Favourite Buddhist Books

[Seth Ananda]

Here are some of my favourite books, {not in order} that I have found very helpful

 

1. The Sun of Wisdom, by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso is the best and most readable introduction to Nagajuna I have found. {thanks again CT }

 

2. Rainbow Painting, by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. Sheer Dzogchen Awesomeness, especially the chapter called 'the vital point' which Tulku Urgyen told his students to read over and over again

 

3. Flight of the Garuda, compiled by Keith Dowman. more Dzogchen Awesome!

 

4. What makes you not a Buddhist? by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse which is a brilliant meditation on Impermanence. {very helpful for me}

 

5. The precious Treasury of the Basic Space of Phenomena, by Longchen Rabjan and is just beautiful...

 

6. The words of my Perfect Teacher, by Patrul Rinpoche I do not know why I like it so much, I just do...

 

7. Contemplating Reality, by Andy Karr, which I have not yet finished but so far seems a brilliant analysis of the View, in Tibetan Buddhism.

 

8. Psychotherapy without the Self, by Mark Epstein, is just great if you like both Buddhism and western models of the Mind...

 

9. A path with a Heart, Jack Kornfield... Always a pleasure to read his Heart Language..

 

10. Mahamudra Teachings of the Supreme Siddhas by Ranjung Dorje. The aspiration prayer is just great

 

11. Wild Awakening by Dzogchen Ponlop, which is a great compiling of the Dzogchen and Mahamudra teachings.

 

12. Pointing out the Great Way, by Daniel P. Brown, which is not an easy read, but is so comprehensive on the Mahamudra tradition...

[C T]

Coool list there!

 

Guess what? My first 'Buddhist' book wasn't even buddhist

 

The two books which were pivotal to getting me started on the Buddhist path is 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' followed by 'Illusions', both by Richard Bach.

 

What a ride it has been....

 

This still gives me goosebumps..

[Seth Ananda]

Coool list there!

 

Guess what? My first 'Buddhist' book wasn't even buddhist

 

The two books which were pivotal to getting me started on the Buddhist path is 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' followed by 'Illusions', both by Richard Bach.

 

What a ride it has been....

 

This still gives me goosebumps..

ahh yes,I was also very moved when I first found those

 

What Buddhist Book do you [and everyone else] find really valuable?

[C T]

ahh yes,I was also very moved when I first found those

 

What Buddhist Book do you [and everyone else] find really valuable?

I think Rainbow Painting is excellent as an inductive guide to the 'higher' teachings.

 

Generally, the reader would know after reading Rainbow Painting a couple of times if they get a sense that they can take their understanding further. If affirmative, then the next step would be to find relevant short retreats or workshops to try and integrate the study, followed by seeking refuge and doing the prelim practices (Ngondro).

 

At this point, relevant to the prelim path, the book i find to be (one among a handful which is) excellent is the Ngondro Commentary http://www.wisdom-books.com/ProductDetail.asp?PID=1744

 

Once the Ngondro has been initiated and done for a period of say 6 months, its safe to assume that the practitioner would already be in a good place to intuitively know what other books and texts would be relevant to help further strengthen the practice. Some of the better ones are already in your list above. Flight of the Garuda is an excellent resource, imo... really, very very good. Another one is The Practice of Dzogchen (see bottom of this list) http://www.wisdom-books.com/Subject.asp?PG=B&SHID=13&SID=86

 

 

Warm blessings, and enjoy your reads!

[SAMANTABHADRA]

White Sail by Thinley Norbu Rinpoche cannot be recommended highly enough. Anything by this sublime being is incredible. Read his stuff slowly and digest it like poetry. Very, very good teachings.

[C T]

This will be my next read http://www.wisdom-books.com/ProductExtract.asp?PID=11337 .

(have a feeling it will be as profound as Flight of the Garuda.. we shall see.)

 

 

 

_/\_

[Seth Ananda]

Ahh I have Buddhahood without Meditation on my shelf but i decided not to read it till I have a much stronger foundation in practice and in knowledge of exactly what each term is meaning when it is used...

 

and White Sail I have heard really good things about, but i am trying to remember from whom... what area of Buddhism does it cover SAMANTABHADRA?

[Vajrahridaya]

Wow Seth! What a great list. I'd like to read many of those books too.

 

I really liked Thich Nhat Hanh's books back in the day, though it's been a while.

 

Basic reading on the life of the Buddha:

 

I'd like to recommend, "Old Path, White Cloud." So sweet and a good rendition of the story of Buddhas life and teachings collected from the Pali, Sanskrit and Chinese sources. His style of writing is so engaging and heart warming.

 

Getting to know the Vajrayana/Dzogchen Masters:

 

I'd like to also recommend, "Blazing Splendor," which is the Autobiography of Tulku Orgen Rinpoche. One gets a nice view of the magic and mystery that is old Tibet.

 

Also, "Lord of the Dance," the autobiography of Chagdud Tulku. He's fun, less orthodox than Tulku Orgen, he's kind of a rebel type of Vajrayana Master.

 

Getting to know a bit about the traditions of Vajrayana and Dzogchen:

 

"Crystal and the Way of Light" by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche about Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen, a nice short book that is deep and thick with content.

 

Getting to know the liberated perspective according to Vajrayana/Dzogchen:

 

"Old Man Basking in the Sun" written by Longchenpa, translated by Keith Dowman and forwarded by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche.

 

"Ornament of the State of Samantabhadra: Commentary on the All creating King of the Pure Perfect Presence of the Great Perfection of All Phenomena." Written by Khenpo Zhenphen Oser and translated into English by Jim Valby. This book I think a person should not read before getting quite firmly aquanted with Nagarjuna. As Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche say's that one should have a good internal mastery of Nagarjunas logic in order to understand Dzogchens dialectic.

 

Buddhist Cosmology within it's various Mahayana traditions:

 

"Myriad Worlds" - Buddhist cosmology in Abhidharma, Kalacakra and Dzogchen. by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye, translated into English by the International Translation committe of Kunkhyab Choling.

Edited October 10, 2011 by Vajrahridaya

[doc benway]

I just started Wonders of the Natural Mind: The Essence of Dzogchen in the Native Bon Tradition of Tibet - Tenzin Wangyal

Others I've enjoyed are:

Breath Sweeps Mind (a compilation of short chapters on meditation by a variety of authors)

The MIracle of Mindfulness - Thich Nhat Hanh

The Dhammapada

Xin Xin Ming

The Zen Teaching of Huang Po: On the Transmission of Mind - Blofeld

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind - Suzuki

Mind Beyond Death - Ponlop Dzogchen

The Buddha Said - Osho - never read the whole thing but I periodically read a chapter or two and generally like Osho's approach

Siddhartha - Herman Hesse

[Encephalon]

[Seth Ananda]

[JustARandomPanda]

I liked Nan Hai-Chin's Working Toward Enlightenment, To Realize Enlightenment and Tao and Longevity.

[xabir2005]

My recommendations according to alphabetical listing:

 

http://awakeningtoreality.blogspot.com/2007/12/book-recommendations.html

 

Some essential ones (and I mean the really, really good ones) I picked from the above listing (by me also - but the full listing is a little more mixed and not purely Buddhist).

 

Buddha:

Topic: Buddhism

 

In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon (Teachings of the Buddha) by Bhikkhu Bodhi

 

......

 

Bhante Henepola Gunaratana

 

Topic: Theravada; essential Buddhist mindfulness meditation

 

Mindfulness in Plain English

 

Website: http://www.bhavanasociety.org/

 

Book available for free reading online: http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe.html

 

......

 

Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche:

Topic: Dzogchen

 

 

The Supreme Source: The Fundamental Tantra of the Dzogchen Semde KUNJED GYALPO

The Cycle of Day and Night: An Essential Tibetan Text on the Practice of Dzogchen

The Crystal and the Way of Light: Sutra, Tantra, and Dzogchen

Dzogchen: The Self-Perfected State

The Mirror: Advice on the Presence of Awareness (See excerpts from http://buddha-inside.blogspot.com/2007/06/mirror-advice-on-presence-and-awareness.html)

Website: http://www.tsegyalgar.org/

 

 

......

 

 

Dakpo Tashi Namgyal:

Topic: Mahamudra

 

 

Clarifying the Natural State: A Principal Guidance Manual for Mahamudra

Mahamudra: The Moonlight: Quintessence of Mind and Meditation

 

 

 

......

 

Charlie Singer:

Topic: Buddhism/Dzogchen

 

Reflections in a Mirror: The Nature of Appearance in Buddhist Philosophy

 

 

......

 

 

Dalai Lama:

Topic: Buddhism; Dzogchen

 

 

Lighting the Way

Dzogchen: The Heart Essence of the Great Perfection

 

Website: http://www.dalailama.com/

 

......

 

 

Hsu Yun:

Zen; Good self-inquiry advice.

 

Articles: http://hsuyun.budismo.net/en/dharma/index.html

 

 

......

 

 

John Myrdhin Reynolds:

Topic: Dzogchen

 

Self-Liberation Through Seeing with Naked Awareness

Website: http://vajranatha.com/

 

 

......

 

 

Keith Dowman:

Topic: Dzogchen

 

The Flight of Garuda

Website: http://www.keithdowman.net/

 

 

......

 

 

Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche:

Topic: Mahamudra

 

Crystal Clear: Practical Advice for Mahamudra Meditators

Essentials of Mahamudra: Looking Directly at the Mind

Vivid Awareness: The Mind Instructions of Khenpo Gangshar

Website: http://www.rinpoche.com/

 

 

......

 

 

Steve Hagen:

 

 

Topic: Buddhism and Zen

 

Buddhism Is Not What You Think: Finding Freedom Beyond Beliefs

Meditation Now or Never

Buddhism Plain & Simple

 

Website: http://www.dharmafield.org/

 

See reviews at http://awakeningtoreality.blogspot.com/2010/04/buddhism-is-not-what-you-think.html

 

......

 

 

Ted Biringer (good at Dogen teachings)

Topic: Zen

 

The Flatbed Sutra of Louie Wing: The Second Ancestor of Zen in the West

Website: http://dogenandtheshobogenzo.blogspot.com/

 

 

......

 

 

Thich Nhat Hanh:

Topic: Zen, Buddhism

 

The Sun My Heart

No Death, No Fear

Website: http://www.plumvillage.org/

 

 

......

 

 

Toni Packer:

Topic: Ex-Zen successor of Kapleau Roshi, now independent/non-traditionalist, advocate of J Krishnamurti's choiceless awareness and meditative inquiry, great clarity on anatta

 

The Silent Question: Meditating in the Stillness of Not-Knowing

The Wonder of Presence: And the Way of Meditative Inquiry

The Light of Discovery

Website: http://www.springwatercenter.org/

 

 

..........

 

Me: my e-book, sorry for shameless advertisement

 

http://awakeningtoreality.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-e-booke-journal.html

Edited October 12, 2011 by xabir2005

[suninmyeyes]

Some of the books I have found inspiring and that havent been mentioned yet are

Ryokan:'Dewdrops on a Lotus Leaf' - I love Ryokans poetry , simple haiku inspired by nature

and

'The life of Shabkar'/autobiography(he was a 19th century Tibetan hermit),

this is one long book and it weighs about a pound and has been my good friend for a while now:).It is simply amazing , I found it at the local Buddhist centre library randomly and few years later bought it too and some bits have been reread so many times. It has a lot of his meditations and retreats , expiriences and insights , reccomendations and instructions for his students together with a refelection on the Tibetan society at that time which is also very interesting.

 

That is all I can think of for now.

[SAMANTABHADRA]

Ahh I have Buddhahood without Meditation on my shelf but i decided not to read it till I have a much stronger foundation in practice and in knowledge of exactly what each term is meaning when it is used...

 

and White Sail I have heard really good things about, but i am trying to remember from whom... what area of Buddhism does it cover SAMANTABHADRA?

 

 

White Sail: Crossing the Waves of Ocean Mind to the Serene Continent of the Triple Gems is an overview of Buddhist thought and reasoning, specifically Vajrayana or Tantric Buddhism. It's covers the most basic and most profound points of the view, path, and result in easy-to-understand language.

 

The preface begins with a quote from Patrul Rinpoche:

 

"Those who intend to benefit others through holy teachings

Do not use elaborate terms and poetry.

The pure path is shown with the simple words of the laity.

That is the sublime method of the Bodhisattvas."

 

And the book proceeds to follow this advice. GET THIS BOOK AND READ IT MANY TIMES.

 

Love

[rex]

Nice choices from everyone. There seems to be a bit of a Tibetan bias and with the exception of two books will add to this but won't repeat what's already been cited

 

Entry Into The Realm of Reality - The Guide, Li Tongxuan (translated by Thomas Cleary) for the sheer clarity of language and breadth of coverage and vision.

 

The Tibetan Book of the Dead (Bardo Thodal) - deep, profound and practical.

 

Bardo Teachings, The Way of Death and Rebirth, Lama Lodo - oral teachings and question and answers on the Bardo Thodal.

 

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, Sogyal Rinpoche - inspiring.

 

Abhidhamma Papers, Mark Rowlands (ed) - short and concise introduction to mental factors, their categories, and the thought process.

 

Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso - An explanation of the different approaches to emptiness in the different Buddhist schools.

 

A Spacious Path to Freedom, and Naked Awareness, Practical instructions on the Union of Mahamudra and Atiyoga both by Karma Chagme - scholarly, detailed and practical.

 

Wisdom Nectar, Dudjom Rinpoche's Heart Advice (Translated by Ron Garry) - like as the main title says!

 

Guru Yoga; The Wish Fulfilling Jewel; and The Excellent Path to Enlightenment, all three by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Eloquent and elegantly detailed (for short books).

 

Advice From The Lotus-Born; Dakini Teachings; and Treasures from Juniper Ridge, all three recorded and concealed by Yeshe Tsogyal. Instructions and teachings for practitioners of all levels as given by Padmasambhava.

 

The Smile Of Sun and Moon, A Commentary on The Praise to the Twenty-One Taras, by Khenchen Palden and Sherab Rinpoche. Teachings on Tara illustrating how the Twenty-One Praises contain four levels of meaning. Also beautiful colour plates of the Twenty-One Taras (see here).

 

It's Up to You, The Practice of Self-Reflection on the Buddhist Path by Dzigar Kontrul. Something I don't do enough of, this book is replete with observation, wisdom and experience.

 

Beyond Words, Dzogchen Made Simple by Julia Lawless and Judith Allan. Clear readable and informative introduction.

 

Books are wonderful but try to see a teacher if you can too.

[mat black]

Avalokitasvara's universal door chapter of the Sadharmapundarikasutram (Lotus Sutra)

http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/lotus/lot24.htm

 

Sutra of the Medicine Buddha Bhaisajyaguru Vaidurya Prabha

http://www.fodian.net/world/The_Sutra_of_the_Master_of_Healing.htm

 

Maha Karuna Dharani Sutra (great compassion mantra)

http://www.fodian.net/world/dabei_sutra.htm

 

The Thousand armed Avalokitesvara by Lokesh Chandra. Includes a detailed discussion on the various versions of the Maha Karuna Dharani/Nilakantha Dharani

 

The Sutra on the Ten Wholesome ways of action.

http://www.fodian.net/world/600.html

 

Usnisa Vijaya Dharani Sutra

http://www.sutrasmantras.info/sutra01.html

 

Change of Heart. The Bodhisattva Peace Training of Chagdud Tulku

http://www.amazon.com/Change-Heart-Bodhisattva-Training-Chagdud/dp/1881847349

 

Changing Destiny, Liao Fan's Four Lessons with commentary by Venerable Master Chin Kung

http://www.amazon.com/Changing-Destiny-Liao-Fans-Lessons-Commentary/dp/B000ORF4AU

Edited October 15, 2011 by mat black

[Taomeow]

Several books on zen buddhism by D.T. Suzuki.

[Harmonious Emptiness]

The Sutta-Nipata

 

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/#vagga-1

 

 

 

Translation by H. Saddhatissa most highly recommended.

 

 

365 Zen, edited by Jean Smith. This book has been my salvation, I owe 9 lives of sanity to the friend who left it with me.

 

Thanks to Seth and CT for recommending Nagarjuna and Sun of Wisdom. Coming from a Zen introduction to Buddhism, these discussions got me more interested in discursive writing about Emptiness and Dependent Origination in Buddha Dharma.

 

 

Joy and Generosity, Namu Amida Butsu! Kenryo Kanamatsu, Naturalness; Buddha is everywhere, Buddha is the force that turns the planets, Buddha is Love, Buddha is everyone and everything, Buddha is you

 

 

Bodhicaryavatara, or, Way of the Boddhisattva, Shantideva.

 

 

A Buddhist Bible, edited by Dwight Goddard, 1994 edition with forward by Aitken has some additions, like Milarepa and TTC. Important Sutras in one book, including Lankavatara, Diamond Sutra, Hui Neng.

 

The Sutra of Hui Neng, trans. by A.F. Price and Wong Mou-lam.

 

Roshi Taisen Deshimaru, Voice of the Valley. Teisho talks during Sesshin meditations in chronological order. Deshimaru is considered a modern Zen Patriarch, to have been tranmitted "the real Zen", "From the time of Buddha to that of Bodhidharma, seven hundred years went by, from Bodhidharma to Dogen another seven hundred years; and from Dogen to Deshimaru seven hundred years."

 

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso: Heart of Wisdom (Seth, this is my "Sun of Wisdom" approximation.)

 

Zen Comments on the Mumonkan; Warrior Koans; The Blue Cliff Records

 

Swampland Flowers: Letters and Lectures from Zen Master Ta Hui

 

Zibo, The Last Great Zen Master, trans. by J.C. Cleary

 

Wind In the Pines by Dennis Hirota. Beautiful book on Ch'an poets, poetry, poetry writing, and tea ceremony.

 

Zen Rock Gardening, by Abd Al-Hayy Moore

 

 

At the same time, I've learned almost as much about Buddha Dharma from Taoist and Christian sources..

[caz]

Nice suggestions up there... Jonathan Livingston Seagull, man o man good stuff!

 

I've read a lot of (all of) Tarthang Tulku for much of my path, very practical Dzogchen beginning to end without using the Dzogchen puffed up, prideful language. Then the Time, Space, and Knowledge series is the BOMB Dzogchen without ever mentioning Buddhism. Just kind of leads you thru the universe of your own mind- opening vastness before your eyes. That stuff blows me away.

 

I love Keith Dowman's Maya Yoga, Flight of the Garuda and Old Man Basking in the Sun.

 

Most recently however I happened upon Tony Duff, I have such a hard time with his translations. Im finding I can't connect, I get the words, but I just can't connect. Weird how that can happen.

 

I would like to read Yeshe Lama, the Snow Lion published one by Lama Chonam, I read Tony Duffs, but I think I'd like the other one better.

 

Still searching for Crystal Cave too, anyone willing to share? I'll trade Tony Duffs YL for the other one?

[Vmarco]

Edited December 21, 2011 by Vmarco

[Vmarco]

Interesting that there is no un-recommended Buddhism book list. Although many books have at least a tidbit or two for your several hours of work in reading it,...are they really worthwhile?

 

I couldn't begin to count the useless Buddhists books I've read,..and most did not even make it into my memory. However here are a few that I do not recommend:

 

Open Heart, Clear Mind, by Thubten Chodron

The Heart Of Understanding, Thich Nhat Hanh

Living Buddha, Living Christ, Thich Nhat Hanh

Anything by Thich Nhat Hanh

Anything by Pema Chodron

Essentials of Mahamudra, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche

Open Heart, Open Mind, by Tsoknyi Rinpoche

Buddhism Is Not What You Think, Steve Hagen (great catchy title, doesn't deliver)

[chi 2012]

Hardcore Zen by Brad Warner and The Sedona Method by Hale Dwoskin. I consider the Sedona Method a Zen technique - although most people probably don't.

[Aetherous]

The Buddhist Path: A Practical Guide from the Nyingma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism by Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche

 

Pretty simple, probably aimed at beginners...but I like it more than most I've seen.

[thelerner]

Philosophy and how to books are fine, but I find gritty true life travel books hold my interest and take my breath away. My favorite Buddhist book is:

'The Gods Drink Whiskey: Stumbling Toward Enlightenment in the Land of the Tattered Buddha' by Buddhist Professor Stephen T. Asma. Its a write up of his travels teaching Buddhism in Cambodia. Don't let the tittle fool you, between stories of his travels he gets as deep into Buddhism as any philosophy books I've read.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Gods-Drink-Whiskey-Enlightenment/dp/0060723955

 

This is one of the books I picked up at the library and had to buy a copy because its as deep as it is entertaining. If you ever dream of traveling East and learning about Buddhism, this is your book.

 

 

Still I think I'll hunt down one of the Nan Hai-Chin's books- Working Toward Enlightenment, To Realize Enlightenment and Tao and Longevity- SereneBlue mentioned.

Edited April 17, 2012 by thelerner