Description
Book SynopsisOut of the depths of a clear blue sky emerges a beautiful tree of white lotus flowers. On the tree are many figures - historical, mythical and transcendental - each a teacher of Enlightenment. In this book Kulananda explains the significance of the figures on the Refuge Tree of the Triratna Buddhist Order. This new revised edition includes the two new figures of Dr Ambedkar and Anagarika Dharmapala. It is a great introduction to the refuge tree and a way of looking at the whole Buddhist tradition.
Trade Review'Though Teachers of Enlightenment contains much useful information about the figures on the Refuge Tree, about the Buddhist scriptures, and about the historical development of Buddhism, it is above all a call to spiritual practice." - Urgyen Sangharakshita, Buddhist teacher and founder of the Triratna Buddhist Order; 'I am delighted to see this new edition of Teachers of Enlightenment. And I am very happy to see that Dr Ambedkar and Anagarika Dharmapala have been included here. This book will not only benefit those who wish to practise within the Triratna sangha but any Buddhist who is interested to know about the great spiritual beings on this Refuge Tree.' - Amoghasiddhi, Public Preceptor, Indian ordination training team; 'For anyone exploring the Going for Refuge and Prostration Practice of the Triratna Buddhist Order, Teachers of Enlightenment has long been an essential guide. Kulananda presents a wonderful description of each figure, enabling our practice to come alive. This new edition includes Vajratara's excellent introduction to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Anagarika Dharmapala.' - Kalyacitta, women's ordination team, Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre; 'This book is a timely reminder that Buddhism is not reducible to a set of self-help techniques; it invites us to participate in a cosmic myth, which is the compassionate liberation of all beings.' - Nagapriya, author of The Promise of a Sacred World: Shinran's Teaching of Other Power
Table of ContentsForeword to the New Edition About the author Preface to the 2000 edition, by Sangharakshita Author's acknowledgements Publisher's acknowledgements Part one Introduction 1 The Refuge Tree of the Triratna Buddhist Order, and the prostration practice 2 Visualization and imagination 3 Going for refuge 4 The Refuge Tree, bodhicitta, and 'other-power' Part two Introduction 1 The Buddhas of the Three Times 2 The Jinas 3 The Arhants 4 The bodhisattvas 5 Vajrasattva 6 The dharma texts 7 The teachers of the past India Tibet China Japan 8 The teachers of the present Conclusion Notes and references Selected reading Index
