This deft and lively study by Robert DeCaroli explores the questions of how and why the earliest verifiable images of the historical Buddha were created. In so doing, DeCaroli steps away from old questions of where and when to present the history of Buddhism’s relationship with figural art as an ongoing set of negotiations within the Buddhist community and in society at large. By comparing innovations in Brahmanical, Jain, and royal artistic practice, DeCaroli examines why no image of the ...

"The Sutra of Forty-Two Chapters" is a succinct summary doctrine by which Buddhism was introduced to China. Each of the 42 sutras begins with the Buddha said”. This particular sutra deals with 20 Difficult Things to Accomplish in this World” and Osho takes us through each verse, and dissects it line by line, never omitting to explain--in clear modern terms--the real meaning of the verses.

Note: A newer 10th anniversary edition of Seeing That Frees is now available. This revised edition includes a new foreword by Yahel Avigur as well as previously unpublished reflections from Rob Burbea.In this ground-breaking and seminal work, esteemed Buddhist teacher Rob Burbea lays out an original and comprehensive approach to deepening insight. Starting from simple and easily accessible understandings ...

A practical guidebook for meditators interested in achieving the states of bliss and deep focus associated with the Buddhist jhānasOne of the elements of the Eightfold Path is Right Concentration: the one-pointedness of mind that, together with ethics, livelihood, meditation, and more, leads to the ultimate freedom from suffering. So how does one achieve Right Concentration? According to the Buddha himself, the jhānas—a series of eight progressive altered ...

Chögyam Trungpa’s in-depth exploration of the Four Noble Truths—the foundational Buddhist teaching about the origin of suffering and its cessation—emphasizes their profound relevance not just as an inspiration when we set out on the path, but at every other moment of our lives as well, showing how we can join view (intellectual understanding) of the teaching with practical application in order to interrupt suffering before it arises.

An introduction to Buddhist mantras and mudras, used by meditators to open doors within.This book shares beautiful Buddhist mantras and mudras, used by countless meditators to experience the matchless bliss of spiritual awakening. The book is dedicated to Lillian Too's teacher, Lama Zopa Rinpoche.Mantras and Mudras takes you through preparations such as purifying the space and ground, making dedications and generating motivation, to the mantras themselves – the six-syllable...

A deep and encompassing dive into the vast array of symbols and attributes that appear within the complex iconography of Tibetan BuddhismThe Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols is a portal into the rich, multifaceted, and profound symbolism of Tibetan sacred art. The succinct descriptions that accompany Robert Beer’s detailed line drawings reveal the origins, meanings, and functions of these symbols. Beer unravels the multiple layers of symbolism and mean...

Sokei-an translated the Record of Lin-chi (Lin-chi lu) from 1931 to 1933, in his first series of lectures. He felt that Americans needed original Chinese Zen source materials, translated and commented upon by a Zen master, and there were no such materials in those early days. Sokei-an was the first Zen master to translate the Record of Lin-chi and to give a commentary in English to Western students. The real historic value of Sokei-ans Lin-chi is in his commentary with its manifestation of...

In this thoughtful, affectionate collection of interviews and letters spanning three decades, beloved poet Gary Snyder talks with South African writer and scholar Julia Martin. Over this period many things changed decisively-globally, locally, and in their personal lives-and these changing conditions provide the back story for a long conversation. It begins in the early 1980s as an intellectual exchange between an earnest graduate student and a generous distinguished writer, and becomes a ...

The Ten Pillars of Buddhism are ten ethical precepts-such as generosity, truthfulness, or compassion-that together provide a comprehensive moral guide. These teachings are the source of Buddhist ethics, their depth revealed here as Sangharakshita considers them collectively, then individually. The Ten Pillars of Buddhism provides a fascinating insight for anyone interested in leading an ethical or Buddhist life. &quote;A handy and easily readable introduction to Buddhist ethics.&quote; Pro...

The Moon Points Back comprises essays by both established scholars in Buddhist and Western philosophy and young scholars contributing to cross-cultural philosophy. It continues the program of Pointing at the Moon (Oxford University Press, 2009), integrating the approaches and insights of contemporary logic and analytic philosophy along with those of Buddhist Studies in order to engage with Buddhist ideas in a contemporary voice. The essays in the volume focus on the Buddh...

We have long recognized that many objects in museums were originally on display in temples, shrines, or monasteries, and were religiously significant to the communities that created and used them. How, though, are such objects to be understood, described, exhibited, and handled now that they are in museums? Are they still sacred objects, or formerly sacred objects that are now art objects, or are they simultaneously objects of religious and artistic significance, depending on who is viewin...