This book provides an interdisciplinary discussion of conflict studies, drawing on perspectives from psychology and Buddhist studies. The author combines current research in psychology, conflict and management studies, as well as moral narratives drawn from religious and cultural contexts, to offer useful guidance on dealing with conflict and dichotomies. Drawing on a vast corpus of Buddhist literature, this book examines complex teachings, ideas and doctrines to bring insight to how individuals and societies might lead peaceful and balanced lifestyles. In this ground-breaking study Padmasiri De Silva insists that the social studies need to develop dialectical methods and understanding in addition to the objective and analytical collection of facts. Chapters cover an array of subjects including economics, ecology, human wellbeing, prison reform, dialectical behaviour therapy, multiculturalism, and peace studies.

This Mah y na Buddhist s tra has been especially influential in the Chan school of Chinese Buddhism. Some of the key themes of the ra gama S tra form the foundation for Buddhist practice, mainly by sam dhi power. The moral precepts in this Sutra are so important that they are often used to combat delusions that may arise during meditation. This book serves as a guide for all Buddhist practitioners to understand the basic ideas of Buddhism and lead their hands through the way of factual practice toward the ten stages of Mah y na achievements.

The Lotus Sutra is regarded as one of the world's great religious scriptures and most influential texts. It's a seminal work in the development of Buddhism throughout East Asia and, by extension, in the development of Mahayana Buddhism throughout the world. Taking place in a vast and fantastical cosmic setting, the Lotus Sutra places emphasis on skillfully doing whatever is needed to serve and compassionately care for others, on breaking down distinctions between the fully enlightened buddha and the bodhisattva who vows to postpone salvation until all beings may share it, and especially on each and every being's innate capacity to become a buddha.
Gene Reeves's new translation appeals to readers with little or no familiarity with technical Buddhist vocabulary, as well as long-time practitioners and students. In addition, this remarkable volume includes the full "threefold" text of this classic.

This is not a standard translation of "Mulamadhyamakakarika." Translator Nishijima Roshi believes that the original translation from Chinese into Sanskrit by the Ven. Kumarajiva (circa 400 C.E.) was faulty and that Kumarajiva's interpretation has influenced every other translation since. Avoiding reference to any other translations or commentaries, Nishijima Roshi has translated the entire text anew. This edition is, therefore, like no other. An expert in the philosophical works of Dogen Zenji (1200-1254 CE), Nishijima says in his introduction, "My own thoughts regarding Buddhism rely solely upon what Master Dogen wrote about the philosophy. So when reading the "Mulamadhyamakakarika" it is impossible for me not to be influenced by Master Dogen's Buddhist ideas." Thus this book is heavily and unabashedly influenced by the work of Master Dogen. Working with Brad Warner, Nishijima has produced a highly readable and eminently practical translation and commentary intended to be most useful to those engaged in meditation practice.
The "Mulamadhyamakakarika" (MMK) was written by Master Nagarjuna, an Indian Buddhist philosopher of the second century. Mahayana Buddhism had arrived at its golden age and Nagarjuna was considered its highest authority. The MMK is revered as the most conclusive of his several Buddhist works. Its extraordinarily precise and simple expression suggests that it was written when Master Nagarjuna was mature in his Buddhist practice and research.

Buddhism in the Modern World explores the challenges faced by Buddhism today, the distinctive forms that it has taken, the individuals and movements that have shaped it, and the modern history of Buddhism in different geographical regions. Part one surveys the Buddhist tradition in different parts of the world, from Southeast Asia to North America, while part two explores key themes including globalisation, gender issues, and the ways in which Buddhism has confronted modernity, science, popular culture and national politics. Each chapter is written by a distinguished scholar in the field, and is designed to offer a lively and up to date overview of the subject. Students and scholars alike will find this book an indispensable guide to the living Buddhist tradition. Includes photographs, summaries, discussion points and suggestions for further readin

Theravada Buddhism is widely recognized as the classic introduction to the branch of Buddhism found in Sri Lanka and parts of South East Asia. The Buddha preached in north-east India in about the fifth-century BC. He claimed that human beings are responsible for their own salvation, and put forward a new ideal of the holy life, establishing a monastic Order to enable men and women to pursue that ideal. For most of its history the fortunes of Theravada, the most conservative form of Buddhism, have been identified with those of that Order. Under the great Indian emperor, Asoka, himself a Buddhist, Theravada reached Sri Lanka in about 250 BC. There it became the religion of the Sinhala state, and from there it spread, much later, to Burma and Thailand.
Richard Gombrich, the leading authority on Theravada Buddhism, has updated his text and bibliographies to take account of recent research, including the controversies of the date of the Buddha and recent social and political developments in Sri Lanka.. He explores the legacy of the Buddha's predecessors and the social and religious contexts against which Buddhism has developed and changed throughout history. Above all, he shows how it has always influenced and been influenced by its social surroundings in a way which continues to this day.

Contents:
Part I - The Background and Context of the Ãlaya-vijñana
1. The Early Buddhist Background
2. The Three Marks of Existence
3. The Formula of Dependent Arising
4. Causation and continuity without a self
5. Viññana in the Formula of Dependent Arising
6. Viññana as Consciousness
7. Karmic Formations and Craving increase Viññana and Perpetuate Samsara
8. Consciousness and the Potential for Karmic Fruition
9. Viññana as Cognitive Awareness
10. Cognitive Processes and the Production of Karma
11. The Underlying Tendencies (anusaya)
12. The Underlying Tendency "I am" and Conceptual Proliferation
13. The Debate over Latent and Manifest
14. Reciprocal Causality Between the Two Aspects of Viññana
Part II - The Abhidharma Context
15. The Abhidharma Project and its Problematic
16. Background of the Abhidharma
17. The Aim and Methods of Abhidharma: Dharma as Irreducible Unit of Experience
18. The Basic Problematic: Two Levels of Discourse Two Dimensions of Mind
19. Analysis of Mind and its Mental Factors
20. The Initial Formulation of the Problematic in its Synchronic Dimension: The Accumulation of Karmic Potential, the Presence of the Underlying Tendencies and their Gradual Purification in the Kathavatthu
21. The Problematic in its Diachronic Dimension: Immediate Succession vs the Continuity of Karmic Potential
22. The Persistence of Traditonal Continuities: Karma and Klesa in the AbhiDharma-Kosa
23. AbhiDharmic Responses to the Problematic
24. The Sarvastivadin Theory of Possession
25. The Sautrantika Theory of Seeds in the Mental Stream
26. Questions Raised by Consciousness, Seeds and the Mental Stream
27. The Theravadin Theory of Life Constituent Mind
28. Conclusion
Part III - The Alaya-vijñana in the Yogacara Tradition, The Alaya-vijñana in the Early Tradition
29. The Origins of the Alaya-vijñana
30. The New Model of Mind in the Samdhinirmocana Sutra
31. The Alaya-Vijñana as Mental Stream
32. The Alaya Treatise of the Yogacarabhumi
33. The Proof Portion
34. The Alaya Treatise, Pravrtti Portion: Analysing the Alaya-Vijñana in Avhidharmic Terms
35. Its subliminal objective supports and cognitive processes
36. Its mutual and simulataneous relationship with manifest cognitive awareness
37. Manifest Cognitive Processes Produce Karma and Increase the Alaya-vijñana
38. Its Simultaneous Arising with Afflictive Mentation
39. The Alaya treatise, Nivrtti Portion: Equating the Alaya-Vijñana with Samsaric Continuity
40. Conclusion
Part IV - The Alaya-Vijñana in the Mahayana-samgraha I : Bringing It All Back Home
41. Appropriating the Traditional Buddhist Framework
42. Synonyms of the Alaya-vijñana in the Disciple's Vehicle
43. The Two Vijnanas and the Two Dependent Arisings
44. Seeding the Alaya-vijñana: The Karmic Process as Simultaneous Intrapsychic Causality
45. Resolving the Abhidharmic problematic
46. Karma, Rebirth and the Alaya-vijñana
47. The continuity of the Afflictions
48. Afflicitve Mentation in the Mahayana-samgraha
49. The Path of Purification:Mundane and SupraMundane
50. Beyond Abhidharma: Adventitious Defilements, Pure Seeds and Luminous Minds
Part V - The Alaya-vijñana in the Mahayana-samgraha II: Looking Beyond
51. The Predispositions of Speech, Self View and the Life Constituents
52. Common Experience, Common Embodiment: Language, the Alaya-vijñana and the Arising of the World

The Tang Dynasty is one of the most prosperous periods in ancient Chinese history. This prosperity in culture and economy has a lot to do with the spread of Buddhism in the country. This book is a brief history of this great dynasty, but more than that, it is a deeper look into the cause of human nature and the important of human nature quality development which can help change the course of history and shape a better world.

Neuroscience and Psychology of Meditation in Everyday Life addresses essential and timely questions about the research and practice of meditation as a path to realization of human potential for health and well-being. Balancing practical content and scientific theory, the book discusses long-term effects of six meditation practices: mindfulness, compassion, visualization-based meditation techniques, dream yoga, insight-based meditation and abiding in the existential ground of experience. Each chapter provides advice on how to embed these techniques into everyday activities, together with considerations about underlying changes in the mind and brain based on latest research evidence. This book is essential reading for professionals applying meditation-based techniques in their work and researchers in the emerging field of contemplative science. The book will also be of value to practitioners of meditation seeking to further their practice and understand associated changes in the mind and brain.

Anarchy in the Pure Land investigates the cult of Maitreya, the future Buddha, promoted by the Chinese Buddhist reform movement spearheaded by Taixu. The cult presents an apparent anomaly: It shows precisely the kind of concern for ritual, supernatural beings, and the afterlife that the reformers supposedly rejected in the name of "modernity." This book shows that, rather than a concession to tradition, the reimagining of ideas and practices associated with Maitreya was an important site for formulating a Buddhist vision of modernity. Justin Ritzinger argues that the cult of Maitreya represents an attempt to articulate a new constellation of values, integrating novel understandings of the good-clustered around modern visions of utopia-with the central Buddhist goal of Buddhahood. Part One traces the roots of this constellation to Taixu's youthful career as an anarchist. Part Two examines its articulation in the Maitreya School's theology and its social development from its inception to World War II. Part Three looks at its subsequent decline and contemporary legacy within and beyond orthodox Buddhism.

Throughout the history of Buddhism, little has been said prior to the Twentieth Century that explicitly raises the question whether we have free will, though the Buddha rejected fatalism and some Buddhists have addressed whether karma is fatalistic. Recently, however, Buddhist and Western philosophers have begun to explicitly discuss Buddhism and free will. This book incorporates Buddhist philosophy more explicitly into the Western analytic philosophical discussion of free will, both in order to render more perspicuous Buddhist ideas that might shed light on the Western philosophical debate, and in order to render more perspicuous the many possible positions on the free will debate that are available to Buddhist philosophy. The book covers: Buddhist and Western perspectives on the problem of free will The puzzle of whether free will is possible if, as Buddhists believe, there is no agent/self Theravada views Mahayana views Evidential considerations from science, meditation, and skepticism The first book to bring together classical and contemporary perspectives on free will in Buddhist thought, it is of interest to academics working on Buddhist and Western ethics, comparative philosophy, metaphysics, philosophy of mind, philosophy of action, agency, and personal identity.

In Growing in Love and Wisdom, Susan Stabile draws on a unique dual perspective to explore the value of interreligious dialogue, the essential spiritual dynamics that operate across faith traditions, and the many fruitful ways Buddhist meditation practices can deepen Christian prayer. Raised as a Catholic, Stabile devoted 20 years of her life to practicing Buddhism and was ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun before returning to Catholicism in 2001. She begins the book by examining the values and principles shared by the two faith traditions, focusing on the importance of prayer-particularly contemplative prayer-to both Christianity and Tibetan Buddhism. Both traditions seek to effect a fundamental transformation in the lives of believers, and both stress the need for experiences that have deep emotional resonance, that go beyond the level of concepts to touch the heart. Stabile illuminates the similarities between Tibetan Buddhist meditations and Christian forms of prayer such as Ignatian Contemplation and Lectio Divina; she explores as well such guided Buddhist practices as Metta and Tonglen, which cultivate compassion and find echoes in Jesus' teachings about loving one's enemies and transcending self-cherishing. The heart of the book offers 15 Tibetan Buddhist practices adapted to a contemplative Christian perspective. Stabile provides clear instructions on how to do these meditations as well as helpful commentary on each, explaining its purpose and the relation between the original and her adaptation. Throughout, she highlights the many remarkably close parallels in the teachings of Jesus and Buddha. Arguing that engagement between religions offers mutual enrichment and greater understanding of both traditions, Growing in Love and Wisdom shows how Buddhist meditation can be fruitfully joined to Christian prayer.

"Of great help to people interested in meditation and an inspiring reminder to those on the path."Joseph Goldstein, co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society and author of "One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism"

"Bodhipaksa has written a beautiful and very accessible introduction to meditation. He guides us through all the basics of mindfulness and also loving-kindness meditations with the voice of a wise, kind, and patient friend."-Dr. Lorne Ladner, author of "The Lost Art of Compassion"

"The aim of Buddhist meditation is to clear away the "defilements" so that we can experience ourselvesmore deeply and more trulyin our primordial purity, clarity, and freedom of mind. Meditation helps us to cut through the agonizing clutter of superficial mental turmoil and allows us to experience more spacious and joyful states of mind. It is this pure and luminous state that I call your Wildmind."

From how to build your own meditation stool to how a raisin can help you meditate, this illustrated guide explains everything you need to know to start or deepen your meditation practice. This bestseller is in a new handy format and features brand-new illustrations.

Bodhipaksa is a Buddhist practitioner, writer, and teacher, and he is the founder of www.wildmind.org, an online meditation resource. He lives in New Hampshire with his family and conducts classes at Aryaloka Buddhist Center in Newmarket, New Hampshire.

The holy Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara has only 262 Chinese Characters but it tells all about Buddhism, a faith of the mind. Every single character contains very meaningful ideas and only a Buddhist Master can fully comprehend their argumentations through long-time practice, the main form of which is meditation. With in depth meditation, the practitioner can obtain great power in many aspects of life, including gaining better health, turning knowledge into wisdom and living a wealthier life.

Secret Drugs of Buddhism is the first book to explore the historical evidence for the use of entheogenic plants within the Buddhist tradition. Drawing on scriptural sources, botany, pharmacology, and religious iconography, this book calls attention to the central role which psychedelics played in Indian religions. It traces their history from the mysterious soma potion, celebrated in the most ancient Hindu scriptures, to amrita, the sacramental drink of Vajrayana Buddhism. Although amrita used in modern Vajrayana ceremonies lacks any psychoactivity, there is copious evidence that the amrita used by the earliest Vajrayana practitioners was a potent entheogen. It is the nature of this psychedelic form of the sacrament which is the central topic of this book. In particular, Secret Drugs of Buddhism attempts to identify the specific ingredients employed in amrita's earliest formulations. To this end, the book presents evidence from many countries in which the Vajrayana movement flourished. These include Bhutan, Japan, Mongolia, and Tibet but special attention is given to India, the land of its origin.

How do you cope when facing life-threatening illness, family conflict, faltering relationships, old trauma, obsessive thinking, overwhelming emotion, or inevitable loss? If you're like most people, chances are you react with fear and confusion, falling back on timeworn strategies: anger, self-judgment, and addictive behaviors. Though these old, conditioned attempts to control our life may offer fleeting relief, ultimately they leave us feeling isolated and mired in pain.
There "is" another way. Beneath the turbulence of our thoughts and emotions exists a profound stillness, a silent awareness capable of limitless love. Tara Brach, author of the award-winning "Radical Acceptance, "calls this awareness our true refuge, because it is available to every one of us, at any moment, no exceptions. In this book, Brach offers a practical guide to finding our inner sanctuary of peace and wisdom in the midst of difficulty.
Based on a fresh interpretation of the three classic Buddhist gateways to freedom--truth, love, and awareness--"True Refuge" shows us the way not just to heal our suffering, but also to cultivate our capacity for genuine happiness. Through spiritual teachings, guided meditations, and inspirational stories of people who discovered loving presence during times of great struggle, Brach invites us to connect more deeply with our own inner life, one another, and the world around us.
" "
"True Refuge" is essential reading for anyone encountering hardship or crisis, anyone dedicated to a path of spiritual awakening. The book reminds us of our own innate intelligence and goodness, making possible an enduring trust in ourselves and our lives. We realize that what we seek is within us, and regardless of circumstances, "there is always a way to take refuge in a healing and liberating presence."
Advance praise for "True Refuge"
"Drawing on the latest findings in neuroscience as well as ten more years of personal experience on the path of awakening, Tara Brach's superb second book brings readers ever more deeply in touch with our true nature. This book is a precious gift, filled with insight, shared from heart to heart."--Thich Nhat Hanh
""True Refuge" is a magnificent work of heart. For anyone interested in developing a deeper understanding of the mind and how to improve the quality of their life, this book offers unique insights and easily learned practices that literally can transform your life's path. Read, explore, and enjoy "--Dan Siegel, author of "Mindsight "and "The Whole-Brain Child"
"This is a special book, lovely, loving, wise, and helpful. It is like having a sage and caring friend sit with you, offering comfort, insight, and guidance for your own true journey home."--Jack Kornfield, author of "The Wise Heart"
"Tara Brach writes from the heart to the heart. With candor and calmness, she shares her own and others' struggles to overcome our deep and constant human dilemmas. Whenever I read Brach, I feel more peaceful and hopeful. I trust myself and the universe more. I feel more connected and grounded in what the Lakota Sioux call Wakan Tanka, The Great Mystery. "True Refuge" is itself a refuge and I thank the author for it."--Mary Pipher, Ph.D., "New York Times" bestselling author of "The Green Boat" and "Reviving Ophelia"

"From the Hardcover edition."

Any practitioner, after meditating for some time, inevitably wonders what meditation method the historical Buddha Shakyamuni himself used while beneath the Bodhi Tree. Many people understand that prior to his realization, Shakyamuni Buddha studied with many of great yogis of his time, but most do not know what method he ultimately found leads most directly to Nirvana. In Ajhan Buddhadasa Bhikku's book, "Mindfulness With Breathing, " the Thai meditation master provides practitioners with penetrating insights into the Anapanasati Sutta, the sacred canonical text which many believe is the most direct transmission of Shakyamuni Buddha's breath meditation methods. Combined with a concise translation of the Sutta itself, "Mindfulness With Breathing" is one of the best guides to Buddhist meditation practice available in the English language.

These daily inspirational readings contain Swami Satchidananda's teachings on the spiritual life--how to serve others and realize peace, truth, and union with the divine. Culled from twenty-five years of lectures to spiritual seekers in the West and the East, these readings are expressed with the simplicity and authority of one who speaks from his own experience. What is purity of heart? It's a heart full of tranquility and peace. Having a steady mind, a balanced mind, is what you call purity of heart. You must be well balanced between the dualities: the ups and downs, the pleasure and pain, the profit and loss. If the mind is free from turbulence, then the seer can see its own nature. If your heart is pure and steady, you can see God reflected in that steady heart.

Investigation of the Percept is a short (eight verses and a three page autocommentary) work that focuses on issues of perception and epistemology. Its author, Dignaga, was one of the most influential figures in the Indian Buddhist epistemological tradition, and his ideas had a profound and wide-ranging impact in India, Tibet, and China. The work inspired more than twenty commentaries throughout East Asia and three in Tibet, the most recent in 2014. This book is the first of its kind in Buddhist studies: a comprehensive history of a text and its commentarial tradition. The volume editors translate the root text and commentary, along with Indian and Tibetan commentaries, providing detailed analyses of the commentarial innovations of each author, as well as critically edited versions of all texts and extant Sanskrit fragments of passages. The team-based approach made it possible to study and translate a corpus of treatises in Sanskrit, Tibetan, and Chinese and to employ the methods of critical philology and cross-cultural philosophy to provide readers with a rich collection of studies and translations, along with detailed philosophical analyses that open up the intriguing implications of Dignaga's thought and demonstrate the diversity of commentarial approaches to his text. This rich text has inspired some of the greatest minds in India and Tibet. It explores some of the key issues of Buddhist epistemology: the relationship between minds and their percepts, the problems of idealism and realism, and error and misperception.