LMU
- Spring Extension 2007 - The Eightfold Path - Kusala
Bhikshu
The Buddhist Eightfold Path - A Way To Happiness
University Hall 1404 / Loyola Marymount University
Instructor: Kusala Bhikshu
Thur. - 7:30 – 9:30 pm / Jan. 11 - Feb. 8, 2007
This course offers a detailed introduction to the Buddhist Eightfold
Path. The Buddha in his forty-five years of teaching taught two
things: why humans suffer and how to end the suffering. We will
explore the Eightfold Path and how it leads to a lifestyle of
simplicity and personal fulfillment. Buddhist Precept Practice
and Meditation will be investigated through stories and personal
examples and finally the course will show how to integrate the
Eightfold Path into everyday life.
Suggested Reading:
The
Noble Eightfold Path — by
Bhikkhu Bodhi - 122 Pages (PDF File) - (1.2 MB) -- Free
Download
"One of the best explanations of the Eightfold path in
print today!" The present book aims at contributing towards
a proper understanding of the Noble Eightfold Path by investigating
its eight factors and their components to determine exactly what
they involve. Bhikkhu Bodhi is concise, using as the framework
for his exposition the Buddha's own words in explanation of the
path factors, as found in the Sutta Pitaka of the Pali Canon.
The
Eightfold Path for the Householder — Jack
Kornfeld - 143 Pages (PDF File) - (486 KB) -- Free
Download
This text is a transcript of teachings given by Jack Kornfeld
on the Eightfold Path. These teachings are aimed at the householder.
Each part of the Eightfold Path is explained in a separate chapter.
The tone of the teaching is contemporary and non-technical. The
universality and relevance of the Buddha's teaching are illustrated
by numerous quotations from more recent luminaries. There are
also some useful exercises which enable the reader to experience
the truth of these teachings.
Mindfulness
In Plain English — Ven.
Henepola Gunaratana - 105 Pages (PDF File) - (637 KB) -- Free
Download
The subject of this book is Vipassana meditation practice. Repeat,
practice. This is a meditation manual, a nuts-and-bolts, step-by-step
guide to Insight meditation. It is meant to be practical. It
is meant for use. This book is a 'How to.' It is written for
those who actually want to meditate and especially for those
who want to start now.
The Seeker's Glossary of Buddhism: A Dictionary
/ Encyclopedia of Buddhism - 999 Pages (PDF File)
- (4.7 MB) -- Free Download
This is a revised and expanded edition of 'The
Seeker's Glossary of Buddhism.' The text is a compendium of excerpts
and quotations from some 350 works by monks, nuns, professors,
scholars and other laypersons from nine different countries,
in their own words or in translation.
How to use the Glossary: This book can be used in threeways:
to find the definition of unfamiliar terms; to gain a broader
understanding of specific Buddhist concepts; and also as an introduction
to Buddhism. In the last instance, we suggest that readers begin
with the entry on Parables, then move on to Practice, Obstacles
to Cultivation and Ten Non-Seeking Practices. Other
entries of a more contemporary interest can be read with benefit
by all. These include: Birth Control, Organ Transplants,
Vegetarianism, Universe, Immortality.
Daily
Readings / Buddha's Words of Wisdom — by Ven.
S. Dhammika - 284 Pages (PDF File) - (1.8 MB) -- Free
Download
For over two thousand years the discourses of the Buddha have
nourished the spiritual lives of countless millions of people.
This ebook contains extracts of the early Buddhist discourses
from the Pali Tipitaka, and also from some post-canonical writings.
Presented so that one reading can be reflected upon each day
of the year. This ebook is an indispensable companion for anyone
trying to apply the Buddha's gentle message to their daily life.
Amazon.com/Local Book Store
The
Attention Revolution: Unlocking the Power of the Focused
Mind (Paperback)
by B. Alan Wallace
Book Description -
Shamatha meditation is a method for achieving previously inconceivable
levels of concentration.
Author B. Alan Wallace, an active participant
in the much-publicized dialogues between Buddhists and scholars,
has more than 20 years’ practice in the discipline, some
of it under the guidance of the Dalai Lama. This book is a definitive
presentation of his knowledge of shamatha. It is aimed at the
contemporary seeker who is distracted and defocused by the dizzying
pace of modern life, as well as those suffering from depression
and other mental maladies. Beginning by addressing the inherent
problems that follow from an inability to focus, Wallace moves
on to explore varying levels of meditation. The result is an
interior travelogue that recounts an exciting, rewarding "expedition
of the mind," tracing everything from the confusions at
the bottom of the trail to the extraordinary clarity and power
that come with making it to the top.
Amazon.com
Customer Review -- "Attention" is
written by an experienced and respected Buddhist practitioner,
and summarizes an advanced method for
improving Attentiveness with meditation (and vice-versa). The
book also investigates how Attentiveness can be stabilized and
trained in a positive manner (as opposed to simply correcting
an attention deficit). Many spiritual traditions and Western
psychologists (notably William James) have examined Attentiveness,
but "Attention" focuses on a ten-stage training pioneered
by an Indian Buddhist monk Kamalashila. This method simply works,
in the studied experience of the author and other practitioners
over several centuries. The book is most useful for those already
familiar with Buddhism or advanced meditation methods.
-The training first absolutely demands
cultivating an attitude of decent kindness towards oneself
and others, solid ethical
integrity, attention cultivation, and refined insight development
(these prerequisites clearly distinguish it from more psychological
methods). As the mind, including the emotions, and consciousness
settle into a more natural state, sustained but relaxed Attentiveness
will allow Insight to be more predictable, prolonged, and wise
(instead of a "flash of insight," one might develop
more of a "path of insight"). The Goal includes reducing
or eliminating suffering and developing what might be called
eudaemonic happiness -- and I might add my opinion that science
(for all its miracles in reducing unhappiness) has fallen flat
on its face in providing this. "Attention" develops
each step in a separate chapter, followed by a brief interlude
discussing a relevant "aside" of mind training. Of
course, any brief summary is unrealistic, but the ten steps sort
of progressively evolve from a focused awareness of one's sensations
and thoughts to a subtle dis-covery of the origins of those sensations
and thoughts. Sort of. Although one may not master all ten steps
in the program, it sure helps to have a reasonably good map and
a valid idea of where one is going!
-The author notes extensive mind
training is like going on an expedition (clearly, given the
practically infinite extent of
the mind -- see Gerald Edelman's discussions -- it is among the
most exciting expeditions imaginable). Alas, the schedule for
complete Attentiveness training is rigorous, requiring several
consistent hours per day with some "coaching" by a
qualified teacher (the same could be true of being an Olympic
medalist or a neurosurgery attending). Other reviewers have noted
this. Reading "Attention" is therefore like receiving
training or reading about high-altitude physical conditioning
from Reinhold Messner or Matt Carpenter -- one may not duplicate
their stamina, but it's surely worthwhile to know how the legitimate
super-experts do it and one will more likely pick up very useful
tips from them. Importantly, the author and the method, seem
demonstrably qualified, gentle, trustable guides with credentials,
perspective, and heart. This seems among the best recommendations
of all, and one of the best reasons for dedicated practitioners
to examine this book. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
The
Spectrum of Consciousness (Quest
Books) (Paperback)
by
Ken Wilber (Author)
Book
Description...
A synthesis of religion, philosophy, physics, and psychology
that started a revolution in transpersonal psychology.
Amazon.com
Customer Review... Still
Highly Significant and Well Worth the Read, February 19,
2006 / This review is for: The Spectrum of Consciousness
(Quest Books) (Paperback)
Though Ken Wilber's work has progressed significantly since this
book was first written (1973), I believe it still remains a highly
significant study and model and anyone interested in transpersonal
psychology, or the relation between the human mind, soul and spirit
would do well to read this book and absorb it's contents.
There are several reasons for this and the first is that it is
very clearly and lucidly written from a psychological/spiritual
worldview that remains quite widespread and even dominant in the
culture of serious spiritual aspirants (as well as sensitive psychologists,
ecologists and people from all walks of life). From that standpoint
alone, if I had read this book 20 years ago, nearly all of 20 years
of confusion over the seemingly conflicting subjects the book deals
with would not have occurred. (The confusion being the bridge between
modern psychology and traditional spirituality, or if there even
was one to be found.) For that reason alone, this book remains
highly significant.
The second reason is that, as explained in the new (brief)
introduction, the model this book presents is from the spiritual
standpoint of involution - as opposed to evolution, the direction
Wilber's later work would primarily take. Though, yes, indeed,
after actually looking deeply into the evidence in later years
Wilber (an innovator now for the second time) discovered that
there was quite a bit missing (and/or somewhat flawed) to this
overall worldview and model, involution still remains an ever
present reality and a central tenet of the perennial philosophy
of the world's great religions and mystics. (It may also disclose
itself to you as such at the right level of spiritual experience
either in mediation or a sudden "peak
experience.") Once again, for that reason alone, this book
is still quite well worth the reading.
The third reason this book remains highly significant is that
it clearly demonstrates the reality (and relative location)
of the buried, psychological, unconscious "shadow." That to me may be
THE most important reason to read this book for 1.) Though it comes
up often in Wilber's later works, it is not demonstrated and highlighted
so clearly and simply (and so could easily be missed) and 2.) The "shadow" is
something the Perennial Philosophy of the world's great religions
NEVER knew about. No mystical literature or scripture from any
of the world's religions (both great and small) even realized human
beings could and did hide significant aspects of their being and
project them outward so as not to be seen. (This is a uniquely
modern Western contribution.) And no amount of meditation, contemplation,
higher level realization or prayer of any kind is ever going to
adequately uncover or release this hidden and very powerful "shadow." (Quite
to the contrary, advanced spiritual adaptation or mastery may
actually only STRENGTHEN the shadow. The result, even with
advanced spiritual masters and teachers, is that hidden neurosis
or pathology can now be transferred to others in very deep
and powerful ways, . . .needless to say, to nobody's benefit.)
Once again, for that reason alone this book and the model it
presents are well worth the read and any effort for conscientious
absorption (especially when he demonstrates this serious issue,
which also kind of explains why he eventually ventured off
on his own, to rationally discover these truth's for himself).
The last two reasons are these: One, it is both a delight and
an inspiration to witness that a human mind at the age of only
23 could accomplish with such great ease what many had been
trying to accomplish for well over a century (if not much longer)
and to no avail. And finally, for those who may be familiar
with Wilber's more recent works -and understand why these early
books are termed "romantic"-
the occasional romanticisms interspersed throughout ("We've progressed
too far!" My favorite, "We choke our bodies with restrictive clothing
. . .") may actually now come with somewhat of a sentimental
chuckle. Because, we all thought that way in one way or another
and many still often do.
A Loving Kindness Meditation
(Introduction)
May
I be...
May
my teachers and all teachers of the Truth be...
May
my parents, brothers and sisters, friends and relatives be...
From
the highest realm of existence to the lowest, may all beings
arisen in these realms, with form and without, with perception
and without, with consciousness and without, may they be...
(Repeat below after each introduction.)
...happy,
peaceful and free from suffering.
May no harm come to me/them.
May no difficulties come to me/them.
May no problems come to me/them.
May I/they always find fulfillment.
May
I/they also have patience, courage, understanding, and determination,
to meet and overcome, the inevitable difficulties, problems,
and failures in life.
A
List of California Buddhist Centers - in PDF --
Free Download
*
More Free eBooks on Buddhism - Link
*
Dharma Talks by Kusala Bhikshu - Link
*
Urban Dharma the web site - Link