Tiantai Buddhism emerged from an idiosyncratic and innovative interpretation of the Lotus Sutra to become one of the most complete, systematic, and influential schools of philosophical thought developed in East Asia. Brook A. Ziporyn puts Tiantai into dialogue with modern philosophical concerns to draw out its implications for ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics. Ziporyn explains Tiantai's unlikely roots, its positions of extreme affirmation and rejection, its religious skepticism and embrace of religious myth, and its view of human consciousness. Ziporyn reveals the profound insights of Tiantai Buddhism while stimulating philosophical reflection on its unexpected effects.

'Hate is not conquered by hate: hate is conquered by love. This is a law eternal.' Captivating aphorisms illustrating the Buddhist dhamma, or moral system. Introducing Little Black Classics: 80 books for Penguin's 80th birthday. Little Black Classics celebrate the huge range and diversity of Penguin Classics, with books from around the world and across many centuries. They take us from a balloon ride over Victorian London to a garden of blossom in Japan, from Tierra del Fuego to 16th-century California and the Russian steppe. Here are stories lyrical and savage; poems epic and intimate; essays satirical and inspirational; and ideas that have shaped the lives of millions.

Queens and old crones, Buddhas and goddesses, mothers and wild women. The female deities of Buddhism inspire, beguile, rouse and protect us. This is a practical introduction to the major female deities of Buddhism suitable for general readers and includes figures from Tibet, India and China. It includes: the main figures encountered by Westerners; the meaning and purpose of mantras, sacred symbols, colours and art; a clear account of Buddhist visualization practice and how it works; an exploration of the place of women and the feminine divine in Buddhism; and over 20 figures including the five Wisdom Queens, female Buddhas of the mandala - White Tara and Vijaya, bringers of long life - Kwan Yin and Green Tara, the embodiments of compassion - passionate and fearless Sky-Dancers; and the Buddhas of Wisdom - the wrathful protectress.

A guide to key writings from Buddhism's meditative tradition and what they reveal about the history and practice of meditation Is it possible to capture the spirit of Buddhist meditation, which depends so much upon silence and unspoken wisdom? Can this spirit be found after two millennia? This wise and reassuring book reminds us that the Buddhist meditative tradition, geared to such concerns from its inception, has always been transmitted through texts. A great variety of early writings-poems, stories, extended practical guides, commentaries, and chants-were purposely designed to pass teachings on from one generation to the next. Sarah Shaw, a longtime practitioner and teacher of Buddhism, investigates a wide and varied range of ancient and later Buddhist writings on meditation. Many of these texts are barely known in the West but, as the author shows, they can be helpful, moving, and often very funny. She begins with early texts of the Pali canon-those that describe and involve the Buddha and his followers teaching meditations-and moves on to "commentaries," with their copious range of practical tips, anecdotes, and accounts of early meditators. The author then considers other early texts that were inspirational as Buddhist traditions spread through India and on to China, Korea, Japan, and Tibet. Centuries after being written, early Buddhist texts have lost none of their relevance, this authoritative book shows. In a tradition characterized by flexibility and mobility, these writings offer wisdom unchanged by time.

Michael Carrithers guides us through the complex and sometimes conflicting information that Buddhist texts give about the life and teaching of the Buddha. He discusses the social and political background of India in the Buddha's time, and traces the development of his thought. He also assesses the rapid and widespread assimilation of Buddhism and its contemporary relevance.

Since its appearance in China in the third century, "The Lotus Sutra" has been regarded as one of the most illustrious scriptures in the Mahayana Buddhist canon. The object of intense veneration among generations of Buddhists in China, Korea, Japan, and other parts of the world, it has had a profound impact on the great works of Japanese and Chinese literature, attracting more commentary than any other Buddhist scripture.

As Watson notes in the introduction to his remarkable translation, " "The Lotus Sutra" is not so much an integral work as a collection of religious texts, an anthology of sermons, stories, and devotional manuals, some speaking with particular force to persons of one type or in one set of circumstances, some to those of another type or in other circumstances. This is no doubt why it has had such broad and lasting appeal over the ages and has permeated so deeply into the cultures that have been exposed to it."

The author, a longtime student of Buddhism, answers the fundamental question of whether vegetarianism should be integrated into a Buddhist's practice or whether the Buddha ate meat.

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!

One of the best-loved of Wei Wu Wei's books, 'Open Secret' enlightens us as to the true nature of the self, as well as time, space, and enlightenment itself. The work includes extensive commentary on the Heart Sutra, regarded by Buddhists as the summation of the Buddha's wisdom. The pseudonymous author studied deeply in Eastern and Western philosophy and metaphysics, along with the esoteric teachings of the great religions. In his writing he distils this knowledge into uniquely elegant prose -- full of humour, metaphors, profundity, and his essential understanding of the open secret of life.

This is a classic text on the essence of Buddhist meditation. It is an excellent, in-depth description of mindfulness practice and its benefits. It includes a concise explanation of clear comprehension, which is the kind of mindfulness you use in the course of your daily life. It also presents an easily understandable explanation of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness.

This new edition includes an introduction from noted author and teacher Sylvia Boorstein.

Although the Buddha lived over 2500 years ago, his teachings on meditation are among the most effective methods for healing the pain of grief, finding inner peace, and overcoming the sense of dislocation caused by living in the 21st century. Mindfulness is a method not only for committed Buddhists. It is for everyone interested in mastering the mind.

What turns the continuous flow of experience into perceptually distinct objects? Can our verbal descriptions unambiguously capture what it is like to see, hear, or feel? How might we reason about the testimony that perception alone discloses? Christian Coseru proposes a rigorous and highly original way to answer these questions by developing a framework for understanding perception as a mode of apprehension that is intentionally constituted, pragmatically oriented, and causally effective. By engaging with recent discussions in phenomenology and analytic philosophy of mind, but also by drawing on the work of Husserl and Merleau-Ponty, Coseru offers a sustained argument that Buddhist philosophers, in particular those who follow the tradition of inquiry initiated by Dign?ga and Dharmak?rti, have much to offer when it comes to explaining why epistemological disputes about the evidential role of perceptual experience cannot satisfactorily be resolved without taking into account the structure of our cognitive awareness. Perceiving Reality examines the function of perception and its relation to attention, language, and discursive thought, and provides new ways of conceptualizing the Buddhist defense of the reflexivity thesis of consciousness-namely, that each cognitive event is to be understood as involving a pre-reflective implicit awareness of its own occurrence. Coseru advances an innovative approach to Buddhist philosophy of mind in the form of phenomenological naturalism, and moves beyond comparative approaches to philosophy by emphasizing the continuity of concerns between Buddhist and Western philosophical accounts of the nature of perceptual content and the character of perceptual consciousness.

With an estimated 350 million adherents, Buddhism is the fifth largest belief system in the world today. This book explores the roots of this faith, from the life of the Buddha through to the early forms of Buddhism that developed into what is practised worldwide today. The opening section looks at the Buddha's life in detail, from his early years as a protected infant through to his spiritual awakening and quest for enlightenment. This book then moves on to look in detail at the Buddha's teachings, from his interpretation of the Dharma and the importance of karma, through to his attitudes towards the consumption of meat and alcohol and the pivotal role of meditation in the search for enlightenment. Written by a leading expert this beautifully presented exploration of early Buddhism is lavishly illustrated with over 200 stunning photographs and illustrations, and is an essential reference for anyone interested in Buddhist teachings and the history if Buddhism. This is an in-depth chronology of the life and times of the Buddha and how his teachings have developed into modern Buddhism. It offers a comprehensive overview of the key beliefs of Buddhism, lavishly illustrated with over 200 photographs and artworks. It examines the life and teachings of the Buddha and explores how they have been interpreted to form the various branches of modern Buddhism. There are special features on the Buddha's travels and the spread of his teachings throughout India. It looks at the doctrines that are central to the Buddhist universe, such as the Dharma, the importance of karma, the four noble truths and the role of meditation.

What is it like to be completely alone, attempting to face your experience with only nature for company? Buddhist teacher and author, Vajragupta, has been doing just that every year for twenty-five years. Here he recounts how these `solitary retreats' have changed him, how he fell in love with the places he stayed in and the creatures there. He reflects on how the outer world and his inner world began to speak more deeply to each other, and how there were moments when the barrier between them seemed to dissolve away. Also includes an `A-to-Z' guide of how to do your own solitary retreat.

Following on from the internationally bestselling The Art of Happiness, the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler bring us the inspiring The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World. This inspirational book brings the successful East-meets-West pairing together again to provide a practical application of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual values to the fast-paced, unpredictable, stressful and demanding world we all live in today. In this wise, insightful and practical book, the Dalai Lama shows us how to follow the path that will lead us to fulfilment, purpose and happiness, even in our troubled modern times.

This title provides an explanation of the Indian Mahasiddha Tilopa's renowned Gangama Mahamudra meditation instructions, given in a traditional Tibetan context by one of its lineage's most accomplished contemporary masters. These ancient instructions, in the form of a 'song of realization, ' are the original source for all Mahamudra lineages of meditation

Tantrism, both traditional and Buddhist, with its vast literature containing intricate ritualistic and philosophical details occupies an important place in the religious and cultural life of India and some Asian countries. The subject, however, still appears to be an enigma, notwithstanding numerous works in this field. This volume contains informative and analytical papers by eminent scholars on different aspects of Tantric Buddhism and Tantars in general. The essays throw significant light on the so-called puzzling obscurity of Tantric ideas and practices especially pertaining to the Buddhist Tantras. They demonstrate the richness and variety of Buddhist Tantric literature. They also show that fragments of Mahayanic philosophical ideas lie scattered in the Buddhist Tantras, sometimes as speculations on the nature of the truth and mainly in the context of the ceremonies and secret yogic practices. These are also manifested in Tibetan and other Asiatic forms of Buddhism and in icons representing the gods and goddesses, the buddhas, bodhisattvas and their consorts. The papers presented in this volume also reveal that there is basically no difference in the principles, viewpoints and even contents, between the Buddhist and non-Buddhit Tantras. Their contents are rooted in a single sourcethe spiritual and psychical consciousness of the most ancient peoples. This volume is presented as a tribute to an outstanding pioneer in the field of Tantric Buddhist studies, Dr. Benoytosh Bhattacharyya (1897-1964).

Of all the great religions, Buddhism has focused most intensively on the aspect of religion that we call spirituality. No religion has set a higher value on the states of spiritual insight and liberation, and none has set forth so methodically and with such a wealth of reflection the various paths and disciplines by which such states are reached. This volume, the second in the series, takes up further developments of Buddhism in China, Korea, and Japan, including Ch'an (Zen) and new Buddhist movements. It presents the Chinese realization of enlightenment here and now, and the practical, down-to-earth terms in which the enlightened vision was expressed and enacted.

Renowned for the beauty and simplicity of his teachings, Ajahn Chah was Thailand's best-known meditation teacher. His charisma and wisdom influenced many American and European seekers, and helped shape the American Vipassana community. This collection brings together for the first time Ajahn Chah's most powerful teachings, including those on meditation, liberation from suffering, calming the mind, enlightenment and the 'living dhamma'. Most of these talks have previously only been available in limited, private editions and the publication of "Food for the Heart" therefore represents a momentous occasion: the hugely increased accessibility of his words and wisdom. Western teachers such as Ram Dass and Jack Kornfield have extolled Chah's teachings for years and now readers can experience them directly in this book.

Women have long been active supporters and promoters of Buddhist rituals and functions, but their importance in the operations of Buddhist schools has often been minimized. Chin'ichibo (?-1344), a nun who taught male and female disciples and lived in her own temple, is therefore considered an anomaly. In Tracing the Itinerant Path, Caitilin Griffiths' meticulous research and translations of primary sources indicate that Chin'ichibo is in fact an example of her time-a learned female who was active in the teaching and spread of Buddhism-and not an exception. Chin'ichibo and her disciples were jishu, members of a Pure Land Buddhist movement of which the famous charismatic holy man Ippen (1239-1289) was a founder. Jishu, distinguished by their practice of continuous nembutsu chanting, gained the support of a wide and diverse populace throughout Japan from the late thirteenth century. Male and female disciples rarely cloistered themselves behind monastic walls, preferring to conduct ceremonies and religious duties among the members of their communities. They offered memorial and other services to local lay believers and joined itinerant missions, traveling across provinces to reach as many people as possible. Female members were entrusted to run local practice halls that included male participants. Griffiths' study introduces female jishu who were keenly involved-not as wives, daughters, or mothers, but as partners and leaders in the movement. Filling the lacunae that exists in our understanding of women's participation in Japanese religious history, Griffiths highlights the significant roles female jishu held and offers a more nuanced understanding of Japanese Buddhist history. Students of Buddhism, scholars of Japanese history, and those interested in women's studies will find this volume a significant and compelling contribution.

How can you bring your best and most successful self to work every day? Told in a series of conversations with Gautam, and interspersed with tales from the Buddha's life - along with real-life stories from people who've faced challenging situations in their jobs . Buddha At Work offers invaluable insight that will guide you through the challenges of the modern-day workplace.

With over a quarter of a million copies sold, "Mindfulness in Plain English" is one of the most influential books in the burgeoning field of mindfulness and a timeless classic introduction to meditation. This is a book that people read, love, and share - a book that people talk about, write about, reflect on, and return to over and over again.
Bhante Gunaratana is also the author of "Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness," "Beyond Mindfulness in Plain English," "The Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English," and his memoir "Journey to Mindfulness."

Urgyen Sangharakshita is unique in his experience with Buddhist traditions and his distillation of their core practices. Born Dennis Lingwood in South London, he is neither of the East nor of the West -- rather, he springs from both, providing readers with the best of both traditions. Profoundly knowledgeable, articulate, and well-read, he uses his knowledge of every field of human experience to stir followers to a deeper understanding of timeless truths. Equally at home with science, philosophy, myth, and poetry, he uses every inner avenue to communicate the dharma. He engages both intellect and heart countless times in a single chapter, attacking delusions on all fronts, sometimes methodically, sometimes lyrically, drawing perfect examples from sources as diverse as Orwell, Aeschylus, and Jane Austen. These thoughtful, wide-ranging essays are a sparkling distillation of his 50 years of study, practice, and personal experience with Buddhism.