Just Awakening
Just Awakening uncovers a forgotten philosophy of social democracy inspired by Yogācāra, an ancient, nondualistic Buddhist philosophy that claims everything in the perceptible cosmos is mere consciousness and consists of multiple karmically connected yet bounded lifeworlds. This Yogācāra social philosophy emerged in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries among Chinese intellectuals who struggled against the violent Social Darwinist logic of the survival of the fittest. Its proponents were convinced that the root cause of crisis in both China and the West was epistemic--an unexamined faith in one common, objective world and a subject-object divide. This dualistic paradigm, in their view, had dire consequences, including moral egoism, competition for material wealth, and racial war. Yogācāra insights about plurality, interdependence, and intersubjectivity, however, had the capacity to awaken the world from these deadly dreams. Jessica X. Zu reconstructs this account of modern Yogācāra philosophy, arguing that it offers new vocabularies with which to reconceptualize equality and freedom. Yogācāra thinking, she shows, diffracts the illusions of individual identity, social categories, and material wealth into aggregated, recurring karmic processes. It then guides the reassembly of a complex society through nonhierarchical, noncoercive, and collaborative actions, sustained by new behavior patterns and modes of thought. Demonstrating why Chinese Buddhist social philosophy offers powerful resources for social justice and liberation today, Just Awakening invites readers to think with modern Yogācāra philosophers about other ways of building egalitarian futures.
Inexplicable Joy
A personal exploration of the Heart Sutra by NYT bestselling author and Buddhist teacher Susan Piver"A very helpful practical guide to reading, reciting, and contemplating the Heart Sutra... [that] opens up space for personally exploring this text that is both celebrated and enigmatic." -Karl Brunnh繹lzl, author of The Heart Attack SutraRight now countless humans are reciting the Heart Sutra-no matter when "right now" happens to be. This ancient, essential Buddhist text carries with it a mystery of origin and a myriad of versions for consideration. The longest is 100,000 lines. The one contemplated in Inexplicable Joy is 43 lines. The ultimate is no lines at all. Just one syllable: AH.The Heart Sutra is multi-layered, sacred, and sometimes impenetrable. It also lays out the path to full enlightenment. In Inexplicable Joy, Susan Piver shares her intimate, poignant understanding of this formidable text. She discusses the inner meaning and timeless qualities of the Heart Sutra. Breaking down each of its 43 lines, Piver explains how it is practiced, and offers suggestions for bringing it into our lives-while keeping all of its mysteries intact."In Inexplicable Joy, we are invited into an intimate relationship with The Heart Sutra-one of the most mysterious, deep and powerful spiritual texts in human history. Drawing on her decades-long love relationship with this scripture, Susan Piver points to ultimate truth with a wonderful freshness and vitality." -Tara Brach, best-selling author of Radical Acceptance and Trusting the Gold
Understanding Karma and Rebirth
Understanding Karma and Rebirth A Buddhist Perspective Rebirth and reincarnation have been generally accepted realities in the East since ancient times. There, the question is typically not whether there will be another life, but rather what form it will take. The West, conversely, has its own religious and secular beliefs which usually exclude the possibility of another life - at least not in this world or in this manner. A common Western perspective is that annihilation is inevitable: 'When you're dead, you're dead!'However, whether East or West, until one awakens to the truth, one remains caught in cultural conditioning and personal beliefs. Buddhism focuses on becoming aware of what life actually is, rather than being blinded by beliefs and conditioning.The Buddha saw life as a flowing procession of conditions, events and circumstances, with one thing leading to another without beginning or end - timeless and limitless. He recognised that our aware aspect - that which sees and knows - is never born and never dies. He spoke of directly 'seeing' into the nature of existence, beyond words and intellect.This book explores the underlying message of understanding the cause-and-effect process - the nature of karma and rebirth - and what lies behind it. Diana St Ruth emphasises that Buddhism is a personal journey of discovery involving seeing through one's own delusions. She guides readers progressively towards awareness, mental clarity and understanding.
Kings of Oxen and Horses
For centuries in China, people beseeched deities to protect the draft animals on which they relied. Across social classes--from peasants plowing the fields to merchants transporting goods through soldiers riding into battle--animals were essential to daily life and so took on a central place in the religious imagination. Prayers and rituals for animal well-being were most frequently addressed to the Horse King, divine protector of horses, donkeys, and mules, or the Ox King, who watched over oxen and buffaloes. Kings of Oxen and Horses is a history of these two gods: their myths, their rituals, and their worshipers. It examines the place of draft animals in Chinese and Buddhist religious traditions and, in so doing, sheds new light on human interaction with nonhuman animals more broadly. Meir Shahar traces the history of the Horse and Ox Kings from late imperial China back to ancient India, revealing the long-term Buddhist influence on Chinese rural religion. He explores the myth of the draft animal as incarnate god, showing how Buddhism transmitted a belief in the sanctity of cattle and a taboo on beef from India to China. Shahar considers the ties between humans and their animal companions through the prism of religious practice, and he draws illuminating comparisons to other world religions. Bridging the gap between animal studies and religious studies, this book is a major contribution to both.
Buddhist Dream Yoga
An instructional presentation of exercises rooted in the tradition of Dzogchen for enhancing self-awareness and developing clarity within sleep and dream states throughout all moments of the day and night. In Buddhist Dream Yoga, Ch繹gyal Namkhai Norbu gives instructions for developing clarity within the sleep and dream states. He goes beyond the practices of lucid dreaming that have been popularized in the West by presenting methods for guiding dream states that are part of a broader system for enhancing self-awareness called Dzogchen. In this tradition, the development of lucidity in the dream state is understood in the context of generating greater awareness for the ultimate purpose of attaining liberation. Also includes: Specific methods for engaging with dreams and practices to help maintain one's focus throughout both day and night Additional material from a profound and personal Dzogchen book written by Ch繹gyal Namkhai Norbu over many years A text written by Jamgon Mipham, the nineteenth-century master of Dzogchen, which offers additional insights into this extraordinary form of meditation and awareness
Kings of Oxen and Horses
For centuries in China, people beseeched deities to protect the draft animals on which they relied. Across social classes--from peasants plowing the fields to merchants transporting goods through soldiers riding into battle--animals were essential to daily life and so took on a central place in the religious imagination. Prayers and rituals for animal well-being were most frequently addressed to the Horse King, divine protector of horses, donkeys, and mules, or the Ox King, who watched over oxen and buffaloes. Kings of Oxen and Horses is a history of these two gods: their myths, their rituals, and their worshipers. It examines the place of draft animals in Chinese and Buddhist religious traditions and, in so doing, sheds new light on human interaction with nonhuman animals more broadly. Meir Shahar traces the history of the Horse and Ox Kings from late imperial China back to ancient India, revealing the long-term Buddhist influence on Chinese rural religion. He explores the myth of the draft animal as incarnate god, showing how Buddhism transmitted a belief in the sanctity of cattle and a taboo on beef from India to China. Shahar considers the ties between humans and their animal companions through the prism of religious practice, and he draws illuminating comparisons to other world religions. Bridging the gap between animal studies and religious studies, this book is a major contribution to both.
The Teachings for Victory, vol. 1 (16pt Large Print Format)
Addressing questions such as What constitutes a meaningful life? and What is true happiness?, this guide to Nichiren Buddhism presents the spiritual practice as a teaching of hope that can answer these and other important questions of modern life. Buddhist teacher Daisaku Ikeda offers insights into four of Nichiren's revolutionary letters-each intended to bring out the inherent potential within each individual-and brings the message of the missives to life for a contemporary readership. Readers will not only learn about the exceptional life and times of Nichiren, they will also discover a philosophy of inner transformation that will help them find deep and lasting happiness for themselves and for others. This is the only book that offers commentaries on the writings of the 13th-century teacher Nichiren, one of the most important Japanese Buddhist teachers in the Mahayana tradition.
The Flower of Chinese Buddhism (16pt Large Print Format)
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.
Buddhist-Inflected Sovereignties Across the Indian Ocean
Buddhist-Inflected Sovereignties across the Indian Ocean draws attention to the varied, historically contingent, and sometimes competing, arguments for and about sovereignty that operated in the Pali arena during the first half of the second millennium AD. It was a time of expanding interaction within the Indian Ocean just prior to Portuguese colonial presence in Southern Asia. Developing a linked series of case studies and examining territories now subsumed within the nation-states of Sri Lanka, Burma/Myanmar, and Thailand, Blackburn examines sovereign arguments expressed textually, as well as in the built environment, by persons with an interest in the teachings and institutions associated with Gotama Buddha. These cases show that no single model of Buddhist-inflected sovereignty dominated the Pali arena during this time, and that there was no stable vision of "Buddhist kingship." Rather, over time, there was an accrual of possible models and pathways for argumentation about how sovereigns could and should relate to buddha-sāsana. Taking inspiration from diverse sources transmitted through multiple forms and media, arguments for and about sovereignty in the Pali arena were contested and rapidly changing. As the Indian Ocean increasingly shaped the flow of people, objects, and ideas, more peoples and territories participated in the Pali arena, attracted by its intellectual and aesthetic resources. Drawing on extensive scholarship and a wide range of multilingual source materials from premodern Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, and Cambodia, Anne M. Blackburn develops innovative conclusions about the relationships between textuality, sovereignty, maritime connectivity, and material culture in each of these areas. The book contributes simultaneously to several fields of study: the intellectual history of Southern Asia, literary and historical scholarship on Buddhism, and historical studies of the Indian Ocean. By offering accessible yet in-depth analysis, Buddhist-Inflected Sovereignties across the Indian Ocean connects research fields and introduces new interpretive possibilities for the study of sovereignty, politics, premodern textual cultures, and Buddhism.
The Path to Freedom
The Vimuttimagga (Volume 2), the "Path to Freedom" is a Theravāda Buddhist manual on the path leading to nibbāna, the ultimate freedom from all mental bondage, that is reached through the practice of virtue, concentration and wisdom. The emphasis of the manual is on concentration or meditation and it contains detailed explanations of all of the traditional Buddhist meditation topics. The manual was composed by the Buddhist monk Upatissa as a guide for those who wish to practise this path. Along with its successor, the larger and more scholastic Visuddhimagga, it is the only known ancient Buddhist manual that is solely dedicated to the cultivation of the path and that gives such detailed, systematic and sometimes unique instructions. The original Pāli text of the Vimuttimagga, probably composed in Sri Lanka in the 3rd or 4th century CE, is lost and the treatise now only survives as a 6th century Chinese translation and partially in Tibetan translations. Besides the first complete English translation of the Chinese text of this important work, as well as a translation of the Tibetan quotations from it, this book also contains an extensive introduction discussing the contents, history and other aspectsof the Vimuttimagga. ________________________Bhikkhu N. Nyanatusita (P.D.H. Prins) is a Buddhist monk ordained in Sri Lanka, where he studied Pali and Theravāda Buddhism. Since 2005 he hasbeen the editor of the Buddhist Publication Society. He has authored a book on the Bhikkhupātimokkha and has also written articles about Pāli texts and manuscripts, Chinese translations of Vinaya texts, and the Prātimokṣasūtra.
The Path to Freedom
The Vimuttimagga (Volume 1 of two volumes), the "Path to Freedom" is a Theravāda Buddhist manual on the path leading to nibbāna, the ultimate freedom from all mental bondage, that is reached through the practice of virtue, concentration and wisdom. The emphasis of the manual is on concentration or meditation and it contains detailed explanations of all of the traditional Buddhist meditation topics. The manual was composed by the Buddhist monk Upatissa as a guide for those who wish to practise this path. Along with its successor, the larger and more scholastic Visuddhimagga, it is the only known ancient Buddhist manual that is solely dedicated to the cultivation of the path and that gives such detailed, systematic and sometimes unique instructions.The original Pāli text of the Vimuttimagga, probably composed in Sri Lanka in the 3rd or 4th century CE, is lost and the treatise now only survives as a 6th century Chinese translation and partially in Tibetan translations. Besides the first complete English translation of the Chinese text of this important work, as well as a translation of the Tibetan quotations from it, this book also contains an extensive introduction discussing the contents, history and other aspectsof the Vimuttimagga. ________________________Bhikkhu N. Nyanatusita (P.D.H. Prins) is a Buddhist monk ordained in Sri Lanka, where he studied Pali and Theravāda Buddhism. Since 2005 he hasbeen the editor of the Buddhist Publication Society. He has authored a book on the Bhikkhupātimokkha and has also written articles about Pāli texts and manuscripts, Chinese translations of Vinaya texts, and the Prātimokṣasūtra.
Dhammapada, a collection of verses; being one of the canonical books of the Buddhists (Deluxe Hardcover Book)
Filling the Gaps of the Middle-Length Discourses
Pali Canon has been preserved over centuries. Presently, Pali Canon is one of the common sources through which ordinary practitioners who are seeking Buddha Dhamma are trying to understand Dhamma, Nibbana. The Canon in its present format does not contain everything that the Buddha taught and is missing some of the important content. This gap must be filled to open the path for those who are seeking Nibbana. Due to absence of Arahants, important information regarding the practice leading to Nibbana has been absent over the centuries. The way in which an ordinary person interprets a discourse and understand Nibbana is limited. Instead, noble interpretation can provide you in-depth detail about each discourse in line with four-fold Nibbana. The missing content that is hidden underneath each discourse are known only by the noble ones and Arahants. This book provides the missing content in an easy-to-understand way and fills the gap of the Majjhima Nikaya, or Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, by paving the way for perfection, Arahansthip. In doing so, this book contributes to filling this gap that has existed through the centuries, clarifying the missing content, pointing out misinterpretations, and attempting to remove the misunderstanding of Nibbana by linking existing sources to higher Dhamma in a way that facilitates readers who are familiar with conventional Dhamma to climb up the ladder to reach Sotapanna and above through developing their vision of Dhamma; Nibbana.
Dhammapada, a collection of verses; being one of the canonical books of the Buddhists
Explanations of Misfortune in the Buddha’s Life
The Buddha explained that all deeds have their consequences, even for him and even in his life as the Buddha. This book delves into the profound and multifaceted ways in which misfortune is addressed within the life and teachings of the Buddha. Author Stephan Hillyer Levitt explores how the Buddha, throughout his journey, encountered and navigated various forms of suffering, from personal loss and illness to challenges within the saṅgha. Drawing upon primary sources and scholarly interpretations, Levitt examines how the Buddha's own experiences with misfortune shaped his understanding of suffering, its causes, and the path to liberation. He investigates how these experiences are reflected in the Buddha's teachings, moreover, how the events flow naturally from the vantage of everyday causality as well as from the results of kamma. Explanations of Misfortune in the Buddha's Life offers a unique and insightful perspective on the Buddha's life and teachings, revealing the profound impact of suffering on his own spiritual journey and the profound wisdom he imparted to others.
Tantric Buddhism
The state of Odisha, in eastern India, is home to a unique concentration of images of deities and symbols dating from the earlier days of Tantric Buddhism up to the later developments of Vajrayana. Could Odisha be Oddiyana, the mythical kingdom from which Vajrayana is said to originate? This essay on one aspect of the history of Tantric Buddhism in South Asia tries to answer this question within the larger frame of the development of Buddhism in India. Going against some received ideas, it also exposes the role played by Buddhism in the birth of Hinduism. It concludes with an examination of the Buddhist heritage in contemporary Indian religious movements. This volume contains excerpts from The Accomplishment of Wisdom, by King Indrabodhi, as well as the integrality of the Accomplishment of Non-Duality, by Princess Lakshminkara, both translated exclusively from the original Sanskrit texts for the first time.
Arya Tara Concise Ganachakra Offering
This Arya Tara Concise Ganachakra Offeringī is arranged in Tibetan, phonetics, and English translation by Khenpo Migmar Tseten from original sources. It is our hope that these pages offer a window into the awakened state and inspire you in your own practice. May all sentient beings everywhere experience peace. Important requirement: It is very important to receive the empowerment, transmission, and instruction from the Master who holds the Tārā lineage to do the practices.
Regarding Views and Regime Changes
Ancient misinterpretation of Buddhist philosophy versus ancient correct interpretation of Buddhist philosophy led to total war, spanning worlds, hells, and heavens, according to this legendary tale of the cataclysmic rise and fall of a militant. The "right interpretation and the wrong interpretation" expressions of the "Matam Rutra" chapter of Shakti and Shakta (1918) forms the main basis of this work. The annotated translation by Sir John Woodroffe and Kazi Dawa-samdup of that portion of Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal's writing receives light, additional editing here. Additionally, as annotations, a strategic sequence of quotations occurs after the tale, as commentary. Supplemental contributors include Anonymous/Unknown, Lao-Tzu, James Legge, F. Max Muller, and Synapsid Revelations Press. At a holistic level, this literary work serves as a mixture, however much to consider it to consist of direct statements, metaphors, and/or parables; including insight into the concealed essence of regime changes.
The Discourse on the Root of Existence
The Mulapariyāya Sutta, is considered one of the most important texts in the Pāli Canon. The Buddha taught it to clear away the mental obstructions preventing a correct grasp of his teaching and to open the way for insight to arise. It aims at eliminating the whole range of subjective misconceptions centered on the concept of an ego right down to their roots. It reveals the structure of man's ego-biased orientation towards the world, shows the way this mental stratification colors and distorts his understanding, and points out the work of inner re-orientation he must do to free himself from his egoistic bonds. The present work offers an English translation of the discourse together with its commentarial exegesis, essential for understanding the many difficult passages occurring in the primary text. The presentation gives the sutta first, then follows it with an exegetical section containing the commentary and selected passages from the subcommentary. The introduction provides a detailed guide to the meaning of the sutta and explores its implications for epistemology, ontology, and psychology. It discusses important topics dealt with in the discourse such as the structure of ego- consciousness. 2024 Pariyatti Press Edition
The Discourse on the All-Embracing Net of Views
The Brahmajāla Sutta, one of the Buddha's most important and profound discourses, weaves a net of sixty-two cases capturing all the philosophical, speculative views on the self and the world. Its assignment as the first discourse in the Collection of Long Discourses reflects the high esteem in which it was held by the ancient compilers of the Pāli Canon. But the Brahmajāla is more than merely the first item in a collection of discourses, it is the gateway to the entire Teaching of the Buddha itself. Its central message must be grasped to ensure a correct understanding of the Teaching. This book contains an accurate and readable translation of this discourse, as well as of its massive commentary and the subcommentary, allowing for a close in-depth study of the work. The book also contains translations of three commentarial treatises that throw valuable sidelights on rarely known aspects of Theravada Buddhism: "The Treatise on the Pāramīs", a lengthy treatise on the Theravada conception of the Bodhisatta ideal, "The Meaning of the Word Tathāgata," and "The Method of the Exegetical Treatises" The introduction by Bhikkhu Bodhi is itself a modern philosophical commentary on the sutta. It elucidates the key points of the discourse and explains the place of the Brahmajāla in the overall structure of Buddhist thought. 2024 Pariyatti Press Edition
365 Days of Buddha Wisdom
Embark on a year-long journey of enlightenment with this compact treasury of daily inspiration, featuring profound quotes from revered Buddhist thinkers to infuse your every day with wisdom and tranquility Discover daily peace and wisdom with this pocket-sized collection of quotes from Buddhist teachers, writers and philosophers For many people around the world, the Buddha remains a timeless symbol of compassion, humility and mindfulness. His journey - which saw him leave his life as a prince to begin a spiritual quest for enlightenment - has inspired many to seek inner peace for themselves. Whether Buddhist or not, there is so much the ancient philosophy of Buddhism can teach us about living a more mindful existence. With the help of this little book, you can start each day with a dose of Buddhist wisdom. Inside you will find 365 quotes from some of the greatest Buddhist thinkers of all time, including Th穩ch Nhất Hạnh, Pema Ch繹dr繹n, Alan Watts and, of course, the Buddha himself. The insights contained within will enhance your daily life by teaching you to cherish the present moment, live in harmony with nature, and treat all living things with love and kindness. So, what are you waiting for? Dive in and begin your own spiritual journey.
Ratnakūṭa Studies, Volume I
This volume initiates a new series dedicated to offering state-of-the-art critical editions, translations, and studies of Buddhist scriptures, seeking to set a standard for the presentation of Buddhist literature analogous to that in Biblical Studies and in Classics.
Borobudur: Masterpiece in Stone
"This is simply the best book ever written on the single largest Buddhist monument in the world" --Patricia Welch, author and lecturer on Asian art Borobudur is the largest Buddhist monument in the world--a masterpiece containing thousands of intricately carved panels and sculptures blending Indian art with local Javanese culture. The panels retell the lives of the Buddhas along with dozens of other tales of worldly desire and the heroics feats of enlightened beings. After viewing these, visitors ascend to open terraces at the top to enjoy majestic vistas of the surrounding landscape--an experience designed to evoke the eternal bliss of Buddhist nirvana. This book presents a detailed history of the monument as well as a description of its art and design. Author John Miksic recounts Borobudur's history from its construction in the 9th century to its rediscovery in the 19th century and multiple restorations by the Dutch colonial government, the Indonesian Government and UNESCO in the 20th century. Surveying ancient Javanese texts and contemporary scholarship, Miksic walks us through the temples main features, honing in on important details. The book includes chapters on: History and Archaeology -- How Buddhism came to Indonesia, the monument's history and construction, and what it tells us about ancient Javanese societyArchitecture and Symbolism -- The unique design of the monument and how it was used in ancient timesThe Reliefs -- The fables and stories beautifully told in hundreds of artfully-carved panels lining Borobudur's lower terraces, including the Jataka tales, the Life of Gautama Buddha and the Gandavyuha taleBorobudur: Masterpiece in Stone is sure to be treasured by anyone intending to visit Borobudur as well as all those with an interest in Buddhist art and history.
Zen in the Art of Archery
Zen in the Art of Archery, originally published in German, was first published in English in 1953, the first book to introduce Zen Buddhism to a Western audience. The translation was rather formal and scholarly, making for difficult reading about a subject that was already hard to understand. This new translation skillfully transmits the book's original meaning in a simpler, smoother style more accessible to modern readers, but with all of the author's fascinating experiences, explanations, and anecdotes intact.In this illuminating account, the author recounts his six-year study of archery as a way to understand Zen. Under the guidance of one of Japan's great archery masters, he gradually overcomes his initial misconceptions and inhibitions and begins to feel his way toward new, true ways of seeing, acting, and living.The author writes, "The art of archery is like a preparatory school for Zen, enabling beginners to understand, through their own experience, events that are not in themselves intelligible."Mastering archery is not the key to achieving enlightenment, and this is not a practical guide to archery. Rather, it is a fascinating introduction to Zen principles and learning, an excellent and informative guide for anyone who wants to know more about the "Great Doctrine" practiced by the spiritual teachers of the Asian tradition.
The Buddhist Catechism
NEW PRINT WITH PROFESSIONAL TYPE-SET IN CONTRAST TO SCANNED PRINTS OFFERED BY OTHERS The Buddhist Catechism This book is a result of an effort made by us towards making a contribution to the preservation and repair of original classic literature. In an attempt to preserve, improve and recreate the original content, we have worked towards: 1. Type-setting & Reformatting: The complete work has been re-designed via professional layout, formatting and type-setting tools to re-create the same edition with rich typography, graphics, high quality images, and table elements, giving our readers the feel of holding a fresh and newly reprinted and/or revised edition, as opposed to other scanned & printed (Optical Character Recognition - OCR) reproductions. 2. Correction of imperfections: As the work was re-created from the scratch, therefore, it was vetted to rectify certain conventional norms with regard to typographical mistakes, hyphenations, punctuations, blurred images, missing content/pages, and/or other related subject matters, upon our consideration. Every attempt was made to rectify the imperfections related to omitted constructs in the original edition via other references. However, a few of such imperfections which could not be rectified due to intentional\unintentional omission of content in the original edition, were inherited and preserved from the original work to maintain the authenticity and construct, relevant to the work.
The Gospel Of Buddha, Compiled From Ancient Records
NEW PRINT WITH PROFESSIONAL TYPE-SET IN CONTRAST TO SCANNED PRINTS OFFERED BY OTHERS The Gospel Of Buddha, Compiled From Ancient Records This book is a result of an effort made by us towards making a contribution to the preservation and repair of original classic literature. In an attempt to preserve, improve and recreate the original content, we have worked towards: 1. Type-setting & Reformatting: The complete work has been re-designed via professional layout, formatting and type-setting tools to re-create the same edition with rich typography, graphics, high quality images, and table elements, giving our readers the feel of holding a fresh and newly reprinted and/or revised edition, as opposed to other scanned & printed (Optical Character Recognition - OCR) reproductions. 2. Correction of imperfections: As the work was re-created from the scratch, therefore, it was vetted to rectify certain conventional norms with regard to typographical mistakes, hyphenations, punctuations, blurred images, missing content/pages, and/or other related subject matters, upon our consideration. Every attempt was made to rectify the imperfections related to omitted constructs in the original edition via other references. However, a few of such imperfections which could not be rectified due to intentional\unintentional omission of content in the original edition, were inherited and preserved from the original work to maintain the authenticity and construct, relevant to the work.
Literature for Little Bodhisattvas
In Literature for Little Bodhisattvas, Natasha Heller makes two key interventions: first, she argues that picturebooks are a new genre of Buddhist writing, and second, she calls attention to an emergent family Buddhism in Taiwan that fashions children as religious subjects through shared attention with adult readers. Surveying Taiwanese Buddhism from the ground up, Heller explores the changing family dynamics that have made children into a crucial audience for Buddhist education and the home a key site for Buddhist cultivation. By taking picturebooks seriously as part of the Buddhist textual tradition, Heller demonstrates their engagement with canonical sources alongside innovations for modern audiences. Close readings analyzing both text and image trace narrative themes about Buddhist figures, and connect representations of buddhas and bodhisattvas to a visual culture where new values such as cuteness are articulated. Heller shows that picturebooks have become an integral part of a contemporary Buddhist education that equips children with strategies to interpret everyday life in Buddhist ways and provides religious models for action in the modern world. Literature for Little Bodhisattvas is a pathbreaking work revealing how contemporary picturebooks reframe Buddhism and offer fresh perspectives on its teachings and ideals of family for both children and adults.
The Carefree-Ease Record
In this radical new translation of a classic Ch'an (Zen) koan collection, David Hinton illuminates the Taoist dimensions of "carefree-ease," the effortless joy of the enlightened mind in harmony with earth and cosmos. First collected by the Ch'an master Wisdom-Expanse (Hung-Chih) in the twelfth century, this collection of one hundred kung-ans, or koans, is an essential text for students of Ch'an and Zen. These miniature masterpieces of Chinese philosophy and literature offer a unique way of penetrating directly into the essence of Ch'an teaching, and in this new translation, Hinton affords readers an opportunity to experience these koans in English like never before. Paring away the later commentaries that are usually presented with these koans, Hinton lets the original stories stand on their own, revealing themselves as nothing less than poetic expressions of the awakened mind. A far cry from the transcendence of life-and-death that typifies the traditional Buddhist goal of nirvana, this awakening is distinctly earthy and grounded in the rhythms of nature, shaped by the centuries of Taoist tradition that preceded Ch'an. "Carefree ease," writes Hinton, "is to move through life with the profound tranquility of the Cosmos itself as it unfurls through its perennial transformations." Following his translation of No-Gate Gateway (2018) and Blue-Cliff Record (2024), this volume marks the completion of Hinton's project to translate all three of the classic koan collections.
What Is Meditation?
What Is Meditation? explains the Buddhist worldview and the age-old practice it perfected to unfold our innate qualities of compassion, self-acceptance, and inner peace. Rob Nairn gives step-by-step instructions for beginning your own meditation practice, including three simple exercises--"Bare Attention," "Remaining in the Present," and "Meditation Using Sound"--to help get you started.
Bodhicitta
One is unlikely ever to receive a Tibetan Buddhist teaching on either sutra or tantra in which Bodhicitta does not have a central role. Bodhicitta, the compassionate mind which aspires to attain full enlightenment in order to benefit beings, is the very quintessence of the Mahayana path of Buddhist practice. In this practical handbook, Ven. Lobsang Gyatso describes the classical methods for developing the mind of enlightenment and based on his experience as a meditator and a teacher examines a wide range of obstacles to its development.
The Eye Never Sleeps
The radical challenge of Zen Buddhism is to drop all assumptions and prejudices and experience the truth directly. American Zen teacher Dennis Genpo Merzel brings new life to this ancient wisdom through his commentaries on a classic Chinese Zen scripture, "Verses on Faith-Mind," by the Third Patriarch of Zen, Sosan Zenji. The author strikes to the heart of Zen with clarity and force, expressing in modern terms, to an American audience, the essential wisdom and compassion of Sosan Zenji's famous poem. Full of colorful Zen lore and personal anecdotes from Dennis Genpo Merzel's life, these talks impart the Buddha's teaching directly and intimately, illuminating in simple words the timeless questions and problems of day-to-day life.
Tantric Practice in Nyingma
Rinpoche's commentary on the instructions on the "Preliminaries to the Great Perfection Teaching" contains the classical Nying-ma presentation of the Dzogchen preliminaries and practices that lead to Buddhahood. It is an oral commentary on Patrul Rinboche's Kunzang Lamai Shelung (Words of My Perfect Teacher). "The Recitation of the Preliminaries to the Heart Essence of Vast Openness Illuminating the Good Path to Omniscience" by Jigme Lingpa is included.
The Bodhisattva Vow
Before the Dalai Lama bestows the Bodhisattva vow, he often teaches the short text known as the Twenty Verses on the Bodhisattva Vow by the Indian master Chandragomin. Chandragomin's text discusses some of the most important features regarding the vow, such as from whom it should be taken, how one should prepare for receiving it, what constitutes transgressions of the vow, and how they should be purified. In clear and accessible terms, Geshe Sonam Rinchen explains how to take and then safeguard the Bodhisattva vow.
Rituals of Unity - Study of Li in Confucian Thought
Rituals of Unity - A Study of Li in Confucian ThoughtIn a world where disorder threatens to dissolve the bonds that sustain existence, Rituals of Unity emerges as a bridge between the past and the present. This book unveils the foundations of Confucian thought, presenting a timeless philosophy that transcends eras and resonates with the complexities of the modern world.Each page reveals the depth of wisdom that not only organizes chaos but transforms lives. Confucius, with his unwavering vision, built a foundation based on virtue, rituals, and cosmic harmony. Here, the reader will find a map to understand the secrets of moral order and the transformative power of actions grounded in ethics and just leadership.This is not merely a philosophical study but an invitation to engage with the principles that shape entire societies. Through a holistic and captivating narrative, Rituals of Unity leads to an understanding of how ancient rituals connect with the most universal aspirations: the pursuit of balance, justice, and meaning.By embracing the values proposed in this work, one discovers the connections that align humanity with the transcendent, offering more than answers - a path.
Matrix of Mystery
World-renowned Buddhist scholar Herbert V. Guenther here offers the first comprehensive study of the rDzogs-chen or Ati tradition of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. Matrix of Mystery explores man's ability to preserve as well as transmit essential insights into the structure of reality. Utilizing a key root Buddhist scripture, the Guhyagarbha ("Matrix of Mystery"), along with dozens of commentarial Tibetan textual sources, Guenther presents the most profound teachings of the Buddhist tradition, which represent the culmination of religious thought and practice in Tibet. In relating these teachings in modern scientific and humanistic perspectives, he demonstrates how, in many cases, the traditional religious and modern secular perspectives on the nature of reality interface. Professor Guenther discusses the mandala and the deities that reside therein; the organizing principles of body, speech, mind, quality, and action, the three bodies of the buddha (trikaya); the inseparability of prajna and skillful means; and the complex field of Buddhist iconography. Throughout, quotations from numerous Tibetan sources are used to illustrate various teachings. His book will appeal to any serious student of Tibetan Buddhism.
The Philosophical View of the Great Perfection in the Tibetan Bon Religion
Dzogchen, or the Great Perfection, is considered by both the Bonpos and the followers of the Nyigma school in Tibet to be the culmination of all spiritual teachings. The philosophical view of the Great Perfection introduces the individual to the knowledge of reality, which is one with the enlightened state of all beings. In this book the Dzogchen view is presented in two Bonpo texts belonging to the revered terma (treasure) and oral traditions, here for the first time translated and critically edited in their entirety.
Deepening Zen
From the Foreword, by Daishin Patrick VigilAround 2500 years ago a deeply troubled man sat down under a tree and vowed not to get up until he found the path to liberation. Through that realization, that man became known as the Buddha and his teachings have been passed down over the course of millennia.Mitra Bishop, Roshi has for over 50 years incorporated and practiced those deep teachings in every aspect of her life. She lives each moment in true freedom. Roshi has crafted her messages and teachings with an eye to modern Americans, ordinary people like you and me.... In examining and putting into practice her teachings, offered both in this book and in her first volume...you will nd a true path to ultimate liberation. As Roshi says, "You will become increasingly free, and there is no end to the depths of that freedom." This is her wonderful promise to each of us.ContentsForeword by Daishin Patrick VigilIntroduction by Jan Chozen BaysPreface1. Foundations of the Deepest Zen Practice2. When Anxiety Comes Up in Zen Practice3. The Challenge of Letting Go4. Escape Is Not a Solution5. Jump into the 86 Hells6. Zen Practice and Suppression of Feelings7. Unweaving the Tapestry, Exploring the Mind8. Benefits of Being Honed by Life and Zen Practice9. A Story of Transformation: ACES and Zen10. Struggle and Transformation in Spiritual Practice11. Luminous Transparency and the Rapids of Life12. Nirvana13. A Featureless Map of Zen Practice14. A Sufi Teaching Story15. Fruits of Advanced Zen Practice16. Post Sesshin Advice17. Sensing Your Way Deeper Without a GPSGlossaryGlossary of Kanji TranslationsRecommended ReadingAbout the Author
Composting Our Karma
Engaging teachings on the core Korean Zen practice of "don't-know mind" that encourage us to cultivate and apply a clear mind, improve our intuition, feel naturally at ease, and generate compassionate wisdom to face whatever arises. ​​Barbara Rhodes (Zen Master Soeng Hyang) offers the core Korean Zen teaching of don't-know mind as an antidote to the over-thinking, overly stimulating modern world that is the cause of so much suffering. In this collection of essays, Rhodes shows us that there are ways we can work with, or "compost," whatever we've got in front of us, digest it into energy that can get us through the rough times, and cultivate a satisfying life. "Don't-know mind," Korean Zen's foremost teaching, points to our clear enlightened mind before suffering arises based on concepts and judgments of like and dislike. While simple, it is a lifelong exercise, with immediate benefits that get deeper with practice. By applying don't-know mind to meditation, everyday existence, and life's challenges, readers will learn to work with their own mind's reactions to things; trust their intuition; perceive situations clearly; and act with natural courage, compassion, and enthusiasm. Rhodes offers fascinating insights from her professional life as a nurse; her commitment to engaged Buddhism; her life experience as a member of the LGBTQ community; her use of psychedelics on her spiritual path; and more. Readers will appreciate her down-to-earth wisdom, compassion, enthusiasm, and faith in the power of this practice. This book includes an afterword by Dae Bong Sunim, a guiding teacher at Musangsa Monastery in Korea.
Return with Elixir
A step-by-step guide to reclaiming the soul - Shares four maps for spiritual rebirth based on Joseph Campbell, Carl Jung, Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, and the precession of the equinoxes - Traces the author's journey of rebirth, covering his transformation through a spiritual crisis and the creation of a more meaningful life - Provides visualization practices based on ancient Tibetan wisdom to support you on the path of self-realization Exploring wisdom from mystical traditions and perennial philosophy on "dying before you die," Buddhist psychotherapist Miles Neale shares his own hero's journey of rebirth, providing a detailed roadmap for the pilgrimage through dissolution, into the great mystery, and back again to the world. He shares his transformation through a spiritual crisis and, ultimately, his creation of a more meaningful life. He provides four intersecting maps to help guide readers through the experiential process of metaphoric death, reclaiming the soul, and sharing one's genius with others. These four maps--the cosmological map, psychological map, alchemical map, and mythopoetic map--draw on the mythological stages of Joseph Campbell, Carl Jung's process of individuation, the Tibetan Buddhist alchemy of conscious rebirth, and the astrological phenomenon of the precession of the equinoxes, offering a detailed philosophical underpinning for the soul's journey to immortality. He also provides in-depth visualization practices based on ancient Tibetan wisdom to support you on the path of self-realization. Integrating Tibetan Buddhism with psychology, trauma healing, neuroscience, and mythology, along with profound personal experience, Neale provides a step-by-step manual for spiritual rebirth, revealing how to reframe life's unrelenting challenges and transitions as opportunities for psychological growth.
Guru Rinpoche
The story of Guru Rinpoche's visit to Tibet and significant influence on its Buddhist history during the eighth and ninth centuries, recounted by four prominent Tibetan scholars. This book recounts Guru Rinpoche's historic visit to Tibet and explains his continuing significance to Buddhists. Through a series of historical texts written by prominent Tibetan Buddhist masters, this book recounts the life and legacy of Padmasambhava, The Lotus-Born, better known as Guru Rinpoche. Credited with transmitting Buddhism to Tibet in the 8th century CE during the last century of the Tibetan Empire, Guru Rinpoche fostered radical changes to Tibet, marking historic transformations in the country's religious and political position. Having converted Tibet into a largely Buddhist society, Guru Rinpoche's influence remains a central force in Tibetan identity and practice today. Guru Rinpoche offers an account of his life through four distinct accounts, including: A biography by Jamgon Kongtrul A biography by Dorje Tso from a revelation by Sera Khandro An Indian version of his life by Tarnata The B繹n version of his life by Jamyong Kyentse Wongpo In addition, the book includes a selection of supplications and Buddhist poetry praising the Lotus-Born master, Guru Rinpoche.
The Song of Awakening
The Song of Awakening contains Namgyal Rinpoche's pith instructions on the classical practice of Mindfulness of Death, the practice of meditation in general and the exemplary practice of Mahamudra 'the supreme path of enlightenment'. Included are key teachings and references to various schools of Buddha-Dharma, Judeo-Christianity and the Western Mysteries, as well as modern psychology and philosophy; all disciplines in which he was a master. This transmission, clearly and deftly woven throughout his discourses, retains and reveals the essence of each of them placed in a context relevant for this age. Although more than four decades have passed since Rinpoche first gave these teachings, they remain as fresh and as timeless a guide to liberation as they were when he gave them then.
Records from the Ancestral Mirror
The Zongjing Lu (Records from the Ancestral Mirror) by Chan master Yongming Yanshou (904-976 CE) is an unusual Chan work, for it embraces the entire field of Chinese Buddhism, including Chan. It cites a dizzying array of sources, introducing readers to a comprehensive understanding of the Buddha-dharma. The work is in one hundred fascicles; the present translation is of fascicles 2, 3, & 4. RANDOLPH S. WHITFIELD studied Chinese language and literature at Leiden University. He has translated various Chan works, including the Jingde Chuandeng Lu (Records of the Transmission of the Lamp) in 8 volumes.
Down to Earth Dharma
Buddhist teachings and heart-centered practices from the "feminine paradigm" to embrace receptivity and bring more balance to your life, relationships, and the world. With deeply thoughtful, lyrical prose, this book invites readers to engage with the world from a unique perspective that encourages feeling, intuitive understanding, embodiment, interdependence, and sacredness. Weaving together classical Theravada Buddhist teachings and mindfulness practices, the book teaches us when and how to channel our receptive and active orientations--sometimes called the feminine and masculine paradigms--to feel more at home in ourselves and the world and drop more deeply into the Buddhist teachings on suffering and happiness. Rebecca Bradshaw, a respected Buddhist teacher in the Insight Meditation community, offers teachings that are simple yet require us to explore aspects of ourselves that go against much of our social conditioning that values goal-oriented busyness, productivity, independence, outgoing energy, and other "active" qualities. When overemphasized, this orientation can cause destructive emotions and behaviors, but we can counter them by embracing more receptive qualities. The receptive or feminine paradigm takes us deeper into the heart of the classical Buddhist teachings, leading to openness and freedom of the heart-mind. Bradshaw illustrates her own resistance to letting go of her strong active orientation with relatable stories, like her efforts to be a perfect meditator. Drawing on our connectedness to nature, she offers guidance for grounded practices, including: useless gazing, getting lost, sense-based reality, practicing in the wildness, accepting uncertainty, and more.These Buddhist teachings are as comforting as they are thought-provoking. Bradshaw's debut book helps us let go and nurture our ability to receive, listen, embrace vulnerability, and just be. Through this process, we heal the imbalances within ourselves and in our relationships to all beings and the natural world.
Recovering Confucian Authority
The political and cultural power of Confucianism is nowhere more apparent than in ritual. Confucian-educated officials proficient in Ritual Learning shape the ritual institutions that express dynastic legitimacy. This book follows the workings of Ritual Learning during the first three centuries of the Common Era, a time marked by three dynastic changes and difficult recovery of the ritual order under new regimes. Contrary to common understanding, the Eastern Han is a time of flux, uncertainty, and neglect in Confucian ritual forms, and the following third century is an era when Confucian dominance over imperial ritual crystallized as never before.
New Confucian Horizons
This book offers a reflection on Tu Weiming's legacy and deals with Confucianism and New Confucianism and Tu Weiming's contribution to both of these Chinese philosophical traditions, studies how Confucianism has been received, especially in Asia, and considers Confucianism in connection with contemporary challenges.
