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.
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 (Deluxe Hardcover Book)
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.
Clearing the Way to Awakening
ARE YOU FASCINATED by stories of permanent shifts in personal consciousness called "awakening" or "enlightenment"? Written by a trusted American teacher of Tibetan Buddhism, Clearing the Way to Awakening will introduce you to the spirited nine-step practice that nearly every acclaimed enlightened being from Tibet completed. Known as the ngondro, it radically re-orients the practitioner to an inspiring long-term vision, frees them from unconscious limiting karmic patterns, and fills them with positive karmic force that cannot be stopped. This book addresses: Why each step of the practice is crucially important.What each of the nine trainings in it are, and how to work with your skepticism. How you can find excellent spiritual mentors and avoid the bad ones.How to get a taste of each training step of the ngondro process to see if it is for you.How you would do each step of the ngondro practice, and successfully bring this rigorous training program into your daily life.Whether you are an explorer in human consciousness, or have newly launched into the practice, this book is for you.YUDRON WANGMO has completed decades of in-depth practice, and was honored with the bestowal of a traditional teaching title-Loppon-and charged with the responsibility to communicate these practices as a living tradition.
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
Indian Mahāyāna Buddhist traditions produced hundreds of scriptures and treatises, only a small number of which have received serious scholarly attention. The present volume inaugurates the Buddhist Open Philology Project (BOPP) publication series, which aims to produce state-of-the-art critical editions, translations, and studies of individual works, thereby seeking to advance the comprehensive study of Buddhism's vast literary tradition. This volume collects four studies on the composition and impact of the collection of scriptures called the Mahāratnakūṭa ("Great Heap of Jewels"), including critical editions and translations of two scriptures. Contributors are: Jonathan A. Silk, +Gadjin M. Nagao, and Michael Radich.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Satipatthanasutta with Pemasiri Thera's Commentary
This book is a new contribution on the subject of mindfulness, having at its core the classic Buddhist meditation text, the Satipatthanasutta ("Discourse on the Foundations of Mindfulness") in the original Pali, translated here into English alongside the comments and explanations of the text by Pemasiri Thera, a contemporary meditation master and scholar from the Theravada tradition in Sri Lanka. Pemasiri Thera has richly commented on the ancient text, drawing on the larger Tipi?aka and its commentaries, and provided helpful elucidations of the key concepts from the sutta (awareness, mindfulness, contemplation, etc.) as well as offered new and alternative interpretations and concrete experiential examples from meditation practice. Tamara Ditrich compiled, edited, and translated the Satipatthanasutta with Pemasiri Thera's commentary into English and in turn she also contributed her own comments in extensive notes, linking the Thera's commentary to Therav?da Buddhist sources and highlighting those aspects that enrich or throw new light on the standard approaches. The book presents a comprehensive guide for understanding mindfulness by situating it within the larger Theravada doctrinal framework in a way accessible to contemporary readers. The book will appeal to general and scholarly readers interested in any aspects of the theory and practice of mindfulness, Buddhist teachings or P?li studies.
The Satipaṭṭhanasutta with Pemasiri Thera's Commentary
This book is a new contribution on the subject of mindfulness, having at its core the classic Buddhist meditation text, the Satipatthanasutta ("Discourse on the Foundations of Mindfulness") in the original Pali, translated here into English alongside the comments and explanations of the text by Pemasiri Thera, a contemporary meditation master and scholar from the Theravada tradition in Sri Lanka. Pemasiri Thera has richly commented on the ancient text, drawing on the larger Tipi?aka and its commentaries, and provided helpful elucidations of the key concepts from the sutta (awareness, mindfulness, contemplation, etc.) as well as offered new and alternative interpretations and concrete experiential examples from meditation practice. Tamara Ditrich compiled, edited, and translated the Satipatthanasutta with Pemasiri Thera's commentary into English and in turn she also contributed her own comments in extensive notes, linking the Thera's commentary to Therav?da Buddhist sources and highlighting those aspects that enrich or throw new light on the standard approaches. The book presents a comprehensive guide for understanding mindfulness by situating it within the larger Theravada doctrinal framework in a way accessible to contemporary readers. The book will appeal to general and scholarly readers interested in any aspects of the theory and practice of mindfulness, Buddhist teachings or P?li studies.
Readings of the Gateless Barrier
The Gateless Barrier is one of the most cherished yet also one of the most enigmatic Chan or Zen texts of East Asian Buddhism. Compiled by the Chinese Chan master Wumen Huikai in 1228, it contains forty-eight Zen stories of spiritual awakening called "public cases" or gong'ans (known as kōans in Japanese and kongans in Korean). This book presents a new English translation with close readings and creative analyses of the Gateless Barrier from both scholarly and practitioner perspectives, allowing a range of readers to venture into the rich world of Chan and Zen. Specialist contributors offer insights on historical context, literary structure, philosophical implications, and gendered dimensions, as well as the embodied practice and contemporary experience of the stories in the Gateless Barrier. By bringing together academic expertise with experiential insight from Zen teachers, this book provides a grounded and nuanced account of how the Gateless Barrier has been--and continues to be--practiced and lived in China, Korea, Japan, and the West. An innovative and sophisticated study, this book is ideal for university classroom use, and it also makes the Gateless Barrier accessible to other first-time readers, Buddhist practitioners, and scholars.
Guru Nanak's Transcendent Aesthetics
One of the foremost exponents of the Sikh religion and of related Punjabi literature offers here a sustained exploration of the aesthetics of Sikhism's founder, understood as 'a symbiosis of his prophetic revelation, his poetic genius, and his pragmatic philosophy - embedded in his visceral expression of the transcendent One.' Drawing on a wide range of sources, Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh examines in full all the beauty, intimacy, and inclusive richness of Guru Nanak's remarkable literary art. Her subject's verses - written in simple vernacular Punjabi - are seen creatively to subvert conventional linguistic models while also inspiring social, psychological, environmental, and political change. These radical lyrics are now brought into fascinating conversation with contemporary artists, poets, and philosophers. Moving beyond conventional religious discourses and spaces of worship in its attempt to sketch a multisensory, publicly oriented reception of Sikh sacred verse, this expansive book opens up striking new imaginaries for 21st-century global society.
Buddhism and International Humanitarian Law
This volume is part of an ICRC project which explores correspondences between Buddhist and IHL principles, and identifies Buddhist resources to improve compliance with IHL and equivalent Buddhist or humanitarian norms.The chapters were originally published as a special issue of Contemporary Buddhism.
Posthuman Buddhism and the Digital Self
Posthuman Buddhism and the Digital Self lays the groundwork for the concept of 'dwellspace' as a means by which to unpick the shifting spatial, temporal and experiential modalities of everyday mediascapes.
Readings of the Gateless Barrier
The Gateless Barrier is one of the most cherished yet also one of the most enigmatic Chan or Zen texts of East Asian Buddhism. Compiled by the Chinese Chan master Wumen Huikai in 1228, it contains forty-eight Zen stories of spiritual awakening called "public cases" or gong'ans (known as kōans in Japanese and kongans in Korean). This book presents a new English translation with close readings and creative analyses of the Gateless Barrier from both scholarly and practitioner perspectives, allowing a range of readers to venture into the rich world of Chan and Zen. Specialist contributors offer insights on historical context, literary structure, philosophical implications, and gendered dimensions, as well as the embodied practice and contemporary experience of the stories in the Gateless Barrier. By bringing together academic expertise with experiential insight from Zen teachers, this book provides a grounded and nuanced account of how the Gateless Barrier has been--and continues to be--practiced and lived in China, Korea, Japan, and the West. An innovative and sophisticated study, this book is ideal for university classroom use, and it also makes the Gateless Barrier accessible to other first-time readers, Buddhist practitioners, and scholars.
The Inner Path
This is an introduction to Buddhist practice for those in prison. This book is offered free of charge to all incarcerated people, pre-trial detainees, conditionally released people, and those in all situations between these stages. The author, editors, and publisher have all waived any income from the book. If you would like to purchase a copy, the base price you pay reflects a copy for you and an extra free copy to be donated to a Buddhist prison chaplaincy program. If you purchase directly from the publisher, the price you pay reflects a copy for you and two extra free copies to be donated to a Buddhist prison chaplaincy program. To sponsor additional copies for prisoners as an act of generosity, please contact the publisher directly.CONTENTSIntroductionThe Four Noble TruthsThe Eightfold PathDukkhaKarmaDo Buddhists believe in a god?The Three Marks of ExistenceThe Three JewelsTaking RefugeThe Five PreceptsMettaThe AggregatesThe WaveThe Five ObstaclesHow to Meditate (Beginner)How to Build an Altar in Your CellBuddhist DietSit in the FireEmpty BoatSlow DownThe Opinions of OthersAngulimalaThe Power of PracticeHomage to our AncestorsHow to Meditate (More Experienced)The Practice of MettaWalking MeditationBuddhist FestivalsFurther ReadingSuttas and PrayersAcknowledgments About the AuthorThe BasicsShrine Images
The Teaching and Teachings of Temple Buddhism in Contemporary Japan
How have Buddhist teachings come to be in modern and contemporary Japan and how are they taught? This pioneering work seeks to answer these questions by highlighting the public teachings of Temple Buddhism institutions, in particular Temple Buddhism kindergartens and Buddhist secondary schools and colleges. The community outreach provided by these Buddhist facilities is far greater than any other with the possible exception of funerals yet until now it has received little attention from scholars of Japanese religion. After determining what is taught in Buddhist education and how, Stephen Covell introduces readers to a select group of monks who undergo some of the most grueling practices in Japanese Temple Buddhism to determine if the public-facing teachings of Buddhist education are unique or similar to those of elite Buddhist practitioners. The teachings and sites of teaching examined here include but are not limited to classical doctrinal studies and temples focused on the education of Buddhist clergy. Covell uncovers the arguments made by priests involved in morals education, the dharma talks of famous ascetics, and the ways in which laws and legal codes have changed Buddhist education. He looks at what is taught on the ground, online, and in popular texts to discuss the current teachings embraced as Buddhism within the institutions of Temple Buddhism. Among his numerous findings is such teachings and worldview are remarkably similar to those of New Religions and Buddhist lay movements as outlined by Japan religion scholars and government bodies in charge of education. The Teaching and Teachings of Temple Buddhism in Contemporary Japan will be welcomed by students and scholars in Japanese religious studies and early childhood and higher education as well as those interested in current Buddhist practice and teachings in general.
