THE SIX PERFECTIONS by Geshe Sonam Rinchen, trans. and ed. by Ruth Sonam
The Six Perfections of generosity, ethical discipline, patience, enthusiastic effort, concentration, and wisdom are practiced by Bodhisattvas who have the supreme intention of attaining enlightenment for the sake of others. These six are perfections because they give rise to complete enlightenment. Practice of them also insures the attainment of an excellent body and mind in the future and even more favorable conditions for effective practice than those we enjoy at present. Generosity leads to the enjoyment of ample resources, ethical discipline gives a good rebirth, patience leads to an attractive appearance and supportive companions, enthusiastic effort endows the ability to complete what is undertaken, fostering concentration makes the mind invulnerable to distraction, and wisdom discriminates between what needs to be cultivated and what must be discarded and leads to greater wisdom in the future.
CONCEPT OF THE BUDDHA, Its evolution from early Buddhism to the trikaya theory by Guang Xing
This book presents an analysis of one of the fundamental Mahayana Buddhist teachings, namely the three bodies of the Buddha (the Trikaya Theory), which is considered the foundation of Mahayana philosophy. Uthor examines how and why from the historical human buddha the philosophical concept of three bodies was formed, particularly the Sambhogakaya, which is the Buddha to be worshipped by all Mayahanists. This work is an outstanding research text for students and scholars of Mayahana Buddhism and anyone interested in Buddhist philosophy.
The Samadhi Raja Sutra forms the perfect link between the Mahayana training of a bodhisattva and the most profound tradition of Buddhist meditation practice known as Mahamudra.
Asvaghosha's Discourse On the Awakening of Faith In the Mahayana by Asvaghosha tr. by Suzuki,
The Awakening Faith in the Mahayana is a classic of East Asian Buddhism. Its concept of faith, however, is not the same as that of Western religions. The book's title may also be translated as The Generating of Confidence in the Mahayana. Confidence or trust is generated as a result of examining the Mahayana Buddhist teachings, which are concisely summarized here. This book is said to have been written for those who find the wordiness of extensive discourse wearisome, and who prefer a brief treatise with a lot of meaning.
ARYASURA'S ASPIRATION AND MEDITATION ON COMPASSION by Aryasura
The first work is a translation of an ancient Sanskrit prayer, no longer extant in that language, composed in the Ist century A. D. by one of the most renowned Mahayana Indian poet, Aryashura. It is supplemented by a rare commentary by the second Dalai Lama, Gendun Gyatso. The second section by His Holiness the present Dalai Lama includes a reprint of "The Inseparability of the Spiritual Master and Avalokitesheara" and a translation of an inspiring discourse on the generation of compassion and bodhicitta-the essential practices of Mahayana Buddhism.
BOUNDLESS HEART: The Cultivation of the Four Immeasurables by B. Alan Wallace, ed. by Zara Houshmand
The cultivation of the Four Immeasurables, or "divine abidings," is a core practice of early Buddhism and an invaluable complement to insight meditation. "Citta" refers to both the heart and mind, and their integrated cultivation is crucial to balanced spiritual practice. Developing these four qualities of loving kindness, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity is the indispensable foundation for realizing bodhicitta, the spirit of awakening that animates the Bodhisattva way of life and inspires Vajrayana practice as a whole. Alan Wallace draws on early Buddhist sources and contemporary oral tradition to present accessible meditations on the four immeasurables, together with instructions on meditative quiescence. These teachings were originally offered during a group retreat and includes lively discussions with the participants.
THE FUNDAMENTAL POTENTIAL FOR ENLIGHTENMENT by Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden
Sets forth an analysis of the natural and developed Buddha potential from the Mind-Only and Middle Way schools. Three of Maitreya's five great treatises on the subject--the Sublime Continuum of the Mahayana (Uttaratantra), the Ornament for the Mahayana Sutras, and the Ornament for Clear Realisation explain how our Buddha potential is transformed into the state of enlightenment. Also included are definitions and explanations of natural and developed potential, the six clairvoyances, the four Buddha bodies, the major signs and minor marks of a Buddha.
THE UNIVERSAL VEHICLE DISCOURSE LITERATURE (MAHAYANASUTRALAMKARA) trans. by Robert A.F. Thurman
Universal Vehicle Discourse Literature (Mahayanasutralamkara) was transmitted from the bodhisattva Maitreyanatha to Arya Asanga, the fourth century Indian Buddhist scholar-adept. The most foundational of the set of the famous Five Teachings of Maitreya, the Discourse Literature is considered the wellspring of what the Tibetans call the "magnificent deeds trend of the path," the compassion side, which balances the "profound view trend of the path," the wisdom side. The Discourse Literature is also considered to be metaphysically aligned with and foundational for the Idealist (Vijnanavadin) school of Mayahana thought.
MEDITATIONS OF A TIBETAN TANTRIC ABBOT: The Main Practices of the Mahayana Buddhist Path by Kensur Lekden, trans. & ed. by Jeffrey Hopkins
This book presents, with the intimate freshness of a personal teaching, the main practices of the Mahayana Buddhist path. It details the attitudes cultivated in meditation ranging from turning away from cyclic existence, to developing love and compassion for all beings, to the profound view of emptiness.
Originally published in the Sacred Books the East Series, under the editorship of F. Max Muller, this volume combines translations of basic works Buddhism. these are extremely important in contemporary Japanese Buddhism, particularly the older sects, sueh as the Pure Land Shin Shu, and have also been significant in the development of Chinese Buddhism, and the Buddhism of Tibet and Nepal.
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