Buddhism: sacred texts and revered writings Books

Book SynopsisThe authors of The Dhammapada are unknown.

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Book SynopsisOne of the seminal texts in the Buddhist literary canon, "The Dhammapada" presents the timeless wisdom of the Buddha. This edition is introduced and translated by the founder of the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order and is annotated for ease of understanding. It can be taken as a straightforward and practical summary of the essential teachings of the Buddha, but - much more than that - the "Dhammapada" is a poetic representation of a sublime spiritual ideal.

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Book SynopsisOcean of Nectar by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche is the first complete explanation in English of the renowned Indian Buddhist Master, Chandrakirti's Guide to the Middle Way, a precious Mahayana scripture, which to this day is regarded as the principal presentation of Buddha's profound view of emptiness, the ultimate nature of reality. With a definitive translation and verse-by-verse commentary, the author reveals this profound meaning to the modern world with utmost clarity, and guides us along the stages of the Bodhisattva path to full enlightenment. This book is an indispensable guide for the serious practitioner of Mahayana Buddhism.

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Book SynopsisAn ancient poem for modern times Transform ordinary self-centeredness into loving kindness and altruism Transform ordinary confused views into profound wisdom Become a friend of the world who, motivated by compassion, seeks enlightenment to benefit all living beings This famous and universally loved poem for daily living has inspired generations of Buddhists and non-Buddhists since it was first composed in the 8th century by the great Buddhist Master, Shantideva. This new translation, made under the guidance of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, conveys the great lucidity and poetic beauty of the original, while preserving its full impact and spiritual insight. Reading the verses slowly, while contemplating their meaning, has a profoundly liberating effect on the mind. The poem invokes special positive states of mind, moving us from suffering and conflict to happiness and peace, and gradually introduces us to the entire path to attaining the supreme inner peace of enlightenment, the real meaning of our human life.

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Book SynopsisAn illuminating in-depth study of one of the most well-known and recited Buddhist texts, by a renowned modern translatorThe Prajna Paramita Hridaya Sutra is among the best known of all the Buddhist scriptures. 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 non-specialist—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.

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Book SynopsisDhammapada means "the path of dharma," the path of truth, harmony, and righteousness that anyone can follow to reach the highest good. Easwaran's translation of this classic Buddhist text is the best-selling edition in its field, praised by Huston Smith as a "sublime rendering." The introduction gives an overview of the Buddha's teachings that is penetrating and clear - accessible for readers new to Buddhism, but also with fresh insights and practical applications for readers familiar with this text. Chapter introductions place individual verses into the context of the broader Buddhist canon. Easwaran is a master storyteller, and his opening essay includes many stories that make moving, memorable reading, bringing young Siddhartha and his heroic spiritual quest vividly to life. But Easwaran's main qualification for interpreting the Dhammapada, he said, was that he knew from his own experience that these verses could transform our lives. This faithful rendition brings us closer to the compassionate heart of the Buddha.Trade Review“No one in modern times is more qualified – no, make that ‘as qualified’ – to translate the epochal Classics of Indian Spirituality than Eknath Easwaran. And the reason is clear. It is impossible to get to the heart of those classics unless you live them, and he did live them. My admiration of the man and his works is boundless.” – Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions

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Book SynopsisKindness, or metta in Buddhism, is a powerful and fundamental quality. In Living with Kindness, Sangharakshita explores the Buddha's teachings on metta, offering guidance on cultivating kindness in everyday life. He emphasizes how developing a warm heart can lead to personal fulfillment and empathy for all beings.

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Book SynopsisEaswaran’s best-selling translation of this classic Buddhist text The Dhammapada is reliable, readable, and profound.Dhammapada means "the path of dharma," the path of harmony and righteousness that anyone can follow to reach the highest good. The Dhammapada is a collection of verses, gathered probably from direct disciples who wanted to preserve what they had heard from the Buddha himself.Easwaran's comprehensive introduction to the Dhammapada gives an overview of the Buddha's teachings that is penetrating, and clear – accessible for readers new to Buddhism, but also with fresh insights and practical applications for readers familiar with this text. His translation is based on the original Pali. Chapter introductions, notes and a Sanskrit glossary place individual verses into the context of the broader Buddhist canon.Easwaran is a master storyteller, and the introduction includes many stories that make moving, memorable reading, bringing young Siddhartha and his heroic spiritual quest vividly to life. This faithful interpretation brings us closer to the compassionate heart of the Buddha.---Trade Review“No one in modern times is more qualified – no, make that ‘as qualified’ – to translate the epochal Classics of Indian Spirituality than Eknath Easwaran. And the reason is clear. It is impossible to get to the heart of those classics unless you live them, and he did live them. My admiration of the man and his works is boundless.” – Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions

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Book SynopsisA testimony to the invaluable contributions made by the women who were direct disciples of the Buddha—and a source of inspiration to Buddhist women today.It’s a common perception that the earliest textual records don’t contain many, if any, teachings by the Buddha’s female disciples; yet, this is not the case. In fact, the earliest discourses record a range of teachings from Buddhist women, lay and monastic. Unfortunately their important contributions have so far not received the attention they deserve.  In Daughters of the Buddha, esteemed scholar-monk Bhikkhu Analayo examines the accounts of the first female disciples in the canonical scripture, taking the reader back to the earliest period in the history of Buddhism that can still be accessed today. He dedicates each of the twenty-one chapters in the volume to an individual and remarkable woman, sharing her particular insights and teachings with the reader. Both nuns and laywomen are featured in these pages, and their diversity of voices and richness of thought will serve as instruction and encouragement for modern scholars and practitioners alike.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the original teachings of the Buddha in this thorough translation of some of the oldest Buddhist texts in the world. Like the River Ganges flowing down from the Himalayas, the entire Buddhist tradition flows down to us from the teachings and deeds of the historical Buddha, who lived and taught in India during the fifth century B.C.E. To ensure that his legacy would survive the ravages of time, his direct disciples compiled records of the Buddha''s teachings soon after his passing. In the Theravada Buddhist tradition, which prevails in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, these records are regarded as the definitive "word of the Buddha." Preserved in Pali, an ancient Indian language closely related to the language that the Buddha spoke, this full compilation of texts is known as the Pali Canon. At the heart of the Buddha''s teaching were the suttas (Sanskrit sutras), his discourses and dialogues. If we want to find out what the Buddha himself actually said, these are the most ancient sources available to us. The suttas were compiled into collections called "Nikayas," of which there are four, each organized according to a different principle. The Digha Nikaya consists of longer discourses; the Majjhima Nikaya of middle-length discourses; the Samyutta Nikaya of thematically connected discourses; and the Anguttara Nikaya of numerically patterned discourses. The Numerical Discourses contains a full translation of the Anguttara Nikaya. The Anguttara arranges the Buddha''s discourses in accordance with a numerical scheme intended to promote retention and easy comprehension. In an age when writing was still in its infancy, this proved to be the most effective way to ensure that the disciples could grasp and replicate the structure of a teaching. Here’s what makes the Numerical Discourses special: Insightful commentary from eminent scholar-monk Bhikkhu Bodhi Its comprehensive translation of the Anguttara Nikaya, part of the Pali Canon Teachings specifically for lay people and families Themes including family life, right livelihood, friendship, and meditation techniques laid out in a carefully organized thematic guide In 2013, Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi was awarded the 2013 Khyentse Foundation Prize for Outstanding Translation. Bhikkhu Bodhi’s translation and compilation also includes a useful thematic guide to the Anguttara Nikaya, so that readers can browse the volume by topic. Find the teachings to further your practice and bring clarity to your life today by diving into this rich treasure of the Buddhist literary tradition. With this volume, readers can learn about the life of the Buddha, instructions for maintaining a harmonious household, monastic practice and lifestyle, meditation practice, and the Sangha (Buddhist community).

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Book SynopsisThe book presents a comprehensive guide for understanding mindfulness by situating it within the larger Theravada doctrinal framework in a way accessible to contemporary readers. The book will appeal to general and scholarly readers interested in any aspects of the theory and practice of mindfulness, Buddhist teachings or Pali studies.

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Book SynopsisThe Dhammapada, the Pali version of one of the most popular texts of the Buddhist canon, ranks among the classics of the world''s great religious literature. Like all religious texts in Pali, the Dhammapada belongs to the Therevâda school of the Buddhist tradition, adherents of which are now found primarily in Kampuchea, Laos, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Dhammapada, or ''sayings of the dhamma'', is taken to be a collection of the utterances of the Buddha himself. Taken together, the verses form a key body of teaching within Buddhism, a guiding voice along the struggle-laden path towards true enlightenment, or Nirvana. However, the appeal of these epithets of wisdom extends beyond its religious heritage to a general and universal spirituality. This edition provides an introduction and notes which examine the impact that the text has had within the Buddhist heritage through the centuries. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of lTrade ReviewFar surpasses any previous translation of the Dhammapada in terms of its scope and contextual accuracy. Carter and Palihawadana have not only proivde a fresh English translation of the Pali but a transliteration of the Dhammapada (which makes it eminently useful for students of Pali) and, most impressively, a translation of the exhaustive and extremely commentarial Pali Dhammapadatthakatha....This, then, is a work of wide scholarly magnitude and great philological erudition. * Religious Studies Review *

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Book SynopsisThis easy-to-understand translation of one of the earliest surviving Buddhist texts offers a pathway to awakening that is simple, straightforward, and free of religious doctrine One of the earliest of all Buddhist texts, the Atthakavagga, or “Book of Eights,” is a remarkable document, not only because it comes from the earliest strain of the literature—before the Buddha, as the title suggests, came to be thought of as a “Buddhist”—but also because its approach to awakening is so simple and free of adherence to any kind of ideology. Instead the Atthakavagga points to a direct and simple approach for attaining peace without requiring the adherence to doctrine. The value of the teachings it contains is not in the profundity of their philosophy or in their authority as scripture; rather, the value is found in the results they bring to those who live by them. Instead of doctrines to be believed, the “Book of Eights” describes means or practices for realizing peace. Gil Fronsdal’s rigorous translation with commentary reveals the text to be of interest not only to Buddhists, but also to the ever-growing demographic of spiritual-but-not-religious, who seek a spiritual life outside the structures of religion.

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Book SynopsisColleagues and former students of Gregory Schopen honor his path-breaking contributions to Buddhist studies with these articles on the early Mahayana, the monastic codes, and Buddhism?s art-historical and epigraphical remains.This volume honors the profoundly transformative influence of Gregory Schopen?s many contributions to Buddhist studies. Eighteen articles by former students and colleagues focus on the areas of Schopen?s most noteworthy influence: the study of the Mahayana, particularly of its early sutra literature; the study of Vinaya, especially the narratives accompanying the rules for monks and nuns; and the study of Buddhist epigraphy and art history. Contributors demonstrate the ongoing significance of Schopen?s scholarship, including his very first article, on the cult of the book in the early Mahayana, published fifty years ago. Schopen has repeatedly shown how the study of Buddhism has too often focused on scriptures and normative doctrines and not enough on the practical ideas and contexts that significantly impacted the lives of actual Buddhists. He sought to reveal these lived concerns in the massive trove of Buddhist inscriptions, which often expose the habits and ideas of the tradition?s most prominent donors (many of whom were monastics), as well as the everyday concerns of monks and nuns, whose views did not always dovetail with canonical sources. Even in his treatment of canonical sources, Schopen has shown that the standard portrait of a Buddhist monk or nun fails to match a careful reading of their law codes?his work on the Mulasarvastivada-vinaya has required scholars to substantially reimagine the legal and ritual obligations, as well as the economic concerns, that preoccupied the minds of Buddhist jurists. Schopen has, in essence, brought the Buddha down to earth, revealing that this is precisely where most Indian Buddhists encountered him. The contributions in this celebratory volume reflect this legacy and Schopen?s considerable impact on our understanding of Buddhists in India.

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Book SynopsisThis book addresses the thorny issue regarding the authenticity of the Yulanpen Sūtra, the scriptural source for the Yulanpen Festival or Hungry Ghost Festival in East Asia. The sūtra, which features Mulian (Skr. Maudgalyāyana) adventuring into the Preta realm to rescue his mother, is catalogued in the Chinese Buddhist bibliography with the Indo-Scythian Dharmarakṣa (Ch. Zhu Fahu, ca. 266–308) given as the translator. However, in modern Chinese, Japanese, and Western scholarship, the sūtra is more often than not regarded as a Chinese Buddhist apocryphal scripture and the Mulian myth as an apocryphal story created by Chinese Buddhists to foster the sinicisation and transformation of Indian Buddhism mainly on the grounds that there is no extant Yulanpen Sūtra in Indic sources and that the sūtra stresses Confucian filial piety and ancestor worship. This book challenges these widely held beliefs by demonstrating that filial piety and ancestor worship are not peculiar to Confucian China but also inherent in Indic traditions and that the sūtra is a Chinese creative translation rather than an indigenous Chinese composition.Trade ReviewThe eminent Chinese scholar of Buddhism, Xiaohuan Zhao, once again shows his mastery of the Buddhist canon by tracing the complex movements of this important sutra from India to China. This work provides an important addition for our current understandings of traditional Buddhist religion, literature, art, and history— Thomas Michael, Beijing Normal University, China.This is a most comprehensive attempt at solving the origin of the Yulanpen Sutra. Zhao Xiaohuan had offered us a detailed examination from every angle of this long-lasted controversy and provided a very plausible view of the Indic origin of the Yulanpen Sutra. No future study of this sutra could be done without consulting this book— Mu-chou Poo Visiting Professor Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Adjunct Professor Department of History The Chinese University of Hong Kong Website: http://muchoupoo.wixsite.com/homeTable of ContentsList of Figures; Preface; Author’s Notes; Introduction; 1. Yulanpen Sūtra and Maudgalyāyana; 2. Etymologies of Yulan, Pen and Yulanpen; 3. Yulanpen Sūtra in Chinese Buddhist Catalogues; 4. Yulanpen Sūtra: Apocryphal or Authentic?; Conclusion; Glossary; Bibliography; Index

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Book SynopsisThis beautifully illustrated new edition collects a number of Buddhist devotional rituals and verses. It features a revised translation of the Heart Sutra and enlarged typeface which is ideal for dimly lit rooms. This new edition also includes the traditional Pali and Sanskrit verses as well as English translations. What is a Puja? It is the chanting of devotional mantras and verses which has been performed by Buddhists worldwide for centuries. It is meant to encourage the arising of the Bodhicitta: the desire to seek enlightenment for the sake of all living beings.

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Book SynopsisIn a world of increasingly confused ethics, "Living Ethically" looks back over the centuries for guidance from Nagarjuna, one of the greatest teachers of the Mahayana tradition. Drawing on the themes of Nagarjuna's famous scripture, Precious Garland of Advice for a King, this book explores the relationship between an ethical lifestyle and the development of wisdom. Covering both personal and collective ethics, Sangharakshita considers such enduring themes as pride, power and business, as well as friendship, love and generosity.

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Book SynopsisThe Dhammapada - the Path of Truth - is a beautiful anthology of proverbs and aphorisms, which are considered to be as close to the Buddha's own words as we can ever reach. The work outlines the Buddha's Four Noble Truths: that life is full of suffering, which all of us must accept; that the removal of desire removes suffering; and finally that deliverance might be obtained by following the Noble Eightfold Path. 'If man's faith is unsteady,if he does not know the true law, if his peace of mind is troubled, his knowledge will never be perfect'

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Book SynopsisFollowing in Your Footsteps: The Lotus-Born Guru in India presents the incredible feats of Guru Padmasambhava in the Indian subcontinent. This tantric embodiment of awakening spent hundreds of years training with the greatest masters of India, practicing in charnel grounds, protecting the Dharma, and spreading these marvelous teachings far and wide. The Lotus-Born Guru in India explores the sacred sites where Guru Padmasambhava's activities unfolded. Closely following Orgyen Lingpa's Pema Kathang: The Chronicles of Padmaone of the single most important treasure biographies of Guru Padmasambhavathese narratives are interwoven with rare accounts and visions from realized Tibetan masters such as Jamyang Khyentsé Wangpo, Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa and Jamyang Khyentsé Chökyi Lodrö.The Lotus-Born Guru in India offers a translation of Jamyang Khyentsé Wangpo's summary prayer of the Pema Kathang, along with teachings by the contemporary Tibetan masters Neten Chokling Rinpoché and Phakchok Rinpoché. You will also find a collection of essential supplications and prayersin both English and Tibetanand beautifully rendered paintings to guide and inspire your journey into this miraculous world.The Lotus-Born Guru in India is the second of a three-part series tracing the arc of Guru Padmasambhava's journey across the ages and landscapes of India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. Lhasey Lotsawa has collected some of the most treasured stories from these sacred places, and presents it here as an authentic source of wisdom and inspiration. These books are essential companions for anyone who wishes to truly follow in the footsteps of the Lotus-Born Guru.

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Book SynopsisThis is not a standard translation of Mulamadhyamakakarika. Translator Nishijima Roshi believes that the original translation from Chinese into Sanskrit by the Ven. Kumarajiva (circa 400 C.E.) was faulty and that Kumarajiva''s interpretation has influenced every other translation since. Avoiding reference to any other translations or commentaries, Nishijima Roshi has translated the entire text anew. This edition is, therefore, like no other. An expert in the philosophical works of Dogen Zenji (1200-1254 CE), Nishijima says in his introduction, My own thoughts regarding Buddhism rely solely upon what Master Dogen wrote about the philosophy. So when reading the Mulamadhyamakakarika it is impossible for me not to be influenced by Master Dogen’s Buddhist ideas. Thus this book is heavily and unabashedly influenced by the work of Master Dogen. Working with Brad Warner, Nishijima has produced a highly readable and eminently practical translation and commentary intende

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Book SynopsisThis clearly written text explores the breadth of Buddhist philosophy and its historical unfolding. It considers the basic teachings of the Buddha, and the value of meditation for improving and shaping one's life. This Second Edition includes new chapters on Buddhist ethics and meditative practices for living a flourishing life.Table of ContentsPart I. A Sketch of the Buddha and the Dhamma: 1. The life of Siddhattha Gotama; 2. The contexts for the emergence of Buddhism; 3. The basic teachings of the Buddha; 4. One Buddhism or many Buddhisms?; Part II. Details of the Dhamma; 5. Kamma, Samsara, and rebirth; 6. Interdependent arising; 7. Impermanence, no-enduring-self, and emptiness; 8. Moksa and Nibbana; Part III. Development of the Dhamma/Dharma: 9. Bodhidharma's and Huineng's Buddhisms; 10. Pure Land Buddhism ; 11. Tibetan Buddhism; 12. Two forms of contemporary Buddhism; Part IV. Applications and Assessment of the Dhamma/Dharma: 13. Applied Buddhist Ethics or Engaged Buddhism; 14. Buddhist Epistemology and Buddhist Meditation.

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Book SynopsisA practical guide to Vasubandhu's classic work 'Thirty Verses of Consciousness Only' that can transform modern life and change how you see the world.In this down-to-earth book, Ben Connelly sure-handedly guides us through the intricacies of Yogacara and the richness of the “Thirty Verses.” Dedicating a chapter of the book to each line of the poem, he lets us thoroughly lose ourselves in its depths. His warm and wise voice unpacks and contextualizes its wisdom, showing us how we can apply its ancient insights to our own modern lives, to create a life of engaged peace, harmony, compassion, and joy. In fourth-century India one of the great geniuses of Buddhism, Vasubandhu, sought to reconcile the diverse ideas and forms of Buddhism practiced at the time and demonstrate how they could be effectively integrated into a single system. This was the Yogacara movement, and it continues to have great influence in modern Tibetan and Zen Buddhism. “Thirty Verses on Consciousness Only,” or “Trimshika,” is the most concise, comprehensive, and accessible work by this revered figure. Vasubandhu’s “Thirty Verses” lay out a path of practice that integrates the most powerful of Buddhism’s psychological and mystical possibilities: Early Buddhism’s practices for shedding afflictive emotional habit and the Mahayana emphasis on shedding divisive concepts, the path of individual liberation and the path of freeing all beings, the path to nirvana and the path of enlightenment as the very ground of being right now. Although Yogacara has a reputation for being extremely complex, the “Thirty Verses” distills the principles of these traditions to their most practical forms, and this book follows that sense of focus; it goes to the heart of the matter—how do we alleviate suffering through shedding our emotional knots and our sense of alienation? This is a great introduction to a philosophy, a master, and a work whose influence reverberates throughout modern Buddhism.   

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Book SynopsisThe Heart Essence of the Lady of Immortality or Chime Phakme Nyingtik is the most profound of all the teachings that Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo received through the seven methods of transmission, because not only does it bring about a long life, but a life that is free of obstacles. It also causes wisdom to blossom and is said to have the most blessings. Sublime Lady of Immortality Teachings on Chime Phakme Nyingtik contains the translation of all the texts by the great masters of the Chime Phakme Nyingtik lineage. It contains Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo's answers to questions about the Chime Phakme Nyingtik, Jamgön Kongtrul's Retreat Manual, Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö's practice instructions, and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche's short visualization guide. It also contains the instructions from the oral lineage as taught by Tulku Orgyen Tobgyal in a series of eleven teachings. All these teachings, everything you find in this book, reveal the profound views, powerful meditations, sacred conduct, and ultimate goals of the Vajrayana teachings of Tibetan Buddhism. These teachings represent all the information necessary for practising the Chime Phakme Nyingtik and clarify a number of points that apply to all sadhana practices. So, even if you don't practise the Chime Phakme Nyingtik, you can benefit from reading this book. Orgyen Tobgyal's presentations of kyerim practice based on the Chime Phakme Nyingtik in particular, is packed with practical instructions passed down from the great siddhas of this lineage.

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Book SynopsisThis unique anthology of Buddhist scripture traces the development of Buddhism through the ages and around the world. Designed to serve scholars and students, this classic text has become a valuable resource for Buddhists and all those who wish to explore for themselves the original sources of one of the world’s great religions. Accessible and jargon-free, these translations from the original Pali, Sanskrit, Chinese, Tibetan and Japanese are presented in plain English by four leading experts on the language and literature of Buddhism, while a glossary of foreign terms completes a thoroughly comprehensive and timeless introduction to the subject.Trade Review'The most comprehensive book on Buddhist philosophy down the centuries and around the world one is likely to find." "This source book is one to dip into again and again.' -- Two worlds'A welcome addition to our anthologies; gives wider coverage, perhaps, than any other.' -- Journal of the American Oriental Society

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Book SynopsisThe book presents a comprehensive guide for understanding mindfulness by situating it within the larger Theravada doctrinal framework in a way accessible to contemporary readers. The book will appeal to general and scholarly readers interested in any aspects of the theory and practice of mindfulness, Buddhist teachings or Pali studies.

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Book SynopsisDive into an ocean of Buddhist wisdom with this masterful immersion in Shantideva’s well-known guide to the boundless spirit of the bodhisattva.Shantideva’s Way of the Bodhisattva (Bodhicaryavatara) is without a doubt one of the greatest masterpieces of Indian Buddhism and the single most influential text on Mahayana ethical theory. Since it was composed in the eighth century, it has continuously animated the living tradition—especially in Tibet, but now in the West as well—as more translations have become available. Its poetic evocations of the spirit of awakening allow readers to enter the mind of the bodhisattva. Nineteenth-century master Minyak Kunzang Sonam composed what came to be the most extensive commentary in any language on Shantideva''s masterpiece. This commentary came to be known as the Great Hum because it fills the entirety of the third or hum volume of the author’s collected works. Citing hundreds of sutras, he shows how Shantideva’s verses are beautifully integrated within, and express, the Buddhist textual universe. In particular he ties Shantideva’s verses with the Anthology of Training, the thematic collection of scriptural citations also compiled by Shantideva, creating a detailed tapestry of Mahayana thought and practice. Kunzang Sonam’s commentary on the philosophically rich ninth “Wisdom” chapter was published previously as The Profound Reality of Interdependence, and this volume presents his commentary on the first eight chapters, detailing the generation of the spirit of awakening, the cultivation of positive qualities, and the practice of meditation. Embedded in the commentary is a fresh translation of Shantideva’s verses, making this an unparalleled guide to appreciating their layers of meaning and applying them in one’s practice and life.

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Book SynopsisUtpaladeva on the Power of Action provides the first critical edition, annotated translation, and study of one of the chapters of the Recognition of the Lord, a landmark in the history of nondual Saivism by the Utpaladeva, that were recently recovered from marginal annotations in manuscripts of other commentaries on Utpaladeva's treatise.

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Book Synopsis"The Tibetan Book of the Dead" is the most famous Buddhist text in the West, having sold more than a million copies since it was first published in English in 1927. This title tells the story of how a relatively obscure and malleable collection of Buddhist texts of uncertain origin came to be so revered - and so misunderstood - in the West.Trade Review"A scholarly and informative short read, very useful as a reminder that religious books are not necessarily fixed entities."--James F. DeRoche, Library Journal "The focus of Donald Lopez's ingenious, informative, and engagingly written 'biography' is not so much the original Tibetan text but the pioneering edition and translation first issued in 1927 by the American traveler, scholar, and Theosophist W.Y. Evans-Wentz."--Roger Jackson, Buddhadharma: The Practitioner's Quarterly "The focus of Donald Lopez's ingenious, informative, and engagingly written 'biography' is not so much the original Tibetan text but the pioneering edition and translation first issued in 1927 by the American traveler, scholar, and Theosophist W.Y. Evans-Wentz."--Roger R. Jackson, Buddhadharma "[T]his biography springs to life when Lopez places its subject within the weird tradition of American spiritualism, complete with Madame Blavatsky's acolytes, Ouija boards and memories of exotic past lives."--Miriam Cosic, The Australian "What makes Lopez's biography of Evans-Wentz's book not only amusing (as it unfailingly is) but enlightening is that one suspects he too could have 'chosen any Asian text' that had been ripped from its context and composed a similar story of how meanings, willy-nilly, had attached themselves to it. Having read Lopez's book, we will look afresh at the volumes of unmoored wisdom so many in the West have taken to heart."--David Cozy, Japan Times "The Tibetan Book of the Dead: A Biography is an excellent short introduction to Buddhism, and an intriguing analysis of how ancient texts are used (or invented) to give authority to ideologies."--Heather Shaw, Portland Book Review "Concise and written with Lopez's usual clarity, this short book at times reads like an exciting spiritual detective story as the author methodically takes the reader through the improbable developments that led to the creation of what, in some sense, is a Western creation brought forth from Eastern concepts... Although written for a popular audience, this book should be of interest to all scholars interested in the metamorphosis of Buddhism as the dharma has become transplanted in the West."--George Adams, NovaReligio "Lopez is a good scholar with an engaging style ... and a reader new to the Tibetan Book of the Dead will find this book a reliable and often entertaining introduction to the work and to its Tibetan and Western histories."--Geoffrey Samuel, European Legacy "Although the book addresses a broad and general audience, it is still an excellent scholarly study on the translation and transformation of Tibetan texts into a single English book that eventually became a 'timeless world spiritual classic.' The study is firmly set in the complex trajectories of transcultural encounters and should benefit religious studies scholars from different fields of research. For scholars of American religious history, Buddhism in the West, and contemporary religion in the Euro-American context, the book provides an accessible account of the Buddhist and Tibetan background of the text in question; for scholars from Buddhist and Tibetan studies, the book offers a window to modernist adaptations and interpretations of Buddhist texts in 20th-century America. This slim volume will function well in the undergraduate classroom to demonstrate that religious texts are not timeless and fixed entities... Lopez's narrative biography of The Tibetan Book of the Dead will provide a useful and accessible reading assignment for more specialized classes."--Katja Rakow, Religion "This [is a] magnificent little piece of literary iconoclasm."--Michel Clasquin-Johnson, Relegre-Studies in Religion and ReceptionTable of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Introduction 1 Chapter 1: America 13 Chapter 2: India 30 Chapter 3: T ibet 49 Chapter 4: The World 71 Conclusion 128 Coda 153 Notes 157 Index 171

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Book SynopsisEnduring and accessible advice for living with wisdom and compassion?and meeting the end of life with courage and peace Through countless editions and across centuries, The Tibetan Book of the Dead has drawn readers intrigued by the Tibetan Buddhist view of the end of life. In a world that often ignores death or hides it from view, Tibetan Buddhists acknowledge it as the last of a countless series of endings in this lifetime. And after each ending comes a new beginning. The Tibetan Book of the Dead for Beginners draws on this timeless wisdom to help readers today live with more joy and approach the end with more ease. Lama Lhanang Rinpoche, born and raised in Tibet and now teaching in the United States and internationally, partners with student and meditation teacher Mordy Levine to share teachings inspired by The Tibetan Book of the Dead. They make clear that "how we live is how we will die." The book explores karma, impermanence, the bardos (or the "in-between"), and what happens next, sharing accessible practices to cultivate wisdom and compassion along the way. With empathy and warmth, Lama Lhanang and Levine offer support for readers grappling with their own mortality and those caring for loved ones transitioning from this lifetime. The Tibetan Book of the Dead for Beginners helps readers cultivate courage and embrace the unknown?not just in the final days, but every day.

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Book SynopsisAs mindfulness is increasingly being embraced in the contemporary world as a practice that brings peace and self-awareness, Bhikkhu Analayo casts fresh light on its earliest sources in the Buddhist tradition.Trade Review"In this new book, Analayo builds on his earlier ground-breaking work, Satipaṭṭhana: The Direct Path to Realization. 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 Spirit Rock Meditation 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, co-founder, Insight Meditation Society, Barre, MA

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Book SynopsisThis book serves as an accessible and reliable survey for students wishing to gain familiarity with the basic ideas of Buddhist philosophical and religious thought, and with some of the recent research in the field. It guides readers towards a richer understanding of the central concepts of classical Indian Buddhist thought, from the time of Buddha to the latest scholarly perspectives and controversies. Abstract and complex ideas are made understandable by the authors' clear and engaging style. The second edition has been fully revised in light of new scholarship, in particular on MahÄyÄna Buddhism and Tantric Buddhism, an often neglected and inadequately understood topic. As well as a detailed bibliography this authoritative resource now includes recommended further reading, study questions, a pronunciation guide and extensive glossary of terms, all aimed at helping students to develop their knowledge and appreciation of Buddhist thought.Trade Review"I know of no more lucid expositor of Indian or Buddhist philosophy ... Though there is no shortage of introductions to Buddhism on the market, I found this one compelling reading ... I shall recommend this lively and authoritative volume to all my students."– Richard Gombrich, University of Oxford, UKPraise for the first edition:'I know of no more lucid expositor of Indian or Buddhist philosophy ... Though there is no shortage of introductions to Buddhism on the market, I found this one compelling reading ... I shall recommend this lively and authoritative volume to all my students.' - Richard Gombrich, Balliol College, Oxford'I would thoroughly recommend this book as an introduction for anyone trying to understand the rich variety of Buddhist thought on the fundamental question of existence.' - Denise Cush, Bath Spa University College'Although aimed at students, the book is ideal for the general reader.' - Network'The strength of the book is the clarity of its presentation and the quality and breadth of the scholarship behind it ... It will be stimulating reading to anyone a little bewildered by the wealth and variety of Buddhist texts and practices ... It deserves to enter many a reading list.' - Reviews in Religion and TheologyTable of Contents1. The Doctrinal Position of the Buddha in Context 2. Mainstream Buddhism: The Basic Thought of the Buddha 3. The Nature and Origins of Mahayana Buddhism 4. Some Schools of Mainstream Buddhist Thought 5. Mahayana Philosophy 6. The Buddha in Mahayana Buddhist 7. Mantranaya/ Vajrayana – Tantric Buddhism in India

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