Showing titles in Buddhism

Millions of people follow Buddhist studies, but there are still many people in the Western culture that are unfamiliar with Buddhism. It is a religion that dates back thousands of years and has helped many people overcome their suffering and has taught countless others how to help end the suffering of their fellow man. This religion саn seem difficult to understand when you first begin, but if you take the time to learn the basic tenants, then you can find your own happiness and sense of self-fulfillment that many miss in life.

Why sometimes do even the smallest events send us into a downward spiral? Whether we're aware of it or not, our feelings and outlook are constantly shaped by learned patterns, or habitual modes of being. These have the power to dictate our sense of wellbeing and our very perceptions of our lives and the world around us. These modes - distinct orchestrations of how we think and feel, how we act and interact - can open us up to delight and wisdom or preoccupy us with fear and despair, driving and distorting our experiences like invisible puppeteers of the mind.

One of the world's most popular Tibetan lamas shares accessible advice for working with adversity and living a spiritual life. Enjoy a variety of meditations on topics from flattery and jealousy to karma and compassion. In each brief chapter, Khenpo Sodargye weaves in stories from ancient classics and modern headlines. Drawing on adages from the Buddha, Confucius, and even Mark Twain, he delivers simple and timeless insights about facing adversity and developing a good heart.

These three sutras are the most important texts for the Chan (Chinese) and Zen (Japanese) Buddhist traditions, though they are very different in character and provenance. The Diamond Sutra (Vajracheddikā Prajña Pārāmitā Sutra in Sanskrit) has the distinction of being 'the earliest complete survival of a dated (11 May 868) printed book’. It was found in the Dunhuang Caves in China in 1900. The title, Diamond Cutter, outlines its purpose, which is to cut through ignorance to attain to perfect wisdom or ultimate reality.

William C. Martin has freshly reinterpreted the Tao Te Ching to speak directly and clearly to the most difficult of modern tasks—parenting. With its combination of free verse and judicious advice, The Parent's Tao Te Ching addresses the great themes that permeate the Tao and that support loving parent-child relationships: responding without judgment, emulating natural processes, and balancing between doing and being.

In clear, direct language, Gesture of Balance relates the profound insights of an ancient wisdom tradition to our present situation, showing us how to develop our inner resources and awaken body, mind, and senses to new horizons of experience. Tarthang Tulku speaks to us like a good friend, offering ways to clear away confusion, strengthen self-confidence, and brighten our lives with meaning and joy.

'The Tibetan Book of the Dead’ provides the guidelines on preparing for death and achieving enlightenment by escaping the cycle of birth, suffering, and death. According to the author, monks can utilize meditation to explore the approximation of the life that exists beyond death and help gain knowledge on the preparation of souls for the afterlife experiences.

In The Shamanic Bones of Zen, celebrated author and Buddhist teacher Zenju Earthlyn Manuel undertakes a rich exploration of the connections between contemporary Zen practice and shamanic, or indigenous, spirituality. Drawing on her personal journey with the Black church, with African, Caribbean, and Native American ceremonial practices, and with Nichiren and Zen Buddhism, she builds a compelling case for cultivating the shamanic, or magical, elements in Buddhism - many of which have been marginalized by colonialist and modernist forces in the religion.

Using step by step instructions, the author illustrates how to be fully present in the moment without clinging to joy or resisting sorrow. This opens the door to a kind of wellness that goes beyond circumstances. Actively engaging life as it is in this fashion holds the potential for awakening to a peace and well-being that are not dependent on whether a particular experience is joyful or sorrowful.

These enlightened and enlightening words of the great "Avadhoot" of India, Bhagawan Nityananda, were carefully recorded by his devoted devotee, Tulsi Amma, from 1920 to 1927. Nityananda's esoteric words are like arrows that guide the soul beyond mediocre obsessions and into the heart of self realization, the great space of supreme Consciousness that is Chidakash.

Insight meditation teacher Shaila Catherine offers an accessible approach to training the mind that is guided by the Buddha’s pragmatic instructions on removing distracting thoughts. Drawing on two scriptures in the Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, Shaila shows you how to overcome habitual modes of thinking, develop deeper concentration, and discover the insights into emptiness that are vital for a liberating spiritual path.

This guide shares Tibetan Buddhist insight and tools that will benefit everyone in transforming their mind. Khenpo Sodargye, who has attracted hundreds of thousands of students worldwide with his concise, easy-to-follow teaching style, sketches the big picture of the Mahayana path in straightforward language with stories relevant to everyday life. He draws on authentic texts and teachings by renowned Buddhist masters to explain complex concepts and introduces a systematic approach to studying Buddhism.

Lojong is a powerful Tibetan Buddhist practice created especially for training the mind to work with the challenges of everyday living. It teaches our hearts to soften, reframes our attitude toward difficulty, and allows us to discover a wellspring of inner strength. In this recorded retreat, Pema Chödrön introduces the lojong teachings and explains how we can apply them to any situation in our life—because, as Pema says, "every moment is an opportunity for awakening."

Although meditation is a life-long process even for the wisest, The Art of Meditation demonstrates that by practicing it on a daily basis we can change our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. In this brilliantly inspiring book, Matthieu Ricard talks us through the theory, spirituality and practical aspects of meditation. He illustrates each stage of his teaching with examples, leading each reader deeper into their own practice.

If you are looking for a practice that promotes your ability to uphold human values and focus on compassion and the oneness of the Universe, try Kundalini Yoga. Often known as laya yoga, or the yoga of awareness, it focuses on awakening the kundalini energy that lies dormant at the base of the spine. Kundalini yoga combines pranayama, meditation, yoga poses, and mantra chanting to awaken this spiritual energy that lies coiled up at the base of your spine. It was developed as a part of tantra alongside hatha yoga.

According to Lama Tsultrim, intrusive and unpleasant inner states are not only unavoidable aspects of life but also potential allies. In the Befriending Your Demons audio program, Lama Tsultrim offers a five-part process for turning toward your demons rather than suppressing or running away from them.

I love Laotzu! That is the reason I offer another interpretative translation. I want you to appreciate this wise and kindly old man, and come to love him.

Lama Surya Das, author of the best-selling Awakening the Buddha Within, defines the Buddhist heart as our own inner goodness - our most tender, compassionate, and caring self, our innate Buddha-nature. The Buddhist heart, called Bodhicitta by Tibetans, beats within each and every one of us and is awakened through meaningful connections - connections to our families, romantic partners, our colleagues and work, our neighbors, society, and extending out to all living creatures, including ourselves. This book tells us how we can use relationships as a vehicle for a sacred life.

Exploring the relationship between Christianity and Zen, especially through his dialogue with the great Zen teacher D.T. Suzuki, the book makes an excellent introduction to a comparative study of these two traditions, as well as giving the listener a strong taste of the mature Merton. Never does one feel him losing his own faith; rather, one feels that faith getting deeply clarified and affirmed. Just as the body of "Zen" cannot be found by the scavengers, so too, Merton suggests, with the eternal truth of Christ.

As a Buddhist monk and psychotherapist with over 10 years of experience in the mental health field, Venerable Nick has packaged the wisdom of his meditation teachers from Thailand into a simple yet profound meditation guide for a Western audience. With the help of relatable analogies, plenty of beautiful illustrations, links to online resources, and more, this audiobook is meticulously designed to offer comprehensive support at each step of the way on your journey to developing a strong daily meditation practice.