On the spiritual path we speak of enlightenment. But how do we reconcile the idea of enlightenment with what we see when we look in the mirror—when insecurities, doubts, and self-centered tendencies arise in our minds? Dzigar Kongtrül suggests that we need not feel "doomed" when these experiences surface. In fact, such experiences are not a problem if we are able to simply let them arise without judging them or investing them with so much meaning. This approach to experience is what Kongtr...

An exploration of diligence, the essential quality to inspire joy and openheartedness for Buddhist practice and daily life, from renowned Buddhist teacher Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche.This book contributes the first commentary on the diligence chapter from Shantideva’s 8th-century classic The Way of the Bodhisattva. While many books have explored his celebrated chapter on wisdom, diligence has been overlooked. As one of the six paramitas or perfections that ar...

Explore the diverse perspectives within Buddhism and its connections to other disciplines in this insightful annual journal.The Journal of Integral Buddhism, Vol 2, 2024, presents a collection of papers from esteemed scholars, monastics, and practitioners, reflecting the richness and variety of Buddhist thought. This volume delves into comparative works that engage with philosophy, psychology, and other related fields, offering a unique interdisciplinary a...

**Best Spirituality Books of 2018 - Spirituality & PracticeA little guide to cultivating tsewa: the loving warmth of heart from which the awakened mind arises--from the popular Buddhist teacher and author of The Intelligent Heart.**This is a call to a revolution of heart. In Tibetan Buddhism, it is taught that one of the most essential qualities of enlightenment is tsewa, a form of warm energy and openness of heart. It is the warmth we express and...

“A bold, playful, and invigorating” look at how asking challenging questions—without expectations—can lead Buddhist practitioners to powerful spiritual insights (Pema Chödrön)How do we find a resting place in a world that is complex and always changing? How do we practice spirituality beyond the limits of blind acceptance and doubt? Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel proposes that when we ask challenging questions like these, we access our deepest intelligence and most power...

Dzigar Kongtrul guides us through intelligent reasoning to identify our deluded perception of a truly existing self and shows us the key to awakening from this fundamental confusion. Rinpoche's brilliant commentary on the classical Indian Buddhist text, The Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva is a testament to this inspiring teacher's compassionate and compelling style. Uncommon Happiness is saturated with advice from an adept practitioner of the Buddhist Path. By expounding the essential...

Fresh and direct Buddhist teachings on how our natural wish to be happy is the best tool we have for true spiritual growthBuddhahood, says Dzigar Kongtrül, is nothing but an unobstructed experience of the nature of mind, boundlessly spacious and limitlessly compassionate. The trick is that in order to see the mind accurately, we must use the particular aspect of mind he calls natural intelligence.Natural intelligence enables us to discriminate between what ...

A leading Buddhist teacher revisits Shantideva’s The Way of the Bodhisattva to offer an introductory guide on cultivating patience and opening your heart to difficult circumstancesIn the Buddhist tradition, “patience” is our mind’s ability to work positively with anything that bothers us—a vast spectrum of particulars that all boil down to not getting what we want or getting what we don’t want. Those who have mastered patience have learned to welcome all c...

Tibetan Buddhist instructions for developing radical compassion through lojong mind training—from a contemporary master with a gift for making the ancient teachings speak to modern heartsDzigar Kongtrül's lively and accessible presentation of the Tibetan training method known as lojong (mind training) focuses on what he considers the heart of that practice: tonglen, the practice of exchanging self for other, for taking in others’ pain and...

On the spiritual path we speak of enlightenment. But how do we reconcile the idea of enlightenment with what we see when we look in the mirror--when insecurities, doubts, and self-centered tendencies arise in our minds? Dzigar Kongtrül suggests that we need not feel "doomed" when these experiences surface. In fact, such experiences are not a problem if we are able to simply let them arise without judging them or investing them with so much meaning. This approach to experience is what Kongt...

A little guide to cultivating tsewa: the loving warmth of heart from which the awakened mind arises--from the popular Buddhist teacher and author of The Intelligent Heart.This is a call to a revolution of heart. In Tibetan Buddhism, it is taught that one of the most essential qualities of enlightenment is tsewa, a form of warm energy and openness of heart. It is the warmth we express and receive through empathy with others, especially those closes...

Two Master Teachers Illuminate the Mysteries of KarmaOf the many Eastern wisdom teachings to have found their way westward, the notion of karma may be the most misunderstood—and most transformative. American-born teacher Pema Chödrön is renowned for making the wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism accessible, practical, and relevant for Westerners from all walks of life. But to bring us an understanding of the fundamental concept of karma, Ani Pema called on one of her own gui...