A Garland of Immortal Wish-Fulfilling Trees
A comprehensive explanation of the extraordinary Palyul tradition in which the Mahamudra ("Great Seal") and Dzogchen ("Great Perfection") traditions and the kama and terma lineages are joined together Palyul Namgyal Changchub Ch繹ling, one the six Great Secret Nyingmapa mother monasteries in Tibet, has for centuries upheld the extraordinary non-dual teachings of the Great Seal and Great Perfection traditions. Featuring captivating portraits of the Palyul lineage's throne holders, along with its history and continued preservation, A Garland of Immortal Wish-Fulfilling Trees traces the succession of the tradition's leaders and reveals the source of its dharma lineage found in kama, terma, and pure vision. It also includes: An introduction to the Palyul tradition by Penor RinpocheBiographies of Karma Chagmed Rinpoche and Vidyadhara Migyur DorjeAnd appendices detailing the Nyingma tradition and the major and minor branch monasteries of the mother Palyul
Approaching Enlightenment
Ritual is the area of Buddhist practice that receives the least amount of attention. This book is for both sceptical and enquiring practitioners. Combining research in psychology and cultural studies and the author's own practice, Bodhidasa draws out the liberatory potential of Buddhist ritual. More than a book 'about' Buddhist ritual, this is a personal guide to assist the reader to move more deeply 'into' its practice and benefit from its fruits. 'Bodhidasa invites us to awaken our imaginations and to see the world as a magician might in this delightfully unpretentious book. He skilfully shows us how, far from being extraneous to the Buddhist path, ritual lies at its heart - because it lies at the heart of human life itself.' - Subhadramati, a member of the ordination team at Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre and author of Not About Being Good'I can't think of anyone more on fire with the magic of ritual than Bodhidasa. Bodhidasa's own devotion shows in this always surprising, wonderful book. It will lead anyone who's curious, sceptical, or passionate about ritual to a better understanding of what it's really all about - in heart and in mind.'Candradasa, author of Buddhism for Teens and founder of Free Buddhist Audio and The Buddhist Centre Online'Do devotional practice and ritual have any place in the life of a modern Buddhist? Straight from the heart, Bodhidasa offers an overview of the territory and, above all, the challenge all Buddhists face: to find emotional equivalents for their intellectual understanding.'Nagabodhi, author of Sangharakshita: The Boy, the Monk, the Man'Bodhidasa succeeds in writing both for the newcomer to ritual as well as the old hand: responding to the questions we inevitably ask ourselves - but are sometimes afraid to ask aloud - and offering fresh insights in equal measure. With wit, intimate knowledge of the terrain, and a vivid imagination, he makes a compelling case for ritual as a path to Enlightenment.'Prajnaketu, author of Cyberloka: A Buddhist Guide to Digital Life
Hard Zen, Soft Heart
Most of us live our whole lives either in the past or in the world of future expectations. We become the puppets of automatic reactions created by past experience, and while we continue to hope and dream of a better future, somehow we end up in the same old muddle.Yet life becomes an endless meditation when we make a conscious decision to live in the present. Every act becomes a reality."Hard Zen, Soft Heart" teaches you how to acknowledge and change styles of reactive behavior which are no longer useful so you can live in the endless meditation of the present.This Is The Afterlife. So What Are You Waiting For?
Psalms of the Sisters
Psalms of the Sisters delves into the voices of early Buddhist nuns through translated verses that capture their spiritual journeys, struggles, and triumphs. This work shines a light on the Therigatha, an ancient Buddhist text, revealing the profound insights and personal reflections of women who sought enlightenment over two millennia ago. Caroline A. F. Rhys Davids expertly presents these poems, highlighting themes of liberation, resilience, and the pursuit of wisdom. By exploring the inner lives of these remarkable women, the book offers a rare glimpse into the early Buddhist world and its transformative impact on female spirituality. Psalms of the Sisters is a compelling exploration of faith, freedom, and the enduring strength of women on the path to spiritual awakening.
Is Reality Beyond Good and Evil?
Illuminates the debate on the nature of virtue and ultimate reality Tibetan Buddhist thinkers agree that, on the most fundamental level, our nature is pure. What exactly that ultimate nature is, however, remains the subject of debate. Yaroslav Komarovski's new book appraises how divergent understandings of the ultimate nature by Tibetan thinkers, including ideas informed by two conflicting yet complementary systems of Buddhist thought--Yogācāra and Madhyamaka--affect their diverse approaches to understanding virtue, and how their understandings of virtue in turn relate to their approaches to the Buddhist thought and practice. Tracing the origins of the polemics on ultimate virtue back to the Indian texts and writings of early Tibetan thinkers, Komarovski focuses chiefly on the works of the two seminal thinkers of the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, Serdok Penchen Shakya Chokden (1428-1507) and Gowo Rapjampa S繹nam Sengg矇 (1429-1489), and offers both a learned summary of a historical controversy and a modern commentary on this vital debate.
Feminine Ground
Six Western women scholars and practitioners explore issues of women and the feminine in Tibet. These critical and provocative essays discuss female role models, the nun's life, and gender and role identity as these manifested in Tibet. Contributors include Jan Willis, Rita Gross, Janet Gyatso, Miranda Shaw, Barbara Aziz, and Karma Lekshe Tsomo.
Confucian Feminism
In Confucian Feminism Li-Hsiang Lisa Rosenlee expands the theoretical horizons of feminism by using characteristic Confucian terms, methods, and concerns to interrogate the issue of gender oppression and liberation. With its theoretical roots in the Confucian textual tradition, this is the first re-imagining of Confucianism that enriches, and is enriched by, feminism. Incorporating distinctive Confucian conceptual tools such as ren (benevolent governance), xiao (filial care), you (friendship), li (ritual), and datong (great community), Rosenlee creates an ethic of care that is feminist and Confucian. At the same time she confronts the issue of gender inequity in Confucian thought. Her hybrid feminist theory not only broadens the range of feminist understandings of the roots of gender oppression, but opens up what we believe constitutes gender liberation for women transnationally and transculturally. Here is a practical ethic that uses Confucianism to navigate the contours of inequality in everyday life.
A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms
Embark on an extraordinary journey with Faxian, a Chinese Buddhist monk whose pilgrimage in search of sacred Buddhist scriptures took him across Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka between 399 and 412 AD.In A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms, Faxian meticulously documents his travels, offering a rare glimpse into early Buddhism, and the geographical and cultural landscapes of numerous regions along the Silk Roads at the dawn of the 5th century. His narrative is a treasure trove of historical insights and a testament to the spiritual fervor and scholarly dedication that drove him.Through his vivid descriptions and keen observations, readers gain an unparalleled understanding of the religious, cultural, and social milieus of ancient Buddhist kingdoms. This work stands as one of the world's greatest travelogues, enriching our knowledge of Buddhism's early development and the interconnectedness of ancient civilizations.
Daily Fragrance of the Lotus Flower, Vol. 15 (2006)
Daily Fragrance of the Lotus Flower is a multi-volume collection of teachings by Buddhist master Ji Kwang, the Supreme Matriarch of the Lotus Sangha of World Social Buddhism. Since 1992, these teachings have been offered daily as "Dharma food," or spiritual sustenance, for anyone striving to attain peace of mind in their families and workplaces. Deftly integrating personal concerns with social issues, Great Dharma Master Ji Kwang's teachings simply and yet powerfully express both the meaning of and the means to realizing enlightening relationships in the midst of the complex and challenging world of the 21st century. Each annual volume is a luminous treasury of daily guidance from a spiritual master to her students and to all who would work out from within their present situation to bring about world peace. About the Author: Ji Kwang, Dae Poep Sa Nim ("Great Dharma Master"), is the Chung Chong or Supreme Matriarch of the Yun Hwa Denomination/Lotus Sangha of World Social Buddhism, which has centers in the United States and Europe. Born in Korea in 1946, she has been training in Buddhism since she was twelve, and is one of the very few women to be recognized as an enlightened master in Korean Buddhist history. She now resides at the Lotus Buddhist Monastery in Hawaii.
Selected Sutras from Sutta Pitaka
This book presents a new translation of seven sutras from Sutta Pitaka, including the first three discourses of Buddha, with emphasis on practices outlined in them. A vocabulary of technical terms included.
The Principal Teachings of Buddhism
The entire teachings of Buddhism explained in a few short pages by the greatest Buddhist master of ancient Middle Asia.The spread of the teaching of Gautama Buddha began in India over twothousand years ago and reached perhaps its highest peak in the hidden mountain kingdom of Tibet, five centuries before our time. The great illuminary of this renaissance of the religion of total peace was Tsongkapa (1357-1419). He inspired a movement that at its height saw nearly a million monks and nuns living in thousands of cloisters around the country.Tsongkapa was the greatest commentator in the history of Buddhism and wrote some 10,000 pages in eloquent explanation of the entire range of the ancient Buddhist classics. He undertook the challenge of compressing all this knowledge into a single poem. The result was his famous Three Principal Paths, fourteen verses written for a favored student in a faraway land.Tsongkapa's masterpiece appears here with a commentary by the illustrious Pabongka Rinpoche (1878-1941), generally regarded as the foremost Tibetan teacher of Buddhism during the last century. The work has been translated by Geshe Lobsang Tharchin, one of the last Buddhist masters of old Tibet. The cover shows a statue of Tsongkapa known as "Looks Like Me," named from Tsongkapa's comment at the unveiling of the image. Theoriginal stood in the great Jokang Temple of Lhasa, Tibet, and was destroyed.
A Journey to the East
The author left Canada as a twenty-one-year-old university student in 1971, intending to search for the truth of life in India. His travels took him across Europe and Asia and around the Indian heartland but eventually led to Kyoto, where he became the first foreigner to enter Myōshinji, one of Japan's oldest and strictest Zen monasteries. The dialogue includes a description of his struggle to solve the Zen kōan "the sound of one hand" and his decision after nine years of training to leave the monastery for a new life in Nagasaki, where he continues to reside today. The chapters are organized according to the Ten Ox Herding Pictures. Quote from A Journey to the East: "Life is just like walking backwards: you can see the path already taken, but you have no idea what telephone pole or garbage can you might crash into next."
A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism
Amid stress, anxiety, and life's challenges, Buddhism offers a path that can meet them fearlessly with awareness, compassion, and wisdom. This core resource for Buddhist practice offers accessible teachings for beginners or for anyone ready to explore meditation more deeply. Buddhism is rooted in the simple idea that you can train your mind to suffer less and flourish more. In this experiential guide, Cortland Dahl will take you on a journey through the core principles and meditation practices of the Buddhist tradition. The journey begins with teachings on the Four Noble Truths, practical observations that will help you understand the causes of unhappiness, and how you can access inner calm and deep insight through meditation. The journey continues with teachings on compassion, buddha nature, and the profound principle of emptiness, before culminating in a discussion of meditation practices that use common experiences like dreams and strong emotions to awaken. Through accessible teachings and relatable stories, you will learn simple methods to transform your mind and embrace true, unshakeable happiness.
Paranormal States
A number of converts to Buddhism report paranormal experiences. Their accounts describe psychic abilities like clairvoyance and precognition, out-of-body experiences, near-death experiences, and encounters with other beings such as ghosts and deities, and they often interpret these events through a specifically Buddhist lens. This book is a groundbreaking exploration of these phenomena and their implications for both humanistic and scientific study of the paranormal. D. E. Osto examines accounts of paranormal phenomena experienced by convert Buddhists from around the world collected through an online survey and interviews, placing them in the context of Indian Buddhist sources and recent scientific research. They focus in detail on the life stories of two interviewees and the important role the paranormal has played in their lives. These contemporary first-person narratives demonstrate the continued importance of the psychic and paranormal within the Buddhist tradition, and they can be interpreted as a living Buddhist folklore. Osto considers the limitations of both traditional religious views and Western scientific studies of the paranormal and proposes instead a new Buddhist phenomenological approach. Ultimately, Paranormal States contends, these deeply mysterious and extraordinary experiences exceed current understandings--and they can help bridge the gap between religious and scientific worldviews.
Meditation for Modern Madness
You are already enlightened. You don't need to get enlightened again or to make your enlightenment better. It's not something you have to create or believe in. You just need to recognize who you already are. Dzogchen is an ancient Tibetan tradition that is perfect for countering the stress of our modern lives. A simple and quick method, Dzogchen is practical and direct, and open to us all--you simply need to recognize the great potential that is naturally born within everyone. In his highly anticipated first book, the Seventh Dzogchen Rinpoche, Jigme Losel Wangpo, shows us how our everyday lives can be turned into spiritual practice--not only to ease our stress, but to allow the true nature of our minds to reveal itself, right now, on the spot. The Dzogchen view is the highest view, the view from the top of the mountain. We need to build a platform that will hold the view, and Dzogchen Rinpoche provides the meditations and advice for living that will help you do just that. In turn, you'll find true peace in a mind at rest.
Paranormal States
A number of converts to Buddhism report paranormal experiences. Their accounts describe psychic abilities like clairvoyance and precognition, out-of-body experiences, near-death experiences, and encounters with other beings such as ghosts and deities, and they often interpret these events through a specifically Buddhist lens. This book is a groundbreaking exploration of these phenomena and their implications for both humanistic and scientific study of the paranormal. D. E. Osto examines accounts of paranormal phenomena experienced by convert Buddhists from around the world collected through an online survey and interviews, placing them in the context of Indian Buddhist sources and recent scientific research. They focus in detail on the life stories of two interviewees and the important role the paranormal has played in their lives. These contemporary first-person narratives demonstrate the continued importance of the psychic and paranormal within the Buddhist tradition, and they can be interpreted as a living Buddhist folklore. Osto considers the limitations of both traditional religious views and Western scientific studies of the paranormal and proposes instead a new Buddhist phenomenological approach. Ultimately, Paranormal States contends, these deeply mysterious and extraordinary experiences exceed current understandings--and they can help bridge the gap between religious and scientific worldviews.
Minor Majesties
Minor Majesties studies the small ancient kingdom of Paluvūr, a town located on the northern bank of the Kāvēri river, about 30 kilometers north of Tanjavur. Between the ninth and the eleventh centuries C.E., Paluvūr was the capital of the dynasty of the Paluvēṭṭaraiyars, a minor dynasty of "little kings" who swore allegiance to the Cōla dynasty. Today, Paluvūr is divided in two distinct villages, Kīlappaluvūr and Mēlappaluvūr, and four temples dedicated to the god Śiva built during the reign of the little kings remain standing. In Minor Majesties, author Val矇rie Gillet surveys, translates, and analyzes 136 Tamil transcriptions spread across these temples, scrutinizing in depth each one's materiality, location, and epigraphy for the first time. Through these analyses, Gillet brings forth a better understanding of the functioning of the minor dynasty of the Paluvēṭṭaraiyars whose little kings often appear in the inscriptions of the temples, as well as the interactions between the temples and their patronizing communities. The small size of Paluvūr with its hub of still-standing monuments permits an exceptionally clear overview of the possible relations between distinct temples, allowing readers to unpick complexities related to temple sponsorship, organisation, and functioning. The study of Paluvūr also reveals how these religious monuments-accruing wealth but, in exchange, enabling donors to accrue merit and power-became a place for the fabrication of political discourses and powers, specific social configurations, and religious practices.?
The Free Mind
Reduce the distractions, clutter, and anxiety of your digital lifestyle and achieve inner and outer harmony with mind training practices, meditations, and advice from a Tibetan Buddhist master. This book offers a refreshing approach to understanding the role of digital technology in our world and how we can better manage our relationship to it. Our engagement with digital devices connects us to people and ideas, but it also causes anxiety, distraction, imbalance, and suffering. Rather than a digital detox, we can train our minds to leverage our negative habits and digital temptations to deal with life more effectively, improve our attention span, reduce mental fatigue, and deepen our happiness. Dza Kilung Rinpoche, a respected contemporary Tibetan Buddhist teacher and author of The Relaxed Mind, skillfully addresses these widespread issues in modern life geared toward a wide audience. In twelve short chapters, he offers straightforward strategies and tools to clear away the distractive clutter that prevents us from living fully and with clarity. The book also explores deeper issues like the nature of wisdom, question of karma, and importance of lovingkindness and compassion. The practices and meditations in this book will appeal to anyone who suffers from a distracted "monkey mind." By calming our minds, we can clearly see the sources of our inner and outer problems and begin to work on them for the benefit of ourselves, others, and the earth.
Selected Sutras from Sutta Pitaka
This book presents a new translation of seven sutras from Sutta Pitaka, including the first three discources of Buddha, with emphasis on practices outlined in them. A vocabulary of technical terms included.
Working with Anger
A Tibetan Buddhist nun offers her insights on anger, the ways that it manifests in our lives, and the ways that we can skillfully work to transform it, in this inspiring and humble guidebook. Anger plagues all of us on many levels and can be a formidable emotion to overcome. Yet, we see people, such as the Dalai Lama, who have faced circumstances far worse than many of us have faced--including exile, persecution, and the loss of many loved ones--but do not burn with rage or seek revenge. Using the teachings and advice presented by beloved Buddhist teacher Thubten Chodron, anyone can learn to calm their emotions, sit with and understand their anger, and peacefully move toward resolution and peace. Working with Anger presents a variety of Buddhist methods for subduing and preventing anger--not by changing what is happening but by framing our feelings and circumstances anew. As Chodron writes, we each long for harmony--in our hearts, relationships, and societies--and this book can help all of us to accomplish just that.
The Essential Guide to Buddhism
Beginning with an overview of Buddhism, this book explores the religion'sorigins in northern India and Nepal, through to its development and spreadacross Asia, to its vibrant and sometimes contradictory present.Key topics explored in the study of Buddhism, include rituals and its scriptures, meditation and monasticism, death and the afterlife, along with contemporary issues such as Buddhism and economics.Over 70 illustrations are included throughout and each chapter contains suggested further reading and a glossary of key terms and concepts.The chapters in this book were first published in the digital collection Bloomsbury Religion in North America. Covering North America's diverse religious traditions, this digital collection provides reliable and peer-reviewed articles and ebooks for students and instructors. Learn more and get access for your library atwww.theologyandreligiononline.com/bloomsbury-religion-in-north-america
The Bodhisattva's Practice of Moral Virtue
"The Bodhisattva's Practice of Moral Virtue" consists of Bhikshu Dharmamitra's translation from Sino-Buddhist Classical Chinese of "The Brahmā's Net Bodhisattva Precepts," "The Semi-monthly Bodhisattva Precepts Recitation Ceremony," and a selection from Ārya Nāgārjuna's "Exegesis on the Mahāpraj簽ā-pāramitā Sutra" called "The Perfection of Moral Virtue." These translations are presented with facing-page Chinese text on the verso page. The two main works contained in this book were originally translated from Sanskrit into Chinese by Tripiṭaka Master Kumārajīva between 402 and 406 ce.
Routledge Handbook of Theravāda Buddhism
Among one of the older subfields in Buddhist Studies, the study of Theravāda Buddhism is undergoing a revival by contemporary scholars who are revising long-held conventional views of the tradition while undertaking new approaches and engaging new subject matter. The term Theravāda has been refined, and research has expanded beyond the analysis of canonical texts to examine contemporary cultural forms, social movements linked with meditation practices, material culture, and vernacular language texts. The Routledge Handbook of Theravāda Buddhism illustrates the growth and new directions of scholarship in the study of Theravāda Buddhism and is structured in four parts: Ideas/Ideals Practices/Persons Texts/Teachings Images/Imaginations Owing largely to the continued vitality of Theravāda Buddhist communities in countries like Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, as well as in diaspora communities across the globe, traditions associated with what is commonly (and fairly recently) called Theravāda attract considerable attention from scholars and practitioners around the world. An in-depth guide to the distinctive features of Theravāda, the Handbook will be an invaluable resource for providing structure and guidance for scholars and students of Asian Religion, Buddhism and, in particular, Theravāda Buddhism. The introduction and chapter 20 of this book are available for free in PDF format as Open Access from the individual product page at www.routledge.com. It has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.
The Natural Openness and Freedom of the Mind
This second volume of the collected works of the modern Tibetan master Khangsar Tenpa'i Wangchuk is the root text and commentary on the Dzogchen tantra called The Natural Openness and Freedom of the Mind, a verse text on the direct practices to realize the nature of mind taught within the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. This is a modern commentary on a Dzogchen tantra titled The Natural Freedom and Openness of the Mind, covering the practices of trekcho, thogal, and bardo. This tantra is a mind terma, or treasure, of the early modern terton, or treasure revealer, Deshek Lingpa (1842-1907), and incarnation of Yudra Nyingpo, a student of Yeshe Tsogyal, preeminent female consort of Padmasambhava, through whom the transmission lineage of this teaching is said to descend. The commentary presents the approach to enlightenment taught in this tradition. These instructions are considered advanced and secret, to be taught only to those who have received transmission from a qualified master. For the curious reader outside of the tradition, this book offers a clear and concise introduction to way the Nyingma tradition frames Buddhist cosmology, mind, liberation, and prayer.
The 88 Temples of Shikoku
This guidebook has been written for travelers and pilgrims who intend to visit some of the the 88 temples of Shikoku, or maybe even plan to walk the entire pilgrimage. In addition to the history of the temples, it covers in detail the routes between the temples and provides additional information on how to organize the pilgrimage and adds cultural and historic background. In addition to this guidebook, there are also supplements available for easier planning of the pilgrimage on foot, by bicycle or by public transportation.
AHIMSA, Buddhism and the Vegetarian Ideal
Ahiṃsā means 'harmlessness' - carried out in thought, word or deed. A major precept of Buddhists of all denominations is to practise harmlessness. Such activity is not supposed to be theory, but a practical fact - a sacred pledge (samaya) - integrated into the fibre of one's every mode of conduct on the path to enlightenment and liberation from saṃsāra.This text elaborates that all good intent along this line falls flat in the light of the practise condoned by many Buddhists of meat consumption. Harm is caused to the animal butchered, to the consumers of the flesh, and to the environment we live in. It is also a decidedly gross act of adharma (not-dharma) to all in the society wherein the Buddhist practitioner that consumes animal products resides.It is time that Buddhists heartily spurn all considerations of meat toxins in their bodily environments, to actively espouse the cause of true harmlessness in all that they do; and to act as Bodhisattvas by teaching all how to be compassionate through not killing or harming their animal brethren.The reasons are clear of the way to be truly compassionate, as all Buddhists should be. Read, learn, and observe your true motives in everything you do. Desist from harmful actions, and thereby grow and become Bodhisattvas and Buddas at the end of it all.
Quantum Life Buddhism - Threefold Lotus Dharma Sutra
A fully annotated and revised translation of the Three Sutras comprising the Prologue, the Lotus Dharma Sutra, and the Epilogue of the Threefold Lotus Sutra. Annotated in order to fuse and represent the scholarship of Bodhisattva Nichiren's elucidations, insights, and doctrines as well as the removal of centuries of personal and organizational bias from translators' cultures, religions, and misinterpretations of Buddhism's tenets.
A Buddhist Deception
Innumerable human beings have been lulled into and imprisoned by beliefs and dogmas and assumptions of religions, sects, false philosophies and other world-views, by which they lose their striving and consequently, the seeking, the intuiting, the investigating and the evolving. Without any exception though, only human beings who were unstable and are unstable fell for and fall for a belief and dogmas and assumptions of false philosophies, religions and sects and world-views......... ...... Nonetheless, however, the modern times as well bring visible change with regard to the recognition of the truth. The truly rational ones and the ones attempting to think logically, those who are effectively searching for the truthful truth, those, who are willing to acknowledge and follow the Creational laws and recommendations, they have become stronger and more in number, despite of all mendacious and misleading sects, religions, false philosophies and other irrational world-views. The number of truthly truth-seekers is growing and growing, even though when they are being hounded by misguiding sects of all hues and from other false thinkers. .........
The Essential Buddhadhamma
An abridged translation of one of the most important books on Theravada Buddhism in recent history--authored by the esteemed Thai monk P. A. Payutto. First published in Thailand in 1971 and since then expanded and revised multiple times, Bhikkhu P. A. Payutto's Buddhadhamma is widely considered to be one of the most significant scholarly works on the Buddhism of the Pali canon produced in the last century. In this abridged translation, Bruce Evans presents the core of Ven. Payutto's monumental scholarship, creating an ideal manual for anyone walking or studying the Theravada Buddhist path. Within are discussions of unparalleled sophistication on such foundational Buddhist teachings as the five khandhas, dependent arising, kamma, the noble eightfold path, spiritual friendship, wise attention, the four noble truths, the nature of enlightenment, and more. Replete with passages from the ancient Pali suttas, Payutto frames Buddhist teachings in terms of broad existential questions that all of us face, such as "What is life?" and "How should life be lived?" Payutto's illuminating expertise shows Theravada Buddhism to be a thorough explication of how reality unfolds according to natural processes--as well as a way of life that can yield the highest form of happiness.
A Holistic Lemma Science of Mind
Nakazawa connects Buddhist philosophy with modern sciences such as psychology, quantum theory, and mathematics, as well as linguistics and the arts to present a perspective on understanding the mind in a world built on interconnection and networks of relations.
Buddhism, Cognitive Science, and the Doctrine of Selflessness
This book examines the relationship between Buddhist philosophy and scientific psychology by focusing on the doctrine of No-self. A novel contribution to the study of Buddhist Philosophy, the book will also be of interest to scholars of Buddhist Studies and Asian Religions.
Buddha of Infinite Light
Shin is the uniquely Japanese flowering of the type of Buddhism known as "Pure Land." It originated in the thirteenth century with the charismatic and prophetic figure Shinran (1172-1263), whose interpretation of the traditional Pure Land teachings was extremely influential in his own lifetime and remain so today. In a period when Japanese Buddhism was dominated by an elitist monastic establishment, Shinran's Shin teaching became a way of liberation for all people, regardless of age, class, or gender. Although Shin is one of Japan's greatest religious contributions--and is still the most widely practiced form of Buddhism in Japan--it remains little known in the West. In this book, based on several lectures he gave in the 1950s, D. T. Suzuki illuminates the deep meaning of Shin and its rich archetypal imagery, providing a scholarly and affectionate introduction to this sometimes misunderstood tradition of Buddhist practice.
Grow Your Own Happiness
Do you feel happiness is difficult to attain? Are you stuck in repetitive negative patterns? Are you feeling dissatisfied with life? Feel you have little to be grateful for? In "Growing Your Own Happiness," delve into the timeless wisdom of Buddhism to cultivate a life filled with inner peace, contentment, and authentic joy. Drawing from traditional teachings and contemporary practices, this enlightening book offers practical steps to transform your daily life. Whether you're new to Buddhism or a seasoned practitioner, you'll discover powerful techniques to nurture mindfulness, compassion, and gratitude while dealing with life's ups and downs, problems, and pain. Through inspiring stories, insightful reflections, and hands-on exercises, learn how to plant the seeds of happiness within yourself and watch them flourish, creating a sanctuary of wisdom and compassion in a turbulent world. Embrace the journey to true happiness and unlock the profound peace that lies within. Start the cultivation process today!
The Buddha’s Teachings
The aim of this book is to share the knowledge of Buddha's teachings with the reader. In doing so, this book seeks to explain the key themes related to enlightenment to the readers in a simple manner. In addition, I combine the theoretical knowledge from the Canon with my penetrated knowledge to provide a guide to the reader about what enlightenment is and how to attain enlightenment in a simple manner. The focus of this book is twofold. Firstly, it aims to provide an overview of what enlightenment is based on a literature review of the selected Suttas from the Sutta Pitaka of Pali Canon. Secondly, it aims to provide practical tips on how to attain enlightenment based on the insight knowledge that I gained during the process of my enlightenment experience. Overall, the book provides valuable information related to enlightenment based on Buddha's teachings.
Love in Action, Second Edition
Be inspired by 21 key writings on nonviolence and reconciliation by Vietnamese peace activist and refugee advocate Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh "The essence of nonviolence is love," Thich Nhat Hanh says. "Out of love and the willingness to act selflessly, strategies, tactics, and techniques for a nonviolent struggle arise naturally." Collecting essays written by Thich Nhat Hanh at crucial moments of social transformation, Love in Action is an important resource for anyone engaged in social work, community organizing, political action, and cause-oriented movements. Reflecting on the devastation of war, Thich Nhat Hanh makes the strong argument that ethics and altruistic love based on mindfulness and insight are the only truly sustainable bases for political action. Having played a central role in the Buddhist nonviolent movement for peace in Vietnam during the 1960s and serving as Chair of the Buddhist Peace delegation to the Paris Peace Accords in 1973, Thich Nhat Hanh speaks with the voice of experience: "There is no way to peace. Peace is the way."Together with essays on the connections between outer engagement and the inner work for peace, this anthology also features poetry and the script of the hauntingly beautiful 1972 play, The Path of Return Continues the Journey. The play's characters are drawn from the author's own life, the young men and women of his School of Youth for Social Service--many of whom were killed for their social actions. "At 12:30 a.m. on July 5, 1967, in the village of Binh Phuoc, Gia Dinh Province, a group of strangers abducted five young men, brought them to the bank of the Saigon River, and shot them," reports Thich Nhat Hanh. "All five were volunteer workers in the School of Youth for Social Service, a nonviolent organization that sought only to heal the wounds of war and reconstruct the villages." An elegy and a prayer for peace, the script shows a less-known side of the young Thich Nhat Hanh: grieving, profoundly in touch with his sorrow and pain, and channeling his anguish into art, inspired by love.
Nibbana
The teachings beyond ordinary views of Dhamma are rare, and those who wish to pursue the disciple route to reach a Stream Entry and gain benefit for themselves will need to reflect wisely and understand the teachings beyond ordinary views. Those who will hear and will practice Dhamma beyond common ways will gain a precious opportunity to enter the Stream-entry state, to develop higher knowledge, and to enter into Nibbana. Consequently, they will be able to stop experiencing stress and samsara for themselves.The easiest way to develop vision leading to Nibbana is hearing Dhamma from someone who has already developed right understanding across four stages of Nibbana. Nibbana that is hard to see can be seen for those who develop internal qualities and wisdom to see dhamma beyond ordinary views.The purpose of this book is to clarify the teachings of Buddha leading to Nibbana beyond common views. Such clarification will be helpful for practitioners to develop an understanding of Nibbana beyond common views to develop an understanding of a Stream Winner.
Loving Life as It Is
Practical Buddhist wisdom and mindful methods for finding the silver lining in all circumstances--from a remarkable new voice in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Chakung Jigme Wangdrak gives concrete advice on how to reorient your thinking when faced with the challenges, mess, and chaos that inevitably occur in life. By embracing pain and suffering, you can learn to see their roots, begin to work with them, and eventually let them go. This will create joy and ease, allowing you to fully savor happiness. In clear language, Jigme Wangdrak conveys the steps, stages, and categories of mental exercises and methods that everyone--from beginner to experienced practitioner and non-Buddhists--can use to train their mind toward happiness: Take happiness and suffering as the pathCultivate courage, gratitude, and compassionPractice contentment (not complacency)Recognize outer and inner obstacles when faced with challenging situationsDispel self-grasping to reduce suffering Develop patience and toleranceA true Buddhist master and unique lineage holder, Jigme Wangdrak offers a roadmap to freedom with teachings that will benefit your spiritual practice and daily life--he shows you how to love your life as it already is!
Gender and Salvation
Is a total renunciation of clothing a prerequisite to attaining spiritual liberation? In Gender and Salvation, Padmanabh S. Jaini brings to light previously untranslated texts centering on a centuries-old debate between the two principal Jaina sects, the Digambaras and the Svetambaras. At the core of the debate is the question of whether gender-based differences of biology and life experience shape or limit an individual's ability to accomplish the ultimate religious goal. For the Digambaras, the example of total nudity set by Mahavira (599-527 B.C.), the central spiritual figure of Jainism, mandates an identical practice for all who aspire to the highest levels of religious attainment. For the Svetambaras, the renunciation occurs purely on an internal level and is neither affected nor confirmed by the absence of clothes. Both sects agree, however, that nudity is not permitted for women under any circumstances. The Digambaras, therefore, believe that women cannot attain salvation, while the Svetambaras believe they can. Through their analysis of this dilemma, the Jaina thinkers whose texts are translated here demonstrate a level of insight into the material and spiritual constraints on women that transcends the particular question of salvation and relates directly to current debates on the effects of gender in our own society. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1991.
The Healing Buddha
This book presents important discourses that deal with the Healing Buddha in his various manifestations and discusses the many symbols, colors, and deities that are used as objects of meditation. The accompanying photographs of sculptures, paintings, and mandalas demonstrate the importance of art and aesthetic experience in Buddhist healing practices. Also included is a history of healing in the development of Buddhism from the earliest texts and the famous Lotus Sutra to the Buddhism of Tibet, where elaborate ritual is used in the healing of body and mind. Some of the many herbs and medicines used to treat disease in the Buddhist cultures of Asia are described in an appendix. A new preface and a new essay on the search for long life in Chinese Buddhism have been added to this revised edition.
Alternative Beginnings and Endings of All Things
A relentless inquiry into the challenges of: 1) practicing Buddhism during encounters with strange events and hostile behaviors, 2) interacting with people in complex situations that sometimes have criminal implications and at other times definitely involve criminal behavior, and 3) sexuality. This includes deep analysis both of general categories of how events can unfold and of specific instances in the life experiences of specific individuals, organizations, institutions, and governments. Repeatedly, international, intercultural, and pressure-situation themes transform into many shocking varieties. The rights of the accused, the rights of the accusers, justice, equity, opportunities, threats, and the rights to stand up for liberty are several of the major themes.
Dependent Origination in Plain English
In his famously accessible language, the author of Mindfulness in Plain English unpacks the foundational Buddhist theory of dependent origination, showing the reader how by eliminating ignorance we can eliminate suffering. Nothing happens by accident. All things, no matter how mundane or meaningful, arise based on causes and conditions. And without those causes and conditions they would not arise at all. This, in short, is the Buddha's teaching of dependent origination. Embedded in this fundamental theory are central teachings such as nonself, impermanence, and the four noble truths. And from it we can see for ourselves how suffering and rebirth, the great problems lying at the heart of the dhamma, arise--and how they pass away. In Dependent Origination in Plain English, the venerable scholar-monk Bhante Gunaratana and his student Veronique Ziegler break down this keystone Buddhist teaching from the Pali canon into its core components, guiding the reader step by step from ignorance to suffering and its end. The process leading to future rebirths may seem far off, but it's not some distant event. It's happening now, with every breath you take.
On the Edges of Sleep
"Revelatory and therapeutic...a must-read for those impacted by war."--Camillo Mac Bica, author of Beyond PTSD: The Moral Casualties of WarIn his first book of poetry, Vietnam combat veteran and Zen monk Claude AnShin Thomas explores the boundaries of awareness; the landscape of longing; and the lasting, invisible wounds of war.
Zen Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta
Zen Buddhism blossomed in China starting in the sixth century CE and spread to Japan and other Countries. Advaita Vedanta spread all over India starting in the eighth century CE because of the efforts of Shankaracharya. Both of these popular sects in the modern world, one from Mahayana Buddhism and the other from Hinduism, consider 'non-duality' as their main characteristic. This book makes a comprehensive comparative analysis of all aspects of Zen and Advaita Vedanta: history, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, aesthetics and practice. One could harmoniously blend many aspects of their tenets in one's practice regardless of Whether they are Buddhists or Hindus.
Collected Discourses of Sutta Pitaka
Embark on a profound exploration of Buddhist doctrine with 'Collected Discourses of Sutta Pitaka, ' an enlightening compilation of selected discourses thoughtfully curated by Bodhi Path Press. This scripture collection serves as a comprehensive introduction to the rich teachings found within the Sutta Pitaka, a foundational part of the Pali Canon.The carefully chosen discourses provide deep insights into the core tenets of Buddhist doctrine, offering readers a thorough understanding of the foundational principles of Buddhism. Rooted in the wisdom of the Sutta Pitaka, this collection serves as a gateway for both beginners and seasoned practitioners to delve into the timeless wisdom of the Buddha's teachings. 'Collected Discourses of Sutta Pitaka' stands as an indispensable resource, guiding readers on a transformative journey into the heart of Buddhist doctrine.
Buddhist Guidelines to Skillful Communication
Delve into the profound teachings on 'Buddhist Guidelines to Skillful Communication' with this insightful collection of discourses from Anguttara Nikaya, thoughtfully curated by Bodhi Path Press. This scripture compilation provides deep insights into the Buddha's guidelines for skillful communication, offering practical instructions on cultivating right speech and compassionate communication.The selected discourses guide readers through a transformative exploration of verbal communication, offering practical wisdom on the art of speaking with mindfulness and compassion. Rooted in the rich tapestry of the Anguttara Nikaya, these teachings serve as a source of inspiration for both beginners and seasoned practitioners seeking to cultivate wholesome communication.An indispensable resource, 'Buddhist Guidelines to Skillful Communication' stands as a testament to the enduring relevance of the Buddha's teachings on compassionate speech.
Buddhist Teachings on Right Speech
Embark on a journey of mindful communication with 'Buddhist Teachings on Right Speech, ' a profound collection of discourses from Samyutta Nikaya thoughtfully curated by Bodhi Path Press. This scripture compilation provides deep insights into the Buddha's teachings on cultivating right speech and skillful communication.The selected discourses guide readers through practical instructions on communicating with mindfulness and wisdom, fostering understanding and harmony in interpersonal relationships. Rooted in the rich tapestry of the Samyutta Nikaya, these teachings serve as a source of inspiration for both beginners and seasoned practitioners seeking to navigate the art of right speech.An indispensable resource, 'Buddhist Teachings on Right Speech' stands as a testament to the enduring relevance of the Buddha's teachings on compassionate communication.
