Buddhism Books

Book SynopsisA translation of Nishida's earliest book which represented the foundation of his philosophy - reflecting both his study of Zen Buddhism and his thorough analysis of Western philosophy. The book provides an account of this 20th-century Japanese philosopher's ideas.

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Book SynopsisIn Stages of Meditation, His Holiness offers his highly practical views on the subject of meditation: how to meditate, the various different procedures and approaches we can take, what we and others may gain from it. He explains how we can develop a spiritual path in a proper sequence rather than in a scattered, piecemeal fashion. He also shows the importance of building up both method and wisdom, as well as cultivating compassion and ''special insight'' as we train our minds. This impressive and stimulating book will not only bring the Dalai Lama - one of the world''s most popular and pragmatic spiritual leaders - to a huge new audience but, because so many people round the globe are now practising meditation, from a basis of religious faith or none, this is a work which will doubtless be in print for many years to come.Trade Reviewa source of guidance and direction, as well as encouragement and inspiration for anyone * Here's Health *

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Book SynopsisGuidelines on how to live a more compassionate way of life by becoming a Bodhisattva, which leads to ultimate happiness for our self and others.Trade Review'This book is an ideal companion... written with impeccable qualifications and clarity.' - Going BeyondTable of ContentsIllustrations; Acknowledgements; Introduction; Receiving the Bodhisattva Vows; The Downfalls of the Bodhisattva Vows; A Method for Purifying Downfalls; Training in the Six Perfections; The Results; Dedication; Appendix I - The Condensed Meaning of the Commentary; Appendix II - Vows and Commitments; Appendix III - A Handbook for the Daily Practice of Bodhisattva Vows and Tantric Vows; Appendix IV - The letter PAM; Glossary; Bibliography; Study Programmes of Kadampa Buddhism; Tharpa Offices Worldwide; Index; Further Reading

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

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Book SynopsisFor anyone looking to understand Chinese philosophy, here is the place to start. Introducing this vast and far-reaching tradition, Ronnie L. Littlejohn tells you everything you need to know about the Chinese thinkers who have made the biggest contributions to the conversation of philosophy, from the Han dynasty to the present. He covers: The six classical schools of Chinese philosophy (Yin-Yang, Ru, Mo, Ming, Fa, and Dao-De) The arrival of Buddhism in China and its distinctive development The central figures and movements from the end of the Tang dynasty to the introduction into China of Western thought The impact of Chinese philosophers ranging from Confucius and Laozi to Tu Weiming and some of the Western counterparts who addressed similar issues. Weaving together key subjects, thinkers, and texts, we see how Chinese traditions have profoundly shaped the institutions, social practices, and psychological character of not only East and Southeast Asia, but theTrade ReviewRonnie Littlejohn’s ability to constructively organize and discuss Chinese philosophy with categories and terms recognizable to undergraduate students while remaining faithful to original discourses is remarkable. This is perhaps the most nuanced introduction Western students can have to classical Chinese thought in a familiar philosophical framework. Any teacher dealing with these texts and ideas should seriously consider this work. * Paul J. D'Ambrosio, Associate Professor of Chinese Philosophy, East China Normal University, China *This revised and updated volume offers a lucid and comprehensive overview of the key historical periods and conceptual areas of Chinese philosophy from antiquity to modernity. It is an essential resource for engaging the history and contemporaneity of Chinese thought. * Eric S. Nelson, Professor of Philosophy, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR *Table of ContentsList of Focus Windows Preface Acknowledgements Note on Translations Introduction 1. Ontology—Questions about the Nature of Reality Introduction The Basic Vocabulary of the Chinese Theory of Reality: The “Great Commentary” to the Classic of Changes (Yijing) Daoist Ontology: Lao-Zhuang Tradition (c. 350–139 BCE) A Synthesis of Classical Chinese Ontologies: Masters of Huainan(Huainanzi, c.139 BCE) Buddhist Ontologies The Study of Principles: Understanding the Content and Structure of Reality Shifting Paradigms in Chinese Theories of Reality Chapter Reflections Additional Readings and Resources 2. Epistemology—Questions about the Nature and Scope of Knowledge Introduction A Classical Chinese Model for Justifying Beliefs and Knowledge Claims: Mozi (c. 470-391 BCE) Early Chinese Rhetoricians (bianshi) and Logicians The Inadequacy of Reason for the Discovery of Truth: The Lao-Zhuang Tradition (c. 350–139 BCE) Knowledge by Analogical Inference: Mencius (c. 372–289 BCE) Reasoning without Prejudgment: Xunzi (c. 310–220 BCE) Differentiating Belief from Knowledge: Wang Chong (c. 27–100) Buddhist Influenced Epistemologies Pluralistic Cultural Knowledge: Zhang Dongsun (1886–1973) Chapter Reflections Additional Readings and Resources 3. Moral Theory—Questions about the Nature and Application of Morality Introduction Morality as Cultural Propriety: Confucius (c. 551–479 BCE) Morality as Heaven’s Commands: Mozi (c. 470–391 BCE) Moral Effortlessness: Lao-Zhuang Views on Morality (c. 350–139 BCE) Morality as Cultivating Our Inborn Endowments: Mencius (c. 372–289 BCE) Morality as Carving and Polishing the Person: Xunzi (310–220 BCE) Buddhist Thinking about Morality in the Chinese Context Morality Books and Ledgers: Tract of the Most Exalted on Action and Response (c. 1164) The Ultimacy of Harmony: Zhu Xi (1130–1200) Moral Willing as Moral Knowing: Wang Yangming (1472–1529) Early Modern and Contemporary Reflections on Moral Philosophy Chapter Reflections Additional Readings and Resources 4. Political Philosophy—Questions about the Nature and Purpose of Government Introduction The Classical Chinese Political Theory of Meritocracy Humane Government: Mencius (c. 372–289 BCE) Legalism’s Two Handles of Government: Han Fei (c. 280–233 BCE) Daoist Influenced Political Theories Government Enacting Social Justice: Wang Anshi (1021-1086) Critique of the Chinese Dynastic System: Huang Zongxi (1610-1695) Re-envisioning Chinese Political Understanding of Government and Politics The Sinification of Marxism in China: Mao Zedong (1893–1976) Forms of Current Confucian Political Theory Chapter Reflections Additional Readings and Resources Quick Guide to Pronunciation Comparative Chronology of Philosophers Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisVibrantly engaging contemporary Buddhist lives, this book focuses on the material and financial relations of contemporary monks, temples, and laypeople. It shows that rather than being peripheral, economic exchanges are key to religious debate in Buddhist societies. Based on long-term ethnographic fieldwork in countries ranging from India to Japan, including all three major Buddhist traditions, the book addresses the flows of goods and services between clergy and laity, the management of resources, the treatment of money, and the role of the state in temple economies. Along with documenting ritual and economic practices, these accounts deal with the moral challenges that Buddhist adherents are facing today, thereby bringing lived experience to the study of an often-romanticized religion.Trade ReviewMonks, Money, and Morality provides intimate cases studies from around the Buddhist world to show the complex consideration of money and ethics that monks must negotiate for their temples to survive. It offers insights into the way in which national politics and economics affect the practicalities of those seeking to pursue a monastic life. This eye-opening study will change perceptions of Buddhism and understandings of the role of monks in their communities. * Kate Crosby, Professor of Buddhist Studies, King’s College London, UK *At the heart of Buddhism stands the relationship between monastics and laypeople. These diverse and fascinating case studies, with their sophisticated ethnographic analyses, demonstrate that what is often thought of as an asymmetrical and hierarchical symbiosis is, in actually existing Buddhism, far more complex, far more variable, and far more interesting than that. * David N. Gellner, Professor of Social Anthropology, University of Oxford, UK *The book is very much about the dilemmas that a religious tradition faces when it comes to issues of money, exchange and incorporation into the capitalist economy ... a very rich collection of studies. -- Jovan Maud * Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Balancing Sangha Economies, Saskia Abrahms-Kavunenko, Christoph Brumann and Beata Switek Part I: Reciprocity, Money and Trust 1. Economic Agency and the Spirit of Donation: The Commercialization of Buddhist Services in Japan, Beata Switek (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) 2. Merit, “Corruption,” and Economy in the Contemporary Thai Sangha, Thomas Borchert (University of Vermont, USA) 3. Ritual Virtuosity, Large-Scale Priest-Patron Networks and the Ethics of Remunerated Ritual Services in Northeast Tibet, Nicolas Sihlé (Centre d'Etudes Himalayennes, CNRS, France) 4. 'Bad' Monks and Unworthy Donors: Money, (Mis)Trust and the Disruption of Sangha-Laity Relations in Shangri-La, Hannah Rosa Klepeis (Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Halle, Germany) Part II: Beyond Reciprocity 5. Donations Inversed: Material Flows from Sangha to Laity in Post-Soviet Buryatia, Kristina Jonutyte (University of Vilnius, Lithuania) 6. Exorcising Mauss’ Ghost in the Western Himalayas: Buddhist Giving as Collective Work, Martin Mills (University of Aberdeen, UK) Part III: Managing Temples and Monasteries 7. Monks and the Morality of Exchange: Reflections on a Village Temple Case in Southwest China, Roger Casas (Austrian Academy of Sciences, Austria) 8. Wealthy Mendicants: The Balancing Act of Sri Lankan Forest Monks, Prabhath Sirisena (University of Colombo, Sri Lanka) 9. Monastic Business Expansion in Post-Mao Tibet: Risk, Trust and Perception, Jane Caple (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) Part IV: Capitalism, Decline and Rebirth 10. Regeneration and the Age of Decline: Purification and Rebirth in Mongolian Buddhist Economies, Saskia Abrahms-Kavunenko (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) 11. Saintly Entrepreneurialism and Political Aspirations of Theravadin Saints in Mainland Southeast Asia, Alexander Horstmann (University of Tallinn, Estonia) 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 SynopsisAs Buddhism is assimilated into the West, it is imperative that women reshape its patriarchal structures and carve out a fully legitimate, empowering position for themselves. Marianne Dresser brings together the likes of Pema Chodron, Tsultrim Allione, and bell hooks, 30 women in all, who are doing just that. Writers, nuns, scholars, priests--even a martial arts master and a private investigator--discuss women in Buddhism in a range of essays. Several pieces question the suppression of emotion required for selflessness, appealing to the undeniable reality of day-to-day living. Others discuss their experiences as women in Buddhism, whether as nuns or as lay practitioners. Still others address the history of women in Buddhism, racial questions, meditation, poetry, compassion, social activism, and sexual orientation. Most of these writers have been in Buddhism for two or three decades and offer a wealth of experience and insights, targeted at women readers but no less valuable to men.

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Book SynopsisIn Tibetan religious literature, Jamgön Kongtrül''s Treasury of Knowledge in ten books stands out as a unique, encyclopedic masterpiece embodying the entire range of Buddhist teachings as it was preserved in Tibet. This volume is the fifth book of that work and is considered by many scholars to be its heart. Jamgön Kongtrül explains the complete code of personal liberation as it applies to both monastic and lay persons, the precepts for those aspiring to the life of a bodhisattva, and the exceptional pledges for practitioners on the tantric path of pure perception.

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Book SynopsisA practical and inspiring guide for developing our ability to be happy and benefit others this commentary on The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas by Gyalsay Togme Sangpo is studied by followers of all schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The root text gives in thirty-seven short verses the essential practices leading to enlightenment. Gyalsay Togme Sangpo (1295-1369) was renowned as a bodhisattva in Tibet and revered for living according to the bodhisattva ideals and practices that he taught. He inspired not only his direct disciples but also generations of practitioners up to the present day. This extraordinary commentary by Geshe Jampa Tegchok clearly explains the popular practice of exchanging oneself with others for developing love and compassion for all living beings. It lays open the methods for doing glance stabilizing and analytical meditations and offers an in-depth discussion of the nature of emptiness. All the essentials are here for transforming our attitudes and developing courage and joy.

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Book SynopsisHow do we free ourselves from the demon of self-concern? These instructions are found in Eight Verses for Training the Mind, one of the most important texts from a genre of Tibetan spiritual writings known as lojong (literally "mind training"). The root text was written by the eleventh-century meditator Langritangpa. His Holiness the Dalai Lama refers to this work as one of the main sources of his own inspiration and includes it in his daily meditations.

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Book SynopsisStep-by-step lessons in building the skills needed to engage in Tibetan Buddhist philosophical debate and that have proved successful in the college classroom.     Debate is the investigative technique used in Tibetan education to sharpen analytical capacities and convey philosophical concepts. Reading and memorization are not enough; students must be able to verbalize their understanding and defend it under the pressure of fierce cross-examination. This book, based on the author''s successful undergraduate course in the subject, trains readers to develop the analytical skills used in Tibetan-style debate. Making use of sample debate exchanges and definitions and classification systems drawn from Tibetan Buddhist debate manuals, the book shows how to challenge and defend assertions made in the course of debate.

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Book SynopsisThis book is a translation of a teaching text and commentary by the Nyingma master Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche (1920-2009). It''s also the latest offering from well-known Tibetan translator and scholar Anne Carolyn Klein, professor of religious studies at Rice University in Houston, Texas.      For anyone interested in Tibetan Buddhist practice and philosophy, particularly the Dzogchen teachings of the Nyingma lineage, this book gives detailed instruction and friendly and inspiring advice, offering guidance on how to approach the path and giving instruction for specific meditation and contemplation techniques.

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Book SynopsisNan Huai Chin, a learned representative of the Chinese Buddhist tradition, explores the many different schools of Buddhism and the many stories surrounding the life of Buddha. He explains various philosophical trends in Buddhism and the aspects it hastaken on throughout Asia, Europe, and America. For a solid understanding of Buddhism, this book is clearly indispensable reading! With index.

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Book SynopsisMilarepa (1052-1135), a major figure in the history of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism and known as one of Tibet''s greatest lamas and poets, continues to inspire Buddhist practitioners worldwide to the present day. Liberation in One Lifetime explores the history and spirituality of the Kagyu lineage in relationship to the narratives and teachings attributed to Milarepa by studying some of the earliest versions of these materials. Offering a detailed analysis of the biographical material that has been written about Milarepa (who was also a student of Marpa, a major figure in the development of the Bka''-brgyud-pa school of Tibetan Buddhism), author, theologian, and well-respected Tibetan Buddhist scholar, Francis V. Tiso, describes the historical context of the tradition of hagiography (biography) in Buddhism and other spiritual traditions, and provides a history of Milarepa''s influence in Tibet. Part One explains the tradition of composing stories about Milarepa''s life and teachings (there have been many throughout the centuries) and includes outlines of the contents of some of them as well as an explanation of the oral versions that have been transmitted via oral epic songs and poems that Milarepa composed. Describing the spiritual components of Bka''-brgyud-pa, Part Two includes tantric practices, an outline for the path of liberation, definitions of "voidness," and the characteristics of fully enlightened Buddhahood. Part Three includes translated biographies and oral teachings of Milarepa (in poetic form) that are considered sacred texts. The book also includes a foreword by Roberto Vitali, a prominent Tibetan Buddhist scholar as well as an extensive bibliography of primary and secondary sources.

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Book SynopsisA husband and wife share stories of struggle and triumph along the path of the Buddha, distilling his most essential teachings in this guide that is “luminous in clarity and depth” (Tara Brach, author of Radical Acceptance) Husband and wife Kittisaro and Thanissara take turns co-authoring chapters in this deeply personal dharma book exploring the inner practice of meditation in support of awakening. Within the context of the lives of the authors, both monastics in their youth, awakening unfolds as a multifaceted process following the archetypal journey of the hero(ine). Traveling from innocence to disillusionment through the fields of trials and despair that lead to maturity, and ultimately to inspiration and a blessed life, Listening to the Heart tells the story of two unconventional individuals who have together embraced spirituality as the keystone of their lives. At the heart of the book, through teachings on the nondual nature of reality, we enter the “intimacy with all things” as revealed in core Buddhist texts. Without ending at the goal of personal freedom, Thanissara and Kittisaro encourage us to go beyond the experience of inner peace to embodying wisdom in acts of service within the world. With a realistic appraisal of our current global crisis in which sustainability is threatened by catastrophic climate change, the authors encourage a preparedness that enables a mindful balance of equanimity and passionate engagement whatever the outcome of our global evolutionary journey. The guiding refuge for this journey is the Buddha, the historical teacher and—most profoundly—that immediate and direct pure awareness, which we all can access. The book also draws on teachings and stories of Buddhist masters who are fearless, funny, and challenging. Eventually, we are led into the Mary-like presence of the goddess of mercy, Kuan Yin who, as a great archetype within Buddhist cosmology, reveals the deepest mystery of our own hearts and our capacity for merciful and compassionate response. As the inner process of awakening unfolds, it transforms seekers and their lives, as modeled by the authors. It both heals the personal self in its journey through its wounds and shadows, and yet at the same time dissolves identification with the self. The book then ends by returning to the simplicity of the authors'' primary teacher, Ajahn Chah, with his encouragement to “Be the Dharma.”

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Book SynopsisVolume Five of Classics of Buddhism and Zen represents the broad spectrum of Cleary''s interest in Buddhism—from Buddhist yoga and the Chinese Buddhist perspective on the I Ching to the most basic and universally loved of the Buddhist sutras, the Dhammapada. The volume includes: Dhammapada: The Sayings of Buddha The famous collection of 423 verses of Buddhist wisdom that has been profoundly influential in every Buddhist school. The Buddhist I Ching The translation included in this volume is the only full-length interpretation of the I Ching by a Chinese Buddhist meditation master. Stopping and Seeing: A Comprehensive Course in Buddhist Meditation A monumental work written by sixth-century Buddhist master Chi-i. One of the most comprehensive manuals written on these two essential points of Buddhist meditation. Entry into the Inconceivable: An Introduction to Hua-yen Buddhism An introduction to the philosophy of the Hua-yen school of Buddhism, one of the cornerstones of East Asian Buddhist thought. Buddhist Yoga: A Comprehensive Course A landmark translation of the classical sourcebook of Buddhist yoga, the Sandhinirmochana-sutra, or 'Scripture Unlocking the Mysteries,' a revered text of the school of Buddhism known as Vijnanavada or Yogachara.

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Book SynopsisAs its teachings spread from the Indian subcontinent in all directions across Asia, Buddhism influenced every culture it touched—from Afghanistan to Korea, from Mongolia to Java. Buddhist art is a radiant reflection of the encounter of the Buddha’s teachings with the diverse civilizations that came under their sway. It is also an intriguing visual record of the evolution of Buddhist practice and philosophy over a period of more than two millennia. More than two hundred photographs provide the visual context for this tour of the world of Buddhist art. Included in the rich variety of forms are architecture and monumental art, statuary, paintings, calligraphy, fresco, brushwork, and textile arts. Denise Leidy’s guide is the perfect introductory text for all those intrigued by this splendid aesthetic tradition. It also an essential resource for all who seek to understand Buddhist art as teaching.

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Book Synopsis“Whatever you are doing should be done mindfully, dynamically, with totality and completeness. Then it becomes meditation. It is not thinking, but experiencing from moment to moment, living from moment to moment, without clinging, without condemning, without judging.”—Munindra  Anagarika Munindra (1915–2003) was a Bengali Buddhist master and scholar who became one of the most important Vipassana meditation teachers of the twentieth century. Unassuming, genuine, and always encouraging, Munindra embodied the Buddhist teachings, exemplifying mindfulness in everything he did. Living This Life Fully is the first book about Munindra, and it features never-before-published excerpts of his teachings, stories and remembrances from Western students, a biography, and rare photographs.

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Book SynopsisThe story of the Buddha and his awakening is more than an account of the birth of a religious tradition: it is also one of the great archetypal tales of the spiritual quest, colorful in its many details and thrilling in its depiction of the world transformed by an enlightened human being. Sherab Chödzin Kohn’s retelling of the Buddha’s life is both readable and historically informed, and presents the Buddha’s teachings along with the events of his past lives to final nirvana. Library Journal called it “a splendid combination of biography and instruction.” This new edition of the book previously entitled The Awakened One has been updated to include a short history of Buddhism as well as a selection of resources for further reading.

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Book SynopsisThe Way of the Bodhisattva comes to life in this “must-have, must-read, must-contemplate” modern commentary on Shantideva’s essential treatise (Jamyang Khyentse, author of What Makes You Not a Buddhist)   The Bodhicharyavatara, or Way of the Bodhisattva, composed by the eighth-century Indian master Shantideva, has occupied an important place in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition throughout its history. It is a guide to cultivating the mind of enlightenment through generating the qualities of love, compassion, generosity, and patience. In this commentary, Kunzang Pelden has compiled the pith instructions of his teacher Patrul Rinpoche, the celebrated author of The Words of My Perfect Teacher.

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Book SynopsisWisdom for "Generation Next" on how to make your work meaningful, satisfying, and of benefit to others Does it ever seem that a lot of the people you work with are, well, jerks? This book is about how not to let work turn you into one of them. Apply the simple Buddhist teachings and practices Lodro Rinzler provides here to whatever you do for a living, and you’ll not only avoid jerk-hood, but you’ll be setting out on the path toward making your livelihood an expression of your inherent wisdom, honesty, and compassion. You’ll discover practical ways to bring mindfulness into administrative support, cabinet-making, financial management, nursing, truck-driving, or latté-brewing. In the process, you’ll discover genuine empathy for the folks you once found so difficult. You’ll also learn leadership skills that apply compassion to management in a way that increases happiness along with efficiency.This is career advice of the profoundest kind, geared toward today’s twenty- and thirty-something workers and job-seekers whose employment outlook is radically different from that of a generation ago. As Lodro shows, even if the path of work shifts beneath your feet, it’s possible to make your livelihood a source of satisfaction and of deep meaning.

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Book SynopsisBuddhism-influenced essays, stories, and reviews by National Book Award winner Charles R. Johnson.      This wide and varied collection of essays, reviews, and short stories by the renowned author Charles Johnson offers incisive views on poltics, race, and Buddhism. Johnson notes that in his life the two activities that have anchored him and reinforce each other are creative production and spiritual practice. This book is a crystallization of what he has learned during his passage through American literature, the visual arts, and the Buddhadharma.     Essays include:   • "And if Peace Is Their Goal . . ." on the principles of enlightened politics    • "The King We Need" on the deep and sophisticated moral philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and why King''s teachings and example are important to all Americans    • "Why Buddhists Should Vote"--Johnson posits that voting can be seen as a way to reduce suffering    • "The Meaning of Barack Obama"--an appreciation of the man who became one of the most historic US presidents, even before his first 100 days were through    • "Why Buddhism for Black America Now?"--what Buddhism can offer the African-American community in the post-MLK era

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Book SynopsisAccessible and elegant teachings from a well-loved and revered woman Zen teacher.“The truth and joy of this life is that we cannot change things as they are.” The import of those words can be found beautifully expressed in the work of the woman who spoke them, Katherine Thanas (1927–2012)—in her art, in her writing, and especially in her Zen teaching. Fearlessly direct and endlessly curious, Katherine’s understanding of Zen was inseparable from her affinity for the arts. She was an MFA student studying painting with Richard Diebenkorn, the preeminent Californian abstract painter, when she met Shunryu Suzuki, author of Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, in the sixties. Soon thereafter she decided to drop painting to dedicate herself to Zen, which she did for the last forty years of her life. In these essential teachings taken from her dharma talks—which make up her only book—her love of art and literature shine through in her elegant prose and her vast references, from poets William Stafford and Naomi Shihab Nye to the Zen teachings of Dogen and Robert Aitken. Ranging on subjects from the practice of zazen to the meaning of life, Katherine urges us to “develop an insatiable appetite for inner awareness, to become proficient with this mind.” This slim volume is an important contribution by a well-loved and revered teacher.

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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 SynopsisThis first book by insight meditation teacher and workshop leader Gemma Polo Pujol is full of profoundly transformative teachings. For many people, their path to meditation and dharma is through suffering, and these short pieces are unequivocally aware of this and offer an immediate sense of peace that many of us have thought was not possible. You feel in safe hands – Gemma has trained for decades within the great spiritual traditions and has taught for a long time, including in her own retreat centre. She does not charge for her teachings, continuing an ancient spiritual tradition of dana, of making the teachings available to all and honouring that which is priceless. Gemma has chosen ten headings in an order that reflects the different stages of the spiritual journey. Chapters range from The Call and Abiding In The Light to The Soul's Journey and A Place of Presence. At the end of each chapter she offers a practical exercise or meditation. This is one of the best books of inspirational writings published for quite some time. There’s an incredible patient wisdom that runs through the words, born out of years of experience in teaching and a deep experience of life.

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Book SynopsisAlchemists sought to transform lead into gold. This book shows how we similarly all have the natural ability to turn the lead of our confused minds into the gold of insightful clarity. Tara Bennett shows how we can learn to see ourselves as we really are and thus learn to disengage from those emotional patterns that undermine our lives. Drawing on the latest research into cognitive science and neuroscience with ancient principles of Buddhist psychology, this profound yet very practical book shows how practicing mindfulness can heal the very heart of our being.'A wise and practical guide to emotional freedom' Joseph Goldstein, author of Insight Meditation'A wonderfully clear, compassionate and insightful guide to freeing ourselves from difficult emotions' Sharon Salzberg, author of LovingKindness'Written with humour [and] warmheartedness in lively prose -' Naomi Wolf, author of The Beauty MythTrade ReviewA wise and practical guide to emotional freedom -- Joseph Goldstein, author of Insight MeditationA wonderfully clear, compassionate and insightful guide to freeing ourselves from difficult emotions -- Sharon Salzberg, author of LovingKindnessWritten with humour [and] warmheartedness in lively prose... -- Naomi Wolf, author of The Beauty Myth

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Book Synopsis‘The monk who taught the world mindfulness’ TimeOne breath, one step is all we need to feel at home and comfortable in the here and now In this enlightening series world-renowned spiritual leader Thich Nhat Hanh shares the essential foundations of mindful practise and mediation. From unlocking the connection to our inner self, forging deeper and more meaningful bonds with those around us to discovering a true sense of oneness with our natural world, this is the essential guide to help you master the art of connection.Trade ReviewThe father of mindfulness * Irish Times *Thich Nhat Hanh is a holy man ... a scholar of immense intellectual capacity -- Martin Luther KingThich Nhat Hanh shows us the connection between personal inner peace and peace on earth -- The Dalai LamaThe monk who taught the world mindfulness -- Time

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