Recorded
Live -The joys and teachings of dharma flow
through every human activity. The creation of sound and rhythm in
the midst of space and silence has always helped people wake
up to life. Music flourished in specific ways in every culture
around the world, and it has the ability to cut through our
perceived differences. Insight Meditation Center brought
together three Western practitioners of Buddhism and of music.
Their folk-rooted acoustic music combines tradition and innovation
much as our practice here in California does the same. Free
Download - MP3 Files)
Ven.
Bhikkhu Bodhi’s - popular
10-lecture series an "Introduction to
Buddhism" has been distributed on cassette
tapes for over 20 years. The
program
contains
detailed
lectures
on the core, original teachings of the Buddha. In 1981 while
residing at the Washington Buddhist Vihara, Bhante Gunaratana,
then the President of the Buddhist Vihara Society, suggested
he
record the lectures so that the Vihara could distribute
them as a set of cassette tapes.
Today,
the lectures are considered "public domain" for
anyone to copy and distribute freely. We recommend that you
first listen to them in their proper sequence. 1)
The Buddha 2) The Four Noble
Truths 3) The Nature of
Existence 4) Dependent Origination 5) Rebirth
and Kamma 6) Nibbana 7)
Eightfold Path 8) Meditation 9) Social
Teachings of Buddha 10) The
Sangha... Talks are MP3 files - Free
Download.
This
site contains Dhamma talks in the Kammatthana (Thai Forest)
traditions of Theravada Buddhism, in which Thanissaro Bhikkhu
(Geoffrey DeGraff) is a senior monk known for his skill
in meditation and teaching... Visitors may be interested
in our page of suggested
links, the edited transcriptions
of
many of the Dhamma talks included
here, located in the books Meditations, Meditations2, and Meditations3.
The essay books Purity of Heart, Noble Strategy, and The Karma
of Questions by the same author are also available. All of
these books are provided here in PDF...
Talks are MP3 files - Free
Download.
Dharma
talks with Kusala Bhikshu -
an American born Buddhist monk and web master of Urban
Dharma. Kusala shares his understanding of Buddhism in
a simple, non-technical way through stories, humor and
personal insights. Topics include: Questions & Answers -
43 min... A Spiritual Journey - 31 min... Enlightenment
vs Nirvana - 30 min... Meditation;
How and Why - 51 min... Beyond Pain and
Suffering - 33 min... And more... Free
Download - (MP3 Files)
Insight
Meditation Center - in Redwood City, California
offers a wide range of Dharma, all for free download. Topics
include: Shaila
Catherine - Equanimity: Our Greatest Friend -
42:44, Gloria Taraniya Ambrosia - Working With Difficult
States of Mind - 55:37, Berget
Jelane - Interdependence - 44:42, Gloria
Taraniya Ambrosia - The Threefold Bliss -
41:55, Andrea Fella - Patience - 58:40, Richard
Shankman - Breath
Meditation: Integration of Concentration and Mindfulness -
1:02:25, Gil Fronsdal - Three Characteristics: Not
Self - 42:29, Gil Fronsdal -
Karma and Western Misunderstanding, Followup -
50:25, Thanissaro Bhikkhu - Emptiness - 25:58...
And many more...Free
Download - (MP3 Files)
The
Four Noble Truths - The Buddha's first teaching,
Ajahn Pasanno - Turning the Mind Around -
A Dhamma talk offered at Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, Ajahn
Sucitto - Awaken to the Natural Flow - Opening
to the here and now, Ajahn Sumedho - A Foundation
of Respect - A Dhamma talk given at Abhayagiri on
June 14, 2005, Ajahn Pasanno - Turning to the
Formal Practice - A talk given at Abhayagiri on
January 4th, 2005, Ajahn Pasanno - Stillness -
A talk given at Abhayagiri on May 28, 2005, Ajahn Pasanno
-
Kamma - A Dhamma talk given on April 9,
2005, Ajahn Pasanno - Loving Kindness as Your Foundation -
The importance of wholesome power in the heart, Ajahn Pasanno
- Inside and Out - A Dhamma talk given at
Abhayagiri, Ajahn Jayasaro - Precepts, the World, and
the Water Buffalo - A talk given at Abhayagiri on
April 16, 2005, Ajahn Pasanno - The Power of Loving
Kindness - A basis for concentration,
Ajahn Pasanno... And many more... Free Download
- (MP3
Files) - Metta
Chant - Chant on Loving
Kindness (In English) - The Sangha Abhayagiri - January 6, 2005 - MP3 - (2.8 MB)
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The
Five Hindrances - Kusala Bhikshu / 24:48
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Daily
Readings -- Buddha's Words of Wisdom — by Ven. S. Dhammika.
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.
“An Introductory Course in Early Buddhism" (Buddhism Course) - by Bro. Chan Khoon San
Over the last few years, several readers have indicated to me that the articles in the Introductory Course in Buddhism were too brief and should be expanded to provide more details. This new book entitled “Buddhism Course” is a carefully researched and updated version. It contains 17 chapters dealing with most of the relevant topics on Buddhism, such as: Life of the Buddha, Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Noble Path, Dependent Origin, Law of Kamma, Death and Rebirth, Five Destinations, World Cycles when Buddhas Appear, Ten Bases of Meritorious Action, Buddhist Vipassana Meditation, Recollection of the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha and the Three Baskets (Tipitaka) in Buddhism.
The Guide to the Tipitaka is an outline of the Pali Buddhist
Canonical Scriptures of Theravada Buddhism from Burma.
This is a unique work, as it is probably the only material that
deals in outline with the whole of the Pali Buddhist Tipitaka.
The Tipitaka includes all the teachings of the Buddha, grouped
into three divisions: the Suttanta Pitaka, or general discourses;
the Vinaya Pitaka, or moral code for monks and nuns; and the
Abhidhamma Pitaka, or philosophical teachings. An excellent
reference work which gives an overview of the Pali Buddhist
texts.
Pali
Buddhist Dictionary [4th Edition] — Ven. Nyanatiloka
[Pali Studies]
This is an authentic dictionary of Buddhist doctrinal terms,
used in the Pali Canon and its Commentaries. It provides the
reader not with a mere enumeration of Pali terms and their English
equivalents, but offers precise and authentic definitions and
explanations of canonical and post-canonical terms and doctrines,
based on the Suttas, Abhidhamma and the Commentaries.
The
Seeker's Glossary of Buddhism: A Dictionary / Encyclopedia of
Buddhism - Sutra Translation Committee of USA/Canada
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.
* Note: This
is a large file, if you're using a 56k modem it may take a few
minutes to download.
The Wings to Awakening / An Anthology from the Pali Canon - Translated and Explained by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Many anthologies of the Buddha's teachings have appeared in English, but this is the first to be organized around the set of teachings that the Buddha himself said formed the heart of his message: the Wings to Awakening (bodhi-pakkhiya-dhamma). The material is arranged in three parts, preceded by a long Introduction. The Introduction tries to define the concept of Awakening so as to give a clear sense of where the Wings to Awakening are headed. It does this by discussing the Buddha's accounts of his own Awakening, with special focus on the way in which the principle of skillful kamma (in Sanskrit, karma) formed both the "how" and the "what" of that Awakening: The Buddha was able to reach Awakening only by developing skillful kamma — this is the "how"; his understanding of the process of developing skillful kamma is what sparked the insights that constituted Awakening — this is the "what."
Learn Pali - The Canonical Language of Early Buddhism.
From
the Preface: The word Pali means "the Text", though
it has now come to be the name of a language. Magadhi was
the original name for Pali. It was the language current in
the land of Magadha during the time of the Buddha. The elements
of Pali can be mastered in a few months, Pali opens one's
ears to the Dhamma and the music of the Buddha's speech. This
little book on Pali is intended to be an elementary guide
for beginners.
From
the Preface to the Third Edition: Most introductory Pali grammar
books consist of lessons that teach the elements of the language
in stages, but because of that they are also very difficult
to use as a reference when you need to look up a noun's declension,
or a verb's conjugation. This book because of it's practical
and comprehensive coverage of the elements of the Pali language
in complete chapters is a very useful reference. This book
was also not written for linguistics experts, but for students
with little experience studying Pali grammar.
A Pali Word a Day A selection of Pali words for daily reflection - 39 Pages
- (402 KB) - Free
From
the introduction: This booklet aims to assist new Buddhist
Students who are unfamiliar with some of the Pali words often
used in the study of Buddhism. As the title of the booklet
suggests, we encourage the learning and use of Pali words
by learning one word each day. The booklet can serve as both
a dictionary and a glossary of terms for your reference.
From
the introduction: The purpose of this book is manifold. One
is to teach the users of this book of devotion how to pronounce
Pali words correctly. The most effective way of doing so is
to repeat the same thing over and over again. This book of
devotion is made for daily recitation in English or Pali.
We also intend to teach Dhamma through this devotional service,
as the Pali language is used primarily to teach the Dhamma.
A Photo Essay of the Four Places of Buddhist Pilgrimage in India —
Bro. Chan Khoon San
The
aim of this photo essay is to share my experience and knowledge with
fellow Buddhists about the benefits of undertaking a pilgrimage
to the Four Great Places with the correct mental attitude...
The
idea of a pilgrimage came from the Buddha himself. Before
He passed into Mahaparinibbana, the Buddha advised
pious disciples to visit four places that may be for their
inspiration after He was gone. They are Lumbini, where He was born; Buddhagaya, where He
attained Supreme Enlightenment; Deer Park in Sarnath, where
He preached the First Sermon; and Kusinara, where He passed
into Mahaparinibbana. The pious disciple should visit
these places and look upon them with feelings of reverence,
reflecting on the particular event of the Buddha's life connected
with each place. Since the Mahaparinibbana of the Buddha,
these four shrines of Buddhism have become the focal points
for pious disciples to rally around and seek inspiration.
Buddhist Pilgrimage (Third Edition) - Bro. Chan Khoon San
This is the third edition of ‘‘Buddhist Pilgrimage’ since it was first published in 2002. It comes with a new cover design and contains many new topics and fresh information on several Buddhist sites. An error concerning the religious history of the Matha Kuar shrine in Kushinagar has been rectified. Since 2002, the author has re-visited the Buddhist circuit seven times and travelled to many new Buddhist heritage sites, notably the Ananda Stupa in Hajipur; Pava near Kusinara; Lauriya Nandangarh in northern Bihar; Kosambi in Allahabad; Ramagama and Devadaha in Nepal; Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh; the Ajanta Caves in Ajanta; and Diksha Bhumi in Nagpur, Maharashtra. A chance remark he heard about the Buddha’s alms bowl still existing in Afghanistan prompted the author to carry out a research of its whereabouts after the Buddha had donated it to the Licchavis before his Parinibbana. The result is a new article entitled ‘The Journey of the Buddha’s Alms Bowl’ in PART III, 5, page 153. Among the colour plates, I have included some rare Buddhist sites in Northern Pakistan. Although the light of Dhamma no longer shines in that country, yet it possesses some of the most beautiful Buddhist relics from its glorious past. Sadly, many of them were destroyed by the Talibans who overran the Swat Valley in 2007 e.g. Jehanabad Buddha carved on rock and Gandharan sculptures in Swat Museum.
Fa-Hien was a Chinese monk of the Eastern dynasty (4th-5th
Century). In 399 he left China for India, finally arriving
there after six years of hard travel. After studying Sanskrit
and obtaining many Sanskrit texts of the Tripitaka (Buddhist
canon), he returned to China by sea in 414. This text is an
Account by Fa-Hien of his travels in India and Ceylon (A.D.
399-414) in Search of the Buddhist Books of Discipline. Translated
and annotated with a Korean recension of the Chinese text
by James Legge.
Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences:
Long-Term
Meditators Self-Induce high-Amplitude Gamma Synchrony During
Mental Practice -- Antoine Lutz, Lawrence L.
Greischar, Nancy B. Rawlings, Matthieu Ricard, and Richard
J. Davidson - www.pnas.org - cgi - doi - 10.1073 - pnas.0407401101
PNAS - November 16, 2004 - vol. 101 - no. 46 - 16369–16373
- NEUROSCIENCE
---
--- ---
Scans
of Monks' Brains Show Meditation Alters Structure and Functioning.
--
They compared brain activity in volunteers who were novice
meditators to that of Buddhist monks who had spent more
than 10,000 hours in meditation. The task was to practice
"Loving-Kindness" meditation, generating a feeling
of compassion toward all beings.
The novice meditators "showed a slight increase in
gamma activity, but most monks showed extremely large increases
of a sort that has never been reported before in the neuroscience
literature," says Prof. Davidson, suggesting that mental
training can bring the brain to a greater level of consciousness.
Scientists
have begun to wonder whether the brain can change in response
to purely internal, mental signals.
This study opens up the tantalizing possibility that the
brain, like the rest of the body, can be altered intentionally.
Just as aerobics sculpt the muscles, so mental training
sculpts the gray matter in ways scientists are only beginning
to fathom. -- By Sharon Begley -- From the Wall Street Journal
Online. --- Full Story
Loving-kindness Meditation or Metta Bhavana and other Sublime
States by Ven. Sujiva is a clear and comprehensive step-by-step
explanation of the systematic practice. It is based on the
Visuddhimagga or The Path of Purification by Buddhagosha.
The texts describe metta as characterised by promoting the
aspect of welfare. Amity, goodwill, friendliness and loving-kindness
are some words used to describe this mental state. There is
no better way to know it than to study it as it occurs in
one's own and others' minds. It is a totally unselfish and
pure state of mind that brings profit to oneself and others
now and hereafter.
Hello
- With Love & Other Meditations — Ven. Visuddhacara.
The three most important things in life are love, kindness
and wisdom. If we have made these three values the priorities
of our life, then our life will have been well-lived. When
we die we can only have happiness when we look back and not
regrets. Wealth, fame, power, status, worldly success and
pleasures — these are insignificant compared to love,
kindness and wisdom. Cultivate the latter. If we spend our
life cultivating this trio, our birth and life will have been
worthwhile; it will not have been in vain. In this booklet,
Ven. Visuddhàcàra shares his understanding of
this practice of mindfulness and lovingkindness with a view
to encourage all of us to walk the path.
Anapanasati
- Mindfulness of Breathing — Ven. Buddhadasa Bhikkhu
For the first time in the English language a comprehensive
manual of Buddhist meditation known as ânàpànasati
(the development of mindfulness of breathing ) is available.
Although this manual is primarily intended for the benefit
of monks, it will greatly assist laymen, too, who wish to
undertake a course of meditation but who do not have the guidance
of a teacher.
Originally published in Thai, this manual is one of the major
works of the Ven. Buddhadàsa Bhikkhu and delivered
in 1959 in the form of a series of lectures to monks of Suanmokkha
Monastery, Chaiya, Thailand. Ven. Buddhadàsa Bhikkhu,
a major voice in the Buddhist world, is an accepted master
of Buddhist meditation. In constructive positive language,
the manual guides the meditator through the 16 steps of ânàpànasati.
Keeping
the Breath in Mind & Lessons in Samadhi — Ajaan
Lee Dhammadharo.
This is a 'how to' book. It teaches the liberation of the
mind, not as a mind-boggling theory, but as a very basic skill
that starts with keeping the breath in mind. The teachings
here are drawn from the works of Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo (1906-61),
one of Thailand's most renowned teachers of Buddhist meditation
practices. Ajaan Lee was a forest monk - one who prefers to
live in the seclusion of the forest and makes his meditation
the central theme of his practice - so his teachings grow
out of personal, practical experience, although he also makes
a point of relating them to standard Buddhist doctrine.
Analysis
of the Jhãnas in Theravãda Buddhist Meditation
- Ven. H. Gunaratana
This work, by Ven. Henepola Gunaratana, provides an analytical
study of the Jhãnas, as they are an important set of
meditative attainments in the contemplative discipline of
Theravãda Buddhism. Despite their frequent appearance
in the texts, the exact role of the Jhãnas in the Buddhist
path has not been settled with unanimity by Theravãda
scholars, who are still divided over the question as to whether
they are necessary for attaining Nibbana. The primary purpose
of this dissertation is to determine the precise role of the
Jhãnas in the Theravãda Buddhist presentation
of the way to liberation.
For source material the work relies upon the three principal
classes of authoritative Theravãda texts: the Pali
Tipitaka, its commentaries, and its sub-commentaries. To traditional
canonical investigations modern methods of philosophical and
psychological analysis are applied in order to clarify the
meanings implicit in the original sources. The examination
covers two major areas: first the dynamics of Jhãna
attainment, and second, the function of the Jhãnas
in realizing the ultimate goal of Buddhism, Nibbana or final
liberation from suffering.
Ch’an or Zen is the outcome of meditation. There are
two “right” or “highest” purposes of Ch’an.
The first purpose is to achieve “Dhyana.” Dhyana
is a combination of relaxation, concentration and calmness
or tranquility. The second purpose is, using your very composed
and tranquil mind, to observe clearly all the dharmas or phenomena
externally and internally. As an outcome of Dhyana, you will
be able to observe these phenomena very clearly because your
“mental mirror” is very clear, for there are no
more disturbances to veil it. Out of these observations will
come Transcendental Wisdom, which in Sanskrit is called “Prajna.”
Cultivation
of Moral Concern in Theravada Buddhism: Toward a Theory
of the Relation Between Tranquility and Insight — Ethan
Mills
There
are two main branches of Buddhist meditation techniques: insight
meditation and tranquility meditation. Insight meditation
is aimed at cultivating wisdom; tranquility meditation is
aimed at cultivating calmness. Tradition generally considers
the first to have been a new form of meditation invented by
the historical Buddha and the second to have been highly developed
by Indian practitioners by the time of the Buddha's life.
The most common story is that the Buddha learned all that
his meditation teachers had to offer and, still unsatisfied,
developed his own type of meditation: vipassana. After he
developed this insight meditation, he achieved nirvana and
transcended suffering (dukkha). I find it useful to categorize
scholars who have written on the relationship between vipassana
and samatha into two groups: one group that considers vipassana
to be essential and samatha to be inessential in the pursuit
of nirvana, and a second group that views both samatha and
vipassana to be essential.
This is a biography of Buddha retold in a simple and engaging style. It strings together a coherent narrative arc from several classic Buddhist texts, particularly the Buddhacharita of Asvaghosa, the Lalita-Vistara, and the Jataka. It is thankfully free of technical Buddhist terminology. This book dimensionalizes the story of Siddhartha, born into luxury, who seeks and find enlightenment, the sometimes painful growth of the Buddhist community, and his eventual departure for Nirvana. It is short and very readable, and can be recommended for young adults.
The Buddha, His Life and Teachings — By Ven. Piyadassi
The author, Venerable Mahathera Piyadassi is one of the world's most eminent Buddhist monks, a highly revered teacher of great renown, a indefatigable worker for the Buddha Dhamma. The ages roll by and the Buddha seems not so far away after all; his voice whispers in our ears and tells us not to run away from the struggle but, calm-eyed, to face it, and to see in life ever greater opportunities for growth and advancement.
Taking a different perspective from the usual biographies of
the Buddha, the author retells the great man's story using the
society of the time as the backdrop and the Buddha's interactions
with his contemporaries as the main theme. We discover what
the Buddha was like as a person, how he taught and how he changed
the lives of all who were blessed enough to come into contact
with him.
"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.
Word
of the Buddha — by Ven. Nyanatiloka - A Classic from
the Buddhist Publication Society.
The Word of the Buddha, was the first strictly systematic exposition
of all the main tenets of the Buddha's Teachings presented in
the Buddha's own words as found in the Sutta-Pitaka of the Buddhist
Pali Canon. While it may well serve as a first introduction
for the beginner, its chief aim is to give the reader who is
already more or less acquainted with the fundamental ideas of
Buddhism, a clear, concise, and authentic summary of its various
doctrines, within the framework of the allembracing 'Four Noble
Truths.'
The Four Noble Truths are the central Teaching of the Buddha.
This booklet was compiled and edited from talks given by Venerable
Ajahn Sumedho on the teaching of the Buddha: that the unhappiness
of humanity can be overcome through spiritual means. The teaching
is conveyed through the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths, first
expounded in 528 BC in the Deer Park at Sarnath near Varanasi
and kept alive in the Buddhist world ever since.
Transcendental Dependent Arising - A Translation And
Exposition of the Upanisa Sutta -- by Bhikkhu Bodhi
Tucked away in the Samyutta Nikaya among the “connected
sayings on causality” (Nidanasamyutta) is a short formalized
text entitled the Upanisa Sutta, the “Discourse on Supporting
Conditions.” The Upanisa sutta reveals the entire course
of man’s faring in the world as well as his treading of
the path to its transcendence. This
exposition sets out to explore the, “transcendental”
application of dependent arising, drawing freely from other
parts of the Canon and the commentaries to fill out the meaning.
Translated from the Pali by Acharya Buddharakkhita and with
an introduction by Bhikkhu Bodhi. The Dhammapada is the best
known and most widely esteemed text in the Pali Tipitaka, the
sacred scriptures of Theravada Buddhism. The work is included
in the Khuddaka Nikaya ("Minor Collection") of the
Sutta Pitaka, but its popularity has raised it far above the
single niche it occupies in the scriptures to the ranks of a
world religious classic. Composed in the ancient Pali language,
this slim anthology of verses constitutes a perfect compendium
of the Buddha's teaching, comprising between its covers all
the essential principles elaborated at length in the forty-odd
volumes of the Pali Canon.
Treasury
of Truth - 'Dhammapada' with Commentary -
(Text Only)— Ven.
W. Sarada Maha Thero. "This is an amazing version of the
Dhammapada!"
This (text only) edition lends itself readily to an in-depth
study of the Dhammapada. It has Pali verse with an English
word for word translation, and a commentary for each verse
which sheds light on the true nature of the Buddha's teachings.
This is the text version of the Illustrated Dhammapada by Ven.
Sarada Maha Thero. It will be of use to anyone new to Buddhism,
or seeking a deeper understanding of Early Buddhism. This
version of the Dhammapada is a large file size, if you use
a phone modem it may take a few minutes to download, but it's
worth the wait.
Treasury
of Truth - 'Dhammapada' with Commentary-
(Illustrated Version)— Ven.
W. Sarada Maha Thero.
This
edition is the same as above except for the illustrations,
one per verse. The illustrations add a special something
to the reading experience of the Dhammapada, but they
come with a price... "A
huge file size, 26.1 MB." If
you use a phone modem, the 'text only' version is the way
to go.
Aggañña
Sutta - is the 27th Sutta of Digha
Nikaya collections.
The
sutta describes a discourse imparted from the Buddha to two
Brahmins, Bharadvaja and Vasettha, who left their family
and caste to
become monks. He explains about the beginning of the Earth,
and the birth of social order and its structure, including
the castes. The Buddha emphasizes the message of universality
in Dhamma and how Dhamma is the best of all things.
King
Asoka, the third monarch of the Mauryan dynasty in the third
century B.C., was the first ruler of a unified India and one
of the greatest political figures of all time. After he embraced
the teachings of the Buddha, he transformed his polity from
one of military conquest to one of Dharmavijaya — victory
by righteousness and truth. By providing royal patronage for
the propagation of Buddhism both within and beyond his empire,
he helped promote the metamorphosis of Buddhism into a world
religion that spread peacefully across the face of Asia. This
collection of essays by leading Indological scholars draws upon
both the inscriptions and the literary traditions to explore
the relationship between King Asoka and the religion he embraced.
In highlighting the ways in which Asoka tapped the ethical and
spiritual potentials of rulership.
The
Buddha Dharma for College Students - by Buddhadasa, Bhikkhu
The format to "Buddha Dhamma for Students" is to answers
questions a non-Buddhist is likely to ask about the fundamentals
of Buddhism. It is the results of two talks given by Ajahn Buddhadasa
to students at Thammasat University, Bangkok. He goes back to
the original principles pointed out by the Buddha, explaining
these simply and directly. The form of the Dharma talk's are
designed to prepare students for those occasions when they will
be asked questions by people from other religions.
The
Eightfold Path for the Householder — Jack Kornfeld.
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.
The Principles of Buddhism explained by Buddhadasa, Bhikkhu.
As a guide for newcomers to the Buddha Dhamma (the Truth which
the Buddha awakened to and subsequently taught), this book is
an invaluable guide. In it are contained the essential teachings
of Buddhism. The Handbook is especially useful for those who
approach the Buddha's teaching not as a subject for scholarly
study but as a means to understand and ennoble their lives.
It includes chapters on 'Looking at Buddhism' and the 'True
Nature of Things'.
This
book is compiled from talks given mostly in 2001 by Ajahn Sumedho;
they convey an intuitive understanding of the Buddha’s
teaching which has arisen from over 35 years of practice as
an American born Buddhist monk. He is the senior Western disciple
of Ajahn Chah.
This approach starts with accepting ourselves as we are, not
as some ideal of whom we think we should be. By doing this a
relaxation can take place that creates space for insight to
arise. For some people this space arises as the sound of silence,
or simply a quiet or empty mind. However it manifests, this
points to the unconditioned; beyond body and mind objects. From
this place of spaciousness, social and personal conditioning
can be investigated or reflected upon, thus freeing the heart
from the delusion of identifying with the personality. This
is not a process of rejecting ourselves or of considering certain
thoughts and feelings as wrong, but of learning to be a silent
witness to all that arises without attaching to that experience
or rejecting it.
Women in Buddhism - Question & Answers — Ven.
Chatsumarn Kabilsingh Ph.D.
Ven. Chatsumarn Kabilsingh provides answers to questions often
asked about women and the ordination issue and related topics.
She responds to such questions as: In the Buddha's time what
role did women play in Buddhism? Why cannot women become buddhas?
What is the Buddhist attitude towards prostitution? What is
an attitude of a Buddhist towards abortion? What is the unique
characteristic in American Buddhism which might interest a feminist?
Four Essays - Facing the Future — Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
Ven.
Bhikkhu Bodhi uses the Buddha's teaching as a lens through which
to examine some of the confusions about social values that have
engulfed us at the dawn of the new century.
The opening essay, "A Buddhist Social Ethic for the New
Century," sets the pace by drawing a contrast between the
social system fostered by global capitalism and the type of
social organization that might follow from a practical application
of Buddhist principles.
"A Buddhist Model for Economic and Social Development"
continues the argument by highlighting the economic, social,
and ecological costs of industrial-growth society, sketching
a more "people-friendly" alternative based on Buddhist
values.
"The changing face of Buddhism" opens with the question
why, in traditional Buddhist countries, Buddhism today is losing
its appeal to the young, on its way to becoming little more
than a fossilized expression of ethnic culture; in attempting
to answer this question he proposes some new lines of emphasis
that might help to reverse this trend.
In "Sangha at the Crossroads" he explores the problems
that young monks face in finding a meaningful role in today's
rapidly changing world.
From
Vulnerability to Virtuosity: Buddhist Reflections on Responding
to Terrorism and Tragedy — Peter D. Hershock
My intention is not to analyze the complex geopolitics of the
"war on terror." Neither is it to critically assess
either specific policy decisions or their effects on the quality
of daily life and civil liberties. Instead, I want to offer
some general observations about terrorism and tragedy and then,
from a Buddhist perspective, to begin reflecting on our broad
strategies for responding to them and to the realization of
our individual and collective vulnerability.
Can Killing a Living Being Ever Be an Act of Compassion?
The analysis of the act of killing in the Abhidhamma and Pali
Commentaries -- Rupert Gethin
In the Early Buddhist exegetical tradition, the notion that
intentionally killing a living being is wrong involves a claim
that certain mental states are present in the mind. The idea
that killing a living being might be a solution to the problem
of suffering runs counter to the Buddhist emphasis on dukkha
as a reality. The cultivation of friendliness in the face of
suffering is seen as something that can bring beneficial effects
for self and others in a situation where it might seem that
compassion should lead one to kill.
Dhammapada Storiesfor the Younger Reader —
Gambhiro Bhikkhu (Illustrated)
Selected verses from the Dhammapada, all depicted with thirty-two
beautiful illustrations. This collection is a great introduction
to the Dhammapada and has been carefully compiled and edited
for the younger reader by Gambhiro Bhikkhu.
The
Jataka Tales Vol 1 — Ven. Kurunegoda Piyatissa and
Todd Anderson
Fifty stories from the Jataka Tales - Prince Goodspeaker. Interpreted
by Ven. Kurunegoda Piyatissa, Maha Thera and told by Todd Anderson.
These stories are not scholarly word-for-word translations as
have been done by others. Rather these tales have been rewritten
in modern English understandable by western readers. By reading
these stories, children and adults can develop their knowledge
and learn how to face the difficulties of modern life. The Buddha
himself used Jataka stories to explain concepts like karma and
rebirth and to emphasize the importance of moral values.
The
Jataka Tales Vol 2 — Ven. Kurunegoda Piyatissa and
Todd Anderson
This is the second volume of fifty stories from the Jataka Tales
- Buddhist Tales for Young and Old, interpreted by Ven. Kurunegoda
Piyatissa, Maha Thera and told by Todd Anderson.
"There once was a happy land where the inhabitants lived
a happy and harmonious life. They were kind to one another and
their ways were simple. Their wants were few..." An illustrated
Buddhist story about the "One Who Saw" combines Buddhist
themes of greed and hatred into a children's book. This little
eBook allows the young to find their heart and the old to know
their heart.
In
the Dead of Night — Gambhiro Bhikkhu (Illustrated)
"I had been driving all day on a long, lonely, dusty road.
Night had already fallen when I decided to rest. I still had
a long way to go and I felt very tired." This book deals
with people's fear and emotions with some scary, but humorous
illustrations.
Loving-kindness Meditation with Children. The practice of loving-kindness,
or metta, can be done in one of two ways: either in intensive
prolonged meditation to develop deep states of concentration,
or in daily life at any time one meets with people and animals
or thinks about them. To learn about the radiating of metta
to all beings with children, we have to tap into the store of
knowledge accumulated by lay people and parents. It must be
knowledge which has grown out of years of living and loving
with children and young adults. Gregory Kramer, father of three
boys, shows us here with what subtle but precise adjustments
in the standard practice of loving-kindness he was able to anchor
in the lives of his children.
A
classic in Buddhist literature, "The Light of Asia", by Sir
Edwin Arnold (1879), is without any doubt, a unique work. It
is primarily because, this is the only original poem written
in English on the Buddha, throughout the long history of Buddhism.
Sir Edwin Arnold, the Author of this epic poem, was initially
persuaded to compose this sacred work, as a result of his deep
and abiding desire to aid in the better and mutual understanding
between East and West.
Letter
From Mara — A story by Punnadhammo Bhikkhu - Arrow
River Forest Hermitage
Author's Note: Apologies are extended to the late C.S. Lewis,
author of 'The Screwtape Letters', for using his clever idea.
Written in the style of a 1950's Science Fiction story - Letter
from Mara tells of the Matrix like existence we live as humans
and what challenges lie ahead for those who want to wake up...
A fun and insightful story. Mara in Buddhism symbolizes the
passions that overwhelm human beings as well as everything that
hinders the arising of the wholesome roots and progress on the
path of enlightenment.
Nagarjuna holds an almost unequaled place among the ranks of
those Buddhist saints who expounded the teaching of the Buddha
Sakyamuni for the benefit of the world. Nagarjuna revolutionized
the interpretation of the doctrine of the Enlightened One which
was current at his time and lent it a vitality and dynamism
which has continued to sustain it even to our day among the
votaries of the Mahayana. The revolution which Nagarjuna accomplished
within the fold of Buddhism was not a radical departure from
the original doctrine of the Buddha Sakyamuni. On the contrary,
the adherents of the Madhyamaka school are undoubtedly justified
in asserting that their interpretation represents the true import
of the doctrine of the Buddha and the essence of Buddhism.
Mind-Seal
of the Buddhas — Patriarch Ou-i's... Commentary on
the Amitabha Sutra.
Of all the forms of Buddhism currently practiced in Asia, Pure
Land has been the most widespread for the past thousand years.
At the core of this school is a text of great beauty and poetry,
the Amitabha Sutra, intoned every evening in countless temples
and homes throughout the Mahayana world. This important text
shares with the Avatamsaka and Brahma Net sutras the distinction
of being among the few key scriptures preached spontaneously
by the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, without the customary request
from the assembly. Although several translations of the sutra
itself are available no major commentary appears to have been
published in English. The Van Hien Study Group is therefore
privileged to be associated with J.C.Cleary’s present rendering
of The Essentials of the Amitabha Sutra — a seminal Chinese
commentary by the T’ien-t’ai Master Ou-i (1599- 1655),
later recognized as the ninth Patriarch of the Pure Land school.
The
Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra (2nd Edition) — Tr. by
Tripitaka Master Hsuan Tsang.
The Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra Translated from Sanskrit into
Chinese by Tripitaka Master Hsuan Tsang Commentary by Grand
Master T'an Hsu Translated into English by Ven. Dharma Master
Lok To. The Prajna Paramita Hrydaya Sutra is the core of the
Maha Prajna Paramita in six hundred scrolls. This book is based
on a nine-day teaching in which Grand Master T'an Hsu went through
the sutra line by line, giving a clear and extensive commentary
on each one, using many carefully chosen examples along the
way to make his discourse more relevant in terms of everyday
life. [French Sutra Translation Committee of the United States
and Canada New York - San Francisco - Toronto 2000 First published
1995 Second Edition 2000 Sutra Translation Committee of the
United States and Canada.
A new translation of a Zen classic... The Shōbōgenzō is the recognized spiritual masterpiece by the thirteenth century Japanese Sōtō Zen Master Eihei Dōgen. It is comprised of discourses that he gave to his disciples, in person or in writing, at various times between 1231 and his death twenty-two years later at age fifty-three. These discourses cover a wide range of topics pertinent to those in monastic life though often also relevant to those training in lay life. He discusses matters of daily behavior and religious ceremonial as well as issues involving the Master-disciple relationship. He also explores the deeper meaning that informs the so-called Zen kōan stories, which often puzzle readers by their seeming illogicality and contrary nature.
Sutra
of the Medicine Buddha — Dharma Master Hsuan Jung.
In the Mahayana tradition of East Asia, particularly China,
Japan, Vietnam and Tibet. The Medicine Buddha occupies a special
place in the hearts of Mahayana Buddhists. Specialising in curing
diseases, both physical and mental - of which delusion is the
root cause. His healing acts are but the prelude to Supreme
Enlightenment for those seekers who have the good fortune to
learn of his vows or merely to hear his name!
The
Sutra on the Eight Realizations — Translation by Thich
Nhat Hanh
"The
content of The Sutra on the Eight Realizations is grounded in
both Mahayana and Theravada viewpoints. Please treasure this
Sutra. When I was seventeen, and in my first year of novice
studies at a Buddhist Monastery, I had to study and memorize
it. This enabled me to easily combine the meaning of the Sutra
with meditation of breath counting. From this period until now,
44 years have passed and this Sutra is still an invaluable torch
lighting my path. Today I have the opportunity to present it
to you. I am grateful to this deep and miraculous Sutra. I join
my hands and respectfully recite, "Homage to the precious
Sutra on the Eight Realizations." - Thich Nhat Hanh
A
Guide to a Proper Buddhist Funeral — Koperasi Buddhisme
Malaysia Berhad.
This is a hand book on Buddhist Funerals, with sections on practical
advice as to what is to be done when a family member is critically
ill; the final moments; when death takes place; preparing for
the funeral; paying last respects; the final rites; verses for
contemplation; the burial / cremation ceremony and the memorial
service.
Generally, a Chinese funeral is a mixture of Taoist, Confucian
and Buddhist rites. How then should a Theravadin Buddhist funeral
be conducted? Venerable Suvanno, a respected and senior Theravadin
Buddhist monk of Chinese descent explains how a Theravadin Buddhist
funeral may be conducted.
Dying to Live - The Role of Karma in Dying and Rebirth —
Aggacitta Bhikkhu
The
purpose of this work is to present a comprehensive picture of
kamma and the often unpredictable role it plays in the process
of dying and rebirth according to orthodox Theravada doctrine.
With
the aid of colour diagrams, basic concepts of Abhidhamma are
first introduced in order to facilitate a thorough understanding
of what happens, on a microscopic level, to the body and mind
of a person dying to live again. Since kamma is inextricably
linked with Abhidhamma principles, and our main subject of discussion
is one of its specific roles, the whole of Chapter 2 is devoted
to an exposition of the nature of kamma and its various aspects,
classified according to four different ways of analysis.
Chapter
3 begins by surveying the causes of death and the possible manifestations
of the kamma that is about to produce rebirth in the dying person,
and concludes by presenting a microscopic description, accompanied
by a colour diagram, of the actual process of dying and rebirth,
based on the basic principles of Abhidhamma introduced in Chapter
1.
In
Chapter 4, the order in which specific types of kamma generate
rebirth is discussed with the help of many interesting storie's
mostly extracted from the commentaries, but including a few
modern one's and accompanied by pencil drawings.
Finally,
Chapter 5 summarises and concludes this booklet with some proposals
for skilful dying, and a dramatic personal account of a young
monk's own observations and masterly manipulation of the changing
visions experienced by a dying Buddhist devotee.
Preparing
for Death & Helping the Dying —
Sangye
Khadro.
This
booklet is based on material used during a seminar that Sangye
Khadro taught in Singapore and elsewhere, entitled “Preparing
for Death and Helping the Dying.” This seminar answers
a genuine need in today’s world, as expressed by one participant:
“I am interested to know more about death and how to help
dying people, but it’s very difficult to find anyone willing
to talk about these things.” The material for the seminar
is taken mainly from two sources: traditional Buddhist teachings,
and contemporary writings in the field of caring for the dying.
This booklet is meant as a brief introduction to the subject
rather than a detailed explanation.
Imagine
a life partner, a family member or a close friend of yours is
dying. How might she or he be feeling? Facing death, being in
pain maybe. What are her or his intimate needs and wishes? What
happens to us when staying with a dying person? How can we deal
with the sorrow, the confusing thoughts and the trying situation?
How should we communicate with her or him and with the family
members and friends? When a beloved person is dying we are touched
to our deepest core. Difficult, painful emotions may rush up,
stirring in our hearts. Dying and death becomes a great challenger,
breaking into our lives – which we try so hard to keep
smooth and under control.
"Benedict's Dharma 2"... Forty Episcopalian men
and women from around the country gathered for this very special
"Benedictine Experience" inspired by the book, "Benedict's
Dharma," in historic New Harmony, Indiana. Sister Mary
Margaret Funk, OSB, executive director of MID (Monastic Inter-religious
Dialogue), Rev. Kusala Bhikshu an American Buddhist monk, and
Mr. Karl Peterson a specialist in early Christian music guided
participants through a week-long Buddhist/Christian dialogue
on the Rule of St. Benedict.
The Varieties of Religious Experience — William
James
"The
most influential book written on religion in the twentieth century."
Paving the way for all modern spiritual thought, The Varieties
of Religious Experience was revolutionary in its view of religious
life as centered not within the Church, but solely within the
person. James, a vivid, subtle stylist writing for the skeptical,
nonspecialist reader, was the first to define spirituality as
"the feelings, acts, and experiences of individual men
in their solitude."
One hundred years after its publication James's work remains
even more vital than before. Beyond its influence on the founding
of Alcoholics Anonymous, beyond its influence on launching the
American pastoral counseling movement, and beyond its role in
spawning the psychology of religion, it remains a book that
empowers individuals and inspires readers with erudition, insight,
and kindness.
Towards a Global Ethic: An Initial Declaration -
Parliament
of the World's Religions
Drafted
initially by Dr. Hans Kung, in cooperation with CPWR staff and
Trustees and experts drawing on many of the world's religious
and spiritual traditions, Towards a Global Ethic: An Initial
Declaration identifies four essential affirmations as shared
priniciples essential to a global ethic.
Affirming respect for all life, economic justice and solidarity,
tolerance and truthfulness, and equal rights and partnership
between men and women, the document elaborated eloquently on
the significance of each value for our modern world. Endorsed
at the 1993 Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago,
USA, Towards a Global Ethic urges all men and women of good
will to join in the commitment to these vital shared principles.
Used throughout the world by universities, religious and spiritual
communities and interfaith organizations, Towards a Global Ethic
has emerged as one of the most significant building blocks in
the continuing process of creating global ethical understanding
and consensus.
The
Classic Urban Dharma Newsletter eBook... This first
Newsletter eBook is from February 2004 to May 2004. Seventeen
newsletters in all, a total of 236 pages... With topics ranging
from- Morality Without God, Buddhist Weddings, Ultimate Reality,
and Zen Guitar, just to name a few.
by
Ven. Bhikku Bodhi
by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu of Wat Metta
by
Kusala Bhikshu