Buddhism Books

Book SynopsisThere are many approaches to piano theory. They range from the simple technique of reading music and touching the keys, to playing-by-ear, but few have taken the inner path that begins in the soul. Mildred Portney Chase merged her piano lessons with the discipline of mindful Buddhist practice and created an experience that evokes not just music for the pleasure of the listener, but a journey that leads the student to a world of calm and peacefulness flowing from the soul out into the universe . . . ever-evolving day-by-day within the heart of the student. She writes: Just being at the piano egoless is to each time seek to reach that place where the only thing that exists is the sound and moving toward the sound. The music on the page that was outside of you is now within you and moves through you; you are a channel for the music, and play from the centre of your being . . . You are at one with yourself and the act and feel as if the playing has already happened and you are effortlessly

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Book SynopsisA book of daily inspirational readings taken from 25 years of lectures to spiritual seekers, expressed with the simplicity and authority of one who speaks from his own experience. For each day of the year there is a new message to offer spiritual guidance for that day.These daily inspirational readings contain Swami Satchidananda''s teachings on the spiritual life -how to serve others and realize peace, truth and union with the divine. Culled from years of lectures to spiritual seekers in the West and the East, they are expressed with the simplicity and authority of one who speaks from his own experience. What is purity of heart? A heart full of tranquility, full of peace. Having a steady mind, a balanced mind, is what you call purity of heart. Being well-balanced between the dualities - the ups and the downs, the pleasure and pain, the profit and loss. If the mind is free from turbulence, then the seer can see its own nature. If your heart is pure and steady, you can see God reflected

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Book SynopsisThis book will be a key resource for readers interested in one of the most acclaimed and influential writers of the twentieth century, Samuel Beckett. In clearand accessible prose, the book reassesses and elucidates the Buddhist thinking coursing through Beckett's fiction and theatre for over half a century.Trade Review'Readers interested in the transmission of Eastern thought in modernist texts will find this exploration of the congruence of Beckett's texts with Buddhist thought useful and informative … Recommended.' J. S. Baggett, Choice Connect'Moorjani is a scholar doing a scholar's work, and the results are exhilarating' Jean-Michel Rabaté, University of Pennsylvania'… the study [goes] a long way toward illuminating things that have previously and notoriously puzzled readers of Beckett, from the paradoxical style to the seeming pessimism that pervades his works. … Moorjani's study deserves to be known to readers not only in twentieth-century literary studies but also in world literature, comparative literature, and beyond.' Lidan Lin, Modern Language Quarterly'… this impressive monograph not only continues Moorjani's long career of path-breaking contributions to Beckett studies, but it achieves a mastery of material and persuasiveness of exposition that few researchers can ever hope to attain.' Douglas Atkinson, The Beckett Circle'Beckett and Buddhism explores the 'imaginative dialogue' between Samuel Beckett's writing and Buddhist and Eastern thought. Drawing on published correspondence and prodigious archival material both to confirm Schopenhauer as a source of Beckett's knowledge of Buddhism and to substantiate her research, Angela Moorjani traces back Buddhist influences on the author's early fiction and meticulously uncovers their reverberations in his entire oeuvre.' Nadia Louar, L'Esprit Créateur'Moorjani undertakes 'to refute the charge of nihilism against Beckett' (p. 76) by focussing on how the effect of emptiness or emptying (a key Buddhist notion) is realized with powerful aesthetic and spiritual impact in particular texts, underlining in particular the role of meditation in Beckett's later works and the value attached to the void as a longed-for 'home'.' Joseph S. O'Leary, Journal of Irish StudiesTable of ContentsIntroduction: Buddhism, Schopenhauer, Beckett: Influence Affinity, Relay?; 1. Schopenhauer's Buddhism Revisited: Recent Archival Evidence; 2. East-West Dialogue via Schopenhauer; 3. Buddhist and Mystic Threads in the Early Fiction; 4. Beckett's Paradoxical Logic through Buddhist and Western Lenses; 5. The Coincidence of Contraries and Noh Drama; 6. The No-Self Staged and Voices from Elsewhere; 7. Rebirth and the Buddhist Unborn in the Fiction and Drama; 8. Dreaming 'all away' in the Final Texts.

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Book SynopsisSkilful communication and warm connection are needed today more than ever before. This book explores the potential of mindfulness skills, and how they can be applied to communication in a range of settings. Experienced mindfulness teachers and trainers Frits Koster, Jetty Heynekamp and Victoria Norton provide an outline of the mechanisms underlying mindful communication while a selection of experts presents a concise overview of six communication programs that are becoming well-known in the mindfulness world. They describe the background and structure of each course and offer tasters in the form of short exercises and online audio downloads. Each chapter is followed up by further resources, reading lists and web addresses. Mindful Communication will be of interest to professionals in mental health, social care, education and to anyone who wishes to listen and speak with more wisdom and compassion.Trade Review‘I am delighted to recommend this valuable collection of teachings on mindful communication. If there is one thing to be learned during these times of great disruption it is that the key to resilient relationships and societies lies in our capacity for authentic dialogue. This is an essential need that all human beings share … to be recognized, valued and affirmed in our fundamental goodness. Yet, in this age of disembodied social media, while chats go on all the time, we are often left feeling more isolated and discouraged. Thank goodness there is a rise of interest in mindfulness, compassion and now these specific instructions about how to open our hearts and minds with each other in genuine communication. Thank you Frits, Jetty and Victoria and to all the authors! I am confident this book will benefit countless people.’Susan Gillis Chapman is a retired Family Therapist, Dharma-teacher, author of The Five Keys To Mindful Communication (2012) and Founder of Green Zone Communication.‘It is wonderful that Frits Koster, Jetty Heynekamp and Victoria Norton have edited this excellent and very timely book on Mindful Communication. In our digital, disembodied and stressful world, where it’s hard to know whom to trust and to find the time for deeper and more meaningful communication, this book has been sorely needed. Now at last we have a practical guide on how to take things deeper and further with one another. With so many people already familiar with mindfulness practices, at least in principal, this invaluable guide can help us all to take some next important steps on the journey.’Michael Chaskalson, MA, author of Mindfulness in Eight Weeks (2014) and co-author (with Dr. Megan Reitz) of Mind Time (2018). Professor of Practice adjunct at Hult International Business School (Ashridge) and Associate at the Møller Institute, Churchill College in the University of Cambridge.‘This is a treasure trove of wisdom from a diversity of teachers sharing a diversity of approaches, held together by a common aspiration to enable us all to cultivate our skills in communicating mindfully. As a species we deeply need wise guidance on how we can integrate compassion and care into our social and relational networks. Let’s share this book widely and put into practice the wisdom it offers us!’Rebecca Crane, PhD, Director, Professor, Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice, Bangor University, UK, author of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (2017) and editing author (with Karunavira and Gemma Griffith) of Essential Resources for Mindfulness Teachers (2021).‘We are born without our consent or choice, created by DNA, with minds that are responsible for the most amazing compassion but also for the most sadistic cruel and terrifying actions. Despite appeals by many of the contemplative traditions that it is essential we understand the nature of our mind and take responsibility for what they do, it has only been in the last few decades that western science and education have started to explore this as a serious possibility. For too long we have been left ignorant of our minds and vulnerable to the suffering of mental health problems, selfish and anti-social behaviour. However, within schools and workplaces and the flourishing of internet based self-training, this is beginning to change. It is therefore a delight, a pleasure and excitement to be able to recommend this wonderfully insightful and practical book that lays out some of the key challenges and opportunities for mindful awareness and compassionate action training. Bringing together some of the top international contributors in the mind training world, I for one will be referring to this book for many years to come and I'm sure others will too.’Paul Gilbert, OBE, Professor, author of Compassion Focused Therapy (2010b), co-author (with Choden) of Mindful Compassion (2015) and co-editor (with Gregoris Simos) of Compassion Focused Therapy: Clinical Practice and Applications (2022).‘We all want good relationships at home and at work, but that’s often challenging. Relationships are built from interactions, and interactions are built from communications. The authors of this ground-breaking book show us many ways to communicate honestly and effectively, even during emotionally intense conflicts. With many examples, they bring together the power of mindfulness, deep listening, compassion, and skillful assertiveness. Written with great clarity and depth, this is an excellent guidebook to harmonious, fulfilling, and productive relationships.’Rick Hanson, PhD, Senior Fellow of UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, author of Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness (2018) and other books on positive neuroplasticity.‘This wonderful book explores the art of human communication and connection, and in doing so, takes us to the heart of what our minds most need for healing, growth, and for facing the challenges of daily life.’Charlie Heriot-Maitland, PhD, DClinPsy, Clinical Psychologist and Director of Balanced Minds, and co-author (with Eleanor Longden) of Relating to Voices using Compassion Focused Therapy (2022).‘This book teaches us interpersonal meditative skills, based on both ancient techniques and modern science to foster our ability to reconnect to others, which seems crucial in these times of polarization, me-first and us-against-them attitudes.’Rogier Hoenders, MD, PhD, psychiatrist, director of the Center for Integrative Psychiatry, Lentis, Groningen and chair of the Dutch consortium for integrative medicine and health.‘If you want to cultivate wisdom and compassion in your relationships, this book offers an accessible and practical guide to getting started. An inspiring collection of six different approaches to becoming a better listener and a more authentic speaker, I highly recommend this book to anyone who values being truly present with those they care about. In a world riddled with conflict and in our day-to-day challenges of living, our shared humanity depends on our collective ability to connect deeply with each other. This book shows you how, so let it be your next step towards mastering the art of mindful communication.’Mark Hopfenbeck is social anthropologist specialising in health and social policy, an assistant professor (and mindfulness teacher) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), visiting fellow at London South Bank University (LSBU) and individual partner at the Collaborating Centre for Values-based Practice in Health and Social Care, St Catherine’s College, Oxford University. He is the co-editor of The Practical Handbook of Hearing Voices (with Isla Parker and Joachim Schnackenberg, 2021), The Practical Handbook of Eating Difficulties (with James Downs et al., 2022) and The Practical Handbook of Living Well with Dementia (with Isla Parker and Richard Coaten, 2022).‘A quality that defines humanity is our capacity for complex communication. But in today’s modern world how we communicate with each other has transformed, and not necessarily for the better. We have almost forgotten what it means to be with, listen and share. In this comprehensive book editors Koster, Heynekamp, and Norton present six mindful communication programmes that ground us in these most fundamental human qualities of connection and communication. If you want to improve your communication and how you connect with others, this book is a must have.’James Kirby, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, Co-Director of the Compassionate Mind Research Group, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Australia.‘This book lets the diamond of mindful communication shine, from various perspectives. A valuable resource to create better human communication.’Wibo Koole, director of Centrum voor Mindfulness, The Netherlands and author of Mindful Leadership (2014).‘We are a social species – historically our survival depended on being part of a group. We need friendship, good relationships, and love; they are associated with good health. In contrast loneliness and chronic conflict are toxic, associated with many poor health outcomes. This edited collection of original essays draws on ancient wisdom and modern psychology to provide a fresh, engaging and eminently practical set of ideas and tools. It provides a way to realise a vision of the world in which connection, good communication, and, yes love, will enable us to meet the challenges of the next fifty years. This is no surprise given the authors’ commitment over many years to developing these ideas through deep professional and personal experience, and first and foremost an embodiment of the ideas they extol. It is a stepwise development for the field, applying what we know about mindfulness to communication.’Willem Kuyken, Ritblat Professor of Mindfulness and Psychological Science, University of Oxford and co-author (with Christina Feldman) of Mindfulness: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Psychology (2019).‘May this book allow many to see clearly and live with awareness of awakening together.’Florence Meleo-Meyer, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Program Director, Global Relations and Professional Education, Mindfulness Center, Brown University School of Public Health, USA.‘As social beings, people have a deep need to connect with each other. But communicating can be both healing and harming. This book explores how mindfulness and compassion can contribute to people communicating with each other in a more wholesome way. Inspiring examples are offered, from different perspectives, to apply in daily practice. For everyone who is interacting with human beings - and who isn’t - this book is warmly recommended. I think our society is in need of this more than ever before …’Anne Speckens, professor of psychiatry and founder and director of Radboudumc Centre for Mindfulness in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. ‘I particularly enjoyed how accessible the book is, with lots of simple examples and a collection of ideas I had some familiarity with but presented in a fresh way with easy to use resources. Imagine how much better the world of corporate work could be if the CEO or human resource manager about to have a difficult conversation used some of these approaches.’Fionnuala Tennyson, Senior Communication Consultant whose former roles include Director of Communications at Kraft Foods Europe, Coca-Cola Enterprises and Chief of Strategic Communications at the United Nations World Food Programme.‘Through mindful communication, the emotional ripples of presence, understanding, empathy, help and support spread out and are replicated across our communities and societies. We desperately need mindful communication, presence and compassion at this point in our evolution, to rise to the challenges we face. This wonderful book offers a powerful and practical guide to helping each of us develop those deep and essential capacities.’Michael West, CBE, is Senior Visiting Fellow at The King's Fund, London and Professor of Organisational Psychology at Lancaster University. His latest books include The Courage of Compassion (with Suzie Baily & Ethan Williams, 2020) and Compassionate Leadership (2021).Table of Contents1. Introduction The value of mindful communication 2. Nonviolent Communication Mindfulness and compassion in relationships 3. Interpersonal Mindfulness Awakening together 4. Green Zone Communication Our day-to-day conversations as mindfulness practice 5. Mindfulness and Communication Creating a space to coexist 6. Deep Listening Transforming communication 7. Experiences with Open Dialogue Mindfulness and the dialogic practice, on the way to insight

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Book SynopsisMachine learning, big data and AI are reshaping the human experience and forcing us to develop a new ethical intelligence. Peter Hershock offers a new way to think about attention, personal presence, and ethics as intelligent technology shatters previously foundational certainties and opens entirely new spaces of opportunity. Rather than turning exclusively to cognitive science and contemporary ethical theories, Hershock shows how classical Confucian and Socratic philosophies help to make visible what a history of choices about remaking ourselves through control biased technology has rendered invisible. But it is in Buddhist thought and practice that Hershock finds the tools for valuing and training our attention, resisting the colonization of consciousness, and engendering a more equitable and diversity-enhancing human-technology-world relationship. Focusing on who we need to be present as to avoid a future in which machines prevent us from either making or learning from our own misTrade ReviewThis book asks a very original research question: who do we need to be present as in order to respond to the predicament of artificial intelligence? This is not a self-help guide, but an invitation to an interpersonal, intercultural, and intergenerational pluralist deliberation about one the pressing challenges of our time. Compulsory reading for anyone who looks further than the usual discourses and is ready to improvise. * Mark Coeckelbergh, Professor of Philosophy of Media and Technology, University of Vienna, Austria *Hershock breaks new ground in linking Buddhist scholarship to contemporary predicaments occasioned by intelligent technology. Recommended for anyone working in technology ethics as a means of extending their perspective beyond the usual ethical frameworks. * Laura Specker Sullivan, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Fordham University, USA *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Artificial Intelligence: A Brief History 2. The Intelligence Revolution: A Work in Progress 3. Total Attention Capture and Control: A Future to Avoid 4. Anticipating an Ethics of Intelligence 5. Dimensions of Personal Resolve: Confucian Conduct, Socratic Reasoning, and Buddhist Consciousness 6. Humane Becoming: Cultivating Responsive Virtuosity 7. What Comes Next? Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThis book argues that Buddhism has spread due to globalized capitalism, and explores how capitalism is also impacting Buddhists and Buddhism today. Edited by two leading scholars in Buddhist studies, the book examines how capitalism and neo-liberalism have shaped global perceptions of Buddhism, as well as specific local practices and attitudes. It examines the institutional practices that sustained the spread of Buddhism for two and a half millennia, and the adaptation of Buddhist institutions in contemporary, global economic systemsparticularly in Europe and the United States over the last century and half. These innovative essays on the interfaces between Buddhism and capitalism will prompt readers to rethink the connection between Buddhism and secular society. Case studies include digital capitalism, tourism, and monasticism, and are drawn from the USA, Tibet, China, Japan, and Thailand.Table of ContentsList of Illustrations List of Contributors Acknowledgments Introduction: The Economic Study of Buddhism, Richard K. Payne (Institute of Buddhist Studies, Berkeley, USA) and Fabio Rambelli (University of California, Santa Barbara, USA) Part I: Historical Perspective 1. Monastic Capitalism? The inclusiveness of Tibetan monastic Institutions, William K. Dewey (independent scholar) Part II: Contemporary Studies 2. Selling Buddhism by Branding Mindfulness and Reiki as Valuable, Secular Services: Three Interacting Economic Models, by Candy Brown (Indiana University, USA) 3. Consciousness Raising, False Consciousness, and Freud: Buddhist Traditions in Contemporary Mental Health Economies in the United States, Ira Helderman (Vanderbilt University, USA) 4. Buddhist Technoscapes: Interrogating “Skillful Means” in East Asian Monasteries, by Courtney Bruntz (Doane University, Nebraska) 5. Perceiving Authenticity: Online Tourism Reviews of Buddhist Tourist Destinations, Kendall Marchman (University of Georgia, USA) 6. Ethics in Small business capitalism of Women Kuan Im followers in Thailand, Mark Speece (Mahidol University, Thailand) and Jitnisa Roenjun (busines owner in Bangkok, Thailand) 7. Economics of Buddhist ‘Connectionwork’: Analyzing the spread and expansion of Buddhism in the global market economy, Elizabeth Williams-Oerberg (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) 8. Gross National Happiness: Capitalism under Buddhism in the Kingdom of Bhutan, Barbra Clayton (Mount Alison University, Canada) and Della Duncan (California Institute of Integral Studies, USA) Part III: Theoretical Reflections 9. Drawing Blood: At the Intersection of Knowledge Economies and Buddhist Economies, by Scott Mitchell (Institute of Buddhist Studies, Berkeley, USA) 10. A Part of or Apart from Globalization? The Ambivalent Relationship between Buddhism and Modern Capitalism, Lionel Obadia (University of Lyon, France) 11. Prolegomena to a Buddhist(ic) Critique of Capitalism, James Mark Shields (Bucknell University, USA) Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisSantideva's 8th century Mahayana Buddhist classic, the Guide to the Practices of Awakening (Bodhicaryavatara), has been a source of philosophical inspiration in the Indian and Tibetan traditions for over a thousand years. Stephen Harris guides us through a philosophical exploration of Santideva's masterpiece, introducing us to his understanding of the compassionate bodhisattva, who vows to liberate the entire universe from suffering. Individual chapters provide studies of the bodhisattva virtues of generosity, patience, compassion, and wisdom, illustrating the role each plays in Santideva's account of well-being and moral development. Harris also provides in-depth analysis of many of Santideva's most influential arguments, demonstrating how he employs reasoning as a method to cultivate moral character. As the first book-length English language philosophical study of Santideva's most influential text, this will be essential reading for students and scholars of BuddhisTrade ReviewThis is an essential companion to the study of the most influential treatise on ethics in Mahayana Buddhism. Harris clarifies the logic of Santideva's moral theory and demonstrates convincingly the foundational role of virtue in his conception of well-being. * Damien Keown, Emeritus Professor of Buddhist Ethics, University of London Goldsmiths, UK *In developing a case for a virtue-theoretic interpretation of Santideva’s Bodhicaryavatara, Stephen Harris sheds considerable light on the overall structure of this key text of Mahayana ethics. This will be a welcome addition to the growing body of literature on the topic. * Mark Siderits, Emeritus Professor, Illinois State University, USA *Santideva's Bodhicaryavatara is the most extensive and profound articulation of Mahayana Buddhist ethical thought, and is a masterpiece of moral psychology that should be studied by anyone interested in human ethical cultivation or in ethical theory. Stephen Harris's study of this text provides the contemporary reader with the means to enter into Santideva's project, to read and to understand his arguments, and to appreciate his vision of moral excellence and the path to achieving that excellence. The exposition is always clear and reliable, while remaining precise and philologically rigorous, with careful attention to other recent literature. Harris' interpretation is compelling, and he places Santideva in conversation with contemporary metaethical theory and moral psychology with great skill. This book is an enormous contribution to Buddhist Studies and to Ethical theory, and will be of great value to students and to neophytes in Buddhist ethical thought as well as to scholars immersed in Mahayana studies. * Jay L Garfield, Doris Silbert Professor in the Humanities and Professor of Philosophy and Buddhist Studies, Smith College, USA *With clear and insightful analysis, Harris brings Santideva’s Guide into conversation with contemporary philosophical ethics, showing how compassion can complement self-interest, emphasizing the sociality and rationality of the bodhisattva ideal. This is a landmark contribution to the philosophical study of Buddhist ethics, a rich resource for students, scholars, and practitioners. * William Edelglass, Director of Studies, Barre Center for Buddhist Studies USA and Associate Professor, Emerson College, USA *Table of ContentsSeries Editor Preface Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Selfless Character: Virtue without a Self 2. Giving as Abandoning 3. Three: Patience and the Irrationality of Anger 4. Compassion and Desire 5. Joy 6. Wisdom and the Transformation of Experience 7. Dedication: Until the End of Space and Time Conclusion Notes Works Cited Index

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Book SynopsisAwaken the transformative energy within you with this beginners guide to tantra, beautifully presented with a gold embossed cover design and gilded page edges.Tantric rituals are used to connect with divine energies and expand our consciousness. Its practices originate from Indian medieval scriptures and informs strands in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist thought. Yoga, meditation and art all formed a part of its rich, historic lineage. In this book we uncover and explain the ideas contained within this complex system of thought and introduce simple exercises to put these ideas into practice. Understanding how to weave together the energies within us leads to a completion of the self that feeds ever-greater health and happiness. This is a prerequisite to a spiritually awakened life and the gift of those who follow tantric teachings.Sections include:• Scripture and experience• Beginning with the breath• Nyasa and the art

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Book SynopsisBuddhism: A Complete Introduction is a comprehensive and easy-to-use introduction, designed to give you everything you need to succeed, all in one place. Written by a leading expert, this book will help you if you are studying for an important exam or essay, or if you simply want to improve your knowledge. It is structured to mirror the way in which Buddhism is usually taught, starting with the life of the Buddha through to the prospects of Buddhism for the next generation.The book covers all the key areas that are considered central to Buddhism, including the Buddha''s teachings, the scriptures and schools, the role of meditation and the moral and ethical context. It uses jargon-free English and includes features such as guided further reading and end of chapter questions to ensure that you understand all the concepts covered.Buddhism: A Complete Introduction includes: Chapter 1: Buddhists and BuddhismWho are Buddhists?T

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Book SynopsisReaders are hard-pressed to find books that can help them understand the central concept in Mahayana Buddhism—the idea that ultimate reality is emptiness. In clear language, Introduction to Emptiness explains that emptiness is not a mystical sort of nothingness, but a specific truth that can and must be understood through calm and careful reflection. Newland''s contemporary examples and vivid anecdotes will help readers understand this core concept as presented in one of the great classic texts of the Tibetan tradition, Tsong-kha-pa''s Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment. This new edition includes quintessential points for each chapter.

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Book SynopsisThese ancient texts, attributed to the great Tibetan meditation master Padmasambhava, offer traditional Vajrayana Buddhist teachings on the nature of the fundamental elements that make up our world. The translator’s commentaries show us a practical view of how to use these life-energies for personal development.

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Book SynopsisHow can we live a balanced life in unbalanced times? How can the practices of meditation and yoga support our relationships, our work lives, and the greater good? Author, teacher, and psychotherapist Michael Stone presents the essential insights of mindfulness and yoga, emphasizing the teachings of simplicity and the interdependence of all life. Stone explains that the practices of yoga and meditation are not about escaping reality but about living fully in the here and now, opening to our experience, and gaining access to stillness within the flow of life. The essence of yoga and Buddhist practice is opening the heart—our own and the heart of the world. With that awareness, Stone encourages us to get involved in our communities, to speak out when we see wrongdoing, and to find ways of helping others.

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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.

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Book SynopsisA renowned meditation master retells the stories and realization songs of Tibet''s best-known and most-beloved religious figure—and reveals how they relate to our everyday livesHe went from being the worst kind of malevolent sorcerer to a devoted and ascetic Buddhist practitioner to a completely enlightened being all in a single lifetime . . . The story of Milarepa (1040–1123) is a tale of such extreme and powerful transformation that it might be thought not to have much direct application to our own less dramatic lives—but Chögyam Trungpa shows otherwise. This collection of his teachings on the life and songs of the great Tibetan Buddhist poet-saint reveals how Milarepa’s difficulties can be a source of guidance and inspiration for anyone. His struggles, his awakening, and the teachings from his remarkable songs provide precious wisdom for all us practitioners and show what devoted and diligent practice can achieve.

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Book SynopsisA repurposed and hearty tribute to the Western master of Tibetan Buddhism, Jeffrey Hopkins.This is a book offered in tribute to Jeffrey Hopkins by colleagues and former students. Hopkins has, in his several decades of work, made profound and diverse contributions to the understanding of Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism in the West. In his collaborations with the Dalai Lama, such as Kindness, Clarity, and Insight, and in books like Tibetan Arts of Love and Emptiness Yoga, Hopkins has reached out to the general reader, making the wisdom of Tibet accessible to all English speakers. Though there is never anything superficial about his work, his Emptiness in the Mind-Only School is a magisterial display of painstaking scholarly work.Changing Minds contains essays that reflect the breadth and influence of Hopkins''s work. Topics presented include the two truths, the object of negation, the results of a

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Book SynopsisThis fourth and final Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics volume provides, through extensive passages, a window into the works of the great thinkers from the flowering of philosophy in classical India.This is the second philosophy volume in the Science and Philosophy series. Whereas the first philosophy volume presented the views of the non-Buddhist and Buddhist schools in sequence, the present work selects specific topics for consideration, including the nature of the two truths, the analysis of self, the Yogacara explanation of reality, emptiness in the Madhyamaka tradition, a survey of logic and epistemology, and the Buddhist explanation of language and meaning. Like earlier volumes, it provides, through extensive extracts, a window into the works of the masters of the Nalanda tradition. The final section on language is particularly unique and largely crafted by Thupten Jinpa.

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Book SynopsisThis treasury of essential Buddhist writings draws from the most popular Indian, Tibetan, Chinese, and Japanese sources. Among the selections are some of the earliest recorded sayings of the Buddha on the practice of freedom, passages from later Indian scriptures on the perfection of wisdom, verses from Tibetan masters on the enlightened mind, and songs in praise of meditation by Zen teachers. The book also includes traditional instruction on how to practice sitting meditation, cultivate calm awareness, and live with compassion. Jack Kornfield, one of the most respected American Buddhist teachers, has compiled these teachings to impart the essence and inspiration of Buddhism to readers of all spiritual traditions. This revised and expanded edition of the Shambhala Pocket Classics version of the same title offers a broad array of teachings representing the full spectrum of the Buddhist tradition, including new selections on the role of women in early Buddhism.

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Book SynopsisSaints, spiritual warriors, bodhisattvas, zaddikim - no matter how they are named in a given tradition, they all share a profound altruistic wish to free others from suffering. Saints are not beings of stained glass or carved stone. “Each of us can be a new saint,” says Lama Rod Owens. “In our pain, our trauma, and all our complexity, we all can - and must - awaken the virtue of our compassion for the benefit of our communities, our planet, and our own souls.” With The New Saints, Lama Rod shares a guidebook for becoming an effective agent of justice, peace, and change. Combining personal stories, spiritual teachings, and instructions for contemplative and somatic practices, he shares inspiring resources for self-exploration and wise action. Each chapter reinforces the truth of our interdependency - allowing us to be of service to the collective well-being, and to call on the support and strength of the countless souls who share our struggles and hopes. The status quo of our society is crumbling, and rightly so. But what future will emerge to replace it? Lama Rod says that the difference will be decided by us, if we have the willingness to let our hearts break open, disrupt systems of violence, and let goodness guide our actions instead of fear and hate. Here is a guide to become a warrior of kindness - a human refreshed, serving a vision of a world shaped by love.

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Book SynopsisJoin renowned spiritual teacher Adyashanti for a practice-based journey out of the thinking mind and into the awakened awareness beyond perceptual reality.For renowned teacher Adyashanti, every single moment contains a doorway into spiritual awakening. But what does it actually mean to wake up to the truth of reality? And what does it take to recognize these opportunities?In The Direct Way, Adya (as his students call him) offers a sequence of 30 practices intended to connect with and cultivate ever-greater awareness of the unseen dimensions of your being. From the simple expression of I am, to an exploration of the Spiritual Heart, and all the way into the fundamental ground of being, these exercises emphasize that the process of awakening takes many small glimpses, experienced many times. Adya concludes with practical pointers on how to integrate transcendent experiences into the everyday fabric of lifeincluding your career, personal goals, and intimate relationships.Here you will discover: How to dis-identify from conceptual, ego-based thinking Perceiving the ego as a tool to navigate consciousness rather than an obstacle The knowing yet empty quality of foundational awareness The surprising route to realizing awareness of the Spiritual Heart Feeling through the Spiritual Heart as a way to experience true interconnection The meaning of the Zen teaching phrase, This very body is the Buddha Exploring the exhilarating paradox of Being and Becoming How to establish anchor points to stabilize your journey into the Ground of Being What it means to live each day with enlightened relativity How awakening puts control of your experience in your handsbut also the responsibility for itNo one experiences awakening quite the same. With The Direct Way, join Adya to discover pathways toward an awareness as wide as the sky and as personal as your innermost heart.

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Book SynopsisIn a small medieval palace on Kathmandu's Durbar Square lives Nepal's famous Living Goddess - a child as young as three who is chosen from a caste of Buddhist goldsmiths to watch over the country and protect its people. To Nepalis she is the embodiment of Devi (the universal goddess) and for centuries their Hindu kings have sought her blessing to legitimize their rule. Legends swirl about her, for the facts are shrouded in secrecy and closely guarded by dynasties of priests and caretakers. How come a Buddhist girl is worshipped by autocratic Hindu rulers? Are the initiation rituals as macabre as they are rumoured to be? And what fate awaits the Living Goddesses when they attain puberty and are dismissed from their role? Weaving together myth, religious belief, modern history and court gossip, Isabella Tree takes us on a compelling and fascinating journey to the esoteric, hidden heart of Nepal. Through her unprecedented access to the many layers of Nepalese society, she is able to put the country's troubled modern history in the context of the complex spiritual beliefs and practices that inform the role of the little girl at its centre. Deeply felt, emotionally engaged and written after over a decade of travel and research, The Living Goddess is a compassionate and illuminating enquiry into this reclusive Himalayan country - a revelation.Trade Review"Completely fascinating, beautifully written and stranger than fiction. I loved it. (Joanna Lumley) A unique insight into an astonishing tradition (Colin Thubron) An extraordinary story, beautifully told. Isabella Tree combines the observational and literary gifts of a Diana Eck or an Andrew Harvey with Roberto Calasso's ability to retell mythology and Wendy Doniger's ability to interpret it. The resulting search is nothing short of a revelation. (William Dalrymple)

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Book SynopsisFrom jewellery to meditation pillows to tourist retreats, religious traditions – especially those of the East – are being commodified as never before. Imitated and rebranded as ‘New Age’ or ‘spiritual’, they are marketed to secular Westerners as an answer to suffering in the modern world, the ‘mystical’ and ‘exotic’ East promising a path to enlightenment and inner peace. In Buying Buddha, Selling Rumi, Sophia Rose Arjana examines the appropriation and sale of Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam in the West today, the role of mysticism and Orientalism in the religious marketplace, and how the commodification of religion impacts people’s lives.Trade Review‘Buying Buddha, Selling Rumi highlights the hidden costs of what would appear to be positive stereotypes about Eastern religiosity. In doing so, Arjana interrogates cultural colonialism, i.e. the borrowing of other people’s cultures and religions without giving credit to actual persons and institutions… With its comprehensive theoretically informed approach and exciting case studies, I would especially recommend this book for use in undergraduate classes.’ * Religion (Liz Wilson, Miami University) *‘an expansive book, covering the intersection of mysticism and capitalism… illuminating… I would recommend this book in undergraduate classrooms learning about Asian religions and especially the last chapter for a media studies class. This type of sweeping project is difficult to pull off, and Arjana certainly does an admirable job.’ * Politics, Religion & Ideology *‘A wide-ranging overview of the ongoing power and cultural significance of long-standing Western Orientalist tropes about “the Mystic East”. This is an important work for anyone working on Asian traditions and their contemporary appropriation, transformation and commodification.’ -- Richard King, Professor of Buddhist and Asian Studies, University of Kent‘A fascinating and wholly engrossing exploration of how “mysticism”, as we know it in the West, circulates as a modern-day product of colonial structures of power.’ -- Sylvia Chan-Malik, Associate Professor, Departments of American Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies, Rutgers University‘Both scholarly and readable, Buying Buddha, Selling Rumi deepens our understanding of the way the West appropriates Eastern religion.’ -- Jeffrey H. Mahan, Ralph E. and Norma E. Peck Professor of Religion & Public Communication, Iliff School of Theology‘Tribal events and mystic tourism in Bali are some of the topics entertainingly and critically described and analyzed by Arjana… The book is not only well researched with many fine examples and convincing arguments to underline the theoretical assumptions of the commodification of Eastern religions in the West; it is also well written and a pleasure to read. Furthermore, it raises some important theoretical, methodological and moral questions that could be the center of good discussions with students… The book is very interesting, well written, highly recommendable and useful for critical discussions.’ -- Journal of Religion, Media and Digital CultureTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Histories of Religion and Mysticism 2 Cultural Colonialism, Muddled Orientalism, and the Mystic Poor 3 Mysticism, Incorporated 4 Hindu Hippies and Boulder Buddhists 5 Rumimaniacs 6 Lost, Star Wars, and Mystical Hollywood Postscript Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisOur ego, and its accompanying sense of self-doubt, is one affliction we all share. And while our ego claims to have our best interests at heart, in its never-ending pursuit of attention and power, it sabotages the very goals it sets to achieve. In Advice Not Given, renowned psychiatrist and author Dr Mark Epstein reveals how Buddhism and Western psychotherapy both identify the ego as the limiting factor in our wellbeing and both come to the same conclusion: when we give the ego free rein, we suffer; but when it learns to let go, we are free.Our ego is at once our biggest obstacle and our greatest hope. We can be at its mercy or we can learn to mould it. Completely unique and practical, Epstein's advice can be used by all, and will provide wise counsel in a confusing world.

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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.

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Book SynopsisWITH A NEW FOREWORD BY PROFESSOR MARK WILLIAMS, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORDThe Miracle of Mindfulness is a modern classic. In this life-changing book, Buddhist monk and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Thich Nhat Hanh explains how to practise mindfulness. Once we know how to be mindful, we can slow ourselves down and start living in the moment. Even simple acts such as washing the dishes or drinking a cup of tea can be transformed into acts of meditation. Whatever our beliefs, we can begin to reap the immense benefits that meditation has been scientifically proven to offer.Thich Nhat Hanh's unique calligraphy, especially created for this beautiful new edition, accompanies his words of wisdom. A chronology details the important moments in his life, and rare photographs illustrate key moments.This is a book to treasure and the perfect gift for those you love and care for.Trade ReviewSowed the seeds of a revolution… a modern classic -- from the Foreword by Prof Mark WilliamsThe first book to awaken a mainstream readership to the subject of mindfulness – a testimony to the power of Thich Nhat Hanh’s elegant and profound teaching. -- Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Full Catastrophe Living

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Book SynopsisThe highest teachings on the nature of mind are like a diamond, transparent and indestructible, also reflecting the color of the society into which they are introduced. Originating in India, Buddhism migrated to Tibet, and is today taking a style more appropriate to educated and independent minds in the West. Lama Ole, one of the few qualified western lamas of the Karma Kagyu tradition, is a major driving force in this process, providing here a fresh, exciting summary of Buddha's timeless wisdom. This seminal work offers the liberating and powerful methods of Diamond Way (Vajrayana) Buddhism for readers seeking to incorporate Buddhist practice into their daily lives. In language that is witty, easy to understand, and without compromising on the essentials, Ole answers the questions that Westerners ask. How do Buddha's teachings utilize the potential of our full being in today's world? Through which practices may we experience mind as limitless space and bliss? How can one use the daily joys and difficulties in one's job, family, or partnerships for spiritual growth? And what is spiritual growth and how does one recognize it? "The Way Things Are" answers these questions and provides practical methods for developing mind, and makes the timeless wisdom of Buddhism accessible to an intrigued western audience, itself increasingly drawn to Tibetan Buddhism. This is a revised, much expanded (three times the length) and up-to-date edition of the original book published in 1997.

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Book SynopsisBorn out of a decade of discussion and collaboration between The Monk and the Management Consultant - His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Laurens van den Muyzenberg - The Leader's Way represents the synthesis of East and West and provides an inspiring manifesto for business change. The world today faces many challenges. While our total wealth has increased enormously and we benefit from technological miracles, billions of people are living in abject poverty, we face the threat of environmental disaster, and even those in prosperous nations feel insecure about the future. Addressing these problems requires a different kind of leadership which sees things as they really are and resolves them in a holistic way. That is what The Leader's Way offers - a manifesto for change which can have an impact at every level, from the individual to the global.Trade ReviewAs a study of Buddhism and its relevance to globalisation, it has a lot to say. It applies the concepts of Buddhism to business: decision-making using concepts such as 'the Right Way', interdependence and impermanence. To simplify, it's a Hippocratic, do-no-harm creed: companies should have integrity, leader's mindfulness, to act for the greatest good. Many reader's will value it. There's much to learn, nothing to offend just leave your cynicism at the door. * Director Magazine *This book examines capitalism and Buddhism in a fascinating way. Everybody in business who is seriously interested in responsible entrepreneurship will recognise the issues. The book adds a valuable dimension to the values and ethical standards that form the basis for responsible leadership in business. -- Prof. C.O. Herkströter, former CEO of Shell and Chairman of the Board of ING.

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Book SynopsisThe DHAMMAPADA is a daily inspiration for millions of Buddhists all over the world and for non-Buddhists who have been impressed by its beauty and power. These words spoken by Buddha himself over 2500 years ago contain all of Buddhism's key teachings. However the DHAMMAPADA is notoriously difficult to understand for the novice and is full of references and allusions that the uninformed reader is sure to miss. Now you can understand the DHAMMAPADA with understanding even if you have no previous knowledge of Buddhism. This accessible edition offer the complete text plus enlightening facing-page commentary that explains all the names terms and references giving you the kind of insight into the text not usually available for first time readers and at the same time providing an excellent first introduction to Buddhist life and practice.Trade Review"The pith of Buddha's teachings are herein wondrously and excellently presented." —Joan Halifax Roshi, Head Teacher, Upaya Zen Center "Provides access to the wisdom of the text in a way that invites further exploration of one's own transformation." —Kay Lindahl, founder, The Listening Center; author, The Sacred Art of Listening: Forty Reflections for Cultivating a Spiritual Practice “The words of the Buddha become fresh and alive in this wonderful edition. Wisdom shines through, ready for application in daily life.” —Ani Konchog Drolma, head of monastic training at Gampo Abbey “A friendly introduction to a sacred text at the heart of Buddhist teaching.” —Marcia Z. Nelson, author, Come and Sit: A Week Inside Meditation Centers “These verses can be read and appreciated simply as wise philosophy; as such, they are part of the great literature of the world. But for those who would follow it to the end, the Dhammapada is a sure guide to nothing less than the highest goal life can offer: self-realization.” —Eknath Easwaran “The verses, along with well-placed guiding annotations, will be inspiring to young people exploring the Buddhist path.” —Sumi Loundon, editor, Blue Jean Buddha: Voices of Young BuddhistsTable of ContentsForeword by Andrew Harvey ix Acknowledgments and Dedication xvii About the Dhammapada xix 1. The Twin Verses 3 2. Vigilance 9 3. The Mind 13 4. Flowers 17 5. The Fool 21 6. The Wise One 27 7. The Enlightened One 31 8. Better than a Thousand 35 9. Evil 39 10. Punishment 43 11. Old Age 47 12. Self 51 13. The World 55 14. The Buddha 59 15. Happiness 63 16. Pleasure 67 17. Anger 71 18. Impurity 75 19. The Just 81 20. The Way 85 21. Miscellany 91 22. The Downward Course 95 23. The Elephant 99 24. Thirst 103 25. The Monk 111 26. The Brahman 117 Sources and Suggested Readings 126 List of Special Terms 128

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Book SynopsisA Zen monk strides empty-handed into a tiger's cage. An Indian master empties a bag of gold dust into the air. A young woman lays down the burden of her dead child and asks the Buddha to accept her as his disciple. These are some of the scenes evoked in this collection of Buddhist stories.

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Book SynopsisQueens and old crones, Buddhas and goddesses, mothers and wild women. Female deities in Buddhism take many forms to inspire, beguile, rouse and protect us. Enter the magical realm of gently compassionate Kuan Yin from China, meet the elusive golden goddess from India representing Perfect Wisdom, and tangle with the energetic embodiments of freedom, the fearless sky-dancing dakinis of Tibet. Respected Western Buddhist teacher Vessantara invites us to learn more about ourselves as women and men by reflecting on these figures, for within us lie the seeds of love, wisdom and freedom that these figures symbolise in their fullness, qualities we can nurture through contemplating the beauty of these enlightened beings. Engage not just with your head but with your heart .. Follow your intuition … enrich your life.

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Book SynopsisExploring Karma & Rebirth is a vigorous and thought-provoking inquiry into two important but often misunderstood Buddhist doctrines. This challenging book: clarifies and critically appraises these traditional Buddhist doctrines, examines them in relation to their cultural origins and discusses whether these teachings are still relevant today, and offers an imaginative reading of what the teachings could mean for the postmodern Western world Above all, Exploring Karma & Rebirth insists that, to be of enduring value, these doctrines must continue to serve the overriding aim of Buddhism: spiritual awakening.Trade Review"An excellent introduction to the complex and frequently misinterpreted Buddhist doctrines of karma and rebirth..." - Stephen Batchelor, author of Buddhism Without Beliefs."

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Book SynopsisThese books give a clear explanation of the essence of Buddhism and its relevance to modern living from which everyone, Buddhist or non-Buddhist, can benefit. With beautiful illustrations throughout and addressing the reader in a mature style, these books take on the life and teachings of Buddha as a basis for exploring many of the issues and concerns faced by children and young pople today. And although these books are written principally for children, everyone - parents, teachers and people of all ages - can benefit from reading these books and learning from the teachings of Buddha. This set of four includes: 1. 'The Story of Angulimala' - overcoming anger with kindness. 2. 'The Story of Buddha' - how a prince became Buddha. 3. 'What is Buddhism?' - understanding Buddha's teachings. 4. 'What is Meditation?' - meditation for a peaceful mind. Note for teachers and parents: Series suitable for Key Stages 1 to 3.Table of Contents1. 'The Story of Angulimala' - A beautifully illustrated story of hope and personal transformation, from the life of Buddha, that addresses many of the issues confronting children today. Themes include: How to stop being angry and harmful; How to be calm and peaceful; How to be loving and kind toward each other. 2. 'The Story of Buddha' - The story of Buddha's life is timeless and is as relevant today as it was 2500 years ago when Buddha was alive. It shows how we can learn to maintain a peaceful mind all the time so that we can be happy all the time, and this way fulfil our own wishes as well as the wishes of all our friends. Few can fail to be inspired by this powerful story. 3. 'What is Buddhism?' - This book introduces the mind, as distinct from the brain, and invites the reader to explore and develop their mind using scientific methods taught by Buddha. It shows how the problems we encounter in life do not exist outside of ourself, but are part of our mind that experiences unpleasant feelings. Learning to control our mind, especially our desire, is the only way to bring all our problems to an end. 4. 'What is Meditation?' - We know from our own experience that when our mind is peaceful we are happy all the time, even if our external conditions are poor; but when our mind is not peaceful we are not happy, even if our external conditions are excellent. The method to make our mind peaceful is training in meditation. This book explains a simple breathing meditation suitable for all ages and briefly introduces more advanced forms of meditation.

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Book SynopsisMind in Harmony will interest anyone who is curious to know what Buddhism has to say about the mind. Readers who already know something about Buddhism in general, and fancy taking the plunge into Buddhist psychology, will find plenty here to stimulate them, and an accessible introduction to this technical subject. Subhuti describes the mind from the Buddhist point of view, and shows how such knowledge can serve as a practical tool for mind training.

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Book SynopsisIn this volume are collected two works that complement each other very well, each being in its own way at the heart of Sangharakshita's writings. A Survey of Buddhism was first published in 1957, and Lama Anagarika Govinda wrote of that first edition, 'It would be difficult to find a single book in which the history and development of Buddhist thought has been described as vividly and clearly as in this survey. For all those who wish to know the heart, the essence of Buddhism as an integrated whole, there can be no better guide than this book.' The Survey, whose ninth edition is reproduced here, continues to provide an indispensable study of the entire field of Buddhist thought and practice, covering all major doctrines and traditions, and placing their development in historical and cultural context.The Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path of course outlines the best-known formulation of the Buddha's teaching, and if its name sounds archaic, Sangharakshita's vivid explanation of how to follow that path provides a fresh and inspiring guide. Here, to the original text are added seminar extracts that give a range of helpful perspectives on the stages of the path. This volume includes a full section of endnotes locating the teachings to the suttas and sutras that inspired them, as well as a Foreword by Dharmachari Subhuti looking at these two texts from an inspirational and a critical perspective, and bringing out the inner connection between them.

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Book SynopsisBuddhist scholar and teacher Bhikkhu Analayo explores the practice of mindfulness of breathing in the sixteen steps of the Anapanasati Sutta. This is an authoritative, practice-orientated elucidation of a foundational Buddhist text, useful to meditators whatever their tradition or background. In the first six chapters Analayo presents practical instructions comparable to his Satipatthana Meditation: A Practice Guide. The remaining chapters contain his translations of extracts from the early Chinese canon. With his accompanying commentary, these help the practitioner appreciate the early Buddhist perspective on the breath and the practice of mindfulness of breathing. Analayo presents his understanding of these early teachings, arising from his own meditation practice and teaching experience. His aim is to inspire all practitioners to use what he has found helpful to build their own practice and become self-reliant. The book is accompanied with freely downloadable audio files offering guided and progressive meditation instructions from the author.Trade ReviewPraise for Compassion and Emptiness in Early Buddhist Meditation 'Venerable Analayo brings a meticulous textual analysis of Pali texts, the Chinese Agamas and related material from Sanskrit and Tibetan to the foundational topics of compassion and emptiness. While his analysis is grounded in a scholarly approach, this study is a helpful guide for meditation practice.' Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo 'Arising from the author's long-term, dedicated practice and study, this book provides a window into the depth and beauty of the Buddha's liberating teachings.' Sharon Salzberg Praise for Mindfully Facing Disease and Death 'An invaluable and extraordinary resource on the profound teachings by the Buddha on dying, death, and grieving. Bhikkhu An?layo has given a great gift to all of us by bringing together in this book the compassionate wisdom of the Buddha on our mortality.' Roshi Joan Halifax 'I believe the Buddha would rejoice in this book and exhort all of us to read it and apply the medicine within. This will help to bring about the deepest healing of all - the healing of the mind and the heart - even if we are slipping over the final frontier of death itself.' Vidyamala Burch

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Book SynopsisAn invaluable resource for Buddhist scholars, meditation teachers, and practitioners wishing to deepen their own practice of mindfulness. In this in-depth guide, the author examines all aspects of mindfulness practice, explores the history of mindfulness in the Buddhist tradition, and provides instructions for meditation practice.Trade Review'Bhikkhu Analayo's Mindfulness in Early Buddhism, Characteristics and Functions is a result of his comparative study of mindfulness in Pali and Chinese texts. In my view, this is one book that everybody seriously teaching and practising mindfulness meditation should have in their homes as a reference book on various aspects of mindfulness. It can amazingly benefit Buddhists from different traditions who are unfamiliar with each other's meditation practices. Reading this book opens our minds to see various usages, similarities, dissimilarities, and misinterpretations of mindfulness.' - H. Gunaratana Mahathera, author of Mindfulness in Plain English; 'Mindfulness in Early Buddhism, Characteristics and Functions is a treasure trove of teachings, illuminating in depth and detail the many aspects and nuances of mindfulness. Through his own practice and scholarly research, Bhikkhu Analayo explores the different characteristics and functions of mindfulness and how they lead us on to freedom. A wonderfully deep dive into what liberates the mind.' - Joseph Goldstein, author of Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening; The definitive resource for scholars, meditation teachers, and those practitioners interested in a high-resolution framing of the meaning and cultivation of mindfulness under a wide variety of life circumstances, as illuminated by a careful and broad-minded exegesis of specific texts (Pali Nikayas and Chinese Agamas) written down closest to the time of the Buddha. Analayo here provides a rich framework for examining, reflecting upon, and deepening one's own ongoing practice and understanding in light of these earliest teachings on the cultivation of mindfulness as the direct path for the liberation and the extinguishing of suffering. He ends by offering his own inclusive definition of mindfulness. Much of what is illuminated here may be highly germane to current neuroscience studies of meditation, including brain networks subtending salience, memory (including working memory), proprioception, executive function, emotion regulation, and sense of self. - Jon Kabat-Zinn, Founder of MBSR, author of The Healing Power of Mindfulness and Mindfulness for All; 'Mindfulness in Early Buddhism, Characteristics and Functions is an invaluable and timely contribution to our understanding of the early Buddhist notion of "mindfulness". Analayo makes available, through scrupulous translation and astute analysis, the vast scriptural and commentarial literature bearing on the topic in Pali, as well as the early Agama literature - often ignored - that survives in Chinese. The volume stands as the most comprehensive sourcebook and exhaustive study of the early materials to date, and should be required reading of anyone interested in the Buddhist roots of mindfulness practice.' - Robert Sharf, author of Coming to Terms with Chinese Buddhism: A Reading of the Treasure Store Treatise; 'Since so few practitioners have the ability to access the early Buddhist discourses, which are preserved in languages as diverse as Pali, Gandhari, Sanskrit, Chinese, and Tibetan, this book, as with the author's other writings, is an important contribution to the topic. Another consequence of letting the primary texts, the discourses attributed to the Buddha, speak for themselves through providing very readable and fluent translations of them, supplemented with the author's commentary and interpretations, is that the book is a delight to read because the early discourses are so varied, fresh, and informative, with teachings liberally illustrated and enhanced through similes, metaphors, and the like.' - Mark Allon, author of Style and Function: A Study of Dominant Stylistic Features of the Prose Portions of Pali Canonical Sutta Texts and Their Mnemonic Function and Three Gandhari Ekottarikagama-Type Sutras: British Library Kharosthi Fragments 12 and 14, from the Foreword

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Book SynopsisBuddhist meditator and scholar Bhikkhu Analayo introduces the Buddhist backgrounds to mindfulness, ranging from mindful eating to its formal cultivation as satipatthana (the foundations of mindfulness). He also offers a historical survey of the development of mindfulness in different Buddhist traditions. Providing an accessible guide, he offers practical exercises on how to develop mindfulness. The orally transmitted early teachings examined here provide a range of perspectives on mindfulness, with a clear overarching focus on the role of mindfulness in the path to `awakening', to an understanding of reality as it is. Analayo shows how mindfulness is a central tool for recognizing the influence of greed, anger and delusion, and how to emerge from these to progress on the path of practice to liberation. He shows how mindfulness brings about a clear vision of reality, fostering a gradual freeing of the mind from these influences, and enabling us to be more fully in touch with what is taking place and remain in the present; we learn to slow down and come to our senses. As well as being directed within, Analayo demonstrates how mindfulness helps us discern how what we do impacts others, and thus naturally strengthens our compassion, helping us avoid harming others and ourselves. Mindfulness is something to be practised, and at the end of each chapter Analayo provides instructions for developing mindfulness step by step, bringing it into our personal experience.Trade Review'A wise and helpful presentation of essential elements of the Buddha's teaching . . . it will be of great value for those who wish to put these teachings into practice. A wonderful Dharma gift.' - Joseph Goldstein, author of Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening; 'A gold mine for anyone who is working in the broad field of mindfulness-based programs for addressing health and wellbeing in the face of suffering - in any or all of its guises.' - Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Meditation Is Not What You Think: Mindfulness and Why It Is So Important; 'Bhikkhu Analayo offers simple skilled mindfulness practices for each of the dimensions of this book. Open-minded practices of embodied mindfulness are described, beginning with eating and health, and continuing with mindfulness examining mind and body, our relation to death, and the nature of the mind itself. Significantly, by highlighting the earliest teachings on internal and external mindfulness, Bhikkhu Analayo shows how, individually and collectively, we can use mindfulness to bring a liberating understanding to ourselves and to the pressing problems of our global, social, modern world. We need this more than ever.' - Jack Kornfield, from the Foreword

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Book SynopsisIs there gender equality in Buddhist traditions? What do Buddhist texts say about women? How have Buddhist women responded to misogyny? Collett is well placed to review both recent scholarship and original writing by and about women in Buddhism. She shows that core Buddhist doctrines provide no justification for the notion that women are inferior to men. But Buddhism was born and took root in societies that held traditional views of women, and social norms positioning women as inferior to men have found their way into Buddhist tradition. This book tells the stories of many inspiring Buddhist women who overcame attempted constraint to gain liberation and become esteemed teachers. Not only do we hear about them in this book, but we also hear from them in their own words. An ideal introduction to gender studies in Buddhism and the history of women in the tradition.Trade ReviewI Hear Her Words: An Introduction to Women in Buddhism by Alice Collett is a thorough, comprehensive and well researched guide to the history and agency of women in Buddhism. We travel widely through time and space, discovering awakened and well-practised women of old to the present day. Collett brings to our attention inspiring quotes demonstrating the depth of insight that could have been missed were it not for their presence in this volume. - Martine Batchelor is the author of Women on the Buddhist Path and Women in Korean Zen.********; In this wide-ranging and innovative introduction to women in Buddhism Alice Collett draws on sources from across the Buddhist world to interrogate the idea that Buddhism views women as inferior to men. Her argument is informed by her own considerable scholarship and introduces the general reader to the lives, works and teachings of an impressive range of, often lesser known, Buddhist women from East Asia, India and Tibet, and the West.; In the first part of the book Alice Collett challenges received ideas about the way women are portrayed in Buddhist texts, and by relating ideas about women to essential Buddhist doctrine develops a convincing argument that it is not Buddhism that sees women as inferior but individual (male) Buddhists.; In the second part the reader is introduced to the lives and achievements of a number of inspiring women who have, throughout history, played a crucial role in keeping Buddhism alive and relevant. Even readers familiar with the subject will encounter new evidence of the radical nature of women's spirituality within Buddhism and will welcome being introduced to so many diverse voices.; The author's blending of scholarly analysis and stories of women's lives makes this book a valuable addition to the growing body of work about women in Buddhism. - Danasamudra, co-founder of the Triratna Women Project and Librarian of the Sangharakshita Library.********; Alice Collett's book is a fascinating and engaging survey of recent research into women and Buddhism. Focusing on positive narratives of nuns and laywomen, this compelling work will be an inspiration to all. Citing a wealth of primary sources, including biographies, poems and inscriptions, the author highlights the pivotal roles that women have played both throughout Buddhist history and today, not least as highly respected teachers. This book gives these key figures a long-overdue voice and finally tells the 'her-story' that they all deserve! - Ann Heirman is a researcher on Chinese Buddhist monasticism.********; Written in a clear and accessible style, this book offers an excellent introduction into how women have shaped Buddhism from its beginning in India and over the course of its historical development throughout the Buddhist world. Drawing on her impressive long-term research on ancient Buddhist texts and a wide range of recent scholarship, Alice Collett's book inspires its readers to engage more deeply with this fascinating and important topic. By carefully listening to the often unheard voices of women who have enriched Buddhism through their spiritual practice and teachings, Collett provides new and refreshing perspectives on how Buddhists have implemented the Buddha's teachings to de-essentialise gender. - Martin Seeger, Professor of Thai Studies at the University of Leeds, author of Gender and the Path to Awakening.******** ; A sweeping survey of Buddhist women in Asia from historical times to the present, showing their personal and societal struggles, their many contributions, and their unique wisdom. Impressive in its scope, this book serves our next generations with corrective insights and ushers in an era of greater gender equality in keeping with the Buddha's original vision. - Judith Simmer-Brown, Distinguished Professor of Naropa University and author of Dakini's Warm Breath: The Feminine Principle in Tibetan BuddhismTable of ContentsCONTENTS About the Author Acknowledgements Publisher's Acknowledgements Introduction A New Historical Narrative Four Recurring Themes in Buddhist Texts and Tradition Part I Asking Questions About Buddhism Chapter 1 Buddhism and Gender Equality Buddhist Ethics The Principle of Non-Harm Buddhism and Feminism Chapter 2 Women in Buddhist Texts Nuns Overcoming Desire The Problem of Desire Women Are the Problem, Not Desire The Saundarananda, 'Handsome Nanda' The Maharatnakuta, 'The Collection of Great Jewels' The Siksasamuccaya,, 'The Compendium of Training' Beyond India Chapter 3 Gender and Buddhist Doctrine Dependent Arising The Doctrine of No-Self Emptiness and Sexual Transformation Part II Voices Through the Centuries Chapter 4 Portraits of Buddhist Women Early Buddhist Nuns in India Dhammadinna Bhadda Kundalakesa Patacara Women in Early China Zhu Jingjian An Lingshou Daoxing Women in Modern East Asia Qiyuan Xinggang Chiyo-ni Women in Modern Thailand Mae Chi Kaew Sianglam Chapter 5 Recovering a Lost Past: South and Southeast Asia Sri Lanka Mainland Southeast Asia Cambodia Burma (Myanmar) Thailand Chapter 6 Deities, Teachers, Lineages: Central and East Asia Mahayana Buddhism China Korea Taiwan Tantric Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism Chapter 7 Unconventional Women and Truth-Tellers: The West Theravada Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism Modern Western Buddhism Epilogue Reaching Across the Divide Notes References Index

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