Download or read book The Beginner s Guide to Walking the Buddha s Eightfold Path written by Jean Smith and published by Harmony. This book was released on 2002-07-16 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Writing a ‘nuts and bolts’ guide that is genuinely wise, charmingly conversational, and a pleasure to read requires a particular talent, and Jean Smith has proved once again that she has it.”—Sylvia Boorstein, author of Don’t Just Do Something, Sit There The third of Jean Smith’s Beginner’s Guides focuses on the Buddha’s Eightfold Path—the concepts central to practicing the Buddha’s teachings in daily life. The eight steps on the path are: right understanding, thought, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration. Smith explains exactly what the Buddha had in mind, using translations of his own words and then elucidating them for us. Throughout the book are wonderful quotes from a broad range of Buddhist teachers, giving a taste of the very best each of them has to offer. The Beginner’s Guide to Walking the Buddha’s Eightfold Path is a prescription for happiness, not just for overcoming suffering, which is how many people think of Buddhism. Here is a book for Buddhists of every tradition.

Download or read book The Beginner s Guide to Walking the Buddha s Eightfold Path written by Jean Smith and published by Harmony. This book was released on 2007-12-18 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Writing a ‘nuts and bolts’ guide that is genuinely wise, charmingly conversational, and a pleasure to read requires a particular talent, and Jean Smith has proved once again that she has it.”—Sylvia Boorstein, author of Don’t Just Do Something, Sit There The third of Jean Smith’s Beginner’s Guides focuses on the Buddha’s Eightfold Path—the concepts central to practicing the Buddha’s teachings in daily life. The eight steps on the path are: right understanding, thought, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration. Smith explains exactly what the Buddha had in mind, using translations of his own words and then elucidating them for us. Throughout the book are wonderful quotes from a broad range of Buddhist teachers, giving a taste of the very best each of them has to offer. The Beginner’s Guide to Walking the Buddha’s Eightfold Path is a prescription for happiness, not just for overcoming suffering, which is how many people think of Buddhism. Here is a book for Buddhists of every tradition.

Download or read book Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness written by Henepola Gunaratana and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2001-06-15 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The sequel to "Mindfulness in Plain English" delivers a simple message: Living a happy life is not a theory or dream, but something eminently practical and achievable through the Buddha's Eightfold Path.

Download or read book The Beginner s Guide to Insight Meditation written by Arinna Weisman and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2010-05-10 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Arinna Weisman and Jean Smith combine clear explanations of the Buddha's teachings on freedom and happiness with their personal stories highlighting some of the challenges and insights of practice. The Beginner's Guide to Insight Meditation offers advice about going on retreat and help in choosing a teacher and a community to practice with. This is an enormously practical book that covers every aspect of the teachings a beginner needs to get started.

Download or read book The Beginner s Guide to Zen Buddhism written by Jean Smith and published by Harmony. This book was released on 2007-12-18 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Here is a comprehensive introduction to Zen Buddhism for those who don't know how or where to begin, nor what to expect once they have started practicing. It includes the fundamentals of meditation practice (posture, technique, clothing), descriptions of the basic teachings and major texts, the teacher-student relationship, and what you will find when you visit a zendo, plus a history of Zen from the founding of Buddhism to its major schools in the West. In addition to answering the most frequently asked questions, it offers a listing of American Zen centers and resources, an annotated bibliography, and a glossary. Jean Smith's enormously practical approach ensures that The Beginner's Guide to Zen Buddhism will become the book teachers and students alike will recommend.

Download or read book Fragrant Rivers of Wisdom written by A. Christian van Gorder and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2021-12-09 with total page 207 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Buddhism and Christianity are ancient, rich, and multivalent wisdom spirituality traditions that often have insightful similarities as well as distinct perspectives from entirely different starting points. Fragrant Rivers of Wisdom explores some of these paths and encourages readers to gain, as far as is possible, a participant's appreciation of another faith. This book aims to help readers celebrate and enjoy the rich wisdom legacies of a teacher revealing a pure lotus blossoming from mud and the legacies of a peasant Jewish carpenter from Galilee revealing love on a cross. Both teachers share the power of love, the joys of healing encouragement, and the creative resources of spirit-filled living. Their ancient words and their modern communities still following these paths are dynamically relevant for our modern context of confusion and challenge.

Download or read book The Eightfold Path written by Jikyo Cheryl Wolfer and published by . This book was released on 2016-08-27 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Eightfold Path is the "how to" of the Buddha Way. It is a structure that encompasses the Buddhist teaching and shows us how to live those teachings. The core of the Eightfold Path includes wisdom, concentration, and ethics. These three essential practices comprise the most important teachings for twenty-first century Buddhism. If we understand the entirety of the Eightfold Path we can correct many of the problems of imbalance in our communities and in our personal lives. The purpose of a spiritual life is to align our action with our understanding. If we have the steadfastness to remember the three core practices of wisdom, concentration, and ethics, we can stop the swirling world of suffering and find freedom, we can find the universal perspective in the particulars of our ordinary lives and be free. We can move from a mind of complaint to a mind of gratitude. The Eightfold Path teaches us how to create a spiritual life and how to fully live it.

Download or read book Meditation The Complete Guide written by Patricia Monaghan and published by New World Library. This book was released on 2011-10-05 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Uniquely comprehensive, this one-stop resource describes thirty-?ve distinct meditation practices, detailing their historical background and contemporary use, ways to begin, and additional resources. The what and why of meditation in general are discussed, with emphasis on helping readers discover what particular type of meditators they are. Disciplines grounded in Buddhism, Tantrism, Taoism, Judaism, and Islam are included, as are contemplative prayer, Quaker worship, and indigenous traditions. Drumming, trance dancing, yoga, mindfulness, labyrinth walking, gardening, and even needle crafts are explored in a spirit that invites and instructs novice, devotee, and healing professional alike. How to choose an approach? The authors ask questions that steer readers toward options that match their habits, preferences, and needs.

Download or read book Himalayan Passage written by Jean Smith and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2008-03-17 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As a sixteenth century Himalayan mountain girl, Tara knew a husband would be chosen for her. One day, Mughals riding sleek Arabian horses arrived seeking a woman prophesized to be one of the sultan's wives. Fear and excitement mingle in Tara's heart as she realizes she is the chosen one. Tara is taken to live in sultan Ibrahim's desert fortress. Since assuming power at eighteen, Ibrahim had established a vast empire where the arts flourished and religious tolerance meant peace. There, Tara joins Ibrahim's wives, each representing a region and religion, and quickly grows to love the exotic people and their rituals. Ibrahim is consumed by Tara's beauty and passion, and she quickly becomes his exclusive nightly companion. Tara's intelligence bonds her to Ibrahim's very first wife, Kiren. Together, Tara and Kiren serve Ibrahim, Tara as his lover and Kiren as his political advisor. As jealousy simmers among Ibrahim's wives, a southern governor, Bhaji, builds power by encouraging Hindu nationalism against Ibrahim's empire. Working against both time and karma, Tara, Kiren, and Ibrahim must devise a strategy to confront the tide of unrest. The task seems insurmountable as culture, religion, and ethnic politics collide in this riveting story of love, faith, and karmic tragedy.

Download or read book The Art of Practicing written by Madeline Bruser and published by Crown. This book was released on 1999-02-02 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An illustrated guide for the amateur and professional musician that teaches us how to transform practicing from an often laborious activity into an exhilarating and rewarding experience Foreword by Yehudi Menuhin • “Give this book to any musician you love and to any person who loves what music does for them and for the world.”—Richard Stoltzman, clarinetist In The Art of Practicing, acclaimed pianist and teacher Madeline Bruser combines physiological and meditative principles to help musicians release physical and mental tension and unleash their innate musical talent. She offers practical techniques for cultivating free and natural movement, a keen enjoyment of sounds and sensations, a clear and relaxed mind, and an open heart and she explains how to: • Prepare the body and mind to practice with ease • Understand the effect of posture on flexibility and expressiveness • Make efficient use of the hands and arms • Employ listening techniques to improve coordination • Increase the range of color and dynamics by using less effort • Cultivate rhythmic vitality • Perform with confidence, warmth, and freedom Complete with photographs to show essential points of posture and movement for a variety of instruments, this is the definitive guide to turning practice from a sometimes frightening, monotonous chore to a fun, fulfilling activity.

Download or read book Patience written by Allan Lokos and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2012-01-05 with total page 227 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "As founder and guiding teacher of the Community Meditation Center in New York, Allan Lokos has an arsenal of tools for coping with stressful situations." - Rachel Lee Harris, New York Times To survive the roller-coaster ride of life, with its ever-changing shifts from pleasure to pain, gain to loss, and praise to blame, requires a substantial depth of patience. In this life-changing book, Allan Lokos sheds new light on this much-sought-after state of mind, and provides a road map for cultivating greater patience in one's life. According to Lokos, to develop a depth of patience we must first acknowledge the unhappiness caused by our impatience and anger in its many manifestations-from mild annoyance to rage. In this revelatory book, Lokos draws on his many years as a Buddhist practitioner and spiritual teacher, as well as interviews with a wide range of individuals who have had their patience tested-often dramatically so-and lays out a compelling path to the heart of patience."

Download or read book The Buddha s Teachings for Beginners written by Emily Griffith Burke and published by Sourcebooks, Inc.. This book was released on 2021-12-28 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Start your Buddhist journey with a clear and simple introduction Buddhism is a rich and layered belief system, which means exploring it for the first time can be overwhelming—and it's not always easy to connect the teachings to our lives today. This guide breaks down the central philosophies of Buddhism in clear and concise language that makes them easy to understand and apply to the modern world. What sets this Buddha book apart: Peace and purpose—Get the most out of your practice with simple explanations that help you truly internalize the core pillars of Buddhism. Answers to big questions—Discover the origins of Buddhism and how the Buddha's words can help you ease suffering, express gratitude, and understand the nature of existence. Freedom to practice your way—This book encourages you to adopt the teachings that resonate with you and set aside the ones that don't, so you can create your own relationship with Buddhism. Immerse yourself in the core teachings of the Buddha with this relatable beginner's guide.

Download or read book Insight Yoga written by Sarah Powers and published by Shambhala Publications. This book was released on 2020-09-15 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Acclaimed yoga and meditation teacher Sarah Powers is known and loved for her unique approach—Insight Yoga—which combines traditional yoga with the meridians of Chinese medicine, as well as Buddhist meditation. Using Yin (passive) and Yang (dynamic) poses, she demonstrates a series of different yoga sequences that bring benefit to organs, muscles, joints, and tendons—as well as the mind. She also provides a foundational explanation of traditional Chinese medicine theory and mindfulness meditation instruction. Sarah Powers brings us on an inspiring journey inward, and shows the path for cultivating a lasting relationship with yoga that cultivates and strengthens our physical well-being and our mental and emotional clarity.

Download or read book Malleable Mara written by Michael D. Nichols and published by SUNY Press. This book was released on 2019-02-14 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Analyzes the breadth of representations of the mythic figure of M?ra in Buddhism to reveal how closely tied such narratives are to the social and historical concerns of Buddhist communities. This is the first book to examine the development of the figure of M?ra, who appears across Buddhist traditions as a personification of death and desire. Portrayed as a combination of god and demon, M?ra serves as a key antagonist to the Buddha, his followers, and Buddhist teaching in general. From ancient India to later Buddhist thought in East Asia to more recent representations in Western culture and media, M?ra has been used to satirize Hindu divinities, taken the form of wrathful Tibetan gods, communicated psychoanalytic tropes, and appeared as a villain in episodes of Doctor Who. Michael D. Nichols details and surveys the historical transformations of the M?ra figure and demonstrates how different Buddhist communities at different times have used this symbol to react to changing social and historical circumstances. Employing literary and cultural theory, Nichols argues that the representation of M?ra closely parallels and reflects the social concerns and anxieties of the particular Buddhist community producing it. “This book is an original and engaging exploration of the various forms myths about M?ra have taken across Buddhist history.” — Maria Heim, author of Voice of the Buddha: Buddhaghosa on the Immeasurable Words

Download or read book Zen drawing a new way to become Mindful written by Michelle Dujardin and published by Buddhas at Home. This book was released on 2014-08-11 with total page 211 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This eBook is derived from the hardcover book called 'the Zen drawing Pack', which was published in October 2014 by Rockpoint publishers and as an eBook called 'The Zen drawing eBook' by the authors. In this eBook version called 'Zen drawing - a new way to become mindful', the reader finds lots of extra background information on Zen Buddhism. It also includes additional meditation techniques that can be combined with Zen drawing. The drawing exercises included in this eBook focus on applying drawing to reach self awareness, inner peace and stillness. Zen drawing is based on the work of Frederick Franck. Artist Michelle Dujardin explains how to use realistic drawing as a meditation technique in a practical and contemporary way. This ebook is for people who are interested in finding new ways to become Mindful. Michelle shows you how to connect with the world around you and achieve a meditative state while drawing. Zen drawing will awaken your 'inner artist’ and allow your hands to follow the movement of your eyes. This inner artist will change the way you see a subject, helping you to create art that is more expressive and more beautiful than what you've ever done before. Not great with a pencil? Don't worry, everyone can learn to draw this way and you don't need any special talent or class. For any level of artist, from a beginner with little talent to an illustration expert, Zen drawing is not about making perfect pictures, it is about the experience of drawing, finding inspiration, and connecting to the world around you.

Download or read book Zen drawing a new way to become an artist written by Michelle Dujardin and published by Buddhas at Home. This book was released on 2014-07-25 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This eBook is derived from the hardcover book called 'the Zen drawing Pack', which was published in October 2014 by Rockpoint publishers and as an eBook called 'The Zen drawing eBook' by the authors. In this eBook called 'Zen drawing - a new way to become an artist', the authors have put less emphasis on the Zen Buddhism background of Zen drawing and more emphasis on the artistic benefits that can be found by using the techniques described in the hardcover book. For instance by adding a chapter on the use of watercolors and ink. As with all their books on Zen drawing, this eBook is based on the works of Frederick Franck and Betty Edwards. In this eBook artist Michelle Dujardin helps you to awaken your inner artist and add soul to your sketches by ignoring conventional drawing techniques and focus on really seeing your subject. Michelle helps you achieve a meditative state just by changing the way you see a subject, and allow your hands to follow the movement of your eyes. When you trust your own drawing reflex, the art that you create will become more expressive and beautiful than what you've done before. Not great with a pencil? Don't worry, everyone can learn to draw this way and you don't need any special talent or class. For any level of artist, from a beginner with little talent to an illustration expert, Zen drawing is not about making perfect pictures, it is about the experience of drawing, finding inspiration, and connecting to the world around you.

Download or read book Buddhism for Beginners written by C. Alexander Simpkins and published by Tuttle Publishing. This book was released on 2021-01-19 with total page 127 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For those searching for mindful moments or for a more engaged way of navigating life in the twenty-first century, Buddhism for Beginners opens the door to understanding Buddhism's key concepts and practices. The authors tap into their years of training and study in meditation, martial arts and Eastern philosophy to bring readers a comprehensive introduction to the spiritual tenets and attainments that mark the pathway to enlightenment. In this new hardcover edition, the authors explain in clear and simple terms: The history of Buddhism The key themes and belief systems (the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, Mahayana, nirvana and more) Ways of integrating Buddhist principles and philosophy into the everyday The organizing notions and overarching thesis of Buddhism: to live fully aware in the moment, to see things as they truly are, and to recognize yourself as part of the whole Buddhism's relevance today Buddhism for Beginners then completes this introduction to meditation and mindful moments by offering simple exercises, practices and prompts reflective and supportive of the Buddhist teachings and tenets laid out in the volume, including filling- and clearing-the-mind meditations, performing acts of compassion and inner-peace and conflict-resolution exercises. An essential purchase for people looking to integrate Buddhist principles into their lives or for those seeking a more meaningful, mindful or meditative path.