A Calm Place in the Storm
Venerable Lama Karma Thinley Rinpoche (the Fourth Karma Thinleypa) is a recognised master in both the Karma Kagyu and Sakya schools of Tibetan Buddhism. he is one of the handful of remarkable teachers who first helped bring these teachings to the West, settling in Toronto, Canada, where he taught for over fifty years. Here, he distills the essence of the precious Buddhist teachings and path to enlightenment, and skillfully addresses some misconceptions. Dense with meaning and practical advice, like a delicious feast, these teachings provide invaluable support and guidance for the development and ripening of compassion and wisdom.Illustrations by Karma Thinley Rinpoche and Christopher Banigan.
A Calm Place in the Storm
Venerable Lama Karma Thinley Rinpoche (the Fourth Karma Thinleypa) is a recognised master in both the Karma Kagyu and Sakya schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He is one of the handful of remarkable teachers who first helped bring these teachings to the West, settling in Toronto, Canada, where he taught for over fifty years. Here, he distills the essence of the precious Buddhist teachings and path to enlightenment, and skillfully addresses some misconceptions. Dense with meaning and practical advice, like a delicious feast, these teachings provide invaluable support and guidance for the development and ripening of compassion and wisdom.Illustrations by Karma Thinley Rinpoche and Christopher Banigan.
Sakya Pandita
A set of classic biographies of Sakya Pandita--one of Tibet's greatest scholars and religious masters. Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen (1182-1251) was a renowned Tibetan polymath, scholar, statesman, and religious master, and remains one of the most famous and consequential figures in the history of Tibet. The three biographies included here contain fascinating firsthand accounts of key events in Sakya Pandita's life, covering his family ancestry, early education, interactions and ddebates with other sects, and travels to Mongolia and his diplomacy at the Mongol court, as well as a detailed account of the miraculous events that occurred in the last weeks of his life. These were written by three central figures of the Sakya tradition: Drogon Chogyal Phakpa (Lodro Gyaltsen) (1235-80), who was Sakya Pandita's nephew and religious successor; Gorampa Sonam Senge (1429-89), a renowned Sakya scholar and prolific author who served as the sixth abbot of Ngor Monastery; and Jamgon Ameshab (Ngawang Kunga Sonam) (1597-1659), who was the twenty-seventh throne holder of the Sakya order and one of the foremost Tibetan literary and historical scholars of his time. The translations demonstrate the unique compositional style of traditional Tibetan religious biography and contain many fascinating first-person accounts of what it was like to spend time in the presence of a great Buddhist master and statesman who lived one thousand years ago in the midst of one of Asia's most tumultuous periods.
Kalyāṇamitra, volume II
Kalyāṇamitra: A Model for Buddhist Spiritual Care presents research and analysis into the professional practice of Buddhist spiritual care based on the work of actual chaplains. Kalyāṇamitra is one of less than a dozen books about this young but growing profession, and the first to present a -comprehensive theory for Buddhist spiritual care.Kalyāṇamitra, Volume I, presents an overview of Buddhist chaplaincy with a comprehensive theoretical framework and model for Buddhist spiritual care. Together, the framework and model outline the stages of formation of a Buddhist chaplain, provide a heuristic for the praxis of spiritual care, and a guide to grounding Buddhist chaplaincy in the Dharma.Kalyāṇamitra, Volume II, focuses on the development of pragmatic skills through-out the education, training and internship of new Buddhist chaplains, as well as an overview of professional issues facing Buddhist chaplains in North America. Volume II builds on the theoretical framework and model presented in Volume I by placing the skills within their context and advancing a plan for the integration of the framework and model in Buddhist chaplaincy pedagogy.
The Roots of Goodness
Learn to nurture the eight qualities of an extraordinary person within yourself through the wisdom of Zen master Dōgen. The Buddha taught that every person is capable of greatness by practicing eight key qualities in their life, from having few desires and not engaging in useless arguments to knowing what is enough. These timeless teachings were later expanded upon by the prolific thirteenth-century Zen master Eihei Dōgen in his final teaching before his death--values that, despite their age, perennially ring true. In The Roots of Goodness, the late Japanese Zen teacher Kōshō Uchiyama R繹shi bridges the gap between the eras of these ancient masters and today, delivering insightful, relatable, and rich commentary that brings these eight qualities into focus and directly applies them to the complexities of modern life. Translator Daitsū Tom Wright, a longtime student of Uchiyama, provides a full translation of Dōgen's original work as well as a faithful translation of Uchiyama's commentary, supplemented with a historical background of Dōgen, an exploration of how the teaching of the eight qualities impacted Uchiyama's life and work, and a personal introduction that grounds the importance of this teaching in modernity. This book seamlessly weaves together ancient wisdom with Uchiyama's beloved humor and style, offering a path for using these qualities to more fully embrace Buddhist practice and answer the age-old question: How does one become a truly good person?
Full Circle
Full Circle is a selection of spiritual talks on collective awakening from a Zen perspective. The talks were given by Anne Seisen Saunders, Roshi at Sweetwater Zen Center over a period of five years until 2024.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dhammapada, a collection of verses; being one of the canonical books of the Buddhists
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.
The Fundamental Practices
A wise and warm guide to the preliminary practices that lay the fundamental groundwork for traversing the path to buddhahood. When we start on the transformational journey to enlightenment, we need a strong foundation in core Buddhist principles and practices to set us on the right track. The ngondro, or preliminary practices, are that very foundation; they not only prepare us for advanced practice but serve us in all we do. In this guide to the common and uncommon preliminary practices, His Holiness the Forty-Second Sakya Trizin, Ratna Vajra Rinpoche, expertly gives us the grounded, practical, and illuminating teachings we need to set out on the path to buddhahood. Newcomers and seasoned practitioners alike will find practical guidance and profound wisdom to support them through their exploration of the preliminary practices. The common preliminary practices are the four thoughts that turn the mind away from the suffering of samsara and toward the Dharma: remembering the shortcomings of samsara, remembering the preciousness of a human rebirth, remembering impermanence, and remembering the law of karma. These teachings are shared among traditions and will accompany us all the way to buddhahood. The five uncommon preliminary practices are core to further Mahayana and Vajrayana practice: going for refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha; developing bodhichitta, the enlightened mind; Vajrasattva practice, which clears negative karma; mandala offering, which will help us accumulate merit; and guru yoga, which facilitates our realization of the nature of mind. By using this guide, we can develop a deeper understanding of what Dharma practice truly encompasses and how we can authentically engage in it. His Holiness the Forty-Second Sakya Trizin invites us to appreciate the profound significance of these preliminary practices and experience the transformative benefits they offer--for both ourselves and all sentient beings.
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.
