Buddhisme: mahayana

"In the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, before one can receive empowerments and pointing-out instructions from a dharma master, one must first open and prepare the mind, by engaging in the foundational practice (ngèondro). This consists of completing a specified number of repetitions of the rituals of taking refuge, arousing the mind of awakening (bodhichitta), mandala offering, Vajrasattva purification, and Guru Yoga. In this book, Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche brilliantly explains how to engage in the foundational practice according to New Treasures of the Dudjom tradition, the Dudjom Tersar. But this book is much more than that because, from the outset, Orgyen Chowang introduces the pristine teachings of Dzogchen, the pinnacle of the Nyingma path, to provide the context that informs every stage of the path to awakening. This book is based on a series of oral teachings on Thinley Norbu's text A Cascading Waterfall of Nectar, itself a teaching on the Dudjom Tersar, that Orgyen Chowang gave to Western students over a three-month period in 1997. He explains in a very fresh, uncomplicated way such topics as the blessings from the lama, the nature of awakening, the role of pointing-out instructions, tranquillity and insight meditation, the three bodies of enlightenment, and the Dzogchen practices of trekchèod (cutting through) and thèogal (passing over). This book will be of immense benefit to those engaged in the Dudjom Tersar ngèondro, those who have already finished their ngèondro accumulations, and those engaged in the foundational practice from other Nyingma lineages"--

"Our engagement with digital technology connects us to people but can also cause anxiety, distraction, imbalance, and suffering. This book offers a unique Buddhist approach to develop a clear understanding of our inner lives and the world of digital communication to lessen our suffering and deepen our happiness. Dza Kilung Rinpoche, a respected contemporary Tibetan Buddhist teacher, skillfully addresses these widespread issues in modern life geared toward his Western students and readers. He offers straightforward Buddhist strategies and tools to clear away the distractive clutter that prevents us from advancing in our careers and relationships. The book also explores deeper issues like the nature of wisdom, question of karma, and importance of lovingkindess and compassion. The practices and meditations in this book will appeal to anyone who enjoys mindfulness apps like Ten Happier, Insight Timer, and Headspace. By calming our minds, we can clearly see the sources of our inner and outer problems and begin to work on them for the benefit of ourselves, others, and the earth"--

Book 1 in the Rift Walker trilogy.

An intimate mystery encompasses you and tugs upon your heart—what does it mean to follow that tug across the arc of a spiritual life?Reflecting out of more than fifty years of practice in Zen Buddhism, Unitarian Universalism, and other contemplative traditions, James Ishmael Ford invites us into a journey through life's mysteries and the stages of spiritual development.Lightly structured by the archetypal Buddhist oxherding images, Ford’s exploration is rooted in the Zen way while being deeply enriched by various strains of world mysticism. The book, sprinkled with insights and quotes from Buddhist, Daoist, and Christian traditions, serves as a map and a companion to spiritual seekers or pilgrims—whether within one religious tradition or cobbling together a way of one’s own. “Here is the most natural of all natural experiences,” writes Ford. “In the midst of our suffering, our longing, our desperation, we capture a glimpse. Something touches us. And with that, if we are lucky and really notice some movement of some spirit within us, we turn our attention to the intimate way.”

Drawing on myth, legend, Zen koans, and Buddhist folklore, as well on his own more than 50 years of formal Zen practice and over 10 years of Zen teaching, in this companion volume to A Zen Life of Buddha, (Sumeru 2022), award-wining author Roshi Rafe Jnan Martin looks at the nature and role of bodhisattvas, the wise and compassionate beings at the core of Zen Buddhism and at the heart of Zen practice. Along the way he explores such questions as: What are bodhisattvas? Are they real? Who are the specific bodhisattvas central to Zen? How do they function? How are they different from Buddhas? From The Buddha? What's the connection between bodhisattvas and our own Zen practice? What's their connection with our ordinary lives?

"Mastering Life and Swordsmanship: The Wisdom of Miyamoto Musashi" is a guide that offers a unique blend of martial philosophy and life principles from one of Japan's most legendary swordsmen. This book encapsulates the essence of Miyamoto Musashi's profound teachings, providing readers with a timeless roadmap for mastering not only the art of the sword but also the art of living.Whether you're a martial artist, a leader, or someone striving for personal growth, this book offers invaluable wisdom that can be applied to the challenges and opportunities of the modern world.

Discover the path to your authentic self and embrace your true identity with these insightful teachings from celebrated author and spiritual luminary Alan Watts. In this collection, Watts displays the intelligence, playfulness of thought, and simplicity of language that has made him so perennially popular as an interpreter of Eastern thought for Westerners. He draws on a variety of religious traditions and covers topics such as the challenge of seeing one’s life “just as it is,” the Taoist approach to harmonious living, the limits of language in the face of ineffable spiritual truth, and the psychological symbolism of Christian thought. Throughout, he shows how our true self is never to be found anywhere other than this very life and this very moment.

Zen teacher Halifax emphasizes that the process of dying is a rite of passage, and can be viewed as natural and not something to be denied. Here she offers stories as well as guided exercises and contemplations to help readers meditate on death without fear.

Need more time to just breathe? Want a break from constant worries? Looking for simple joy every day?Then this book is for you...Meet "The Zen Monkey and The Lotus Flower: 52 Stories to Relieve Stress, Stop Negative Thoughts, Find Happiness, and Live Your Best Life." This book is a gentle guide back to what matters most in life.Inside, you'll find 52 stories, each with a powerful lesson, revealing timeless lessons on gratitude, mindfulness, self-love, and happiness. The teachings are easy to grasp, offering fresh ways to view life's challenges, without needing a background in Buddhism.This Book Contains Unique Tales with Life Lessons Imprints in them, It isn't just another collection of tales. It's a well of wisdom that's easy to reach into whenever life gets tough. It's about getting clear, finding calm, and making each day a bit brighter.Here's what's waiting for you:Simple ways to stop negative thoughts.Keys to finding your own happiness.Fresh perspectives to lighten your day.Steps to reduce stress and find peace.The unique quotes paired with each story are insights you won't find online - they're your quick picks for encouragement whenever you need it.Ready for less stress and more joy?Grab your copy of "The Zen Monkey and The Lotus Flower" now, and step into a simpler, happier way of living.

"Most followers of the Tibetan tantric Buddhist teachings are merely wearing an outer costume of tantra.""Serious consideration of the situation of tantra is urgent before its essence is lost altogether. The time has come for going beyond mere scholarly explanations and superficial chanting of liturgies to actually restoring the practice tradition that has been corrupted and rejected in recent centuries. To do that, the full scope of tantra's real meaning must be re-introduced."-Shar Khentrul Rinpoché

FROM THE FOREWORD by Hozan Alan Senauke, abbot, Berkeley Zen CenterWhen our Japanese teachers came to the West, they brought us an immeasurable gift-Zen as continuous, lifelong practice. This is what Roshi Mitra Bishop means by "the long maturation" in this wonderful book. There are several dimensions to this book, Deepening Zen, that call forth my appreciation.First is the skillful way Roshi Mitra weaves together psychology, neuroscience, history, and dharma. Like it or not, we live in a psychologizing age. But the teachings here keep returning to Buddhadharma. That is our refuge-Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Roshi Mitra insists that we can rely on dharma, which is not other than our own enlightened nature.Second, this is a book full of stories. Savour the stories. Observe how some of them weave through the book to deliver their cargo of wisdom. Maybe this is the defining characteristic of being human- the ability to create stories from our experience. Of course, we can be misled by stories, but all the great perennial wisdom is found in stories. This is true for the Buddha's Pali Sutras, for the Bible, for the collections of challenging and enigmatic Zen koans, and for the pages of this book. May these insightful stories come home to you, and help you in the work of saving all sentient beings

An invigorating memoir about a young woman pushed to her limits at a Zen monastery in Hawai‘i, where she learns that the key to unlocking the ultimate breakthrough is igniting her fighting spirit.At twenty-five, activist Cristina Moon faced an impossible task: preparing for the possibility of arrest and torture inside military-ruled Myanmar. Her response? Learning Buddhist meditation. So began what would become a decades-long spiritual path—eventually leading her to a Zen temple and martial arts dojo in Hawaiʻi with a timeless method of warrior Zen training.Offering a bracing account of three years of mind-body-spirit training at Daihonzan Chozen-ji, a Rinzai Zen temple and martial arts dojo, Moon powerfully captures the rigors and realizations that finally shaped her into a Zen priest whose highest directive is to give fearlessness. Told with immersive detail and an unique Asian American female perspective, Three Years on the Great Mountain chronicles Moon's straight-up-the-mountain training regimen at Chozen-ji, conducted every day and often through the nights. Through the spiritual forging of daily Zen meditation, manual labor, swordsmanship, and Japanese tea ceremony, she discovers a newfound conviction that self mastery and spiritual growth can take fierce form. Embraced by local Hawaiʻi and Japanese culture, and a community of discipline, respect, and discovery, she discovers a profound sense of home.

In this follow-up to his classic book Understanding Our Mind, Thich Nhat Hanh shows us how we can instill the habit of happiness in our consciousness. With humor and compassion, Buddha Mind, Buddha Body explores how the mind functions and how we can train ourselves to more effectively create the conditions for our own happiness. Buddha Mind, Buddha Body emphasizes the importance of creativity, visualization, and meditation, and offers concrete exercises to improve mental clarity and restore our mind/body harmony. Punctuated by stories from the life of the Buddha, as well as stories and observations from Nhat Hanh's own life.

Transformation and Healing presents one of the Buddha's most fundamental teachings and the foundation of all mindfulness practice. The Sutra on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness has been studied, practiced, and handed down with special care from generation to generation for 2,500 years. This sutra teaches us how to deal with anger and jealousy, to nurture the best qualities in our children, spouses, and friends, and to greet death with compassion and equanimity.

"What makes you happy? What causes you to suffer? This book from an insightful new voice in Tibetan Buddhism offers practical wisdom and radical practices to embrace suffering-an inevitable part of human life-and find freedom, or happiness. Jigme Wangdrak is a contemporary teacher born and trained in eastern Tibet and based in California who is the unique holder of the Dudjom Lingpa lineage, reincarnation of renowned seventeenth-century treasure revealer Rigzin Longsel Nyingpo, and disciple of the great Tibetan female master Khandroma Kunzang Wangmo. In his first book, Jigme Wangdrak gives concrete advice on how to reorient your thinking-by embracing suffering, you can learn to see its roots, begin to work with it, and eventually let it go. This will allow you to fully savor happiness when it occurs. The first part of the book guides readers in recognizing and understanding suffering and happiness in their different forms. The second part of the book is dedicated to practice. Here, Jigme Wangdrak introduces the view and path of working directly with happiness and suffering. He conveys the steps, stages, and categories of mental exercises and practices that everyone-from beginner to VIP practitioner-can do to uproot the destructive effects of pain and sorrow that inevitably occur in life"--

"Zen Leadership Basics: Learn The Art Of Leading Like a Zen Master" offers profound insights into leadership inspired by the wisdom of Zen philosophy. This book provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and embodying Zen leadership principles, helping readers become more effective and mindful leaders. The book explores fundamental concepts of Zen leadership, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness, self-awareness, and compassion. It delves into the idea that true leadership begins with leading oneself, highlighting the significance of personal growth and continuous learning. Overall, "Zen Leadership Basics" equips leaders with practical tools and philosophical insights to lead with wisdom, empathy, and resilience. Whether you're a seasoned leader or aspiring to lead, this book offers timeless wisdom that can help you navigate the complexities of leadership with a sense of purpose and inner peace.

"The Blue Cliff Record, a twelfth-century collection of Ch'an (Zen) koans, is a treasure of world religious literature. Like any such text, it operates at several levels: it is a remarkable example of classical Chinese literature and poetry; it is a philosophical text of profound power; and it is an active practice guide in use by Ch'an and Zen Buddhists all over the world. In this innovative rendering, renowned translator David Hinton pares the Chinese original down to its earliest and most essential version-the sangha-cases (koans) and brief poetic responses (or gathas, meaning a Buddhist "sutra-poem") compiled by the great master Snow-Chute Mountain (Hsèueh Tou, 980-1052). In doing so, he brings the reader closer to the Taoist cosmological framework that lays at the foundation of the entire Ch'an tradition-revealing a whole new understanding of this seminal text. In these one hundred classic koans, beginners will discover a strange, funny, and provocative world of quixotic exchanges and penetrating insights, and longtime koan practitioners will find themselves challenged anew by Hinton's masterful translations"--

"Nourishing the Roots draws from traditional Buddhist teachings on the bardo, a Tibetan word most often associated with the period between death and rebirth. The author likens the bardo to abrupt episodes in our lives when things seem to turn upside down. These "in between" turning points can force us to let go of our assumptions about the future and allow something new to be reborn. They're a time of not-knowing, when our fearful mind scrambles to make sense of our experience. Susan Gillis Chapman guides the reader through this groundlessness by offering contemplative practices to meet fear with love. She shows how it's possible for our personal bardo crises to restore the bridges that connect us and increase our sense of shared humanity during difficult times. Readers will learn how their experiences that are marked by fear and anxiety can actually be opportunities for personal transformation"--

Samaya is the dirtiest word in Vajrayana Buddhism. The incorrect assumptions about samayas are used as weapons to threaten people and intimidate students, to instill fear in their hearts. Instead of being properly educated about this complex commitment, the subject is left unaddressed, whispered. There is samaya in the context of empowerment but also samaya means more. Samaya has to do with how we relate to our teacher, to the teachings, and to our Dharma friends. Basically, it's a road map for our conduct and eventual realization. Entering the Vajrayana Path, occasionally, our guides let us move blindly. They don't want to talk about Samaya. Some think that if they reveal the truth, the students will run away. This is not a modern day problem, Tsele Natsok Rangdröl addressed it in the 17th Century:Obviously, the vital point of empowerment is to receive the blessings so that original wakefulness dawns in our being... In these times, [17th Century] questions regarding the nature of the empowerment, the way to implement it in practical experience, and the points of the samaya commitments, etc., are left behind on the pages of books, and masters as well as disciples do as they please and what feels most enjoyable.Be uninformed no more! This book, Empowerment and Samaya, clearly lays out every aspect of the profundity of both samaya and empowerment. Herein are detailed explanations, traditionally and in modern language about these profound topics on many levels. There are clarifications about all aspects of empowerment, lists of many of the samayas, how to keep and ways to mend, when broken.

3 BOWLS presents the outstanding vegetarian specialties that draw thousands of visitors each year to Dai Bosatsu Zendo, a traditional Zen monastery in New York's Catskill Mountains. From Sesame Crepes with Portobello Mushrooms in Port Cream Sauce and Spaghetti with Chipotle and Garlic to Coconut-Pecan Carrot Cake with Orange Cream-Cheese Frosting, these recipes are deftly creative, yet all are simple to prepare.

"Translated here for the first time, a collection of heartfelt and intimate advice for Buddhist practice from the modern female Buddhist teacher Sera Khandro Dewe Dorje (1892-1940), revealing her firsthand experiences as a mother, wife, consort, and spiritual teacher of the Dzogchen tradition of Tibetan Buddhism"--