Buddhism Books
Stanford University Press Dust on the Throne: The Search for Buddhism in
Book SynopsisReceived wisdom has it that Buddhism disappeared from India, the land of its birth, between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, long forgotten until British colonial scholars re-discovered it in the early 1800s. Its full-fledged revival, so the story goes, only occurred in 1956, when the Indian civil rights pioneer Dr. B.R. Ambedkar converted to Buddhism along with half a million of his Dalit (formerly "untouchable") followers. This, however, is only part of the story. Dust on the Throne reframes discussions about the place of Buddhism in the subcontinent from the early nineteenth century onwards, uncovering the integral, yet unacknowledged, role that Indians played in the making of modern global Buddhism in the century prior to Ambedkar's conversion, and the numerous ways that Buddhism gave powerful shape to modern Indian history. Through an extensive examination of disparate materials held at archives and temples across South Asia, Douglas Ober explores Buddhist religious dynamics in an age of expanding colonial empires, intra-Asian connectivity, and the histories of Buddhism produced by nineteenth and twentieth century Indian thinkers. While Buddhism in contemporary India is often disparaged as being little more than tattered manuscripts and crumbling ruins, this book opens new avenues for understanding its substantial socio-political impact and intellectual legacy.Trade Review"This is the first comprehensive study in any language of the revival of interest in Buddhism in nineteenth and twentieth-century India. It transforms the way we view modern Indian religious and political life. Through careful archival investigation, Douglas Ober uncovers numerous sources and topics that have been ignored or dealt with in piecemeal fashion. He uses this array of materials to create a compelling argument for the vital of importance of Buddhism in modern Indian religious life, politics, intellectual history, and culture. By highlighting the contributions of Indian scholars, advocates, and practitioners to the revival of Buddhism in twentieth-century India, Ober gives us a much more accurate picture of modern global Buddhism. This is a major, foundational contribution to religious and Buddhist history."—Richard Jaffe, author of Seeking Sakyamuni: South Asia in the Formation of Modern Japanese Buddhism"This is a book I've been waiting for—a powerful account of the contestations and challenges that marked the return of Buddhism to the public sphere. It forces us to think of the role of human agency in shaping the present and future in India—perhaps even in the world."—Uma Chakravarti, author of The Social Dimensions of Early Buddhism"It is a fantastic read, almost like a detective novel in parts, and you turn the page wondering how Buddhism was discovered, how it fared in various contexts. Douglas Ober's mastery of sources, his adept linking of various geographies, ideas, and events are so effortlessly done that they belie the immense labor and reading and writing that have no doubt gone into the making of this book."—V Geetha, author of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar and the Question of Socialism in India "This splendid book overturns the standard but faulty story of Buddhism's supposed disappearance from India by the thirteenth century. It completely recasts our understanding of modern Buddhism and its role in nineteenth and twentieth-century India. A marvelous combination of history, philosophy, and story-telling, Dust on the Throne is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand Buddhism in our world today."—Evan Thompson, author ofWaking, Dreaming, Being andWhy I Am Not a Buddhist"An engrossing and lively account of how modern India 'rediscovered' and re-engaged with Buddhism in the last two centuries, featuring a cast of compelling historical characters.Going far beyond standard assumptions and understandings about the decline and revival of Buddhism in India,Dust on the Throne is a must-read for all who are interested in south Asian history, both recent and ancient."—Tony Joseph, author of Early Indians: The Story of Our Ancestors and Where We Came From"Dust on the Throne offers a new perspective on the history of Buddhism in India during the colonial period and early years of Independence. Marshalling an array of evidence that foregrounds the role of individuals and institutions (some known, some forgotten) in the context of subcontinental and global networks, it dispels many long-cherished notions about Buddhism's decline and revival in its homeland, offering a convincing alternative narrative."—Upinder Singh, author of History of Ancient and Early Medieval India"Douglas Ober's Dust on the Throne weaves a fascinating history of individuals, institutions, and events that animated modern Buddhism. The book provides rare insights into a range offorgotten Indianswhose contributions were as impressive as those of better-known colonials.Its exploration of the footprint of Buddhist discourses among the masses is equally captivating. This will remain a definitive study on the many streams that constituted the quest for Buddhism inModern India."—Nayanjot Lahiri, author of Ashoka in Ancient India"[Dust on the Throne] is vast and dense, shining light on many of the Indian historians, scholars, translators, ethnographers, and laborers whose engagement with ancient and modern Buddhism galvanized 19th- and 20th-century public discourse. Rather than fragmented, however, the confluence of geographies, perspectives, and demographics demonstrate how dynamic and complex local expertise and agency in the resurgence of Buddhism within India have been."—Liesl Schwabe, Los Angeles Review of Books"Ober's exhaustive survey assembles Buddhism's disparate histories from different regions of modern India and contextualizes the formation of its multiple stands. He effectively dismantles the idea of European discovery of Buddhism and challenges the overemphasis on the contribution of Dharmapala and Ambedkar's scholarship."—Abishek Singh Amar, Tricycle"Dust on the Throne: The Search for Buddhism in Modern India, an erudite study by the historian Douglas Ober, is an exception to the brahmin-centric trend, and an outstanding intervention for many reasons. Right from its thoughtful title – which captures the deep history and 'revival' of the region's Buddhist past – the book tells us a different story than the brahmin-centric narratives of so much other scholarship. Ober shows how the widespread notion that Buddhism in the Subcontinent had died by the thirteenth century or earlier, and showed no trace of life into the modern period, is at most a 'useful fiction', if not a foolish conclusion outright."—Gajendran Ayyathurai, Himal SouthasianTable of Contents0. Introduction 1. The Agony of Memory 2. Dispelling Darkness 3. Banyan Tree Buddhism 4. Brahmanizing Buddhism 5. The Snake and the Mongoose 6. When the Buddha met Marx 7. The Buddha Nation Conclusion: Conclusion
£23.79
Shambhala Publications Inc Dzogchen: The Self-Perfected State
Book SynopsisOur natural condition is self-perfected from the very beginning. What is necessary is that we reawaken and remain in our true nature. Through understanding and practice, we can rediscover the effortless knowledge of the self-perfected state that lies beyond our habitual anguish and confusion, and remain in this uninterrupted flow of contemplation, completely relaxed but fully present through all activities.
£18.90
Shambhala Publications Inc The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to
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£28.80
Shambhala Publications Inc The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to
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£21.60
Shambhala Publications Inc History of the Sixteen Karmapas of Tibet
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£17.99
Shambhala Publications Inc Seeking the Heart of Wisdom: The Path of Insight
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£16.99
Shambhala Publications Inc Being Dharma: The Essence of the Buddha's
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£22.10
Counterpoint The Old Tea Seller: Life and Zen Poetry in 18th
Book SynopsisPoet, Zen Buddhist priest, renowned thinker, and seller of tea — Baisao was all of these things, as well as being a bit of an eccentric. Known to carry large wicker baskets filled with tea utensils through the streets and surrounding hills of Japan's capital, Baisao set up shop wherever he ended up and brewed tea for those who came to enjoy the scenery with him. Establishing a quiet, simple life, Baisao spent his final years composing poetry, brewing tea, and teaching Zen, in the process becoming a well-loved figure. These poems, memoirs, and letters tell us more about this endearing person and trace his long life's profound spiritual journey. This comprehensive translation includes nearly all of Baisao's writings, giving us a deep look at this remarkable man.
£999.99
North Atlantic Books,U.S. Zen Body-Being: An Enlightened Approach to
Book SynopsisA Zen-inspired “physical education” program for martial arts practitioners and anyone interested in mind-body transformation Using simple, clear language to demystify the Zen mindset, Ralston draws on more than three decades of experience teaching students and apprentices worldwide who have applied his body-being approach. More of a transformative guide than a specific list of exercises devoted to any particular physical approach, Zen Body-Being explains how to create a state of mental control, enhanced feeling-awareness, correct structural alignment, increased spatial acuity, and even a greater interactive presence. Exercises are simple, often involving feeling-imagery and meditative awareness, which have a profound and sometimes instant effect. Areas of exploration include: • Beginner’s Body-Being • Three aspects of body awareness • Five principles for an effortlessly effective body • Opening a door--five steps to transformation • Fourteen points on structural alignment Where similar guides teach readers what to do, this book teaches readers how to be.
£15.19
Nilgiri Press The Dhammapada
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
£9.49
Shambhala Publications Inc Introduction to the Middle Way: Chandrakirti's
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£28.80
Shambhala Publications Inc The Great Path of Awakening: The Classic Guide to
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£15.29
Shambhala Publications Inc When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for
Book SynopsisHow can we go on living when things fall apart—when we are overcome by pain, fear, and anxiety? Pema Chödrön’s answer to that question contains some spectacularly good news: there is a fundamental happiness readily available to each one of us, no matter how difficult things seem to be. To find it, according to traditional Buddhist teaching, we must learn to stop running from suffering and instead actually learn to approach it—fearlessly, compassionately, and with curiosity. This radical practice enables us to use all situations, even very painful ones, as means for discovering the truth and love that are utterly indestructible. 2 CDs, 2 1/2 hours, abridged
£19.30
Shambhala Publications Inc True Perception: The Path of Dharma Art
Book SynopsisGenuine art has the power to awaken and liberate. The renowned meditation master and artist Chögyam Trungpa called this type of art “dharma art”—any creative work that springs from an awakened state of mind, characterized by directness, unselfconsciousness, and nonaggression. Dharma art provides a vehicle to appreciate the nature of things as they are and express it without any struggle or desire to achieve. A work of dharma art brings out the goodness and dignity of the situation it reflects—dignity that comes from the artist’s interest in the details of life and sense of appreciation for experience. Trungpa shows how the principles of dharma art extend to everyday life: any activity can provide an opportunity to relax and open our senses to the phenomenal world. An expanded edition of Trungpa''s Dharma Art (1996), this book includes a new introduction and essay.
£17.99
Shambhala Publications Inc What Makes You Not a Buddhist
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£14.24
Shambhala Publications Inc Living Dharma: Teachings and Meditation
Book SynopsisA collection of teachings on the practice of meditation by twelve contemporary Buddhist masters from Southeast Asia—curated by the author of A Path with Heart In this book, Jack Kornfield presents the heart of Buddhist practice as taught by twelve highly respected masters from Southeast Asia. These renowned teachers offer a rich variety of meditation techniques: the practices include traditional instructions for dissolving the solid sense of self, for awakening insight, for realizing Nirvana, and for cultivating compassion for all beings.Jack Kornfield’s first three chapters give an overview of Buddhist philosophy and, specifically, the meditation practices of Burma, Thailand, and Laos. The teachings in this volume are from Achaan Chaa, Mahasi Sayadaw, Sunlun Sayadaw, Achaan Buddhadasa, Achaan Naeb, Achaan Maha Boowa, Tuangpulu Sayadaw, Mohnyin Sayadaw, Mogok Sayadaw, U Ba Khin, Achaan Dhammadaro, and Achaan Jumnien.
£22.95
Inner Traditions Bear and Company The Gospel of Philip: Jesus, Mary Magdalene and
Book SynopsisThe mainstream position of the Christian church on sexuality was perhaps best summed up by Pope Innocent III (1160-1216) when he stated that “the sexual act is so shameful that it is intrinsically evil.” Another Christian theologian maintained that the “Holy Ghost is absent from the room shared by a wedded couple.” What Philip records in his gospel is that Christ said precisely the opposite: The nuptial chamber is in fact the holy of holies. For Philip the holy trinity includes the feminine presence. God is the Father, the Holy Ghost is the Mother, and Jesus is the Son. Neither man nor woman alone is created in the image of God. It is only in their relationship with one another--the sacred embrace in which they share the divine breath--that they resemble God. The Gospel of Philip is best known for its portrayal of the physical relationship shared by Jesus and his most beloved disciple, Mary of Magdala. Because it ran counter to the direction of the Church, which condemned the “works of the flesh,” Philip’s gospel was suppressed and lost until rediscovered at Nag Hammadi in 1947. Orthodox theologian Jean-Yves Leloup’s translation from the Coptic and his analysis of this gospel are presented here for the first time in English. What emerges from this important source text is a restoration of the sacred initiatic union between the male and female principles that was once at the heart of Christianity’s sacred mystery.Trade Review“In this rich and lucid translation, Jean-Yves Leloup unlocks mysteries of the enigmatic bridal chamber found in the Gospel of Philip and sheds new light on their associations with Jewish esoteric tradition.” * Margaret Starbird, author of The Woman with the Alabaster Jar: Mary Magdalene and the Holy Grail *“For scholars and seekers alike, every page of this book opens profound new dimensions in the teachings of Jesus.” * Jacob Needleman, author of Lost Christianity and The American Soul *"This book displays new and profound facets and dimensions in the teachings of Jesus." * East and West Series, Vol. 48, No. 2, Feb 2006 *Table of ContentsList of AbbreviationsForeword by Jacob NeedlemanIntroductionTHE GOSPEL OF PHILIP
£12.34
Shambhala Publications Inc Our Pristine Mind: A Practical Guide to
Book SynopsisThis “gem of a book” reveals how we can go beyond mindfulness to connect with the ultimate happiness within us and transform our lives (Rick Hanson, Buddha’s Brain)The true nature of our mind is brilliant, clear, and joyful. But we don’t experience this reality amid the swirl of stresses, thoughts, and emotions of day-to-day life. Our Pristine Mind is a practical guide to uncovering our naturally comfortable state of mind and reconnecting with the unconditional happiness that is already within us. Using straightforward, accessible language, Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche leads us through the path of Pristine Mind meditation, a practice from the profound teachings known as Dzogchen. This book presents the entire journey of meditation, from the very beginning all the way to the complete happiness of enlightenment. It is a realistic, natural process that can be practiced and experienced by anyone.
£17.99
Shambhala Publications Inc Chod: The Sacred Teachings on Severance:
Book SynopsisFrom the legendary cofounder of Tibet''s nineteenth-century nonsectarian movement, an encyclopedic survey of the practice of Chod, or severance, a tantric ritual based on the crucial Mahayana sutras to sever clinging to an ego and thereby achieve realization. The Treasury of Precious Instructions by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye, one of Tibet’s greatest Buddhist masters, is a shining jewel of Tibetan literature, presenting essential teachings from the entire spectrum of practice lineages that existed in Tibet. In its eighteen volumes, Kongtrul brings together some of the most important texts on key topics of Buddhist thought and practice as well as authoring significant new sections of his own.In this, the fourteenth volume, Kongtrul compiles the teachings on Severance, or Chöd. It includes some of the tradition’s earliest source scriptures, such as the “grand poem” of Āryadeva, and numerous texts by the tradition’s renowned founder, Machik Labdrön. Kongtrul also brings together the most significant texts on the rites of initiation, empowerments for practice, and wide-ranging instructions and guides for the support of practitioners. Altogether, this quintessential guide to Severance offers vast resources for scholars and practitioners alike to better understand this unique and remarkable tradition—the way of severing the ego through the profound realization of emptiness and compassion.
£44.00
Shambhala Publications Inc Awakening Loving-Kindness
Book SynopsisInspiration and encouragement for cultivating kindness?by embracing the joy, suffering, confusion, and brilliance of our everyday lives?from the author of When Things Fall Apart Do you want to be a more compassionate person, confident and unafraid to love yourself and the world around you unconditionally, but aren?t sure how? We often look far and wide for guidance to become better people, as though the answers weresomewhere out there. But Pema Chödrön suggests that the best and most direct teacher for awakening loving-kindness is in factyour very own life. Based on talks given during a one-month meditation retreat at Gampo Abbey, where Pema lives and teaches, her teachings here focus on learning how to see the events of our lives as the perfect material for learning to love ourselves and our world playfully and wholeheartedly?and to live in our skin fearlessly, without aggression, harshness, or shame. This is instruction for embarking on the greatest adventure of all, to come alive to your inherent human kindness. ?Perhaps what makes Pema''s message resonate so strongly with people, no matter what their religion or spiritual path, is its universality.? ?O, The Oprah Magazine
£11.39
Shambhala Publications Inc Goodnight Love: A Bedtime Meditation Story
Book SynopsisShare love with yourself, your people, and the world (alongside fun sloths) in this big-hearted bedtime meditation for children. As the day comes to a close, Goodnight Love helps children (ages 2–5) connect to the warmth of their hearts through the power of lovingkindness. We foster self-compassion by sending care to ourselves. We share kindness by wishing good things for our families and friends. And we cultivate unconditional love by radiating the wish for happiness and peace on Earth. Goodnight Love brings the heart-based practice of lovingkindness (metta) into the ritual of bedtime, with adorable sloth characters that kids will delight in practicing beside. The beautiful, richly colored art portrays a caregiver sloth guiding a young sloth through this relaxing evening meditation, helping children slip into slumber with a heart filled with kindness.
£15.29
Wisdom Publications,U.S. Faces of Compassion: Classic Bodhisattva
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£14.24
Wisdom Publications,U.S. Nagarjuna's Middle Way: The Mulamadhyamakakarikas
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£19.95
Wisdom Publications,U.S. Introduction to Tantra: The Transformation of
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£12.34
Wisdom Publications,U.S. Heartwood of the Bodhi Tree
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£999.99
Wisdom Publications,U.S. Freedom from Anger: Understanding it, Overcoming
Book SynopsisExtinguish anger forever and find true happiness with this step-by-step guide.Anger is a potent poison that ruins health and damages relationships. In today’s world of Twitter feuds, road rage, and internet trolls, it is all too easy for anger to grab hold of us. This timely book offers practical advice on how to put aside anger and ego and embrace laughter and reason. Like a friendly family physician, Venerable Sumanasara helps you see what triggers your anger, what affect it has on you, and what you can do about it. Maybe you have trouble at work or at home, maybe you had a difficult childhood, or maybe you just get angry in traffic. In short, bite-sized chapters, he offers wisdom, along with a laugh, that you can use. Drawing on easy-to-follow metaphors and parables from a variety of cultural traditions, in an accessible, conversational style free of dogma, Venerable Sumanasara shows us how to manage our emotions so that we can lead healthier, happier lives finally freed from anger.
£12.34
Wisdom Publications,U.S. The Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the
Book SynopsisOne of the world''s most loved spiritual teachers comments on popular passages from the four Gospels, providing a unique reading and Buddhist perspective on the Sermon of the Mount, the Resurrection, the Beatitudes, parables, and other selections. IP.
£14.72
Wisdom Publications,U.S. The Fourteenth Dalai Lama's Stages of the Path,
Book SynopsisCentral to Buddhism is knowing our own minds. Until we do, we are driven by unconscious, often destructive desire and aversion.The Fourteenth Dalai Lama?s Stages of the Path: An Annotated Commentary on the Fifth Dalai Lama''s Oral Transmission of Mañjusri is the second volume of the Dalai Lama?s outline of Buddhist theory and practice. Having introduced Buddhist ideas in the context of modern society in volume one, the Dalai Lama turns here to a traditional presentation of the complete path to enlightenment, from developing faith in the Dharma to attaining the highest wisdom. This book, compiled by the revered Tibetan lama Dagyab Rinpoché, comments on the Fifth Dalai Lama?s stages of the path titled Oral Transmission of Mañjusri. The volume will appeal to all readers interested in the Dalai Lama?s works, both those new to Buddhism and those looking to deepen their understanding of the Tibetan presentation of the Buddhist path.
£40.50
Shambhala Publications Inc Wisdom Nectar: Dudjom Rinpoche's Heart Advice
Book SynopsisDudjom Rinpoche was one of the seminal figures in Tibetan Buddhism in the twentieth century, yet very few of his religious writings have been translated into English. This volume contains a generous selection of his inspiring teachings and writings, the core of which is a lengthy discussion of the entire path of Dzogchen, including key instructions on view, meditation, and conduct, along with direct advice on how to bring one''s experiences onto the path. Also included in this book in their entirety are the oral instructions, tantric songs, and songs of realization from His Holiness''s Collected Works, along with a generous selection of the aspiration and supplication prayers.
£27.20
Sounds True Inc The Tibetan Book of the Dead for Beginners: A
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.
£999.99
Sounds True Inc Tibetan Sound Healing: Seven Guided Practices for
Book Synopsis"It is my sincere desire that this simple and elegant practice of the Five Warrior Syllables, which is based on the highest teachings of the Tibetan Bön Buddhist tradition of which I am a lineage holder, will benefit many beings in the West. Please receive it with my blessing, and bring it into your life. Let it support you to become kind and strong and clear and awake."-Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche One of the world's oldest unbroken spiritual traditions is the Bön Buddhist tradition of Tibet. This wisdom path has survived, thanks to the efforts of a handful of dedicated lamas such as Bön lineage holder Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche. Now, with Tibetan Sound Healing, you can connect to the ancient sacred sounds of the Bön practice-and through them, activate the healing potential of your natural mind. The Bön healing tradition invokes the Five Warrior Syllables-"seed" sounds that bring us to the essential nature of mind and release the boundless creativity and positive qualities that are fundamental to it. Through the medicine of sound, you can clear obstacles in your body, your energy and emotions, and the subtle sacred dimensions of your being. With Tibetan Sound Healing, you are invited to learn from a master of this ancient lineage-and discover the power of sacred sound to purify your body, connect with your inherent perfection and completeness, and awaken spiritual virtue.
£11.39
Earth Island Books Wisdom of the Punk Buddha
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£13.62
Engage Books The Dhammapada (Royal Collector's Edition) (Case
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£28.41
Oneworld Publications Buddhist Texts Through the Ages
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
£999.99
Equinox Publishing Ltd Red Book, Middle Way: How Jung Parallels the
Book SynopsisJung's Red Book, finally published only in 2009, is a highly ambiguous text describing a succession of extraordinary visions, together with Jung's interpretation of them. Red Book, Middle Way offers a new interpretation of Jung's Red Book, in terms of the Middle Way, as a universal principle and embodied ethic, paralleled both in the Buddha's teachings and elsewhere. Jung explicitly discusses the Middle Way in the Red Book (although this has been largely ignored by scholars so far) as well as offering lots of material that can be understood in its terms. This book interprets the Red Book in relation to the archetypes met in its visions - the hero, the feminine, the Shadow, God and Christ, and follows Jung's process of integrating these different internal figures. To do this Jung needs to find the Middle Way between absolutes at every point, in a way similar to the Buddha.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. The Middle Way in the Red Book and the Buddha's Quest 2. God as Integrative Archetype 3. The Wise: Elijah and Philemon 4. Christ as the Middle Way 5. The Tree of Life and the Mandala 6. Integrating the Shadow 7. The Soul and the Anima 8. Death of the Hero 9. Embodied Meaning and the Scholars 10. Complaints of the Dead 11. Gnostic versus Agnostic 12. Towards a Jungian Integrative Ethic Conclusion
£999.99
Equinox Publishing Ltd The Gathering: A Story of the First Buddhist
Book SynopsisSasson's new book is a retelling of the story of the women's request for ordination. Inspired in particular by the Therigatha and building on years of research and experience in the field, Sasson follows Vimala, Patachara, Bhadda Kundalakesa, and many others as they walk through the forest to request full access to the tradition. The Buddha's response to this request is famously complicated and multi-faceted; he eventually accepts women into the Order, but attaches specific and controversial conditions (garudhammas). Sasson invites us to think about who these first Buddhist women might have been, what they hoped to achieve, and what these conditions might have meant to them thereafter. By shaping her research into a story, Sasson invites readers to imagine a world that continues to inspire and complicate Buddhist narrative to this day.Table of ContentsIntroduction Many Years Later: Vimala Remembers Chapter 1: The Buddha Said No Chapter 2: Vimala’s Story Begins Chapter 3: The Leap Chapter 4: The Gathering Chapter 5: The Past Comes Charging In Many Years Later: Vimala and Darshani Chapter 6: The Walking Begins Chapter 7: Patachara Chapter 8: Beads and Mirrors Chapter 9: The Long Road Chapter 10: Flying Horses Chapter 11: The Flying Sage Chapter 12: River Mud Chapter 13: Vesali Chapter 14: Hollowed-Out Mess Chapter 15: The Great Woman Tree Chapter 16: Bhadda Kundalakesa Chapter 17: Muttering and Mad Chapter 18: Motherhood Lost and Found Chapter 19: Ananda Chapter 20: The Eight Heavies Many Years Later: The Great Immensity Study Questions
£19.00
Archaeopress Gandharan Art and the Classical World: A Short
Book SynopsisIn the early centuries AD, the small region of Gandhara (centred on what is now northern Pakistan) produced an extraordinary tradition of Buddhist art which eventually had an immense influence across Asia. Mainly produced to adorn monasteries and shrines, Gandharan sculptures celebrate the Buddha himself, the stories of his life and the many sacred characters of the Buddhist cosmos. Since this imagery was rediscovered in the nineteenth century, one of its most fascinating and puzzling aspects is the extent to which it draws on the conventions of Greek and Roman art, which originated thousands of kilometres to the west.Inspired by the Gandhara Connections project at Oxford University's Classical Art Research Centre, this book offers an introduction to Gandharan art and the mystery of its relationship with the Graeco-Roman world of the Mediterranean. It presents an accessible explanation of the ancient and modern contexts of Gandharan art, the state of scholarship on the subject, and guidance for further, in-depth study.
£18.99
Hay House UK Ltd Love Your Enemies (10th Anniversary Edition): How
Book SynopsisCoping with anger and pain is more challenging than ever in these times—and more necessary. Two acclaimed Buddhist teachers offer strategies and wisdom in a book that’s been called “possibly the most inspiring and liberating meditation on love ever written.”When people and circumstances upset us, how do we deal with them? Often, we feel victimized. We become hurt, angry, and defensive. We end up seeing others as enemies, and when things don’t go our way, we become enemies to ourselves.But what if we could move past this pain, anger, and defensiveness?Inspired by Buddhist philosophy, this book introduces us to the four kinds of enemies we encounter in life: the outer enemy, people, institutions, and situations that mean to harm us; the inner enemy, anger, hatred, fear, and other destructive emotions; the secret enemy, self-obsession that isolates us from others; and the super-secret enemy, deep-seated self-loathing that prevents us from finding inner freedom and true happiness.In this practical guide, we learn not only how to identify our enemies, but more important, how to transform our relationship to them. Love Your Enemies teaches us how to . . .· break free from the mode of “us” versus “them” thinking· develop compassion, patience, and love· accept what is beyond our control· embrace lovingkindness, right speech, and other core conceptsFirst published in 2013, Love Your Enemies is, more than ever, required reading for navigating our world. Throughout, authors Sharon Salzberg and Robert Thurman draw from ancient spiritual wisdom and modern psychology to help you find peace within yourself and with the world.* Includes new prefaces from both authors *
£12.34
Liverpool University Press Chinese Religions: Beliefs and Practices
Book SynopsisThis book brings together the studies of Jeaneane Fowler in Taoism, Chinese popular religion and the broader canvas of Chinese cosmogony, and those of Merv Fowler in Confucianism, Ch'an (Zen) Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism. 'Chinese Religions' requires no previous knowledge and thereby serves as an introduction to the religions of China, and places it in the wider context of Chinese history and philosophy. The facets of Chinese religions are as broad, multilayered and varied as the geographical vastness of China itself, yet so many Chinese beliefs have found their way into the West -- the theory of yin and yang, the I Ching, the Tao Te Ching are good examples. One of the greatest characteristics of Chinese religions is that they encompass virtually every avenue of religious thought throughout the long span of Chinese pre-historic and historical pathways.Table of ContentsContents include: Ancient China: The Three Dynasties; Religious Taoism; Rhythms of the Universe; Chan Buddhism; Confucianism; Pure Land Buddhism; Neo-Confucianism; Popular Religion; Classical Taoism; Chinese Religions Today.
£31.38
Equinox Publishing Ltd What the Buddha Thought
Book SynopsisIn "What the Buddha Thought", Richard Gombrich argues that the Buddha was one of the most brilliant and original thinkers of all time. Intended to serve as an introduction to the Buddha's thought, and hence even to Buddhism itself, the book also has larger aims: it argues that we can know far more about the Buddha than it is fashionable among scholars to admit, and that his thought has a greater coherence than is usually recognised. It contains much new material. Interpreters both ancient and modern have taken little account of the historical context of the Buddha's teachings; but by relating them to early brahminical texts, and also to ancient Jainism, Gombrich gives a much richer picture of the Buddha's meaning, especially when his satire and irony are appreciated. Incidentally, since many of the Buddha's allusions can only be traced in the Pali versions of surviving texts, the book establishes the importance of the Pali Canon as evidence. The book contains much new material. The author stresses the Buddha's capacity for abstraction: though he made extensive use of metaphor, he did not found his arguments upon it, as earlier thinkers had done. He ethicized and radically reinterpreted older ideas of karma (human action) and rebirth. Similarly, building on older texts, he argued for the fundamental importance of love and compassion, and analysed fire as a process which could stand as a model for every component of conscious experience. Morally, the Buddha's theory of karma provided a principle of individuation and asserted each individual's responsibility for his own destiny. To make the book completely accessible to the general reader, the author provides an introductory section of 'Background Information,' for easy reference.Table of ContentsPrefaceBackground InformationChapter 1: IntroductionChapter 2: More about karma, and its social contextChapter 3: The antecedents of the karma doctrine in brahminismChapter 4: Jain antecedentsChapter 5: What did the Buddha mean by no soulA"?Chapter 6: The Buddha's positive values: love and compassionChapter 7: Assessing the evidenceChapter 8: Everything is burning: the centrality of fire in the Buddha's thoughtChapter 9: Causation and non-random processChapter 10: Cognition; language; nirvanaChapter 11: The Buddha's pragmatism and intellectual styleChapter 12: The Buddha as satirist; brahmin terms as social metaphorsChapter 13: Is this book to be believed?Appendix: The Buddha's appropriation of four (or five?) brahminical terms
£71.25
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC China's Holy Mountain: An Illustrated Journey
Book SynopsisRising from Shanxi Province like a three-dimensional mandala, the soaring peaks of Wutai Shan ('Five-terrace Mountain') have inspired pilgrims and travellers for almost two millennia. A striking terrain of towering emerald forests, wraith-like mists and crenellated ridges, this consecrated and secluded site is said to be the spiritual home of Wenshu Pusa, Bodhisattva of Wisdom. It is one of the most venerable and important Buddhist sanctuaries in China, yet still remains relatively little known in the West. Christoph Baumer has travelled extensively in the Wutai Shan region, and here offers the first comprehensive account of the cradle of Chinese Buddhism. In his remarkable new travelogue, 300 luminous photographs capture the unique spirituality of the 60 monasteries which straddle the complex. Charting festivals, rituals, pilgrimages and the daily life of the monks, abbots and abbesses, 'China's Holy Mountain' is both a splendid introduction to the history of Buddhism in East Asia and an evocative and lavishly-illustrated gazetteer of the monasteries and sacred artefacts themselves. It will be an indispensable resource for students of Asian religion and philosophy, with further appeal to general readers.Trade Review'This is a most informative and beautifully illustrated book about Mt Wutai, one of the four sacred Buddhist mountains dedicated to Majusri (Wenshu), the Bodhisattva of Wisdom. It provides background information about the philosophical and religious heritage of China, the history of Buddhism, and major schools of Chinese Buddhism. Perhaps the most attractive feature of the book is its detailed description of the pilgrimage routes to the mountain and its five terraces together with more than sixty existing monasteries that the author visited personally. The reader is introduced to the history and legends of the monasteries and the resident monks and nuns. It is the next best thing to making the pilgrimage to the holy site oneself. I highly recommend the book to anyone interested in Buddhism, sacred geography, and pilgrimage.' - Chun-fang Yu, Sheng Yen Professor of Chinese Buddhist Studies, Columbia University; 'To enter the world of 'China's Holy Mountain' is to follow in the footsteps of modern-day pilgrim and erudite explorer Christoph Baumer, who made his journey into one of China's most spiritual mountains: Mt Wutai in Shanxi Province. Richly illustrated and extremely readable, his book first sketches a background to China's religions then gives an eyewitness account of the author's visits to all the monasteries (primarily Buddhist) that still exist on the mountain. The record of his journey to Mt Wutai by Japanese Buddhist pilgrim Ennin (793-864) has left an indelible testimony of the sites and history of the mountain on the eve of the devastating mid-ninth century Buddhist persecution. Baumer's modern photo-journey similarly offers an up-to-date account of the religious institutions and practices of Mt Wutai in the early twenty-first century, including the prominence of Tibetan Buddhism since the late imperial period, in the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution, and during the throes of China's modernization. This remarkable book will be a valuable historical and ethnographical record for decades and perhaps centuries to come.' - Dorothy C. Wong, Associate Professor of East Asian Art, University of VirginiaTable of ContentsGlossary Foreword I. Introduction II. The spiritual and historical context Origins of China’s cultural development The veneration of heaven The Hundred Schools of Thought Confucius and the belief in morality and education Mengzi and the goodness of human nature Mozi and the state-mandated universal love of humanity The Legalists and the rule of lawn China’s first emperor makes a pilgrimage to a sacred mountain Daoism and non-action Confucianism as state ideology Daoism becomes a religion III. The spread of Buddhism to China Challenges of the early Buddhist scholars of China The development of Indian Buddhism Hinayana and Mahayana, the Lesser Vehicle and the Great Vehicle Yüezhi and Central Asian translators in China Revolutionary aspects of Buddhism The critique of the Confucians The ‘Festival of the Hungry Ghosts’ IV. The ‘Barbarian Emperors’ elevate Buddhism to the state religion Religion, politics and art Aristocratic Buddhism in southern China Folk Buddhism and state religion in northern China The missionary and magician Fotudeng converts a TurkoMongol people The Northern Wei and the cave temples of Yungang The development of Buddhist sculpture before the Sui Dynasty Kumarajiva and Buddhabhadra debate the Buddha-nature V. The Ten Schools of Chinese Buddhism The further development and new direction of Buddhism 1. Sanlun Zong 2. Niepan Shi 3. Jushe Zong 4. Tiantai Zong 5. Huayan Zong 6. Weishi Zong 7. Lü Zong 8. Mi Zong 9. Jingtu Zong 10. Chan Zong VI. The nine sacred mountains of China and Mount Wutai Shan The sacred landscape of Wutai Shan and its numerical symbolism Wenshushili Pusa The history of Wutai Shan VII. Pilgrimage routes to the Five Terrace Mountain: The Outer Regions The southwestern outer region Nanchan Si ??? Hongfu Si ??? Foguang Si ??? Zunsheng Si ??? The northwestern outer region The luohans Huayan Si, Datong ??? Mu Ta ?? Bairenyan Si ???? Huiji Si ??? Ayuwang Ta ???? Zhao Gao Si ??? Yan Shan Si ??? Gong Zhu Si ??? VIII. The five terraces and their monasteries The northern terrace Beitai ?? and Lingying Si ??? Dragons, clouds and bodhisattvas The eastern terrace Dongtai ??, Wanghai Si ??? and Nayuolan Dong ???? The southern terrace Nantai ?? and Puji Si ??? The western terrace Xitai ?? and Falei Si ??? The central terrace Zongtai ?? and Yanjiao Si ??? IX. The monastery city of Taihuai ???? Xiantong Si ??? The spatial arrangement of monasteries Tayuan Si ??? Pusading Si ???? Wutai Shan – Bridgehead of Tibetan Buddhism in China Wanfo Ge ??? Historical panoramic map of Wutai Shan Guangren Si ??? The most important monastic festivals Luohou Si ?[??]? Yuanzhao Si ??? Guangzong Si ??? Guanghua Si ??? Pushou Si ??? Santa Si ??? Cifu Si ??? Sanquan Si ??? Shouning Si ??? Self-immolation and self-mutilation as the greatest sacrifice X. The North Bishan Si ??? The consecration ceremony of monks and nuns Jingang Ku ??? and the Wulang ?? ancestor shrine Jifu Si ??? Qifo Si ??? Guangming Si ??? Baohua Si ??? The ‘Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution’ Miaoding An ??? Zhaoyuanwai Tang ???? XI. The East Shangshi Tayuan Si ????? Shancai Dong ??? Shangshancai Dong ???? Dailuoding Si ????Wenshu Si ??? Puhua Si ??? Guanyin Dong ??? Huayan Dong ??? Wenshu Dong ??? Tiewa Si ??? XII. The South Shuxiang Si ??? Lingying Si ??? Lingfeng Si ??? Wanfo Dong ??? Nanshan Si ??? Youguo Si ??? The Eight Immortals of Daoism Zhenhai Si ??? Wanyuan An ??? Mingyue Chi ??? and Jingang Bao Ta ???? Puan Si ???? Abbess Shi Chang Long Bayun Si ??? Buddha Shakyamuni’s birthday celebration in Bayun Si Fomu Dong ??? Lingjing Si ??? Baitou An ??? Guandi Si ??? Haihui An ??? Jingang An ??? Gufo Si ??? XIII. The West Ruiying Si ??? Fenglin Si ??? Yuhua Si ??? Jixiang Si ??? Longquan Si ??? Linggong Ta ??? Zhulin Si ??? The Japanese pilgrim monk Ennin and Wutai Shan Shiziwo Si
£999.99
Parallax Press Be Free Where You Are
Book Synopsis
£8.54
Parallax Press Understanding Our Mind: 50 Verses on Buddhist
Book SynopsisNautilus Award Finalist The renowned Zen’s monk’s profound study of Buddhist psychology—with insights into how these ancient teachings apply to the modern world Based on the fifty verses on the nature of consciousness taken from the great fifth-century Buddhist master Vasubandhu and the teachings of the Avatamsaka Sutra, Thich Nhat Hanh focuses on the direct experience of recognizing, embracing, and looking deeply into the nature of our feelings and perceptions.Presenting the basic teachings of Buddhist applied psychology, Understanding Our Mind shows us how our mind is like a field, where every kind of seed is planted—seeds of suffering, anger, happiness, and peace. The quality of our life depends on the quality of the seeds in our mind. If we know how to water seeds of joy and transform seeds of suffering, then understanding, love, and compassion will flower. Vietnamese Zen Master Thuong Chieu said, “When we understand how our mind works, the practice becomes easy.”
£15.29
Panna Dipa Books Walking the Path: What it Means to be a Buddhist
Book Synopsis
£12.60
Windhorse Publications The History of My Going for Refuge
Book Synopsis'Going for refuge' is the act of committing one's life to Buddhism. Tracing his own path of discovery, Sangharakshita shows how the monastic life and spiritual life are not identical but that what is truly important is commitment to Buddhist spiritual ideals. This work features a new introduction. With a timeless design and brand new introductions, "Sangharakshita Classics" refreshes these important and beloved works by Sangharakshita. First published twenty years or more ago, they are as relevant now as when they were first written.
£8.94
D Giles Ltd Paths to Perfection: Buddhist Art at the Freer
Book SynopsisA guide to the Freer/Sackler's richly diverse collection of Buddhist art fromJapan, China, and Korea, as well as Indian/South Asia. Paths to Perfection: Buddhist Art at the Freer Sackler introduces readers to Buddhist art through the celebrated collections of the Smithsonian's museum of Asian art in Washington, DC. Written for a general audience, the guidebook shares Buddhist art and its history across cultures, from the origins of Buddhism in India to its spread eastward to China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. More than a hundred objects from the renowned Freer Sackler collections follow, each with a full-colour image and description. Entries are divided by type into five sections: buddhas, bodhisattvas, mandalas and ritual objects, teachers and teachings, and attendants and protectors. A map and glossary help familiarise readers with significant Buddhist sites and terms. Part of an ongoing series of guidebooks that explore the Freer Sackler's collection areas, Paths to Perfection is an insightful look at artistic responses to one of the world's great religions. AUTHOR: Debra Diamond is the curator of South and Southeast Asian art at the Freer Sackler Museums. SELLING POINTS: . Offers an accessible overview of the diversity and complexity of Buddhism and its art . An insightful look at artistic responses to one of the world's great religions. . Objects are organized by type rather than region, highlighting transregional similarities and inviting comparison. 120 colour illustrations
£15.15
Windhorse Publications Mahayana Myths and Stories: Part 16
Book Synopsis'Once upon a time there was a rich old man who lived in a vast mansion ...' Aware that whatever our age, we never lose our responsiveness to story, myth and drama, the Buddha often told stories and parables, and in the Mahayana phase of the development of Buddhism, the stories became ever more mythical and magical. In this volume, Sangharakshita introduces us to the strange and wonderful worlds of three of the best-loved Mahayana sutras, worlds from which - if we pay close attention - we can return with treasures in the form of teachings and advice. Thanks to Sangharakshita's imaginative and creative approach to these sutras, their gems, mythical or even magical though their origins may be, turn out to be exchangeable for hard currency - the practical business of how we are to live our lives in the everyday world. From the transcendental critique of religion and the means of unification offered by the Vimalakirti-nirdesa to the light shed on economics, ecology and politics by the Sutra of Golden Light, and the vision of life as a journey offered by the White Lotus Sutra, these commentaries offer a unique and transformative perspective on the value of human existence.Table of ContentsForewordThe Drama of Cosmic Enlightenment: Parables, Myths, and Symbols of the White Lotus Sutra1 The Universal Perspective of Mahayana Buddhism2 The Drama of Cosmic Enlightenment3 Transcending the Human Predicament4 The Myth of the Return Journey5 Symbols of Life and Growth6 Five Element Symbolism and the Stupa7 The Jewel in the Lotus8 The Archetype of the Divine HealerThe Priceless JewelTransforming Self and World: Themes from the Sutra of Golden Light Introduction: The Growth of a Mahayana Sutra Part One: Transformation of Self 1 The Bodhisattva's Dream 2 The Spiritual Significance of Confession Part Two: Transformation of World 3 The Protectors of the Dharma 4 Buddhism and Culture 5 Nature, Man, and Enlightenment 6 Buddhist Economics 7 The Moral Order and its Upholders The Inconceivable Emancipation: Themes from the Vimalakirti-nirdesa 1 The Magic of a Mahayana Sutra 2 Building the Buddha-Land 3 On Being 'All Things to All Men' 4 The Transcendental Critique of Religion 5 History Versus Myth in Humanity's Quest for Meaning 6 The Way of Non-Duality 7 The Mystery of Human Communication 8 The Four Great Reliances: Criteria for the Spiritual Life
£26.55
Windhorse Publications Dr Ambedkar and the Revival of Buddhism: Part 9
Book SynopsisThe eagerly awaited Complete Works of Sangharakshita begins with Volume 9 on Dr Ambedkar and the revival of Buddhism. One of the most far-reaching of Sangharakshita's contributions to modern Buddhism was giving shape to the Buddhist conversion movement begun by the great Indian statesman and reformer, Dr B.R. Ambedkar. In 1956, along with hundreds of thousands of his followers, Ambedkar renounced the Hindu caste system - according to which they were condemned to be 'untouchable' - and converted to Buddhism, thus beginning a new life.The first part of this volume tells the story of how Ambedkar overcame the suffering and struggle of his early years to become the shaper of the Indian constitution and the leader of his people to a new life; and how, following Ambedkar's untimely death, Sangharakshita took on the challenge of teaching Buddhism to the new community of Buddhists.The second part is a collection of 36 edited talks, many published here for the first time, from Sangharakshita's tour of the Buddhist communities in India in 1981-2. Wherever and in whatever circumstances you live, there is much here to bring new life and depth to your Buddhist practice.Table of ContentsPreface1 The Significance of Ambedkar2 Three Meetings3 The Hell of Caste4 Milestones on the Road to Conversion5 The Search for Roots6 Thinking about Buddhism7 The Great Mass Conversion8 'The Buddha and His Dhamma'9 After AmbedkarNotesFurther Reading
£13.50
