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Books > Religion & Spirituality > Non-Christian religions > Religions of Indic & Oriental origin > Buddhism > General
The Spirit Ambulance is a journey into decision-making at the end
of life in Thailand, where families attempt to craft good deaths
for their elders in the face of clashing ethical frameworks, from a
rapidly developing universal medical system, to national and global
human-rights politics, to contemporary movements in Buddhist
metaphysics. Scott Stonington's gripping ethnography documents how
Thai families attempt to pay back a "debt of life" to their elders
through intensive medical care, followed by a medically assisted
rush from the hospital to home to ensure a spiritually advantageous
last breath. The result is a powerful exploration of the nature of
death and the complexities arising from the globalization of
biomedical expertise and ethics around the world.
Kexue, or science, captured the Chinese imagination in the early
twentieth century, promising new knowledge about the world and a
dynamic path to prosperity. Chinese Buddhists embraced scientific
language and ideas to carve out a place for their religion within a
rapidly modernizing society. Examining dozens of previously
unstudied writings from the Chinese Buddhist press, this book maps
Buddhists' efforts to rethink their traditions through science in
the initial decades of the twentieth century. Buddhists believed
science offered an exciting, alternative route to knowledge
grounded in empirical thought, much like their own. They encouraged
young scholars to study subatomic and relativistic physics while
still maintaining Buddhism's vital illumination of human nature and
its crucial support of an ethical system rooted in radical
egalitarianism. Showcasing the rich and progressive steps Chinese
religious scholars took in adapting to science's rising authority,
this volume offers a key perspective on how a major Eastern power
transitioned to modernity in the twentieth century and how its
intellectuals anticipated many of the ideas debated by scholars of
science and Buddhism today.
Buddhist Women on the Edge presents the voices of American women on
their experiences of Buddhist practice. In thirty thoughtful and
provocative essays, a diverse range of contributors - Dharma
teachers, scholars, monastics, practitioners, and sympathizers -
explore the challenges and rewards of integrating Buddhist practice
in the West. Contributors include Tsultrim Allione, Sandy Boucher,
Pema Chodron, Rita M. Gross, Jane Hirshfield, bell hooks, Anne C.
Klein, Miranda Shaw, Sallie Tisdale, Kate Wheeler, Jan Willis, and
many others. The essays explore issues of gender, race, class, and
sexuality; lineage, authority, and the accessibility of Buddhist
institutions; monastic, lay, and community practice; the
teacher-student relationship; psychological perspectives and the
role of the emotions; crosscultural adaptation and appropriation;
and how spiritual practice informs creativity, personal
relationships, and political/social activism.
The secret to happiness is to acknowledge and transform suffering,
not to run away from it. In "No Mud, No Lotus," Thich Nhat Hanh
offers practices and inspiration for transforming suffering and
finding true joy. Thich Nhat Hanh acknowledges that because
suffering can feel so bad, we try to run away from it or cover it
up by consuming. We find something to eat or turn on the
television. But unless we're able to face our suffering, we can't
be present and available to life, and happiness will continue to
elude us. Nhat Hanh shares how the practices of stopping, mindful
breathing, and deep concentration can generate the energy of
mindfulness within our daily lives. With that energy, we can
embrace pain and calm it down, instantly bringing a measure of
freedom and a clearer mind. "No Mud, No Lotus" introduces ways to
be in touch with suffering without being overwhelmed by it. With
his signature clarity and sense of joy, Thich Nhat Hanh helps us
recognize the wonders inside us and around us that we tend to take
for granted and teaches us the art of happiness.
A comprehensive collection of essays exploring the interstices of
Eastern and Western modes of thinking about the self, Crossroads in
Psychoanalysis, Buddhism, and Mindfulness: The Word and the Breath
documents just some of the challenges, conflicts, pitfalls, and
"wow" moments that inhere in today's historical and cultural
intersections of theory, practice, and experience. As this
collection demonstrates, the crossroads between Buddhist and
psychoanalytic approaches to mindfulness are rich beyond belief in
integrative potential. The surprising and fertile connections from
which this book originates, and the future ones which every reader
in turn will spur, will invigorate and intensify this specific form
of contemporary commerce at the crossroads of East and West.
Analytically-oriented psychotherapists, themselves of different
"climates" and cultures, break out of the seclusion of the
consulting room to think, translate, meditate on, and mediate their
experiences-generated via the maternal order-in such a way as to
make those experiences thinkable via the necessary filters of the
paternal order of language. In this light the "word and the breath"
of the book's subtitle are addressed as the privileged
"instruments" of psychoanalysis and meditation, respectively.
"A Monastery in Time" is the first book to describe the life of a
Mongolian Buddhist monastery - the Mergen Monastery in Inner
Mongolia - from inside its walls. From the Qing occupation of the
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries through the Cultural
Revolution, Caroline Humphrey and Hurelbaatar Ujeed tell a story of
religious formation, suppression, and survival over a history that
spans three centuries. Often overlooked in Buddhist studies,
Mongolian Buddhism is an impressively self-sustaining tradition
whose founding lama, the Third Mergen Gegen, transformed Tibetan
Buddhism into an authentic counterpart using the Mongolian
language. Drawing on fifteen years of fieldwork, Humphrey and Ujeed
show how lamas have struggled to keep Mergen Gegen's vision alive
through tremendous political upheaval, and how such upheaval has
inextricably fastened politics to religion for many of today's
practicing monks. Exploring the various ways Mongolian Buddhists
have attempted to link the past, present, and future, Humphrey and
Ujeed offer a compelling study of the interplay between the
individual and the state, tradition and history.
'This is a book that should be on every meditator's bookshelf' - Dr
Jim Lockard An accessible, insightful, user-friendly guide to
meditation, perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy sustained and
meaningful meditation practice Meditation is an ancient practice
that has brought peace and clarity to people from every time,
culture and place. Its benefits - a sense of calm, greater
knowledge of self, better health - are as appealing to the modern
world as they were to the ancient. In this beginner's guide to
meditation, author Patrick Harbula provides readers with everything
they need to know in order to experience deep meditation. Readers
will learn: - The history of meditation, both Eastern and Western -
The benefits of meditation for the mind, body, and spirit -
Different forms of meditation practice - Supportive practices to
enhance the benefits of meditation in daily living. - Simple ways
to begin meditation immediately, and more . . . In addition,
readers will also find simple techniques to deepen the meditation
path for more experienced meditators. Meditation demystifies the
often times intimidating world of meditation, providing the perfect
starting point for anyone looking to cultivate a sense of peace in
their life.
In this epic spiritual poem, Sri Aurobindo reveals his vision of
mankind's destiny within the universal evolution. He sets forth the
optimistic view that life on earth has a purpose, and he places our
travail within the context of this purpose: to participate in the
evolution of consciousness that represents the secret thread behind
life on Earth.
A Companion to Buddhist Philosophy is the most comprehensive single
volume on the subject available; it offers the very latest
scholarship to create a wide-ranging survey of the most important
ideas, problems, and debates in the history of Buddhist philosophy.
* Encompasses the broadest treatment of Buddhist philosophy
available, covering social and political thought, meditation,
ecology and contemporary issues and applications * Each section
contains overviews and cutting-edge scholarship that expands
readers understanding of the breadth and diversity of Buddhist
thought * Broad coverage of topics allows flexibility to
instructors in creating a syllabus * Essays provide valuable
alternative philosophical perspectives on topics to those available
in Western traditions
The female Buddhist deity Tara is an object of devotional worship
and meditative practice for Tibetan Buddhists everywhere, both male
and female. She clears away fears, overpowers negative emotions,
and enables all beings to reach enlightenment. She has special
resonance as a source of female spiritual wisdom. Tibetans of all
schools and traditions recite the verses on which this commentary
is based. Focused contemplative meditation in relation to the
myriad aspects of Tara works to transform the practitioner's mind
into those enlightened qualities and mind states that Tara
represents. Sought-after teachers throughout the West for over
twenty-five years, Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and his brother
Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche illuminate the practice of the
Praises to the Twenty-one Taras with humor and wisdom. The
explanations cover progressively more subtle levels from basic
Buddhism through the Inner Tantras and culminate with Dzogchen.
Interspersed with lively stories about Tara, the authors explain
the physical conditions for practice, the outer and inner meanings
of the text itself, and give solutions for problems that may emerge
as practice progresses.
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The Bodhicaryavatara
(Paperback)
Santideva; Translated by Kate Crosby, Andrew Skilton; Edited by Paul Williams
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R337
R273
Discovery Miles 2 730
Save R64 (19%)
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Ships in 9 - 15 working days
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Written in India in the early eighth century AD, Santideva's
Bodhicaryavatara became one of the most popular accounts of the
Buddhist's spiritual path. The Bodhicaryavatara takes as its
subject the profound desire to become a Buddha and save all beings
from suffering. The person who enacts such a desire is a
Bodhisattva. Santideva not only sets out what the Bodhisattva must
do and become, he also invokes the intense feelings of aspiration
which underlie such a commitment, using language which has inspired
Buddhists in their religious life from his time to the present.
Important as a manual of training among Mahayana Buddhists,
especially in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the Bodhicaryavatara
continues to be used as the basis for teaching by modern Buddhist
teachers. This is a new translation from the original language,
with detailed annotations explaining allusions and technical
references. The Introduction sets Santideva's work in context, and
for the first time explain its structure. ABOUT THE SERIES: For
over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the
widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable
volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the
most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features,
including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful
notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further
study, and much more.
As its teachings spread from the Indian subcontinent in all
directions across Asia, Buddhism influenced every culture it
touched--from Afghanistan to Korea, from Mongolia to Java. Buddhist
art is a radiant reflection of the encounter of the Buddha's
teachings with the diverse civilizations that came under their
sway. It is also an intriguing visual record of the evolution of
Buddhist practice and philosophy over a period of more than two
millennia.
More than two hundred photographs provide the visual context for
this tour of the world of Buddhist art. Included in the rich
variety of forms are architecture and monumental art, statuary,
paintings, calligraphy, fresco, brushwork, and textile arts. Denise
Leidy's guide is the perfect introductory text for all those
intrigued by this splendid aesthetic tradition. It also an
essential resource for all who seek to understand Buddhist art as
teaching.
Many people have the compassionate wish to benefit others, but few
understand how to accomplish this effectively in daily life.
Bodhisattvas are friends of the world who have such strong
compassion they are able to transform all their daily activities
into methods to benefit others. The path of the Bodhisattva was
exquisitely explained in the universally loved poem Guide to the
Bodhisattva's Way of Life by the 8th century master Shantideva.
With this commentary by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche,
the effectiveness and profundity of this way of life are clearly
revealed and made practical for our modern world.
Daily Meditations and Prayers from Around the World "...I hope that
people of all faiths as well as those who do not believe in a
religion will find inspiration and understanding here that in some
way contributes to their own inner peace." -The Dalai Lama #1 New
Release in Buddhism, Sacred Writings Discover the power to heal
through many meditation and prayer voices. This interfaith book
provides insight from various religious and cultural texts that
touches on our pain and inspires the healer within all of us to be
reminded of hope and faith so that we may live a deeper, more
meaningful, and fully self-expressed life. Create a tapestry of
comfort and inspiration. Maggie Oman creates a healing space for
readers in her deeply spiritual book Prayers for Healing: 365
Blessings, Poems, & Meditations from Around the World. During
moments that are filled with despair, illnesses, depression, or
spiritual longing, Prayers for Healing draws on the power of wise
and healing devotionals for reflection and deep mediation. Embrace
physical, emotional, and spiritual transformation. Prayers for
Healing demonstrates the transformative nature woven through the
power of prayer and wisdom. It draws from a select collection of
influential spiritual leaders, philosophers and thinkers of our
time that include: The Tao Te Ching, The Koran, The Torah, Native
American texts, The Bible, Thich Nhat Hanh, Wendell Berry, ack
Kornfield, Rumi, Rainer Maria Rilke, Marian Wright Edelman, Martin
Luther King, Jr., and Marianne Williamson. If you have found that
works such as Prayers That Bring Healing, Earth Prayers, Prayers of
Hope for Caregivers, Prayers for Hard Times, or Prayers for Hope
and Healing have brought inspiration into your life, then this book
is an invitation to strengthen your inner healer.
The phenomenon known as "Buddhism" embraces an uninterrupted
process of communication through which the Buddha's followers have
been guided and inspired for 25 centuries. Communication is a
living, evolving thing, and for all its continuity the Buddhist
tradition presents the modern student - and practitioner - with a
bewildering array of cultural, philosophical and practical forms.
This work describes and correlates these diverse manifestations -
in Buddhism's homeland of India, and in its spread across Asia,
from Mongolia to Sri Lanka and from Japan to the Middle East.
Drawing on recent historical and literary research, the author
explains the basic concepts of Buddhism from all periods of its
development, and places them in an historical framework.
The rising population known as "nones" for its members' lack of
religious affiliation is changing American society, politics, and
culture. Many nones believe in God and even visit places of
worship, but they do not identify with a specific faith or belong
to a spiritual community. Corinna Nicolaou is a none, and in this
layered narrative, she describes what it is like for her and
thousands of others to live without religion or to be spiritual
without committing to a specific faith. Nicolaou tours America's
major traditional religions to see what, if anything, one might
lack without God. She moves through Christianity's denominations,
learning their tenets and worshiping alongside their followers. She
travels to Los Angeles to immerse herself in Judaism, Berkeley to
educate herself about Buddhism, and Dallas and Washington, D.C., to
familiarize herself with Islam. She explores what light they can
shed on the fears and failings of her past, and these encounters
prove the significant role religion still plays in modern life.
They also exemplify the vibrant relationship between religion and
American culture and the enduring value it provides to immigrants
and outsiders. Though she remains a devout none, Nicolaou's
experiences reveal points of contact between the religious and the
unaffiliated, suggesting that nones may be radically revising the
practice of faith in contemporary times.
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