May We Recommend: The Lamp that Dispels Darkness

The Lamp that Dispels Darkness: A
Commentary on Karmapa Rangjung Dorje’s
'Distinguishing Consciousness and Primordial Wisdom'
by Karma Thinley Rinpoche
★★★★ ½

The Lamp that Dispels Darkness is an interlinear commentary on 'The Shastra Distinguishing Consciousness and Primordial Wisdom', an important work of Buddhist philosophy and practise written in the 14th century by the renowned Buddhist master Karmapa Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339). The commentary was composed in 1986 by the great Tibetan scholar and yogin, Karma Thinley Rinpoche, providing a definitive and clear guide to the concise original text. Though written in the classical style of the Tibetan commentarial tradition, Karma Thinley Rinpoche provides guidance with a Western audience in mind, helping to bridge the gap between the modern world view and the world view of Buddhism.

The book also contains an afterword from the translator, 'Distinguishing "Consciousness" and "Vijnana"', distinguishing contemporary Western notions and assumptions about mind from the Buddhist understanding presented throughout this work.

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May We Recommend: Naropa's Wisdom: His Life and Teachings

Naropa's Wisdom:
His Life and Teachings on Mahamudra
by Khenchen Thrangu
★★★★ ½ /br>

Accessible and practical teachings on the life of Naropa, with verse-by-verse commentary on his two most important Mahamudra songs by a contemporary Karma Kagyu master.

Naropa is one of the accomplished lineage holders of the Mahamudra tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. In this book, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, a beloved Mahamudra teacher, first tells the extraordinary story of Naropa’s life and explains its profound lessons. He follows this with lucid and practical commentaries on two of Naropa’s songs of realization, explaining their precious instructions for realizing Mahamudra, the nature of one’s mind. Throughout, Thrangu Rinpoche speaks plainly and directly to Westerners eager to receive the essence of Mahamudra instructions from an accomplished teacher.

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May We Recommend: Tilopa : Founder of Kagyu Lineage

Buddhist Masters Tilopa:
Founder of Kagyu Lineage
by Lhama Jungney
★★★★ ½

The Mahasiddha Tilopa is said to have lived between 998-1069 B.C. In the documents compiled by his followers, reference has been made to Bengal as his birthplace. Tilopa has been particularly credited for conceptualising the Mahamudra. It is a meditational method, which involves a set of spiritual practices that expedite the process of attaining Bodhi or enlightenment. Tilopa is devotionally looked upon as the first human founder of the Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Just like Buddha Sakyamuni, the first Buddha, Tilopa also achieved the state of complete realisation without the intervention or guidance of a human master. It is said that Lord Buddha himself directly transferred Tilopa to the state of complete consciousness.

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May We Recommend: Discovering the Wisdom We Were Born With

Natural Wakefulness:
Discovering the Wisdom We Were Born With
by Gaylon Ferguson
★★★★ ½

There are two essential elements to the spiritual path says this popular teacher from the lineage of Chögyam Trungpa: (1) understanding that you’re already enlightened, already perfect in wisdom right here and now, and (2) accessing that natural wakefulness through spiritual practice. These two aspects depend upon each other and work together. Gaylon Ferguson’s teaching on the twin aspects of view and practice is a perfect introduction for the beginning meditator and it offers fresh perspectives for the non-beginner too.

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May We Recommend: The Shambhala Way to Gentleness, Bravery, and Power

Sacred World:
The Shambhala Way to Gentleness, Bravery, and Power
by Jeremy Hayward and Karen Hayward
★★★★ ½

"This is the first book to offer step-by-step instruction in Shambhala warriorship. Combining Buddhist mindfulness practice and pre-Buddhist shamanic teachings, Shambhala warriorship training teaches ways to call on powerful, natural energies for personal and collective transformation. It shows us how to use everyday situations to unite mind, body, and emotions in a harmonious whole.

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May We Recommend:
No Ordinary Apple No Ordinary Apple:
A Story About Eating Mindfully
by Sara Marlowe
★★★★ ½

On an otherwise ordinary day, Elliot discovers something extraordinary: the power of mindfulness. When he asks his neighbor Carmen for a snack, he's at first disappointed when she hands him an apple - he wanted candy! But when encouraged to carefully and attentively look, feel, smell, taste, and even listen to the apple, Elliot discovers that this apple is not ordinary at all.

Lushly and humorously illustrated, No Ordinary Apple makes a traditional technique for training mindfulness a fun and enjoyable way for children to learn to slow down and appreciate even the simplest things.

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May We Recommend: Ziji: The Puppy Who Learned to Meditate

Ziji: The Puppy Who Learned to Meditate
by Yongey Mingyur & Torey Hayden
★★★★★

Children will love learning the calming power of meditation alongside Ziji, a playful puppy.

Ziji is a noisy, bouncy puppy who lives with the Anderson family: Mom, Dad, Jenny, and Baby Jack. He loves to bark and play and—most of all—chase pigeons in the park. Then one day, Ziji sees a new boy from Jenny's school, Nico, sitting in the park. What is Nico doing? Why does he look so calm and happy? Ziji can't wait to find out.

This book, written by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, one of the new generation of Tibetan Buddhist masters, will teach your child the basics of meditation in a fun and engaging way. Included after the story is a guide for parents and teachers with more information on what meditation is and how it can be helpful as well as suggestions on how children can continue to practice meditation on their own.

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May We Recommend: Moonbeams of Mahamudra

Moonbeams of Mahamudra:
The Classic Meditation Manual
by Traleg Kyabgon
★★★★★

The Mahamudra path of direct perception is the pre-eminent method of the Dakpo Kagyu tradition. This definitive manual systematically explains its approach to meditation, complete with definitions, pointing-out instructions, and advice for the many pitfalls and errors that beset practitioners. Central to these errors is our failure to acknowledge the difference between understanding and experience, and our tendency to fixate on meditative experiences and mistake them for realization. This translation conveys the freshness and immediacy of these instructions. Belonging to the generation of teachers to first bring Tibetan Buddhism across cultures, Traleg Kyabgon (1955-2012) presents these Mahamudra instructions in a direct, relaxed, and intimate style.

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May We Recommend: Meditation on Emptiness

Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness
by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche
★★★★ ½

Progressive stages of meditation on emptiness (Tib. stong nyid sgom rim) is a series of meditation practices on a particular aspect of the Buddha’s teachings. The idea is that by beginning with one’s first rather coarse common sense understanding, one progresses through increasingly subtle and more refined stages until one arrives at complete and perfect understanding. Each stage in the process prepares the mind for the next in so far as each step is fully integrated into one’s understanding through the meditation process.

“The Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness is a signature teaching and systematic method of instruction taught by my amazing guru, Khenchen Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche. Profound and concise, it is a transformative way for sincere students at any level of study to connect with the experience of shunyata. Lama Shenpen Hookham's skillful presentation of Rinpoche's teaching on these progressive stages so many years ago has been a great and enduring gift to the dharma world. I am delighted by this revised edition, which will benefit all who take its pithy wisdom to heart”
— Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche

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May We Recommend: The Tantric Buddhism of Tibet

Secret of the Vajra World:
The Tantric Buddhism of Tibet
by Reginald A. Ray
★★★★ ½

This book provides an entrée into the Tantric (or Vajrayana) Buddhism of Tibet, as conveyed by Tibetan masters teaching in the West, and as received by their Western students. The Tantric tradition is a unique collection of lesser-known texts, concepts, and meditation practices that are usually made available only to experienced and specially initiated practitioners.

The "Vajra World" (vajradhatu in Sanskrit) is a realm of indestructibility, the level of reality beyond all thought and imagination, all impermanence and change, which a fully realized person knows and inhabits. Used metaphorically, "Vajra World" refers to the traditional culture of Tibet and the unique spirituality that is its secret strength.

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May We Recommend: Indestructible Truth

Indestructible Truth:
The Living Spirituality of Tibetan Buddhism
by Reginald A. Ray
★★★★★

Indestructible Truth is one of the most thorough introductions to the Tibetan Buddhist world view ever published; at the same time it is also one of the most accessible. The author presents complex and sophisticated teachings and practices in nontechnical language, using engaging stories and personal anecdotes to illustrate his points. Indestructible Truth presents Tibetan Buddhism in its traditional form but also shows how the Tibetan traditions are applicable to the problems and challenges of modern life in the West.

In Indestructible Truth, Tibetan Buddhism is introduced not as an exotic religion, but rather as an expression of human spirituality that is having a profound impact on the modern world. In addition, it presents the point of view of meditation and the practice of the spiritual life, paying special attention to contemplative practice and meditation as taught in the Kagyu and Nyingma schools.

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