Buddhist life and practice Books

Book SynopsisThis modern spiritual classic, presented as a thirty-day meditation retreat taught by Joseph Goldstein, offers timeless practical instructions and real-world advice for practicing meditation—whether walking or sitting in formal practice or engaging in everyday life. Goldstein—a beloved and respected meditation teacher who studied for many years under the guidance of eminent Buddhist teachers from India, Tibet, and Burma—uses the retreat format to explain various basic Buddhist teachings including karma, selflessness, and the four noble truths, while also drawing connections to many different spiritual traditions. With a new preface reflecting on how the conversation around meditation has changed over the last forty years, this book is the perfect companion for both experienced practitioners and those looking to get into meditation for the first time.

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Book SynopsisImagine having two minutes with the Dalai Lama offering you personal advice on how you could live your life better, overcome your problems, be more joyful and create a better world. This revolutionary new book brings you exactly that: short passages to offer you enlightening advice, day by dayMeditations are suggested on the following:On the stages of life: for the young, adults, and the elderly On life situations: for men and women, single people, families, the wealthy, the poor, the sick, the dying and those who care for them, and others from all walks of life. On your roles in society: for politicians, lawyers, activists, teachers, scientists, businesspeople, writers and journalists, farmers, soldiers, carers and others On your state of mind: for the happy, the sad, pessimists, optimists, the suffering, the isolated, the angry, the proud, the abused, the shy, the undecided, those with no self-esteem, the indifferent. On society and the world: war, politics, education, farming, the e

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Book SynopsisFrom His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Mutt's cartoonist and award-winning author Patrick McDonnell comes a powerful and timely gem of a book on how to heal our relationship with the planet and each other.At the Dalai Lama's residence in Dharamsala, India, an unusual visitor has arrived. His Holiness interrupts his morning meditation to greet a troubled Giant Panda who has travelled many miles to see him. Welcoming him as a friend, His Holiness invites the Panda on a walk through a cedar forest. There in the shadow of the Himalayas, surrounded by beauty, they discuss matters great and small . . .With a galvanizing message about the future of our planettext by His Holiness accompanied by McDonnell's masterful illustrationsHeart to Heart calls for a Compassionate Revolution, reminding us that we are indeed all members of a single family, sharing one little house. Told with whimsy, wisdom, and warmth, this beautiful book is deceptively simple in its approach and all the more powerful for itTrade Review‘This is quite the most original, entertaining and enlightening book I have ever seen – I don’t believe there is another like it. With the words of His Holiness The Dalai Lama and Patrick McDonnell’s enchanting illustrations, it leaves a lasting impression. After reading it once, I was compelled to turn the pages again and again. It is a blueprint for how we should live, with love, compassion – and humour.’ – Dr Jane Goodall ‘In Heart to Heart: A Conversation on Love and Hope for Our Precious Planet, the fourteenth Dalai Lama and artist Patrick McDonnell — who illustrated Jane Goodall’s inspiring life-story — invite an ethical approach to climate change, calling on young people to face a world of wildfires and deforestation with passionate compassion for other living beings.’ – Maria Popova, The Marginalian

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Book SynopsisIn Growing in Love and Wisdom, Susan Stabile draws on a unique dual perspective to explore the value of interreligious dialogue, the essential spiritual dynamics that operate across faith traditions, and the many fruitful ways Buddhist meditation practices can deepen Christian prayer.Raised as a Catholic, Stabile devoted 20 years of her life to practicing Buddhism and was ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun before returning to Catholicism in 2001. She begins the book by examining the values and principles shared by the two faith traditions, focusing on the importance of prayer--particularly contemplative prayer--to both Christianity and Tibetan Buddhism. Both traditions seek to effect a fundamental transformation in the lives of believers, and both stress the need for experiences that have deep emotional resonance, that go beyond the level of concepts to touch the heart. Stabile illuminates the similarities between Tibetan Buddhist meditations and Christian forms of prayer such as IgnatTrade Review"A gentle gift to the work of interreligious existence in the 21st century... Stabile faithfully and reasonably steers a course between with this lucid, welcome offering. Growing in Love and Wisdom embodies for us the insights of Nostra Aetate in action -- rejecting nothing that is true and holy, and regarding with sincere reverence those practices of Buddhist meditation that reflect the Truth which enlightens all humanity... This rich resource can be of profitable use in an undergraduate classroom considering interreligious matters, or in a broad introduction to spirituality. Highly recommended for personal, parish or academic use." --Catholic Books Review "In the growing crowd of books on Buddhist-Christian dialogue, this one is different. It's a 'hands-on' book. Susan Stabile's intent is to help Christians learn from what Buddhists do, rather than from what they believe. In practical, step-by-step instructions on how Christians can use Tibetan techniques of meditation, she opens new possibilities of clarifying and deepening Christian experience. This is a book for those who what to practice before they preach, or are preached to."--Paul F. Knitter, Paul Tillich Professor of Theology, World Religions, and Culture, Union Theological Seminary, New York "Stabile's very readable book lucidly presents similarities in values between Christianity and Tibetan Buddhism. Her clearly-explained prayer suggestions for Christians, which make up most of the book, are adapted from Buddhist practice and are mainly discursive in nature. They offer a rich variety of ways in which their Christian spiritual life can be enriched by Eastern teachings."--Mary Jo Meadow, author of Christian Insight Meditation: Following in the Footsteps of John of the Cross "A new standard for the possibilities in authentic, deeply rooted inter-religious dialogue... the book is beautifully written, in a simple yet clear style, making its deft navigation of interaith ideas ring with clarity." --Carl McColman, carlmccolman.comTable of ContentsIntroduction ; Part I: How We Think about Other Faith Traditions ; Chapter 1: The Value of Interreligious Dialogue ; Chapter 2: Core Truths that Operate Across Faith Traditions ; Part II: Adapting Prayer Practices from Another Faith Tradition ; Chapter 3: The Importance of Contemplation and Affective Experience ; Chapter 4: Why Look to Tibetan Buddhist Meditation? ; Part III: Analytical Meditations and Commentary ; Chapter 5: Friend, Enemy, Stranger ; Chapter 6: Tonglen ; Chapter 7: Kindness of (M)other Sentient Beings ; Chapter 8: Exchanging Self and Others ; Chapter 9: The Four Immeasurables ; Chapter 10: Meditation on Compassion ; Chapter 11: Giving the Four Elements ; Chapter 12: Perfect Human Rebirth ; Chapter 13: Death ; Chapter 14: Impermanence ; Chapter 15: Overcoming Anger ; Chapter 16: The Eight Worldly Concerns ; Chapter 17: Taking Refuge ; Chapter 18: Emanating as the Deity ; Chapter 19: Meditating on the I ; Part IV: Other Meditations and Practices ; Chapter 20: Meditations to Develop Concentration and Mindfulness ; Chapter 21: Other Practices ; Notes ; Glossary ; Suggestions for further reading

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Book SynopsisŚāntideva’s eighth-century work the Guide to Bodhisattva Practice (Bodhicaryāvatāra) is one of the crucial texts of the Buddhist ethical and philosophical tradition. This book serves as a companion to this Indian Buddhist classic, illuminating the Guide’s many philosophical, literary, ritual, and ethical dimensions.Trade ReviewHighly recommended. * Choice *This is an exceptional collection which not only provides a useful teaching tool for the classroom, but also makes significant conceptual advances to our understanding of the Guide. I warmly recommend it for any serious student of Śāntideva’s thought. -- Stephen Harris * Journal of Buddhist Ethics *[A] rich volume. -- Amy Paris Langenberg * Reading Religion *For more than a thousand years Śāntideva's Guide to Bodhisattva Practice has been a profound source of inspiration for Tibetan Buddhists. It was one of the six basic texts of Atiśa’s Kadam tradition. When teaching it to me, Khunu Lama Rinpoché told me that no other book explains the awakening mind of bodhicitta, the essence of the Buddha’s teachings, as effectively as this. Śāntideva describes how a self-centered attitude gives rise to disturbing emotions like anger and fear, but also how they can be countered by altruism and warm-heartedness. He shows how we can tackle our mental afflictions and achieve peace of mind, something that can be of benefit to everyone. The Guide is a book I read, I teach, and keep with me. The readings presented in this volume make clear how much of Śāntideva's advice can be of interest and benefit to readers today. -- His Holiness the Dalai LamaThis volume offers its readers valuable insights into the multifaceted literary gem that is the Guide by bringing to bear the expertise of some of the most prominent scholars in Buddhist Studies. Overall, the results serve as an excellent introduction to the multidimensional textual history of the Guide, argue convincingly for the continued importance of the text in the world today, and demonstrate the value of higher literary criticism for Buddhist Studies. * Religions of South Asia *This book is an inspirational introduction to be read along with the text itself. * Religious Studies Review *Anyone familiar with Western ethical thinking, but not with the Indian Buddhist tradition or with Śāntideva’s remarkable text, will have much to learn from the connections made in this volume between these distinct ways of thinking about ethics. -- Peter Singer, author of The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism Is Changing Ideas About Living EthicallyŚāntideva's Guide is a poem, a liturgy, a meditation manual, a phenomenology of mind, a moral psychology, an explication of the distinctive Buddhist virtues, and an invitation to the Mahāyāna way of life. Gold and Duckworth’s volume is a set of essays by brilliant contemporary philosophers and religious studies scholars that provides deep and sensitive readings of this great text. Śāntideva comes alive for the twenty-first century in these pages. -- Owen Flanagan, James B. Duke Professor of Philosophy, Duke UniversityŚāntideva's Guide to Bodhisattva Practice has inspired Buddhist scholars and practitioners for more than a millennium. Dozens of commentaries have been written—and continue to be written—on this great work. In the last two decades European and American scholars have seriously engaged Śāntideva's work and its commentaries from many different perspectives, exploring its philological, ethical, metaphysical, and ritual dimensions, and analyzing the role it has played in Buddhist self-cultivation. This marvelous collection of essays, written by the very best Śāntideva scholars in the world, provides readers with a much-needed overview of state-of-the-art scholarship on the Guide. Sophisticated yet concise and accessible, this book is an indispensable resource for those of us who have pondered—or lost ourselves in—Śāntideva's beautiful poem. -- José Ignacio Cabezón, Dalai Lama Professor of Tibetan Buddhism and Cultural Studies, University of California, Santa BarbaraThe essays contain the richness of classical Buddhist writing and showcase the latest trends in Buddhist studies. This is an excellent volume, and a rare one at that. -- Jacob P. Dalton, author of The Gathering of Intentions: A History of a Tibetan TantraTable of ContentsA Note to the ReaderAcknowledgmentsIntroduction. Participatory Authorship and Communal Interpretation: The Bodhicaryāvatāra as a “World Classic,” by Jonathan C. Gold1. Śāntideva: The Author and His Project, by Paul Harrison2. Reason and Knowledge on the Path: A Protreptic Reading of the Guide, by Amber Carpenter3. On Learning to Overhear the “Vanishing Poet,” by Sonam Kachru4. An Intoxication of Mouse Venom: Reading the Guide, Chapter 9, by Matthew T. Kapstein5. Seeing from All Sides, by Janet Gyatso6. Bodies and Embodiment in the Bodhicaryāvatāra, by Reiko Ohnuma7. Ritual Structure and Material Culture in the Guide to Bodhisattva Practice, by Eric Huntington8. Bodhicaryāvatāra and Tibetan Mind Training (Lojong), by Thupten Jinpa9. Taming Śāntideva: Tsongkhapa’s Use of the Bodhicaryāvatāra, by Roger Jackson10. The Middle Way of the Bodhisattva, by Douglas S. Duckworth11. Seeing Sentient Beings: Śāntideva’s Moral Phenomenology, by Jay L. Garfield12. Śāntideva’s Ethics of Impartial Compassion, by Charles Goodman13. Śāntideva and the Moral Psychology of Fear, by Bronwyn Finnigan14. Innate Human Connectivity and Śāntideva’s Cultivation of Compassion, by John DunneAppendix 1: A Guide to Guide Translations: Advice for Students and InstructorsAppendix 2: Index of Guide Verses CitedBibliographyContributorsIndex

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Book SynopsisŚāntideva’s eighth-century work the Guide to Bodhisattva Practice (Bodhicaryāvatāra) is one of the crucial texts of the Buddhist ethical and philosophical tradition. This book serves as a companion to this Indian Buddhist classic, illuminating the Guide’s many philosophical, literary, ritual, and ethical dimensions.Trade ReviewHighly recommended. * Choice *This is an exceptional collection which not only provides a useful teaching tool for the classroom, but also makes significant conceptual advances to our understanding of the Guide. I warmly recommend it for any serious student of Śāntideva’s thought. -- Stephen Harris * Journal of Buddhist Ethics *[A] rich volume. -- Amy Paris Langenberg * Reading Religion *For more than a thousand years Śāntideva's Guide to Bodhisattva Practice has been a profound source of inspiration for Tibetan Buddhists. It was one of the six basic texts of Atiśa’s Kadam tradition. When teaching it to me, Khunu Lama Rinpoché told me that no other book explains the awakening mind of bodhicitta, the essence of the Buddha’s teachings, as effectively as this. Śāntideva describes how a self-centered attitude gives rise to disturbing emotions like anger and fear, but also how they can be countered by altruism and warm-heartedness. He shows how we can tackle our mental afflictions and achieve peace of mind, something that can be of benefit to everyone. The Guide is a book I read, I teach, and keep with me. The readings presented in this volume make clear how much of Śāntideva's advice can be of interest and benefit to readers today. -- His Holiness the Dalai LamaThis volume offers its readers valuable insights into the multifaceted literary gem that is the Guide by bringing to bear the expertise of some of the most prominent scholars in Buddhist Studies. Overall, the results serve as an excellent introduction to the multidimensional textual history of the Guide, argue convincingly for the continued importance of the text in the world today, and demonstrate the value of higher literary criticism for Buddhist Studies. * Religions of South Asia *This book is an inspirational introduction to be read along with the text itself. * Religious Studies Review *Anyone familiar with Western ethical thinking, but not with the Indian Buddhist tradition or with Śāntideva’s remarkable text, will have much to learn from the connections made in this volume between these distinct ways of thinking about ethics. -- Peter Singer, author of The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism Is Changing Ideas About Living EthicallyŚāntideva's Guide is a poem, a liturgy, a meditation manual, a phenomenology of mind, a moral psychology, an explication of the distinctive Buddhist virtues, and an invitation to the Mahāyāna way of life. Gold and Duckworth’s volume is a set of essays by brilliant contemporary philosophers and religious studies scholars that provides deep and sensitive readings of this great text. Śāntideva comes alive for the twenty-first century in these pages. -- Owen Flanagan, James B. Duke Professor of Philosophy, Duke UniversityŚāntideva's Guide to Bodhisattva Practice has inspired Buddhist scholars and practitioners for more than a millennium. Dozens of commentaries have been written—and continue to be written—on this great work. In the last two decades European and American scholars have seriously engaged Śāntideva's work and its commentaries from many different perspectives, exploring its philological, ethical, metaphysical, and ritual dimensions, and analyzing the role it has played in Buddhist self-cultivation. This marvelous collection of essays, written by the very best Śāntideva scholars in the world, provides readers with a much-needed overview of state-of-the-art scholarship on the Guide. Sophisticated yet concise and accessible, this book is an indispensable resource for those of us who have pondered—or lost ourselves in—Śāntideva's beautiful poem. -- José Ignacio Cabezón, Dalai Lama Professor of Tibetan Buddhism and Cultural Studies, University of California, Santa BarbaraThe essays contain the richness of classical Buddhist writing and showcase the latest trends in Buddhist studies. This is an excellent volume, and a rare one at that. -- Jacob P. Dalton, author of The Gathering of Intentions: A History of a Tibetan TantraTable of ContentsA Note to the ReaderAcknowledgmentsIntroduction. Participatory Authorship and Communal Interpretation: The Bodhicaryāvatāra as a “World Classic,” by Jonathan C. Gold1. Śāntideva: The Author and His Project, by Paul Harrison2. Reason and Knowledge on the Path: A Protreptic Reading of the Guide, by Amber Carpenter3. On Learning to Overhear the “Vanishing Poet,” by Sonam Kachru4. An Intoxication of Mouse Venom: Reading the Guide, Chapter 9, by Matthew T. Kapstein5. Seeing from All Sides, by Janet Gyatso6. Bodies and Embodiment in the Bodhicaryāvatāra, by Reiko Ohnuma7. Ritual Structure and Material Culture in the Guide to Bodhisattva Practice, by Eric Huntington8. Bodhicaryāvatāra and Tibetan Mind Training (Lojong), by Thupten Jinpa9. Taming Śāntideva: Tsongkhapa’s Use of the Bodhicaryāvatāra, by Roger Jackson10. The Middle Way of the Bodhisattva, by Douglas S. Duckworth11. Seeing Sentient Beings: Śāntideva’s Moral Phenomenology, by Jay L. Garfield12. Śāntideva’s Ethics of Impartial Compassion, by Charles Goodman13. Śāntideva and the Moral Psychology of Fear, by Bronwyn Finnigan14. Innate Human Connectivity and Śāntideva’s Cultivation of Compassion, by John DunneAppendix 1: A Guide to Guide Translations: Advice for Students and InstructorsAppendix 2: Index of Guide Verses CitedBibliographyContributorsIndex

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Book Synopsis''In Japan we have an expression, ''Float like Cloud, Flow like Water''. Its meaning is: to live free and unconstrained''In this short introduction to Zen Buddhism, a practising Japanese monk shares the many lessons he has learned from life inside a temple.With charm and humour, he guides us through everything from meditation to tea-drinking ceremonies, the meaning of koans to preparing Zen food. Accompanied by the author''s own illustrations, this book invites you to change your perception through the wisdom of monastic life.

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Book Synopsis''I have relinquished all that ties me to the world, but the one thing that still haunts me is the beauty of the sky''These simple, inspiring writings by three medieval Buddhist monks offer peace and wisdom amid the world''s uncertainties, and are an invitation to relinquish earthly desires and instead taste life in the moment.One of twenty new books in the bestselling Penguin Great Ideas series. This new selection showcases a diverse list of thinkers who have helped shape our world today, from anarchists to stoics, feminists to prophets, satirists to Zen Buddhists.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the beautiful bestselling book about a beautiful friendship . . .''James has a way to speak to your soul. This book is nothing short of comforting and heartwarming'' VEX KING''While the drawings have the charm of Winnie-the-Pooh, the captions have the depth of ancient proverbs'' GUARDIAN''A beautifully illustrated book which draws on tender moments. Exquisite'' DR RANGAN CHATTERJEE________A guiding light in the darker months, Big Panda and Tiny Dragon is the beautifully illustrated and mindful journey of two friends through the seasons, inspired by Buddhist philosophy''Which is more important,'' asked Big Panda, ''the journey or the destination?''''The company,'' said Tiny Dragon.Friends Big Panda and Tiny Dragon journey through the seasons of the year together, day and night, in rain and in sun. Travelling through nature, they find hope and inspiration in the world around them, realising that even in the darkest of days, Spring will always return.Feel the calming influence of Big Panda, who reminds us of the bigger picture while appreciating the simplicity of small moments.Explore your surroundings with the inquisitive eye of Tiny Dragon, our friend who is big in heart if not in stature.And on their journey through the ever-changing seasons, join these two friends as they learn how to live in the moment, be at peace with uncertainty, and find the strength to overcome life''s obstacles, together.Inspired by Buddhist philosophy and spirituality, the story of these whimsical characters makes the perfect gift for anyone looking for a little hope and comfort.________''The two friends often find themselves lost but discover beautiful sights they never would have found if they had gone the right way. While the drawings have the charm of Winnie-the-Pooh, the captions have the depth of ancient proverbs'' GUARDIANTrade ReviewIt features the two friends, who often find themselves lost but discover beautiful sights they never would have found if they had gone the right way. While the drawings have the charm of Winnie-the-Pooh, the captions have the depth of ancient proverbs * Guardian *James has a way to speak to your soul. This book is nothing short of comforting and heartwarming -- Vex KingA beautifully illustrated book which draws on tender moments. Exquisite -- Dr Rangan Chatterjee * BBC Radio 2 *

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Book SynopsisContemplates the role of Buddhist temples in the nurturing of immigrant communitiesSince the 1970s, tens of thousands of Vietnamese immigrants have settled in Louisiana, Florida, and other Gulf Coast states, rebuilding lives that were upended by the wars in Indochina. For many, their faith has been an essential source of community and hope. But how have their experiences as migrants influenced their religious practices and interpretations of Buddhist tenets? And how has organized religion shaped their understanding of what it means to be Vietnamese in the United States?This ethnographic study follows the monks and lay members of temples in the Gulf Coast region who practice Pure Land Buddhism, which is prevalent in East Asia but in the United States is less familiar than forms such as Zen. By treating the temple as a site to be made and remade, Vietnamese Americans have developed approaches that sometimes contradict fundamental Buddhist principles of nonattachment. This book considers Trade Review"Truitt’s ethnography provides a necessary gap in research regarding Vietnamese Buddhism in America," * Journal of the American Academy of Religion *"[T]he book provides a comprehensive account of this hitherto untold story of Vietnamese Buddhism in the U.S." * PoLAR: Political & Legal Anthropology Review *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Truitt’s ethnography provides a necessary gap in research regarding Vietnamese Buddhism in America," * Journal of the American Academy of Religion *"[T]he book provides a comprehensive account of this hitherto untold story of Vietnamese Buddhism in the U.S." * PoLAR: Political & Legal Anthropology Review *

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Book SynopsisCross-cultural dialogues in sacred space cultivate awareness of self and othersTemples are everywhere in Chiang Mai, filled with tourists as well as saffron-robed monks of all ages. The monks participate in daily urban life here as elsewhere in Thailand, where Buddhism is promoted, protected, and valued as a tourist attraction. Yet this mountain city offers more than a fleeting, commodified tourist experience, as the encounters between foreign visitors and Buddhist monks can have long-lasting effects on both parties. These religious contacts take place where economic motives, missionary zeal, and opportunities for cultural exchange coincide. Brooke Schedneck incorporates fieldwork and interviews with student monks and tourists to examine the innovative ways that Thai Buddhist temples offer foreign visitors spaces for religious instruction and popular in-person Monk Chat sessions in which tourists ask questions about Buddhism. Religious Tourism in Northern Thailand also considers how Trade Review"The results of the long-term fieldwork presented within this volume is invaluable: Schedneck has offered a truly commendable window into not only the relationship ofreligion and tourism in Chiang Mai, but more broadly into Thai Buddhist monastic culture." * Religious Studies Review *"Brooke Schedneck writes terrific books. Her latest offering... proves religious tourism and cultural exchange programmes to be worthy of serious scholarly attention." * Journal of Contemporary Religion *"With Schedneck’s expertise in religious studies and drawing from her own encounters with Buddhism in Chiang Mai, the book offers a refreshingly honest perspective on the subject...Moreover, the lucid writing style of the author makes the book easy to follow and thus useful to readers with some interest in Chiang Mai." * SOJOURN: Journal of Social Issues in Southeast Asia *"[Schedneck] has crafted an extremely novel and insightful perspective on the creation of Buddhism’s continuing global influence." * H-Net *"Brooke Schedneck's monograph is a timely publication, providing rich descriptions of 'modern' Thai Buddhism, temple spaces, and monk behavior in a changing Thailand." * Tourism Geographies: An International Journal of Tourism Space, Place and Environment *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The results of the long-term fieldwork presented within this volume is invaluable: Schedneck has offered a truly commendable window into not only the relationship ofreligion and tourism in Chiang Mai, but more broadly into Thai Buddhist monastic culture." * Religious Studies Review *"Brooke Schedneck writes terrific books. Her latest offering... proves religious tourism and cultural exchange programmes to be worthy of serious scholarly attention." * Journal of Contemporary Religion *"With Schedneck’s expertise in religious studies and drawing from her own encounters with Buddhism in Chiang Mai, the book offers a refreshingly honest perspective on the subject...Moreover, the lucid writing style of the author makes the book easy to follow and thus useful to readers with some interest in Chiang Mai." * SOJOURN: Journal of Social Issues in Southeast Asia *"[Schedneck] has crafted an extremely novel and insightful perspective on the creation of Buddhism’s continuing global influence." * H-Net *"Brooke Schedneck's monograph is a timely publication, providing rich descriptions of 'modern' Thai Buddhism, temple spaces, and monk behavior in a changing Thailand." * Tourism Geographies: An International Journal of Tourism Space, Place and Environment *

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Book SynopsisWinner of the 2023 IPPY Gold Religion Nonfiction category, sponsored by the Independent Publisher Book Award Centuries of monumental sculpture, embedded in the landscapeAt sixty-two meters the Leshan Buddha in southwest China is the world's tallest premodern statue. Carved out of a riverside cliff in the eighth century, it has evolved from a religious center to a UNESCO World Heritage Site and popular tourist destination. But this Buddha does not stand alone: Sichuan is home to many cave temples with such monumental sculptures, part of a centuries-long tradition of art-making intricately tied to how local inhabitants made use of their natural resources with purpose and creativity. These examples of art embedded in nature have altered landscapes and have influenced the behaviors, values, and worldviews of users through multiple cycles of revival, restoration, and recreation. As hybrid spaces that are at once natural and artificial, they embody the interaction of art and the environmenTrade Review"[A] very inspiring contribution to our understanding of ecological art history from the perspective of Asian art. It should be read by anyone who is interested in the interrelationships among Buddhist studies, art history, and environmental humanities." * H-Environment *"Sonya Lee’s Temples in the Cliffside is a welcome addition to studies of the religious cliff sculpture of southwestern China." * Journal of Chinese History *"[A] truly multidisciplinary work of scholarship that examines Buddhist art from intertwined technical, environmental, religious, historical, aesthetic, economic, and political perspectives...Temples in the Cliffside innovatively locates religious art within its historical, political, and natural landscapes to show how people have managed their relationships to nature, and nonhuman entities in general, in different contexts. At a time when floods will likely wash the Great Buddha’s feet more and more frequently, thinking about art holistically and ecologically is particularly urgent." * CAA Reviews *"Sonya Lee's superbly researched work has paid attention to the aesthetic and historical content of the monuments, but has also updated it by framing the events in the context of environment and sustainability which are very much part of our present time. This most original approach will inspire a younger generation of art historians. Lastly, her uncommon familiarity with all matters related to conservation and restoration have contributed to this groundbreaking book." * Studies in Chinese Religions *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"In Spatial Dunhuang, the temporal and spatial lines have been so well organized that it is still accessible to those unfamiliar with Dunhuang and/or Chinese art despite the fact that more than 20 caves are discussed in considerable detail. For specialists, some of the issues raised in this book may stimulate further academic studies such as the interrelationship between ideas of the afterlife and rituals in Dunhuang with the religious practices at Mogao. At the same time, nearby cave sites such as the Yulin Caves and the Western Caves of a Thousand Buddhas can be taken into consideration in a bigger spatial picture." * Asian Studies Review *"With a seamless blend of insights from religion, art history, literature, and archaeology, Wu Hung’s latest contribution, Spatial Dunhuang: Experiencing the Mogao Caves, stands as a pioneering scholarly endeavor. . . Overall, this richly illustrated book transforms the foundational approach of Dunhuang studies by pivoting toward the significance of space within the Mogao Caves. It caters not only to academic audiences but also to broader readerships." * H-Net Reviews *

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Book SynopsisClarifies the significance and function of reliquaries from excavations of Gandharan monastery sites around modern Peshawar

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Book SynopsisThis illuminating account of contemporary American Buddhism shows the remarkable ways the tradition has changed over the past generation The past couple of decades have witnessed Buddhist communities both continuing the modernization of Buddhism and questioning some of its limitations. In this fascinating portrait of a rapidly changing religious landscape, Ann Gleig illuminates the aspirations and struggles of younger North American Buddhists during a period she identifies as a distinct stage in the assimilation of Buddhism to the West. She observes both the emergence of new innovative forms of deinstitutionalized Buddhism that blur the boundaries between the religious and secular, and a revalorization of traditional elements of Buddhism, such as ethics and community, that were discarded in the modernization process. Based on extensive ethnographic and textual research, the book ranges from mindfulness debates in the Vipassana network to the sex scandals in American Zen, while explTrade Review"In this engaging and thoughtful study, Ann Gleig asks challenging and important questions about the limits of modern Buddhism and the future of the tradition in the United States."—Scott A. Mitchell, author of Buddhism in America: Global Religion, Local Contexts“Gleig's highly insightful examination of contemporary Euro-American Buddhism problematizes the prevailing framework of Buddhism modernism, revealing a postmodern complexity in which the familiar dichotomies of natal/convert, modern/traditional, secular/religious are no longer relevant.”—Richard K. Payne, Institute of Buddhist Studies “This landmark work skillfully allows the very particular voices of contemporary American Buddhism to speak while highlighting the larger historical and theoretical contexts. This is an indispensable book for anyone hoping to understand the current contours of Buddhism in North America.”—David McMahan, Franklin & Marshall College “In this thoughtful, nuanced book, Ann Gleig illuminates the profound shifts that have created America’s post-modern Buddhist scene. This is essential reading for those seeking to understand the self-consciously intersectional, communal, and identarian developments in contemporary American Buddhism, as well as in the wider secularized spiritual culture in the United States.”—Erik Braun, University of Virginia“This is an exciting and perceptive book. Ann Gleig convincingly shows how twenty-first century American Buddhism continues and contests foundational modernist attributes, producing post-modern developments in an ever richer and more complex Buddhist subculture.”—Jeff Wilson, author of Mindful America

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Book SynopsisFollowing on from the internationally bestselling The Art of Happiness, the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler bring us the inspiring The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World.This inspirational book brings the successful East-meets-West pairing together again to provide a practical application of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual values to the fast-paced, unpredictable, stressful and demanding world we all live in today.In this wise, insightful and practical book, the Dalai Lama shows us how to follow the path that will lead us to fulfilment, purpose and happiness, even in our troubled modern times.Trade ReviewPraise for The Art of Happiness at Work: 'If you're dissatisfied at work, or are finding it hard to understand your true calling, this book is for you... Cutler puts into practice the basic principles of the Dalai Lama that can be applied in all areas of your life. The Art of Happiness at Work is very readable'. * Be Unlimited *

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Book SynopsisThis lively introduction to Buddhist meditation offers students and practitioners alike a deeper understanding of what meditation is and its purpose and place in the context of different Buddhist schools. The historical background and geographical spread of Buddhist meditation is explored alongside an examination of the development of meditative practices. Chapters cover basic meditative practice, types of meditation, meditation in different regions, meditation and doctrine, and the role of chanting within meditation. Although not a practical guide, Introduction to Buddhist Meditation outlines the procedures associated with Buddhist practices and suggests appropriate activities, useful both for students and interested Buddhists. Vivid quotations from Buddhist texts and carefully selected photographs and diagrams help the reader engage fully with this fascinating subject.Thoroughly revised throughout, this new edition also features a glossary and key, making it ideal reading for students approaching the topic of Buddhist meditation for the first time.

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Book SynopsisDespite the popularity of Buddhism in Britain, there has so far been no study documenting the full range of teachings and practices. This book fills this gap and serves as an important reference point for further studies in this increasingly popular field.Trade Review'Robert Bluck's multifaceted study offers the most up-to-date information on Buddhist groups in Britain in a unique compilation. As his book will have a strong influence on both the academic debate and the popular view of Buddhism in Britain, perhaps some of the questions mentioned above will be answered in a second edition for which there will certainly be a demand. Overall, the book is a significant contribution to the study of contemporary Buddhist traditions - not only in Britain.' - Zeitsch rift für junge Religonswissenschaft'Robert Bluck's academic study ... makes an important contribution to understanding the development of Buddhism in Britian.' - The Middle Way, Vol. 82 No. 2, August 2007'Robert Bluck's multifaceted study offers the most up-to-date information on Buddhist groups in Britain in a unique compilation. As his book will have a strong influence on both the academic debate and the popular view of Buddhism in Britain, perhaps some of the questions mentioned above will be answered in a second edition for which there will certainly be a demand. Overall, the book is a significant contribution to the study of contemporary Buddhist traditions - not only in Britain.'- Zeitsch rift für junge ReligonswissenschaftTable of Contents1. Introduction 2. An Overview of Buddhism in Britain 3. The Forest Sangha 4. The Samatha Trust 5. The Serene Reflection Meditation Tradition (Soto Zen) 6. Soka Gakkai International UK 7. The Karma Kagyu Tradition 8. The New Kadampa Tradition 9. Friends of the Western Buddhist Order 10. Summary and Conclusions

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Book SynopsisIntroducing Buddhism is the ideal resource for all students beginning the study of this fascinating religious tradition. It explains the religion's key teachings and traces its historical development and geographical spread of from its foundations up to present day. Charles S. Prebish and Damien Keown, two of today's leading Buddhist scholars, devote a chapter each to the major regions where Buddhism has flourished - India, South-east Asia, East Asia and Tibet. In addition, contemporary concerns are discussed, including important and relevant topics such as Engaged Buddhism, Buddhist Ethics, Buddhism and the Western World and Meditation.This new edition includes more material on the different schools of Buddhism including explanations in graphic form, monastic life, popular religion, Buddhist ethics, ritual, the Bodhisattva Path, the Jatakas, the transmission of Buddhism, and class, gender and race.Introducing Buddhism includes illustrations, extractsTrade Review'This is a wonderful book, comprehensive and readable, that covers a wide spectrum of Buddhism. It's clearly presented and probably the best general textbook available today. Aimed at undergraduate readers, it can also provide reliable information for anyone interested in Buddhism.' - John Powers, Australian National University, Australia'Well-structured, clearly written, and equipped with a variety of helpful didactic tools, Introducing Buddhism is an excellent starting point for studying the complex teachings and religious practices of Buddhism and its historical developments up to the present time. The book provides straightforward orientation for absolute beginners as well as more detailed discussions for advanced students. The first edition of the book has proved its worth in class, and I look forward to using this new, enhanced edition in my introductory classes.' - Oliver Freiberger, The University of Texas at Austin, USATable of ContentsAcknowledgements. Chronology of Buddhist History. The Buddhist Scriptures. Pronunciation Guide. Introduction: The Background to Buddhism Part 1: Foundations Karma and Cosmology. The Buddha. The Dharma. The Sangha. Meditation Part 2: Development Mahayana Buddhism. Buddhism in India. Buddhism in Southeast Asia. Buddhism in East Asia. Buddhism in Tibet Part 3: Modernity Buddhism in the Western World. Engaged Buddhism. Buddhist Ethics. Reflections on the Nature and Study of Buddhism

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Book SynopsisMindfulness-based approaches to medicine, psychology, neuroscience, healthcare, education, business leadership, and other major societal institutions have become increasingly common. New paradigms are emerging from a confluence of two powerful and potentially synergistic epistemologies: one arising from the wisdom traditions of Asia and the other arising from post-enlightenment empirical science. This book presents the work of internationally renowned experts in the fields of Buddhist scholarship and scientific research, as well as looking at the implementation of mindfulness in healthcare and education settings. Contributors consider the use of mindfulness throughout history and look at the actual meaning of mindfulness whilst identifying the most salient areas for potential synergy and for potential disjunction.Mindfulness: Diverse Perspectives on its Meanings, Origins and Applications provides a place where wisdom teachings, philosophy, history,Table of ContentsEditors' Foreword 1. Mindfulness: diverse perspectives on its meaning, origins, and multiple applications at the intersection of science and dharma 2. What does mindfulness really mean? A canonical perspective 3. Is mindfulness present-centred and non-judgmental? A discussion of the cognitive dimensions of mindfulness 4. The construction of mindfulness 5. Toward an understanding of non-dual mindfulness 6. How does mindfulness transform suffering? I: the nature and origins of Dukkha 7. How does mindfulness transform suffering? II: the transformation of Dukkha 8. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy: culture clash or creative fusion? 9. Compassion in the landscape of suffering 10. Meditation and mindfulness 11. The Buddhist roots of mindfulness training: a practitioners view 12. Mindfulness and loving-kindness 13. Mindfulness in higher education 14. ‘Enjoy your death’: leadership lessons forged in the crucible of organizational death and rebirth infused with mindfulness and mastery 15. Mindfulness, by any other name. . . : trials and tribulations of Sati in western psychology and science 16. Measuring mindfulness 17. On some definitions of mindfulness 18. Some reflections on the origins of MBSR, skillful means, and the trouble with maps

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Book SynopsisA groundbreaking study of prison religion, Karma and Punishment introduces a form of chaplaincy rooted in the Buddhist concept of doctrinal admonition. Through research and fieldwork, Adam Lyons uncovers a dimension of Buddhist modernism that developed as Japan's religious organizations carved out a niche as defenders of society by fighting crime.Trade ReviewIn this meticulously researched, thoughtfully composed book, Adam J. Lyons examines the relation between religion and the state in Japan through the lens of prison chaplaincy…An important contribution to a lively conversation among scholars of Japanese religions around the entanglements between religion and other spheres of social life. -- Melissa Anne-Marie Curley * Journal of the American Academy of Religion *Lyons’ book is a must-read for scholars of religion and law who want to understand the modern history of Japan’s church-state relationship as it plays out in the domain of crime and punishment…Now that Lyons has ably laid the groundwork, future scholars of religion in Japan will certainly want to explore additional dimensions of this fascinating topic. -- Jessica Starling * Religious Studies Review *This book offers a valuable and fascinating case study through which to analyze religion-state relations in modern Japan…Lyons’ honest and beautifully written account of the conflicts prison chaplains feel gives this superb and field-defining history of prison chaplaincy in Japan more than just academic heft. -- Timothy Benedict * Contemporary Japan *[Karma and Punishment] not only makes a major contribution towards filling a gap within the broader debates regarding crime and punishment, but it also makes a compelling and fascinating argument about the role of religion in the establishment of the modern prison and probation system and its continuing influence on public perceptions of justice. This is a fascinating story…Impressive and original…A must-read for anyone who is interested in these topics. -- Jason Danely * International Institute for Asian Studies *This volume provides a comprehensive perspective on Japanese prison chaplaincy and the dynamic relationship between religions and the state. It is a must-read for scholars of Japanese religions. -- Marzia Alteno * Religious Studies Review *

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Book SynopsisAs the spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has captured the attention and admiration of the world through his wisdom. This jewel of a book offers some of his most helpful insights on daily living, inner peace, compassion and justice - for all of us in these troubled times.Trade ReviewA symbol of serenity, a spiritual leader second only to the Pope * Independent *The Dalai Lama is the most influential person in the world * Time magazine *He draws crowds that no other spiritual leader or politician could hope to match...he seems to look at life in a different way to everyone else * The Times *

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Book SynopsisSeen partly through the eyes of the Buddha himself and partly through those of Svasti, the buffalo boy, Old Path White Clouds brings the Buddha closer to us as we journey with him on his path to enlightenment and nirvana.Trade Review'The Buddha was the source. Venerable Svasti and the young buffalo boys were rivers that flowed from the source. Wherever the rivers flowed, the Buddha would be there.' In Old Path White Clouds, scholar, poet and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh retells the story of the Buddha in his own inimitably beautiful style. He draws upon Pali, Sanskrit and Chinese sources to trace the Buddha's life slowly and gently through the course of eighty years. Seen partly through the eyes of the Buddha himself and partly through those of Svasti, the buffalo boy, Old Path White Clouds brings the Buddha closer to us as we journey with him on his path to enlightenment and nirvana.

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Book SynopsisIn Meditation Now or Never Steve Hagen, a Zen priest and bestselling author of Buddhism Plain and Simple, provides an accessible and thorough manual on meditation, for both newcomers and experienced practitioners. In the modern world our lives are more frenetic than ever. We live with a burning sense that we have to get something done. But what do we really achieve? And why are we never satisfied? This book is an invitation to switch off, and to enjoy stillness - right now. Steve Hagen offers simple practices that avoid needlessly complicating meditation; highlights where many of us get stuck in meditating - and how to get unstuck; and, above all, focuses on meditation not simply as a spiritual technique, but as a way of living.Trade ReviewClean and clear as a mountain stream. I wish I had found such a book when I began meditating -- Stephen Levine, author of A GRADUAL AWAKENINGA lucid, no-frills introduction to Buddhist meditation ... a timely reminder of what meditation is all about -- Stephen Batchelor, author of BUDDHISM WITHOUT BELIEFSA brief and wonderfully accessible primer on meditation * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisScholarly and popular consensus has painted a picture of Indian Buddhist monasticism in which monks and nuns severed all ties with their families when they left home for the religious life. In this view, monks and nuns remained celibate, and those who faltered in their âœvowsâ of monastic celibacy were immediately and irrevocably expelled from the Buddhist Order. This romanticized image is based largely on the ascetic rhetoric of texts such as the Rhinoceros Horn Sutra. Through a study of Indian Buddhist law codes (vinaya), Shayne Clarke dehorns the rhinoceros, revealing that in their own legal narratives, far from renouncing familial ties, Indian Buddhist writers take for granted the fact that monks and nuns would remain in contact with their families. Surveying the still largely uncharted terrain of Indian Buddhist monastic law codes preserved in Sanskrit, Tibetan, and Chinese, Clarke provides a comprehensive, pan-Indian picture of Buddhist monastic attitudes toward family. Whereas

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Book SynopsisOffers the first book-length study of the theory and practice of “abandoning the body”(self-immolation) in Chinese Buddhism. This book examines the hagiographical accounts of all those who made offerings of their own bodies and places them in historical, social, cultural, and doctrinal context.Trade ReviewA carefully documented and beautifully written account of the history of a set of somatic practices that has been a part of Chinese Buddhism for some fifteen hundred years yet heretofore received scant attention in the scholarly literature. . . . Benn has done an excellent job of presenting a stimulating and wide-ranging set of issues about a subject that in less capable and sensitive hands might have strayed toward the sensational or macabre. This book deserves to be on the bookshelf of all students of Chinese Buddhism and is highly recommended as a classroom tool."" - Journal of Chinese Religions; ""Benn has written a short, elegant, and provocative history of Buddhist self-immmolation in China from the fifth to the early twentieth century."" - Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies; ""Benn’s study is admirably well written and well researched—for both style and content, it deserves to stand among the major contributions to Buddhist studies of recent decades. . . . This book is an enjoyable read, suitable for students and scholars alike."" - Journal of Asian Studies; ""A fine and well-organized book in which James Benn introduces the reader to an interesting topic. . . . For Buddhist studies, Benn has done an excellent job describing a facet of Chinese Buddhist life that has hitherto been neglected in academic accounts of Buddhism and that modernist emic descriptions of Buddhism are unlikely to emphasize in the foreseeable future. The value of Burning for the Buddha for the study of religion at large is obvious."" - Journal of Religion; ""Burning for the Buddha presents a wealth of engaging material and should be stimulating reading for those interested in religious ideas of the body. It is, of course, an essential book for students of Chinese Buddhism, one of the very few thus far to provide a multi-faceted, historical view of a specific practice."" - Journal of the Academy of Religion; ""A compelling and thoroughly researched study of self-immolation among Chinese Mahayana Buddhists. . . . Highly recommended."" - Choice; ""Benn explores one of the most striking customs in the history of Chinese Buddhism, showing that, far from a marginal act by disturbed deviants, self-immolation was a carefully considered, mainstream practice. This is a subject with implications for scholars interested in the sinification of Buddhism and the history of Buddhist asceticism, but also for scholars with interests beyond Buddhism, since it has immediate bearing on the history of suicide and attitudes towards the body in China."" - John Kieschnick, University of Bristol; ""At a time when scholars of religion are paying increasing attention to notions of the body, James Benn has produced a masterpiece on the practice of self-immolation in Chinese Buddhism. This wonderfully written and thoroughly researched book will remain the authoritative treatment of the subject for generations to come. Proceeding roughly chronologically, Benn moves from the earliest biographies containing accounts of eminent monks burning themselves, through the locus classicus for the justification of the practice (the Lotus Sutra), to more neglected materials of medieval and late medieval times, right up to the twentieth century. Along the way, he treats us to insightful discussions of the many changing social, political, ethical, ideological, and ritual contexts of the practice. This book makes it clear that Burning for the Buddha—something that was once considered to be an exceptional and anomalous act carried out by a few monks—was, in fact, a well-established and well-recognized practice that endured longer than most other aspects of Chinese Buddhism."" —John Strong, Bates College

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Book SynopsisProvides a comprehensive overview of Chinese Pure Land Buddhism. Chinese Pure Land Buddhism has previously received very little attention from western scholars. Charles B. Jones examines the reasons for the lack of scholarly attention and why the few past treatments of the topic missed many of its distinctive features.

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Book SynopsisOffers a transnational account of the deity Shinra Myjin, the god of Silla worshipped in medieval Japanese Buddhism. Sujung Kim challenges the long-held understanding of Shinra Myjin as a protective deity of the Tendai Jimon school, showing how its worship emerged and developed in the complex networks of the East Asian Mediterranean.

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Book SynopsisTianxia all-under-Heaven' - in everyday Chinese parlance simply means the world'. But tianxia is also a geopolitical term found in canonical writings that has a deeper historical and philosophical significance. This volume contextualizes the tianxia vision within a variety of strategies drawn from a broad spectrum of cultures and peoples.

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