WHAT THE BUDDHA TAUGHT: Revised and Expanded Edition with Texts from Suttas and Dhammapada by Walpola Rahula
This indispensable volume is a lucid and faithful account of the Buddha's teachings. "For years", says the Journal of Buddhist Society, "the newcomer to Buddhism has lacked a simple and reliable introduction to the complexities of the subject. Dr. Rahula's What the Buddha Taught fills the need as only could be done by one having a firm grasp of the vast material to be sifted. It is a model of what a book should be that is addressed first of all to 'the educated and intelligent reader'. Authoritative and clear, logical and sober, this study is as comprehensive as it is masterly."
This edition contains a selection of illustrative texts from the Suttas and the Dhammapada (specially translated by the author), sixteen illustrations, and a bibliography, glossary, and index.
MONK AND THE PHILOSOPHER by Matthieu Ricard, Jean Francois Revel
The Monk and the Philosopher is a collection of father-son dialogues between Jean-François Revel, a French philosopher and journalist famous for his leadership in protests of both Christianity and Communism, and Matthieu Ricard, his son, who gave up a promising career as a scientist to become a Buddhist monk in the Himalayas. The conversations recorded in this book took place during 10 days at an inn in Katmandu. The range of their subjects is immense: What is Buddhism? Why does it have such appeal to many in the West? Why do Buddhists believe in reincarnation? What are the differences between Buddhist and Christian monastic life? How do science and individualism make authentic Buddhist practice difficult for Westerners to achieve? Despite the simplicity of many of these questions, Revel and Ricard never give simplistic answers. Their discussions are rich without being dense, and, even more notably, they take every question very personally. The result is a book perfectly suited as an introduction to the elements of Buddhist religion (with a good bit of Tibetan history thrown in) that is also an excellent description of what it has been like for one man (Ricard) to practice Buddhist faith. However, as Ricard wisely notes at the end of this book, "No dialogue, however enlightening it might be, could ever be a substitute for the silence of personal experience, so indispensable for an understanding of how things really are."
"The Heart of the Matter is both concise and comprehensible. Not only does it contain all the vital points of the Buddha's words: it lucidly and precisely covers the definitive meaning of the view, meditation, conduct and fruition in their entirety, so that their practice can take effect and mature within our stream of being. I feel that The Heart of the Matter contains extremely precious and crucial advice, Since it is now available in English I pray that everyone who wishes to sincerely practice the flawless teachings of the Buddha may take its meaning to heart and apply it correctly" - Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche
REFLECTIONS ON A MOUNTAIN LAKE: Teachings on Practical Buddhism by Ven. Tenzin Palmo
This sparkling collection of Dharma teachings by Tenzin Palmo addresses issues of common concern to Buddhist practitioners from all traditions.
"One of the true yoginis of our time, a woman who has dedicated her life to Buddhism, Tenzin Palmo brings her years of experience in a cave to offer us a down-to-earth, inspiring approach to spiritual path. Her example empowers each of us to wake up, calling forth a modern practical approach to a precious ancient tradition. Tenzin Palmo's is a voice we need to hear, a woman who has fully experienced what she speaks about with an absolute honesty, delightful humor, and real insight.
RELATING TO A SPIRITUAL TEACHER: Building a Healthy Relationship by Alexander Berzin
The relationship with a spiritual teacher can be the most rewarding and life-enhancing experience in one's life. However, it also may be fraught with problems. Student reactions to their spiritual teachers may range from extreme deification to deep mistrust, and these responses prevent the benefits of a healthy relationship. This book explores the sources of these misunderstandings and re-examines traditional Tibetan Buddhist teachings to reveal methods to heal wounds and develop healthy relationships that can be applied to benefit students in any spiritual tradition.
COLLECTED WORKS OF CHOGYAM TRUNGPA, Vol. 1 - 8 by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
8 Volumes
The Collected Works of Chogyam Trungpa brings together in eight volumes the writings of one of the first and most influential and inspirational Tibetan teachers to present Buddhism in the West. Organized by theme, the collection includes full-length books as well as articles, seminar transcripts, poems, plays, and interviews, many of which have never before been available in book form. From memoirs of his escape from Chinese-occupied Tibet to insightful discussions of psychology, mind, and meditation; from original verse and calligraphy to the esoteric lore of tantric Buddhism - the impressive range of Trungpa's vision, talents, and teachings is showcased in this landmark series.
Volume 1: Born in Tibet - Meditation in Action - Mudra - Selected Writings
Volume 2: The Path Is the Goal - Training the Mind - Glimpses of Abhidharma - Glimpses of Shunyata - Glimpses of Mahayana - Selected Writings
Volume 3: Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism - The Myth of Freedom - The Heart of the Buddha - Selected Writings
Volume 4: Journey Without Goal - The Lion's Roar - The Dawn of Tantra - An Interview With Chogyam Trungpa
Volume 5: Crazy Wisdom - Illusion's Game - The Life of Marpa the Translator (Excerpts) - The Rain of Wisdom (Excerpts) - The Sadhana of Mahamudra (Excerpts) - Selected Writings
Volume 6: Glimpses of Space - Orderly Chaos - Secret Beyond Thought - The Tibetan Book of the Dead: Commentary - Transcending Madness - Selected Writings
Volume 7: The Art of Calligraphy (Excerpts) - Dharma Art - Visual Dharma (Excerpts) - Selected Poems - Selected Writings
Volume 8: Great Eastern Sun - Shambhala - Selected Writings
UNTYING THE KNOTS IN BUDDHISM: Selected Essays by Alex Wayman
The field of non-Tantric Buddhism still has many problems and debated issues. The present volume includes numerous proposed solutions of these problems by the senior author Alex Wayman. The categories of the 24 essays are: Heroes of the System, Theory of the Heroes, Buddhist Doctrine, Buddhist Practice, and Hindu-Buddhist studies.
In The Buddhist Path to Simplicity, Christina Feldman illuminates the subjects of compassion, intention, mindfulness and awakening as they affect us daily. The path to peace, she suggests, is not necessarily complex or arduous. If we simply turn our attention to this moment, it will speak to us of wonder, mystery, harmony, and peace. Feldman demonstrates that there is no better time to awaken and discover everything our heart longs for than this very moment.
WAKE UP TO YOUR LIFE: Discovering the Buddhist Path of Attention by Ken McLeod
The key to becoming fully alive and joyful is to develop our natural capacity to pay attention and be fully present here and now. In Wake Up to Your Life, Buddhist teacher Ken McLeod shows us how, using delightful stories, effective examples, and crystal-clear explanations and instructions - all derived from his years of successful one-to-one work with people. In this informative guidebook to practical Buddhism you discover:
- How to live life with equanimity, loving-kindness, compassion, and joy
- How to cut through obsessions with the external world, relationships, harmful emotions, pleasure and power, and self
- Tried-and-true methods for cultivating active attention with your body and mind
PERFECTION OF WISDOM: Extracts from the Astasahasrikaprajnaparamita by R. C. Jamieson
At the heart of Buddhism lies the doctrine of the perfection of wisdom. The foremost principles of this teaching are the bodhisattva ideal of the religious life and the essential emptiness of all existence. The sutra known as The Perfection of Wisdom in 8,000 Lines are the oldest version of the important Buddhist text, dating some two thousand years, and are the basis for the present translation.
Paradoxically, The Perfection of Wisdom exists as a guide to those seeking enlightenment, even as no guidance can be given. The book opens on a heavenly assembly of Buddhas, bodhisattvas, gods and monks as they debate the nature of existence and the right way of life. Their dancing interplay of simile, dialogue and seeming contradictions may at first bewilder, but as the melody of their words combine with the repetition of ideas, readers will find themselves drawn irresistibly to the philosophy.