Reader Guides
See More: Lives of the Masters Series | Atisha | Tsongkhapa | Aryadeva | Jamgon Kongtrul | Jigme Lingpa | Patrul Rinpoche | Mipham Rinpoche The Life of the Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339 CE) Rangjung Dorje, the 3rd Karmapa, was the head of Karma Kagyu, a sub-school of the Kagyu tradition. Well known for his teachings on Buddha-nature, his treatises on Dzogchen and Mahamudra introduce the profound meaning of the Vajrayana inner yogas. His life is full of profound experiences,...
Continue Reading >> See More: Lives of the Masters Series | Tsongkhapa | Aryadeva | Jamgon Kongtrul | Jigme Lingpa | Patrul Rinpoche | Mipham Rinpoche The Life of Atiśa Dīpankara Śrījñāna (982–1054 CE) Atīśa Dīpaṃkara Śrījñāna, was an eleventh-century Indian Buddhist scholar and saint who came to Tibet at the invitation of the king of Western Tibet, Lha Lama Yeshe Wo, and his nephew, Jangchub Wo. His coming initiated the period of the second transmission of Buddhism to Tibet, formative for the Sakya,...
Continue Reading >> Some Nyingma Lineages: Dudjom Tersar | Longchen Nyingtig | Payul & Namchö Other Contemporary Nyingma Figures: Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche | Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse | Thinley Norbu | Phakchok Rinpoche | Khandro Rinpoche Tulku Thondup Tulku Thondup Rinpoche was born in Golok, Eastern Tibet, and was recognized as the reincarnation of Khenpo Konchog Dronme, a renowned Nyingma scholar from Dodrupchen Monastery. In 1958 after being forced to flee Tibet, he settled in India where he taught Tibetan and Tibetan literature at Lucknow...
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Longchenpa See Our Reader’s Guide Quite possibly the most revered and prolific Nyingma master of all time, Longchenpa was an extraordinary practitioner, scholar and poet. Known for writing some of the greatest works on Dzogchen, the Great Perfection, today’s Nyingma teachers continue to draw from his semingly infinite well-spring of beautifully composed and profoundly touching works. Some Nyingma Lineages: Dudjom Tersar | Longchen Nyingtig | Payul & Namchö Guides to Other Important Nyingma Figures: Rongzompa | Longchenpa | Jigme Lingpa |...
Continue Reading >> Shechen Gyaltsap See Our Reader's Guide Shechen Gyaltsap (1871-1926) was the disciple and heart-son of Mipham Rinpoche, one of the most prominent Nyingma scholars of the late 19th and early 20th century See Also: The Nyingma School | Longchen Nyingtik | Namcho & Payul | Dudjom Tersar Associated Reader Guides: Dudjom Rinpoche | Jigme Lingpa | Longchenpa | Mipham Rinpoche | Patrul Rinpoche | Shechen Gyaltsap The Life of Shechen Gyaltsap Pema Gyurme Namgyal (1871-1926) Shechen Gyaltsap was the disciple...
Continue Reading >> The great nineteenth-century master Patrul Rinpoche, author of The Words of My Perfect Teacher and revered by all Tibetan Buddhists, was known for his wandering ascetic lifestyle, eschewing fame, generous offerings, and all but the most meager possessions. However, wherever he went throughout his peripatetic life, he carried with him a copy of Shantideva's Bodhicharyavatara, which we know now as The Way of the Bodhisattva or A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life. Renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge and ability to transmit the wisdom of Prajnaparamita and...
Continue Reading >> This is part of a series of articles on the arc of Zen thought, practice, and history, as presented in The Circle of the Way: A Concise History of Zen from the Buddha to the Modern World. You can start at the beginning of this series or simply explore from here. The Works of Zen in the Tang Dynasty Shakyamuni Emerging from the Mountains China, Zen in the Song dynasty Image from the Cleveland Museum of Art Explore...
Continue Reading >> This is part of a series of articles on the arc of Zen thought, practice, and history, as presented in The Circle of the Way: A Concise History of Zen from the Buddha to the Modern World. You can start at the beginning of this series or simply explore from here. The Samurai and Zen Samurai and Zen: The Third Matsumoto Koshiro as a Samurai Standing1769 or 1770 From the Met Explore Zen Buddhism: A Reader's Guide to...
Continue Reading >> This is part of a series of articles on the arc of Zen thought, practice, and history, as presented in The Circle of the Way: A Concise History of Zen from the Buddha to the Modern World. You can start at the beginning of this series or simply explore from here. Dogen: A Guide to His Work Dogen, from the cover of Essential Dogen. Explore Zen Buddhism: A Reader's Guide to the Great Works Overview Zen Buddhism: A...
Continue Reading >> This is part of a series of articles on the arc of Zen thought, practice, and history, as presented in The Circle of the Way: A Concise History of Zen from the Buddha to the Modern World. You can start at the beginning of this series or simply explore from here. Early Zen in Japan Three Poems from the “Later Collection of Japanese Poems” (Gosen wakashū), or “Shirakawa Fragment” (Shirakawa-gire) late 12th century, early Zen in Japan. Traditionally...
Continue Reading >> This is part of a series of articles on the arc of Zen thought, practice, and history, as presented in The Circle of the Way: A Concise History of Zen from the Buddha to the Modern World. You can start at the beginning of this series or simply explore from here. The Works of the Chan and Zen Patriarchs Hear a description of this statue of the First Patriarch Bodhidharma from the Metropolitan Museum of Art: https://images.metmuseum.org/CRDImages/as/audio/5TH-7436-ENG-42547-1.mp3 Explore...
Continue Reading >> This is part of a series of articles on the arc of Zen thought, practice, and history, as presented in The Circle of the Way: A Concise History of Zen from the Buddha to the Modern World. You can start at the beginning of this series or simply explore from here. The Tang Dynasty (618–907) is considered the zenith of Chinese history and culture, often referred to as a "Golden Age." And Chan was woven very deeply into...
Continue Reading >> This is part of a series of articles on the arc of Zen thought, practice, and history, as presented in The Circle of the Way: A Concise History of Zen from the Buddha to the Modern World. You can start at the beginning of this series or simply explore from here. The Seon Tradition of Zen in Korea Portrait of the Great Master Seosan From the Met Explore Zen Buddhism: A Reader's Guide to the Great Works Overview...
Continue Reading >> This is part of a series of articles on the arc of Zen thought, practice, and history, as presented in The Circle of the Way: A Concise History of Zen from the Buddha to the Modern World. You can start at the beginning of this series or simply explore from here. Ten Verses on Oxherding, included in many gongan or koan collections. From the the Met Explore Zen Buddhism: A Reader's Guide to the Great Works Overview Zen...
Continue Reading >> There have been surprisingly few clear introductions to the full range of the East Asian tradition of what is popularly commonly referred to, in its Japanese variant, as Zen Buddhism but also known as Chan, Soen, and Tien in original Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. All these names stem from the Sanskrit word jhana or dhyana which was rendered as Chan, but all share a fundamental set of practices and views, though with a stunning variety of creativity and approaches. In...
Continue Reading >> The Treasury of Precious Instructions Learn More The eighteen volumes of the Treasury of Precious Instructions or Dam-ngak Rinpoché Dzö by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye, one of Tibet’s greatest Buddhist masters, is a shining jewel of Tibetan literature Palpung Monastery, Tibet Explore the Treasury of Precious Instructions Page Navigation Menu Home Page of the Treasury History of the Treasury of Precious Instructions The Books: Overviews of Each Volume Jamgön Kongtrul's Descriptive Catalog (Karchag) > Video Series (for the Treasury of...
Continue Reading >> The Treasury of Precious Instructions Learn More The eighteen volumes of the Treasury of Precious Instructions or Dam-ngak Rinpoché Dzö by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye, one of Tibet’s greatest Buddhist masters, is a shining jewel of Tibetan literature Palpung Monastery, Tibet Explore the Treasury of Precious Instructions Page Navigation Menu Home Page of the Treasury History of the Treasury of Precious Instructions The Books: Overviews of Each Volume Jamgön Kongtrul's Descriptive Catalog (Karchag) Video Series (for the Treasury of Precious...
Continue Reading >> The Treasury of Precious Instructions Learn More The eighteen volumes of the Treasury of Precious Instructions or Dam-ngak Rinpoché Dzö by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye, one of Tibet’s greatest Buddhist masters, is a shining jewel of Tibetan literature Palpung Monastery, Tibet Explore the Treasury of Precious Instructions Page Navigation Menu Home Page of the Treasury History of the Treasury of Precious Instructions > The Books of the Treasury of Precious Instructions: An Overview of Each Volume Jamgön Kongtrul's Descriptive Catalog...
Continue Reading >> The Treasury of Precious Instructions Learn More The eighteen volumes of the Treasury of Precious Instructions or Dam-ngak Rinpoché Dzö by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye, one of Tibet’s greatest Buddhist masters, is a shining jewel of Tibetan literature Palpung Monastery, Tibet Explore the Treasury of Precious Instructions (dam ngak dzod) Page Navigation Menu > Home Page of the Treasury History of the Treasury of Precious Instructions The Books of the Treasury of Precious Instructions: An Overview of Each Volume...
Continue Reading >> “the only war that matters is the war against the imagination.” —Diane di Prima Onehandclapping, CC BY-SA 3.0 We just learned that Diane di Prima passed away on October 25th, 2020. While we did not publish any of her extraordinary stand-alone works, she and her work appear in many Shambhala Publications books. Though I had not been in touch in years, I knew Diane, especially after sitting next to her in some longer retreats with Lama Tharchin Rinpoche. She had...
Continue Reading >> From the Edward Henning CollectionThis article on Kālachakra practice is part of the collection of works on the Kālacakra that the late scholar Edward Henning put together. It is used with permission of the Estate of Edward Henning. The original can be found on Edward's site, kalacakra.org. There is very little discussion of actual meditation practice on this site [kalacakra.org], and certainly no explanation how such practices should be performed. Similarly, there are no practice texts (sādhanas, pūjas, and so...
Continue Reading >> The Litany of the Names of Manjushri or Chanting the Names of Manjusri (’jam dpal mtshan brjod; Skt. Manjushrinamasamghiti) and also referred to as The King of All Tantras and Net of Magical Manifestation of Manjushri, is an extremely important tantric text, relied on by all the schools of Tibetan Buddhism. In particular it is connected with the Hevajra, Guhyagarbha, and Kalachakra tantras. It was first translated into Tibetan by Rinchen Zangpo, but soon thereafter was revised and commented on....
Continue Reading >> The Life of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo: An excerpt from Tulku Thondup Rinpoche's Masters of Meditation and Miracles According to Nyingma tradition, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo is the body incarnation of Jigme Lingpa. 259 He became one of the greatest masters, in whom the lineages of all of Tibetan Buddhism find their confluence. He became a prominent propagator of Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyu, and other teaching lineages. He was recognized as the rebirth of Jigme Lingpa (1730-1798) by the Nyingmapas and the Nesar...
Continue Reading >> We know your lives have been profoundly changed by the impact of the ongoing global health crisis. We know you are concerned for yourselves, for your loved ones, for your communities. We know so many people are suffering right now, and are afraid. And we want to help. We want you to know that though we may be physically isolated, we are all connected, and we’re in this together. Below you will find lots of great ideas for weathering this storm:...
Continue Reading >> Pema Chödrön’s Inspirations: A Reader’s Guide Based on Welcoming the Unwelcome
Pema Chödrön refers to many of her teachers and friends in her latest book Welcoming the Unwelcome. For fans of Ani Pema who might be less familiar with some of these figures but want to hear more from her main inspirations, teachers, and role models, this is for you! For those who listened to the audiobook of Welcoming, hearing the narrator and actress Claire Foy pronounce so many masters of Buddhism was a thrill. Buddhist Teachers from Long Ago Some...The importance of Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche on the Karma Kagyu tradition quite simply cannot be overstated. Since he was recognized as a Tulku of the previous Thrangu Rinpoche in 1938 by the 16th Karmapa and 11th Tai Situpa, he engaged in the rigorous traditional study, practice, and retreat training. To give a flavor of Rinpoche's qualities, here is Pema Chödrön giving a glimpse of him in her most recent book, Welcoming the Unwelcome: "Once I attended a talk at Gampo...
Continue Reading >> Chan Master Sheng Yen (1930–2009) was a widely respected Taiwanese Chan (Chinese Zen) master who taught extensively in the West during the last thirty-one years of his life. He had numerous teaching centers throughout North America, as well throughout the world. He co-led retreats with the Dalai Lama, and he is the author of numerous books in Chinese and English, including Song of Mind, The Method of No-Method, and his autobiography, Footprints in the Snow. This reader’s guide offers a...
Continue Reading >> Jigme Lingpa A Guide to His Works Learn More A guide to the works available in English from Jigme Lingpa, the founder of the Longchen Nyintik tradition and a central figure in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. See Also: Some Nyingma Lineages: Dudjom Tersar | Longchen Nyingtig | Payul & Namchö Guides to Other Important Nyingma Figures: Rongzompa | Longchenpa | Jigme Lingpa | Patrul Rinpoche | Mipham Rinpoche It is hard to overstate the importance of Jigme Lingpa to...
Continue Reading >> Guiding Questions Introduction Inspired by decades of experience caring for the dying and years teaching contemplative care around the world, Kirsten DeLeo shares down-to-earth advice and offers short, simple, on-the-spot tools to help you handle your emotions, deal with difficult relationships, talk about spiritual matters, listen fully, and practice self-care. Present Through the End shows you how to be present even when we feel utterly helpless, express your love when loss is just around the corner, and be fully alive...
Continue Reading >> [Note: This article on Buddhist publishing was originally written by Nikko Odiseos, president of Shambhala Publications for the blog Vajrayanaworld.com as requested by Lama Dechen Yeshe Wangmo. As the blog is no longer, we are hosting it here with a few small updates.] My longtime friend Lama Wangmo asked if I would pen a few words on the state of Buddhist publishing, wearing my hat as the president of Shambhala Publications since 2010 and Snow Lion Publications since we acquired...
Continue Reading >> In the eleventh century, the great Tibetan scholar-practitioner Gampopa (1079–1153) began his composition known as The Jewel Ornament of Liberation with an exposition on the cause for awakening. What is the cause for awakening? In the Vajrayana and third turning traditions of Buddhism it is buddha nature. Buddha nature is our innate potential for awakening and the root of many Buddhist paths. Zen, Yogacara, and all Tibetan traditions of Buddhism teach that the goal of enlightenment is not some distant...
Continue Reading >> The six paramitas, or transcendent perfections, are an essential concept in the practice of Mahayana Buddhism. They are so fundamental in fact that the “Vehicle of the Perfections” is a synonym for Mahayana itself. The Pali or Theravada tradition also includes perfections, referred to as paramis, but a discussion of these is out of the scope of this article. Traleg Rinpoche in his Essence of Buddhism, includes two chapters on the paramitas and introduces them: “If we want to obtain enlightenment...
Continue Reading >> Khandro Tsering Chödrön, from The Life and Times of Jamyang Chokyi Lodro One of the most remarkable Buddhist women of the 20th century surely was Khandro Tsering Chödrön. Born in 1925, she became the spiritual consort of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, one of the most important teachers of the 20th century. As Tulku Thondup, who as a student of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö spent much time with her, relates in Masters of Meditation and Miracles, "According to his own prophecies...
Continue Reading >> The Role of the Teacher in Tibetan Buddhism: A Reader’s Guide to the Teacher-Student Relationship
The Teacher-Student Relationship Learn More To truly understand Tibetan Buddhism, one must come to grips with the unique role of the teacher, the dynamics of the teacher-student relationship, and the possibilities that having a teacher can open up. To truly understand Tibetan Buddhism, one must come to grips with the unique role of the teacher, the dynamics of the teacher-student relationship, and the possibilities that having a teacher can open up. Tibetan Buddhism is composed of the Vajrayana or Tantric...Milarepa: A Reader's Guide Learn More There are few figures more beloved in the Buddhist Himalayas than the 11th century yogi-hero Milarepa. Namkading Cave area where Milarepa spent many years in retreat There are few figures more beloved in the Buddhist Himalayas than the 11th century yogi-hero Milarepa. His story of hardship, errant paths, disciplined training, heartbreak, devotion, and ultimate liberation have been told in many places. Stories of his life, as well as teachings on his songs, abound—dozens of...
Continue Reading >> A Guide to Sera Khandro Learn More Sera Khandro (1892 - 1940), also known as Kunzang Dekyong Wagmo, was one of the great masters of the early 20th century and the English speaking world is fortunate now that both her story and her writings have been emerging more and more. Sera Khandro (1892 - 1940), also known as Kunzang Dekyong Wagmo, was one of the great masters of the early 20th century and the English speaking world is fortunate now...
Continue Reading >> One of the Five Maitreya Treatises—the five texts imparted to Asanga by the bodhisattva Maitreya—the Ornament of the Mahayana Sutras (in Sankrit the Mahayanasutralamkara, often shortened to Sutralamkara) presents explanations of bodhisattva motivation, meditation, conduct, and fruition as expounded in the Mahayana sutras as well as demonstrating the superiority of the Mahayana. In English, the verses fill about 130 pages. Quite simply, the Sutralamkara is one of the most important texts in the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions and is immensely...
Continue Reading >> This is part of a series of articles on the arc of Zen thought, practice, and history, as presented in The Circle of the Way: A Concise History of Zen from the Buddha to the Modern World. You can start at the beginning of this series or simply explore from here. The Heart Sutra The Heart Sutra stands among the classic Buddhist scriptures. Akin in importance to the “Shema Yisrael” for Jews or the “Lord’s Prayer” for Christians,...
Continue Reading >> See More: Lives of the Masters Series | Atisha | Rangjung Dorje | Aryadeva | Jamgon Kongtrul | Jigme Lingpa | Patrul Rinpoche | Mipham Rinpoche The Life of Tsongkhapa Lobsang Drakpa (1357-1419) Tsongkhapa Lobzang Drakpa (1357–1419), was one of the most important figures in Tibet, historically and philosophically. As the founder of the Gelug school he made an enormous contribution to revitalizing Buddhism in Tibet. Regarded as an emanation of Manjushri--the bodhisattva of wisdom and discerning intelligence, Tsongkhapa was of...
Continue Reading >> Buddhist Poetry: A Reader Guide Navigating the vast world of spiritual verse can be disorienting. With so many anthologies and translations to choose from, finding what speaks to you can be a real challenge. Shambhala Publications publishes numerous books of Buddhist poetry, and we’ve gathered some of our favorites here. Ranging from classical Tibetan songs of devotion to contemporary American reflections on navigating the path, our collection of Buddhist poetry offers a little something for everyone, Buddhist or otherwise. Chan...
Continue Reading >> An excerpt from Tibetan Treasure Literature: Revelation, Tradition, and Accomplishment in Visionary Buddhism by Andreas Doctor By www.treasuryoflives.org [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsFew Treasures of the Nyingma School have left a larger imprint on contemporary Tibetan Buddhism than those of the famed nineteenth century master Chokgyur Dechen Shigpo Lingpa (1829-1870). Since the time of his revelations a century and a half ago, Chokgyur Lingpa’s Treasures have become popular not only within the Nyingma School but also in the Kagyu lineage where...
Continue Reading >> Legend has it that around the sixth century BCE, during the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China, a wise and venerable philosopher found himself so distraught over the chaos and social upheaval of his time that he decided to flee across the western border of China (into what is now the region of Tibet). But before he could pass beyond the western gates, he was approached by a guard who had heard of his reputation as a person of...
Continue Reading >> In the world of religion, some things stay the same, while many are constantly adapting to meet our new world of the internet and cell phones, scientific discovery, increasing awareness of gender and race dynamics, multiculturalism, the numbers of people identifying their religion as “none” or “spiritual but not religious,” and so much more. We have chosen a few books below that address these issues, each in its own way. “Rita Gross offers readers an amazing example of a lifelong,...
Continue Reading >> “This is something that needs explaining, how light emerges from darkness, how comfort wells up from sorrow. The Earth holds every possibility inside it, and the mystery of transformation, one thing into another. This is the wildest comfort. That's what this book is about.” (xi) In an effort to make sense of the deaths in quick succession of several loved ones, Kathleen Dean Moore turned to the comfort of the wild, making a series of solitary excursions into ancient forests,...
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Chögyam Trungpa's legacy is nearly impossible to measure, but one gauge is his literary output. Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s impact on the transmission of Buddhism to the West cannot be overstated. In the quarter century he spent in the West, he taught tens of thousands of students, in many cases introducing them to Buddhism for the first time. His legacy is nearly impossible to measure, but one gauge is his literary output. Shambhala has published about three dozen unique books by,...
Continue Reading >> Each month, the Shambhala employees gather to discuss a new book as part of our Shambhala Publications Book Club. After each meeting, we will be sharing the notes from our discussion with you to spark your own thoughts and conversations, which you can share in the comments below. Our January pick was The Wave in the Mind: Talks and Essays on the Writer, the Reader, and the Imagination by Ursula K. Le Guin. Book Description The Wave in the Mind...
Continue Reading >> Single White Monk by Shozan Jack Haubner is a prescient book—not only for its teachings, which are deeply rooted in real-life stories and the humble wisdom that comes from making mistakes and learning to face them, but for its lack of pretension around issues involving sexual abuse and all the opinions, hurt, and life-changing consequences that can, and do, go on because of a scandal. As this is something that is highly relevant in our current socio-political climate, this book has...
Continue Reading >> Kalu Rinpoche and the Translation of The Treasury of Knowledge Below Sarah Harding shares the story of how Kalu Rinpoche came to take on the task of translating Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye's The Treasury of Knowledge, an immense feat that took the skills and dedication of many that will be treasured by all who are able to benefit from its work for years to come. From Sarah Harding's preface to Book 8, Part 4. Khyabjé Kalu Rinpoché visited Santa...
Continue Reading >> Chogyal Phagpa Drogon Chogyal Phagpa, better known to the world as Chogyal Phagpa (or Phakpa) is one of the five great founding masters from the Sakya tradition in Tibet. This 13th century master was the nephew of Sakya Pandita. Before going into the various resources in print and online, included below is his biography of Lama Migmar Tseten's Treasures of the Sakya Lineage. "Drogon Chogyal Phagpa was born amid excellent signs to Sakya Pandita’s younger brother, Zangtsa Sonam Gyaltsen (1184‒1239),...
Continue Reading >> In thinking about year-end gifts, we want to share what YOU have to say. Below are some lovely quotations from readers on their favorite Shambhala books. Do you have one to add? Please comment at the bottom! “This book showed me a different way, a way to devote discipline of both my body and mind.” —Clint “As a therapist, I recommend this to anyone seeking permanent life change realistically.” —Paul “If there is one book in my collection that I...
Continue Reading >> The Buddha Walks into the Office seemed a particularly apt choice for our Shambhala office book club. After all, if anyone should aspire to an awake, uplifted workplace, it should be us. We dove in to see if Lodro Rinzler, teacher in the Shambhala tradition and founder of MNDFL meditation studios in New York, had any tips for us. If you’re reading along, please comment at the bottom of this guide and let us know if The Buddha Walks into...
Continue Reading >> Each month, the Shambhala employees gather to discuss a new book as part of our Shambhala Publications Book Club. After each meeting, we will be sharing the notes from our discussion with you to spark your own thoughts and conversations. Our October pick was Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice by Shunryu Suzuki. Book Description In the forty years since its original publication, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind has become one of the great modern spiritual classics,...
Continue Reading >> Each month, the Shambhala employees gather to discuss a new book as part of our Shambhala Publications Book Club. After each meeting, we will be sharing the notes from our discussion with you to spark your own thoughts and conversations. Our September pick was Trump and a Post-Truth World by Ken Wilber. Book Description The world is in turmoil. As populist waves roil the Brexit-bound UK, along with Europe, Turkey, Russia, Asia—and most visibly, the US with the election of...
Continue Reading >> Brad Andrews describes his travels to the Kiso Road in Japan inspired by William Scott Wilson's Walking the Kiso Road. In early April of this year I made a solo trip from Brooklyn, NY, where I live, to Japan. It was my first trip to the East, and one I had contemplated for years before actually making the plunge. I work in publishing and my employer, Penguin Random House, distributes books from Shambhala Publications. One of my favorite books on Japan...
Continue Reading >> Book Club Discussion | Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior by Chögyam Trungpa
by Kate White Kate, our Production Coordinator/Designer, sums up our August meeting of the new Shambhala Publications Book Club! August’s book selection was Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. We invite you to take part by sharing your comments below. There are a lot of different kinds of people who work at Shambhala Publications. We come from a wide array of backgrounds, and each of us has a unique story about how we found our way into our...Tim Drugan-Eppich shares his thoughts on his meditation practice and the five adversaries that his mind frequently uses to discourage him from continuing his practice. Tim, along with his girlfriend, run a blog for anyone looking for advice on topics ranging from finances and cooking, to health and dating, or for those just curious about how others tackle adulthood. Visit their website at TriedbyTwo.com. “Change yourself—you are in control.” —Mahatma Gandhi The mind doesn’t take kindly to requests for silence. It prides...
Continue Reading >> by Brett Campbell Nobody asks for the chaplain in the good moments. This is an unspoken rule I realized early in my career. Nobody thinks of the chaplain after they’ve delivered a healthy child or they take their first steps following an accident that left them bedbound for weeks. These are the times when life makes sense. We don’t question these experiences. We simply bask in the joy they bring to our hearts. It is in the moments of pain...
Continue Reading >> Jigten Sumgon, from The Buddhist Art Coloring Book 2 What follows is a guide to some of our books and other resources available on Shambhala.com that relate to the Drikung Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The Drikung lineage comes from Marpa, Milarepa, and Gampopa through Phagmo Drupa and Jigten Sumgön, who is considered the root of the tradition. His most famous work, the Gongchik, or “Single Intention,” is a collection of profound statements summarizing the entirety of the Buddhist path for which...
Continue Reading >> by Kate, Production Coordinator/Designer I have a confession to make: I judge books by their covers. And I’m not even sorry about it. I’m baffled by how many amazing books there are in the world that I’ll never have time to read. And there are more being released all the time! It can be so overwhelming to have to choose which books I’m going to make time for and which books I’m just going to have to pass over. There are...
Continue Reading >> Graduation means many different things: it means endings as well as new beginnings, celebrations as well as new challenges, uncertainties as well as excitements. This little collection of books—on relationships, change, festivities, and more—will help grads and the people who love them to navigate their rite of passage with grace and support. A LITTLE BOOK OF LOVE The slim volume is packed with profound insights and advice on drawing more love into your life. While its practices and teachings are...
Continue Reading >> Sakyasribhadra: A Reader’s Guide to the 12th Century Kashmiri Pandita
Image from HAR Sakyasribhadra, also known as Sakyasri or Khache Panchen, was an important Kashmiri pandita in the 12th and early 13th centuries who came to Tibet. His full biography is on the Treasury of Lives site. He has a connection with many of the lineages in Tibet extant during his visit. He is well known in the Sakya tradtion for being one of Sakya Pandita's teachers. Together they translated Dharmakirti's Pramanavarttika which Saypan then taught extensively. As described in...Also see our Reader's Guide to Buddhist Poetry. Many know haiku as a three-line poem, the first and last lines five syllables long, and the second line, seven. But there is much more to what defines haiku, elements more subtle than prescribed syllable counts or line breaks. In fact, Japanese haiku are typically written in a single column, and many haiku deviate from the syllable count familiar to so many of us. So, what then, makes a haiku a haiku?...
Continue Reading >> One of the greatest joys for me as an editor at Shambhala Publications is when I work on books by people I have long admired. This was most definitely the case when Shambhala had the good fortune to become William Scott Wilson’s publisher several years ago. I first encountered his work when I was a young martial arts student; his translation of Takuan Soho’s The Unfettered Mind was a revelation. When, many years later, I began to correspond with him...
Continue Reading >> Jamgon Kongtrul A Reader's Guide Learn More A guide to the works of Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye, one of the most prolific masters and scholars of Tibet Image: Tsadra Rinchen Drak, where Kongtrul spent many years in retreat Jamgön Kongtrul Lodro Thaye was one of the greatest masters of Tibetan history, who the Tibetologist Gene Smith referred to as Tibet’s Leonardo. It’s difficult to imagine a master who was so learned, spent much of his time in retreat, gave countless...
Continue Reading >> Interested in learning Tibetan or deepening your existing Tibetan language skills? Below is a guide to help you choose the right resources for your needs. We offer two tracks: one for those who plan on traveling or spending a longer period of time in India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, and Tibet; and another for those who are focused on classical written Tibetan for academic or practice purposes. Reading or Translating Classical Tibetan The following materials are geared for those wanting in-depth...
Continue Reading >> The Art of War: A Reader’s Guide to the Way of Leadership and Strategy
For millennia, the classic book of strategy known as The Art of War has been one of the most influential guides to navigating conflict—read and studied not only by military tacticians but by leaders and thinkers of all types. But in many ways, its title is a misnomer. For its author, Sun Tzu (c. 544–496 B.C.E.), the most masterful strategists are able to thwart war altogether by skillfully managing conflicts. Still, Sun Tzu also recognizes that conflicts—even the horrors of...by Lindsay Michko Whether you’re single, in relationship, or “it’s complicated,” February 14th is a day of super-charged emotions: the bliss of being in love, the pangs of loneliness, the bittersweet imperfections of relationship, and everything in between. Regardless of where you fall on this spectrum, the following titles are sure to heighten your Valentine’s Day. For the Poet The Pocket Sappho by Willis Barnstone “Love shook my heart like wind / on a mountain punishing oak trees” (Eros,...
Continue Reading >> Khenpo Shenga (1871–1927) There are thirteen classics of Indian Mahayana philosophy, still used in Tibetan centers of education throughout Asia and beyond, particularly the Nyngma tradition, with overlap with the others. They cover the subjects of vinaya, abhidharma, Yogacara, Madhyamika, and the path of the Bodhisattva. They are some of the most frequently quoted texts found in works written from centuries ago to today. Below is a reader's guide to these works. Khenpo Shenga, who penned influential commentaries on all...
Continue Reading >> What Is Kalachakra Tantra? The Kalachakra, or “Wheel of Time,” tantra and cycles of teachings and practices are, on the surface, well known among practitioners and those interested in Tibetan Buddhism. Yet it is considered one of the highest teachings of tantra—a highly complex one where initiates take many years accomplishing the practice. The visualization for an advanced practitioner involves 722 figures in the mandala. One of the reasons for its notoriety is that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has bestowed the...
Continue Reading >> by Lindsay Michko As spring begins, warmer temperatures and longer days call upon us to deepen our connection to the natural world. We begin spending more time outside and taking notice of all the new growth and colors popping up in the world around us. As a celebration of Earth Day, Shambhala Publications has compiled a guide to books that will help readers to continue to connect to and celebrate the Earth, no matter the season. Mindfully Green: A Personal...
Continue Reading >> Integral Theory Primer: A Reader’s Guide to Ken Wilber by Ali Akalin
Ali Akalin was born in Turkey, and grew up in Thailand and the Netherlands. Ali is a writer, editor, and teacher at Core Integral. He works closely with Clint Fuhs and Ken Wilber in developing in-depth courses on Integral Theory. Ali currently holds an MA in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology from Naropa University. He would like to invite anyone interested in learning Integral Theory to check out www.coreintegral.com for a curriculum specifically structured to the Integral Approach. In his own words......Eva Wong is a practitioner of the Xiantianwujimen (Primordial Limitless Gate) lineage of qigong, the Quanzhen (Complete Reality) lineage of meditation, and the Wudangshan (Wudang Mountain) lineage of martial arts. She is the author and translator of over fourteen books on Taoism. In her own words... Tales of the Taoist Immortals by Eva Wong Growing up in Hong Kong and brought up in the Chinese culture, I developed an interest in Taoism when I was about nine years old. My...
Continue Reading >> We were very pleased to host a talk with Khenpo Jamyang of Larung Gar in Golok on Monday, April 18th, 2016 who discussed the Kagyu curriculum at the largest center of Buddhist study and practice in the world. The talk is available as a video here. Below is a list of the texts that Khenpo will be discussing and include what is available in English translation so interested readers can read these texts, or in some cases read about...
Continue Reading >> This series of blog posts are meant to be resources guides to complement the biographies of the great masters and scholars on the Treasury of Lives site. Mandarava Mandarava Mandarava was one of the great 8th century adepts and was one of the main consorts of Guru Rinpoche. As such a central figure at the time of Guru Rinpoche, she is a focus of many works. A wonderful complete biography was published by our friends at Wisdom Publications as The...
Continue Reading >> This series of blog posts are meant to be resources guides to complement the biographies of the great masters and scholars on the Treasury of Lives site. Kharchen Pelgyi Wangchuk, from the Shechen Archives The biography in the Treasury of Lives site (http://treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Pelgyi-Wangchuk/490), like several other sources, alludes to Kharchen Pelgyi Wangchuk possibly being Yeshe Tsogyal's brother. However, in Yeshe Tsogyal's biography by Gyalwa Changchub and Namkhai Nyingpo which was discovered by the Terton Samten Lingpa and published in English...
Continue Reading >> His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit to Boston His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave an excellent teaching on Kamalashila's Stages of Meditation at MIT. Below are the texts mentioned by His Holiness in his talk. For those interested in going deeper, you will find them complementary to the teaching: Stages of Meditation - A commentary on Kamalashila's work by the Dalai Lama Shantideva's Way of the Bodhisattva Aryadeva's 400 Stanzas of the Middle Way Nagarjuna's Letter to a Friend You...
Continue Reading >> This series of blog posts are meant to be resources guides to complement the biographies of the great masters and scholars on the Treasury of Lives site. Langdro Konchok Jungne, from the Shechen Archives Langdro Konchok Jungne, also known as Langdro Lotsawa, was another of the twenty-five main disciples of Guru Rinpoche and was minister in the court of King Trisong Deutsen. In Lady of the Lotus-Born, we hear how Guru Rinpoche "gave the Chinlap Lamai Druplung and the sadhanas...
Continue Reading >> This series of blog posts are meant to be resources guides to complement the biographies of the great masters and scholars on the Treasury of Lives site. Sokpo Pelgyi Yeshe Sokpo Pelgyi Yeshe, from the Shechen Archives Sokpo Pelgyi Yeshe, also known as Sokpo Lhapal, was a direct disciple of both Guru Rinpoche and Nyak Jnanakumara and then later became the teacher of Nupchen Sangye Yeshe. In Masters of Meditation and Miracles, Tulku Thondup Rinpoche relateshow Sokpo Pelgyi Yeshe was...
Continue Reading >> This series of blog posts are meant to be resources guides to complement the biographies of the great masters and scholars on the Treasury of Lives site. Nyak Jñ?nakumara, from the Shechen Archives Nyak Jñānakumara, also known as Yeshe Zhonnu was ordained by Santarakshita and was a student of Guru Rinpoche, Vairotsana, and Yudra Nyingpo but is better known for his Vajrakilaya practiced he received through Vimalamitra. He worked alongside Vimalamitra translating the mahyoga and atiyoga tantras, including The Guhyagarbha...
Continue Reading >> This series of blog posts are meant to be resources guides to complement the biographies of the great masters and scholars on the Treasury of Lives site. Denma Tsemang Image from the ToL Site Denma Tsemang was another of Guru Rinpoche's 25 chief disciples, famed for his calligraphy and, later, his translation skills and of course his practice. Gyalwa Changchub and Namkhai Nyingpo in their terma, later revealed by Terton Taksham Samten Lingpa and translated into English as Lady of...
Continue Reading >> Kawa Peltsek – The Fully Accomplished Translator of Shantideva
Kawa Peltsek was one of the twenty five disciples of Guru Rinpoche. For the full biography, visit his page on the Treasury of Lives site. He is mentioned in many books in English as he was one of the great translators during this formative period. He was responsible for translating key texts including Shantideva's Bodhicharyavatara. Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang relates this in The Nectar of Manjushri's Speech, and quotes Ngok Loden Sherab who said "Kawa, Chokro, Zhang are like the sun...Image courtesy of Treasury of Lives. Odren Pelgyi Wangchuk is another of Guru Rinpoche's twenty-five disciples, though not that much material on him is available in English. A short bio is available on the Treasury of Lives site. There is also a limited amount of resources on the TBRC site. He is mentioned in some key texts, including Gyalwa Jangchup's Lady of the Lotus Born where Guru Rinpoche bestowed the outer, inner and secret root sadhanas of the Mamos and...
Continue Reading >> Nanam Dorje Dudjom is another of Guru Rinpoche's twenty-five disciples and his full biography can be read on the Treasury of Lives site. From the Shechen Archives via Treasury of Lives There are also several references to him in books in English. An exchange between he and Guru Rinpoche is included in Guru Rinpoche: His Life and Times. The full translation includes Nanam Dorje Dudjom requesting a prayer for the benefit of future generations and the 120 line prayer. The...
Continue Reading >> This series of blog posts are meant to be resources guides to complement the biographies of the great masters and scholars on the Treasury of Lives site. Lang Pelgyi Senge Lang Pelgyi Senge, from the Shechen Archives Lang Pelgyi Senge, also known as Lhalung Pelgyi Senge, should not be confused with another Pelgyi Senge who was his contemporary. There is a wonderful passage in Yeshe Tsogyal’s biography, Lady of the Lotus-Born, where Lang Pelgyi Senge is brought together with Yeshe Tsogyal:...
Continue Reading >> This edition of the Great Masters Series focuses on Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910-1991). This, like the other posts in this series, is not meant to be an exhaustive biography, but rather a look at the life and teachings of this great master through the lens of his works published in English. New and Forthcoming We are pleased to announce Lion of Speech: The Life of Mipham Rinpoche, a translation of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche's extraordinary biography of the great Mipham...
Continue Reading >> Image from http://www.rigpashedra.org/ His Holiness the Dalai Lama has often said that Tibetan Buddhism is none other than the Buddhism of India in the tradition of Nalanda, the great center of Buddhist learning that was located in present-day Bihar, India. Many of the greatest masters and scholars in Indian Buddhism resided-and often presided-at this monastic center of learning which in its heyday included thousands of monks, dozens of temples and an enormous library. While we do not know with...
Continue Reading >> The Nalanda Tradition This entry to the Great Masters series kicks off a series within a series that looks at the great Buddhist center of learning at Nalanda in India and what are known as the Seventeen Panditas of Nalanda, a grouping conceived by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as they are the core group of masters whose works further articulate the teachings of the Buddha and which form the basis of Buddhist philosophy we have today. This group begins...
Continue Reading >> Mahayana Buddhist philosophy This article for the Great Masters Series focuses on Aryadeva, the second of what His Holiness the Dalai Lama refers to as the Seventeen Pandits of Nalanda, whose works form the foundation for Mahayana Buddhist philosophy. Birth and Training While early biographies vary in detail and timing, traditional accounts such as those by Taranatha, Butön in his History of Buddhism, and Chandrakirti identify Aryadeva as being born in Sri Lanka in a royal family in the late...
Continue Reading >> What would you like to accomplish this year? Have you made New Year's resolutions to start meditating or pick up your practice again? To be more mindful with your children or adolescents? To mend a broken heart or learn to cook? To finally figure out your dosha, prioritize, or simply to relax? We at Shambhala have books covering all these topics and more to help you have your most satisfying, healthy, and mindful year yet. From favorite authors like Pema...
Continue Reading >> The Way of the Bodhisattva: An Immersive Workshop in Boulder May 18-22, 2016
[Note, this event occurred in the past and the videos are all available on this site for free.] Few texts are more frequently taught and quoted, have as colorful a history, and as much relevance to Buddhists today more than the eighth-century Indian Buddhist monk Shantideva's The Way of the Bodhisattva. The Dalai Lama has said that "if I have any understanding of compassion and the bodhisattva path, it all comes from studying this text. " The living tradition of this...2016 was certainly a year of high emotions and global challenges-a confusing and contentious U.S. election, civil wars in Syria and Iraq, Olympic scandals, Brexit, the spread of the Zika virus, continuing international acts of terrorism, and so much more. But as we open the New Year, we also have the opportunity to reflect on where we've been and how we can approach our lives with new energy and clarity. It's a natural reaction for us to become disoriented and...
Continue Reading >> Intermediate States: Bardos and Living and Dying from Ancient India to 21st Century New York Walter Yeeling Evans-Wentz (02/02/1878 – 07/17/1965): American anthropologist and writer who was a pioneer in the study of Tibetan Buddhism. The term bardo, often translated as "intermediate state" is a term that entered the popular imagination in the West with the publication of W.Y. Evans-Wentz's 1927 translation of The Great Liberation by Hearing in the Intermediate States, which he rendered as The Tibetan Book of...
Continue Reading >> Some Nyingma Lineages: Dudjom Tersar | Longchen Nyingtig | Payul & Namchö Guides to Other Important Nyingma Figures: Rongzompa | Longchenpa | Jigme Lingpa | Patrul Rinpoche Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche (1846-1912) Mipham Rinpoche is a celebrated Nyingma scholar and practitioner. He is revered for being a prolific writer and for reinvigorating the Nyingma monastic university tradition with his commentaries on central Indian Buddhist texts including the Five Treaties of Maitreya, Chandrakirti's Introduction to the Middle Way, Shantarakshita's Adornment of the Middle...
Continue Reading >> His Holiness the Dalai Lama Learn More We publish over two dozen books by His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. See also: Tsongkhapa: A Guide to His Life and Works | Kalachakra Tantra Reader Guide | Works by the Dalai Lamas | Readers Guide to His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama Other Tibetan Buddhist Traditions: Bön | Gelug | Jonang | Kalachakra | Kagyu | Kadam | Nyingma | Sakya | Zhije & Chöd DALAI LAMA TITLES See All Books...
Continue Reading >> Lojong: Training the Mind Learn More Lojong, or mind training, is a core practice in all the lineages of the Tibetan tradition. Lojong, or mind training, is a core practice in all the lineages of the Tibetan tradition. They can perhaps best be characterized as a method for transforming our mind by turning away from self-centeredness and cultivating instead the mental habits that generate bodhicitta, the awakened mind that puts the benefit of others above all else. The teachings on...
Continue Reading >> by Karl Brunnhölzl The five works that the Tibetan tradition ascribes to Maitreya resemble zip files that contain all the profound and vast topics of the Buddhist teachings. In their traditional order: The Ornament of Clear Realization comments on the emptiness taught in the Prajnaparamita Sutras and on what happens in the minds of bodhisattvas familiarizing themselves with emptiness on the paths and bhumis. Related Books Ornament of Clear Realization The Ornament of Mahayana Sutras is a synopsis of all...
Continue Reading >> From Butön's History of Buddhism in India and Its Spread to Tibet Four hundred years after the Buddha passed away, in the southern country of Vidarbha, there lived a prosperous Brahmin who was childless. In a dream, gods foretold that if he invited one hundred Brahmins to a religious festival, a son would be born to him. He did as he was told, made prayers, and ten months later a son was born. When he showed the child's distinguishing marks...
Continue Reading >> Senior editor Dave O'Neal took a look back at the entire Shambhala catalog and came up with this list of his top ten titles. Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind Shunryu Suzuki Still the best first book on Zen practice and why you'd want to do it. There are so many other wonderful books on Zen now, but I'd still suggest this to anyone just starting to get a taste for it, mainly because it conveys something of the joy of...
Continue Reading >> The Complete Nyingma Tradition Learn More In 1838, Choying Tobden Dorje, a Buddhist yogi-scholar of eastern Tibet, completed a multivolume masterwork that traces the entire path of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism from beginning to end. Explore The Complete Nyingma Tradition Home Page of The Complete Nyingma Tradition The Books of The Complete Nyingma Tradition Choying Tobden Dorje and the Story Behind the Complete Nyingma Tradition In Memorium: Alak Zenkar Rinpoche reflects on Lama Tharchin Rinpoche and the Complete...
Continue Reading >> All of our books are published on planet Earth! In honor of our favorite planet, we put together a list of some of our most earthy books. Read on for suggestions in gardening, children's activities, ecospirituality, and memoir. GARDENING Landscape as Spirit: Creating a Contemplative Garden by Martin Hakubai Mosko and Alxe Noden "This is the only garden book that I have read from cover to cover. Alxe's and Martin's fine writing and stunning photographs teach us that the...
Continue Reading >> by Nikko Odiseos The text with the Sanskrit title Bodhicharyavatara (shortened from the longer Bodhisattvacharyavatara) - usually known in English as either The Way of the Bodhisattva or A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life - is by far the best-known work attributed to the eighth-century Indian monk Shantideva. It would be impossible to adequately summarize its importance and impact in this small space, but what follows is a brief account of the origin of this classic that...
Continue Reading >> Michael Stone (1974–2017) was a prominent and innovative Buddhist teacher, yogi, psychotherapist, and author. He was the founder and director of the Centre of Gravity Sangha, a community of yoga and Buddhist practitioners based in Toronto, and he taught widely and had a large international following. For more information visit michaelstoneteaching.com. In his own words... The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali A New Translation with Commentary translated by Chip Hartranft In 2003 when Chip Hartranft translated the Yoga-Sutra attributed to Patanjali, it...
Continue Reading >> Rev. Danny Fisher, MDiv, DBS., is a professor and coordinator of the Buddhist Chaplaincy Program at University of the West in Rosemead, California. An ordained Buddhist minister with the Los Angeles Buddhist Union and the Buddhist Sangha Council of Southern California, he is also certified as a mindfulness meditation instructor by Naropa University in association with Shambhala International. In 2009, Danny became the first-ever Buddhist member of the National Association of College and University Chaplains. A blogger for Patheos.com, Shambhala...
Continue Reading >> Dudjom Rinpoche, Jigdral Yeshe Dorje, who passed away in 1987, came from a long line of the some of the greatest masters of Buddhism in India and Tibet. A direct descendant of Tibet's king Trison Detsen, the pearls in his succession of rebirths include the Buddha's disciple Shariputra, the Brahmin Saraha, Rongzompa, Dudjom Lingpa, and many more in between. Known as a great terton, or treasure revealer, Rinpoche was also known for his many works preserving the wider Nyingma tradition....
Continue Reading >> The Treasury of Precious Instructions Learn More The eighteen volumes of the Treasury of Precious Instructions or Dam-ngak Rinpoché Dzö by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye, one of Tibet’s greatest Buddhist masters, is a shining jewel of Tibetan literature Palpung Monastery, Tibet Explore the Treasury of Precious Instructions Page Navigation Menu Home Page of the Treasury > History of the Precious Treasury of Instructions The Books of the Treasury of Precious Instructions: An Overview of Each Volume Jamgön Kongtrul's Descriptive Catalog...
Continue Reading >> Larung Gar’s Kagyu Curriculum:: A Talk by Khenpo Karma Jamyang Gyaltsen
Shambhala Publications, the Tsadra Foundation, and the Tibet Himalaya Initiative at the University of Colorado were pleased to present this talk by Khenpo Karma Jamyang Gyaltsen on the Kagyu curriculum of Buddhist study and practice in Tibet’s largest center for monastic and lay study and practice. Khenpo Jamyang is a senior teacher at the Larung Gar Buddhist Institute in Serthar, Sichuan, part of the Tibetan area known as Kham. He is the director of training in the Kagyu tradition at...By Chensiyuan (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons About Larung Gar Larung Gar, or “The Encampment of the Larung Valley”, is a magical, incredible place. Located in the remote high-altitude grasslands in the region of Golok in the far east of Tibet, outside of the Chinese demarcated Tibetan Autonomous Region in the province of Sichuan, it is has become home to the world’s largest Buddhist institute of study and practice. It is a striking place. Founded in the...
Continue Reading >> A Resource Guide for The Way of the Bodhisattva* We are pleased to share the following resources for the Bodhicharyavatara, or The Way of the Bodhisattva. Readers Guide - A guide to the many translations, commentaries, and deep dives into specific chapters published by Shambhala Publications and others. A Brief History - A very brief history of this text. An Immersive Workshop on The Way of the Bodhisattva - Shambhala Publications and the Tsadra Foundation are pleased to share with you this immersive four...
Continue Reading >> Few texts are more frequently taught and quoted, have as colorful a history, and as much relevance to Buddhists today more than the eighth-century Indian Buddhist monk Shantideva’s The Way of the Bodhisattva. The Dalai Lama has said that “if I have any understanding of compassion and the bodhisattva path, it all comes from studying this text.” The living tradition of this text radiates most brightly from the Tibetan tradition where it was translated from Sanskrit in the ninth century and is central to all...
Continue Reading >> The Story Behind the Bodhicharyavatara The text with the Sanskrit title Bodhicharyavatara (shortened from the longer Bodhisattvacharyavatara)—usually known in English as either The Way of the Bodhisattva or A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life—is by far the best-known work attributed to the eighth-century Indian monk Shantideva. It would be impossible to adequately summarize its importance and impact in this small space, but what follows is a brief account of the origin of this classic that has come to be considered an indispensable guide for...
Continue Reading >> Anne Klein Discusses Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche’s Life and Work
We were pleased to have Anne Klein, professor at Rice University and founder of the Dawn Mountain Buddhist center, pay us a visit and talk about her 2016 work, a translation of and introduction to the great Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche's Strand of Jewels: My Teachers Essential Guidance on Dzogchen. Also see our interview with Khetsun Sangpo from the Snow Lion newsletter of October, 2006 ANNE KLEIN TITLES See All Books