A clear and straightforward introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, this book presents the basic teachings of Buddha in a way that people can readily comprehend and put into practice in their daily lives. Topics such as reincarnation, actions and their effects, emptiness, liberation and enlightenment are discussed. Designed primarily for those coming to the subject for the first time, the book also offers new insights for the more advanced student of Tibetan Buddhism. Originally published in 1989.

Beginning with Buddha's life story, this concise guide explains the essential elements of the Buddhist way of life, such as understanding the mind, rebirth, karma and ultimate truth, and what it means to be a Buddhist. Meditation is explained clearly and simply as a tool for developing qualities such as inner peace, love and patience. The emphasis throughout is on the practical application of Buddhist ideas and practice to finding solutions to everyday problems. Those interested in Buddhism and meditation will find this book a rich source of guidance and inspiration.

'We often say: My mind, my mind. But if someone were to ask us: What is your mind? We would have no correct answer. This is because we do not understand the nature and function of the mind correctly.' - Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche. How to Understand the Mind offers us deep insight into our mind. It shows us how an understanding of our mind's nature and functions can be used to improve our lives practically, in our everyday experience. It begins by guiding us to develop and maintain a light, positive mind. It then explains how to recognize and abandon mental states that harm us, and shows us in how to replace them with peaceful beneficial states. The book goes on to describe different types of mind in detail, revealing the depth and profundity of the Buddhist understanding of the mind. The book concludes with a detailed explanation of meditation, which we use for controlling and transforming our mind until we attain a lasting state of joy, independent of external conditions.

A clear and straightforward introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, this book presents the basic teachings of Buddha in a way that people can readily comprehend and put into practice in their daily lives. Topics such as reincarnation, actions and their effects, emptiness, liberation and enlightenment are discussed. Designed primarily for those coming to the subject for the first time, the book also offers new insights for the more advanced student of Tibetan Buddhism. Originally published in 1989.

In this busy world, our experiences of happiness are fleeting and short-lived, while inner peace eludes us completely. Our negative states of mind, such as uncontrolled desire and anger, create endless problems for us (and others) and prevent us from fulfilling our deepest wishes. Buddha's popular teaching on the Four Noble Truths offers a clear and simple solution, guiding us to an oasis of boundless peace within our hearts.

A practical manual for daily life that shows how we can develop and maintain inner peace, reduce and stop our experience of problems, and bring about positive changes in our mind that will lead us to experience deep and lasting happiness. Drawing on the timeless wisdom of Buddhism and his own deep experience of these practices, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso presents a comprehensive path to inner and outer peace, perfectly suited to the modern world. "When things go wrong in our life and we encounter difficult situations, we tend to regard the situation itself as our problem, but in reality whatever problems we experience come from the mind. If we were to respond to difficult situations with a positive or peaceful mind they would not be problems for us; indeed, we may even come to regard them as challenges or opportunities for growth and development. Problems arise only if we respond to difficulties with a negative state of mind. Therefore, if we want to be happy all the time and to be free from problems, we must develop and maintain a peaceful mind."

The story of Buddha's life is timeless and is as relevant today as it was 2,500 years ago when Buddha was alive. It shows how we can learn to maintain a peaceful mind all the time so that we can be happy all the time, and in this way fulfil our own wishes as well as the wishes of all our friends. Few can fail to be inspired by this powerful story. The Buddhism for Children series invites children to make a journey of self-discovery and self-improvement to help them realize their full potential. The purpose is not to convert them to Buddhism but simply to show how everyone, Buddhist or non-Buddhist, can learn something from the teachings of Buddha. These books address the reader in a mature fashion, using the life and teachings of Buddha as a basis for exploring many of the issues and concerns that confront children today. And although these books are written principally for children, anyone who wants a clear explanation of the essence of Buddhism and how it applies to modern living will benefit greatly from reading them.

Buddha Heruka is a manifestation of all the Buddhas' enlightened compassion, and by relying upon him we can swiftly attain a pure selfless joy and bring true happiness to others. Geshe Kelsang first explains with great clarity and precision how we can practise the sublime meditations of Heruka body mandala, and thereby gradually transform our ordinary world and experiences, bringing us closer to Buddhahood. He then provides definitive instructions on the completion stage practices that lead to the supreme bliss of full enlightenment in this one lifetime. This is a treasury of practical instructions for those seriously interested in following the Tantric path.

A special presentation of Buddha's teachings on compassion and wisdom that communicates their essence in a way that is easy to understand and put into practice. By developing and maintaining compassion and wisdom in daily life, we can transform our lives, improve our relationships with others and look behind appearances to see the way things really are. In this way we can find lasting happiness and accomplish the real meaning of our human life. With compassion and wisdom, like the two wings of a bird, we can quickly reach the enlightened world of a Buddha. From the author: 'I would particularly like to encourage everyone to read specifically the chapter "Training in Ultimate Bodhichitta". Through carefully reading and contemplating this chapter again and again with a positive mind, you will gain very profound knowledge, or wisdom, which will bring great meaning to your life.' This inspiring handbook of daily practice is perfectly suited to those seeking within Buddhism solutions to problems of everyday life, as well as for encouraging practitioners of all faiths to deepen their understanding and practice of the spiritual path.

The story of Buddha's life is timeless and is as relevant today as it was 2,500 years ago when Buddha was alive. Illustrated in full color, "The Story of Buddha" depicts major events from Buddha's life that demonstrate how we also can develop kindness and compassion within ourselves. In this way we can eventually fulfill our own wishes as well as the wishes of all our friends. Few can fail to be inspired by this powerful story.

This is the second book in the Buddhism for Children series. The Buddhism for Children series invites children to make a journey of self-discovery and self-improvement to help them realize their full potential. The series aims to show how everyone, Buddhist and non-Buddhist, can learn something from the teachings of Buddha. The Buddhism for Children series consists of 4 levels ranging from ages 4 to 10 and over.

A detailed and practical explanation of one of Buddhism's best-loved teachings, Eight Verses of Training the Mind, by the great Tibetan Bodhisattva, Langri Tangpa. Clear methods are simply presented for transforming all life's difficulties into valuable spiritual insights, for improving our relationships, and for bringing greater patience, empathy and compassion into our daily life. These methods have inspired generations of Buddhist practitioners for almost a thousand years, and brought lasting peace, inspiration and serenity to countless people. Now, with this book, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso shares the immeasurably rich insight of this ancient wisdom to help us find greater happiness and meaning in our busy, modern lives. With this revised presentation, The New Eight Steps to Happiness, Geshe Kelsang re-introduces us to the essential practices of Training the Mind. He not only challenges our entire understanding of the world, but also challenges us to transform ourself into the greatest being we can possibly become!

A beautifully illustrated story of hope and personal transformation from the life of Buddha that addresses many of the issues confronting both children and adults today. Themes include: - How to stop being angry and harmful - How to be calm and peaceful - How to be loving and kind towards each other. This book is level 1 of 4 in the Buddhism for Children series. The Buddhism for Children series invites children to make a journey of self-discovery and self-improvement to help them realize their full potential. The purpose is not to convert them to Buddhism but simply to show how everyone, Buddhist or non-Buddhist, can learn something from the teachings of Buddha. These books address the reader in a mature fashion, using the life and teachings of Buddha as a basis for exploring many of the issues and concerns that confront children today. And although these books are written principally for children, anyone who wants a clear explanation of the essence of Buddhism and how it applies to modern living will benefit greatly from reading them.

A clear and comprehensive explanation of the entire path to enlightenment. We all have the potential for self-transformation, and a limitless capacity for the growth of good qualities, but to fulfil this potential we need to know what to do along every stage of our spiritual journey. With this book, Geshe Kelsang offers us step-by-step guidance on the meditation practices that will lead us to lasting inner peace and happiness. With extraordinary clarity, he presents all Buddha's teachings in the order in which they are to be practised, enriching his explanation with stories and illuminating analogies. This is a perfect guidebook to the Buddhist path.

Revised and clarified to guide the meditator through the profound and world-transforming practice of Mahamudra: the very essence of Buddha's teachings of Sutra and Tantra. Reveals the uncommon practice of Tantric Mahamudra of the Ganden Oral Lineage which the author received directly from his Spiritual Guide, Vajradhara Trijang Rinpoche. Following the root text of the Mahamudra - The Main Path of the Conquerors by the First Panchen Lama - this remarkable book provides easy-to-understand explanations and extremely clear insights based on the author's experience during many years of retreat. The author concisely explains the entire spiritual path from the initial preliminary practices to the final completion stages of Highest Yoga Tantra, which enable to attain full enlightenment in this life. Includes precious meditation instructions on tranquil abiding, superior seeing, the yoga of the central channel, the yoga of the drop, and the yoga of wind.

We know from our own experience that when our mind is peaceful we are happy all the time, even if our external conditions are poor, but when our mind is not peaceful we are not happy, even if our external conditions are excellent. The method to make our mind peaceful is training in meditation. This book explains a simple breathing meditation suitable for all ages and briefly introduces more advanced forms of meditation.

This practical guide introduces us to the expansive inner world of meditation through a series of twenty-one meditations which lead us step-by-step to increasingly beneficial states of mind. Together, these meditations form the entire Buddhist path to enlightenment. By following simple meditation instructions, readers can experience the inner tranquility and lightness of mind that comes from meditation- thereby bringing greater happiness to ourself and others. Clear and relevant meditation break practices are revealed, so readers can integrate the meditations into their daily activities.

A practical and inspiring guide to Buddhist meditation: 1. How to discover the inner peace of meditation; 2. How to apply meditation in daily life; 3. How we can make our life happy and meaningful. This practical guide teaches how to make ourself and others happy by developing inner peace - and in this way how to make our lives more meaningful. Without inner peace there is no real happiness. Problems, suffering and unhappiness do not exist outside the mind; they are feelings and thus part of our mind. Therefore, it is only by controlling our mind that we can permanently stop our problems and make ourself and others truly happy. The 21 Buddhist meditation practices presented in this book are actual methods to control our mind so as to experience lasting inner peace. This is an indispensable handbook for those seeking happiness and meaning in their lives.

We are alive, therefore we will die. This is the simplest, most obvious truth of our existence, and yet very few of us have really come to terms with it. This book seeks to give a Buddhist insight into death and dying, helping us to develop an awareness of our own morality in a way that will totally enrich and transform our human life. Also included are instructions on how to increase all our positive states of mind, such as love, compassion, and wisdom. In particular, Geshe Kelsang explains a practice called transference of consciousness, mastery of which is said enable us to meet our death with grace, clarity, and fearlessness, attain rebirth in a pure land, and experience happiness in all our future lives.

A Bodhisattva is a friend of the world who, motivated by compassion, spontaneously seeks enlightenment to benefit all living beings.
In this practical guide to compassionate living, Geshe Kelsang explains in detail how to take and keep the Bodhisattva vows, how to purify downfalls, and how to practise the Bodhisattva's deeds of giving, moral discipline, patience, effort, concentration and wisdom.
With this handbook as our companion, we can enter the Bodhisattva's way of life and progress along the path to full enlightenment.

Mahamudra is the union of great bliss and emptiness--the very subtle mind that experiences great bliss and realizes ultimate truth. By enabling us to go within to uncover the deepest level of our mind and then to use the very subtle mind to meditate on ultimate truth, Mahamudra practice destroys all our delusions at their very root and thus propels us quickly to the state of full enlightenment.

"Mahamudra Tantra" begins by explaining the basic correct view and intention needed for successful Mahamudra meditation, as well as the meaning of Tantra and the two stages of Highest Yoga Tantra practice, and then explains the preliminaries and stages of training in this profound practice.

This book introduces the mind, as distinct from the brain, and invites the reader to explore and develop their mind using scientific methods taught by Buddha. It shows how the problems we encounter in life do not exist outside of ourself, but are part of our mind that experiences unpleasant feelings. Learning to control our mind, especially our desire, is the only way to bring all our problems to an end.

Kadampa Buddhism is becoming increasingly popular as a clear and practical spiritual path for the contemporary practitioner. Originating with the special presentation of Mahayana Buddhism by the great Buddhist masters Atisha and Je Tsongkhapa, Kadampa Buddhism makes the path to enlightenment accessible to the modern world and explains clearly how to transform our lives into the spiritual path. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, a meditation master of this living tradition, explains two essential spiritual practices.

The first is a special meditation practice in conjunction with Je Tsongkhapa, through which we can receive blessings and gain the realizations of the path to enlightenment. The second is meditation on the Buddha of Wisdom in the aspect of a Dharma Protector, whereby we gain the necessary internal strength to overcome all obstacles to our spiritual practice.