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From the Pali tradition: suttas and commentaries including the Dhammapada, the Samaññaphala-Sutta, the Ānāpānasati Sutta, and the Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta; key teachings like the Four Noble Truths; stories from the life of the Buddha; and essential guides to samatha and vipassana practice based on the canonical texts.

From East Asia: sutras like the Heart Sutra and commentaries, the Diamond Sutra, the Flower Ornament Sutra, the Samdhinirmocana Sutra, the Hui-neng (Platform) Sutra, the Sutra of Complete Enlightenment; important expositions including by Hakuin and Dogen; koan collections such as the Blue Cliff Record, the Book of Serenity, and that of Master Yunmen.

From the Sanskrit Indian tradition:  the Five Maitreya Texts of Asanga; other key texts studied today including those by Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Chandrakirti, Shantideva, Shantarakshita, Vasubandhu, Strimati, and more.

From the Tibetan tradition: comprehensive overviews such as the Treasury of Knowledge and The Complete Nyingma Tradition;  important Lam Rims or Stages of the Path by Tsongkhapa, Gampopa, and Jigme Lingpa; Ngondro commentaries by Patrul Rinpoche and Dudjom Rinpoche; Essential overviews by Longchenpa, Rongzompa, Mipham Rinpoche, and more; and key Tantric expositions by Rangjung Dorje, Khenpo Ngawang Palzang, Sera Khandro, Dodrupchen Jigme Tenpa'i Nyima, and Lama Dampa Sonam Gyaltsen; and key tantras including the Guhyagarbha and Kunjed Gyalpo.

Foundational Buddhist Texts



A Reader’s Guide to Shantideva and the Way of the Bodhisattva

A Reader’s Guide to Shantideva and the Way of the Bodhisattva

A Reader's Guide to the Way of the Bodhisattva See Also:  Profiles of early Indian Mahayana figures | Tibetan Masters of the 8th Century | Tibetan Masters of the 10th-11th Centuries...

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The Seven Line Prayer of Guru Rinpoche: A Reader’s Guide

The Seven Line Prayer of Guru Rinpoche: A Reader’s Guide

The Seven-Line prayer to Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava, is one of the most ubiquitous and important prayers, performed across lineages and in particular the Nyingma tradition who commence nearly ev...

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Kalu Rinpoche on “The Treasury of Knowledge” Translation

Kalu Rinpoche on “The Treasury of Knowledge” Translation

Kalu Rinpoche and the Translation of The Treasury of Knowledge Below Sarah Harding shares the story of how Kalu Rinpoche came to take on the task of translating Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye's The T...

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A Readers Guide to the Sakya Master Chogyal Phagpa

A Readers Guide to the Sakya Master Chogyal Phagpa

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