Bøger udgivet af Wisdom Publications,U.S.

"Twenty translations from the vast corpus of Buddhist literature come alive in this full-color anthology of ancient wisdom for turbulent times, as a master scholar uncovers their sources and significance. Change and loss have always been part of the human condition, but in today's world, the pace and intensity of uncertainty has reached new extremes. The Buddha observed the truth of impermanence more than 2,500 years ago and diagnosed the source of the anxiety it engenders so incisively that his prescription still resonates and heals here and now. In Buddha's Words for Tough Times, Peter Skilling, one of the world's foremost authorities on Buddhist scripture, brings the reader face to face with the wealth of Buddhist literature, from a teaching in a single word, to a seminal collection of verses on impermanence, to narrations of the Buddha's teaching journeys across the Gangetic Plain. Translating from sources in Tibetan, Sanskrit, and Pali, he uncovers the complex history of the vast writings of the Buddhist canons, and his skill in revealing the meaning of twenty gems from within those riches brings them alive for English readers. We could have no better guide for this exploration, an exploration whose value is more urgent than ever"--

"This personal diary of one year in the life of the renowned Dzogchen master Khenpo Sodargye gives serious Dharma practitioners a lifetime of inspiring, wise guidance for practicing right conduct on the path. The backdrop of this journal is the Tibetan plateau, from where Khenpo invites us to see the world-from hospital staff to a spider, from vast galaxies to a water droplet-as he does, with candor and humor, and with a Dzogchen master's sharp analysis. He shares with us his perceptions of this world, describing his ups and downs in a way that we can relate to and be inspired by, even if we do not have the fortitude to stand up to the oppression of crustaceans or to ransom yaks from the slaughterhouse. Spontaneous and lively, the entries play out the vicissitudes of his life throughout a challenging year, tracking the passage of his days and thoughts, leaving footprints for whoever is able to follow"--

Central to Buddhism is knowing our own minds. Until we do, we are driven by unconscious, often destructive desire and aversion.The Fourteenth Dalai Lama’s Stages of the Path: An Annotated Commentary on the Fifth Dalai Lama's Oral Transmission of Mañjusri is the second volume of the Dalai Lama’s outline of Buddhist theory and practice. Having introduced Buddhist ideas in the context of modern society in volume one, the Dalai Lama turns here to a traditional presentation of the complete path to enlightenment, from developing faith in the Dharma to attaining the highest wisdom. This book, compiled by the revered Tibetan lama Dagyab Rinpoché, comments on the Fifth Dalai Lama’s stages of the path titled Oral Transmission of Mañjusri. The volume will appeal to all readers interested in the Dalai Lama’s works, both those new to Buddhism and those looking to deepen their understanding of the Tibetan presentation of the Buddhist path.

"The Yogåacåara, or Yoga Practice, school is one of the two schools of Mahåayåana Buddhism that developed in the early centuries of the common era. Though it arose in India, Mahåayåana Buddhism now flourishes in China, Tibet, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. While the other major Mahåayåana tradition, the Madhyamaka (Middle Way), focuses on the concept of emptiness-that all phenomena lack an intrinsic essence-the Yogåacåara school focuses on the cognitive processes whereby we impute such essences. Through everyday examples and analogues in cognitive science, author William Waldron makes Yogåacåara's core teachings-on the three turnings of the Dharma wheel, the three natures, the storehouse consciousness, and mere perception-accessible to a broad audience. In contrast to the common characterization of Yogåacåara as philosophical idealism, Waldron presents Yogåacåara Buddhism on its own terms, as a coherent system of ideas and practices, with dependent arising its guiding principle. The first half of Making Sense of Mind Only explores the historical context for Yogåacåara's development. Waldron examines early Buddhist texts that show how our affective and cognitive processes shape the way objects and worlds appear to us, and how we erroneously grasp onto them as essentially real-perpetuating the habits that bind us to saòmsåara. He then analyzes the early Madhyamaka critique of essences. This context sets the stage for the book's second half, an examination of how Yogåacåara texts such as the Saòmdhinirmocana Såutra and Asaçnga's Stages of Yogic Practice (Yogåacåarabhåumi) build upon these earlier ideas by arguing that our constructive processes also occur unconsciously. Not only do we collectively, yet mostly unknowingly, construct shared realities or cultures, our shared worlds are also mediated through the storehouse consciousness (åalayavijänåana) functioning as a cultural unconscious. Vasubandhu's Twenty Verses argues that we can learn to recognize such objects and worlds as "mere perceptions" (vijänåaptimåatra) and thereby abandon our enchantment with the products of our own cognitive processes. Finally Maitreya's Distinguishing Phenomena from Their Ultimate Nature (Dharmadharmatåavibhåaga) elegantly lays out the Mahåayåana path to this transformation. In Waldron's hands, Yogåacåara is no mere view but a practical system of transformation. His presentation of its key texts and ideas illuminates how religion can remain urgent and vital in our scientific and pluralistic age"--

"In this last of three volumes on emptiness, the Dalai Lama takes us through the Sautråantika, Yogåacåara, and Svåatantrika views on the ultimate nature of reality and the Pråasaçngikas' thorough responses to these, so that we gain the correct view of emptiness-the selflessness of both persons and phenomena. This view entails negating inherent existence while also being able to establish conventional existence: emptiness does not mean nothingness. We then learn how to meditate on the correct view by cultivating pristine wisdom that is the union of serenity and insight as taught in the Påali, Chinese, and Tibetan traditions. Such meditation, when combined with the altruistic intention of bodhicitta, leads to the complete eradication of all defilements that obscure our minds. This volume also introduces us to the tathåagatagarbha-the buddha essence-and how it is understood in both Tibet and China. Is it permanent? Does everyone have it? In addition, the discussion of sudden and gradual awakening in Zen (Chan) Buddhism and in Tibetan Buddhism is fascinating"--

Translation of: Sngon 'gro sems sbyong bdun gyi don khrid.

"Among the many works produced in the rich philosophical tradition of India's classical age, few have had more impact than Dharmakåirti's Commentary on Valid Cognition (Pramåaònavåarttika). Composed in India in the seventh century, it became the cornerstone for the study of logic and epistemology in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. This work translated here is by one of the premier scholars of the Sakya school, Gorampa Sèonam Sengâe (1429-89). It illuminates the first two chapters of Dharmakåirti's work, those on using inference to enlighten oneself (svåarthåanumåana) and on establishing valid cognition (pramåaònasiddhi) both to determine the authority of the Buddha as a valid teacher and to eliminate the cognitive obstacles to awakening. The root text is composed in compact verses, and these are translated here along with Gorampa's word-by-word commentary that reveals their often veiled meanings. These chapters explore key issues in the philosophy of language and the nature of conventional designation, the way to employ sound reasoning, the proof of past and future lives, and the way to eliminate the view of self. In the skilled hands of translator Gavin Kilty, these insights are made accessible"--

"In this authoritative translation of key texts of Everlasting Bèon, Marc des Jardins opens up a relatively unknown tradition, which since the arrival of Buddhism in Tibet has undergone great transformations in its philosophy, doctrinal teachings, and meditative practices. The five texts each represent an important aspect of the tradition. The first text by Drogèon Azha Lodrèo Gyaltsen (1198-1263) presents the grounds and paths of the Greater Vehicle of the Bèon tradition and represents the philosophical ideology of its teachings based on the scriptures contained in the Bèon canon. The second text is a short root tantra attributed to revealed teachings from Kuntu Zangpo, the personification of the unconditioned absolute. The third text is a commentary on this root tantra attributed to Drenpa Namkha (fl. eighth century), a Bèonpo sage contemporary with Padmasambhava. The fourth text by Nyamâe Sherap Gyaltsen (1356-1415) presents a general exposition of the tantric system according to Yungdrung Bèon. The final text by Drutèon Gyalwa Yungdrung (1242-90) pertains to the oral instructions on the meditation practices of Bèon, especially on the cycle of practices associated with experiencing the nature of the mind, the Great Perfection systems. All five texts have been selected by the late H. H. Menri Trizin Rinpochâe, Lungtok Tenpai Nyima (1927-2017), who was the thirty-third abbot of Menri Monastery, the central institution of the Yungdrung Bèon school"--

Beautiful, clear translations of every text necessary for one of the most important Buddhist tantric practices. This book is strictly intended for those who have completed the empowerment into the five deity mandala of Heruka Chakrasamvara of Mahasiddha Ghantapa, according to the lineage of Lama Tsongkhapa.The Source of Supreme Bliss contains the first English translations of important commentaries on the Highest Yoga Tantra system of the Heruka Chakrasamvara five deity practice. Included is a lucid, practical, and deeply profound explanation of the generation stage by Ngulchu Dharmabhadra. This is followed by an extremely rare and profound commentary by the First Panchen Lama Losang Chökyi Gyaltsen on the completion stage, along with a commentary on how to perform a proper Chakrasamvara retreat. The second half of the book comprises translations of the ritual texts associated with the commentaries. Indispensable for anyone who undertakes this practice, The Source of Supreme Bliss will also provide rich and profound insights for those interested in Highest Yoga Tantra. The Dechen Ling Practice Series from Wisdom Publications is committed to furthering the vision of David Gonsalez (Venerable Losang Tsering) and the Dechen Ling Press of bringing the sacred literature of Tibet to the West by making available many never-before-translated texts.

"Brilliantly translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi, this anthology of suttas from the Saòmyutta Nikåaya takes us straight to the heart of the Buddha's teaching on liberation through the four noble truths and the noble eightfold path-the two mainstays of Buddhist doctrine that illuminate the nature of things by generating direct insight into the teachings. These suttas all pertain to the ultimate good, the attainment of nibbåana or liberation. They illuminate the Buddha's radical diagnosis of the human condition-and more broadly, the condition of all sentient existence-in light of the four noble truths. They underscore the pervasive flaws inherent in the round of rebirths, trace our existential predicament to its deepest roots, and lay out the path to unraveling our bondage and winning irreversible release. Ven. Bodhi arranged the chapters, each with its own introduction, to provide an overview of the Dhamma that mirrors the four noble truths, thus enabling students of Early Buddhism to see into the heart of the Buddha's teachings as directly and clearly as possible"--

"Composed by Losang Yeshâe around the turn of the seventeenth century, this text is a meditation manual on the lamrim, or "stages of the path to enlightenment." The author, commonly referred to as either the Fifth or Second Paònchen Lama, depending on the convention for enumeration, formulated it as a supplement to the Easy Path (Delam) written by his immediate predecessor, Losang Chèokyi Gyaltsen, who was tutor to the Fifth Dalai Lama. Carrying great significance in the genre of lamrim literature, it came to be recognized as part of a collection of texts known as the eight great lamrims"--

Chittamani Tara is the Highest Yoga Tantra aspect of Green Tara, one of the most popular yidams in Tibetan Buddhism.In this book beloved teacher Pabongkha Rinpoche shares the teachings that his teacher, Gargyi Wangpo Takphu Dorje Chang, received directly from Chittamani Tara herself.  The Secret Revelations of Chittamani Tara contains many profound oral instructions that are not easily found elsewhere, including one of the most powerful and practical discourses on the completion stage to be found anywhere in English translation. Rinpoche has supplemented his commentary with teachings from the Gaden Hearing Lineage as well as the general tantric teachings of the Gelug tradition. Also included are the Chittamani Tara self-generation sadhana, the ganachakra offering for Chittamani Tara, and three beautiful and moving praises and prayers to Tara composed by masters in the tradition. Lovingly translated by the scholar-monk David Gonsalez, The Secret Revelations of Chittamani Tara is a guiding force leading all living beings to the state of Arya Tara. The material in this book is restricted. This book may be read only by those who have received an empowerment into any of the four classes of tantra. In order to practice this material, you must have received both the common and uncommon Chittamani Tara empowerments.

"In this clear and exemplary approach to one of the core philosophical subjects of the Buddhist tradition, Sonam Thakchoe guides readers through the range of Indian Buddhist philosophical schools and how each approaches the two truths: ultimate truth and conventional truth. In this presentation of philosophical systems, the detailed argumentations and analyses of each school's approach to the two truths are presented to weave together the unique contributions each school brings to supporting and strengthening a Buddhist practitioner's understanding of reality. The insights of the great scholars of Indian Buddhist history-such as Vasubandhu, Bhåavaviveka, Kamalaâsåila, Dharmakåirti, Nåagåarjuna, and Candrakåirti-are illuminated in this volume, with profound implications to the practice and views of modern practitioners and scholars. The Vaibhåaòsika, Saåutråantika, Yogåacåara, and Madhyamaka schools provide a framework for a continuum of philosophical debate that is far more interrelated, and internally complex, than one may presume. Yet we see how the schools build upon the findings of one another, leading from a belief in the realism of external phenomena to the relinquishment of any commitment to realism of either external or internal realities. This fascinating movement through philosophical approaches leads us to see how the conventional and ultimate-dependent arising and emptiness-are twin aspects of a single reality"--

"A Letter to a Friend stands out among Nåagåarjuna's works because of its minimal philosophical content and limited discussion of Mahayana practices. A Letter to a Friend is a comprehensive yet brief summary of the basic ideas and practices that form the substrate for all forms Buddhism: in other words, the text outlines the practices common to the Hinayana-more respectfully called the âSråavakayåana-and the Mahayana in both its Sutrayana and Vajrayana forms. In that regard, it can be seen as a very early precursor of the presentation of the graduated path to awakening in a single text developed centuries later by Atiâsa (circa 982-1055), and expanded in Tibet by the master Je Tsongkhapa (1357-1419). Geshe Sopa was an exemplary Buddhist monk practitioner as well as a superlative scholar. His quiet and compassionate traditionalism drew people in; he did not blast people with charisma. He was a recognized master of his tradition and also knew how to reach a contemporary audience. His teachings on A Letter to a Friend roughly follow the commentary written by Rendawa Shonu Lodro (1349-1412). However, he added much, much more. He brought in additional material from many sources: the sutras, other texts by Nåagåarjuna, works by great Indian masters such as âSåantideva, åAryadeva, Candrakåirti, Vasubhandu and others, and from multiple works by Je Tsongkhapa.15 Although Nåagåarjuna's text primarily teaches the common path with little emphasis on philosophy, Geshe Sopa's explanation supplements it to teach the Mahayana path and Madhyamaka philosophy"--

"From the intro: In the following pages I examine the early Buddhist oral tradition from the viewpoint of its formation and transmission. The central question I intend to explore is how best to understand its dynamics: What is the most appropriate model for interpreting the existence of numerous variations between versions of a discourse preserved by different reciter lineages, given that these same parallels also show a remarkable degree of similarity and correspondence (together with exhibiting features of memorization that point to a concern with accurate transmission)? The present book is meant to express my current understanding of this topic in a way accessible to the general reader"--

Includes bibliographical references (pages 260-263) and index

A timeless Buddhist tale about the things that matter most: truth, generosity, compassion, and love.When a group of children are having a playful day at the beach, the fun of building sand castles is forgotten when they start arguing about whose castle is best. While fighting over “I,” “me,” and “mine,” they end up destroying and abandoning the castles they so carefully constructed. The timely arrival of a magical wise man teaches the children that unlike the sand castles, it is the things we can’t see that really matter most.  Delicately illustrated by the beloved and award-winning author Demi, The Secret of the Sand Castles teaches children the joy of creating a harmonious world in which to live—with an open heart and love for one another.

Lumi is a tiny radiant being on a missions to spread kindness in the universe. Join her on a quest as she searches for ways to help other beings--flower fairies, frozen warriors, a star-stealing monster, and a colony of stranded sea squirts--and discovers sometimes she needs help, too!

A major contribution to the literature on Buddhist practice according to the Geluk school of Tibetan Buddhism from its foremost interpreter.Although it was the last major school to emerge in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the Geluk school has left an indelible mark on Buddhist thought and practice. The intellectual and spiritual brilliance of its founder, the great Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), has inspired generations of scholars and tantric yogis to place him at the heart of their daily meditative practice. The Geluk tradition's close ties to the Dalai Lamas have also afforded it an outsized influence in all aspects of Tibetan life for centuries. At its peak its combined monasteries boasted a population in the tens of thousands, and its sway encompassed the religious landscape of Mongolia and much of Central Asia. This widespread religious activity fostered a rich literary tradition, and fifteen seminal works are featured here representing four genres of that tradition. They include works on the stages of the path, or lamrim, the genre for which the Geluk is most renowned; works on guru yoga, centered around the core Geluk ritual Offering to the Guru (Lama Chöpa); teachings from the unique oral transmission of Geluk mahamudra, meditation on the nature of mind; and instructions on the three essential points-what to practice in life, at death, and in the bardo. Your guide to these riches, Thupten Jinpa, maps out their historical context and spiritual significance in his extensive introduction.

A funny, gross book about mindfulness for kids.Sometimes we have nightmares or fears, and anxieties can sneak into our day.  And when you’re a kid, you don’t understand these thoughts or what they’re trying to say. But this book will teach you how to make friends with your mind— instead of fearing what’s inside.    Your Mind Makes Thoughts Like Your Butt Makes Farts is unlike any other book about mindfulness for kids. With gross-out humor and hilariously disgusting illustrations, it will help kids understand that they don’t have to listen to everything their mind says—and realize that thoughts (like gas) will pass.

This powerful photography collection captures an incredible journey of cultural preservation. Join E. Gene Smith as he travels to remote monasteries in South Asia delivering the digitized version of twenty thousand volumes of ancient Tibetan texts-volumes that had been faced with almost certain extinction fifty years earlier.This is the epic story of an international rescue effort to preserve a culture's literary history. Originally a Mormon from Utah, E. Gene Smith became the unlikely mastermind behind an international effort to rescue, preserve, digitize, and provide free access to the vast Tibetan Buddhist canon, many volumes of which had been lost or destroyed during China's Cultural Revolution. Digital Dharma is a stunning visual experience offering a behind-the-scenes look into this unprecedented mission. Through hundreds of photographs taken during Smith's trip to deliver drives containing the digitized volumes to remote monasteries in South Asia, you'll gain extraordinary and intimate access to life inside Buddhist monasteries, to the rituals of Tibetan Buddhism, and to the insights of some of the world's leading lamas and lineage holders. Throughout the journey, you'll meet monks, local publishers, scholars, and dignitaries involved in the preservation movement to which Smith dedicated his life. With the accompanying historical and cultural background, you'll develop a deeper and more personal understanding of Tibetan Buddhism and of the achievement of preserving and disseminating its sacred canon.

Discover ancient Tibetan breath practices for calming your mind and improving your health in this plain-English guide. Over millennia, many Eastern traditions have developed practices that use the powerful healing energy of breath to treat physical, emotional, and mental problems. In Chinese, this energy is called chi; in Sanskrit it is called prana; and in Tibetan it is called lung.  Lung is life-giving energy that moves through our bodies. A lack or imbalance of lung can create illnesses of body and mind or cause emotional struggles such as confusion, anger, and sadness. In this book, Geshe YongDong Losar, a scholar and monk in the ancient Bön tradition of Tibet, guides us through time-tested practices to help balance our lung. His deep knowledge—garnered through years of study and practice—renders the practices simple and achievable, creating a clear path for us toward greater calmness, strength, and clarity. “Over and over I have personally witnessed, both in myself and in my students, the breath’s clear potential to heal and deeply transform lives. I truly believe that in the future such practices will play an important role as a medicine for preventing and treating physical, emotional, and mental maladies. I am glad that Geshe YongDong is making these practices widely available, and I’m sure that by doing so, he is bringing benefit to countless lives.” —from the foreword by Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

Ornament of Dakpo Kagyü Thought presents a sparkling translation of The Mahamudra Aspiration Prayer by Rangjung Dorjé and commentary by Mendong Tsampa. This is one of the most brilliant and popular ritual prayers today, and is also considered the most profound exposition of mahamudra, the pinnacle of practice in the Kagyü school of Tibetan Buddhism. The facing pages of Tibetan script make this a go-to book for daily practice and for Tibetan-language students. The Mahamudra Aspiration Prayer is one of the most brilliant and popular compositions on mahamudra and is the pinnacle of practice in the Kagyü school of Tibetan Buddhism. Written in easygoing nine-meter verse, this heartfelt prayer by the third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorjé, lends itself to chanting and ritualized group prayer and is at the same time intricately organized into the most profound and thorough exposition of mahamudra. The commentary on the prayer by Mendong Tsampa Rinpoché brilliantly illuminates its subtleties, making it even more accessible for the reader, and students and teachers alike will appreciate the inclusion of the Tibetan script on facing pages of the prayer and commentary. This is a text for encouraging study, for inspiring practice, and for the awakening of the world.

Learn how to overcome distraction in meditation practice and develop clarity in your relationships, work, and activities with this new guide from a beloved meditation teacher.The mind can be a potent tool, used to guide extraordinary achievements, inspire good works, and incline your spiritual path toward peace and awakening. But the mind can also produce thoughts that lead to suffering. For many people, thoughts run rampant and seem to oppress or control their lives. Even the Buddha tells us that before his enlightenment, he sometimes found his mind preoccupied by thoughts connected with sensual desire, ill will, and harm. But he figured out how to respond to thoughts skillfully and developed a step-by-step approach to calm the restless mind. Now, Insight Meditation teacher Shaila Catherine offers an accessible approach to training the mind that is guided by the Buddha’s pragmatic instructions on removing distracting thoughts. Drawing on two scriptures in the Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, Shaila shows you how to overcome habitual modes of thinking, develop deeper concentration, and discover the insights into emptiness that are vital for a liberating spiritual path. Following the Buddha’s pragmatic approach, Shaila guides you through five steps for overcoming distraction and focusing the mind: 1. Replace unwholesome thoughts with wholesome thoughts. For example, if you find yourself thinking thoughts of ill will toward a person, try thinking instead of their good qualities as an antidote. 2. Examine the dangers of distracting thoughts. Weigh the costs of allowing thoughts of ill will, lust, greed, and so forth to obsess your mind. The costs of dwelling on distracting thoughts nearly always outweigh any supposed benefits. 3. Avoid it, ignore it, forget it. Develop the skill to turn your attention away from habitual distractions. Remove the fuel and let the fires of distraction die out. 4. Investigate the causes of distraction. By understanding the conditions that perpetuate habitual thoughts, you can learn to free yourself from those patterns. 5. Apply determination and resolve. Supported by wisdom, you can make a firm decision to stop dwelling on patterns of thought that are not supporting your deepest values and goals in life. Each chapter includes exercises and reflections to help you cultivate the five steps to deeper concentration. You’ll learn about your mind and develop your ability to direct your attention more skillfully in meditation and daily activities. And ultimately, you’ll discover for yourself how these five steps boil down to one key realization: In the moment you recognize that a thought is just a thought, you will find yourself on the path to a life of remarkable freedom.

A collection of talks, photos, and calligraphy by Jakusho Kwong-roshi, exploring the profound beauty of Zen history and practice, nature, and the philosophy of the ancient Zen master Eihei Dogen.“In Zen meditation, anything that comes in your mind will eventually leave, because nothing is permanent. A thought is like a cloud moving across the blue sky. Nothing can disturb that all-encompassing vastness. This is the Dharma". In a collection of talks and anecdotes, Jakusho Kwong-roshi, a Dharma successor of Shunryu Suzuki-roshi, presents his approach to Buddhist teaching. Containing photos of Kwong-roshi with his teachers, as well as a selection of his vibrant calligraphy, Mind Sky explores the profound beauty of Zen history and practice, nature, and the philosophy of the ancient Zen master Eihei Dogen.  With an elegant simplicity, Jakusho Kwong-roshi shows how Zen is experiential rather than intellectual. And with persistent practice, realization is already yours.