The Ashtavakra Gita conveys with beauty and simplicity the essential teachings of Advaita Vedanta, the most influential of the Hindu philosophical systems. Composed by an anonymous master of the school of the great sage Shankara, it is a book of practical advice for seekers of wisdom as well as an ecstatic expression of the experience of enlightenment. In this simple, aphoristic version, the translator conveys the clarity and lyricism of the Sanskrit original with fluency and prec...

The Way of Zen begins as a succinct guide through the histories of Buddhism and Taoism leading up to the development of Zen Buddhism, which drew deeply from both traditions. It then goes on to paint a broad but insightful picture of Zen as it was and is practiced, both as a religion and as an element of diverse East Asian arts and disciplines. Watts's narrative clears away the mystery while enhancing the mystique of Zen.Since the first publication of this book in 1957, Zen Buddhism...

Discover Buddhism with the world's most revered spiritual leaderThis jewel of a book offers the core teachings on Buddhism applicable in daily life from His Holiness the Dalai Lama.This is a classic timeless collection of advice and teachings about the importance of love and compassion, individual responsibility and awareness of the problems in everyday life.Whoever you are, whatever your beliefs, the Dalai Lama’s words have the power to calm and in...

This reissued introduction presents the nature, technique and practice of Zen. A Japanese Zen master, Dr Suzuki taught regularly in the USA and Europe..................................................

Because words can no more hold the truth than a net can hold water, we use koans. Koans are sayings, or doings, of Zen masters, the patriarchs and Buddha. Take for example the koan: The Sound of One Hand clapping. In its entirety it reads: "You know the sound of two hands clapping. What is the sound of one hand clapping?" The obvious, intellectual answer is, No sound at all! But then what is this No sound? In other words, is it just silence?If one is to work on this koan, indeed on ...

After six years of solitude, Indian sage Ramana Maharshi reflects on the topics of peace, the self, and silence—featuring a foreword by Carl JungThe renowned Indian sage Ramana Maharshi is widely beloved—by Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Taoists, and more—for the inspirational power of his teachings, which transcend all religious differences.Here is a collection of Sri Ramana’s instructions and discourses culled from three works: Who Am I?, Spi...

"An Introduction to Yoga" by Annie Besant is a profound exploration of the ancient practice of yoga, delving into its philosophical underpinnings and practical applications. Besant, a prominent theosophist and advocate for spiritual development, presents yoga not merely as a physical exercise but as a holistic approach to life. The book emphasizes the importance of self-discipline, meditation, and the pursuit of higher consciousness, making it accessible to both beginners and seasoned prac...

Part poetry, part paradox, always stirring and profound, Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching has been inspiring readers since it was written over two thousand years ago. This masterpiece is also one of the most frequently translated books in all of history, in part because the multiple meanings of the Chinese characters make it impossible to translate into a Western language in a strictly literal way. For this reason, many translations are either too loosely interpretive or are too overloaded ...

The word 'Zen' is considered by many to be an abbreviation for Zen Buddhism. However, today Zen is not tied to any particular group: it is a way of life, discipline and thinking. Zen practitioners use sayings and scriptures to help them uncover the secrets of the universe. The most often used is the Koan, a nonsensical question given to students for meditation. The answer to one of the best-known Koans 'What is the sound of one hand clapping?' is, of course, 'silence', the silence that per...

The widespread influence of Buddhism is due in part to the skill with which a way of liberation was refined by it's teachers and became accessible to people of diverse cultures.In this dynamic series of lectures, Alan Watts takes us on an exploration of Buddhism, from its roots in India to the explosion of interest in Zen and the Tibetan tradition in the West. Watts traces the Indian beginnings of Buddhism, delineates differences between Buddhism and other religion...

RAMESH BALSEKAR was one of the most profound spiritual Masters of this Age. He was both a brilliant writer and a captivating speaker. Shortly after retiring as the President of the Bank of India, he met the sage Nisargadatta Maharaj and began translating for Maharaj's daily morning talks. It was not long before Ramesh too experienced the Ultimate Understanding. He was therefore a wonderful blend of East and West, spiritual and material. His compassion and gentle humour infused the Teaching...

Human beings have an inbuilt drive or urge to search for the inner power that is needed to reach our true potential. This search is the search for the origins and meaning of life itself.We are here, we have life but we don’t know what life really is. We can feel our energy, but don’t know where this energy comes from and to what goal this energy is going. We are that energy, we have glimpses of its true source and our connection to it, and those glimpses keep us going even when i...