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Book Synopsis Can enlightenment be found at the office? From the co-author of Buddha''s Diet comes another book that shows how the wisdom of Buddha can apply to our modern lives -- this time exploring how Buddha''s guidance can help us navigate the perils of work life. Without setting foot in an office, Buddha knew that helping people work right was essential to helping them find their path to awakening. Now more than ever, we need Buddha''s guidance. Too many of us are working long hours, dealing with difficult bosses, high-maintenance coworkers, and non-stop stress. We need someone to help remind us that there is a better way. With Buddha''s wisdom at the core of every chapter, Buddha''s Office will help you learn how to stop taking shortcuts and pay more attention, care for yourself and others, deal with distractions, and incorporate Buddha''s ageless instructions into our modern working life.It''s time to wake up and start working in a more enlightened way. One that is right for you, right for our health, right for your sanity, and right for the world.

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Book SynopsisA collection of key texts from practising Buddhism women, showing their vital contributions to the development of Buddhist thought.

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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

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Book SynopsisRamin Jahanbegloo develops the concept of compassion as a practical and ethical response to the problems of today's world. Examining the power of compassion through the lens of multiple world religions, he explores ahimsa in Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism and neighbourly love in Christianity, before synthesizing the two concepts in the Gandhian theory of non-violence and its impact on Muslim and Christian thinkers such as Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Martin Luther King, Jr. Jahanbegloo considers the idea of a compassionate civilization based on the nonviolent democratic theory put forward by Gandhi with Swaraj, and completed by Martin Luther King, Jr. with the Beloved Community.By scrutinizing compassion in various religious and ethical traditions and exploring the relevance of homo fragilis, Jahanbegloo's comparative approach enriches our understanding of nonviolence as a universal philosophy and practice for the 21st century. He shows that nonviolence is not onlTrade ReviewRamin Jahanbegloo has written with heart a beautiful understanding of the ethical knowledge that makes us human and at the same time divine. If you want a richer journey in wisdom, you must read this book, a work offering the foundations of a human being, Homo Fragilis, in search of understanding and love for others. * Mario I. Aguilar, Director of the Centre for the Study of Religion and Politics, University of St. Andrews, UK *Comparative Approaches to Compassion expands our understanding of non-violence by analyzing the thoughts of some contemporary leaders in addition to perspectives from the past. These additions incorporate the love inherent to that which is humane, the Otherness of the Other, and above all, compassion. These historical contexts further enrich the concept. * Romila Thapar, Professor Emerita of History, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India *In his perceptive and nuanced study Jahanbegloo shows convincingly how concepts initially rooted in various religious traditions can be applied in addressing contemporary problems challenging modern societies. His comprehensive account will be extremely helpful to many seeking guidance in our perplexing times. * Shlomo Avineri, Professor of Political Science, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Human Fragility and Compassion 1. Ahimsa: A Compassionate View of Life 2. Love and Compassion: from Jesus Christ to Thomas Merton 3. Mahatma Gandhi: Compassionate Citizenship and Feminization of Politics 4. The Twin Heritage of Gandhian Nonviolence: Martin Luther King, Jr. & Abdul Ghaffar Khan 5. Towards a Compassionate Civilization: From Swaraj to the Beloved Community 6. Nelson Mandela: Strategic Compassion and Ethics of Empathy Conclusion: Spiritualizing Compassion and Nonviolence Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisNautilus Book Award Gold Recipient.Leading African American Buddhist teachers offer lessons on racism, resilience, spiritual freedom, and the possibility of a truly representative American Buddhism. With contributions by Acharya Gaylon Ferguson, Cheryl A. Giles, Gyozan Royce Andrew Johnson, Ruth King, Kamilah Majied, Lama Rod Owens, Lama Dawa Tarchin Phillips, Sebene Selassie, and Pamela Ayo Yetunde. What does it mean to be Black and Buddhist? In this powerful collection of writings, African American teachers from all the major Buddhist traditions tell their stories of how race and Buddhist practice have intersected in their lives. The resulting explorations display not only the promise of Buddhist teachings to empower those facing racial discrimination but also the way that Black Buddhist voices are enriching the Dharma for all practitioners. As the first anthology comprised solely of writings by African-descended Buddhist practitioners, this book is an important contribution to the development of the Dharma in the West.

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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.

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Book SynopsisIn this twelfth volume of The Treasury of Precious Instructions, Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye presents a second collection of compiled teachings and practices of the Shangpa Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, focusing on the teachings of the lineages of two Indian female celestial beings, Niguma and Sukkhasiddhi.The Treasury of Precious Instructions by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye, one of Tibet''s greatest Buddhist masters, presents essential teachings from a broad spectrum of practice lineages that existed in Tibet. Volumes in this series may be engaged as practice manuals while also preserving ancient teachings significant to the literature and history of world religions.  Volume 12 of the series is the second of two volumes that present teachings and practices from the Shangpa Kagyu practice lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. This tradition derives from the female celestial beings, or ḍākinīs, Niguma and Sukhasiddhi and their disciple, the eleventh-century Tibetan yogi Khyungpo Naljor Tsultrim Gönpo of the Shang region of Tibet.  There are forty texts in this volume, beginning with Jonang Tāranātha’s classic commentary and its supplement expounding the Six Dharmas of Niguma. It includes the definitive collection of the tantric basis of the Shangpa Kagyu—the five principal deities of the new translation (sarma) traditions and the Five-Deity Cakrasamvara practice. The source scriptures, liturgies, supplications, empowerment texts, instructions, and practice manuals were composed by Tangtong Gyalpo, Tāranātha, Jamgön Kongtrul, and others.

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Book SynopsisThe beloved Buddhist meditation teacher andNew York Times?bestselling author ofReal Happinessoffers encouragement and inspiration for anyone on the spiritual pathBuddhist teachings have the power to transform our lives for the better, says Sharon Salzberg, and all we need to bring about this transformation can be found in the ordinary events of our everyday experiences.InA Heart as Wide as the World, Salzberg distills more than twenty-five years of teaching and practicing meditation into a series of short essays, rich with anecdotes and personal revelations, that offer genuine aid and comfort for anyone on the spiritual path. Many chance moments, both small and profound, serve as the basis for Salzberg''s teachings: hearing a market stall hawker calling, ?I have what you need!?; noting hotel guests? reactions to a midnight fire alarm; watching her teacher, Dipa Ma, bless a belligerent dog; seeing the Dalai Lama laughing uproariously at his own mistake. Each passing moment, Salzberg shows, can help us down the path toward ?a seamlessness of connection and an unbounded heart.?

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Book SynopsisSangharakshita (1925-2018) was a Buddhist writer and teacher, founder of the Triratna Buddhist Order and Community (previously FWBO). Apart from his practical achievements, Sangharakshita was an original thinker on the adaptation of Buddhism to modern conditions, an autodidact whose intellectual creativity was stimulated by both cross-cultural experience and practical contingency. His thinking is little known or appreciated outside the movement he founded, but over-dominant within it. This means that there is a shortage of balanced critical discussion of his work that finds any middle way between hagiography and dismissal. Sangharakshita has also been an object of controversy in recent years, but his more controversial views and actions need to be seen in proportion to the whole of his thinking. This book surveys Sangharakshita's most important and original ideas with an eye that combines appreciation and critical awareness in equal measure. It celebrates Sangharakshita's pioneering syntheses of Buddhist and Western ideas, but warns against the inconsistencies and dogmas that are also found in Sangharakshita's work - dogmas whose negative practical effects can also be traced.Trade Review"Very stimulating and thought provoking. There hasn't been anything like it so far, and I think it will contribute to the process of clarifying and re-evaluating some of Sangharakshita's ideas and teachings. In my view, that process is necessary and could be very helpful to practitioners in Triratna." Vajrapushpa (Ulla Brown), member of the Triratna Buddhist Order "A significant and very useful book, something that will be in the background for years to come in the interesting new era of post-Sangharakshita studies." Kamalashila (Anthony Matthews), author of Meditation: The Buddhist Way of Tranquility and Insight "A very valuable contribution to the discussion of Sangharakshita's ideas. This book should be interesting to those who study new religious movements as well as the introduction of Buddhism to the West." Michael Chaskalson, Founder and CEO of Mindfulness Works and author of The Mindful Workplace and Mindfulness in Eight Weeks

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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

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Book SynopsisThis volume is a tribute to the work of Michael Jerryson, one of the initiators of the academic discourse on Buddhism and violence whose intellectual pursuits have resulted in a trailblazing shift in the academic study of Buddhism. Preconceived in the modern west as a pacific, chiefly meditative practice aiming for personal salvation and world peace, Buddhism has been exposed in the last few decades for its manifold legacy of violence. This is apparent not only in Buddhist groups' history of support for actual military aims, but in Buddhism's association with religious nationalism and in its more subtle expressions of discursive and structural violence. This exposure is due in significant part to Michael Jerryson who, in addition to exploring this perhaps surprising Buddhist history, has investigated the dynamism of Buddhist authority. Most recently in his critique of U Wirathu, the Burmese Buddhist monk whose advocacy of Buddhist nationalism in Myanmar has stirred a boiling pot of anti-Muslim resentments, Michael Jerryson has shown that reverence for Burmese religious authorities transcends respect for traditional Buddhist doctrine and monastic accomplishments. It emanates instead from the phenomenon of religious authority itself and from the cultural institutions which support it. His examinations have resulted in heightened sensitivity to the sociology of religious authority and violence. The scholarly contributions in this volume include discussions of Buddhism and violence, religious authority and nationalism, whether Buddhist, Christian, white, or other.Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Legacy of Michael Jerryson Margo Kitts and Mark Juergensmeyer Section I: Buddhism and Violence 1. Introduction Stephen Jenkins, Humboldt State University 2. Dharma and Its Discontents John M. Thompson, Christopher Newport University 3. Buddhists and International Law Ben Schonthal, University of Otago 4. Exorcising the Body Politic: The Question of Conversion at the Tibet-Mongol Interface Matthew King, University of California, Riverside 5. De-Centering the Normative in the Introduction to Buddhism Class Nathan McGovern, Franklin Marshall College 6. But is it Buddhist? Blaze Marpet, Northwestern University 7. Humanizing the Rohingya Beyond Victimization Grisel d’Elena, Florida International University Section 2: Religious Authority 8. Introduction: Religious Authority Matthew Walton, University of Toronto 9. Contested Authority: Evangelism as a Cultural System Julie Ingersoll, University of North Florida 10. Jerryson’s “Exposure of Buddhism” and the Legacy of Violence in US War Culture Kelly Denton-Borhaug, Moravian College 11. Making Authority from Apocalypse: Three Cases from Classical Islam Jamel Velji, Claremont McKenna College 12. Affect in the Archives: Violence in Late Ancient Apocalyptic Texts Abby Kulisz, Indiana University 13. Religion, Authority Grammar: The Scholarly Legacy of Secular Concepts Andrew Atwell, University of Chicago

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Book SynopsisTeaching Awareness in the Buddhist Tradition provides important contributions to understanding the teaching of mindfulness or awareness (Pāli sati, Sanskrit smṛti) in Buddhism and related traditions, examined in original ways through a collection of articles that approach this theme from different perspectives including philosophical, philological, exegetic, and anthropological. This volume is dedicated to Professor Corrado Pensa, a well-known Buddhist scholar and practitioner who has played an important role in spreading Buddhist practice through Italy and internationally. The majority of this book is based on the scholarly output of Professor Pensa’s former students, who engage in research on various topics concerning Buddhist awareness and other related topics. The last section consists of essays by contemporary meditation teachers offered as tribute to Corrado Pensa through reflections on practical topics such as developing attention in ordinary life, mindfulness of breathing, and awareness as wisdom. This volume integrates the theory and practice of the Buddhist tradition, and will be a valuable resource to both academics and practitioners of Buddhism.Table of ContentsForeword Joseph Goldstein, Barre Center for Buddhist Studies Preface: Tracing the Path of the Dharma Chiara Neri and Francesco Sferra Bibliography of Corrado Pensa Chiara Neri and Francesco Sferra I. WORDS ON THE DHARMA 1. The Meditative Cultivation of Joy Bhikkhu Anālayo, Barre Center for Buddhist Studies 2. The Concept of Pariyogāhaṇa in the Epistemology of the Paṭisambhidāmagga: An Immersion in Knowledge and Liberation Giuliano Giustarini, Mahidol University 3. Buddhist Awareness as a Means to Unveil the Past and Emancipate the Future: The Buddhist Awareness Camps Project in Post-1990 Nepal Chiara Letizia, Université du Québec à Montréal 4. An Unshakeable Awareness. Siddhas and Jīvanmukti According to the Mokṣopāya Bruno Lo Turco, La Sapienza University of Roma 5. Framing the Other: Mindfulness, Photography, and Comparative Religions Filippo Marsili, Saint Louis University 6. The Teaching of Awareness in Corrado Pensa’s Thought Chiara Neri 7. A Joyful Song Celebrating Buddhist Practice Marta Sernesi, École Pratique des Hautes Études, Paris 8. Evil According to Buddhism Francesco Sferra II. THE DHARMA IN WORDS 9. The Loveliness of the Ordinary Christina Feldman, Meditation Teacher 10. Ānāpānasati: A Brief Introduction Larry Rosenberg, Meditation Teacher 11. Living in Mindfulness and Wisdom Andrea Schnöller, Meditation Teacher

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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

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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.

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Book SynopsisUnderstanding who you are can be a lonely and difficult process following the diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome (AS). Asperger's Syndrome and Mindfulness illuminates this experience as an empowering path of discovery through the teachings of Buddhism. Chris Mitchell draws parallels between the experience of his own journey towards personhood through AS and the spiritual tenants of Theravada Buddhism, as outlined through the Eightfold Path, a guideline to personal development. Worry and anxiety, confusing desires or negative thoughts are among the everyday hindrances a person with AS faces. This book takes the reader through the key beliefs of Theravada Buddhism, such as Mindfulness and the Four Noble Truths, showing how practices such as Insight Meditation can lead to a positive resolution of these feelings. Talking openly about his own personal experiences, Chris Mitchell provides helpful tips and suggestions for improving confidence and self-esteem towards an overall better sense of self that will be of interest to anyone diagnosed with AS or their family and friends.Table of ContentsContents: Note on Terminology and Pronunciation. Dedications.1. Introduction – The Path of Asperger's Syndrome. 2. Asperger's Syndrome and the Five Hindrances. 3. Starting with Who You Are – How the Easiest Person to Like Can Be You. 4. Seeing the Truth – How to Control Mind Proliferation and Others as They Really Are. 5. Gaining Insight from Those Around Me – How Insight Can Strengthen One's Awareness. 6. Worrying in an Anxiety-Driven World – How to Curb Tendency to Worry through Curtailing Stress and Anxiety. 7. Curtailing Feelings of Anger and Frustration – How to Control and Respond to Anger Effectively. 8. Discipline and Routine – How to Maintain Discipline within Routine, Including Managing Changes. 9. Developing Tolerance – How to Develop Acceptance of and Openness towards Others without Resorting to Naivety. 10. Measuring Success and Goal-Setting – How to Measure Success Realistically and Achieve without Distancing Ourselves from Truth. 11. Facing and Coping with Suffering – How to Manage Feelings of Suffering (Dukkha) through Reflection. 12. Finding Balance in Mindfulness and Concentration – How to Take Responsibility of One's Own World and Recognise the World Others Live Within. 13. Overcoming the Hindrances – How a Person with Asperger's Syndrome Can Overcome Difficulties Associated with the Five Hindrances through Recognition of the Five Spiritual Faculties. 14. Epilogue – University Reunion.

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Book SynopsisEarly issues of The Eastern Buddhist contain short translations from various Buddhist texts, some of them quite important and all of considerable interest. Since they are set unobtrusively between modern statements and arguments about the nature of Buddhism, and in any case are difficult to locate, they have often gone unnoticed by students. Assembled here is a selection of those texts which have stood the test of time. Derived from Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese originals, they illustrate the importance of lay spirituality for Japanese Buddhists, both in the nenbutsu tradition and in the wider context of Mahayana Buddhism. Drawing them together into one volume brings out the fact that these varied Buddhist traditions are intricately related to each other. The result is an unusual and fascinating reader which would grace many a course in Buddhist studies.Table of ContentsPreface with Acknowledgements List of Illustrations Conventions on Names, Titles and Scripts 1 Introduction Part One: The Teaching of Vimalakirti 2 Vimalakirti's Discourse on Emancipation Izumi Hokei (trans.) Part Two: Related Strands in Early Mahayana Buddhism 3 The Heart Sutra (Prajna-paramita-hṛdaya-sutra) Shaku Hannya 4 Nagarjuna's Mahayana-viṁsaka Yamaguchi Susumu (trans.) 5 Outline of the Avataṃsaka Sutra (Kegonkyo) Beatrice Lane Suzuki 6 The Hymn on the Life and Vows of Samantabhadra Izumi Hokei (trans.) Part Three: Hints of Laity in the Esoteric Tradition 7 Fudo the Immovable Beatrice Lane Suzuki 8 Ceremonies for Disciples on Mount Koya Beatrice Lane Suzuki Part Four: Revisiting Masters of the Nenbutsu 9 The Pure Land Doctrine in Shoku's "Plain Wood" Nenbutsu Sugihira Shizutoshi 10 Myoe's Critique of Honen Bando Shojun 11 Ippen Shonin and the Nenbutsu Yanagi Soetsu 12 Shinran and his Song on Amida Beatrice Lane Suzuki 13 On Steadfast Holding to the Name Kakunyo Shonin 14 Rennyo the Restorer Kaneko Daiei 15 Asahara Saichi the Myokonin Sato Taira 16 The Rite of Reception into Jodo Shinshu Dan Bornstein Synoptic List of Text Titles Character List for Historical Persons Original Publication Details A Note on The Eastern Buddhist

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Book SynopsisEarly issues of The Eastern Buddhist contain short translations from various Buddhist texts, some of them quite important and all of considerable interest. Since they are set unobtrusively between modern statements and arguments about the nature of Buddhism, and in any case are difficult to locate, they have often gone unnoticed by students. Assembled here is a selection of those texts which have stood the test of time. Derived from Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese originals, they illustrate the importance of lay spirituality for Japanese Buddhists, both in the nenbutsu tradition and in the wider context of Mahayana Buddhism. Drawing them together into one volume brings out the fact that these varied Buddhist traditions are intricately related to each other. The result is an unusual and fascinating reader which would grace many a course in Buddhist studies.Table of ContentsPreface with Acknowledgements List of Illustrations Conventions on Names, Titles and Scripts 1 Introduction Part One: The Teaching of Vimalakirti 2 Vimalakirti's Discourse on Emancipation Izumi Hokei (trans.) Part Two: Related Strands in Early Mahayana Buddhism 3 The Heart Sutra (Prajna-paramita-hṛdaya-sutra) Shaku Hannya 4 Nagarjuna's Mahayana-viṁsaka Yamaguchi Susumu (trans.) 5 Outline of the Avataṃsaka Sutra (Kegonkyo) Beatrice Lane Suzuki 6 The Hymn on the Life and Vows of Samantabhadra Izumi Hokei (trans.) Part Three: Hints of Laity in the Esoteric Tradition 7 Fudo the Immovable Beatrice Lane Suzuki 8 Ceremonies for Disciples on Mount Koya Beatrice Lane Suzuki Part Four: Revisiting Masters of the Nenbutsu 9 The Pure Land Doctrine in Shoku's "Plain Wood" Nenbutsu Sugihira Shizutoshi 10 Myoe's Critique of Honen Bando Shojun 11 Ippen Shonin and the Nenbutsu Yanagi Soetsu 12 Shinran and his Song on Amida Beatrice Lane Suzuki 13 On Steadfast Holding to the Name Kakunyo Shonin 14 Rennyo the Restorer Kaneko Daiei 15 Asahara Saichi the Myokonin Sato Taira 16 The Rite of Reception into Jodo Shinshu Dan Bornstein Synoptic List of Text Titles Character List for Historical Persons Original Publication Details A Note on The Eastern Buddhist

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Book SynopsisIreland and Buddhism have a long history. Shaped by colonialism, contested borders, religious wars, empire and massive diasporas, Irish people have encountered Asian Buddhism in many ways over 14 centuries. From the thrill of travellers' tales in far-off lands to a religious alternative to Christianity, from the potential of anti-colonial solidarity to fears of "going native", and from recent immigration to the secular spread of Buddhist meditation, Buddhism has meant many different things to people in Ireland. Knowledge of Buddhist Asia reached Ireland by the 7th century, with the first personal contact in the 14th - a tale remembered for 500 years. The first Irish Buddhists appeared in the political and cultural crisis of the 19th century, in Dublin and the rural West, but also in Burma and Japan. Over the next hundred years, Buddhism competed with esoteric movements to become the alternative to mainstream religion. Since the 1960s, Buddhism has exploded to become Ireland's third-largest religion. Buddhism and Ireland is the first history of its subject, a rich and exciting story of extraordinary individuals and the journey of ideas across Europe and Asia.Trade Review"This is a truly fascinating book on how Buddhism arrived and was localised in Ireland. It shows how Ireland was never isolated from a global circuit of knowledge on Buddhism and Asia mediated by empire building, nationalism, colonialism, religion and ethnicity." Cristina Rocha, University of Western Sydney "With a cast of Buddhist characters you couldn't invent, this insightful and clearly written account of the extraordinary relationship between Buddhism and Ireland deftly challenges conventional histories of Western Buddhism." Brian Bocking, University College Cork "Laurence Cox reveals why the practice of Buddhism may flourish in Ireland - and why Irish Buddhists have a longer history than we might suppose. Focus and perspicuity inform this admirable work on conversion and seeking." Joseph Lennon, Villanova University, USATable of ContentsAcknowledgements 1. Buddhism in Ireland: an introduction to the problem PART I: THINKING "BUDDHISM AND IRELAND" IN WORLD-SYSTEMS CONTEXT (500 - 1850) 2. The Prologue to Buddhism in Ireland: awareness without interest PART II: BUDDHISTS AND THEOSOPHISTS, CAUGHT BETWEEN EMPIRES (1850 - 1960) 3. The Two Empires: Ireland in Asia, Asia in Ireland 4. Esotericism against Empire: Irish Theosophy 5. The First Irish Buddhists: jumping ship and "going native" PART III: BUDDHISM WITHIN IRELAND: FROM COUNTER-CULTURE TO RESPECTABILITY (1960 - 2010) 6. The New "Catholic Buddhists" and Post-colonial Social Movements 7. Buddhism through the Celtic Tiger: choices for the future Afterword Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFor Buddhists everywhere, the Three Jewels - the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha - are at the heart of daily life and practice. But how can we engage with these precious ideals in a way that makes a difference to how we live? In this, the companion volume to The Three Jewels I, in which the nature of Going for Refuge to the Three Jewels is explored, are gathered three much-loved books: Who is the Buddha?, What is the Dharma?, and What is the Sangha? In this volume, Sangharakshita tackles a great range of subjects, offering original and imaginative perspectives on all the topics one might expect an introduction to Buddhism to cover - karma and rebirth, Nirvana and the spiral path, and the nature of Buddhahood itself, as well as clear and pragmatic guidance on matters of personal concern, such as individuality, fidelity, gratitude, parenthood and seeking a spiritual teacher. The teachings are underpinned by many references to the Pali canon and other sources, to provide an authentic guide to the Dharma life in all its aspects, and much encouragement and inspiration to live that life to the full.Table of ContentsWho is the Buddha?1 The Evolution of a Buddha2 The Way to Enlightenment3 The Hidden Teachings of the Buddha's Early Life4 The Heroic Ideal in Buddhism5 From Hero-Worship to the Worshipping Buddha6 The Word of the Buddha7 Karma and Rebirth8 The 'Death' of the Buddha9 Who is the Buddha?What is the Dharma?Part 1 The Truth1 The Essential Truth2 The Dynamics of Being3 The Texture of Reality4 Nirvana5 The Mystery of the VoidPart 2 The Path6 The Gravitational Pull and the Point of No Return7 The Spiral Path8 The Journey to Enlightenment9 The Pattern of Buddhist Life and Work10 The Threefold Way - Ethics11 The Threefold Way - Meditation12 The Threefold Way - Wisdom13 The Cosmic Significance of the Bodhisattva IdealWhat is the Sangha?Part 1 The Group and the Spiritual CommunityIntroduction1 The Sangha Jewel2 The Traditional Sangha3 Individuality: The Essence of Sangha4 The History of the Spiritual Community5 The Group and the Spiritual Community6 Authority7 The Positive Group and the New Society8 The Path of DissatisfactionPart 2 The True IndividualIntroduction9 The Evolution of the Individual10 The Integrated Individual11 Overcoming the Self12 The Artist as the True IndividualPart 3 The Network of Personal RelationshipsIntroduction13 Being a Buddhist Parent14 Is a Guru Necessary15 Fidelity16 The Meaning of Friendship17 Buddhism and Business Relationships18 Non-exploitation19 GratitudeConclusions: Can the Spiritual Community Save the World?20 A Buddhist View of Current World Problems21 Buddhism and Western Society

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Book SynopsisSangharakshita read the Diamond Sutra for the first time the summer he turned seventeen. It seemed to awaken him to something whose existence he had forgotten, and he joyfully embraced those profound teachings 'with an unqualified acceptance'. This experience decided the whole future direction of his life.In this first volume of memoirs he describes how, from a working-class childhood in the London suburb of Tooting, he came, a twenty-four-year-old Buddhist novice monk, to Kalimpong in the eastern Himalayas. Sangharakshita paints a vivid picture of the people, the places and the experiences that shaped his life: his childhood, his army days, and the gurus he met during his years as a wandering ascetic staying in the caves and ashrams of India. He moves between the ordinary and the extraordinary, from the mundane to the sublime; his narrative takes in the psychological and aesthetic, the philosophical and spiritual. His experiences are both universal - love and loss, comedy and tragedy - and unique to what is an exceptional life.Trade Review'I have always looked to Sangharakshita's books for inspiration and ideas on how to better translate the principles and practices of Buddhism for Western audiences and practitioners today.' - Lama Surya Das, author of Awakening the Buddha WithinTable of ContentsForeword KalyanaprabhaMap1 Giants and Dragons2 The Children's Encyclopaedia3 Learning to Walk4 'Here Comes the Boys' Brigade'5 Evacuated6 The Veil of Isis7 The Pendulum Swings8 Buddhism and the LCC9 The Misfit10 Passage to India11 With the Swamis in Ceylon12 Maitreya,the Coming Buddha13 The Three Worlds14 Coincidences15 The End of the Beginning16 Jumping in at the Shallow End17 Direct Action Day18 All-India Religions Conference19 Two Meetings and a Marriage20 Anandamayi, the Blissful Mother21 The Three Untouchables22 Meditations in the Mango Grove23 The Divine Eye24 The Going Forth25 A Question of Identity26 Sramana Versus Brahmana27 The Temple of the Virgin Goddess28 The Road to Trivandrum29 What Happened to the Offerings30 The Town of the Three Rivers31 'What Is Your Caste?'32 The Three Lawyers33 Other Friends34 Outings and Activities35 The Path Within36 'Krishna Has Come!'37 Ramdas, the Servant of God38 At The 'Abode Of Bliss'39 The Vision in the Cave40 The One-Eyed Guru41 Sandalwood Country42 'Tiger, Tiger...'43 Disappointment at Sarnath44 Through the Curtain of Fire45 At the Shrine of the Recumbent Buddha46 'Here the Blessed One was Born' 47 With the Newars in Nepal48 Academic Interlude49 In the Land of the Great Disciples50 Facing Mount KanchenjungaAppendices1 Introduction to Learning to Walk2 Giants and Dragons: Original Version

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Book SynopsisSangharakshita read the Diamond Sutra for the first time the summer he turned seventeen. It seemed to awaken him to something whose existence he had forgotten, and he joyfully embraced those profound teachings 'with an unqualified acceptance'. This experience decided the whole future direction of his life.In this first volume of memoirs he describes how, from a working-class childhood in the London suburb of Tooting, he came, a twenty-four-year-old Buddhist novice monk, to Kalimpong in the eastern Himalayas. Sangharakshita paints a vivid picture of the people, the places and the experiences that shaped his life: his childhood, his army days, and the gurus he met during his years as a wandering ascetic staying in the caves and ashrams of India. He moves between the ordinary and the extraordinary, from the mundane to the sublime; his narrative takes in the psychological and aesthetic, the philosophical and spiritual. His experiences are both universal - love and loss, comedy and tragedy - and unique to what is an exceptional life.Table of ContentsForeword KalyanaprabhaMap1 Giants and Dragons2 The Children's Encyclopaedia3 Learning to Walk4 'Here Comes the Boys' Brigade'5 Evacuated6 The Veil of Isis7 The Pendulum Swings8 Buddhism and the LCC9 The Misfit10 Passage to India11 With the Swamis in Ceylon12 Maitreya,the Coming Buddha13 The Three Worlds14 Coincidences15 The End of the Beginning16 Jumping in at the Shallow End17 Direct Action Day18 All-India Religions Conference19 Two Meetings and a Marriage20 Anandamayi, the Blissful Mother21 The Three Untouchables22 Meditations in the Mango Grove23 The Divine Eye24 The Going Forth25 A Question of Identity26 Sramana Versus Brahmana27 The Temple of the Virgin Goddess28 The Road to Trivandrum29 What Happened to the Offerings30 The Town of the Three Rivers31 'What Is Your Caste?'32 The Three Lawyers33 Other Friends34 Outings and Activities35 The Path Within36 'Krishna Has Come!'37 Ramdas, the Servant of God38 At The 'Abode Of Bliss'39 The Vision in the Cave40 The One-Eyed Guru41 Sandalwood Country42 'Tiger, Tiger...'43 Disappointment at Sarnath44 Through the Curtain of Fire45 At the Shrine of the Recumbent Buddha46 'Here the Blessed One was Born' 47 With the Newars in Nepal48 Academic Interlude49 In the Land of the Great Disciples50 Facing Mount KanchenjungaAppendices1 Introduction to Learning to Walk2 Giants and Dragons: Original Version

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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.Trade Review'I have always looked to Sangharakshita's books for inspiration and ideas on how to better translate the principles and practices of Buddhism for Western audiences and practitioners today.' - Lama Surya Das, author of Awakening the Buddha WithinTable 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 LightIntroduction: The Growth of a Mahayana SutraPart One: Transformation of Self1 The Bodhisattva's Dream2 The Spiritual Significance of ConfessionPart Two: Transformation of World3 The Protectors of the Dharma4 Buddhism and Culture5 Nature, Man, and Enlightenment6 Buddhist Economics7 The Moral Order and its UpholdersThe Inconceivable Emancipation: Themes from the Vimalakirti-nirdesa1 The Magic of a Mahayana Sutra2 Building the Buddha-Land3 On Being 'All Things to All Men'4 The Transcendental Critique of Religion5 History Versus Myth in Humanity's Quest for Meaning6 The Way of Non-Duality7 The Mystery of Human Communication8 The Four Great Reliances: Criteria for the Spiritual Life

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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

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Book SynopsisThis companion to volume 9 begins with a celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar's conversion to Buddhism, together with a rejoicing in his merits. Then we follow the dramatic history of the Buddhist revival in India, beginning with a commentary on Dr Ambedkar's article 'Buddha and the Future of His Religion', which prompted Sangharakshita's initial contact with him. Articles on the mass conversion in 1956 and Sangharakshita's crucial visit to Nagpur at the time of Dr Ambedkar's death are followed by the story of Sangharakshita's teachings among the new Buddhists in 1959 to 61, together with notes from some of the hundreds of talks he gave. Sangharakshita did not forget India after returning to England in 1964, giving talks to raise awareness of Dr Ambedkar, and in 1979 returning to perform the first ordinations of the Indian wing of the Order, later the Triratna Buddhist Order. In a sequence of talks (from 1979 to 1992) he tells his Indian audiences about the Buddhist movement he has founded in the West and his western audiences about the Indian sangha, thus weaving together the two communities of new Buddhists. The volume culminates in a commentary on the Pali canon's Udana, edited from two much-loved seminars from the early days of the FWBO and including new translations of the verses (udanas) by Dhivan Thomas Jones. Inspiring us to imagine the time when Buddhism was so new it didn't have a name, the text includes famous teachings - the taste of salt, in the seen only the seen - and declares the first question the Buddha was asked after his Enlightenment: who is the true brahmin? The Buddha's answer, rejecting the caste system and asserting the spiritual values to which he has awakened, takes us to the heart of Dr Ambedkar's revival of Buddhism in India.

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Book SynopsisThis volume of Sangharakshita's Complete Works includes Facing Mount Kanchenjunga, the second in the series of his memoirs, and, in Dear Dinoo, some very personal letters.Facing Mount Kanchenjunga covers the period 1950-1953, beginning with Sangharakshita's arrival in Kalimpong as a twenty-four-year-old sramanera, and his response to his teacher's injunction to 'stay here and work for the good of Buddhism!' In the pages that follow we are drawn into a deeply committed Dharma life lived in unusual circumstances and among some very colourful characters.As he recalls the significant events of those years - the setting up of the Kalimpong Young Men's Buddhist Association; the creation of a new Buddhist journal, whose contributors included Conze, Guenther, Govinda and other leading Buddhist writers of the time; accompanying the Sacred Relics of the Buddha's chief disciples; advising on the making of a Buddhist film; giving lectures; discovering Dharmapala; meeting Dhardo Rimpoche; in fact, working in every way to spread the Dharma - Sangharakshita also affords the reader glimpses of his inner life, his struggles and disappointments, his aspirations and inspirations, his responses to the beauties of nature, and his feeling for friendship. The twenty-nine letters collected together in Dear Dinoo span the period 1955-1974, giving a sighting of Sangharakshita's life as he experienced it at the time, including what happened on the day of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's untimely death in 1956. We are also afforded a glimpse of the unusual friendship that sprung up between the young English monk and the Montessori teacher.Kalyanaprabha's Introduction highlights some of the significances of the correspondence, including reflections on Sangharakshita, Women, and Friendship. A friend who often appears in the letters, Dr Dinshaw Mehta, Servant of God, and one time naturopath to Gandhi, is the subject of the appendix.

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Book Synopsis'The Bodhisattva ideal is a vast subject. It is the major distinctive emphasis of the phase of the development of Buddhism known as the Mahāyāna, which had its flowering for a period of around 500 years (0–500CE), but is still practised today in many different forms, from Tibetan Buddhism to Zen. To consider this topic is to place one’s hand on the very heart of Buddhism, and feel the beating of that heart.' Thus Sangharakshita introduces his theme. The first part of this volume describes the arising of the bodhicitta and the bodhisattva's path to Enlightenment in a weaving together of the sublime and the inspiringly practical, and the second part is a commentary on Śāntideva's classic 8th-century text, the Bodhicaryāvatara, based on a seminar given in 1973, in the very early days of Triratna, thus shaping the newly emerging Buddhist movement. The seminar was titled The Endlessly Fascinating Cry, echoing Śāntideva's fervent prayer: 'In order to grasp this jewel of the mind, I offer ... the endlessly fascinating cry of wild geese ...' The volume ends with 'The Bodhisattva Principle', a talk given in 1983 to a conference of scientists and mystics in which Sangharakshita presents a vision of the bodhisattva as an embodiment of the key to the evolution of consciousness, individual and collective. The subject of this book may be an ideal, but it offers many ways to take the first real steps on this most significant of all journeys, and much nourishment for the heart and mind of the would-be bodhisattva.Trade Review`I have always looked to Sangharakshita’s books for inspiration and ideas on how to better translate the principles and practices of Buddhism for Western audiences and practitioners today.’ – Lama Surya Das, author of Awakening the Buddha Within

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Book SynopsisOne of Sangharakshita’s outstanding contributions to Buddhism has been to survey the whole range of Buddhist schools, each with its own approach, own language and so on, and to distil out what is most fundamental. You are a Buddhist because – and only because – you Go for Refuge to the Three Jewels. But how did this become clear to him and what in any case does it actually mean practically to go for Refuge to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha? The nine texts in this volume, composed over a period of more than thirty years, show Sangharakshita's unfolding insight into the meaning, significance and centrality of Going for Refuge. It includes some of his most important communications to the Order he founded: on the ten ethical precepts, his relation to the Order, and the history of his Going for Refuge. And in reflecting on his own bhikkhu ordination there is a challenge to some of the Buddhist world's most deeply rooted assumptions. Sangharakshita writes not just as a student and scholar but with the devotion of one who himself Goes for Refuge and seeks to share the fruits of his journey with others.

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