Buddhist life and practice Books

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

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisWhen her granddaughter was accepted to Naropa University, the celebrated author Pema Chödrön promised that she’d speak at the commencement ceremony. Fail, Fail Again, Fail Better contains the wisdom shared on that day. "What do we do when life doesn’t go the way we hoped?" begins Pema "We say, `I’m a failure." But what if failing wasn’t just "okay," but the most direct way to becoming a more complete, loving, and fulfilled human being? Through the insights of her own teachers and life journey, Pema Chödrön offers us her heartfelt advice on how to face the unknown—in ourselves and in the world—and how our missteps can open our eyes to see new possibilities and purpose. For Pema’s millions of readers, prospective graduates, or anyone at a life crossroads, this gem of clarity and reassurance is sure to find a welcome place in many a kitchen, office, and backpack.

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Book SynopsisThis book is a study on the nature and effects of the Theravada Buddhist religious experiences of the four supramundane fruits of the Noble Eightfold Path - the experience of the fruit which is stream-entry, once returning, non-returning and Arahanthship - with special focus on the experience of stream-entry.It represents the first time within Theravada Buddhist studies that a serious textual study has been combined with a substantial field research. Despite disciplinary rules which virtually prohibit a monk with higher ordination from discussing their personal religious experiences, this book presents seven comprehensive anonymous interviews conducted mainly with forest monks on their meditative experiences.The study presents a definition for the 'supramundane fruit' of the path and an alternate framework to discuss and evaluate Theravada Buddhist religious experiences. It then uses this framework to address some longstanding debates around the Theravada path and its fruits thus bringing experience back to the centre stage of these debates.Trade ReviewThe outstanding feature of the present work is that it seeks to substantiate the textual ideas through examining the practice and experience of living practitioners of the path. The interviews alone may be considered a major contribution to our current understanding of the Buddhist soteriological practice and experience.Professor Asanga Tilakaratne, University of Colombo;Yuki's book explores textual material on the eight noble persons in a clear and helpful way. Its most original and helpful contribution, though, comes from her fieldwork material reporting on a range of meditators' deep experiences Professor Peter Harvey, University of SunderlandTable of ContentsForeword by Professor Asanga Tilakaratne, University of ColomboForeword by Professor Peter Harvey, University of Sunderland 1. Introduction 2. Noble Persons and how to Recognize One 3. Does the Attainment of a Supramundane Fruit Necessarily Involve a Specific Experience?4. 'Path, Fetter-Breaking-Experience and Effect' 5. Noble Persons and the Nature of their Fetter-Breaking-Experience6. The Stream-Enterer 7. An Interview with a 'Possible Arahant' 8. Conclusion Appendix I - The Questionnaire Used for the Fieldwork and its RationalAppendix II - Interview Synopses and AnalysisAppendix III - Interview No.1 (A Sample Interview)

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Book SynopsisThe Middle Way was first taught explicitly by the Buddha. It is the first teaching offered by the Buddha in his first address, and the basis of his practical method in meditation, ethics, and wisdom. It is often mentioned in connection with Buddhist teachings, yet the full case for its importance has not yet been made. This book aims to make that case. The Middle Way can be understood from the Buddha's life as well as his teachings. His early life follows a symbolic quest through the extremes of the Palace and the Forest, followed by the discovery of the Middle Way. His similes, such as the raft, the lute-strings, the arrow, and the blind people with the elephant are not just allegories of Buddhist teachings, but relate closely to the universal human experience of balanced judgement. This book also has a critical case. Although it has transmitted the Middle Way, the Buddhist tradition has also often ignored or distorted it. The Middle Way is experiential, authentic and creative, and thus threatening to the power of a tradition that has instead emphasised the Buddha's authority as a source of abstract, absolute revelation. The Buddha's Middle Waya aims to differentiate the universal Middle Way from Buddhist tradition.Trade Review"In The Buddha's Middle Way, Robert M. Ellis re-issues the Buddha's teachings as a practical philosophy in the classical sense - a guide to sane and optimal living, rather than a religious doctrine or mere armchair musings. His middle way is a present-day life well lived, and his book is a convincing and valuable aid to finding and cultivating it. Though his erudition is striking, he writes clearly and accessibly. This is a book for both practising Buddhists and anyone who seeks to live an examined life." Winton Higgins, senior teacher, Sydney Insight Meditators and associate, School of International Studies, University of Technology Sydney "I hope this provocative book will encourage Buddhists to reconsider the Middle Way that lies at the core of their tradition and to appreciate how this principle links their tradition to many others, both ancient and modern, secular and religious. The Buddha's Middle Way will at the same time provide an excellent critical introduction to the Buddha's life and teaching for those less familiar with Buddhism. As a result of Ellis's groundbreaking work, the Middle Way may cease to be thought of as an exclusively Buddhist idea but a universal legacy of being human." From the Foreword by Stephen Batchelor, author of Buddhism without Beliefs

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Book SynopsisJapanese Buddhist Pilgrimage explores the ritual practice of "circulatory pilgrimages" - the visiting of many temples in a numbered sequence. Every year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims travel such temple routes, seeking peace of mind, health and wellbeing for themselves and others as the benefits of such meritorious endeavour. This form of pilgrimage appears to be unique to Japan. The practice began centuries ago and involved visiting 33 temples devoted to the Bodhisattva Kannon, spread widely over western Japan. Soon afterwards the equally famous pilgrimage to 88 temples on Japan's fourth island of Shikoku came into prominence. This is the first comprehensive study of all the major and many of the minor routes, The book also examines how the practice of circulatory pilgrimage developed among the shrines and temples for the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, and beyond them to the rather different world of Shinto. The varying significance of the different pilgrimages is also explored. In addition to all the information about the routes, the book includes numerous illustrations and examples of the short Buddhist texts chanted by the pilgrims on their rounds.Trade Review'A fascinating work which should prove an enduring resource in the study of Japanese religions and pilgrimage studies more generally. It is well-written, highly informative and based on much first-hand observation and hard-to-obtain Japanese sources.' Professor Brian Bocking, University College CorkTable of ContentsPreface 1. Introduction 2. Going Round to Visit Kannon-Sama 3. The Shikoku Pilgrimage 4. More Buddhist Routes 5. Going Round to Other Divinities 6. The Pilgrim's Transaction 7. The Meaning of Japanese Buddhist Pilgrimage 8. General Conclusions

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Book SynopsisIn the wide range of Buddhist meditation and spirituality a very special place is held by the practice of calling on the name of Amitabha, or in Japanese Amida Buddha, using the simplest of formulas, the nenbutsu. Japanese masters such as Honen, Shinran and others made this the core of a profound spiritual experience which has fascinated numberless followers ever since. The deeper meaning of the nenbutsu has therefore become a major topic in Buddhist thought which has been reflected on by various thinkers and teachers to this day, especially in the context of Shin Buddhism. In this book, which draws on classic articles first published in The Eastern Buddhist, major historic proponents and masters of the nenbutsu are introduced, in particular Shinran, Shoku, Ippen and Rennyo. Further contributions, which set the work of these masters into the wider context of Buddhist tradition, are in fact some of the earliest Buddhist voicesA" to emerge from modern Japan into global view. Yet the presentations of writers such as Sasaki Gessho, Yamabe Shugaku and Sugihira Shizutoshi have a freshness and an immediacy which speaks to us today.Table of ContentsPreface with Acknowledgements A Note on The Eastern Buddhist General Introduction Conventions on Names, Titles and Scripts List of Illustrations Part I Masters of the Nenbutsu Suzuki, Beatrice Lane Honen Shonin (1133-1212) and the Jodo Ideal Sugihira, Shizutoshi A Study in the Pure Land Doctrine of Shoku (1177-1247) Sugihira, Shizutoshi The Teaching of Ippen Shonin (1239-1289) Sasaki, Gessho The Religion of Shinran Shonin (1173-1262) Sugihira, Shizutoshi Rennyo Shonin (1415-1499): a Great Teacher of Shin Buddhism Part II Some Foundations in Mahayana Buddhism Murakami, Sensho Mahayana Buddhism Akanuma, Chizen The Buddha as Preacher Akanuma, Chizen The Triple Body of the Buddha Sasaki, Gessho Philosophical Foundations of Shin Buddhism Sugihira, Shizutoshi The Unfolding of the Nenbutsu Teaching Part III Themes in Shin Buddhism Sasaki, Gessho Shin Buddhism: The True Pure Land Faith Yamabe, Shugaku Amida as Saviour of the Soul Yamabe, Shugaku The Way to the Land of Bliss Sasaki, Gessho The Enlightened Mind of the Buddha and the Shin Teaching Yamabe, Shugaku The Buddha and Shinran Sasaki, Gessho The Teaching of Shin Buddhism and the Religious Life Yokogawa, Kensho Shin Buddhism as the Religion of Hearing Takagi, Kenmyo My Socialism Mino, Kogetsu The Shinran Revival of 1922 Suzuki, Beatrice Lane The Shinran Shonin Celebration Editors of The Eastern Buddhist In Memory of Sasaki Gessho Synoptic list of text titles Character List for Historical Persons Full details of original publication

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