COMPASSION WITHOUT ILLUSIONS by Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche
As we go through our lives, we undergo tremendous struggles; yet we do not seem able to accomplish or achieve what we would like. In addition, there are a great many undesirable things that we would like to avoid, but we are unable to do so. As a result of these conflicts, we experience a great deal of pain and suffering.
Yet the simple truth is that each and every one of us inherently possesses powerful resources. Each of us has the potential to experience true wisdom, or, for that matter, transcendent awareness; we have the potential to express gentleness and genuine compassion; we have the potential to generate great warmth and kindness towards ourselves and others; we have the potential to engender openness and patience. Nevertheless, we have misconceptions about ourselves and the world around us. We wrongly assume that that which we all desire-a true sense of wellbeing and contentment-comes from external situations, things outside of ourselves. [...] excerpt from page 1.
PRACTICE OF LOVING KINDNESS AND COMPASSION by Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche
Loving-kindness and compassion play such an important role in the Buddhist approach to spirituality that we can say that a genuine practice of the dharma is actually based on the development of these qualities. The teachings always emphasize that, unless we practice and integrate these qualities into our everyday lives, it will be utterly impossible to attain enlightenment and liberation. Moreover, without such an integration of loving-kindness and compassion, not only are we failing to benefit others, we are actually harming them, whether directly or indirectly. In the same way that water can never be used to make things dry, and fire cannot be used to make them wet, aggression and harmfulness can never cause enlightenment. [...] excerpt from page 1.
Compassion, or karuna, from the Tibetan, is the aspiration to find a way to be truly helpful to others. It is one of the ten "perfections" and one of the four "sublime abodes" in Buddhist practice. Here is a collection of profound, tender, sometimes funny, and often incredible acts of compassion practiced by Buddhists in all cultures-Chinese to Tibetan, Zen to Theravadan-and throughout the centuries.
The stories in Buddhist Acts of Compassion demonstrate that the age-old principles of kindness, selflessness, and nonviolence are not figments of dry philosophy but rather vital, dynamic stimulants that will transform the world in the twenty-first century.
TRANSFORMING OF SUFFERING: Handbook for Practioners by Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche
Transformation of Suffering presents a very precise teaching on the nature of samsara and nirvana. Included are detailed chapters on suffering and bodhicitta as well as effective methods of purification and bodhicitta practice.
Khenpo Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche is the abbot of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, founder of affiliated centers throughout North America, and the author and translator of several books.
HAPPINESS PROJECT: Transforming the Three Poisons... by Ron Leifer
Transforming the Three Poisons That Cause the Suffering We Inflict on Ourselves and Others.
You constantly strive for happiness--trying to fulfill your desires, avoid pain, and create a self identity--this is the same way that you cause suffering for yourself and others. In Buddhism, these three components are called the "Three Poisons."
This work by Dr. Feifer presents a view of the Three Poisons compatible with western science, from the Buddha's foundational teaching on the Four Noble Truths. He then explores the themes of suffering, desire, and self-identity (or "ignorance") as they recur throughout Western religion, mythology, history, philosophy, law and psychology. Finally he offers a meditation on the problems and prospects of seeking and finding lasting happiness.
TWELVE LINKS OF INTERDEPENDENT ORIGINATION by Thrangu Rinpoche
When the Buddha taught, he said that achieving enlightenment is due entirely to receiving correct teachings and then how diligently one implements these teachings.
One may ask, how does this whole phenomenal world work? The Buddha taught that it all follows the process of interdependent origination in which one action or event causes another event, which causes another event and so on.
In personal terms interdependent origination explains how our happiness and suffering in our present life is the result of actions in our previous lives. This process proceeds through twelve links and each of these links or phrases is explained in detail here.
TWO ACCUMULATIONS: Merit and Wisdom by Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche
[...] This teachings is about what are known in Buddhism as two accumulations: merit and wisdom. We will also discuss the result or fruition of these two accumulations. Then we will discuss the process of the two accumulations in detail. [...] excerpt from page 1.
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.
BUDDHIST CONDUCT: The Ten Virtuous Actions by Thrangu Rinpoche
This book is an extensive examination of how Buddhists of all traditions should conduct themselves as well as guidelines for determining if an action will lead to a positive or negative karmic result.
Rinpoche explains the ten virtuous actions, which have two aspects: Avoiding the ten unvirtuous actions and engaging in the special practices which are their opposites. He also explains how certain actions lead to negative karma using the four fundamental conditions of: object, intention, the action itself, and the completed action.
TAMING THE TIGER: Tibetan Teaching on Right Conduct, Mindfulness and Universal Compassion by Akong Tulku Rinpoche
Taming the tiger of the mind is a necessary step on the path to personal growth and self-mastery. With wit and wisdom, Akong Tulku Rinpoche teaches how to calm the turbulence within each of us. The experience of true peace, he explains, may be achieved through a practical program of cultivating awareness and bringing the spiritual into everyday life. Only then may we find the sort of happiness that also brings happiness to others.
The author begins by exploring the pitfalls that result from our habit of thought. He discusses such concepts as motivation and compassion and how one can aspire to right conduct through the practice of mindfulness. His application of Buddhist principles to our day-to-day affairs will come as a breath of fresh air to anyone seeking the truth about happiness and suffering.
Part two of Taming the Tiger provides a series of practical and potent exercises by which to change out patterns of living and thinking. Practiced consistently, they can provide a basis for self-knowledge, personal growth, and self-healing that will continue to serve you throughout life.
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