Showing titles in Sacred Writings

Written more than 25 centuries ago, the Diamond Sutra is the first text to record the Buddha's own teachings, and it remains one of the most popular. Osho comments in a series of talks on these sutras and brings Buddha's teachings into the 21st century. One day, after the Buddha finishes his daily walk to collect alms, a senior monk steps forth to ask how he can best help humanity. Buddha responds, and thus begins a dialogue regarding the nature of perception.

The Noble Eightfold Path is one of the most important teachings in Buddhism. In this series of eight lectures, given originally in 1965, Urgyen Sangharakshita introduces each stage, from right understanding to right meditation, explaining the deeper implications involved. Sangharakshita, the London-born Buddhist teacher, is one of the most influential figures in the development of Buddhism in the West.

The Khuddaka Nikāya is different in character from the other four Nikāyas of the Sutta Pitaka in the Theravada Pāli Canon in that rather than being a single work it is, as its customary translation ‘Minor Anthologies’ suggests, a collection of independent works.

Some 25 centuries after the Buddha started teaching, his message continues to inspire people across the globe, including those living in predominantly secular societies. What does it mean to adapt religious practices to secular contexts? Stephen Batchelor, an internationally known author and teacher, is committed to a secularized version of the Buddha's teachings. The time has come, he feels, to articulate a coherent, ethical, contemplative, and philosophical vision of Buddhism for our age.

In this, the final volume in Dharma Audiobooks’ compilation of the Principal Texts of the Khuddaka Nikāya, the major work, and in some ways the most unusual, is Milinda’s Questions. For while the other two, the Buddhavaṃsa and the Cariyāpitaka, may date from the early years of Buddhism, there is no doubt that Milinda’s Questions comes from a later period.

The Long Discourses of the Buddha (Dīgha Nikāya) is the first of the five Nikāyas (Collections) in the Sutta Pitaka and has its own particular character. Unlike the others which contain thousands of shorter discourses (suttas), it comprises just 34 but of much longer length - as the name indicates! This makes it in some ways a more focused collection of teachings of the Buddha and especially accessible in audio.

The Dīghanikāya or Long Discourses of the Buddha is one of the four major collections of teachings from the early period of Buddhism. Its 34 suttas (in Sanskrit, sutras) demonstrate remarkable breadth in both content and style, forming a comprehensive collection. The Art of Listening gives an introduction to the Dīghanikāya and demonstrates the historical, cultural, and spiritual insights that emerge when we view the Buddhist suttas as oral literature.

The Prajna Paramita Hridaya Sutra is among the best known of all the Buddhist scriptures. Chanted daily by many Zen students, it is also studied extensively in the Tibetan tradition, and it has been regarded with interest more recently in the West in various fields of study - from philosophy to quantum physics. In just 35 lines, it expresses the truth of impermanence and the release from suffering that results from the understanding of that truth with a breathtaking economy of language.

Ben Connelly guides us through the intricacies of Yogacara and the richness of the "Thirty Verses." His warm and wise voice contextualizes its wisdom, showing us how we can apply its ancient insights to our own modern lives, to create a life of engaged peace, harmony, compassion, and joy. Vasubandhu's "Thirty Verses" lay out a path of practice that integrates the most powerful of Buddhism's psychological and mystical possibilities. The "Thirty Verses" goes to the heart of the matter—how do we alleviate suffering through shedding our emotional knots and our sense of alienation?

Legend has it that more than a thousand years ago an Indian Buddhist monk named Bodhidharma arrived in China. His approach to teaching was unlike that of any of the Buddhist missionaries who had come to China before him. He confounded the emperor with cryptic dialogues, traveled the country, lived in a cave in the mountains, and eventually paved the way for a unique and illuminating approach to Buddhist teachings that would later spread across the whole of East Asia in the form of Chan—later to be known as Seon in Korean, Thien in Vietnamese, and Zen in Japanese.

First published in 1925, Buddha's Teachings was originally edited by Japanese scholars of Buddhism before WWII and distributed widely throughout Japan. The first English edition was published in 1934.

Abhidhamma Piṭaka for Beginners: Key Concepts in Buddhist Mental Training is not just a book—it’s a journey into the mind, an invitation to understand life from the deepest perspectives of Buddhist psychology. If you’re seeking a way to cultivate inner calm, sharpen your mindfulness, and unlock the layers of consciousness, this guide offers the tools and insights to take you there. Uncover the Essence of Buddhist Mental Training Step into the world of the Abhidhamma, Buddhism’s most profound and analytical collection of teachings. This book takes complex, timeless principles and ...

Do you see the meditativeness of the trees surrounding you? Such stillness! Just as you are listening to me, they are listening to me, not even a leaf moving. The birds are singing.

In this renowned translation of Buddhism’s most widely read scripture, freshly updated for a new generation of listeners, Gil Fronsdal provides extensive explanatory notes and easy-to-understand insight for practice. Whether a practicing Buddhist of any tradition or simply a listener of the world’s literary classics, all will be enriched by this centuries-old wisdom.

A fascinating compendium of literary and spiritual puzzles, Treasury of the Eye of True Teaching will challenge and inspire listeners to work with great doubt themselves and to discover their inborn potential for enlightenment. Masterfully translated by one of America's foremost translators of Chinese classics into English, it is a captivating window into the literary world of Chinese Zen and essential for students of all Zen schools today.

Children and adults alike will enjoy these amazing, entertaining and fascinating stories from The Lotus Sutra. Originally told to illustrate the challenging concepts of the Buddha’s most important lesson, they easily stand on their own and will quickly become family favorites, presenting meaningful and useful insights today, tomorrow and for a lifetime. Read the exciting adventure of how children rescued themselves from a burning house, the rags to riches story of how a Janitor became CEO, how treasure hunters found a City of Dreams, how a man thought he lost everything because he ...

Discover the path to true clarity and inner peace with The Surangama Sutra for Beginners: A Path to Inner Clarity and Wisdom—a powerful guide crafted to transform how you see yourself, your mind, and the world around you. In this accessible interpretation, you’ll find: A Blueprint for Self-Mastery The Surangama Sutra isn’t just a text; it’s a roadmap to inner freedom and insight. This book breaks down the essential teachings of the sutra, providing practical steps to overcome distraction, anxiety, and the constant pull of everyday stresses. With each page, discover how to calm the ...

Osho, one of the best-known and most provocative spiritual teachers of our time, presents The Sutra of 42 Chapters—a scripture compiled in the first century C.E by a Chinese emperor. Two thousand five hundred years have passed since Buddha delivered the sutras on which this series is based.

Children and adults alike will enjoy reading about the Stone Tiger, the Pardoned Prisoner, King Rinda’s White Horses, the Turtle Under the Ocean, the Calligrapher’s Son and the Merchant Who Became a Horse: these captivating stories were originally told in ancient Japan to illustrate the challenging concepts of the Lotus Sutra, yet present enduring relevance even centuries later to a now globalized practice of Buddhism. Today, Nichiren’s stories remain as entertaining and controversial as ever. And in a search for symbolic, mythological and cultural context, six of these stories have ...

Unlock the timeless wisdom of the Buddha with "Pāli Canon for Beginners: An Introduction to the Buddha's Words." This comprehensive guide will take you on an enlightening journey through the foundational texts of Theravāda Buddhism, offering clarity and insight for both newcomers and seasoned practitioners. Dive into the heart of Buddhist teachings with easy-to-understand explanations and practical applications: Discover the core principles that form the bedrock of Buddhism. Explore the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and other essential teachings that provide a roadmap to a ...