just a small matter; it's not important." But the accumulation of many small issues can create an explosive situation, and can even cause relationships to break. Beginning Anew gives us a way to address problems when they're small, so we can understand each other's words, actions, and intentions. "Beginning Anew" guides readers through steps of conscious breathing, loving speech, and compassionate listening designed to help us see people and situations more clearly, allowing our perceptions to better reflect reality. Sister Chan Khong brings the practice to life by sharing stories of couples and families she has helped to reconcile using the practice. After a few minutes of quietly sitting together to become aware of our breathing and calm ourselves, each person speaks without being interrupted. The first step is to express appreciation of the other person, something we may forget to do in our busy lives, that can lead to the people around us to feeling taken for granted. The second step is to express any regrets we have. This is something we often put off doing, but the clear expression of misgivings and regrets gives practitioners the chance to clear the air and directly address any problems in the relationship. The last two steps of the practice are for expressing anger or difficulties and checking in with each other to be sure each was understood. "Beginning Anew" introduces a practice for anyone looking for a way to keep communication open and resolve conflicts. When practiced regularly, beginning anew will bring deeper understanding and harmony to any relationship.

     The thirty-eight principles set forth, based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha, comprise a basic guide to living for anyone seeking peace and harmony. The value of such qualities as individual responsibility, rational thought and the fulfillment of social obligations are discussed—as well as exactly how to implement each of these principles into one’s daily life. It is not uncommon to experience a sense of fear or uncertainty in the oftentimes frantic, fast-paced world in which we live. But it is possible to move beyond those obstacles and that feeling of being overwhelmed, into a state where happiness and a lack of suffering dominate. Learn how to juggle individual challenges, family obligations, social responsibility and personal growth while maintaining a vital sense of balance in the midst of a chaotic world. All of this is possible without needing to call oneself a Buddhist or Christian or Muslim. Regardless of religion or faith, readers will learn how to achieve some much needed peace in this enriching guide to life.

    First, on the phenomenal plane, when one ceases to resist What-Is and becomes more in harmony with It, one attains a state of Ming, or clear seeing. Having arrived at this point, all action becomes wei wu wei, or action without action (non-forcing) and there is a working in harmony with What-Is to accomplish what is required. Second, as the clear seeing deepens (what he refers to as the opening of the great gate), the understanding arises that there is no one doing anything and that there is only the One doing everything through the many and diverse objective phenomena which serve as Its instruments. From this flows the third and last: the seemingly separate me is a misapprehension, created by the mind which divides everything into pseudo-subject (me) and object (the world outside of this me). This seeming two-ness (dva in Sanskrit, duo in Latin, dual in English), this feeling of being separate and apart, is the root cause of unhappiness.

    The term "zen" is used freely by those seeking to calm and simplify their lives. But to truly reap the benefits of Zen, one must understand what it is and how to change his or her thinking and actions to achieve it. Zen monk and sensei Domyo Burk shows readers how to get started on the path to enlightenment and peace, regardless of cultural or religious affiliations. In this book, readers get:- An introduction to what Zen is-and what it isn't.- A foundation for how to get started in Zen practice.- Explanations of the essential teachings of Zen and how they can free readers from the dissatisfaction that is inherent in modern life and improve mental and physical health.- Step-by-step instructions for engaging in Zazen meditation.- Guidance on increasing mindfulness, seeking clarity and enlightenment, and living by the Zen moral code.- Tips for maintaining daily Zen practice, using it to deal with difficult and painful situations, and mastering the art of living.

    Through spirited Q&A sessions with Zen master Jun Po Denis Kelly Roshi, The Heart of Zen takes a gradual, step-by-step approach to what has become a vexing problem in spiritual circles. What is missing is integration. If awakening truly transforms every part of the life of a person, where are we getting stuck? How can negative emotions like anger, shame, envy, and jealousy continue to arise? How do our relative egos relate to the Zen teaching of Emptiness, and what does this mean for our intimate relationships, our emotional bodies, our views of the world and its problems? The Heart of Zen represents the next generation of spiritual books because it addresses awakening and spiritual life within the context of creating lasting change through the integration of spiritual insight into the flow and flux of everyday life. Jun Po Denis Kelly Roshi explains how well trained meditation students may learn to be nonreactive to emotions, but they seldom learn how to transform their negative emotions (and the ego that holds them) as part of a more deeply integrated, lived spirituality. This book describes precisely what this means in great detail and with exercises for the reader to follow. Part discussion on these intricate topics and part experiential guide, The Heart of Zen offers a one-of-a-kind take on enlightenment, emotional maturity, and the integration required to take one's seat in true liberation.

    It is a collection made up of three books – Cittaviveka, Teachings from the Forest and The Four Noble Truths.

    It is hoped that the publication of this anthology of translated scriptures, all of which are indigenous Tibetan works by very highly respected scholar-yogis, will further an understanding of the panoramic and trans-sectarian approach of the great Tibetan Buddhist teachers of past and present.

    Ben Connelly’s Inside the Grass Hut unpacks the timeless poem and applies it to contemporary life. His book delivers a wealth of information on the context and content of this eighth-century work, as well as directly evokes the poem’s themes of simple living, calm, and a deep sense of connection to all things.Each pithy chapter focuses on a single line of the poem, letting the reader immerse himself thoroughly in each line and then come up for air before moving on to the next. Line by line, Connelly shows how the poem draws on and expresses elements from the thousand years of Buddhist thought that preceded it, expands on the poem’s depiction of a life of simple practice in nature, and tells stories of the way these teachings manifest in modern life. Connelly, like Shitou before him, proves himself adept at taking profound and complex themes from Zen and laying them out in a practical and understandable way.Eminently readable, thoroughly illuminating, Inside the Grass Hut shows the reader a path of wholehearted engagement—with the poem, and with the world. Destined to become a trusted, dog-eared companion.

    Counted among the greatest of the siddhas are a washerman, a cowboy, a thief, a conman, a gambler, and a whore, all extraordinary men and women who attained the goal of their meditations, as well as enlightenment and magical powers, by disregarding convention and penetrating to the core of life. Recounting the magical and “crazy” deeds of the mahasiddhas, such as walking through walls, flying, talking with birds, and turning people to stone, Dowman reveals the human qualities of the tantric masters and the vital elements of the siddhas’ philosophy of nonduality and emptiness. Richly illustrated with paintings of the tantric saints by artist Robert Beer, these stories of the mahasiddhas show us a way through human suffering into a spontaneous and free state of oneness with the divine.

    Here, he enlarges our perspective on this seminal teaching by exploring the practices of mindfulness as presented in both the Pali and Chinese versions of this important discourse. The brilliance of his scholarly research, combined with the depth of his meditative understanding, provides an invaluable guide to the liberating practices of the Buddha's teaching."—Joseph Goldstein, author of Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening and One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism"Analayo's work is a brilliant treasury of impeccable scholarship and practice, offering a wise, open-minded, and deep understanding of the Buddha's original teachings. His approach makes an inspiring contribution to the modern Dharma world."—Jack Kornfield, author of The Wise Heart, founding teacher of the Spirit Rock Center"Analayo has offered us a work of great scholarship and wisdom that will be of immense benefit to anyone who wants to seriously study or to establish a practice of mindfulness."—Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and co-founder, Insight Meditation Society, Barre, MassachusettsBhikkhu Analayo completed a PhD on the Satipatthana Sutta at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka in 2000, published in 2003 by Windhorse Publications under the title Satipatthana: The Direct Path to Realization. At present Analayo is a professor of Buddhist studies at the Sri Lanka International Academy in Pallekele, Sri Lanka.

    Regularly priced at $ 4.99. Read on your PC, MAC, smart phone or Kindle Device. Why is The Dalai Lama always smiling? I’m sure I’m not the only one who has asked myself this question. This is a man who has practically lost his country and is now living as the frugal exiled leader of the Tibetans. Why is he smiling? To us there is no logical reason for him to maintain such a sunny deposition – so why does he? It’s called happiness! This book explores the Dalai Lama’s teachings on how to achieve the happiness he displays so easily. Beneath the deepness of his words are concepts so easy to understand, you’ll wonder why you didn’t realize them before now. This book will reveal; What true happiness really is Why love and compassion are the entry points to happiness and how you can cultivate these concepts and apply them in your daily life The things you might be doing that are causing you unhappiness and how to wean yourself off these habits gradually for a happier you What real wisdom is and how it affects your perception of your own suffering, other people and their actions and how to train your mind to reinterpret these events in the correct way Why and how to cultivate mindfulness and incorporate meditation practices into your daily life and increase your enjoyment of your life right now as well. Much, much more! This book is for those who are genuinely seeking happiness. Prepare to be happy! Download your copy today! Today only,get this Kindle book for just $0.99. Regularly priced at $ 4.99 To order The Best Teachings of The Dalai Lama, Journey To a Happy, Fulfilling and Meaningful life, click the BUY button and download your copy right now! Tags : The Dalai Lama, Dalai Lama, Meditation, Buddhist, Buddhism, Dalai Lama Books, Enlightment Books, Happiness, Meaningful Life, Health and Happiness, Happiness and meditation, The Dalai Lama, Dalai Lama, Meditation, Buddhist, Buddhism, Dalai Lama Books, Enlightment Books, Happiness, Meaningful Life, Health and Happiness, Happiness and meditation, The Dalai Lama, Dalai Lama, Meditation, Buddhist, Buddhism, Dalai Lama Books, Enlightment Books, Happiness, Meaningful Life, Health and Happiness, Happiness and meditation, The Dalai Lama, Dalai Lama, Meditation, Buddhist, Buddhism, Dalai Lama Books, Enlightment Books, Happiness, Meaningful Life, Health and Happiness, Happiness and meditation.

    That is why this book has twenty one chapters. These are the titles of the chapters: 1. Feeling. 2. Consciousness and Awareness. 3. See. 4. Find the Source. 5. The Seer. 6. Who am I? 7. The Self. 8. The Mind. 9. I-I. 10. Practice and Effort. 11. To whom? 12. The Heart. 13. I. 14. The Ego. 15. The I thought. 16. Distractions. 17. The World. 18. Thought. 19. Look Within. 20. Desire, Eagerness and Determination. 21. Who. The quotes are from the book Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi. Some editions of Talks have more than seven hundred pages. Only a small amount of the book Talks is on the subject of how to practice Self inquiry. That is because most questioners did not ask about how to practice Self inquiry. Placing Sri Ramana Maharshi's teachings about how to practice Self inquiry from the book Talks into one small book, such as this one, saves the reader whose primary interest is in how to practice Self inquiry from having to go through that huge book Talks trying to find Sri Ramana's teachings on that subject.

    Taken from Sylvia Boorstein’s influential contribution to Solid Ground , Boorstein invites readers to see things exactly the way they are, no matter how difficult.

    An amazingly succinct and accessible answer to the question "What is enlightenment?"--from one of America's most prominent teachers of Insight Meditation.One of today's most highly regarded Insight Meditation teachers describes the process of enlightenment in a way anyone can understand--demonstrating in clear language why we operate with the illusion of separation, how we can move out of it to the realization of emptiness and no-self, and how we can live from that state of awakening.  He provides brief, powerful exercises that enable us to challenge the reality of our thoughts in order free ourselves from the illusion they keep us bound to, all the while steering us away from the temptation to regard spiritual practice as a process of self-improvement or a goal to be obtained.

    Known for his deep spiritual insights and service to the nation of Tibet, Tertön Sogyal’s ability to harness the power of the mind was born of his own profound understanding of the Buddha’s teachings while engaging in the world. Tertön Sogyal’s life of striving for perfection against great odds is an example of courageous diligence appreciated by spiritual practitioners of all traditions. And his practical instructions on meditation and opening one’s heart in devotion are as relevant today as they were during his lifetime.In Fearless in Tibet, Matteo Pistono shares Tertön Sogyal’s essential teachings and life story; from the challenges Tertön Sogyal faced during his early yogic training, to exploring the mystic’s inner world of visions and spiritual revelations, to how he worked to bring peace and harmony in Tibet and China. Fearless in Tibet is a journey where the readers will gain their own insight for today’s challenges:transforming negativity into opportunitymagnetizing auspiciousness by letting go of attachmentsresting in awareness of the present momentenriching life by embracing impermanencefinding refuge in meditationrecognizing the awakened state is already present withinCombining riveting storytelling with Tertön Sogyal’s profound spiritual instructions, Fearless in Tibet will infuse the reader’s spiritual path with wisdom and inspiration, as if the mystical yogi himself were present.

    In this book I will show you what happened and how it was. No matter if you are totally green when it comes to Buddha's teachings or maybe you have already heard something about them - this book will help you systematize your knowledge and will inspire you to learn more and to take steps to make your life positively better! I invite you to take this beatiful journey into the graceful and meaningful world of Buddhism with me today! In This Book I Will Tell You About: -Why Would You Want To Incorporate Buddha's Teachings Into Your Life? -What Buddhism Is And What it Definitely Is Not? -What is the Essence of Buddhism? -Three Main Branches of Buddhism -Buddha's Life and Teachings -Basics of Buddhism (Five Basic Buddha's Principles) -How to Cease Your Suffering -Karma, Rebirth and Reincarnation; Difference between Rebirth and Reincarnation -What Happens After Death According to Buddhism? -Where and How to Start? -The Art of Meditation -Benefits of practicing Buddhism in Everyday Life+ My Personal Experiences! -Further Resources to Continue Your Journey!

    It’s not a special trait that we either have or don’t, but a practice that we can all nurture in our daily lives. And the benefits are vast. It liberates our hearts from a narrow sense of self, expands our sense of well-being, and so much more. Of course, it’s not always easy. But when we learn to work with our adversities and fears, whatever it is that might be keeping us stuck, then we find that we gradually and naturally become more open, joyful, and free. And it is this very freedom that enlivens us and allows us to become truly available to the people around us.In this recorded retreat, Pema Chödrön reveals all the essentials for practicing compassion in our everyday lives, using a text that is very close to her heart: the Buddhist classic known as The Way of the Bodhisattva. Here she focuses on its first chapter and primary subject, the enlightened heart and mind (bodhichitta), showing us how this awakened state is available to us here and now, right where we are.

    As we put these teachings into practice over time, we learn to see things as they really are and discover transcendence right here in our everyday lives. Ayya Khema shows us how to live a wholehearted spiritual life, even amid our day to day concerns and responsibilities. Her teachings unfold simply, free of jargon, and are ideal for the contemporary world. Grounding the practice of more advanced meditations in a deeply cultivated sense of mindfulness, love, and altruism, Khema shows us, step by step, how to access to liberation and freedom. Know Where You're Going was previously published under the title When the Iron Eagle Flies.

    Jigmed Lingpa stated, "Realization of the pure awareness that transcends the mind is the specialty of the Great Perfection." Beginning with the preliminary prerequisites, the entire Great Perfection path is spelled out clearly and succinctly in Yeshe Lama, which is meant to be studied and practiced by qualified practitioners who are committed to completing the prerequisites before entering the path of Dzogchen. Even to open this book, one must have received empowerment and have been introduced to the nature of the mind by a qualified master. The teachings and practices taught in Yeshe Lama encompass the innermost cycle of upadesha teachings and clearly define the Dzogchen practices of trekchö, cutting through to original purity and tögal crossing over with spontaneous presence. These are the swift practices that can lead to the attainment of the rainbow body and the complete attainment of buddhahood, and this is the same path that has been followed by many of the great spiritual adepts of India and Tibet. Consequently, if one studies and trains in the Yeshe Lama correctly and with deepest respect and diligence, the possibility of enlightenment within one lifetime is within reach.Yeshe Lama is the most important practice manual on the Great Perfection teachings. The golden words of this sublime text arose from the depths of ultimate wisdom and came to us through the all-embracing compassion of Rigdzin Jigmed Lingpa (1730–1798), one of the greatest adepts and writers of Tibet. Yeshe Lama is for seriously devoted meditators who have matured sufficiently to undertake the Great Perfection trainings and who have been introduced to the text by a master who has perfected his or her realization. Its sole path is one of meditative skills, and its sole goal is to gain inner experience.

    It contains the entire path and does not depend on a person's background. Mind Training nurses and cultivates the Buddha Nature, that pure seed of awakening that is at the very heart of every sentient being. It has the power to transform even egotistical self-clinging into self-lessness. Put into practice diligently, it is enough to lead you all the way to awakening.In The Path to Awakening, Shamar Rinpoche gives his own detailed commentary on Chekawa Yeshe Dorje's Seven Points of Mind Training, a text that has been used for transformative practice in Tibetan Buddhism for close to a thousand years. Clear, accessible, and yet profound, this book is filled with practical wisdom, philosophy, and meditation instructions.

    Once deep and inclusive training has taken place, love everyone.” Written by the 5th Shamar Rinpoché, Könchok Yenlak (1526–83), this condensed presentation of the lojong (“mind training”) maxims and explanations is a practical companion book for more extensive commentaries. The original Tibetan text and its English translation are included, as well as a brief biographical sketch of Shamar Könchok Yenlak. This United States edition has been issued with the kind permission of the original publisher, the Marpa Kagyu Dharma Preservation Center in Kathmandu, Nepal.

    The long-awaited first book from a prominent modern American Zen teacher.For Roshi Pat Enkyo O'Hara, intimacy is what Zen practice is all about: the realization of the essential lack of distinction between self and other that inevitably leads to wisdom and compassionate action. She approaches the practice of intimacy beginning at its most basic level--the intimacy with ourselves that is the essential first step. She then shows how to bring intimacy into our relationships with others, starting with those dearest to us and moving on to those who don't seem dear at all. She then shows how to grow in intimacy so that we include everyone around us, all of society, the whole world and all the beings it contains. Each chapter is accompanied by practices she uses with her students at the Village Zendo for manifesting intimacy in our lives.

    Next Rinpoche introduces the reader to methods from the Buddhist tradition for cultivating bodhichitta. Here Rinpoche distills the essence of Atisha’s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, which is in itself a concise teaching. Finally Rinpoche describes the Bodhisattva Vow, its meaning and its purpose. A modern translation of the root text, A Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, is included.The Indian scholar and saint Atisha reintroduced pure Buddhism into Tibet in the eleventh century. His Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment sets forth the entire Buddhist path within the framework of three levels of motivation and is thus the source of the graduated approach to spiritual practice of all four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

    She approaches the practice of intimacy beginning at its most basic level—the intimacy with ourselves that is the essential first step. She then shows how to bring intimacy into our relationships with others, starting with those dearest to us and moving on to those who don’t seem dear at all. She then shows how to grow in intimacy so that we include everyone around us, all of society, the whole world and all the beings it contains. Each chapter is accompanied by practices she uses with her students at the Village Zendo for manifesting intimacy in our lives.

    It is made up of two collections – The Way It Is and Buddhism Now! – and an interview with John Baxter, conducted at Amaravati in 1986.

    More specially, it's the realization that you are already free at the core of your experience and that all separation, both in space and time, is a belief system. Living Realization is known for its simplicity. The basic invitation invites us to: recognize awareness, let all appearances be as they are and see that all appearances are inseparable. These simple points are really all you need to recognize freedom in the midst of your life.

    Chanted daily by many Zen practitioners, it is also studied extensively in the Tibetan tradition, and it has been regarded with interest more recently in the West in various fields of study—from philosophy to quantum physics. In just a few lines, it expresses the truth of impermanence and the release of suffering that results from the understanding of that truth with a breathtaking economy of language. Kazuaki Tanahashi’s guide to the Heart Sutra is the result of a life spent working with it and living it. He outlines the history and meaning of the text and then analyzes it line by line in its various forms (Sanskrit, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Tibetan, Mongolian, and various key English translations), providing a deeper understanding of the history and etymology of the elusive words than is generally available to the nonspecialist—yet with a clear emphasis on the relevance of the text to practice. This book includes a fresh and meticulous new translation of the text by the author and Roshi Joan Halifax.

    

    In the context of our modern quest for a new vision of reality, Robert Thurman discusses the deepest issues of reality and non-reality, transcendent and the relative. Dr. Thurman's brilliant dissertation on the masterful works by the illuminated Lama, Tsong Khapa (1357-1419) on The Buddhist Theory of Relativity make this an astounding must-have set of recordings.

    

    Such is the teaching of Master Huineng (638 713), the most important and most revered figure in the Chan (Zen) School of East Asian Buddhism. Huineng left no written record, but his students compiled accounts of his public lectures and one-on-one exchanges, together with the dramatic story of his life. The resulting volume was Liu zu fa bao tan jing , The Sixth Patriarch's Dharma Jewel Platform Sutra, sixth, because Master Huineng is counted as the sixth generation of patriarchal succession from the first Chan patriarch Bodhidharma. Master Huineng's Platform Sutra is so highly regarded in Buddhist Asia that it is called a Sutra, a term otherwise reserved for texts spoken by the Buddha himself. In presenting this entirely new English translation of The Sixth Patriarch's Dharma Jewel Platform Sutra, the editors, Professors Heng Sure and Martin Verhoeven of Dharma Realm Buddhist University, have aimed above all to bring across into English Master Huineng's plain-spoken, forthright style. As Professor Verhoeven writes, "Readers inclined to see Buddhist writings as abstruse metaphysical treatises will find The Platform Sutra refreshingly artless and spare. Those expecting a sutra to delve into the supernatural and otherworldly will be surprised at how down-to-earth and here-and-now this text is. The Platform Sutra is humanistic to its core." As Huineng says in a verse, 'The Buddha Dharma is right here in the world,/There is no awakening apart from this world.' The essence of the Sixth Patriarch's philosophy is that all beings have the buddha-nature; all can become Buddha. Full awakening is not a future state or a distant place, but exists right within your own mind,' directly and immediately available. The text presents a powerful and resounding vision of unbounded human potential waiting to be fully realized if only we could see it.

    Was his demise self-inflicted, accidental, an assassination, or due to natural causes? The author contends that during this incident Siddhartha Gautama may have been the leader of Babylon's Magi, an interfaith order that assumed governance of the region. The situation exploded when Darius the Great seized the throne. Simultaneously the Magi Order was purged as Siddhartha, prince of the Saka nation headed back east to the Indus. Could this event have inspired the creation of Buddhism as a pacifist movement dedicated to the pursuit of self-transformation, goodwill, and universal compassion?The Buddha from Babylon: The Lost History and Cosmic Vision of Siddhartha Gautama uncovers new evidence that solves this age-old mystery and discovers Babylonian influences in the Buddha's revelations. The Buddha from BabylonL The Lost History and Cosmic Vision of Siddhartha Gautama is a double winn er of the USA Best Book Awards for (World) History-Non-Fiction and for Eastern Non-Fiction books.

    Ezra Bayda has good news: life’s challenges aren’t obstacles to our path—they are the path. Understanding that liberates us to use every aspect of what life presents us with as a way to live with integrity and authenticity—and joy.  In this, as in all his books, Ezra’s teaching is Zen made wonderfully practical, in a way that can apply to anyone’s life. Meditation is the foundation, but it doesn’t stop there. It’s about learning to take the practice of presence we cultivate in meditation to all the rest of our complicated lives. Doing that empowers us to navigate our journey with the integrity and authenticity that are what a satisfying life is all about.

    The Noble Eightfold Path forms the framework for all the Buddha’s teachings. It was the first topic he mentioned in his first sermon, and the last topic he mentioned in his last. These edited transcripts correspond to the 13 Noble Eightfold Path mp3s available on the Talk Collections page. Freely available at dhammatalks.org

    Material incantations, in forms such as spell-inscribed amulets and stone pillars, were also central to the spiritual lives of both monks and laypeople. In centering its analysis on the Chinese material culture of these deeply embodied forms of Buddhist ritual, The Body Incantatory reveals histories of practice--and logics of practice--that have until now remained hidden.Paul Copp examines inscribed stones, urns, and other objects unearthed from anonymous tombs; spells carved into pillars near mountain temples; and manuscripts and prints from both tombs and the Dunhuang cache. Focusing on two major Buddhist spells, or dhāraṇī, and their embodiment of the incantatory logics of adornment and unction, he makes breakthrough claims about the significance of Buddhist incantation practice not only in medieval China but also in Central Asia and India. Copp's work vividly captures the diversity of Buddhist practice among medieval monks, ritual healers, and other individuals lost to history, offering a corrective to accounts that have overemphasized elite, canonical materials.

    This first volume--one of six--offers a comprehensive, in-depth view of the foundations of the Buddhist path. Written by a lay practitioner for laypeople, it is intended to be accessible, informative, and above all, practical.

    Near his small apartment in Quebec City is a park, a real little urban oasis located by a high school. The monk takes a contemplative stroll there everyday; all is light and harmony, until... "This was one of the most significant encounters of my life. An encounter that was a little like the first time I met my spiritual teachers. But it was also very different: it was more brutal and violent than anything I had ever experienced." THE WALKER: A TALE OF MINDFULNESS, LOSS AND RESILIENCE combines humor and drama, poetry and reflections on happiness, interdependence, nature, acceptance and memories.... It is sure to delight contemporary readers, from the most busy, skeptical ones to the more contemplative. A bowl of fresh air!* Please note that THE WALKER can also be found in Vincent Thibault's anthology "Purity: Japanese Short Stories", available in both Kindle and paperback editions.ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vincent Thibault, a talented and prolific writer from Quebec, Canada, follows his own unique path. He has been publishing ten books in French, including both fiction and nonfiction. With translations by Lisa Hannaford-Wong, English readers can now enjoy his short stories. 2013 has also seen the English release of "Parkour", his essay on sports and the spirit of chivalry. WHAT CRITICS SAY "Absolutely charming. Wonderfully written." — Paul Ouellet, Première heure (SRC) "Purity [the anthology from which "The Walker" has been taken] is the kind of book we devour in a few hours, and that reminds us how pleasant and profitable reading can be!" — Christian Boisvert, Culturellement vôtre "[...] Thibault's style is unique in the Quebec literary scene. Worth discovering. ****" — Eric Paquin, Le Voir magazine "[...] This writer has a talent for throwing the reader off course and surprising us with each one of his publications. [...] this book by Vincent Thibault is another step forward in a writing career that strays from the beaten path [...] His writing shows a great deal of skill and talent. An original writer who is always looking for different ways to show us the meaning of life. Writing is also able to serve this purpose." — Yvon Paré, writer and critic, Progrès-Dimanche "[...] it's difficult not to think of Haruki Murakami. [...] perfect mastery of form, stories that brim with compassion and empathy." — Christian Desmeules, Le Devoir "[...] a pen that continues to grow in power and finesse [...]" — Editors' picks, Le libraire

    In this unique and highly praised book, based on Buddha s Tantric teachings, the contemporary Buddhist Master, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, presents authentic methods for discovering this inner wealth for ourselves.In a clear and precise way, Geshe Kelsang explains step-by-step how we can generate a deeply peaceful and concentrated mind by harnessing the subtle energy system within our body. With this blissful awareness we can uncover our true nature, destroy ignorance and suffering at its root, and swiftly become a source of inspiration and benefit for others.Clear Light of Bliss is a manual for Tantric meditation that reveals the most profound secrets of the ancient Yogis and makes their blissful experience accessible to the modern world."

    In additional to being the author of the most famous koan ever written, “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” he is credited with reviving the Rinzai sect of Zen in Japan, perhaps the most important and most rigorous branch in the Golden Age of Buddhism. His “Song of Zazen” is chanted in monasteries daily all over the world. Hakuin taught that there are three essentials to Zen practice: Great Faith, Great Doubt, and Great Resolve. Only Dogen comes close to matching the power and breadth of his writing and teaching.Norman Waddell has spent his life reading and commenting on the vast work of Hakuin. He has published several previous selections, all leading to his work on this major, monumental gathering, the Keiso Dokuzui, never before translated in any foreign language. Translating sacred texts requires years of practice and intimate familiarity with the material in its original language, as well as complete mastery of the available commentary. There’s no one alive better capable of handling this important and difficult offering.For this collection Hakuin gathered more than 200 individual pieces, consisting of commentaries, memorials, poems, koans, and teisho (lectures). They were offered to the many students living around his temple as well as to the countless lay followers around the country, and Hakuin spent his life offering these teachings together with his own commentary. Result is an organic, growing collection of understanding and advice, certain to engage Zen students as well as religious practitioners in other spiritual disciplines

    Drawing on the proven wisdom of different ancient traditions, and the contemporary masters of spiritual life, as well as his own studies and first-hand knowledge of the mystical traditions of East and West, to Abbot George illumines the practical wisdom of Buddha in the Dhammapada - and more importantly, and make thatmakes that teaching relevant to present day spiritual seekers. The Dhammapada is the first collection of Gautama Buddha's practical teachings for those seeking Nirvana, compiled only three months after his passing away by his enlightened disciples, who named it Dhammapada: The Way of Dharma. It is a distillation of forty-five years of the Buddha's teaching. Abbot George says of the Dhammapada, "Over and over in the teachings of Buddha we find that he is giving us only that which can be applied in our daily lives in order to fit ourselves for freedom from all that binds us."In The Dhammapada for Awakening the reader will learn:• An esoteric understanding of the mind and how to deal with it.• How we create our destinies by our thoughts and actions, and how we can use that knowledge to shape a better present and future for ourselves.• What are the obstacles to reaching our full potential, and how we can avoid them.Whether a person is Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, simply spiritual, or merely discontent with the status quo of their lives, the universal spiritual principles in The Dhammapada for Awakening will prove helpful in empowering seekers to tread the path to Freedom, that they may become finders.

    They reserve their highest praise, though, for the lesser-known influences, especially teachers and mothers, whose humble, compassionate actions provide the truest foundation for the realization of ever-greater peace. Ultimately, the book is a tribute to the bonds that give life meaning. These bonds are the ones built between friends and family; those who teach and those we might learn from; with the great thinkers of the past who live on in books, poetry, and art; with nature; and most of all with the best version of ourselves.

    Zen master Sekkei Harada uses the enigmatic "Ten Verses of Unfathomable Depth" as the basis of his practical and theoretical discussion of these concerns. Unfathomable Depths presents a concise treatment of Soto theory and practice, while delivering approachable and workable advice from one of Zen's most esteemed teachers. Rooting himself in Tong'an Changcha's classical poem, Harada intimately speaks to the world of Zen today.

    Sera Khandro Dew(r) Dorj(r) (1892u1940) was extraordinary not only for achieving religious mastery as a Tibetan Buddhist visionary and guru to many lamas, monastics, and laity in the Golok region of eastern Tibet, but also for her candor. This book listens to Sera KhandroOCOs conversations with deities, dakinis, bodhisattvas, lamas, and fellow religious community members and investigates the concerns and sentiments relevant to the author and to those for whom she wrote. Sarah H. JacobyOCOs analysis focuses on the status of the female body in Sera KhandroOCOs texts, the virtue of celibacy versus the expediency of sexuality for religious purposes, and the difference between profane lust and sacred love between male and female Tantric partners. Her findings add new dimensions to our understanding of Tibetan Buddhist consort practice, complicating standard scriptural presentations of a male subject and a female aide. Sera Khandro depicts herself and her guru and consort, Drim(r) uzer, as inseparable embodiments of insight and method that together form the Vajrayana Buddhist vision of complete buddhahood. By advancing this complementary sacred partnership, Sera Khandro carved a place for herself as a female virtuoso in the male-dominated sphere of early twentieth-century Tibetan religion."

    These ancient instructions, in the form of a "song of realization," are the original source for all Mahamudra lineages of meditation.All lineages of Mahamudra meditation have their source in a verse teaching--a "song of realization"--sung by the Mahasiddha Tilopa to his disciple Naropa on the banks of the Ganges River more than a thousand years ago. Since that time the meaning of the instructions has been passed directly from master to disciple in a continuous transmission lineage that exists unbroken to this day. Mahamudra meditation, while highly advanced, is yet simple and practical because what is identified and meditated upon is the very essence of one's own mind. This book offers the reader a window into the oral transmission of these instructions, given in a traditional Tibetan context by one of the Kagyu lineage's most learned and accomplished contemporary masters.

    Daishin Morgan looks at how we can understand ourselves and our relationship with others without dividing the world into opposites of right and wrong or good and bad and still find a basis for moral action. There is no place for a God or an Absolute conceived as above or outside of experience, as all things are undivided in their essential nature. In the first part of the book Daishin looks at the role of the will, faith, hope, cause and effect, acceptance and other subjects from the perspective of non-duality. In the second part, he goes on to offer an interpretation of the main scriptures that are used regularly in Soto Zen. This book takes seriously the teaching that enlightenment is an ever-present reality rather than a state we may realize at some future date. Reality cannot be divided into enlightened and unenlightened existence. One of the many implications of this is that Zen meditation should be understood as an expression of enlightenment rather than as a means to an end. Daishin clarifies some of the implications of this outlook and shows the profound effect it can have on how we live. Rev.Daishin Morgan is a disciple of the late Rev.Master Jiyu-Kennett, founder of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives. He has been a Zen Buddhist monk for 36 years and abbot of Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey in Northumberland since 1982.

    The sublime attitudes (brahmaviharas) are the Buddha’s primary heart teachings—the ones that connect most directly with our desire for true happiness. They’re the qualities of heart that motivated the Buddha to find awakening and then to teach the path of awakening to others. At the same time, they function as part of the path itself. Freely available at dhammatalks.org

    Therefore, this commentary on the Praises to the Twenty-one Taras bears the special blessing of his personal experience with the power and effectiveness of the practice of Tara.” - Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi This precious commentary by Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel on the Praises to the Twenty-one Taras, published for the first time, offers us a deeper understanding of the inconceivable qualities of Tara’s holy body, speech and mind and how her different aspects can help us overcome difficulties in our daily lives and Dharma practice. Born in Tibet in 1941, Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel joined Sera Monastery while still a boy. He left for India in 1959 where he met Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. In 1972, Lama Yeshe requested him to look after the young monks in Kopan Monastery, Nepal. Thus began Khensur Rinpoche’s 40 years of service at Kopan. He was officially bestowed the title of Khen Rinpoche (abbot) by the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2001. He remained in this position until July 2011. Khensur Rinpoche passed away on 7th September 2011.This ebook was designed & published by Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive for Amitabha Buddhist Centre (ABC). We are non-profit Buddhist organizations affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). Please visit us at www.LamaYeshe.com and www.fpmtabc.org.

    Their struggles and suffering are too uncomfortable, too convicting for us. Big Life is a ministry that continues to be used by God to plant thousands of churches in Asia, in countries that are among the most hostile towards the gospel message. In this 30-day devotional of stories from the Asian mission field, we meet a God who reveals himself in personal, providential and powerful ways to bring his chosen people to salvation in Christ. And we meet some of these people, simple but remarkable men and women, driven to tell others in their culture about Jesus, in obedience to the Great Commission. These stories of distant Brothers and Sisters will touch you. Read their testimonies. Support their ministries through Big Life. Most importantly, for thirty days, pray for them.

    Since that time, this profound teaching has been used by many eminent masters as a vehicle for imparting the key points of Buddhist practice, including, in the fourteenth century, the incomparable Longchenpa, whose brilliant exposition of the Four Dharmas illuminates the culmination of the path from a Dzogchen perspective. "The Light of the Sun" presents a new translation of Longchenpa's "Precious Mala of the Four Dharmas," alongside the original Tibetan text, with the lucid, accessible, and relevant commentary of contemporary Dzogchen master Choegyal Namkhai Norbu.Born in eastern Tibet in 1938, Choegyal Namkhai Norbu is an internationally known Dzogchen teacher and author as well as an eminent scholar of the history and culture of Tibet. He studied with renowned masters of various Tibetan Buddhist traditions at important monasteries and colleges, demonstrating exceptional capacity to learn and receiving degrees in both philosophy and letters and traditional medicine. In 1960, he emigrated to Italy as a professor of Tibetology, where about a decade later he began to give instructions to a growing following of Western students, initially on Yantra Yoga and subsequently on Dzogchen, the Total Perfection teachings of the Tibetan spiritual traditions. He is the founder of the International Dzogchen Community, created to encourage the teaching and practice of the Dzogchen point of view and meditation methods, and travels worldwide giving teachings and speaking at international conferences. A prolific author of books on Dzogchen, Yantra Yoga, and Tibetan history, medicine, and culture, he also founded ASIA and the Shang Shung Institute, two nonprofit organizations dedicated to supporting the Tibetan people and preserving Tibetan culture.

    Despite the Buddha's own egalitarian values, Buddhism as a religion has been dominated by men for more than two thousand years. With few exceptions, the achievements of Buddhist women have remained hidden or ignored. The narratives in this book call into question the criteria for eminence in the Buddhist tradition and how these criteria are constructed and controlled. Each chapter pays a long-overdue tribute to one woman or a group of women from across the Buddhist world, including the West. Using a variety of sources, from orally transmitted legends to firsthand ethnographic research, contributors examine the key issues women face in their practice of Buddhist ethics, contemplation, and social action. What emerges are Buddhist principles that transcend gender: loving kindness, compassion, wisdom, spiritual attainment, and liberation.

    It is a wheel that he set rolling in his first discourse by proclaiming the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path of practice. This teaching remains as the axis of Ajahn Sumedho’s teaching and personal contemplative work. This particular collection of his Dhamma talks and dialogues is composed of material that has appeared in various newsletters and magazines before; it derives from different periods in Ajahn Sumedho’s teaching career, but it has been gathered into three parts to address overarching themes.

    Although the attribution of this seminal doctrine to the historical Buddha is ubiquitous, Rethinking the Buddha demonstrates through a careful examination of early Buddhist texts that he did not envision them in this way. Shulman traces the development of what we now call the four noble truths, which in fact originated as observations to be cultivated during deep meditation. The early texts reveal that other central Buddhist doctrines, such as dependent-origination and selflessness, similarly derived from meditative observations. This book challenges the conventional view that the Buddha's teachings represent universal themes of human existence, allowing for a fresh, compelling explanation of the Buddhist theory of liberation.

    With diary excerpts, dream log, and audio transcripts she gives the reader a feel for her personal experiences. The current research outcomes of this unique ongoing project are reported, focusing on the effects of the various practices in attention and emotion regulation, and on health. They include groundbreaking findings of effects down to the chromosome level. The practice ‘Settling the mind in its natural state’ invites wonder: what is this natural state? Each chapter includes a guided meditation. The book is structured in a way that it can provide the reader with various threads. It can be read as an overview of the Shamatha Project, meditation and science. Additionally, it can be read as an exploration into Buddhist studies, with a focus on psychological and scientific understanding of meditation. Most importantly: the book can support a personal journey for the reader in practicing shamatha meditations, and experiencing increasing well-being.

    Translated by D.T Suzuki and edited by Dwight Goddard, this epitomized version was intended to make the sutra more widely accessible.

    The dawning and expansion of such awareness is called enlightenment. In his masterwork -- a suite of dialectical works known collectively as the Five Ranks -- Dongshan, a Zen master of Old China, approaches enlightenment from five angles, using paradox and poetry to lay out a multifaceted path whereby we might discover enlightenment within this very moment. Ross Bolleter Roshi assembles and provides commentary on all of the core texts of the Five Ranks, including the precursors that inspired it and works inspired by it. Approaching the Five Ranks from a rich and sophisticated koan perspective, Bolleter Roshi augments his explanations of the works with liberal doses of humor and storytelling, bringing this esteemed classic to life. Each part of the Five Ranks focuses differently on the relationship between the timeless realm of our essential natures and the contingent realm of life and death. They encourage us to transcend naive individualism and to bring our best qualities of compassion and wisdom intimately into our daily lives. In this regard, Dongshan's Five Ranks lays out the path that every student of the Way must traverse on the journey to becoming a teacher.

    Each page offers brief words of encouragement to help us deepen our faith, strengthen our practice, and win in life - both for ourselves and others.