BEING BENEVOLENCE: THE SOCIAL ETHICS OF ENGAGED BUDDHISM: Topics in Contemporary Buddhism by Sallie B. King
Engaged Buddhism is the contemporary movement of nonviolent social and political activism found throughout the Buddhist world. Its ethical theory sees the world in terms of cause and effect, a view that discourages its practitioners from becoming adversaries, blaming or condemning the other. Its leaders make some of the most important contributions in the Buddhist world to thinking about issues in political theory, human rights, nonviolence, and social justice.
A parable in which a young man is brought into a mystical garden by a beautiful embodiment of Wisdom where he meets the great historical figures who have contributed fundamental teachings to Tibetan Buddhism.
WHITE SAIL: Crossing the Waves of Ocean Mind to the Serene Continent of the Triple Gems by Thinley Norbu
Buddhism teaches that enlightenment is our natural state; the problem is that we do not recognize this state, owing to the mind's confusion about its true nature. This book presents the Buddhist view in a way meant to clear up misconceptions and awaken the reader's innate wisdom.
Thinley Norbu Rinpoche is a preeminent teacher of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Among his other books are The Small Golden Key and Magic Dance.
THE JEWEL TREE OF TIBET: The Enlightenment Engine of Tibetan Buddhism by Robert Thurman
Because the path to enlightenment requires more than sitting in meditation, The Jewel Tree of Tibet offers a rich, intellectually riveting course with many specific spiritual practices, including: eleven steps to create the spirit of enlightenment, here and now; the truths and stories of the ancient Indian and Tibetan sages; and guided meditations to experience the blessings of the wish-fulfilling jewel tree. You can do these practices with others or on your own, while living your daily life. And as you travel this road to deeper self-realization, self-understanding, and infectious happiness, you will also learn how the principles of Tibetan Tantra can open the doors to "infinite compassion and continuity," and how to discover states of consciousness that transcend even death.
One of the most explicit teachings of the steps to the path of enlightenment available, explained by a skilled Western teacher, The Jewel Tree of Tibet will enable you to honor the full subtlety and hidden depths of the Tibetan Buddhist path and realize at last its deeper mysteries and rewards -- for yourself and others.
ENLIGHTENED LIVING: Teachings of Tibetan Buddhist Masters by Tulku Thondup
A short anthology of translated writings that offers advice on applying Buddhist teachings to daily life. It includes works from Patrul Rinpoche, Jigme Lingpa and others.
REPEATING WORDS OF THE BUDDHA by Urgyen Tulku Rinpoche
The heart of Buddhist teaching is the method on how "to let confusion dawn as wisdom," recognizing the awakened state that is already present in oneself. In "Repeating the Words of the Buddha," Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche unfolds the path to enlightenment, which is simply the gradual uncovering if this awakened state. With the benevolence and brilliance of a realized being, Rinpoche illustrates in a lucid, humorous fashion the essential points of spiritual practice, inseparable from everyday life.
DARING STEPS TOWARD FEARLESSNESS: The Three Vehicles of Buddhism by Ringu Tulku
Among the multitude of books on Buddhism now available to Westerners, Daring Steps Toward Fearlessness is remarkable for its accessibility, inclusiveness, and authenticity. Ringu Tulku--renowned for both his insight and his Western-friendly style--has produced a breathtaking overview of the Buddhist path that embraces all three traditional Buddhist yanas or spiritual paths. He weaves a dynamic synergy that reveals the vital role of each path in the attainment of genuine realization. Bringing the teachings back repeatedly to the reader's own experience, Ringu Tulku both educates and inspires, connecting the Dharma's profundity with the spirit of the Buddha's awakening.
THREE VEHICLES OF BUDDHIST PRACTICE by Thrangu Rinpoche
When Buddhism came to Tibet, the great masters of meditation determined that to practice Buddhism properly, all three vehicles or levels of Buddhism had to be studied and practiced.
The first vehicle of this practice is the hinayana path, which includes the careful examination of the self, the meticulous accumulation of merit, and of course, the meditation on the Buddha's first teaching--the Four Noble Truths. The practice of this vehicle is basic shamatha and vipashyana meditation.
The second vehicle of this practice is the mahayana path, which involves the understanding of the emptiness of phenomena and an understanding of the ultimate and the conventional truths. The practice of the mahayana is embarking upon the bodhisattva path by engendering great compassion and practicing the six perfections.
Finally the third vehicle is explained--the vajrayana, which involves doing the preliminary preparations, engaging in meditation on the yidams, and doing the meditation of looking directly at mind, which is called mahamudra.
This book is the most important research tool for vinaya studies now available. The work covers both primary and secondary sources in Sanskrit, Pali, Tibetan, and Chinese as well as modern language sources in English, French, German and recent Japanese studies. The survey is thorough and attempts not to omit any major studies.
THE TREASURY OF KNOWLEDGE, Book One: Myriad Worlds by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye, trans. by the Kalu Rinpoche Translation Group, under the direction of Ven. Bokar Rinpoche
Buddhist Cosmology in Abhidarma, Kalachakra and Dzog-chen
Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye ( 1813-99), a pivotal figure in eastem Tibet's nonsectarian movement, was one of the most outstanding writers and teachers of his time. In his monumental Encyclopedia of Buddhism he presents a complete account of the major lines of thought and practice that comprise Tibetart Buddhism. Myriad Worlds is the first part of that work.
As a prelude to Kongtrul's survey of the entire range of Buddhist teachings, Myriad Worlds describes four major cosmological systems found in the Tibetan tradition-those associated with the Hinayana, Mahayana, Kalacakra and Dzog-chen teachings. To suit the capacities of different grades of beings, Buddha taught four levels of cosmology: the numerically definite cosmology of the individual way; the cosmology of infinite buddhafields of the universal way; the special cosmological system of the Kalacakra Tantra; and the dazzling non-cosmology of the Dzog-chen system, which dispenses with the dualistic perspectives revealing the creative principle to be awareness alone.
Each of these cosmologies shows how the world arises from mind, whether through the accumulated results of past actions or from the constant striving of awareness to know itself.
This detailed and thorough account of worldviews that present conceptions of space and time which differ significantly from Western ideas is at once illuminating and challenging.
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