Buddhism Books

Book SynopsisThis book contemplates current crises guided by a core Buddhist teaching: the roots of deepest suffering lie in what we grasp most tightly. Thus, tightly held ideas from 'the enlightenment' - rationality, individuality, equality and secularity - are considered as sources of suffering: technocracy, broken politics and 'moral acrimony'. Freedom lies not in accepting or rejecting these views, but in seeing where they've become dogmas, feeding cultural addiction to certainty and control. Liam Kavanagh is an embodied cognitive scientist, deeply influenced by Zen, who directs research at Life Itself, a community of people for a wiser, weller world. Past work in development economics convinced him that recognising and unlearning ideology is the most important step towards imagining futures worth creating. He helps create opportunities for this by organising residential learning communities, dialogues between Science and Zen, and contemplative activist groups.Trade Review‘In this important and timely book, dense with insight, Liam succeeds where many others have failed, to not only accurately diagnose the root causes of the brokenness that so many of us intuit at the heart of Western scientific materialism, but to indicate the path towards a remedy. Courageously and compassionately teasing apart the roots of our attachments to reason, individuality and equality – notions we would often prefer to take as read, so painful are they to explore – Liam skilfully navigates the reefs and shoals of our reactivity, creating a space for real understanding and a new turning of the wheel of cultural evolution. In this work, Liam models the solution he proposes, by drawing in equal measure on wisdom arising from his own direct, first person meditative investigation, balanced by intellectual rigour and a thorough grasp of developments in neuroscience, psychology and the history and philosophy of science’ -- Brother Phap Linh, Dharma Teacher, Plum Village Zen Monastery‘This is a brave and important book for our time, a time when we direly need to find the wisdom to overcome such identities and divisions, and find each other, freely and together’ -- Professor Rupert Read, former UK national spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion and author of Wittgenstein’s Liberatory Philosophy

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn the teaching of the Buddha, the practice of giving claims a place of special eminence, one that singles it out as being in a sense the foundation and seed of spiritual development. This publication was compiled by Bhikkhu Bodhi to explore this cardinal Buddhist virtue in greater depth by featuring essays in which four modern writers (Elbaum-Jootla, de Silva, Walshe, and van Gorkom) and a classical commentator (Acariya Dhammapala) set forth their understanding of giving and its relation to the wider body of Dhamma practice.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTeacher of the Devas: Buddha''s Relationship with the Gods is a 68-page paperback authored by S. Elbaum Jootla and published by the Buddhist Publication Society in Sri Lanka on September 7, 1998. The book delves into the interactions between the Buddha and various deities (devas) within Buddhist tradition, exploring how these relationships illustrate the Buddha''s teachings and his role as a spiritual guide. It offers insights into the significance of these divine encounters in understanding Buddhist philosophy and practice.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA shorter and less technical treatment of its subject than the author’s acclaimed Buddhism As Philosophy (second edition, Hackett, 2021), Mark Siderits's The Buddha’s Teachings As Philosophy explores three different systems of thought that arose from core claims of the Buddha. By detailing and critically examining key arguments made by the Buddha and developed by later Buddhist philosophers, Siderits investigates the Buddha's teachings as philosophy: a set of claims—in this case, claims about the nature of the world and our place in it—supported by rational argumentation and, here, developed with a variety of systematic results. The Buddha’s Teachings As Philosophy will be especially useful to students of philosophy, religious studies, and comparative religion—to anyone, in fact, encountering Buddhist philosophy for the first time.Trade Review"The philosopher Vasubandhu described the Buddha's teaching as an immaculate path of reasons. There are few who know every twist and turn of this path as well as Mark Siderits, and this book is the perfect guide for those starting out on their way."—Sonam Kachru, University of Virginia"This intriguing yet accessible text critically examines Buddhist perspectives on central issues in metaphysics, ethics, and soteriology. It is an excellent choice for classes on Buddhist philosophy, non-Western philosophy, philosophy of religion, and introductions to philosophy."—Kris McDaniel, University of Notre Dame"Fantastic! Mark Siderits' Buddha’s Teachings as Philosophy is a lively but rigorous introduction to Buddhism's philosophical foundations and provides a glimpse of later interpretations of the Buddha's teachings. Siderits explains Buddhist ideas in such an accessible way that virtually no attentive student could fail to understand." –Geoffrey Bagwell, Spokane Community College

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat is an unofficial Buddhist? Someone whose monastery is their living room! This book explores Buddhist-inspired teaching and practice for today''s secular world - but outside the monastic traditions of Buddhism. The Unofficial Buddhist seeks to find a middle way between ancient and modern worldviews, religious and secular approaches, and Asian and western cultural attitudes. Drawing on traditional Theravada and modern Zen sources, it suggests practical ways of engaging with the Buddha''s ancient path of morality and meditation, leading towards the wisdom of awakening. Western Buddhists often practise with friends or alone. Perhaps they have no local Buddhist centre, or haven''t found those nearby appealing - or they''re wary of organized religion in general. These ''unofficial Buddhists'' have been called Buddhism''s ''new pioneers'', exploring the inner territory of how to practise the Buddha''s teaching in the modern world. In both Europe and North America, they''re probably more numerous than any of the traditional groups. So if you have been practising Buddhism without finding a local centre where you feel comfortable - or if you are outside Buddhism, but looking in with interest - you are probably an unofficial Buddhist yourself. If so, this book is for you.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"The diversity of source material (combined with the alphabetical arrangement) provides for unexpected and sometimes delightful juxtapositions: entries from the Kama Sutra sit alongside Buddhist instructions for charnel ground meditations, and the sublime attitudes of the brahma-viharas are sandwiched between the malicious and the macabre. . . . Being fully aware of one’s own emotional experience is a wonder, a miracle. In this light, Words for the Heart offers the reader 177 entry points to wonder."---Sarah Fleming, Tricycle"An homage to the Sanskrit tradition. . . . A good sample of Sanskrit literature and philosophy that will, I am sure, whet many appetites for more writings from and about classical India."---Sophus Helle, Marginalia Review of Books

Read more less

Book SynopsisUntil its recent political thaw, Burma was closed to most foreign researchers, and fieldwork-based research was rare. In The Traffic in Hierarchy, one of the few such works to appear in recent years, author Ward Keeler combines close ethnographic attention to life in a Buddhist monastery with a broad analysis of Burman gender ideology.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA comprehensive and theory-rich investigation of the history and philosophy of yoga, from its Indian origins to the contemporary context.Clear, accessible, and meticulously annotated, Tracing the Path of Yoga offers a comprehensive survey of the history and philosophy of yoga that will be invaluable to both specialists and to nonspecialists seeking a deeper understanding of this fascinating subject. Stuart Ray Sarbacker argues that yoga can be understood first and foremost as a discipline of mind and body that is represented in its narrative and philosophical literature as resulting in both numinous and cessative accomplishments that correspond, respectively, to the attainment of this-worldly power and otherworldly liberation. Sarbacker demonstrates how the yogic quest for perfection as such is situated within the concrete realities of human life, intersecting with issues of politics, economics, class, gender, and sexuality, as well as reflecting larger Indic religious and philosophical ideals.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Mahanidana Sutta is a key discourse on dependent arising in Buddhism, emphasizing its depth and importance. Ananda challenges its complexity, leading to a profound teaching by the Buddha. This book includes the sutta's translation, commentary passages, and philosophical discussions on the topic.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMany books have been published in recent years on the topic of mahamudra, or meditation on the fundamentally clear nature of the mind. This book is different in the systematic way it draws from a variety of source texts in order to construct a complete, graded path of practice informed by an understanding of the particular obstacles faced by meditators in the West. Dan Brown is a clinical psychotherapist who has also spent much time evaluating the experiences of meditators on longterm retreats. He knows the Tibetan literature on mahamudra meditation and has over thirty years of both personal meditation experience and observation of the experiences of others. He co-wrote, with Ken Wilber and Jack Engler, the book Transformations in Consciousness, and he teaches an annual seminar on mahamudra meditation at the Esalen Institute. Pointing Out the Great Way is a spiritual manual that describes the Tibetan Buddhist meditation known as mahamudra from the perspective of t

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisCrossing continents and running across centuries, Key Concepts in World Philosophies brings together the 45 core ideas associated with major Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Islamic, African, Ancient Greek, Indigenous and modern European philosophers. The universal theme of self-cultivation and transformation connects each concept. Each one seeks to change our understanding the world or the life we are living. From Chinese xin and karma in Buddhist traditions to okwu in African philosophy, equity in Islamic thought and the good life in Aztec philosophy, an international team of philosophers cover a diverse set of ideas and theories originating from thinkers such as Confucius, Buddha, Dogen, Nezahualcoyotl, Nietzsche and Zhuangzi. Organised around the major themes of knowledge, metaphysics and aesthetics, each short chapter provides an introductory overview supported by a glossary. This is a one-of-a-kind toolkit that allows you to read philosophical texts from all overTrade ReviewThis is a brilliantly conceived volume, aimed at encouraging recognition of the diversity of philosophical ideas across the various world traditions. Dipping into just a few of the chapters should convince anyone that there are no grounds whatsoever for philosophers to ignore key ideas outside their own cultural traditions. * Michael Beaney, Regius Professor of Logic, University of Aberdeen, UK, and Professor of History of Analytic Philosophy, Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany *Can there be a better way to "take the world as the world" in philosophy than recruiting a cadre of the very best scholars across the subfields of global philosophy with each writing a substantial piece on a concept usually associated with their own careers? Sarah Flavel and Chiara Robbiano at the helm of this great ship are indeed taking world philosophy towards the boundless horizon of Nietzsche's open sea. * Roger T. Ames, Humanities Chair Professor, Peking University, China *Contemporary Anglo-European philosophy often appears to be nothing but a temple to the achievements of dead white men. Key Concepts in World Philosophies, by Sarah Flavel and Chiara Robbiano, is a powerful antidote to philosophical ethnocentrism. This anthology is like a philosophical box of chocolates, with wide selections of delicious, "bite-sized" chapters that broaden our philosophical horizons and expand our conceptual toolkits. It is useful for both the timid beginner and the jaded cosmopolitan. * Bryan W. Van Norden, James Monroe Taylor Chair in Philosophy, Vassar College, USA *Table of ContentsList of Contributors Preface “A Note on the “Key-Concepts” Approach and Diversification of Philosophical Curricula”, Sarah Flavel Acknowledgments Introduction, “Valuing diversity”, Chiara Robbiano Part I: How We Acquire Knowledge about Ourselves and Reality 1. Action and Praxis, Jin Y. Park 2. Africa, Delphine Abadie 3. Ataraxia, Frans A.J. de Haas 4. Continuous Inquiry, Chiara Robbiano 5. Emptiness, Jason M. Wirth 6. Epistemic Decolonization of Culture, Omar Rivera 7. Ezumezu, Jonathan O Chimakonam 8. Gewu (Investigation of Things), Xiao Ouyang 9. “I” as the Absolute Present, Yoko Arisaka 10. Intellectual Non-Harming and Epistemic Friction, Anand Vaidya 11. Karma, Peter D. Hershock 12. Nature, Marzenna Jakubczak 13. Perspectival Agility, Sarah Flavel and Brad Hall 14. Relational Knowing, Monika Kirloskar-Steinbach 15. Relegational Arguments, Andrew K. Whitehead 16. Science Fiction in/as Philosophy, Ethan Mills 17. Shinjin Gakudô (Studying the Way with Body and Mind), Bret W. Davis 18. Shinjin-datsuraku (dropping the bodymind), Rein Raud 19. Prasanga Method, Ethan Mills 20. Unconditioned, Russell Re Manning 21. Vital Force, Pius M. Mosima 22. Zhi (Knowing), Aaron Creller Part II: How We Cultivate Ourselves and Relate to Others 23. Double movement, Evgenia Ilieva 24. Duhkha (suffering), Stephen E. Harris 25. Equality, Hadeer Aboelnagah 26. I-Thou Relation, Michiko Yusa 27. Moral Responsiveness, Jay L. Garfield 28. Nepantla, James Maffie 29. Self-Cultivation and Political Power, Leah Kalmanson 30. The Good Life, Sebastian Purcell 31. Ubuntu/Botho, Michael Onyebuchi Eze 32. Ujamaa, Edwin Etieyibo 33. Wu wei, Yuan Zhang and Douglas L. Berger 34. Xin (Heart-mind), Dascha Düring Part III: How We Express Ourselves 35. Concreteness, Paul Ziche 36. Conversationalism, Aribiah David Attoe 37. Creativity, Kiene Brillenburg Wurth 38. Diversity in Philosophy, Purushottama Bilimoria & Agnieszka Rostalska 39. Dôtoku (Expression), Gereon Kopf 40. Embodied Practice, John C. Maraldo 41. Kata, Enrico Fongaro 42. Li (Ritual), Geir Sigurðsson 43. Noh Theater Mask, Mayuko Uehara 44. Okwu, Jonathan O Chimakonam 45. Tôjisha kenkyû (participant-led research), Saku Hara Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisDescribes the stages of the Bodhisattva path from the very beginning right up to full and perfect enlightenment, following the teaching tradition of the great early Kadampas, expounding the ten stages of practice.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Tibetan Buddhist master shares his commentary on Santideva''s Way of the Bodhisattva, illuminating the path to enlightenment and the meaning of true compassion What would be the practical implications of caring more about others than about yourself? This is the radical theme of this extraordinary set of instructions, a training manual composed in the fourteenth century by the Buddhist hermit Ngulchu Thogme, here explained in detail by one of the great Tibetan Buddhist masters of the twentieth century, Dilgo Khyentse. In the Mahayana tradition, those who have the courage to undertake the profound change of attitude required to develop true compassion are called bodhisattvas. Their great resolve—to consider others’ needs as paramount, and thus to attain enlightenment for the sake of all living creatures—carries them beyond the limits imposed by the illusions of “I” and “mine,” culminating in the direct realization of reality, transcending dualistic notions of self and other. This classic text presents ways that we can work with our own hearts and minds, starting wherever we find ourselves now, to unravel our small-minded preoccupations and discover our own potential for compassion, love, and wisdom. Many generations of Buddhist practitioners have been inspired by these teachings, and the great masters of all traditions have written numerous commentaries. Dilgo Khyentse’s commentary is probably his most extensive recorded teaching on Mahayana practice.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis textbook introduces and explores the ideas, practices and philosophy of engaged Buddhism. The movement holds that suffering is not just caused by the cravings of the mind, but also by political and social factors; therefore, engaged Buddhists engage' with social issues to achieve liberation. Paul Fuller outlines the movement''s origins and principles. He then offers a comprehensive analysis of the central themes and issues of engaged Buddhism, offering new insights into the formation of modern Buddhism. The range of issues covered includes politics, gender, environmentalism, identity, blasphemy and violence. These are illustrated by case studies and examples from a range of locations where Buddhism is practised. Discussion points and suggested further reading are provided at the end of each chapter, which will further enrich undergraduates'' grasp of the topic.Trade ReviewIn this timely text, Paul Fuller updates and revitalizes scholarship on the increasing proliferation of engaged Buddhist expressions across a global landscape. In addition to illuminating key themes, he advances the category beyond its normative liberal and progressive boundaries by arguing persuasively that ethnocentric forms of Buddhism are also engaged. Compelling and clearly written, An Introduction to Engaged Buddhism is a must-read for both scholars and practitioners of Engaged Buddhism. * Ann Gleig, Associate Professor of Religion and Cultural Studies, University of Central Florida, USA *Paul Fuller articulates a broad definition of Engaged Buddhism, one that moves away from the assumption that Engaged Buddhist movements are always liberal/progressive and nonviolent. This more expansive definition represents a vital and needed development in the field. * Amy Langenberg, Associate Professor of Religion, Eckerd College, USA *Table of ContentsList of Figures Acknowledgements Abbreviations 1. Introduction: Engaged Buddhism 2. The Foundations of Engaged Buddhism 3. Beyond Belief: The Danger of Attachment to Views in Engaged Buddhism 4. Dismantling Metaphysics: Nirvana, Rebirth, and Interdependence 5. Left, Right and the Middle-Way: Engaged Buddhism and Politics 6. Eco-Engaged Buddhism 7. Suffering, Sexuality and Gender 8. Ethnocentric Engaged Buddhism 9. Buddhism on the Edge, Buddhists Offended: Engaged Buddhism and Blasphemy 10. Conclusion: All Buddhism is Engaged? Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisIndia has a long, rich, and diverse tradition of philosophical thought, spanning some two and a half millennia and encompassing several major religious traditions.This Very Short Introduction emphasizes the diversity of Indian thought, and is structured around six schools which have achieved classic status. Sue Hamilton explores how the traditions have attempted to understand the nature of reality in terms of an inner or spiritual quest, and introduces distinctively Indian concepts such as karma and rebirth. She also shows how Indian thinkers have understood issues of reality and knowledge -- issues which are also an important part of the Western philosophical tradition. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewIndian Philosophy by Sue Hamilton, the perfect gift for anyone who wishes to sort out their karma and nirvana * The Independent Weekend Review 02/06/01 *Table of ContentsPreface ; Introduction ; 1. The Brahmanical beginnings: Vedic sacrifice and the early Upanisads ; 2. Beyond Brahmanism: the Buddha and other renouncers ; 3. Issues and justifications: language, grammar, and the emerging of polemics ; 4. Nyaya and Vaisesika ; 5. Developments in Buddhist thought: Abhidharma, Madhyamaka, and Yogicara ; 6. Yoga and Samkhya ; 7. Grammar again, and the exegetical traditions: Bhartrhari, Mimamsa, and Vedanta ; Further reading ; Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisPresenting a history of the contradictory, often militaristic, role of Zen Buddhism, this book documents the unknown support of a supposedly peaceful religion for Japanese militarism throughout World War II. It draws on the writings and speeches of leading Zen masters and scholars.Trade ReviewPraise for the first edition: Zen at War is a wake-up call for all Buddhists. Victoria has shown in a passionate and well documented way that Buddhism is not immune to the kind of distortions that have been used throughout human history by virtually all of the world's religions to justify so-called holy war.... -- John Daido Loori, Roshi, Abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery; author of The Heart of Being: Moral and Ethical Teachings of Zen BuddhismPraise for the first edition: In this carefully documented study, Brian Victoria discloses the incredible intellectual dishonesty of Japanese Buddhists who perverted their religion into a jingoistic doctrine of support for the emperor and imperial expansion during the period 1868-1945. Good job! We must face this dark side of our heritage squarely.... -- Robert Aitken, retired Roshi, Honolulu Diamond SanghaZen at War is an incendiary book and an essential cautionary tale for anyone wanting to apply Buddhist teachings. Brian Victoria is a genuinely radical historian who asks followers of Zen–and by extension all Buddhists–to look beyond the pristine, other-worldly image the tradition has presented and understand the deep compromises that came from its relationship with power. Much more than an exposé, Zen at War challenges Buddhists to think through the ethical consequences of venerated doctrines and examine them in light of the Buddha’s original teaching. Despite the efforts of some Zen apologists to minimize the significance of Brian Victoria’s findings, the first edition lit a fire under Zen and the new edition adds fuel by extending the book’s critique back into Buddhist history. It is an important contribution to western Buddhism. -- Vishvapani, editor of Dharma Life magazineAn important and well-written work . . . This new edition significantly expands the text . . . Especially important is Victoria's well-documented contention that Buddhist involvement with buttressing political establishments is not new but can be traced to the time of King Ashoka in ancient India. . . Finally the author calls all Buddhists to thoughtful consideration and repudiation of "Nation-Protecting Buddhism" as a betrayal of the essential teachings . . . Recommended. * CHOICE *Victoria's extensive research- along with translations of lengthy quotations- substantially adds to our knowledge of the relationship between Buddhism and Japanese nationalism and imperialism....the content is often very interesting... * Journal of Asian Studies *Praise for the first edition: Zen at War is a stunning contribution to our understanding of Japanese militarism and the broader issue of war responsibility as it continues to be addressed (and ignored) in contemporary Japan. Victoria's great sensitivity to the perversion and betrayal of Buddhism's teachings about compassion and nonviolence makes his indictment of the role played by Imperial War Buddhists in promoting ultranationalism and aggression all the more striking—and all the more saddening. -- John Dower, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; author of War Without Mercy: Race and Power in the Pacific WarPraise for the first edition: Zen at War is a wake-up call for all Buddhists. Victoria has shown in a passionate and well documented way that Buddhism is not immune to the kind of distortions that have been used throughout human history by virtually all of the world's religions to justify so-called holy war. -- John Daido Loori, Roshi, Abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery; author of The Heart of Being: Moral and Ethical Teachings of Zen BuddhismPraise for the first edition: In this carefully documented study, Brian Victoria discloses the incredible intellectual dishonesty of Japanese Buddhists who perverted their religion into a jingoistic doctrine of support for the emperor and imperial expansion during the period 1868-1945. Good job! We must face this dark side of our heritage squarely. -- Robert Aitken, retired Roshi, Honolulu Diamond SanghaTable of ContentsPart 1 THE MEIJI RESTORATION OF 1868 AND BUDDHISM Chapter 2 The Attempted Suppression of Buddhism Chapter 3 Early Buddhist Social Ferment Chapter 4 Uchiyama Gudo: Radical Soto Zen Priest Chapter 5 Institutional Buddhism's Rejection of Progressive Social Action Part 6 JAPANESE MILITARISM AND BUDDHISM Chapter 7 The Incorporation of Buddhism into the Japanese War Machine (1913-30) Chapter 8 Buddhist Resistance to Japanese Militarism Chapter 9 The Emergence of Imperial-Way Buddhism Chapter 10 The Emergence of Imperial-State Zen and Soldier Zen Chapter 11 Other Zen Masters and Scholars in the War Effort Part 12 POSTWAR TRENDS Chapter 13 The Postwar Japanese Responses to Imperial-Way Buddhism, Imperial-State Zen, and Soldier Zen Chapter 14 Corporate Zen in Postwar Japan Chapter 15 Was It Buddhism?

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisEver since the Buddha's lifetime, people have been trying to express the ultimate meaning of Buddhism in a form that makes rational sense. This book offers a guide to texts that seem to express the goal and justification for Buddhist practice in a breath of nonsense, a touch of Lewis Carroll.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book provides an outline of the Buddhist shunyata principle (the inherent emptiness of all phenomena), and presents a Western philosophical base by which to logically support its integration into the western mind-set. Buddhist and Western philosophy is surprisingly compatible. Buddhist Existentialism outlines the influence of Existentialists, such as Nietzsche and Kierkegaard, and introduces us to the ideas of the Madhyamaka school of Buddhist thought.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Textbook in Classical Tibetan is the first comprehensive course book in the Classical Tibetan language written in English. The textbook describes the grammar of pre-16th-century Classical Tibetan works for beginners and students of intermediate level. It is intended to cover the most essential topics that can be mastered within two semesters of an academic class. Classical Tibetan is a written Middle Tibetan language that has been in use in Tibet from the 9th century. Until the early 20th century it served all purposes, from administrative, to medical, to religious. Nowadays Classical Tibetan remains an important part of religious identity and services for communities also outside of cultural Tibet, foremost in India, Nepal, and Bhutan, but also elsewhere, most importantly in Europe, North America and Australia.The main body of the textbook consists of an introduction to the Tibetan script, eighteen lessons, and a reading section. Each lesson elucidates several grammatical Table of ContentsAcknowledgementsIntroductionStructure of the textbookLanguage historyTibetic languages and their genetic affiliationGeographic distribution of Tibetic languagesCharacterisation of Tibetic languagesTibetic languages in diachronyWritten vs spoken Tibetic languagesClassical TibetanTibetan scriptHistoryThe scriptSyllableNumbersPunctuation marksWord order in dictionariesTibetan transliteration of Indian scriptsLesson 1WordTibetan as an agglutinative languageParticles. An overviewNounAdjectiveDemonstrativeIndefinite particleNoun phraseGrammatical caseExerciseWord listLesson 2Word order in a clauseAbsolutiveCopula ཡིན་ and its negation མིན་NumberPersonal pronounsExerciseWord listLesson 3LocativeDativeCopula ཡོད་ and its negation མེད་GenitivePossessive pronounsFinal particle འོ་ExerciseWord listLesson 4Tibetan verbs. An overviewIntransitive verbsTerminative caseExerciseWord listLesson 5Transitive verbsTibetan as an ergative languageErgativeComitativeTranslation of clausesExerciseWord listLesson 6ElativeDelativeNegationImperativeProhibitiveExerciseWord listLesson 7Nominal particlesཔ་ ~ བ་ particleཔ་ particleཔོ་ ~ བོ་ particleཔོ་ particleམ་ particleམོ་ particleཀ་ ~ ཁ་ ~ ག་ particleཀོ་ particleGeneral remarksExerciseWord listLesson 8ConverbsCoordinative particleNon-controllable transitive verbsSpeech registerAdverbsExerciseWord listLesson 9Gerundial particleFocus particleDiminutive particleAppositionExerciseWord listLesson 10Concessive particlePostpositions and postpositional phrasesPossessive particle ཅན་Adjectives ལྡན་ and བཅས་ExerciseWord listLesson 11QuestionsNominalisationRelative clausesExerciseWord listLesson 12Case converbsVerb + case particleVerb + པ་/ བ་ + case particleReadingLesson 13Direct speechIndirect speechInterjectionsCompoundsModal verbsCausative verb འཇུག་ReadingLesson 14PassivePossessive attributesComplex attributesEllipsisOmission of coreferential argumentsImpersonal clauseOther pronounsReadingLesson 15Morphology of transitive and intransitive verbsOther converbial particlesLight verbsIncorporationIdiomsMeasure words Comparative and superlativeDouble case particlesErgative in quotationsReadingLesson 16Auxiliary particle ཀྱིན་Analytical verb constructionsConcessive auxiliary རུང་Purposive particle རྒྱུ་ReadingLesson 17Clause chainingDeterminersReduplicationNumeralsReadingLesson 18Impact of Sanskrit on Classical TibetanMetricsReadingReadingsReading I: Householder Dbyig-pa-čanReading II: The descent of Tibetan people from a monkey and a rock-ogressReading III: The death of Mi-la Ras-pa’s fatherReading IV: A Treasury of Aphoristic JewelsTranslations of exercises and readingsExercisesReadingsLinguistic glossaryAppendicesAppendix A: Writing instructionsAppendix B: Transliteration systems. A comparative tableAppendix C: Combinations of sub-, pre-, and superscripts with base lettersAppendix D: ParticlesAppendix E: Semantics of converbial particlesAppendix F: Analytical verb constructionsAppendix G: Syntactic structuresGlossarySymbols and AbbreviationsSiglaReferencesSubject index

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis textbook uses modern approaches and tools to teach Sanskrit, introducing readers early on to annotated original passages. It requires no prior knowledge of linguistics or ancient languages, and clearly explains underlying structures and systems to facilitate memorisation. A dedicated website provides numerous resources for further practise.Trade Review'… a fresh and engaging approach … which takes the learner's concerns fully into account. Full of sage practical advice while maintaining rigorous instructional standards.' Paul Dundas, University of Edinburgh'[An] excellent introduction to Sanskrit, making the language accessible to the beginner but informed of the latest research.' James Clackson, University of Cambridge'[The] clarity and simplicity of the explanations make the book very well suited for self-study …; well designed for use by students with no prior acquaintance with South Asia, or with other classical languages …' Lawrence McCrea, Cornell UniversityTable of ContentsAcknowledgements; Studying Sanskrit; List of abbreviations; Notes for the reader; 1. Writing Sanskrit; 2. The system of Sanskrit sounds; 2a. Word stress: heavy and light syllables; 3. Road maps: verbs; 4. The present tense; 5. Road map: nominals; 6. a-stems; 7. Vowel gradation and why we need to know about it; 8. Absolutives, ta-participle and infinitives; introduction to internal sandhi; 9. ā-stems; 10. Prepositions and preverbs; 11. Introduction to external sandhi I: consonant sandhi; 12. Imperfect indicative and present potential; 13. ī- and ū-stems; sandhi II: visarga sandhi; 14. Compound nouns; 15. Consonant stems I; 16. Sandhi III: vowel sandhi; 17. Noun formation; 18. Athematic verbs I; 19. Athematic verbs II; 20. Introduction to pronouns; pronouns I; 21. The future tense; middle and passive voice; 22. More participles; pronouns II; 23. Relative and correlative clauses; 24. Consonant stems II; imperatives; 25. Noun stems gradation; consonant stems III; 26. i- and u-stems; 27. The perfect tense I: regular perfect formation; 28. The perfect tense II: irregular and unexpected forms; 29. ṛ-stems, n-stems; the periphrastic future; 30. Secondary middle endings I: thematic verbs; 31. Secondary middle endings II: athematic verbs; 32. Pronouns III: 1st- and 2nd-person pronouns; 33. Desideratives and gerundives; 34. The periphrastic perfect; ta-participles ending in -na; 35. Perfect participles; more comparatives; 36. Absolute constructions; pronouns IV; 37. Numerals; 38. Aorists; 39. Pronouns V: asau/adas-; 40. Some irregular nouns; Appendices: Appendix 1. Devanāgarī practice handouts; Appendix 2. Background; Appendix 3. Reference; Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis Element offers a brief overview of Buddhist thought and modern scholarly approaches to its diverse forms of moral reflection. It then explores two of the most prominent philosophers from the main strands of the Indian Buddhist tradition Buddhaghosa and Santideva in a comparative fashion.Trade Review'This book makes an important contribution to the study of Buddhist ethics, as well as Buddhaghosa and Śāntideva studies, and I anticipate it will be much appreciated by students and professionals interested in a short but deep dive into Buddhist ethics.' Emily McRae, Journal of Buddhist Ethics'… a most relevant contribution to a central subject that deserves to attract more scholarly attention, the book is recommended to all who are working on the political and military history of the fourth century BC.' Sabine Müller, Global Military Studies Review'This concise and informative book reveals the diversity (or even disagreement to some degree) of the notion of morality within Buddhism rather than a generalized theory called 'Buddhist ethics'.' Huỳnh Cao Nhựt Quang, Religious Studies ReviewTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Buddhaghosa and the analysis of moral experience and development; 3. Śāntideva and an ethic of radical compassion; 4. Conclusions; References.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBeckett and Buddhism undertakes a twenty-first-century reassessment of the Buddhist resonances in Samuel Beckett''s writing. These reverberations, as Angela Moorjani demonstrates, originated in his early reading of Schopenhauer. Drawing on letters and archives along with recent studies of Buddhist thought and Schopenhauer''s knowledge of it, the book charts the Buddhist concepts circling through Beckett''s visions of the ''human predicament'' in a blend of tears and laughter. Moorjani offers an in-depth elucidation of texts that are shown to intersect with the negative and paradoxical path of the Buddha, which she sets in dialogue with Western thinking. She brings further perspectives from cognitive philosophy and science to bear on creative emptiness, the illusory ''I'', and Beckett''s probing of the writing process. Readers will benefit from this far-reaching study of one of the most acclaimed writers of the twentieth century who explored uncharted topologies in his fiction, theatre,Trade Review'Readers interested in the transmission of Eastern thought in modernist texts will find this exploration of the congruence of Beckett's texts with Buddhist thought useful and informative … Recommended.' J. S. Baggett, Choice Connect'Moorjani is a scholar doing a scholar's work, and the results are exhilarating' Jean-Michel Rabaté, University of Pennsylvania'… the study [goes] a long way toward illuminating things that have previously and notoriously puzzled readers of Beckett, from the paradoxical style to the seeming pessimism that pervades his works. … Moorjani's study deserves to be known to readers not only in twentieth-century literary studies but also in world literature, comparative literature, and beyond.' Lidan Lin, Modern Language Quarterly'… this impressive monograph not only continues Moorjani's long career of path-breaking contributions to Beckett studies, but it achieves a mastery of material and persuasiveness of exposition that few researchers can ever hope to attain.' Douglas Atkinson, The Beckett CircleTable of ContentsIntroduction: Buddhism, Schopenhauer, Beckett: Influence Affinity, Relay?; 1. Schopenhauer's Buddhism Revisited: Recent Archival Evidence; 2. East-West Dialogue via Schopenhauer; 3. Buddhist and Mystic Threads in the Early Fiction; 4. Beckett's Paradoxical Logic through Buddhist and Western Lenses; 5. The Coincidence of Contraries and Noh Drama; 6. The No-Self Staged and Voices from Elsewhere; 7. Rebirth and the Buddhist Unborn in the Fiction and Drama; 8. Dreaming 'all away' in the Final Texts.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book revisits the early systemic formation of meditation practices called yoga' in South Asia by employing metaphor theory. Karen O'Brien-Kop also develops an alternative way of analysing the reception history of yoga that aims to decentre the Eurocentric and imperialist enterprises of the nineteenth-century to reframe the cultural period of the 1st 5th centuries CE using categorical markers from South Asian intellectual history. Buddhist traditions were just as concerned as Hindu traditions with meditative disciplines of yoga. By exploring the intertextuality of the Patanjalayogasastra with texts such as Vasubandhu's Abhidharmakosabhasya and Asanga's Yogacarabhumisastra, this book highlights and clarifies many ideologically Buddhist concepts and practices in Patanjala yoga. Karen O'Brien-Kop demonstrates that classical yoga' was co-constructed systemically by both Hindu and Buddhist thinkers who were drawing on the same conceptual metaphors of the period. This analysis demystifiTrade ReviewRethinking ‘Classical Yoga’ and Buddhism offers a new and valuable discussion of the early history of yoga. It brings a careful assessment of metaphor theory into the discussion of early Indian soteriology, and explores the intertwined nature of Indian religious practices that we too easily divide off as “Hindu” and “Buddhist”. A wonderful contribution to our understanding of Indian religion, literature and history. * Naomi Appleton, Director of Undergraduate Studies and Senior Lecturer in Asian Religions, University of Edinburgh, UK *This book is ground-breaking, not only in its recognition and analysis of the Buddhist backdrop to Patanjali’s Yoga tradition, but also in the application of cognitive metaphor theory to the study of Indian philosophical texts. In overcoming reified and anachronistic notions of “Hindu” and “Buddhist” in the study of contemplative traditions of ancient India, this work is to be highly recommended to anyone wishing to understand the broader intellectual and yogic context out of which Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras emerged. * Richard King, Professor Emeritus of Buddhist and Asian Studies, University of Kent, UK *The author blends a keen historical sensitivity with intertextual analysis and the conceptual metaphor theory (CMT) of Lakoff and Johnson. ... The book makes important contributions to our understanding of the shared religiocultural environment that nourished the early discourse of yoga and the “conceptual sharing” between groups whose intellectual identity did not easily map onto any facile religious identity. * The Journal of Religion *Table of ContentsList of Tables Preface Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction: Classical Yoga and Buddhism: Debates, Dialogue and Intertextuality 1. Moksa, Metaphors, and Materiality: Concepts and Contexts of 'Liberation' 2. Seeds of Bondage and Freedom: Eliminating the Afflictions (Klesas) in the Patanjalayogasastra and the Abhidharmakosabhaya 3. The 'Other' Yoga sastra: The Yogacarabhumisastra 4: Patanjala Yoga and Yogacara: the Cultivation of the Counterstate 5. Who Put the Classical in Classical Yoga? The Inadequacy of an Analytic Category 6: Conclusion: Rethinking Classical Yoga: A Categorical Paradigm Shift? Appendices Bibliography Index

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis“What does liberation mean when I have incarnated in a particular body, with a particular shape, color, and sex?”In The Way of Tenderness, Zen priest Zenju Earthlyn Manuel brings Buddhist philosophies of emptiness and appearance to bear on race, sexuality, and gender, using wisdom forged through personal experience and practice to rethink problems of identity and privilege. Manuel brings her own experiences as a lesbian black woman into conversation with Buddhism to square our ultimately empty nature with superficial perspectives of everyday life. Her hard-won insights reveal that dry wisdom alone is not sufficient to heal the wounds of the marginalized; an effective practice must embrace the tenderness found where conventional reality and emptiness intersect. Only warmth and compassion can cure hatred and heal the damage it wreaks within us. This is a book that will teach us all.

Read more less

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.   

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAre you having a good day, enjoying the here and now, appreciating all that you have? OR ...Are you stressed, anxious and worrying about the future? Chances are it's the second one. But it doesn't have to be that way - Buddhism offers a truly life-changing point of view that can make everyday stress a thing of the past. But what is Buddhism anyway? Join renowned vegetarian chef Rose Elliot and a diverse group of people as they gather in her sitting room to learn about mindfulness meditation from the wise and witty Buddhist monk Rose has invited into her home. Brimming with inspiring insights and peppered with humour, I Met a Monk introduces mindfulness meditation and the simple core tenets of Buddhist teaching, showing how we can easily apply them to 21st-century life. Set out as an 8-week course, each chapter ends with a concise summary of key points and recommended exercises to help put the suggestions into practice.Part autobiography, part self-help book, I Met a Monk forms a series of workshops, structured into eight chapters that cover the weekly discussions held between a Buddhist monk, Rose, and a group of men and women, including a student, a hairdresser, a doctor and a grandmother, where they talk about the Buddhist way to finding happiness, freedom and peace 'I hope that as you read this book you too may feel you are taking part, and that it may be as life-changing for you as it was for me. ' - Rose Elliot

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis second book in the ‘Middle Way Philosophy’ series develops five general principles that are distinctive to the universal Middle Way as a practical response to absolutization. These begin with the consistent acknowledgement of human uncertainty (scepticism), and follow through with openness to alternative possibilities (provisionality), the importance of judging things as a matter of degree (incrementality), the clear rejection of polarised absolute claims (agnosticism) and the cultivation of cognitive and emotional states that will help us resolve conflict (integration). These are discussed not only in theory, but with links to the wide range of established human practices that can help us to follow them. Like all of Robert M. Ellis’s work, this book is highly inter-disciplinary, drawing on philosophical argument, psychological models and values that prioritize practical application.Table of ContentsIntroduction Foreword to the Middle Way Philosphy series Dr. Iain McGilchrist, author of The Master and his Emissary, fellow of All Soul’s College, Oxford and former psychiatrist Scepticism Uncertainty, 'Knowledge' and Sceptical Argument Scepticism is not Negative Scepticism is not Impractical Scepticism, Embodiment and Meaningfulness Scepticism is not Selective Scepticism does not Threaten Meaning Scepticism Applies to Values and Facts Provisionality Optionality and Adaptiveness Complexity and Antifragility Slowness Synthesis Suppression Probabilizing Weighing Up Incrementality Systemic Continuity Tipping Points Practical Discontinuity Continuity of Persons Continuity of Time Continuity of Space Continuity of Training Agnosticism Wary as Serpents Even-handedness Strong, not Weak, Agnosticism Awareness of Appropriation and Lumping Awareness of Sceptical Slippage Awareness of Unholy Alliances Agnosticism and Psychological Development Integration Recognizing Conflict Reframing Responses to Intractability Integration of Desire, Meaning and Belief Individual and Group Integration Temporary Integration Asymmetrical Integration Practice The Middle Way as a Framework of Practices The Threefold Practice Individual Integration of Desire Practices Socio-political Integration of Desire Practices Individual Integration of Meaning Practices Socio-political Integration of Meaning Practices Individual Integration of Belief Practices Socio-political Integration of Belief Practices

Read more less

Book SynopsisBeatrice Lane Suzuki (1878-1939) was a very well informed and sensitive expositor of Mahayana Buddhism and the American wife of the well-known Zen Buddhist Suzuki Daisetsu. She lived in Japan for many years and came to know the leading temple centres of various Buddhist schools - especially in Kyoto and Kamakura - very well. Buddhist Temples of Kyoto and Kamakura brings together some of her writings from The Eastern Buddhist. The collection preserves valuable information from Suzuki's own times and the charm of her personal discovery of the temples described here. Further information is also provided to place them in their current context. The volume will be of interest to scholars of Japanese Buddhism and to the many travelers to these sites today.Table of ContentsPreface 1 General Introduction (Michael Pye) PART I: TEMPLES OF THE EASTERN HILLS IN KYOTO 2 Kiyomizudera 3 Nanzenji 4 Ginkakuji 5 Higashiyama Temples Today (by Patricia Yamada) PART II: PURE LAND AND TRUE PURE LAND TEMPLES 6 Chion-in 7 Higashi Honganji 8 Temple Celebrations at Chion-in and Higashi Honganji PART III: ZEN TEMPLES IN KYOTO AND KAMAKURA 9 Tofukuji 10 Tofukuji Today (by Christine Pye) 11 Myoshinji 12 Myoshinji Today (by Hillary Pedersen) 13 Zen temples of Kamakura 14 Engakuji and Kenchoji: The Social Morphology of Two Kamakura Temples (by A.W. Sadler) PART IV: TEMPLES OF SHINGON BUDDHISM 15 Toji 16 Kobo Daishi, the Saint of Shingon 17 Mount Koya 18 Mount Koya Today (by Elizabeth Tinsley) PART V: TEMPLES OF THE NICHIREN TRADITION 19 Nichiren and Kamakura 20 Nichiren temples in Kyoto: Honkokuji 21 Nichiren temples in Kyoto: Honnoji PART VI: MORE TEMPLES AND SHRINES OF KAMAKURA 22 Historic Temples of Kamakura 23 Bodhisattvas and Buddhas of Kamakura Character list for historical persons Details of original publication Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat is the meaning of life? How can we be truly happy? Buddhism answers these questions through the Dharma, which is a traditional term meaning both "the truth" and "the path", and is the subject of this book, which offers a starter-kit of Buddhist teachings and practices.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis being, that becomes; from the arising of this, that arises.A" This succinct formula, recorded in texts and carved in inscriptions throughout the Buddhist world, is said to summarise the whole of the Dharma, the teaching of the Buddha. But how can such a simple summary be the conceptual formulation that characterises the experience of a Buddha, an 'Awakened One', a state beyond all words and concepts? Dhivan Thomas Jones tells us how, and takes us into the heart of the Buddha's insight that everything arises in dependence on conditions. With the aid of lucid reflections and exercises he prompts us to explore how conditionality works in our own lives, and provides a sure guide to the most essential teaching of Buddhism.Trade Review"Clearly and intelligently written, this book carries a lot of good advice." Professor Richard Gombrich, author of 'What the Buddha Thought'. "Like all fine writers, Dhivan Thomas Jones makes complex ideas simple and subtle truths compelling. The Buddha considered conditionality the heart of his message and fathoming it the key to a happy, creative and fulfilling life. This excellent book teases out his meaning and makes you want to start putting it into practice right away." Vishvapani Blomfield, author of 'Gautama Buddha: the Life and Teachings of the Awakened One'.Table of ContentsPreface and acknowledgements Introduction: Buddhism and Conditionality - 'Those things conditionally arisen - ' - A presentation of conditionality - How to use this book Part 1: Core Teachings on Conditionality Chapter 1: The Principle of Conditionality - The fundamental principle of the Dharma - A vision of human existence - The Dharma as a practical teaching - An example - stress - The difference between 'causes' and 'conditions' - Conditionality as a transcendental principle - The difficulty of the Dharma Chapter 2: The Scope of Conditionality - The conversions of Sariputta and Moggallana - Reactive mind and creative mind - The four noble truths - Dukkha and its origin in craving - Cessation and the path - Mindful awareness as the hinge Chapter 3: The Twelve Links - The twelve nidanas in the Pali canon - The Wheel of Life and the three-life interpretation - The twelve nidanas as explaining dukkha - Ignorance, formations, consciousness and name-and-form - The six sense realms, contact, feeling, and craving - Clinging, existence, birth and ageing-and-death Chapter 4: The Spiral Path - The factors of the 'spiral path' - Opening stages of the path - The path from joy to insight - Insight, liberation and awakening - Two images for the path - How to approach the path Part 2: The Implications of Conditionality Chapter 5: Karma, Conditionality and Ethics - The Buddha's teaching of karma - Karma as intention - Karma, defilements and character - Karma and ethics Chapter 6: Conditionality as Middle Way - The middle way as a lifestyle - The extremes of indulgence and self-mortification - The middle way between existence and non-existence - Eternalism and annihilationism Chapter 7: The Nature of Existence - All conditioned things are impermanent and unsatisfactory - All things are without self - Proliferation and conflict - The conditioned and the unconditioned Chapter 8: Emptiness and Interdependence - Conditionality as 'emptiness' - Mutual interpenetration - The 'poetry of interconnectedness' - Interdependence and conditionality Appendix: 24 Nidana Reflection - Introductory note - Part 1: the spiral path - Part 2: the cyclic nidanas - Part 3: the spiral path (concluded) - Concluding note: - Pronounciation Guide for Pali and Sanskrit Words - Glossary of Pali and Sanskrit Buddhist terms - Notes and References

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is the story of an international Buddhist movement, from its inception in London to its growth worldwide. It is the story of mistakes made, lessons learnt and how a Buddhist community was built. Extract: This is the story of a circle of friends dreaming a dream, and working to make it a reality...It's the nitty-gritty story of how a community evolves. It's a story of idealism and naivety, growth and growing pains, hard work and burn-out, friendship and fall-out'.Trade Review"An excellent synopsis of the history of an important Buddhist movement through a half century of social change: a fluent narrative of pioneering spirit, triumphs, setbacks and learnings" - David Brazier, OAB, PhD, Head of the Amida-shu, author. "...a courageous and important book...it defies all expectations to tell the brilliant, troubled, and inspiring history of this unique Western Buddhist movement...this is a valuable and instructive text." - Zoketsu Norman Fischer, Founder of Everyday Zen Foundation and author of 'Sailing Home: Using the Wisdom of Homer's Odyssey to Navigate Life's Perils and Pitfalls'.

Read more less

Book SynopsisOur current neoliberal capitalist economic system is based on unethical values. The twentieth century economist John Maynard Keynes recognized this and wrote of a time in the future when we could transcend those values. Unfortunately Keynes believed that this would somehow happen automatically, and did not grasp the necessity of the need now to directly challenge the values on which our society is based, instead of simply waiting for them to fade away. The Buddha identified the vital importance of working to uproot the poisons of greed and hatred in the human psyche and in human society, and to replace them with their counterparts of generosity and loving kindness, in order to allow a different society to come into being.

Read more less

Book SynopsisGenjo Koan is the most important chapter in Zen master Dogen's principal major work, the Shobogenzo. Although Genjo Koan has been translated into English many times, and is familiar to Buddhists both east and west, it is still not well understood. This new commentary by Buddhist teacher and author David Brazier draws back the curtain revealing the deeper meaning of the text in language that will be as transparent to the general reader as it is informative to the specialist. The Dark Side of the Mirror reveals the pivotal principle at the heart of Dogen's Zen and shows how his revelation of it was rooted in his personal experience, as well as in the religious consciousness of his time. For Dogen scholars, Brazier provides a wealth of previously unpublished connections within Dogen's thought, resolving knotty problems of interpretation. For Zen practitioners, Genjo Koan reveals the meaning of satori and the way that it irreversibly commits the practitioner to a life-long 'going forth' in the service of all sentient beings. For the general reader it provides a unique insight into Japanese and Chinese medieval religion and, through this prism, throws light upon spirituality and spiritual experience universally.

Read more less

Book SynopsisOut of the depths of a clear blue sky emerges a beautiful tree of white lotus flowers. On the tree are many figures - historical, mythical and transcendental - each a teacher of Enlightenment. In this book Kulananda explains the significance of the figures on the Refuge Tree of the Triratna Buddhist Order. This new revised edition includes the two new figures of Dr Ambedkar and Anagarika Dharmapala. It is a great introduction to the refuge tree and a way of looking at the whole Buddhist tradition.Trade Review'Though Teachers of Enlightenment contains much useful information about the figures on the Refuge Tree, about the Buddhist scriptures, and about the historical development of Buddhism, it is above all a call to spiritual practice." - Urgyen Sangharakshita, Buddhist teacher and founder of the Triratna Buddhist Order; 'I am delighted to see this new edition of Teachers of Enlightenment. And I am very happy to see that Dr Ambedkar and Anagarika Dharmapala have been included here. This book will not only benefit those who wish to practise within the Triratna sangha but any Buddhist who is interested to know about the great spiritual beings on this Refuge Tree.' - Amoghasiddhi, Public Preceptor, Indian ordination training team; 'For anyone exploring the Going for Refuge and Prostration Practice of the Triratna Buddhist Order, Teachers of Enlightenment has long been an essential guide. Kulananda presents a wonderful description of each figure, enabling our practice to come alive. This new edition includes Vajratara's excellent introduction to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Anagarika Dharmapala.' - Kalyacitta, women's ordination team, Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre; 'This book is a timely reminder that Buddhism is not reducible to a set of self-help techniques; it invites us to participate in a cosmic myth, which is the compassionate liberation of all beings.' - Nagapriya, author of The Promise of a Sacred World: Shinran's Teaching of Other PowerTable of ContentsForeword to the New Edition About the author Preface to the 2000 edition, by Sangharakshita Author's acknowledgements Publisher's acknowledgements Part one Introduction 1 The Refuge Tree of the Triratna Buddhist Order, and the prostration practice 2 Visualization and imagination 3 Going for refuge 4 The Refuge Tree, bodhicitta, and 'other-power' Part two Introduction 1 The Buddhas of the Three Times 2 The Jinas 3 The Arhants 4 The bodhisattvas 5 Vajrasattva 6 The dharma texts 7 The teachers of the past India Tibet China Japan 8 The teachers of the present Conclusion Notes and references Selected reading Index

Read more less