Hidden Treasure - Faith in Mind

Faith in Mind: A Commentary on Seng Ts'an's Classic by Chan Master Sheng Yen "The Supreme Way is not difficult, if only you do not pick and choose…" The late Master Sheng Yen is the most wonderful Buddhist teacher you never heard of. He wrote so many books that it's hard to know where to begin, but this commentary on the short Zen text everybody else comments on too is an excellent place to start.

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Hidden Treasure - Cave of Tigers

Cave of Tigers: The Living Zen Practice of Dharma Combat  By John Daido Loori Grrrrrrrrr. These records of public teaching encounters between the founder of Zen Mountain Monastery and his students are disorienting (in the best way), thought-provoking, and funny, and they show that this ancient practice for manifesting wisdom is alive and well in our own time. For more information: John Daido Loori (1931–2009) was one of the West's leading Zen masters. He was the founder and spiritual leader of the Mountains and Rivers Order and abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery. His work has been most noted for its unique adaptation of traditional Asian Buddhism into an American context, particularly with regard to the arts, the environment, social action, and the use of modern media as a vehicle of spiritual training and social change. Loori was an award-winning photographer and videographer. Related Books

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Hidden Treasure - Untrain Your Parrot

Untrain Your Parrot: And Other No-Nonsense Instructions on the Path of Zen By Elizabeth Hamilton   It has nothing to do with birds. The "parrot" Elizabeth Hamilton refers to is nothing other than discursive thinking, and the untraining she offers is about learning not to let it run your life. The wise and quirky voice of this teacher from the San Diego Zen Center is delightful and quite effective for just that kind of parrot-reeducation. Elizabeth Hamilton teaches and lives at the Zen Center of San Diego with her husband and practice partner, Ezra Bayda. She leads retreats and Zen programs throughout the United States and Hawaii, Australia, and Canada, including leading a retreat with Pema Chödrön and Ezra Bayda at Gampo Abbey in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. She has published numerous articles and dharma teachings under the pen name M. T. Head. Related Books

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The Discovery and Recognition of Ogyen Trinley Dorje

The following is an account of the discovery and recognition of the Seventeenth Karmapa  Ogyen Trinley Dorje, excerpted from  The History of the Karmapas:  The Odyssey of the Tibetan Masters with the Black Crown The Last Testament Most of his previous reincarnations left behind a Last Testament giving  indications of their rebirth. But in 1981, when the sixteenth Karmapa  died, no one was able to find a Last Testament. For nine long years  everyone searched, hoping for a sign that would allow a successor to  be found. The twelfth Tai Situpa , one of the closest disciples of the  sixteenth Karmapa, recounts how, unbeknownst to him, his master had  given him the Last Testament shortly before his death while they were  together in Calcutta: During this time, he gave me a lot of advice and told stories  from the past. Every evening we talked after dinner. Then  once, after I had off ered him the fresh orange juice he liked,  and not long before we went to bed, he gave me the protection  amulet, saying, "This is a very important protection. "  He did not say, "Open it in the future, " or, "You will need  it. " He simply added, "It will be very benefi cial for you. "  I thought it was just a protection amulet. Usually, Tibetan  lamas create these out of a piece of paper that has a printed or  drawn mandala of a particular deity. It is folded in a special  way to make a square shape, wrapped in colored strings,  and enclosed in cloth or leather. This one was enclosed in  yellow brocade and I used to wear it around my neck on a  gold chain. The Tai Situpa wore the amulet until the end of 1990 when, on  retreat, he had a sudden inspiration to open it. Inside he found an envelope  with the sixteenth Karmapa's writing: "To be opened in the Iron  Horse year, " which related precisely to the year the Tai Situpa decided  to look inside the precious amulet! The letter said: Oh Marvel! Self-realization is continual bliss. The dharmadhatu has neither center nor periphery. To the north of here, in the east [of the Land] of Snow [1], Lies the country where Divine thunder spontaneously blazes [2]. In a beautiful place of nomads [marked] by the sign of "that which fulfills all desires " [3], The method is Döndrup and the wisdom is Lolaga [4]. [Born] the year of the one used for the earth [5] With the miraculous and far-reaching sound of the white one [6], He is the one known as the Karmapa. Sustained by the lord Dönyö Drubpa [7], Impartial, he fathoms all directions. Neither close to some, nor distant from others, he is the  protector of all beings: The sun of the Buddha's Dharma that benefi ts others blazes  continually. The numbered lines can be interpreted as follows: 1. Ogyen Trinley Dorje was born in Kham, a region of Eastern Tibet. 2. The Last Testament uses the term "Nam Chak, " "Heavenly Iron ";  the place of birth of the Karmapa is called "Lhathok, " "Divine  Thunder. " 3. "That which fulfi lls all desires " refers to the "cow that fulfills all  desires, " a term found in Buddhist texts; the name of the nomadic  community where the child was born is "Bagor, " and "Ba " means   "cow. " 4. Here, the sixteenth Karmapa indicates very clearly the names of  his future parents. In Buddhist texts, method and wisdom refer to  the masculine and feminine principles, respectively. 5. The ox is habitually used to work the land: the year of the birth  of the Karmapa was that of the Wood Ox. 6. This refers to the sound of the conch that, soon after the birth of  the Karmapa, resounded miraculously in the sky. 7. Dönyö Drubpa (Skt. Amoghasiddhi) is one of the five dhyanibuddhas,  who represents the family of activity, karma. Dönyö  refers to the twelfth Tai Situpa, whose name is Pema Dönyö Nyinje, indicating that he will become the root lama of the seventeenth  Karmapa. In 1992, the twelfth Tai Situpa and the twelfth Gyaltsabpa , another  principal disciple of the sixteenth Karmapa, sent a copy of the Last Testament  to Drupön Dechen Rinpoche , abbot of Tsurphu Monastery, seat  of the Karmapas in central Tibet, inviting him to organize a delegation  to locate the seventeenth Karmapa. In May, emissaries from Tsurphu  excitedly set out for Kham in search of the Karmapa.  On May 18, they arrived in view of Karlek monastery. Stating that  they came from Tsurphu, they asked for directions to the Bagor region  in order to visit Loga, a family member. They met Yeshe Rabsel , Apo Gaga's elder brother, who told them where the family resided. The visitors announced that they were searching for a tulku. Yeshe Rabsel quickly joined his parents to announce that a delegation from Tsurphu was searching for a tulku, probably related to his young brother. This news made the young child leap up and start dancing happily. Very early the same morning, before his brother's arrival, he had prepared a small pack bundle that he had placed on the back of his goat, telling his mother that he was going to fi nd his monastery. He had then pointed toward the west to indicate where it was. His parents immediately prepared the tent to welcome the travelers in a dignifi ed manner. Some days later, when the delegation approached the camp, they were received with honor. When the emissaries questioned the parents about the date and the circumstances of Apo Gaga's birth, they recounted the surprising signs: Loga's dreams, the sound of the conches, the cuckoo's song, the halo around the sun, and so forth. The monks then had confi rmation of the information they had already gathered. All the indications in the Last Testament proved to be perfectly correct. One of the members of the emissary group, Lama Domo , the principal delegate of Tsurphu Monastery, then showed the parents the copy of the sixteenth Karmapa's Last Testament. As the father read it, the cuckoo's song was heard again. The visitors off ered long scarves of good omen to the family to mark the event before leaving for Tsurphu to announce the news and prepare for the offi cial arrival of the Karmapa. The news spread quickly, to India and to the entire world. The fourteenth Dalai Lama revealed that he had had a signifi cant dream concerning the new incarnation: "I had a kind of dream of the location, the area where the present reincarnation was born. There were stones and meadows. It looked like a high altitude and faced south with beautiful streams. This is the main picture. Then someone, some source without form, was telling me, €˜This is the place where the Karmapa is born'. " The other two lineage holders-Sakya Trizin of the Sakya and Minling Trichen of the Nyingma-as well as many other masters confirmed  the choice and offered prayers for the child's long life. The Dalai Lama  officially recognized the child as the seventeenth Karmapa. Excerpted from The History of the Karmapas:  The Odyssey of the Tibetan Masters with the Black Crown by  Lama Kunsang,  Lama Pemo,  Marie Aubele

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Steve Jobs Reading Chögyam Trungpa

Steve Jobs read Chögyam Trungpa, according to Bianca Bosker in the Huffington Post article "The Steve Jobs Reading List: The Books and Artists That Made the Man. " Bosker reports that, "during his freshman year at Reed College, Jobs befriended Daniel Kottke, who went on to work at Apple, and together they devoured books such as Shunryu Suzuki's Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind   [and] Chögyam Trungpa's Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism " What might have been the ideas in Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism that influenced this great technological genius of our era? This week Ocean of Dharma suggests several quotes that might have affected Jobs' view of creativity and intelligence. We'd love to hear what you think. Leave a comment with your thoughts on the connection between Buddhism and creative innovation. Or feel free to offer your favorite or most influential quotes from Cutting Through. In early November, we'll pick five people to receive the Shambhala Library edition of the book. Congrats to Angela Borges, Valerie Holmes, Jean Westby, Roland Cohen and Karolyn Hoover who have each won copy of the Shambhala Library edition of Cutting Through! Please come back soon for more giveaways and updates!

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Nalanda and Its Legacy

The Nalanda Tradition This entry to the Great Masters series kicks off a series within a series that looks at the great Buddhist center of learning at Nalanda in India and what are known as the Seventeen Panditas of Nalanda, a grouping conceived by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as they are the core group of masters whose works further articulate the teachings of the Buddha and which form the basis of Buddhist philosophy we have today. This group begins with Nagarjuna and ends with Atisha. This article will frame the stories of these masters by briefly giving a history of Nalanda and why it was so important. The next article will briefly sketch each of the seventeen, and subsequent ones will go into more depth on each of them, with a focus on their works that have been handed down to us. The Brief History of Nalanda   Our knowledge about many aspects of Nalanda is fragmented, as much was lost to the sands of time as well as to the fire and sword of the Mughal invaders in the 12th century. However, there are several primary and secondary sources on Nalanda that together form the composite that is our understanding today. Some of what we know is surmised from what the sources do not say as much as from what they do say.   There were many intrepid travelers who came by land and sea from China and Korea to Nalanda in search of the Buddhist teachings. The earliest firsthand account still extant was by the Chinese monk and pilgrim Faxian (337 - c. 422 CE). Another primary source is the extensive and fascinating account of the monk Xuanzang (c. 602-664), who spent 16 years traveling through China, Central Asia, present day Afghanistan and Pakistan to India. Later pilgrims include Itsing (Yijing) (635-713), who left for India from China in 671 and spent 10 years at Nalanda. There are very dated translations of these in English, though a new one of Xuanzang is forthcoming. Of the Tibetan accounts, in Butön's History of Buddhism in India and Its Spread to Tibet, Butön Rinchen Drup (1290-1364) briefly discusses the impact of twelve of the Seventeen Panditas. Much of his telling is based on accounts by Tibetan pilgrims and scholars as well as Indians who arrived in Tibet after fleeing the Mughal onslaught that more or less wiped Buddhism from the map of India.   Another important account is that recorded by Taranatha (1575-1634), the Tibetan master of the Jonang tradition, in his History of Buddhism in India. He received his information from one of the later Indian siddhas who came to Tibet, Buddhaguptanatha. This fascinating figure, who before becoming Buddhist was one of the wandering Nath Sadhus, traveled by foot from India to Iran and through Central Asia, as well as by boat to Indonesia and possibly Thailand and Madagascar. He related to Taranatha much of what appears in his oft quoted history. Ruby Rosary goes into significant detail about Nalanda and its masters who were there. Nalanda has a long history in Buddhism. It is said that in a previous life while still a Bodhisattva, the future Buddha was a charitable king who made his capital at the site of the future Nalanda. Shariputra, the Buddha's first disciple, was born there, attained the level of arhat there (along with many others), and died there as well. The remains of Shariputra's stupa may still be seen at Nalanda today. There are several sutras that recount how the Buddha paused there on his numerous trips in the area - Rajgir and Vulture Peak are about 10 miles away on foot. Xuanzang tells of how 500 merchants bought a plot of land there and offered it to the Buddha. It was an important place for other reasons as well - during the time of the Buddha, the founder of Jainism, Mahavira, spent 40 rainy seasons there. In the third century BCE, the great Buddhist Emperor Ashoka is said to have visited Nalanda and made offerings at Shariputra's stupa and erected a vihara there, the first on the site. It is likely that there may not have been a continuous presence of monks there from this point, as Faxian did not mention anything other than a stupa when he passed through 650 years later. The first record of Nalanda becoming a repository of texts and teachings seems to be in the second century when King Lakshasva, based in western India, funded a set of monasteries and collection of Mahayana sutras totaling 100,000,000 verses (shloka) on Mount Abu on the Gujarat/Rajasthan border. Taranatha records that these texts were brought to Nalanda. He, and later Jamgön Kongtrul in his Treasury of Knowledge, talk about two Brahmin brothers, Udbhatasiddhisvamin and Shamkarapati, who built eight temples there to house all the sutras. Around the same time, Rahulabhadra, said by some to be the mahasiddha Saraha as well as the teacher of Nagarjuna, also did a lot to establish the doctrine at Nalanda. Chronology, names, and relationships vary quite a bit across accounts here and the details of the early history of Nalanda are few. Xuanzang describes the main gate opening up on the great college as well as eight other halls with towers and turrets rising high above the morning mist. He depicts the complex as surrounded by ponds and flowers, courtyards and multi-level residence halls with long eaves, bright red columns, highly ornamented balustrades, and tiled roofs reflecting the light in an incredible manner. Xuanzang's time at Nalanda is detailed in his biography by Ben Brose in the Lives of the Masters series. One of the more interesting aspects of Xuanzang's account is that there were monks from both the Shravakayana and Mahayana all living and practicing together. Good food for thought in these days where even subsects of subsects can take issue with each other. Tantric Buddhism was prevalent there for much of its history as well. Some accounts talk about it from the time of Nagarjuna onwards, other accounts relate how it became visible, at least in the physical record as evaluated by modern day archaeologists, only in the 8th century. It was most active between the sixth and tweflth centuries and at its peak had over 10,000 monks and 1,500 teachers, from all over the Buddhist world. There was for example, a separate vihara just for Tibetans. The library, housed in a nine-story building, had hundreds of thousands of manuscripts. There appear to have been multiple study programs which makes sense given the heterogeneous makeup of the population-teachings from Sarvastivada, Abhidharma, Yogacara, Madhyamaka, Tantra, and presumably Dzogchen and Mahamudra traditions were all taught there. These of course were in addition to the "outer sciences" like grammar, medicine, astrology, math, logic, etc. And given the multiplicity of religious views, there was also training in the philosophies of the hindu thinkers, many of which were often challenging the views of the Buddhists. In 1192, Nalanda was sacked by Bakhtiyar Khilji during which the library was burned. For the next two centuries, there were a few efforts to rebuild and repopulate it, but by 1400 it was gone. It should be mentioned that there were other important and at times larger centers of Buddhist learning and monasticism in India between which texts, teachings, and scholars would flow. The great Buddhist center at Taxila - whose sprawling remains outside of Islamabad are still incredible to visit - was more exposed to invaders and had already been in decline as Nalanda rose in prominence. Vikramshila was founded in the late 8th century and, being located about 150 miles east of Nalanda, had frequent interaction and also became the model later for Tibetan monasteries. At its height in the 10th century, it had over 10,000 monks. Atisha was one of the many great scholars there. A few miles away from Nalanda lay Odantapuri, founded by the first Pala king in the late 7th century and at its height in 8th century had up to 12,000 monks. In Bengal, present day Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, there were two important centers. Sompura was founded by the Pala kings in the 9th century and while smaller, was another important hub in this network of Buddhism. It was also visited by Atisha. Jagaddala was founded in the 10th century and its remoteness allowed it to last well after the sacking of Nalanda, Vikramashila, and Odantapuri. Today visitors to the sprawling Nalanda site can come and walk through the ruins and imagine what it might have been like. I once had a tour guide point out (with great if unwarranted confidence) a certain monastic cell which he said was the one Xuanzang had resided. Archaeological work, which began in the 19th century and continues today, has uncovered and revealed a lot of what went on there. Comparing what is visible now to Xuanzang's description, only a small part of what was there has been excavated thus far. So we can look forward to more discoveries that can fill in the gaps of our knowledge about this incredible time of the blossoming of humanity's potential for spiritual evolution and liberation. Nearby to Nalanda, the Indian government in cooperation with several other governments and organizations has funded the creation of Nalanda University. The aspirations are high for this and while Buddhist Studies are a planned program of study, that curriculum was not be part of the first wave of classes that began in September of 2014. Read an article on the Seventeen Panditas here Related Books

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His Holiness the Dalai Lama: A Guide for Readers

See also: Tsongkhapa: A Guide to His Life and Works | Kalachakra Tantra Reader Guide | Works by the Dalai Lamas | Readers Guide to His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama Other Tibetan Buddhist Traditions: Bön | Gelug | Jonang | Kalachakra | Kagyu | Kadam | Nyingma | Sakya | Zhije & Chöd DALAI LAMA TITLES About His Holliness the 14th Dalai Lama For this latest installment of our Great Masters series, we turn to a contemporary master, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, often referred to by Tibetans as Gyalwa Rinpoche or Kundun. As with previous posts, this is not intended to be a complete biography but rather a look at His Holiness's teachings through the lens of his books, mostly the two dozen books published by us, though a few others are also included here. For those looking for more in-depth a biography, His Holiness's autobiography, Freedom in Exile, is an excellent starting point. While His Holiness is not formally the head of Tibetan Buddhism (there never was one) nor even of the Gelug tradition (that title belongs to the head of Ganden Monastery, the Ganden Tripa), he is regarded as the figurehead and ambassador of Tibetan Buddhism and the Tibetan people. Considered the emanation of Avalokiteshvara, he is beloved by practitioners of all the Tibetan traditions. He has taken initiations and teachings from the many branches of the Tibetan Buddhist tree and has worked tirelessly to preserve the rich set of lineages. Most importantly, His Holiness is a living example of the Buddha's teaching that through study and practice, we can all embody the sublime qualities that are to be cultivated on the path. About the Dalai Lama's Books His Holiness's books in English fall into two general categories: books for general readers who may be interested in what Buddhism has to say about contemporary issues like ethics, science, how the mind works, the environment, etc., and secondly, books specifically for Buddhists on the path. This latter category can be further broken down into overviews of the Buddhist path; the bodhisattva path of the Mahayana; Tantra; and finally Dzogchen and Mahamudra The Definitive Biography Hardcover | eBook | Audiobook The definitive biography of His Holiness the Dalai Lama—a singular portrait of one of the most influential spiritual and political leaders of our time. Drawing from more than fifty traditional Tibetan sources, this landmark work offers the most complete and intimate account to date of the life of Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. It reveals not only the public figure known across the globe, but the spiritual master shaped by prophecy, lineage, and profound historical and spiritual ties. With narrative richness and scholarly depth, the book traces his extraordinary journey from a recognized child reincarnation to a global voice for compassion, nonviolence, and human dignity. It illuminates his dual roles as political and spiritual leader in a complex global landscape, offering unprecedented insight into the inner workings of Tibetan governance, Buddhist philosophy, and the immense challenges of leading a nation in exile. This book focuses on his Middle Way strategy, which advocates for a radical commitment to dialogue, coexistence, and peaceful resolution in the face of geopolitical conflict. Through his own words, spanning major international addresses to intimate teachings, readers encounter a leader whose wisdom is as practical as it is profound. More than a biography, this is a deeply human story providing a vital and timely testament to leadership grounded in ethics and service in a divided world. Representing a significant contribution to understanding the transformative leadership of the Dalai Lama, this book offers profound reflections on resilience, cultural preservation, and the enduring power of compassionate action to transcend political boundaries. "The best biography of H.H. the Dalai Lama available—extremely well-written, an utter delight to read, and a powerful source of hope for a good future." —Robert Thurman, Jey Tsong Khapa Professor Emeritus, Columbia University "This eye-opening account of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama’s life adds the impact of Tibetan culture, giving us a fresh, deeper sense of this visionary saint for our time." —Daniel Goleman, author of the international bestseller Emotional Intelligence For General Readers The Pocket Dalai Lama, which can fit in a shirt pocket, is a sampler of His Holiness's writings across the many more secular topics he often addresses to broader audiences, including religion, happiness, democracy and human rights, forgiveness, nonviolence, and world peace. Policy of Kindness: An Anthology of Writings by and about the Dalai Lama, published shortly after he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, is an introduction to his background and daily life and his views and teachings. Currently available only as an eBook. Paperback The Pocket Dalai Lama One of the most influential Buddhist leaders of our time, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama is a Nobel Peace Laureate and the exiled spiritual head of the Tibetan people. A tireless teacher and writer, he is the author of dozens of widely acclaimed works, including The Art of Happiness and The Heart of Meditation—and this compact collection brings together a selection of inspiring short teachings from many of his popular books. Addressing a broad range of subjects, such as nonviolence, impermanence, religion, politics, and human rights, these wise words show the power of goodness even in the most uncertain of times. Hardcover | Ebook | Audiobook A Future We Can Love: How We Can Reverse the Climate Crisis with the Power of Our Hearts and Minds While A Future We Can Love is not authored by His Holiness, it is based on a conversation between he and Greta Thunberg.  He appears throughout the book, and the audiobook includes him speaking passages that are quoted at length in the book. A Future We Can Love shares the words of these two great figures, generations apart, bringing them into dialogue with cutting-edge climate scientists, activists, and spiritual leaders to start a world-changing conversation. Listeners embark on a four-part journey toward active hope in the face of the climate crisis: from knowledge of climate science through the capacity for change, to the will that is needed and the actions we can take. eBook Policy of Kindness This book offers a comprehensive view of the Dalai Lama—both his personal life and his thoughts on issues of global concern. It provides an engaging picture of a man whose goodwill, understanding, and practicality have brought him respect from world leaders and the acclaim of millions around the world. Conversations with the Dalai Lama on Science and Buddhist Fundamentals The following titles are more specific on what the teachings of the Buddha and his spiritual heirs offer to humanity. Where Buddhism Meets Neuroscience (previously published as Consciousness at the Crossroads: Conversations with the Dalai Lama on Brain Science and Buddhism) records the Dalai Lama's conversations with many leading scientists who specialize in how the brain works. The Western approach of the scientific method meets the Buddhist approach of the science of experience. Questions of perception, dualism, categories of consciousness, memory, dreams, the nature of mental illness, and the mind during and after death are all explored. Discussing the difference between the brain and the mind, he states, "Generally speaking, awareness, in the sense of our familiar, day-to-day mental processes, does not exist apart from or independent from the brain, according to the Buddhist view. But Buddhism holds that the cause of awareness is to be found in a preceding continuum of awareness from one life to another. Whence does this awareness arise initially? It must arise fundamentally not from a physical base but from a preceding continuum of awareness. " In Answers: Discussions with Western Buddhists, His Holiness responds to a wide range of questions (from Western non-Buddhists as well!), on topics such as the idea of a creator god, how to reconcile Western physics and Buddhist teachings, Buddhism's essence versus its cultural forms, vipassana in sutra and tantra, tantric meditation, and guru devotion. Kindness, Clarity, and Insight, one of the most widely read of His Holiness's books, includes a series of talks covering the fundamentals of Buddhism (the four noble truths, karma, the six perfections) as well as topics appropriate for a general audience, like religious values, compassion in global politics, and religious harmony. On this latter topic, he says, "Philosophical teachings are not the end, not the aim, not what you serve. The aim is to help and benefit others. . . . If we go into the differences in philosophy and argue with and criticize each other, it is useless. . . . Better to look at the purpose of the philosophies and to see what is shared-an emphasis on love, compassion, and respect for a higher force." Paperback | eBook Where Buddhism Meets Neuroscience: Conversations with the Dalai Lama on the Spiritual and Scientific Views of Our Minds Is the mind an ephemeral side effect of the brain’s physical processes? Are there forms of consciousness so subtle that science has not yet identified them? How does consciousness happen? Organized by the Mind and Life Institute, this discussion addresses some of the most troublesome questions that have driven a wedge between Western science and religion. Read More Paperback | eBook Answers: Discussions with Western Buddhists  In India, at the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment, it became a well-established tradition for the Dalai Lama to spend several days each year giving teachings to Buddhists from all over the world. Following his teachings, he held informal group discussions with Western students of Buddhism. In these lively exchanges, the Dalai Lama exhibits clear and penetrating insight into issues that are most important to Western students. Read More Paperback | eBook Kindness, Clarity, and Insight: The Fundamentals of Buddhist Thought and Practice This beloved classic brings together in one volume all the major themes of the Dalai Lama’s teachings. Drawn from the lectures he gave during his first three visits to North America, the book covers the core subject matter of Tibetan Buddhism, as presented for the first time to an English-speaking audience. The chapters are arranged developmentally from simple to complex topics, which include the luminous nature of the mind, the four noble truths, karma, the common goals of the world’s religions, meditation, deities, and selflessness. Read More In the groundbreaking Healing Emotions: Conversations with the Dalai Lama on Mindfulness, Emotions, and Health, the Dalai Lama discusses this range of topics with Daniel Goleman, Jon Kabat-Zin, Sharon Salzberg, and many leading scientists. His Holiness' further ideas about the intersection of Buddhism and science, and how the former can inform the latter are captured in Gentle Bridges: Conversations with the Dalai Lama on the Sciences of Mind. Paperback | eBook Healing Emotions: Conversations with the Dalai Lama on Psychology, Meditation, and the Mind-Body Connection Can the mind heal the body? The Buddhist tradition says yes—and now many Western scientists are beginning to agree. These discussions between the Dalai Lama and this group of prominent physicians, psychologists, philosophers, and behaviorists shed new light on the mind-body connection. Read More Paperback | eBook Gentle Bridges: Conversations with the Dalai Lama on the Sciences of Mind What is the essence of the mind? Could computers ever have consciousness? Can compassion be learned? When does consciousness enter the human embryo? These are just some of the many questions that were discussed during a historic meeting that took place between several prominent Western scientists and the Dalai Lama. Gentle Bridges is a chronicle of this extraordinary exchange of ideas. Read More Books for Buddhists For Buddhists, His Holiness's books fall roughly under the following categories (click to jump to each one): overviews of the Buddhist path; the Great Vehicle of the Mahayana; Tantra; Dzogchen and Mahamudra. Lam Rim (Stages of the Path) Several of His Holiness's books fall specifically under the category of Lam Rim teachings, or graduated stages of the path to enlightenment. Lam Rim teachings combine all the core practices of the Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Buddhist traditions as taught in unbroken succession from the Buddha down to today. The Lam Rim teachings are a corpus of teachings that began with Atisha's The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, which is itself based on the Maitreya/Asanga text the Abhisamayalamkara, or Ornament of Clear Realization, on which there is a rich body of literature in Tibetan. What many consider the most detailed of Lam Rim teachings is Tsongkhapa's Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment. Paperback | eBook Volume I This first of three volumes covers all the practices that are prerequisite for developing the spirit of enlightenment (bodhicitta). Paperback | eBook Volume II This second of three volumes covers the deeds of the bodhisattvas, as well as how to train in the six perfections. Paperback | eBook Volume III This third and final volume contains a presentation of the two most important topics in the work: meditative serenity (śamatha) and supramundane insight into the nature of reality (vipaśyanā). Refining Gold: Stages in Buddhist Contemplative Practice (previously published as The Path to Enlightenment) is His Holiness's section-by-section commentary on The Essence of Refined Gold, penned by the Third Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso, which itself is a distillation of Tsongkhapa's Great Treatise. As with other Lam Rim texts, it covers the entire path, and while Lam Rim is typically considered specific to the Gelug tradition, as His Holiness says, "in that its source is none other than the doctrines of the Buddha as gathered and clarified by prophesied Indian masters such as Nagarjuna and Asanga, every Buddhist tradition should be able to see reflections of their own practices through the Lam Rim. " In The Complete Foundation: The Systematic Approach to Training the Mind (previously published as The Path to Bliss: A Practical Guide to Stages of Meditation), His Holiness presents the Lam Rim of the Fourth Panchen Lama, Lobsang Chokyi Gyaltsen, entitled The Path to Bliss Leading to Omniscience. He gives the origin of Lam Rim teachings and then goes into the preliminary practices followed by the main meditation practices of the Lam Rim. Another recent book on Lam Rim is From Here to Enlightenment: An Introduction to Tsong-kha-pa's Classic Text The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment. This is a concise distillation of the entire work and a great starting point.  There is a very moving, short video of His Holiness explaining how precious Tsongkhapa's text is to him. This is a great way to approach this classic text, and His Holiness makes it very accessible. Paperback | eBook Refining Gold: Stages in Buddhist Contemplative Practice In this extensive teaching, the Dalai Lama beautifully elucidates the meaning of the path to enlightenment through his own direct spiritual advice and personal reflections. Based on a very famous Tibetan text, this teaching presents in practical terms the essential instructions for the attainment of enlightenment. Its direct approach and lucid style make Refining Gold one of the most accessible introductions to Tibetan Buddhism ever published. Read More Paperback | eBook The Complete Foundation: A Systematic Approach to Training the Mind Clear, eloquent, simple, and profound, His Holiness’s teachings are easily accessible to beginning practitioners yet richly nourishing to those more advanced in practice. In The Complete Foundation, the Dalai Lama shows how visualization, reason, and contemplation can be systematically crafted to enhance personal development. Beginning with practices designed to create an effective mental outlook, His Holiness skillfully guides the student to more advanced techniques for developing the mind’s deepest potential and happiness. Read More Paperback | eBook From Here to Enlightenment When the Dalai Lama was forced into exile in 1959, he could take only a few items with him. Among these cherished belongings was his copy of Tsong-kha-pa’s classic text The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment. This text distills all the essential points of Tibetan Buddhism, clearly unfolding the entire Buddhist path. Read More Dalai Lama: From Here to Enlightenment from Shambhala Publications on Vimeo. Multi-Theme Works The Buddhism of Tibet  begins with a concise overview of the entire Tibetan Buddhist path from sutra to tantra. This is followed by a translation of His Holiness's text explicating the meaning of emptiness entitled The Key to the Middle Way. Supplementing these two sections is a translation of Nagarjuna's Precious Garland-a text also published as a book by Snow Lion under the same title  with more extensive background and including the Tibetan-and finally the Seventh Dalai Lama's The Song of the Four Mindfulnesses, a short poem encapsulating the essentials of both sutra and tantra. While addressing a Western audience, the lectures contained in Our Human Potential: The Unassailable Path of Love, Compassion, and Meditation (previously published as The Dalai Lama at Harvard)  go deep into the fundamental teachings of Buddhism and its philosophy. He presents the ground of the path, covering topics such as the condition of cyclic existence, karma, emptiness, and the meditation techniques for liberation, but then he bridges these topics to the universal ideals of altruism, love for enemies, and wisdom. Perfecting Patience: Buddhist Techniques to Overcome Anger  (previously published as Healing Anger)  covers the whole Buddhist path but focuses on the specific topic of overcoming the powerful emotion of anger by cultivating patience as prescribed in Shantideva's classic text, The Way of the Bodhisattva. Paperback | eBook The Buddhism of Tibet Unlike most books by the Dalai Lama which are edited compilations of talks that he has given, this book consists of two texts that he himself wrote and two that he chose—all especially aimed at helping Western readers become better grounded in Buddhism. He wrote "The Buddhism of Tibet" and "The Key to the Middle Way" sections to explain the principal topics and central practices of Buddhism. Read More Paperback | eBook Our Human Potential (previously published under the title The Dalai Lama at Harvard) When His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave a series of lectures at Harvard University, they fulfilled magnificently his intention of providing an in-depth introduction to Buddhist theory and practice. He structured the presentation according to the teachings of the Four Noble Truths and expanded their meaning to cover most of the topics of Tibetan Buddhism.  Read More Paperback | eBook Perfecting Patience: Buddhist Techniques to Overcome Anger All of the world’s major religions emphasize the importance of love, compassion, and tolerance. This is particularly true in the Buddhist traditions, which unanimously state that compassion and love are the foundation of all paths of practice. To cultivate the potential for compassion and love inherent within us, it is crucial to counteract their opposing forces of anger and hatred. In Perfecting Patience, the Dalai Lama shows how, through the practice of patience and tolerance, we can overcome the obstacles of anger and hatred. Read More In the first half of An Introduction to Buddhism (previously published as Lighting the Way), His Holiness covers the Four Noble Truths and mind training, or lojong, as laid out by Kadampa master Langri Tangpa. The second half is devoted to a commentary on Atisha's Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, the source text upon which the Lam Rim, or graduated stages of the path, is based. A longer commentary on this text by the late Geshe Sonam Rinchen is also available. An Introduction to Buddhism is also is available as an audiobook: Paperback | eBook The audio book is available on Audible and Apple and is read by the actor Roger Allam (of Endeavor and much more). Audible Apple Shambhala Publications · Introduction To Buddhism By The Dalai Lama - Audiobook Sample Mahayana While many of the books above also include presentations of the Mahayana, the following are deep dives into some of the most important Mahayana texts and ones His Holiness has returned to many times in his teachings around the world. His Holiness has frequently taught on Shantideva's Bodhicaryavatara, or Way of the Bodhisattva, sometimes translated as Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life, considered one of the most important texts of the Mahayana canon. The Dalai Lama said that Shantideva "turned his own weapons upon himself, doing battle with his negative emotions. Therefore, when we teach or listen to this text, it is important that we do so in order to progress spiritually, rather than making it simply a subject of academic study. " Having received the transmission of this text from Khunu Rinpoche, who received it from Patrul Rinpoche (whose teachings on the text were said to be accompanied by auspicious signs like the blossoming of flowers with an incredible number of petals), His Holiness has prized this text and taught it widely. In For the Benefit of All Beings, translated by the Padmakara Translation Group, who also translated one of the most popular versions of the Way of the Bodhisattva, His Holiness gives an overview and commentary on each chapter of the text, distilling the key messages on the benefits of bodhichitta, offering and purification, carefulness, attentiveness, patience, endeavor, concentration, wisdom, and dedication. This is also available in our Pocket Series as The Bodhisattva Guide and as an audio download. Paperback | eBook For the Benefit of All Beings: A Commentary on The Way of the Bodhisattva The fourteenth Dalai Lama, a living embodiment of the bodhisattva ideal, presents here detailed practical guidance based on sections of The Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva, the best-known text of Mahayana Buddhism. The Dalai Lama explains this classic and beloved work, showing how anyone can develop a truly "good heart" and the aspiration for the enlightenment of all beings. Read More Paperback | eBook The Bodhisattva Guide One of the most beloved of all Buddhist texts, The Way of the Bodhisattva is a practical guide to generating the qualities of love, compassion, generosity, and patience. In this commentary on key sections of the text, the Dalai Lama shows how any of us can develop a truly “good heart,” and why aspiring toward the happiness and enlightenment of others is central to any genuinely spiritual path. Read More *Note: This is the small format edition of For the Benefit of Beings Shambhala Publications · For the Benefit of All Beings by the Dalai Lama - Sample Audio Download Paperback | eBook The ninth chapter or "Wisdom Chapter" of the Bodhicaryavatara, is considered one of the most profound and requires deep study and practice to truly understand. In Perfecting Wisdom: How Things Appear and How They Truly Are (previously published as Transcendent Wisdom), the focus is this chapter. Here His Holiness goes deep into the subjects of the methods needed to cultivate wisdom, what identity-less-ness means, and how the notion of true existence is refuted. Another set of texts His Holiness has taught on are the so-called Bhavanakrama ( "Stages of Meditation ") texts of Kamalashila, who composed three versions of this text in Tibet. In Stages of Meditation: The Buddhist Classic on Training the Mind, the Dalai Lama gives the fundamental teachings on how to meditate, based on the middle-length version of these texts. He also relates very moving circumstances about how he came to receive the transmission of this text from the Sakya abbot Sangye Tenzin in Bodhgaya. On a related note, another text His Holiness frequently teaches on is the Eight Verses for Training the Mind, written by Langri Tangpa. The most common teachings on lojong, or mind training, are the Seven-Point Mind Training, by Chekawa Yeshe Dorje. Both of these texts derive from the teaching of Atisha Dipankara Shrijnana, the great Bengali master who went to Tibet and reinvigorated the traditions there. Atisha's famous Bodhipathiapradipa or A Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment is discussed above. Paperback | eBook Tantra In the foreword to The Practice of Kalachakra, the Dalai Lama explains the importance of tantra: "Tantric practice is more powerful than the general sutra trainings for a number of reasons. One of these is that it fully integrates the factors of method and wisdom. In the sutra path one meditates on emptiness, or the non-inherent existence of phenomena, within the framework of the compassionate aspiration to highest enlightenment. Meditation on emptiness is the factor of wisdom, and the bodhisattva aspiration is method. However, in the sutra path these two cannot be generated simultaneously within one moment's consciousness by a practitioner on ordinary levels. In the tantric path, as method one generates the mandala and deities, and then focuses on their empty nature. In this way method and wisdom arise simultaneously in the entity of one mind." While traditionally works on this subject were kept secret and not distributed widely, the fact that there has been so much misunderstanding and misappropriation of tantra and its methods made the Dalai Lama felt that "translating and distributing an authoritative book may help to clear away the false superimpositions." The books resulting from this wish are below. Paperback | eBook A key element in tantric practice is guru yoga, as it acts as a foundation upon which the rest of the tantric framework is built. In The Union of Bliss and Emptiness: Teachings on the Practice of Guru Yoga,  the Dalai Lama explains this practice, using the Lama Chopa of Lobsang Chokyi Gyalsten, the Fourth Panchen Lama, as the vehicle. There are three books by His Holiness that form a series focused on Tsongkhapa's Great Exposition of Secret Mantra, sometimes translated as The Great Exposition of Secret Mantra, which, along with his Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, is considered by many his most important work. In this text Tsongkhapa presents the differences between sutra and tantra and the main features of various systems of tantra. Each of the three books below begins with the Dalai Lama contextualizing and commenting on the points presented in Tsongkhapa's text, followed by a translation of the corresponding part of the text itself. In Volume 1, Tantra in Tibet, His Holiness first lays out the foundation of motivation, refuge, and the Hinayana and Mahayana paths. He then gives an overview of tantra, the notion of Clear Light, the greatness of mantra, and initiation or empowerment. Continuing his commentary in Volume II Deity Yoga, His Holiness discusses deity yoga at length with a particular focus on action and performance tantras (the first two categories of tantra as it is described in the sarma, or "new translation " schools). Then in Volume III Yoga Tantra the Dalai Lama details the practice of the next level of tantra, yoga tantra. With a preliminary overview of the motivation, His Holiness explains this level, which focuses on internal yoga, which here means the union of deity yoga with the wisdom of realizing emptiness. He details the yoga, both that with and that without signs, and then briefly explains how gaining stability in these practices is the foundation for some other practices that lead to mundane and extraordinary "feats." An explanation of highest yoga tantra is not included in these works, but an excellent resource is Daniel Cozort's Highest Yoga Tantra. His Holiness, who has given the Kalachakra empowerment to hundreds of thousands of the devoted in Asia and the West, discusses the practice in From the Heart of Chenrezig, a collection of teachings on Tantra by eight of the Dalai Lamas. Paperback | eBook Dzogchen and Mahamudra Dzogchen and Mahamudra are two related bodies of teachings and practices that are considered by many  to be the pinnacle of Vajrayana Buddhism. Paperback | eBook Mahamudra, or The Great Seal, while often associated in the West with the Kagyu school, has a rich set of traditions in the Sakya and Gelug schools as well. The latter tradition, which has both sutra- and tantra-level teachings on the subject, is revealed in The Gelug/Kagyu Tradition of Mahamudra. This book is based on the text by the First Panchen Lama, Khedrup Je, entitled The Main Road of the Triumphant Ones, which is included in translation. His Holiness presents a commentary both on the root text and Khedrup Je's auto-commentary. Paperback | eBook The Dalai Lama has received empowerments from all the main Tibetan lineages, including, extensively, that of the Nyingma. He is a student of the late Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, who gave him extensive instruction in the practices of Dzogchen, or Great Perfection. His Holiness has said, As is said in an oral transmission by the great lama Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro, when the great Nyingmapa adept Longchen Rabjam gives a presentation of the ground, path, and fruit, he does so mainly from the perspective of the enlightened state of a Buddha, whereas the Sakyapa presentation is mainly from the perspective of the spiritual experience of a yogi on the path, and the Gelukpa presentation is mainly from the perspective of how phenomena appear to ordinary sentient beings. His statement appears to be worthy of considerable reflection; through it many misunderstandings can be removed. Longchen Rabjam's view is implicitly presented in Dzogchen: The Heart Essence of the Great Perfection, in which His Holiness teaches on Patrul Rinpoche's commentary to Garab Dorje's famous Three Words That Strike the Vital Point, also using other texts such as Longchenpa's Cho Ying Dzod, or Precious Treasury of the Fundamental Nature. Paperback | eBook His Holiness' latest book, The Heart of Meditation: Discovering Innermost Awareness,  he teaches on Dzogchen (rendered by the translator here as the Great Completeness) simply but thoroughly, using as his reference a visionary poem by the nineteenth-century master Patrul Rinpoche to show that insight can never be separated from compassion. Through the practice, we can access our innermost awareness and live our lives in a way that acknowledges it and manifests it. The wisdom and compassion that arise from such insight are critical, His Holiness teaches, not only to individual progress in meditation but to our collective progress toward peace in the world. We will close this Great Masters post with a quote from His Holiness included in Matthieu Ricard's anthology On the Path to Enlightenment: "When the teachings say we need to reduce our fascination with the things of this life, it does not mean that we should abandon them completely. It means avoiding the natural tendency to go from elation to depression in reaction to life's ups and downs, jumping for joy when you have some success, or wanting to jump out the window if you do not get what you want. Being less concerned about the affairs of this life means assuming its ups and downs with a broad and stable mind." Discover More Reader's Guides, Articles, and Resources Tsongkhapa: A Guide to His Life and Works Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche: A Reader's Guide Atisha: A Guide for Readers The Human Situation (an excerpt from Refining Gold)

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Teachings to Prepare for Death

Intermediate States: Bardos and Living and Dying from Ancient India to 21st Century New York The term bardo, often translated as "intermediate state" is a term that entered the popular imagination in the West with the publication of W.Y. Evans-Wentz's 1927 translation of The Great Liberation by Hearing in the Intermediate States, which he rendered as The Tibetan Book of the Dead. It is curious that such a specialized esoteric text packed with the imagery of Buddhist tantra and intended for practitioners who had undergone years of training and received the proper initiations, came to be so well-known. But such was the attraction of the exotic then, and that attraction continues: new translations continue to appear, keeping Evans-Wentz's title and presenting the visions of peaceful and wrathful deities to a wide audience. But there is something more to its appeal than simply infatuation with the exotic as, if one looks closely, the teachings on intermediate states - made famous in this text - have an intuitive appeal and in fact are enmeshed with broader teachings of karma, suffering, and our possibility for transcendence. So when we see an artist like Laurie Anderson whose new film Heart of the Dog explores death and letting go through the lens of the bardo teachings, the very immediate and human experience of these teachings is laid bare in a contemporary context. Recent Releases on the Bardo Teachings In How We Live Is How We Die, Pema Chödrön shares her wisdom for working with this flow of life—learning to live with ease, joy, and compassion through uncertainty, embracing new beginnings, and ultimately preparing for death with curiosity and openness rather than fear. Also available as an audiobook. Shambhala Publications · How We Live Is How We Die Audiobook Sample More Books on the Bardo Teachings One of the most well-known versions of the The Tibetan Book of the Dead  was translated by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Francesca Fremantle with a commentary by the former. On one level, the teachings presented in this text are instructions on how an advanced practitioner can secure liberation within the actual process of death. As they progress through these well-mapped stages of dying, opportunities present themselves for the practitioner to recognize what is happening and, with relative ease, free themselves from the cycle of rebirth, up to 49 days  after the physical body is considered dead. In popular practice, the text was often read to those in the process of dying, whether or not they had engaged in the training to achieve this goal. While the concept of intermediate states was present in various schools of Buddhism in India, the teachings on these really flourished in the Tibetan traditions most of all. It was here where the different states - and detailed descriptions of them - were mapped out in extraordinary detail by the texts as well as adepts who mastered them. The particular text focused on here, a revelation of Karma Lingpa in the 14th century, is a continuation - or perhaps re-ignition - of a set of teachings rooted in a much older tradition of the Guhyagarbha tantra which was compiled from even older texts and oral instructions in India in the 6th century and came to Tibet with Guru Rinpoche in the 8th century. So there is a long history to these teachings with death and dying where the rubber meets the road. However, there is also a way of presenting them that emphasizes how they are applicable to the here and now. As Trungpa Rinpoche explains in his Transcending Madness: The Experience of the Six Bardos," the experience of the six bardos is not concerned with the future alone; it also concerns the present moment. Every step of experience, every step of life, is a bardo experience." Milarepa (1040-1123) The great yogi Milarepa, beloved saint of the Himalayas, wrote a Vajra-song about the bardos, detailed in Opening the Treasure of the Profound, which conveys how sentient beings and Buddhas share the same nature, the implication being that anyone can become enlightened in the here and now as we continually pass through these intermediate states. Francesca Fremantle in her Luminous Emptiness: Understanding the Tibetan Book of the Dead explores more deeply this idea that bardo teachings are as much for this present life as it is for the next life. In Mind Beyond Death, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche gives a very comprehensive presentation of the bardos, providing a framework for directing our own story of living and dying. That is a very powerful message. Teachings to Prepare for Death For those interested in the emphasis of these teachings to prepare for death specifically, there is a wealth of material to support their practice. It should be noted that this text and associated practices are meant to be done under the guidance of a qualified master with an unbroken lineage from the source. One of the most readable treatments of the bardos is Tulku Thondup's Peaceful Death, Joyful Rebirth: A Tibetan Buddhist Guidebook. Tulku Rinpoche gives a wonderful overview of how death is not the end, why practice is important for both this life and the death process, and then gets into very specific teachings and practices which the reader can actually do. A more distilled treatment can be found in Dudjom Rinpoche's Counsels from My Heart where he briefly presents the six bardos and describes the state of a dying person as they progress through these states. Preparing to Die is another excellent source book for those who are facing death or working with those who are dying. It is a spiritual toolkit that discusses the bardos that also includes very practical advice from contemporary masters. It also covers more worldly matters from the medical to the legal. More Traditional Accounts of the Bardos Some other more traditional accounts of the bardos include Lama Lodu's Bardo Teachings: The Way of Death & Rebirth. This is a complement to Trungpa and Fremantle's translation as it includes teachings on the Chikai bardo, the intermediate state that occurs at the moment of death which were not included in Trungpa Rinpoche's volume. While many of the above are presentations of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, all the other schools have very clear teachings on the bardos. One example is Tsongkhapa's presentation included in The Six Yogas of Naropa. Can we control our own trajectory when we die? What all these have in common of course is that they present the very real possibility that any of us, with proper training in the preliminary and main practices, can live a life with fearlessness with the skills and ability to control our own trajectory when we die. Related Books

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