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General Buddhism
In this section are included books which either survey Buddhism as a whole, or else are written in less sectarian terms about particular Buddhist practices.
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The Dhammapada Translated by the Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya, revised by Rose Kramer
The sayings of the Buddha, perhaps the clearest introduction to Buddhist thought. This is a great pocket-sized, modern translation.
Parallax Press, 1995. 110 pages, about 4 x 6 inches, paperback. New.
Item #672. Shipping weight: 0.4 lb. Publisher's price: $8.00. Your price: $7.20
John Ross Carter and Mahinda Palihawadana (translators), The Dhammapada: The Sayings of the BuddhaWith an Introduction and Notes by the translators.
Arranged in traditional fashion by subject, this 1987 translation from the Pali has the virtue of notes which illuminate archaic or unfamiliar references, and a helpful and very interesting introduction which discusses the origin of the text, other versions, and the varying style of the stanzas. This is a great edition whether it be the first version to add to your book collection, or whether it supplement other translations you wish to compare.
Oxford University Press, 2000. 84 pages, about 5 x 7½ inches, paperback. New.
Item #587. Publisher’s price: $7.95. Your price: $7.15 (out of stock)
Eknath Easwaran (translator), The DhammapadaWith a general introduction by the translator and with chapter introductions by Stephen Ruppenthal
A translation for modern readers, illuminating many words and phrases that may be misconstrued in contemporary thought in more traditional translations. Includes a fairly lengthy general introduction with an overview of Indian philosophy and religion prceding the time of the Buddha, and stories about the Buddha's life and times, giving additional context to his teachings. The chapter introductions help the reader apply the 2500-year old sayings of the Buddha to our present life, with references to related lessons of the successors of the Buddha.
Nilgiri Press, 2007 (second edition). 275 pages, about 5 x 8 inches, paperback. New.
Item #520. Shipping weight: 1.0 lb. Publisher's price: $10.95. Your price: $10.00
Gil Fronsdal (translator), The DhammapadaForeword by Jack Kornfield
"This fresh new translation of the most widely read Buddhist scripture includes extensive explanatory notes and combines Gil Fronsdal's personal knowledge of the Buddhist path with his rigorous attention to detail in bringing forth the original text." The author is one of the teachers at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California.
Shambhala, 2005. 152 pages, about 5 x 7½ inches, paperback. New.
Item #504. Shipping weight: 0.8 lb. Publisher's price: $9.95. Your price: $9.00
Martine Batchelor, Meditation for LifePhotography by Stephen Batchelor
“There are many good reasons to start meditating. Meditation can relieve stress, promote relaxation, and improve your outlook—but above all, meditation is about waking up to life, to all its choices and possibilities.
“With an engaging mix of anecdote, humor, and clear instruction, Martine Batchelor shows that you don’t have to be a Buddhist to benefit from meditation. She explains the life-enhancing techniques of three major Buddhist traditions, demystifying meditation and presenting it in a way that will speak to readers of any background.
“Each chapter of Meditation for Life contains a time-honored guided meditation on such themes as loving-kindness, equanimity, death—and even cooking!” The numerous photographs by Stephen Batchelor invite “us to see the world around us with new eyes.”
Wisdom Publications, 2001. 168 pages, about 8½ x 10 inches, illus., paperback book. New.
Item #603. Shipping weight: 2.0 lbs. Publisher’s price: $22.95. Your price: $20.65
Stephen Batchelor, Alone With Others: An Existential Approach to Buddhism "A uniquely contemporary guide to understanding the timeless message of Buddhism, and in particular its relevance in actual human relations. It was inspired by Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life, the oral instructions of living Buddhist masters, Martin Heidegger's classic Being and Time, and the writings of the Christian theologians Paul Tillich and John MacQuarrie."
Grove Press, 1983. 143 pages, about 5 x 8 inches, paperback. New.
Item #56. Shipping weight: 0.7 lb. Publisher's price: $14.00. Your price: $12.60
Stephen Batchelor, Buddhism Without Beliefs: A Contemporary Guide to Awakening Batchelor carefully distinguishes between Buddhism the religion (a set of propositions to believe) from Buddhism the means of overcoming the anguish inherent in life (which is not dependent on belief). He asserts that much of Buddhist practice has been overlain with cultural adaptations and beliefs which have little to do with the essence of the practice. In this book he skillfully presents afresh the essentials of the teachings of the Buddha. They can be understood without resorting to the leap of faith needed for accepting scientifically questionable concepts such as karma and reincarnation.
Riverhead Books, 1997. 127 pages, about 5½ x 9 inches, paperback. New.
Item #657. Shipping weight: 0.8 lb. Publisher's price: $13.00. Your price: $11.70
Michael Carrithers, Buddha: A Very Short IntroductionRather than attempt to explain the development of Buddhism throughout its 2500-year history, the author has “only recounted the life of the Buddha and described the genesis and significance of his teaching. [He has] tried, however, to phrase this account so the reader will be able to see why Buddhism moved so easily across continents and survived so well through the centuries.” A fascinating account which places Gotama, the man who became the Buddha, in the context of his time.
Originally titled The Buddha, and part of the “Past Masters” series.
Oxford University Press (Very Short Introductions series), 2001. 108 pages, illus., about 4½ x 7 inches, paperback. New.
Item #663. Publisher’s price: $9.95. Your price: $9.00 (out of stock)
James William Coleman, The New Buddhism: The Western Transformation of an Ancient TraditionA tour of Buddhism’s evolution in the West: “Investigating the contemporary scene, Coleman finds that Western teachers have borrowed liberally from different Buddhist traditions that have had little interaction with each other in Asia, that men and women practice together as equals, and that the path of meditation and spiritual practice is offered to everyone, not just an elite cadre of monks. Drawing on interviews with noted teachers and lay practitioners, as well as a survey completed by members of seven North American Buddhist centers, Coleman depicts the colorful variety of new Buddhists today, from dilettantes to devoted students and the dedicated teachers who guide their spiritual progress. He also details the problems that have arisen, especially with regard to gender roles, sex, and power.”
Oxford University Press, 2002. 265 pages, about 6 x 9 inches, paperback. New.
Item #604. Publisher’s price: $14.95. Your price: $13.45 (out of stock)
Ananda Coomaraswamy and I.B. Horner, The Living Thoughts of Gotama the Buddha“This fascinating book, the work of two distinguished scholars in the field, captures the essence of Buddha’s life and teachings. Starting with a brief biography of the Buddha and an overview of his doctrine, the authors present a series of Pali texts attributed to the Enlightened One himself. Rich in parables and thought-provoking observations, the texts are thematically organized around the founder and his prophesies; training in Buddhist thought and conduct; relations with others; evolution and the unity of mankind; Buddha’s teachings regarding causality, the Self, the Way, Nirvana, and other topics; and the transcendent state achieved through obedience to dharma, the cosmic order.”
An unabridged republication of a work appearing in 1948.
Dover Publications, 2000. 224 pages, about 5½ x 8½ inches, paperback. New.
Item #610. Shipping weight: 0.8 lb. Publisher’s price: $8.95. Your price: $8.05
Gretel Ehrlich, Questions of Heaven: The Chinese Journeys of an American Buddhist The author of The Solace of Open Spaces, a Buddhist, makes a pilgrimage to climb Emei Shan, in Sichuan Province, and one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains. She visits Buddhist lamas who had once been in hiding from the onslaughts of the Cultural Revolution, and also visits a panda refuge to ponder the fate of these iconic mammals.
Beacon Press, 1997. 128 pages, about 5-3/4 x 8½ inches, hardcover. New, remainder.
Item #ABE287. Shipping weight: 1.0 lb. Cover price: $20.00. Your price: $5.00
Richard Gombrich and Gananath Obeyesekere, Buddhism Transformed: Religious Change in Sri Lanka"In this study a cultural and cultural anthropologist and a specialist in the study of religion pool their talents to examine recent changes in popular religion in Sri Lanka. As the Sinhalas themselves perceive it, Buddhism proper has always shared the religious arena with a spirit religion. While Buddhsim concerns salvation, the spirit religion focuses on worldly welfare. Buddhism Transformed describes and analyzes the changes that have profoundly altered the character of Sinhala religion in both areas."
Princeton University Press, 1988. 484 pages, about 6 x 9 inches, paperback. New, but with bumped corner in back.
Item #629. Shipping weight: 1.8 lbs. Publisher's price: $24.95. Your price: $10.50
Damien Keown, Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction“In clear and straightforward language, and with the help of maps, diagrams, and illustrations, this book explains how Buddhism began and how it evolved into its present-day form. The central teachings and practices are set out clearly, and key topics such as karma and rebirth, meditation, ethics, and Buddhism in the West, receive detailed coverage in separate chapters. The distinguishing features of the main schools—such as Tibetan and Zen Buddhism—are clearly explained. The book will be of interest to anyone seeking a sound basic understanding of Buddhism.”
Oxford University Press (Very Short Introductions series), 2000. 136 pages, illus., about 4½ x 7 inches, paperback. New.
Item #582. Shipping weight: 0.5 lb. Publisher’s price: $9.95. Your price: $9.00
Jack Kornfield, After the Ecstasy, the Laundry: How the Heart Grows Wise on the Spiritual Path"One of the most authentic and convincing accounts ever written of the lifelong path of inner transformation. Written by a Buddhist teacher and meditation master of international renown, this moving and fascinating book also draws on the firsthand experiences of dedicated leaders and practicioners within the Christian, Jewish, Hindu, and Sufi traditions. The result is a uniquely intimate and honest understanding of how the modern spiritual journey unfolds—and how we can prepare our own hearts for awakening."
Bantam, 2000. 313 pages, paperback. New.
Item #639. Shipping weight: 1.2 lbs. Publisher's price: $16.00. Your price: $14.40
Jack Kornfield, Buddha's Little Instruction Book A book of one or two line teachings, each to its own page for pondering and inspiration. Concludes with six simple meditations to expand your awareness and promote peace of mind.
Bantam, 1994. 151 pages, about 6 x 4½ inches, paperback. New.
Item #782. Shipping weight: 0.5 lb. Publisher's price: $11.00. Your price: $9.90 (Out of stock)
Jack Kornfield, A Path With Heart: A Guide Through the Perils and Promises of Spiritual Life "This important guidebook shows in detail and with great humor and insight the way to practice the Buddha's universal teachings here in the West. Jack Kornfield is a wonderful storyteller and a great teacher."—Thich Nhat Hanh
Bantam, 1993. 352 pages, about 6 x 9 inches, paperback. New.
Item #659. Shipping weight: 1.5 lbs. Publisher's price: $18.00. Your price: $16.20
Dinty W. Moore, The Accidental Buddhist: Mindfulness, Enlightenment, and Sitting Still, American Style ". . . Moore shows us the geography of Buddhism, American style. Covering a lot of ground on his journey, he describes such events as an Indiana auditorium filled with starry-eyed Dalai Lama admirerers, a Tibetan Freedom concert with the Beastie Boys, and Change Your Mind Day, a Buddhist Woodstock in Central Park.
"Cutting through religious jargon and abstract concepts, Moore explains in clear terms why Buddhism is becoming part of popular culture. He has the rare ability to be at once sincere about religion and good-humored about the human condition. The Accidental Buddhist never takes itself too seriously—which, as Moore discovers, Buddhists aren't supposed to do, even when they are mindful, enlightened, and sitting perfectly still."
Main Street Books, 1999. 205 pages, quality paperback. New.
Item #661. Shipping weight: 0.9 lb. Publisher's price: $12.95. Your price: $11.65
Ramakrishna Puligandla and David Lee Miller, editors, Buddhism and the Emerging World Civilization: Essays in Honor of Nolan Pliny Jacobson"This captivating new book, a milestone in Buddhist and comparative studies, is a compilation of seventeen essays celebrating the work and thought of Nolan Pliny Jacobson.
"A profoundly interdisciplinary thinker, Jacobson sought to discover, clarify, and synthesize points of similarity among leading thinkers of different Oriental and Western cultures. For almost half a century, he articulated his vision of an emerging world civilization, one in which all people can feel and express their creative, constructive powers for the benefit of others as well as for themselves. . . .
"The essays in this volume are organized around Jacobson's activities, publications, and interests. Authored by an impressive selection of scholars, the essays are grouped into four sections—'Historical Contex,' 'Central Issues,' 'Practical Implications,' and 'The Japan Emphasis.' Hajime Nakamure, Charles Hartshorne, Kenneth K. Inada, Seizo Ohe, and thirteen other philosophers discuss freedom, creativity, and Buddhism's self-corrective nature, setting forth their reasons for sharing Jacobson's ideas and visions."
Southern Illinois University Press, 1996. 234 pages, about 5½ x 8½ inches, hardcover.
New, remainder.
Item #632. Shipping weight: 1.5 lbs. Publisher's price: $29.00. Your price: $8.00
Sangharakshita, Learning to WalkA memoir of the early years of the founder of the Western Buddhist Order, a group seeking to adapt traditional Buddhist monastic life to western ways of living.
"At the age of sixteen Dennis Lingwood discovered that he was a Buddhist—and that he had always been one. This realization was to become the motive force behind a life in which Lingwood—now better known as Sangharakshita—has played a major part in the introduction of Buddhism to the West.
"But how and why should a teenager, living in England in 1941, come to such a realization? If there are any clues then they will surely be found in this volume of early memoirs, for here, into an evocative portrait of a child's life in London between the wars, the author has traced the events and influences that led to his surprising conversion."
Windhorse Publications, 1990. 191 pages, about 5½ x 8 inches, paperback.
Used, good condition, light creasing in upper corners of cover and many pages.
Item #HB1339. Shipping weight: 0.9 lb. Your price: $6.50
John Snelling, The Buddhist Handbook: The Complete Guide to Buddhist Schools, Teaching, Practice, and History “Completely revised and updated, [this book] is the definitive guide to the world of Buddhist teaching, practice, schools, and history. A comprehensive and unbiased survey of Buddhism’s many traditions and their contemporary exponents throughout the world, The Buddhist Handbook provides essential information for those who wish to explore the various traditions thoroughly and find the one best-suited to their needs. For those already practicing in a particular school of Buddhism, it offers illuminating insight into the teachings of other schools, as well as a Who’s Who of contemporary teachers, writers, and practitioners. With a far-reaching range that includes chapters on the westward migration of Buddhist thought, contemporary Buddhist activities in North America and around the world, Buddhism and social action, and the role of women in Buddhism, The Buddhist handbook is an essential work for the library of every aspiring Buddhist.”
While one should question, contrary to the quotation from the publisher above, that any book is essential for Buddhist practice, I will confirm that this book is loaded with great information for understanding the range of Buddhism, both present and historical.
Inner Traditions, 1998. 373 pages, about 6 x 9 inches, paperback. New.
Item #676. Shipping weight: 1.7 lbs. Publisher's price: $16.95. Your price: $15.25
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