Search results for ""Middleway Press""

Based on the tenets of the Japanese monk Nichiren, these guides provide insight and advice on injecting Buddhist philosophies into one’s relationships and spirituality. Drawing on ancient themes of compassion and happiness, these compilations distill the essence of Buddhist scripture. These instructions for applying the readings to modern life will also teach about the many facets of love, determination, courage, and prayer. The concise, easy-to-follow entries are ideal for anyone looking to discover and cultivate a more spiritual life.

Read more less

An intimate portrayal of one of history's most important and obscure figures, the Buddha, this chronicle reveals him not as a mystic, but a warm and engaged human being that was very much the product of his turbulent times. This biographical account traces the path of Siddhartha Gautama as he walked away from the pleasure palace that had been his home and joined a growing force of wandering monks, ultimately making his way towards enlightenment beneath the bodhi tree, and spending the next 45 years sharing his insights along the banks of the Ganges. The Buddhist canon is expertly harvested to provide insight into the Buddha's inner life and to grant a better understanding of how he came to play his pivotal role as founder of one of the world's largest religions.

Read more less

Based on the tenets of the Japanese monk Nichiren, these guides provide insight and advice on injecting Buddhist philosophies into one’s relationships and spirituality. Drawing on ancient themes of compassion and happiness, these compilations distill the essence of Buddhist scripture. These instructions for applying the readings to modern life will also teach about the many facets of love, determination, courage, and prayer. The concise, easy-to-follow entries are ideal for anyone looking to discover and cultivate a more spiritual life.

Read more less

Buddhism has taught for thousands of years that every person is a Buddha, or an enlightened being, and has the potential for true and lasting happiness. Through real-life examples, this book reveals the teachings of Nichiren and explains how adopting this outlook has positive effects on one's health, relationships, and career. Budismo ha enseñado por miles de años que cada persona es una Buda, o un humano ilustrado, y que todos tienen la capacidad de realizar felicidad eterna y verdadera. Con ejemplos de la vida cotidiana, este libro revela las enseñanazas de Nichiren y explica como adoptar estos pensamientos tiene efectos positivos en la salud, las relaciones y la vida profesional.

Read more less

Daisaku Ikeda, spiritual leader for 12 million Soka Gakkai members, responds to the complicated issues facing American young people in a straightforward question-and-answer format. For all faiths, it addresses building character, the purpose of hard work, perseverance, family and relationships, tolerance, and preservation of the environment. Daisaku Ikeda, el líder espiritual a los 12 millones miembros mundiales de Soka Gakkai, responde a los asuntos complicados frente a los americanos jóvenes en un formato de pregunta y respuesta. Para los de todas fe, consiste de las temas de construyendo el carácter, el propósito del trabajo dedicado, de la perseverancia, de la familia y las relaciones, de la tolerancia, de la conservación del ambiente.

Read more less

In this inspiring, soul-stirring memoir, Lawrence E. Carter Sr., founding dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, shares his remarkable quest to experience King's "beloved community" and his surprising discovery in mid-life that King's dream was being realized by the Japanese Buddhist philosopher and tireless peace worker Daisaku Ikeda. Coming of age on the cusp of the American Civil Rights Movement, Carter was personally mentored by Martin Luther King Jr. and followed in his footsteps, first to get an advanced degree in theology at Boston University and then to teach and train a new generation of activists and ministers at King's alma mater, Morehouse College. Over the years, however, Carter was disheartened to watch the radical cosmic vision at the heart of King's message gradually diluted and marginalized. He found himself in near despair—until his remarkable encounter with the lay Buddhist association Soka Gakkai International and a life-changing meeting with Ikeda, its president. Carter knew that King had been inspired by Gandhi, a Hindu, and now Ikeda, a Buddhist, was showing him how King's message of justice, equality, and the fundamental dignity of life could be carried to millions of people around the world. What ensued was not a conversion but a conversation—about the essential role of interfaith dialogue, the primacy of education, and the value of a living faith to create a human revolution and realize at last Martin Luther King's truest dream of a global world house. In these dark and frustrating times, the powerful dialogue between Carter and Ikeda gives hope and guidance to a new generation of reformers, activists, and visionaries.

Read more less

Beginning with the introduction of the religion into China, this chronicle depicts the evolution of Buddhism. The career and achievements of the great Kumarajiva are investigated, exploring the famed philosophical treatises that form the core of East Asian Buddhist literature. Providing a useful and accessible introduction to the influential Tien-t’ai school of Buddhism in Japan as well as the teachings of the 13th-century monk Nichiren, this examination places special emphasis on the faith of the Lotus Sutra and the major works of masters such as Hui-su, Chih-i, and Chanjan. From the early translations of the Buddhist scriptures to the persecution of the T'ang dynasty, this exploration illuminates the role of Buddhism in Chinese society, and by extension, in humanity in general.

Read more less

Based on the tenets of the Japanese monk Nichiren, these guides provide insight and advice on injecting Buddhist philosophies into one’s relationships and spirituality. Drawing on ancient themes of compassion and happiness, these compilations distill the essence of Buddhist scripture. These instructions for applying the readings to modern life will also teach about the many facets of love, determination, courage, and prayer. The concise, easy-to-follow entries are ideal for anyone looking to discover and cultivate a more spiritual life.

Read more less

This exploration of what it means to be healthy from a physical, mental, and spiritual standpoint discusses Western humanism, Japanese Buddhism, and modern science from three divergent, yet expert, perspectives. Seeking common ground through dialogue, this ambitious work broaches questions about issues that face today’s society, such as cancer, AIDS, death with dignity, in vitro fertilization, biomedical ethics, and more. The discussions cut through linguistic and cultural barriers to present a vision of the potential—and the inherent challenges—of being human. Avoiding scientific jargon, the book begins with a medical discussion of cancer and AIDS, as well as the problem of social discrimination against those infected. Questions about the fundamental nature of a harmonious existence are considered, as are specific issues such as the nature of brain death and ethical problems relating to fertility and childbirth. The origins of life, evolution, and the birth of humanity are also discussed.

Read more less

While the notion that “happiness can found within oneself” has recently become popular, Buddhism has taught for thousands of years that every person is a Buddha, or enlightened being, and has the potential for true and lasting happiness. Through real-life examples, the authors explain how adopting this outlook has positive effects on one’s health, relationships, and career, and gives new insights into world environmental concerns, peace issues, and other major social problems.

Read more less

With brief, easily absorbed wisdom from the precepts of Nichiren, a 13th-century Buddhist priest, this collection of day-to-day musings can be enjoyed by casual readers and devoted followers alike. Covering a wide span of topics—from life and death to courage and winning—the practical information and encouragement are ideal for those seeking to find a deeper understanding of this ancient philosophy.

Read more less

How do we remain optimistic when the world seems to be falling apart around us? In these intimate essays, the author leads the reader on an inspirational journey to find answers and hope in troubled times. The book includes incisive commentaries on terrorism, good and evil, and aging and death that provide a new perspective on approaching the world with hope. The lyrical reflections on poetry and friendship highlight how such spiritual pursuits are the wellsprings of hope in dark times. Each essay suggests ways in which anyone can connect their personal search for strength, wisdom, and hope to the collective desire to bring about a just, humane, and caring society.

Read more less

Beginning with the events immediately following the dark days after the death of Shakyamuni and continuing over a period of 1,000 years, this dynamic tome covers a vast and complex series of events and developments in the history of Buddhism. Through a thorough examination of its early development in India, a new light is cast on little-known aspects of Buddhist history and its relevance to the understanding of Buddhism today. Topics include the formation of the Buddhist canon, the cultural exchange between the East and West, and the spirit of the Lotus Sutra.

Read more less

Based on the tenets of the Japanese monk Nichiren, these guides provide insight and advice on injecting Buddhist philosophies into one’s relationships and spirituality. Drawing on ancient themes of compassion and happiness, these compilations distill the essence of Buddhist scripture. These instructions for applying the readings to modern life will also teach about the many facets of love, determination, courage, and prayer. The concise, easy-to-follow entries are ideal for anyone looking to discover and cultivate a more spiritual life.

Read more less

Is there more to Buddhism than sitting in silent meditation? Is modern Buddhism relevant to the problems of daily life? Does it empower individuals to transform their lives? Or has Buddhism become too detached, so still and quiet that the Buddha has fallen asleep? Waking the Buddha tells the story of the Soka Gakkai International, the largest, most dynamic Buddhist movement in the world today—and one that is waking up and shaking up Buddhism so it can truly work in ordinary people’s lives. Drawing on his long personal experience as a Buddhist teacher, journalist, and editor, Clark Strand offers broad insight into how and why the Soka Gakkai, with its commitment to social justice and its egalitarian approach, has become a role model, not only for other schools of Buddhism, but for other religions as well. Readers will be inspired by the struggles and triumphs of the Soka Gakkai’s three founding presidents—individuals who staked their lives on the teachings of the Lotus Sutra and the extraordinary power of those teachings to help people become happy.

Read more less

This introduction to Nichiren Buddhism explores the philosophical intricacies of life and reveals the wonder inherent in the phases of birth, aging, and death. Core concepts of Nichiren Buddhism, such as the ten worlds and the nine consciousnesses, illustrate the profundity of human existence. This book provides Buddhists with the tools they need to fully appreciate the connectedness of all beings and to revolutionise their spiritual lives based on this insight. Also explored are how suffering can be transformed to contribute to personal fulfilment and the well-being of others and how modern scientific research accords with ancient Buddhist views. Ultimately, this is both a work of popular philosophy and a book of compelling, compassionate inspiration for Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike that fosters a greater understanding of Nichiren Buddhism.

Read more less