Buddhist life and practice Books
Windhorse Publications Saving the Earth
Book SynopsisFilled with practical tips as well as insightful reflections, "Saving the Earth" provides tools for change while showing how the Buddhist philosophies of interconnectedness and compassion are of immense use in our efforts towards preserving the natural world. Not only does Akuppa help you to discover new ways to reduce your impact on the Earth but he also helps you to deal with the feelings of panic and despair that news of the environment can often evoke. Never driven by panic, but with an ultimately positive view he champions the human ability to change and celebrates the enormous difference this can make.Trade ReviewWhat welcome wisdom comes our way in this book! If you want to stay sane, motivated, and productive while working for the healing of our world, read these pages of priceless and pleasurable advice. It is like having a heart-to-heart with a trusted and savvy friend.A" Joanna Macy, author of 'World as Lover, World as Self'
£9.49
Tharpa Publications Modern Buddhism New Edition
Book SynopsisA special presentation of Buddha's teachings on compassion and wisdom that communicates their essence in a way that is easy to understand and put into practice. By developing and maintaining compassion and wisdom in daily life, we can transform our lives, improve our relationships with others and look behind appearances to see the way things really are. In this way we can find lasting happiness and accomplish the real meaning of our human life. With compassion and wisdom, like the two wings of a bird, we can quickly reach the enlightened world of a Buddha. From the author: 'I would particularly like to encourage everyone to read specifically the chapter "Training in Ultimate Bodhichitta". Through carefully reading and contemplating this chapter again and again with a positive mind, you will gain very profound knowledge, or wisdom, which will bring great meaning to your life.' This inspiring handbook of daily practice is perfectly suited to those seeking within Buddhism solutions to problems of everyday life, as well as for encouraging practitioners of all faiths to deepen their understanding and practice of the spiritual path.Table of ContentsIllustrations Preface PART ONE: SUTRA Preliminary Explanation What is Buddhism? Buddhist Faith What is the Mind? Who are the Kadampas? The Preciousness of Kadam Lamrim The Path of a Person of Initial Scope The Preciousness of our Human Life What Does our Death Mean? The Dangers of Lower Rebirth Going for Refuge What is Karma? The Path of a Person of Middling Scope What We Should Know What We Should Abandon What We Should Practise What We Should Attain vi The Path of a Person of Great Scope The Supreme Good Heart - Bodhichitta Training in Affectionate Love Training in Cherishing Love Training in Wishing Love Training in Universal Compassion Training in Actual Bodhichitta Training in the Path of Bodhichitta Training in the Six Perfections Training in Taking in Conjunction with Practice of the Six Perfections Training in Giving in Conjunction with Practice of the Six Perfections Training in Ultimate Bodhichitta What is Emptiness? The Emptiness of our Body The Emptiness of our Mind The Emptiness of our I The Emptiness Which is Empty of Eight Extremes Conventional and Ultimate Truths The Union of the Two Truths The Practice of Emptiness in our Daily Activities A Simple Training in Ultimate Bodhichitta Examination of our Lamrim practice PART TWO: TANTRA The Preciousness of Tantra The Tantra of Generation Stage The Tantra of Completion Stage The Central Channel The Indestructible Drop The Indestructible Wind and Mind vii How to Meditate on the Central Channel How to Meditate on the Indestructible Drop How to Meditate on the Indestructible Wind and Mind The Completion Stage of Mahamudra Great Bliss The Practice of Heruka Body Mandala The Lineage of these Instructions What is the Heruka Body Mandala? The Preliminary Practices Training in the Generation Stage of Heruka Body Mandala Training in Completion Stage The Instructions of Vajrayogini The Yogas of Sleeping, Rising and Experiencing Nectar The Remaining Eight Yogas Dedication Appendix I - Liberating Prayer Appendix II - Prayers for Meditation Appendix III - An Explanation of Channels Appendix IV - An Explanation of Inner Winds Appendix V - The Yoga of Buddha Heruka Appendix VI - Blissful Journey Appendix VII - Quick Path to Great Bliss Appendix VIII - The Blissful Path Appendix IX - The nada Glossary Bibliography Study Programmes of Kadampa Buddhism Tharpa Offices Worldwide Index Further Reading
£9.49
Watkins Media Limited Tantra: The Supreme Understanding
Book SynopsisThe tradition of Tantra or Tantric Buddhism is known to have existed in India as early as the 5th century AD. In this book Osho talks about the mystical insight of Tantra that is to be found in these ancient writings. Mining these ancient Tantric writings and meditation practices Osho illuminates such concepts as the nature of darkness and light, the paradoxical wisdom of the "pathless path," and reverance for the body as a bridge to the divine. No matter how complex, esoteric, or obscure the subject, Osho always examines it from a uniquely refreshing perspective - he uses time honoured traditions as a hook to bring timeless truths to the widest possible audience with irreverent wit and thought-provoking inspiration.
£11.69
Temple Lodge Publishing The Eightfold Path: A Way of Development for
Book SynopsisCenturies before the birth of Christ, Buddha taught a path of love, compassion and forgiveness originating from his experiences of suffering in the world. The cause of suffering, he believed, lay within the soul, which had become self-centred and egotistic. Buddha inaugurated the Eightfold Path for purification and transformation - eight exercises which could lead to a new relationship with the world, from self-centredness to a warm interest in one's environment and in other people. The exercises, described and explained here in their correct sequence - with each preparing the individual for the next step - are: the right view, the right resolve, the right word, the right action, the right standpoint, the right effort, the right remembrance and the right contemplation.In this small book, based on commentary given by Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) as well as his own intensive work with many groups, Joop van Dam has created a practical guide for anyone wishing to take up this path of personal development. He gives particular focus to the benefit that can be gained from the Eightfold Path by those in the educational, therapeutic and caring professions.
£7.99
Windhorse Publications Solitude and Loneliness
Book SynopsisReferencing cultural touchstones such as Into The Wild, the art of Edward Hopper, and the work of Charlie Chaplin, Sarvananda considers what we think about being alone. Buddhism suggests that solitude can bring about positive emotion and change. Exploring this idea through personal experience, psychology and myth the author shows how facing our essential aloneness can lead us to better understand our essential relatedness.
£8.21
Windhorse Publications Sailing the Worldly Winds: A Buddhist Way Through
Book SynopsisHow do we really get on in this world? Tossed around by gain, buffeted by loss, borne aloft by praise, cast down by blame, how can we not be ground under, lose all direction, confidence, and sense of purpose? The Buddha had clear guidance on how to rise above these 'worldly winds', and Vajragupta here opens up for us the Buddha's compassionate yet uncompromising teaching. Using reflections, exercises and suggestions for daily practice, this book can help you find greater equanimity and perspective in the ups and downs - big and small - of everyday life.
£9.49
Windhorse Publications Living Wisely: Advice from Nagarjuna's Precious
Book SynopsisHow do we live wisely? Sangharakshita outlines how in this companion volume of commentary on Nagarjuna's Precious Garland, showing us how to use our positive ethical position, our momentum in goodness, to develop a deep understanding of the nature of life. In the companion volume, Living Ethically, Sangharakshita showed us that to live a Buddhist life we need to develop an ethical foundation. Ethical living means being motivated increasingly by love, contentment and awareness. However, from a Buddhist viewpoint, this 'being good' is not good enough. We become good in order to be wise. Although ultimately the most satisfying of all human endeavours, here we learn that the development of wisdom is also not an easy task. The truth of things is elusive, subtle and even frightening. So we need to get to it by developing both a more non-literal and reflective intelligence, and greater maturity and courage.
£10.99
Equinox Publishing Ltd Listening to Shin Buddhism: Starting Points of
Book SynopsisIn the early twentieth century The Eastern Buddhist not only shared in pioneering presentations of Buddhism to the west but invited interaction with non-Japanese authors. This interactive process increased dramatically in the post-war period, when dialogue between Buddhist and Christian thought began to take off in earnest. Significant here was the philosophical Buddhism of the frequently cited Kyoto School, a tradition of thought and teaching named after Kyoto University where it was largely based. At the same time these debates and dialogues brought in not only Zen voices but also thinkers from the Shin Buddhist tradition. Both of these orientations are reflected here. While the contributions stem mainly from the fifties, sixties and seventies, they have significantly influenced subsequent Buddhist-Christian dialogue. It was still a time of exciting mutual discovery. Anybody wishing to enter into this process of dialogue and exchange will therefore find it of great interest and value to approach it by considering the ideas and insights presented here. Because of the wealth of materials the selection has been spread across two volumes in the series Eastern Buddhist Voices and the present volume includes contributions from the earlier part of the period (Interactions with Japanese Buddhism includes contributions from the later part).Table of ContentsGeneral Introduction Part I Early Interactions The Buddhist Doctrine of Vicarious Suffering (1927) Kaneko, Daiei Mahayana Buddhism and Japanese Culture (1931) Yamabe, Shugaku The Idea and the Man (a response to Yamabe Shugaku) (1932) C.A.F. Rhys Davids A Rejoinder to Mrs. Rhys Davids' Comment (1932) Yamabe, Shugaku Editorial from 1934 Anonymous Editorial from 1949 Anonymous Part II Two Presenters of Shin Buddhism Shin Religion as I Believe it (1951) Kaneko, Daiei The Meaning of Salvation in the Doctrine of Pure Land Buddhism (1965) Kaneko, Daiei Goodness and Naturalness (1951) Kanamatsu, Kenryo Part III Three Western Responses to Shin Buddhism The Concept of Grace in Paul, Shinran and Luther (1976) Buri, Fritz Nembutsu as Remembrance (1977) Pallis, Marco Shinran's Way in the Modern World (1978) Bloom, Alfred Part IV Broadening Perspectives for Shin Buddhism Freedom and Necessity in Shinran's Concept of Karma (1986) Ueda, Yoshifumi The concept of the Pure Land in the Teaching of Nagarjuna (1966) Yamaguchi, Susumu The Mahayana Structure of Shinran's Thought (1984) Ueda, Yoshifumi Shinran and Contemporary Thought (1980) Takeuchi, Yoshinori Part V A Dialogue of Shin Buddhism and Zen Buddhism Shinran's World: A Dialogue of Shin Buddhism and Zen Buddhism (1961: published in three parts in 1985, 1986 and 1988) Nishitani, Keiji (moderator) with Suzuki Daisetsu, Kaneko Daiei and Soga Ryojin Synoptic list of text titles Character List for Historical Persons Full details of original publication A Note on The Eastern Buddhist
£76.50
Equinox Publishing Ltd Listening to Shin Buddhism: Starting Points of
Book SynopsisIn the early twentieth century The Eastern Buddhist not only shared in pioneering presentations of Buddhism to the west but invited interaction with non-Japanese authors. This interactive process increased dramatically in the post-war period, when dialogue between Buddhist and Christian thought began to take off in earnest. Significant here was the philosophical Buddhism of the frequently cited Kyoto School, a tradition of thought and teaching named after Kyoto University where it was largely based. At the same time these debates and dialogues brought in not only Zen voices but also thinkers from the Shin Buddhist tradition. Both of these orientations are reflected here. While the contributions stem mainly from the fifties, sixties and seventies, they have significantly influenced subsequent Buddhist-Christian dialogue. It was still a time of exciting mutual discovery. Anybody wishing to enter into this process of dialogue and exchange will therefore find it of great interest and value to approach it by considering the ideas and insights presented here. Because of the wealth of materials the selection has been spread across two volumes in the series Eastern Buddhist Voices and the present volume includes contributions from the earlier part of the period (Interactions with Japanese Buddhism includes contributions from the later part).Table of ContentsGeneral Introduction Part I Early Interactions The Buddhist Doctrine of Vicarious Suffering (1927) Kaneko, Daiei Mahayana Buddhism and Japanese Culture (1931) Yamabe, Shugaku The Idea and the Man (a response to Yamabe Shugaku) (1932) C.A.F. Rhys Davids A Rejoinder to Mrs. Rhys Davids' Comment (1932) Yamabe, Shugaku Editorial from 1934 Anonymous Editorial from 1949 Anonymous Part II Two Presenters of Shin Buddhism Shin Religion as I Believe it (1951) Kaneko, Daiei The Meaning of Salvation in the Doctrine of Pure Land Buddhism (1965) Kaneko, Daiei Goodness and Naturalness (1951) Kanamatsu, Kenryo Part III Three Western Responses to Shin Buddhism The Concept of Grace in Paul, Shinran and Luther (1976) Buri, Fritz Nembutsu as Remembrance (1977) Pallis, Marco Shinran's Way in the Modern World (1978) Bloom, Alfred Part IV Broadening Perspectives for Shin Buddhism Freedom and Necessity in Shinran's Concept of Karma (1986) Ueda, Yoshifumi The concept of the Pure Land in the Teaching of Nagarjuna (1966) Yamaguchi, Susumu The Mahayana Structure of Shinran's Thought (1984) Ueda, Yoshifumi Shinran and Contemporary Thought (1980) Takeuchi, Yoshinori Part V A Dialogue of Shin Buddhism and Zen Buddhism Shinran's World: A Dialogue of Shin Buddhism and Zen Buddhism (1961: published in three parts in 1985, 1986 and 1988) Nishitani, Keiji (moderator) with Suzuki Daisetsu, Kaneko Daiei and Soga Ryojin Synoptic list of text titles Character List for Historical Persons Full details of original publication A Note on The Eastern Buddhist
£28.50
Equinox Publishing Ltd Interactions with Japanese Buddhism: Explorations
Book SynopsisIn the early twentieth century, The Eastern Buddhist journal pioneered the presentation of Buddhism to the west and encouraged the west's engagement in interpretation. This interactive process increased dramatically in the post-war period, when dialogue between Buddhist and Christian thought began to take off in earnest. These debates and dialogues brought in voices with a Zen orientation, influenced in part by the philosophical Buddhism of the Kyoto School. Also to be heard however were contributions from the Pure Land and the Shin Buddhist traditions, which also have a strong tradition in the city. The book brings together a wide range of authors who have significantly influenced subsequent Buddhist-Christian dialogue and the interaction between east and west.Table of ContentsGeneral Introduction PART I: FLASHBACK TO SOME EARLY EXCHANGES 1. Buddhism and Moral World Order, Kiba, Ryohon 2. On Zen Buddhism, Otto, Rudolf 3. Dengyo Daishi and German Theology, Petzold, Bruno 4. The Unity of Buddhism, Pratt, James Bissett 5. Shinran's Concept of Buddhist History, Soga, Ryojin PART II: THINKING ABOUT ZEN BUDDHISM IN THE SIXTIES 6. Zen: Its Meaning for Modern Civilization, Hisamatsu, Shin'ichi 7. The Awakening of Self in Buddhism, Nishitani, Keiji 8. Introducing Martin Heidegger, Nishitani, Keiji 9. Home: The Seven Hundredth Anniversary of the Town of Messkirch, Heidegger, Martin 10. Zen and Compassion, Abe, Masao PART III: RESPONSES TO SUZUKI DAISETSU 11. The Stone Bridge of Joshu, Kondo Akihisa 12. The Enlightened Thought, Kobori Sohaku 13. The "Mind-less" Scholar, Watts, Alan 14. Memories of Dr. D. T. Suzuki, Fromm, Erich 15. A Personal Tribute, Conze, Edward 16. Zen and Philology: On Ui Hakuju and Suzuki Daisetsu, Ueda, Yoshifumi 17. D.T. Suzuki and Pure land Buddhism, Bando, Shojun PART IV: THINKING ABOUT THE PURE LAND 18. The Concept of the Pure Land, Kaneko, Daiei 19. The Pure Land of Beauty, Yanagi, Soetsu APPENDICES Synoptic List of Text Titles Character List for Historical Persons Original publication details A note on The Eastern Buddhist Index
£67.50
Windhorse Publications Not About Being Good: A Practical Guide to
Book SynopsisWhile there are numerous books on Buddhist meditation and philosophy, there are few books that are entirely devoted to the practice of Buddhist ethics. Here Subhadramati, an experienced teacher of meditation and ethics, communicates clearly both their founding principles and the practical methods to embody them. She begins by stating that Buddhist ethics don't see human nature as something to be beaten into submission, tamed or domesticated. Buddhism is not trying 'to cure life of itself'. Buddhism is about fulfilling our human nature, not diminishing it, and its ethics are both the means and the expression of this fulfilment. In Buddhism, being ethical means being truly human. Buddhist ethics are thus not about conforming to a set of conventions, not about 'being good' in order to gain material, social or religious rewards. Instead, as Subhadramati outlines, living ethically springs from the awareness that other people are essentially no different from ourselves. We can, if we choose, actively develop this awareness, through cultivating more and more love, clarity and contentment.Helping us to come into a greater harmony with all that lives, including ourselves, this is ultimately a guidebook to a more satisfactory life.
£11.39
Windhorse Publications The Journey and the Guide: A Practical Course in
Book SynopsisBuilding on the success of his Life with Full Attention: A Practical Course in Mindfulness, Maitreyabandhu here offers a challenging but profoundly useful work on how to practise Buddhism in everyday life. Drawing on examples from the life of the Buddha, as well as weaving in astute references to poetry and art, Maitreyabandhu gives an easily understood outline of the system of spiritual life as undertaken by Buddhists in the Triratna Community. The journey starts with our own mind, particularly when we begin to look into the truth of things - the truth of the old man on the escalator, the friend in hospital, the coffin we help carry to the graveside. What we find in our guide, the Buddha, is a man with a 'fit' mind: a healthy, happy, non-neurotic, honest-to-goodness mind. To get fit, we need to work on becoming a happy healthy human being. We need to integrate our thinking faculty with our emotions. We need to wake up to thought and tune in to direct experience. And we need to work against the ever-rising tide of trivia, dissipation and overstimulation of the modern world.Maitreyabandhu takes us on this journey with practical week-by-week exercises, focusing on cultivating mindful awareness, being happy, integrating and simplifying our lives, knowing ourselves and truly being ourselves.
£11.39
Windhorse Publications Compassion and Emptiness in Early Buddhist
Book SynopsisAnalayo outlines how to meditate on emptiness, according to early Buddhism. His presentation is geared to practical concerns, something that the reader can put into practice when sitting on the cushion, with an appendix giving a translation of the key discourses from the Pali and Chinese. This brings out an aspect of early Buddhism so far fairly neglected, providing an important perspective on emptiness as a form of meditation in relation to later developments, and is a practical companion to his bestselling book: Satipatthana.Trade ReviewPraise for his previous book, Perspectives on Satipatthana: Analayo builds on his earlier ground-breaking work, 'Satipatthana: The Direct Path to Realization'. The brilliance of his scholarly research, combined with the depth of his meditative understanding, provides an invaluable guide to these liberating practices.' - Joseph Goldstein 'He offers us a work of great scholarship and wisdom that will be of immense benefit to anyone who wants to seriously study or to establish a practice of mindfulness.' - Sharon Salzberg 'A treasury of impeccable scholarship and practice, offering a wise, open-minded and deep understanding of the Buddha's original teaching.' - Jack Kornfield
£12.59
Windhorse Publications Mindful Emotion: A Short Course in Kindness
Book SynopsisThis book is all about kindness behaviour training (KBT). The authors have drawn on their clinical experience as well as Buddhism to develop a practical course in cultivating kindness, intended to complement and augment other mindfulness-based approaches. They are now presenting this training in an eight-week course book. Amid the recent explosion of secular mindfulness, their aim is to reemphasize the importance of the heart, introducing the reader to a variety of ways of approaching kindness-based meditation, as well as to how to put kindness into practice in daily life.A range of psychological theories and areas of research inform the KBT approach, primarily findings from cognitive neuroscience, as well as evolutionary and positive psychology literatures. It also uses a range of exercises found to be helpful in Eastern traditions, such as Buddhism. The KBT exercises have been isolated from their religious or spiritual origins and are used on a secular basis.The book will act as a companion, walking the reader through each week of the course offering guidance, reflections, and outlining the exercises in a concise user-friendly style.Worksheets and homework tasks to be completed into the book for each week will make the book interactive and accessible. Led meditations will be available to be downloaded by a KBT website.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Preparing the EarthChapter 2: Mindful AcceptanceChapter 3: What is Kindness?Chapter 4: Breathing KindnessChapter 5: Beautiful Sisters: Gratitude and GenerosityChapter 6: Use Your ImaginationChapter 7: Touching Our Common HumanityChapter 8: The Forgiving Heart
£11.99
Windhorse Publications Mindfully Facing Disease and Death: Compassionate
Book SynopsisDisease and death are undeniably integral parts of human life. Yet when they manifest we are easily caught unprepared. To prepare for these, we need to learn how to skilfully face illness and passing away. A source of practical wisdom can be found in the early discourses that record the teachings given by the Buddha and his disciples.The chief aim of this book is to provide a collection of passages taken from the Buddha's early discourses that provide guidance for facing disease and death. The present anthology focuses on the theme of compassion, and is concerned with anukampa: compassion as the underlying motivation in altruistic action. The book combines translations of Buddhist Sanskrit discourse from the Chinese original, with introductions that explain the basic message, clarify terminology and ideas contained in the discourse, and draw out some of their practical implications.Table of ContentsIntroduction1 The Buddha as a Physician2 Sick Body and Healthy Mind3 The Arrow of Pain4 Qualities of a Patient and a Nurse5 The Healing Potential of the Awakening Factors6 Mindful Pain Reduction7 Enduring Pain with Mindfulness8 Insight Instead of Concentration9 Mindfulness When Sick10 Liberating Teachings by the Patient11 A Curative Meditation Programme12 Fearlessly Facing Disease13 Deathbed Instructions14 Dying and the Divine Abodes15 Detachment and Terminal Disease16 Buddhist Hospice17 The Last Words of an Accomplished Lay Disciple18 Mindfully Facing the Time of Death19 The Liberating Potential of Death20 The Power of Insight at the Time of Dying21 The Inevitability of Death22 Mindful Freedom from Grief23 The Buddha's Decease24 Recollection of DeathConclusion and Meditation InstructionsAppendixReferencesList of AbbreviationsSubject IndexIndex Locorum
£15.19
Windhorse Publications The Art of Reflection: A Guide to Thinking,
Book SynopsisIt is all too easy either to think obsessively, or to not think enough. But how do we think usefully? How do we reflect? Like any art, reflection can be learnt and developed, leading to a deeper understanding of life and to the fullness of wisdom. Drawing on his own experience and on Buddhist teachings, Western philosophy, psychology and literature, Ratnaguna provides a practical guide to reflection in its many forms. This is a book about reflection as spiritual practice, about its importance, about "what we think and how we think about it". It is a book about contemplation and insight, and reflection as a way to discover the truth.Trade Review`This is a gem of a book that can be savoured and will enlighten.' Professor Paul Gilbert, author of The Compassionate Mind; `No-one who takes seriously the study and practice of the Dharma should fail to read this ground-breaking book.' Urgyen Sangharakshita, founder of the Triratna Buddhist Community; `The Art of Reflection will give teachers insight into Buddhist practice. Even more importantly, it may help to develop the ability to engage in deeper personal and professional reflection.' Joyce Miller, RE TodayTable of ContentsIntroduction Chapter One A Reflective Life Chapter Two Learning from Experience Chapter Three Dwelling on a Topic Chapter Four Reading Reflectively Chapter Five Imagining the Buddha Chapter Six Contemplating Reality Notes and References Glossary of Buddhist Terms Index
£9.49
Tharpa Publications Essence of Vajrayana: The Highest Yoga Tantra
Book Synopsis"Essence of Vajrayana" is the first complete explanation in English of the Highest Yoga Tantra practice of Heruka body mandala. Buddha Heruka is a manifestation of all the Buddhas' enlightened compassion, and by relying upon him we can swiftly attain a pure selfless joy and bring true happiness to others. In Part One, Geshe Kelsang explains with great clarity and precision how we can practise the sublime meditations of Heruka body mandala, and thereby gradually transform our ordinary world and experiences into the transcendental reality of a Buddha. Then, in Part Two, he provides definitive instructions on the completion stage practices that lead to the supreme bliss of full enlightenment in this one lifetime. This is a treasury of practical instructions for those seriously interested in following the Tantric path.
£17.95
Windhorse Publications The Myth of Meditation: Restoring Imaginal Ground
Book SynopsisFrom his three decades of teaching Buddhist meditation, Paramananda offers an approach that is a challenge both to the way we experience ourselves, and the way in which we see and `be' in the world. He contends that the historical Buddha offered not a panacea for the ills of his time but rather a radical alternative way of living in the world, still as valid today as it was 2500 years ago. At the very heart of this radical vision is the art of meditation. Engaging in this art is what Paramananda outlines in The Myth of Meditation. Enlivened by his love of both the natural world and poetry, he guides us in a threefold process: grounding meditative experience in the body, turning towards experience in a kindly and intelligent way, and seeing through to another way of understanding and being in the world.Table of ContentsIntroduction Part One - Grounding 1. Grounding as image 2. Beginning to ground; the role of a good posture 3. Trusting what is there Laying down and letting the Earth support us Using the breath to release tension in the body 4. Remembering the world Meditating in the world 5. The diamond throne Taking our place in the world Grounding in the posture Part Two - Turning Towards 1. An elephant's stance 2. Embracing the depths The mindfulness of our breathing body 3. A call to kindness and care Calling of your name meditation 4. Our own aliveness in life itself Energy circuits meditation The Metta Bhavana using the body and the breath 5. Beings thrown into time and history Tonglen Part Three - Seeing Through 1. The paradoxical aspect of seeing through The six element practice 2. The gateway of suffering Prayer to the world meditation 3.The other side of insight
£12.34
Windhorse Publications Free Time!: from clock-watching to free-flowing,
Book SynopsisIn our fast moving world many of us feel our time is wound tight, our lives constantly hassled and hectic. `Fast-forward' seems to be the collective default setting. So often we can be over busy and over stimulated, and this can send stress levels higher and higher. In Free Time!, Vajragupta Staunton shows us that investigating our experience of time, and considering our relationship with it, can be deeply and powerfully transformative. Noticing the feel and texture of our time can help us see more clearly, and understand more profoundly, the anxiety and restlessness that so often dominates our minds. We and time are intimately intertwined. It is not something we are in; it is something that we are. That means we have a choice about our experience of time: what we do with our minds and our hearts, with our thoughts and emotions, will condition the quality of the time we live in. Vajragupta Staunton explores time from a number of different angles, in order to see how we can have a more healthy and human relationship with it. He looks at our actual day-to-day experience of time and applies a variety of Buddhist ideas and teachings in order to understand what time really is. He also offers practical ways of helping us live in a way that is relaxed and open, in a way that is not oppressive and restrictive, but free and flowing.Trade Review‘Today we’re all familiar with time-stress – how can Buddhist practices help us cope with it? What does Buddhism have to teach us about our experience and understanding of time? Staunton’s new book offers fresh perspectives on a problem that continues to worsen, and original ways to address it.’ David Loy, author of Money, Sex, War, Karma; ‘Refreshingly original, beautifully written, and crystal clear. I can’t remember the last time I read a book that yielded so many insights.’ Ratnaguna, author of The Art of Reflection; ‘As someone who suffers from chronic, clock-watching, inbox-obsessing busyness, I found this a challenging, but ultimately inspiring, book. Hints for experiencing timelessness, and stories of both contemporary acquaintances and the life of the Buddha, make it all very human and accessible, firmly rooted in experience.’ Sir David Spiegelhalter, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge
£14.24
Windhorse Publications I'll Meet You There: A Practical Guide to
Book SynopsisShantigarbha shows how we connect with each other in the space that opens up when we let go of our ideas of good and bad, right and wrong. When we feel safe and connected to ourselves, we don't need to use these labels, and we are also connected to the people around us with a sense of compassionate presence, intense closeness and empathy. To empathize with others, we need to learn how to empathize with ourselves, so that when we reach out, we do so from the inside out. To support this, in each chapter there are practical exercises for individual or group study. Shantigarbha also shows how through this empathy we can find a way to stay connected to our humanity, and contribute to a more peaceful world.Trade ReviewA timely book with the growing recognition in science, psychology and business of the important function of empathy and the painful consequences of the lack of empathy. Shantigarbha shows the essential links between mindfulness, empathy and compassion as expressions of a well integrated heart and mind. This book is essential reading for those who wish to explore this important area of inner work. - Christopher Titmuss, Insight Meditation teacher, co-founder of Gaia House retreat centre; An excellent book on empathy that teases out the centrality of this value in Buddhism as the foundation for the cultivation of compassion and loving kindness. In applying this and other insights to the therapeutic contexts of mindfulness and non-violent communication, he provides a sound conceptual basis for these therapies and illustrates concrete ways in which Buddhist practices can be realized in the world we live in today without having to subscribe to the doctrines or beliefs of traditional Buddhism. - Stephen Batchelor, Buddhist teacher and author, co-founder of Sharpham College
£11.39
Windhorse Publications Uncontrived Mindfulness: Ending Suffering Through
Book Synopsis'Uncontrived Mindfulness' is a fresh and comprehensive guide to awareness of how the mind shapes experience. The Buddha emphasized that happiness is found through understanding the mind rather than getting caught up in sense experience. This simple yet radical shift is key to a relaxed and uncontrived way of practising. Freedom comes from uniting right view and mindfulness. A deep dive into the practice of exploring our experience as it happens, Vajradevi's emphasis is on cultivating wisdom, using the tools of attention, curiosity and discernment to recognize and see through the delusion that is causing our suffering. Vajradevi is a warm and insightful guide to this exploration, drawing on her intensive and wide-ranging practice of satipatthana meditation. The clear explanations and instructions are amplified by Vajradevi's personal accounts, charting her uncompromising voyage into self-discovery. Guided meditations are included.Trade ReviewThis is a lively and accessible overview of the transformative power of mindful awareness in the cultivation of a free and awakened life. It is clearly a distillation of many years of dedicated practice, and the writing is enlivened by personal glimpses into the author's own journey as well as reflective exercises to help the reader directly connect with what is being described. If you've ever felt that your mindfulness practice was becoming somewhat 'contrived' - trying too hard, or over-striving for results - the guidance in these pages will support you in undoing that, based on a deep understanding of the mind and how its habits can lead us into suffering or toward release. - Jenny Wilks, Insight Meditation teacher, Gaia House Retreat Centre, Devon; A wonderful book, written with that independence of mind characteristic of deep practitioners. Reading is like being taken into the author's mind: just the tone reveals how what's being described is affecting her. - Kamalashila, meditation teacher and author of Buddhist Meditation: Tranquillity, Imagination and Insight; "Uncontrived Mindfulness" is a treasure for anyone interested in living a mindful and wise life. Vajradevi has the ability to translate the Buddha's classical teachings on mindfulness and wisdom into clear and practical instructions for both formal meditation and daily life. She offers her guidance, which is clearly based in her own deep and long experience, with such accessible examples and good humour that one finds it easy to trust and follow them... and come to recognize for oneself that uncontrived mindfulness is natural and universal. Many of her descriptions of uncontrived mindfulness, and the wisdom and freedom that naturally arise with it, are drawn from her own experiences in meditation and in daily life. The result, for me, was a deepening of the realization that mindfulness and wisdom are about how we live, and that this is supported by our formal meditation practice. I can recommend this book both for those in the early days of learning to recognize and support uncontrived mindfulness, as well as for anyone who would like to refresh their approach to practice. Vajradevi reminds us of the joy that arises naturally as we relax into steady mindfulness and allow ourselves to recognize the wisdom of the Buddha. - Carol Wilson, Guiding Teacher of IMS; Vajradevi's approach to satipatthana - mindfulness and meditation - is both refreshing and distinct. There are already many excellent books going into the details of the Satipatthana Sutta and the technicalities of the original Pali terminology, and a vast plethora of general books about mindfulness. Vajradevi takes us straight into the experiential core to which these teachings are pointing. This is mindfulness as the direct way to awakening from the delusions which produce our suffering. "McMindfulness" it is definitely not! Her own substantial practice, together with the benefits of having studied satipatthana with some very good teachers, shines through. It makes a huge difference to realise that effective mindfulness practice does not have to be constantly effortful and contrived. Vajradevi points us to the awareness that is already naturally present; hence, "uncontrived mindfulness". As I've found out myself, recognising this truly does make all the difference to practice. The simple, lucid style, personal stories and practical exercises make this into an extraordinarily hands-on and helpful book, for new and experienced meditators alike. - Tejananda John Wakeman, Chair, Vajraloka meditation retreat centre, North Wales; Vajradevi gives incredibly relevant and real examples which show us that dedicating ourselves to mindfulness does not mean being cut off from life or living. I love reading the stories she weaves in to explain her journey in mindfulness and the thoughtful connections she then makes with many of our common doubts or questions about mindfulness practice, the journey and its effects; a true friend to everyone who is practising or wishes to approach the practice. Uncontrived Mindfulness really helps to de-mystify meditation and mindfulness in a thorough, relevant way that is light and even humorous! Vajradevi demonstrates through every page that mindfulness can be in every or any moment, hence uncontrived. Just open to any chapter or page and find the fascinating ways that our ordinary or thoughtful moments can all be part of mindfulness practice. - Ma Thet, translator for Sayadaw U Tejaniya; Vajradevi is a practitioner who shares her own experience of practising mindfulness simply and clearly. She makes traditional concepts accessible because she knows them from the inside, and Uncontrived Mindfulness is full of stories of how Vajradevi has learned to be mindful of her own life. The uncontrived relaxation of her writing matches her message that mindfulness isn't a technique or an achievement so much as a 'wise involvement with experiences' that is both focused and relaxed. - Vishvapani Blomfield, author of Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of the Awakened One
£14.24
Windhorse Publications The Purpose and Practice of Buddhist Meditation
Book SynopsisCan metta take me all the way to Enlightenment? How much meditation is good for you? Why visualize an Enlightened being? Can you tell if meditation is changing you? All of these questions and very many more are tackled in this substantial compilation of Sangharakshita's teachings on meditation. First published in 2012, this volume draws from previously published works and from the unpublished transcripts of seminars on a wide range of Buddhist texts, from the Pali canon to the songs of Milarepa. The dialogue form is a reminder that teaching is a communication, a creative meeting between the depth and breadth of Sangharakshita's knowledge and experience and the willingness of students to ask the kinds of questions any meditator would like to ask if they had the chance (or the nerve). Discussions reveal how Sangharakshita learned the practices on which his system of meditation - 'an organic, living system' - is based and how that system has evolved over the years. Amid much curiosity about dhyana and Insight, and explorations of how to deal with fear or distraction, doubt, drowsiness or desire, topics also include such matters as whether it's good to meditate in the open air and whether to include your least favourite politician in your metta bhavana. To this edition some extra material on 'just sitting' and the guru yoga has been added. Whether dipped into, consulted on a specific subject or read from cover to cover, the collection offers practical, inspiring and encouraging advice for new and experienced meditators alike. It is deeply imbued with the Buddhist vision of the role of meditation in the quest for Enlightenment.
£28.45
Windhorse Publications Crossing the Stream: India Writings I
Book SynopsisSangharakshita's arrival in India in 1944 marked the beginning of a period of prodigious literary and intellectual output. This was the base from which he would begin his life's work for the future of Buddhism. The essays gathered here, first published in journals such as Stepping Stones, The Maha Bodhi and The Middle Way, were written between 1944 and 1964. Ranging from The Unity of Buddhism, written in London at the age of only 18, to the panoramic A Bird's Eye View of Indian Buddhism, published on his return from India, all that distinguishes Sangharakshita's thought as teacher, synthesizer and translator is already evident here. We see the unity underlying all Buddhist schools, the inspiring ideal of the Bodhisattva, and the certainty that the Dharma is urgently needed in the modern world. This volume contains the previously published collections Crossing the Stream and Early Writings, plus other articles long since out of print. In the groundbreaking Ordination and Initiation in the Three Yanas (1959), Sangharakshita first comes close to recognizing Going for Refuge as the unifying factor in all of Buddhism. In Krishna's Flute (1944), the mind of the philosopher combines with the poet, and in A Visit to a Tibetan Monastery (1946), Sangharakshita the insightful traveller appears, seen later in his memoirs and travel letters. All the essays are fully annotated, and those previously published in Early Writings come with a detailed commentary and extensive introduction by Kalyanaprabha. A foreword by Nagabodhi introduces the collection. The insights and ideas expressed in these brief passages are as illuminating, as stimulating and as indispensable as anything Sangharakshita was ever to produce.
£28.45
Windhorse Publications The Burning House: A Buddhist Response to the
Book SynopsisWe are living in an age of climate and ecological emergency. Buddhist teacher and Nonviolent Communication trainer Shantigarbha suggests practical ways to make a difference. With personal stories, examples and guided reflections you will learn to work with doubt, overwhelm, grief and anger; engage with the science of the climate debates; free yourself to align with life; and act with courage, humour and generosity.Trade Review'One thing is certain: no meaningful systemic change in response to the ecological and climate emergency faced by all planetary life will be possible without a shift in human consciousness. This beautifully crafted, accessible book skilfully weaves Buddhist teachings, a generous account of the author's personal journey and a passionate political and ethical commitment to an empathic path of transformation. Deeply practical, balanced and thoughtful, this book is a trustworthy, insightful companion for the development of the conscious change and enlightened action now so urgently mandated by planetary challenges.' - Anna Grear, founder of the Global Network for the Study of Human Rights and the Environment (GNHRE); Editor in Chief Journal of Human Rights and the Environment; 'I enjoy how Shantigarbha brings Buddhism and Nonviolent Com-munication (NVC) together when sharing very alive examples of waking up to our burning house.' - Kirsten Kristensen, co-founder of LIVKOM, Life-Enriching Communication and Institute of NVC in Denmark; 'How can Buddhism help us understand and respond to the greatest challenge that humanity has ever faced? The Buddha lived in a very different time and place, but his teachings have important ecological implications for us today. The Burning House provides a welcome and very accessible introduction to the relevant teachings and how to embody them in our practice and in our activism.' - David Loy, author of Ecodharma: Buddhist Teachings for the Ecological Crisis; 'What the world needs now is love in action. Shantigarbha traces a path for us to follow, beginning with attending to our needs. When we use our energy to cultivate our own vitality, we naturally use the abundance we discover in the service of life. Shantigarbha shows how each of us can transform our insight into action, and take affirmative steps to address the suffering wrought from climate change. May all who read Shantigarbha's words be motivated to take action, for the love of all.' - Jim Manske, CNVC Certified Trainer, author of Pathways to Nonviolent Communication; 'The writer Shantigarbha, as a Buddhist activist, explains the problem through a Buddhist perspective, as a crisis of empathy, connection and community. Through stories from the Buddhist tradition, 'The Burning House', and other stories, he calls for a creative way to face the climate and ecological emergency. As a practitioner of Nonviolent Communication, he guides the reader through practical ways to deal with emotional outbursts that the crisis could provoke. The guided reflection after each chapter draws the reader deeper into the empathic presence. Indeed, a timely book.' - Christlin Rajendram, S. J., Certified Trainer and Assessor with the International Center for Nonviolent Communication; 'The ecological crisis is nothing if not a spiritual crisis, a crisis of meaning and direction for our civilization. This book approaches that crisis from a beautifully Buddhist and yet non-denominational perspective. It could help us to awaken. The Burning House is approachably written and abides by the precautionary principle: moving as we are in a fog, it behoves us to slow down. Take a pause, and read this book.' - Professor Rupert Read, author of This Civilization Is Finished, and former student of Thich Nhat Hanh and Joanna Macy; 'In this book by Shantigarbha, you'll find concrete and accessible ways to engage with the climate and ecological emergency. Sharing his own journey and accumulated wisdom, Shantigarbha offers a truly Buddhist perspective on the emergency - helping us to recognize, deal with our responses to, and find a way out of the 'burning house' that we are in. He evokes what a Buddhist response could look like, from environmental ethics to compassion, from humour to transforming grief into gratitude. The final section of the book then focuses on wisdom-imbued action, with concrete steps on how we might proceed next in our work to put out the fires of this burning house, our precious planet.' - Vajrashura, Dharma teacher in the Triratna Buddhist CommunityTable of ContentsAbout the author; Author's acknowledgements; Publisher's acknowledgements; Audio downloads; Introduction; 1. A Crisis of empathy; 2. Crisis? What crisis?; 3. Touching the earth; 4. Environmental ethics; 5. Compassionate action based on wisdom; 6. The five precepts; 7. The burning house; 8. Climate comedy; 9. Transforming anger; 10. Ecological grief; 11. Gratitude; 12. Nonviolent social change; 13. Be the change; 14. Climate justice and nonviolent disruption; 15. Final thoughts: the beauty and the terror; Appendix A - List of needs; Appendix B - List of feelings; Appendix C - Retreat centres; Suggestions for further reading; Notes; Index
£9.49
Windhorse Publications A New Buddhist Movement II
Book SynopsisThis illuminating collection of previously unpublished talks traces the development of Sangharakshita's presentation of the Dharma in the West from 1965 to 2011. It includes some of his characteristic teachings in their earliest forms (the levels of Going for Refuge to the Three Jewels, for example), and makes other talks accessible for the first time in published form. We see the unfolding of the Buddhist movement he founded, from Sangharakshita's talks before the movement began, his early teachings that foreshadow aspects of its nature, and then its beginnings in a basement in 1960s London. Other talks cover development of the sangha over the years, and Sangharakshita's reflections on what would help it develop in the years to come. Drawing on a wide range of sources, from the Pali canon and The Tibetan Book of the Dead to Beowulf and William Wordsworth, there are many intriguing perspectives: an exploration of Buddhist psychology, the histories of great teachers like Padmasambhava and Atisa, reflections on going forth, creativity, the demons around and within us, the role of the will in the spiritual life, and much more. The final talks in the volume, given towards the end of Sangharakshita's life, are more personal, and they include reflections on dreams, old age and rebirth.
£25.46
Windhorse Publications A New Buddhist Movement II
Book SynopsisThis illuminating collection of previously unpublished talks traces the development of Sangharakshita's presentation of the Dharma in the West from 1965 to 2011. It includes some of his characteristic teachings in their earliest forms (the levels of Going for Refuge to the Three Jewels, for example), and makes other talks accessible for the first time in published form. We see the unfolding of the Buddhist movement he founded, from Sangharakshita's talks before the movement began, his early teachings that foreshadow aspects of its nature, and then its beginnings in a basement in 1960s London. Other talks cover development of the sangha over the years, and Sangharakshita's reflections on what would help it develop in the years to come. Drawing on a wide range of sources, from the Pali canon and The Tibetan Book of the Dead to Beowulf and William Wordsworth, there are many intriguing perspectives: an exploration of Buddhist psychology, the histories of great teachers like Padmasambhava and Atisa, reflections on going forth, creativity, the demons around and within us, the role of the will in the spiritual life, and much more. The final talks in the volume, given towards the end of Sangharakshita's life, are more personal, and they include reflections on dreams, old age and rebirth.
£18.95
Windhorse Publications Through Buddhist Eyes
Book SynopsisThrough Buddhist Eyes continues Sangharakshita's five volumes of memoirs. Covering journeys across five continents and two decades, this volume is made up of nineteen travel letters and one talk. They are Sangharakshita's heartfelt communications to the growing membership of the new Buddhist movement he founded: the Triratna Buddhist Order. The journey begins with Sangharakshita's return to India in 1979 after an absence of twelve years. There, the vision of Buddhism he longed to see in the land of the Buddha's birth was already coming to fruition in the movement initiated by Dr Ambedkar. It was to remain a constant theme throughout his subsequent thought and writing. The growing network of friendships, teams and communities that make up this pioneering Buddhist movement then come alive in a late twentieth-century world of airports and motorways, of Beat poets, vegetarian pizzas, counter-culture and visionary social activism. But the travel letters also have a deeper significance; these are, above all, spiritual communications. Whether awed by works of artistic brilliance or enveloped in moods of contemplation, Sangharakshita responds with a combination of keen observation and an ever-present imaginative engagement. Sangharakshita delights in culture, in art and particularly in literature in his letters. This volume supplements the accounts of his adventures with over 800 endnotes detailing the lives and achievements of artists, poets, writers, musicians, philosophers and members of the Triratna Buddhist Order that he references, plus twenty maps and illustrations. Part reflection, part travelogue, part chronicle of a vibrant new spiritual movement, Through Buddhist Eyes opens a window on the inner life and the outer world of Urgyen Sangharakshita, one of the greatest Buddhist teachers of the twentieth century.
£28.45
Windhorse Publications Through Buddhist Eyes
Book SynopsisThrough Buddhist Eyes continues Sangharakshita's five volumes of memoirs. Covering journeys across five continents and two decades, this volume is made up of nineteen travel letters and one talk. They are Sangharakshita's heartfelt communications to the growing membership of the new Buddhist movement he founded: the Triratna Buddhist Order. The journey begins with Sangharakshita's return to India in 1979 after an absence of twelve years. There, the vision of Buddhism he longed to see in the land of the Buddha's birth was already coming to fruition in the movement initiated by Dr Ambedkar. It was to remain a constant theme throughout his subsequent thought and writing. The growing network of friendships, teams and communities that make up this pioneering Buddhist movement then come alive in a late twentieth-century world of airports and motorways, of Beat poets, vegetarian pizzas, counter-culture and visionary social activism. But the travel letters also have a deeper significance; these are, above all, spiritual communications. Whether awed by works of artistic brilliance or enveloped in moods of contemplation, Sangharakshita responds with a combination of keen observation and an ever-present imaginative engagement. Sangharakshita delights in culture, in art and particularly in literature in his letters. This volume supplements the accounts of his adventures with over 800 endnotes detailing the lives and achievements of artists, poets, writers, musicians, philosophers and members of the Triratna Buddhist Order that he references, plus twenty maps and illustrations. Part reflection, part travelogue, part chronicle of a vibrant new spiritual movement, Through Buddhist Eyes opens a window on the inner life and the outer world of Urgyen Sangharakshita, one of the greatest Buddhist teachers of the twentieth century.
£18.95
Windhorse Publications Aphorisms, the Arts, and Late Writings
Book SynopsisThis multi-faceted volume includes a collection of aphorisms, a selection of teachings on Buddhism and the arts, and two collections of late writings. The aphorisms, from the first phase of Sangharakshita's teaching in the West, and first selected for publication in 1979 and 1998, are by turns uncompromising, provocative, witty, self-evident, gnomic and plain common sense, though responses will surely vary from reader to reader, mood to mood. The sequence on the arts sheds light on one of Sangharakshita's most distinctive perspectives on the Dharma, from The Religion of Art, which was one of his earliest works on the subject, to articles and interviews published over many years. Full of poetry and grace, they shine with the author's love of the subject and make a convincing case for the closeness of the relationship between Buddhism and the arts. The late writings cover an astonishingly wide range of themes, from his childhood memories to the lucid reflections of Sangharakshita's old age. Those written in the last weeks of his life include subjects as diverse as Einstein's 3-sphere, the relationship between Buddhism and Islam, and the symbolism of rainbows.
£28.45
Windhorse Publications Aphorisms, the Arts, and Late Writings
Book SynopsisThis multi-faceted volume includes a collection of aphorisms, a selection of teachings on Buddhism and the arts, and two collections of late writings. The aphorisms, from the first phase of Sangharakshita's teaching in the West, and first selected for publication in 1979 and 1998, are by turns uncompromising, provocative, witty, self-evident, gnomic and plain common sense, though responses will surely vary from reader to reader, mood to mood. The sequence on the arts sheds light on one of Sangharakshita's most distinctive perspectives on the Dharma, from The Religion of Art, which was one of his earliest works on the subject, to articles and interviews published over many years. Full of poetry and grace, they shine with the author's love of the subject and make a convincing case for the closeness of the relationship between Buddhism and the arts. The late writings cover an astonishingly wide range of themes, from his childhood memories to the lucid reflections of Sangharakshita's old age. Those written in the last weeks of his life include subjects as diverse as Einstein's 3-sphere, the relationship between Buddhism and Islam, and the symbolism of rainbows.
£18.95
Windhorse Publications Meeting the Buddhas: A Guide to Buddhas,
Book SynopsisMeeting the Buddhas is a modern classic, giving a vivid and accessible introduction to all the main figures meditated on in the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist tradition. First published in 1993, this new edition incorporates a section on Vajrakila, as well as new images, and hundreds of small changes that nuance and deepen earlier editions. It is a mine of information for those who want to learn about buddhas, bodhisattvas and tantric deities, and of inspiration for those who are already doing the practices. Vessantara powerfully evokes the figures, giving the reader a real feeling for what it's like to meditate on them, and how they can transform us on a deep level. It gives detailed descriptions of the figures, including their mudras and symbolic emblems, so it can be used as a handy reference to identify and learn about particular images.Trade Review'The depth of Vessantara's own practice and comfort in visionary realms means this book is an invitation to experience our lives infused with imagination, light, love, power, and mystery.' - Vidyamala Burch, OBE; 'This wonderful book was an absolute treasure trove for me.... A gift of wisdom and inspiration.' - Professor Paul Gilbert, OBE, author of 'The Compassionate Mind'; '...a wonderfully rich, comprehensive, and thorough exploration of the world of Buddhist Vajrayana....' - Rob Preece, author of 'The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra'Table of ContentsIllustrations About the Author Preface to the New Edition Acknowledgements Preface to the Original Edition Publisher's Acknowledgements Introduction Part One Meeting the Buddha Chapter One The Fountainhead of Buddhism Chapter Two The Development of Buddhist Sadhanas Chapter Three The Benefits of Sadhana Practice Chapter Four Taking Up Sadhana Practice Part Two The Mandala of the Five Buddhas Chapter Five Entering the Mandala Chapter Six Touching the Earth in the Eastern Realm Chapter Seven The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel in the South Chapter Eight The Red Buddha and the Mudra of Meditation Chapter Nine Crossed Thunderbolts and the Buddha of Action Chapter Ten At the Centre of the Mandala Part Three The Great Bodhisattvas Chapter Eleven For the Sake of All That Lives Chapter Twelve The Thousand Arms of Compassion Chapter Thirteen The Soft-Voiced Prince and the Flaming Sword Chapter Fourteen Vajrapani - the Path of Heroic Transformation Chapter Fifteen Green Tara - the Quick Way to Wisdom Chapter Sixteen White Tara - Cheating Death Chapter Seventeen The Eight Great Bodhisattvas Part Four Tantra and the Tantric Deities Chapter Eighteen The Tantric Approach Chapter Nineteen Prajnaparamita - the Book That Became a Goddess Chapter Twenty Vajrasattva - Prince of Purity Chapter Twenty-One The Tantric Gurus Chapter Twenty-Two The Oath-Bound Deities Chapter Twenty-Three Dancing in the Sky Chapter Twenty-Four The Dark Armies of the Dharma Chapter Twenty-Five The Refuge Tree and Its Future Growth Notes Illustration Credits Glossary Selected Reading Index
£17.09
Aeon Books Ltd Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha: An
Book SynopsisA comprehensive guide to the understanding and practicing Buddhist meditation The very idea that the teachings can be mastered will arouse controversy within Buddhist circles. Even so, Ingram insists that enlightenment is an attainable goal, once our fanciful notions of it are stripped away, and we have learned to use meditation as a method for examining reality rather than an opportunity to wallow in self-absorbed mind-noise. Ingram sets out concisely the difference between concentration-based and insight (vipassana) meditation; he provides example practices; and most importantly he presents detailed maps of the states of mind we are likely to encounter, and the stages we must negotiate as we move through clearly-defined cycles of insight. Its easy to feel overawed, at first, by Ingram's assurance and ease in the higher levels of consciousness, but consistently he writes as a down-to-earth and compassionate guide, and to the practitioner willing to commit themselves this is a glittering gift of a book. In this new edition of the bestselling book, the author rearranges, revises and expands upon the original material, as well as adding new sections that bring further clarity to his ideas.Table of ContentsForeword and Warning Part I: The Fundamentals Part II: Light and Shadows Part III: Mastery Appendix: The Cessation of Perception and Feeling (Nirodha Samapatti) Index
£37.99
Aeon Books Ltd Practical Buddhism: Mindfulness and Skilful
Book SynopsisA complete guide to the Buddhist practices of meditation, right living, and everything else you need to know Who was the Buddha and why did he become such a significant historical figure? What were his most important insights and teachings? What can he tell us about the universality of suffering and the potential for freedom? How can we live a life with growth and harmony and without emotional pain? What is Buddhist understanding of the greater reality? With clarity and simplicity, wisdom and humour, Paramabandhu Groves takes us on a journey towards some answers to these questions. The Buddha's remarkable passage through his own life showed him that ascetic practice in itself did not bring enlightenment, but a careful attention to internal processes combined with a compassionate attitude to self and others could bring an extraordinary freedom from suffering. The mainstay of Buddhist practice is mindfulness of breath, body and emotions leading to a more profound awareness. The Buddha indicated a bigger picture, beyond words, based on the interconnectedness and impermanence of all things. Practical Buddhism shows us how we can use these practices to lead a moral and ethical life, receiving and giving friendship, not causing harm and achieving happiness while our consciousness becomes, brighter, clearer and more subtle. Paramabandhu weaves examples both from his own experience and other people's to demonstrate the value of Buddhist practice and techniques in managing the multiple demands and challenges of everyday life. Practical Buddhism explores: * Mindfulness practice and misconceptions about meditation * Working with troublesome thoughts and difficult emotions * The practice of compassion and kindness * Guidelines for skilful living * Working through stress, relationship problems and addictive behaviour * The meaning of karma and dharma * Understanding freedom, impermanence and non-selfhood * Buddhism and psychotherapy * How Buddhist practice informs our relationship with sexuality, illness and pain, greed and sustainability.Table of ContentsContents Acknowledgments .................................................................................................. xi Forewords: Dr. Sarah Eagger ............................................................................................xiii Vishvapani Blomfield........................................................................................xv Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1: The Buddha in Context .................................................................... 3 The Historical Context.......................................................................................3 The Four Sights..................................................................................................4 Going Forth........................................................................................................4 The Buddha’s Awakening ..................................................................................5 The Buddha’s Teaching Career .......................................................................... 6 The Spread of Buddhism ...................................................................................6 Early Buddhism .............................................................................................7 Mahāyāna Buddhism ..................................................................................... 7 Vajrayāna Buddhism ...................................................................................... 8 Western Buddhism ......................................................................................... 8 The Significance of the Buddha’s Life for Us Today.........................................8 Chapter 2: Starting with Mindfulness ............................................................. 11 What is Mindfulness? ......................................................................................11 Breath and Body ..............................................................................................12 Patterns of the Mind.........................................................................................13 1. Sense Desire.............................................................................................13 2. Aversion ...................................................................................................13 3. Anxiety ..................................................................................................... 13 4. Sleepiness.................................................................................................14 5. Doubt........................................................................................................14 Misconceptions About Meditation...................................................................15 Mindfulness Outside of Meditation ................................................................. 16 Practising Mindfulness Meditation..................................................................17 Guided Meditation: Mindfulness of Breath and Body.................................17 Preparation ............................................................................................... 17 Stage one..................................................................................................17 Stage two..................................................................................................18 Concluding the practice ........................................................................... 18 Chapter 3: Working with Difficult Thoughts and Emotions..........................19 Rumination and Catastrophic Thinking ..........................................................20 Turning Towards Our Experience .................................................................... 20 Ways to Help Turning Towards Our Experience..............................................22 1. Accept, Don’t Reject................................................................................22 2. Move Towards and Investigate.................................................................22 3. Look for the Deeper Meaning..................................................................23 Guided Meditation: Mindfulness of Breath and Body Working with Difficult Thoughts and Emotions.............................................................24 Preparation ............................................................................................... 24 Stage one..................................................................................................25 Stage two..................................................................................................25 Concluding the practice ........................................................................... 26 Chapter 4: Introducing Kindness.....................................................................27 Why Kindness is Important .............................................................................28 Kindness True and False .................................................................................. 28 Weak Kindness.............................................................................................28 Stupid Kindness ........................................................................................... 29 Manipulative Kindness ................................................................................29 Sentimental Attachment ............................................................................... 29 True Kindness .............................................................................................. 29 Cultivating Kindness in Five Stages — The Mettā Bhāvanā...........................30 (1) Self .........................................................................................................30 (2) A Friend..................................................................................................30 (3) A Neutral Person .................................................................................... 31 (4) A Difficult Person...................................................................................31 (5) All Beings...............................................................................................31 Some Tips for Cultivating Kindness ................................................................ 32 Kindness is Not Toothpaste! ........................................................................ 32 Start with Receptivity...................................................................................32 Intention is More Important Than Feeling...................................................32 Kindness Breathing Space ............................................................................... 33 Practising Kindness Meditation ......................................................................33 Guided Kindness Meditation ......................................................................34 Chapter 5: Living Skilfully ...............................................................................37 Karma and Happiness ...................................................................................... 38 The Five Precepts.............................................................................................39 (1) Abstention from Taking Life and Practising Loving Kindness .............. 39 (2) Abstention from Taking The Not-given and Generosity ........................41 (3) Abstention from Sexual Misconduct and Contentment..........................42 (4) Abstention from False Speech and Truthfulness .................................... 43 (5) Abstention from Intoxicants and Mindfulness ....................................... 44 Practising the Precepts and the Environment...................................................45 Chapter 6: Taking the Teachings to Work ....................................................... 47 The Buddha’s Emphasis on Right Livelihood ................................................. 47 Right Livelihood at the Time of the Buddha................................................48 Right Livelihood Today ...............................................................................49 Working Skilfully in Any Context ................................................................... 51 Chapter 7: Friendship ....................................................................................... 53 The Third Jewel of Buddhism: Sangha............................................................53 Gaining Guidance from More Experienced Practitioners................................54 Finding Support and Understanding from Peers..............................................55 Reaching Out to Others....................................................................................57 Chapter 8: Ritual and Devotion........................................................................59 The Language of the Imagination....................................................................59 Negative Connotations of Ritual......................................................................60 Imagining Enlightenment.................................................................................60 Bowing and Offerings..................................................................................61 Mantras and Chanting..................................................................................62 Pūjā .............................................................................................................62 Chapter 9: Buddhism and Psychotherapy.......................................................65 Mindfulness for Mental Health........................................................................65 Buddhism, Mindfulness and Psychotherapy....................................................67 Psychotherapy for Buddhists ........................................................................... 67 Choosing a Therapist ................................................................................... 69 The Goals of Buddhism and Psychotherapy................................................69 Chapter 10: Wisdom and the Big Picture ........................................................ 71 Finding Freedom is the Final Aim of Buddhism .............................................71 The Three Marks of Conditioned Existence .................................................... 72 1. Impermanence..........................................................................................72 2. Insubstantiality.........................................................................................72 3. Unsatisfactoriness .................................................................................... 74 Cultivating Wisdom .....................................................................................76 The Underlying Principle of Conditionality .................................................... 77 Different Orders of Conditionality...................................................................77 Acting Through the Karma Order............................................................77 Opening Up to the Dharma Order............................................................78 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 78 Notes ....................................................................................................................81 Resources ............................................................................................................. 89 Online Resources ............................................................................................. 89 Further Reading...............................................................................................89 Index ..................................................................................................................... 93
£18.99
Parallax Press One Buddha is Not Enough: A Story of Collective
Book SynopsisHow do we learn to believe in ourselves and not just rely on our spiritual teachers? This question often directly posed to Thich Nhat Hanh as Who will be your successor? was answered in August of 2009 when over a thousand people came to Colorado to spend a week with Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh only to find he was in the hospital and wouldn’t be able to lead the retreat. The result of this event is One Buddha Is Not Enough, a book on how to become your own teacher and create your own community where you might least expect it. One Buddha Is Not Enough offers fresh and original insight from emerging Buddhist teachers on topics such as how to handle grief, strengthen our relationships, deal with anger and other strong emotions, and find happiness in the present moment. Through letters, stories, poems, calligraphies, and photographs, Thich Nhat Hanh shares his unique insights on illness, health, and different healing modalities.Far-reaching in its implication and tremendously encouraging, One Buddha Is Not Enough is a true expression of American Buddhism: We all already contain all the insight and wisdom we need. We are surrounded by the people who can help us on our journey. Sometimes all it takes is a wake up call to remind us of what we are capable of.
£14.39
Parallax Press The Long Road Turns to Joy: A Guide to Walking
Book Synopsis
£10.79
Naciketas Press Trungpa Photographs
£31.68
Parallax Press Moments of Mindfulness: Daily Inspiration
Book Synopsis
£13.59
Parallax Press How to Eat
Book Synopsis
£7.99
Parallax Press How to Love
Book Synopsis
£7.99
Parallax Press Nothing To It: Ten Ways to Be at Home with
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£14.39
IRH Press USA Inc. The True Eightfold Path: Guideposts for
Book SynopsisFollowing Ryuho Okawa’s renowned work, The Essence of Buddha, The True Eightfold Path explains how we can apply the Eightfold Path, one of the main pillars of Shakyamuni Buddha’s teachings, as everyday guideposts in the modern-age to achieve self-innovation to live better and make positive changes in this uncertain age. In this book you will gain the following wisdom: * Where is the origin of “righteousness” and what is the precondition for practicing Eightfold Path “selfreflection?” * Why practicing the Eightfold Path can help us shed our ego? * How can we make our work more meaningful and rewarding? * How can we improve our time management skill and ability to realize our goals? * Why daily practice of Eightfold Path can generate our compassionate hearts and improves relationships? * How to maintain a peace of mind, Zen mindset, regardless of external factors and aim to attain higher enlightenment? In this comprehensive and practical guide, The True Eightfold Path is imbued with wisdom and power to bring out the potential of our souls to the fullest and transform our characters into virtuous leaders to help guide others. That is why the Eightfold Path is called a “treasure of humanity
£13.49
Monkfish Book Publishing Company Bride of the Buddha: A Novel
Book SynopsisThis engrossing exploration of gender dynamics, identity, and the spiritual quest for meaning will appeal to Buddhists and general readers alike. —Publishers WeeklyThis is an impressive tapestry of history, spiritual philosophy, and literary drama and an edifying look at the patriarchal limitations of Buddhism's genesisAn intelligently conceived and artistically executed reconsideration of religious history. —Kirkus Reviews Bride of the Buddha is an immersive novel about the founding of Buddhism, told in the voice of a woman who would not be excluded from the spiritual quest, nor from the presence of the man whom she loved. —ForeWord MagazineThis is the story of Yasodhara, the abandoned wife of the Buddha. Facing society's challenges, she transforms her rage into devotion to the path of liberation. The page-turner about a woman's struggle in an unapologetic religious patriarchy, Bride of the Buddha offers a penetrating perspective on the milieu of the Buddha.
£12.34
Rabsel Editions Patterns in Emptiness: Understanding Dependent
Book SynopsisHow do Buddha’s teachings answer the most profound questions of our existence? What makes his thinking unique amongst other systems of thought? The answer lies in his teachings on “dependent origination,” which hold the key to unlocking his doctrines of karma, rebirth, suffering, liberation, and compassion. Patterns in Emptiness shows how understanding this core Buddhist teaching of “dependent origination” can transform how we see the world and provide an antidote to the disordered thinking that leaves us in the grip of disruptive emotions. Without understanding this essential teaching, our meditation practice is likely to lead only to greater confusion.Lama Jampa Thaye is a scholar and meditation master trained in the Sakya and Kagyu traditions of Buddhism by eminent masters.
£13.25
Rabsel Editions A Taste of Buddhist Practice: Approaching its
Book SynopsisNowadays very popular, meditation is often presented as the key Buddhist method. However, it is actually only one means of this path of liberation. Karmapa Thaye Dorje sketches out the essential points to enter on this path in a way that is both modern and accessible for the Western audience: taking refuge, giving rise to loving-kindness and compassion and measuring the opportunity of this present existence and conditions. He taps into the Buddha's heritage and gives it a contemporary taste.
£13.25
Peter Lang AG Das Verhaeltnis von Buddhismus und Politik in Sri
Book SynopsisIn Sri Lanka galt über Jahrhunderte das in buddhistischen Chroniken festgelegte Verhältnis zwischen König und Mönchsorden. Mit dem Wegfall des Königs im 19. Jh. wird die Verbindung von Buddhismus und Politik neu verhandelt. Einführend in die Diskussion zur Konstruktion von Tradition illustriert die Autorin, wie vor dem Hintergrund kolonialer Einflüsse und postkolonialer Umbrüche vorkoloniale Ordnungen, wie etwa die Verbindung von König Mönchsorden Volk, neuen Aushandlungsprozessen unterliegen. Im Fokus stehen religionspolitische Debatten, die seit der Unabhängigkeit 1948 bis zu den Präsidentschaftswahlen 2015 zwischen politisch aktiven Mönchen und den jeweiligen Regierungen oder Präsidenten geführt wurden. Die Autorin zeigt auf, wie Fragen nach den Aufgabenbereichen und Verantwortungen des Staates gegenüber dem Buddha Sasana sowie den Zuständigkeiten und Pflichten der Mönche debattiert werden.
£41.36
Lit Verlag Kun-Mkhyen Pad-Ma Dkar-Po's Amitayus Tradition of
Book Synopsis
£33.75
Austrian Academy of Sciences Press Mongolische Ethnographica in Wien: Die Sammlung
Book Synopsis
£27.00
Austrian Academy of Sciences Press Art as Landscape: Buddhist Rock Sculptures of
Book Synopsis
£104.50
