MBR: The Buddhist Studies Shelf

The Buddhist Studies Shelf

Light Comes Through
Dzigar Kongtrul
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-4544
9781590305676, $21.95, www (dot) shambhala (dot) com 1-800-733-3000

The philosophies and tenants of Buddhism are continuing to gain wide
acceptance and increasing interest among westerners as an alternative
to the Abrahamic religions and their dogmas. Shambhala Publications is
a premier publisher of books on Buddhism and one of their newest
titles is "Light Comes Through: Buddhist Teachings On Awakening To Our
Natural Intelligence" by Dzigar Kongtrul, a Tibetan lama who has been
teaching Buddhism in the United States for the better part of the last
twenty years. Kongtrul maintains that 'Buddhahood' is essentially
acquiring an unobstructed experience of the true nature of the human
mind as being "boundlessly spacious and limitlessly compassionate". In
"Light Comes Through" this master teacher shows the reader how to use
his or her natural intelligence as a tool to "awaken to the joyous
nature of mind" and thereby achieve emancipation from suffering
through life-changing insights. A superbly written and thoroughly
'reader friendly' treatise, "Light Comes Through" is inspired and
inspiring -- and an essential, core addition to personal, academic,
and community library Buddhist Studies reference collections and
supplemental reading lists.

Buddha in a Teacup
Todd Walton
Lost Coast Press
155 Cypress Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
9781882897957, $19.95 www (dot) cypresshouse (dot) com

BUDDHA IN A TEACUP: TALES OF ENLIGHTENMENT provides a range of short
stories – humorous, sad, and interesting – all linked by their origins
in Buddhist dharma. Collections strong in Buddhist beliefs and history
will find it involving and uplifting.

The Way and the Mountain: Tibet, Buddhism, and Tradition
Marco Pallis
World Wisdom Inc.
1501 E. Hillside Drive, Bloomington, IN 47401
9781933316536, $21.95 www (dot) worldwisdom (dot) com

Author Marco Pallis was a student of language and visited one Buddhist
monastery after another seeking Lamas, teachers of the faith. His
encounters with Buddhist greats offered many lessons which are
recounted in "The Way and the Mountain: Tibet, Buddhism, and
Tradition", a collection of previously unpublished material. Filled
with insights on soliciting and assessing spiritual advice, "The Way
and the Mountain" is perfect for new age libraries strong in Buddhist
studies.

Why the Dalai Lama Matters
Robert Thurman
Atria
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
1582702209, $24.00 www (dot) beyondwords (dot) com

The Dalai Lama's life is devoted to peace and non-violence – but few
are aware of how he's achieved a worldwide reputation for such. WHY
THE DALAI LAMA MATTERS blends a history of Tibet with a survey of
political and social change, weaving in the Dalai Lama's biography in
the process. Any library strong in human rights issues, Asian history
or Eastern spirituality and religion needs WHY THE DALAI LAMA matters.

Snow Lion Publications
Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
www (dot) snowlionpub (dot) com

John Powers' A CONCISE INTRODUCTION TO TIBETAN BUDDHISM (1559392967,
$14.95) provides an economical introductory text to Tibetan Buddhism,
surveying its unique practices and providing an easy overview for
newcomers. The author has an M.A. in Indian Philosophy and a Ph.D. in
Buddhist Studies: he's published widely on Buddhist thought and
practice, is a teacher, and yet provides a very easy introduction most
accessible to newcomers. David Michie's BUDDHISM FOR BUSY PEOPLE:
FINDING HAPPINESS IN AN UNCERTAIN WORLD (1559392983, $14.95) provides
an easy handbook which links Tibetan Buddhism teachings to daily life,
beginning with the owner's own efforts. Chapters show how life goals
can be linked to spiritual exploration and cover everything from
cultivating compassion to understanding memory and rebirth
experiences. Both are top picks for both new age collections and
general-interest libraries interested in accessible, easy Tibetan
Buddhism texts. LION OF SIDDAHS: THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF PADAMPA
SANGYE is translated by David Molk with Lama Tsering Wangdu Rinpoche
(1569392991, $18.95) and provides two fine texts under one cover: a
biography of Sangye and a collection of his verbal and nonverbal
teachings. Sangye taught in Tibet during the eleventh century and his
teachings spread through all schools of Tibetan Buddhism, so any
collection strong in Tibetan Buddhism needs this reference.

Traditional Thai Yoga
Enrico Corsi and Elena Fanfani
Healing Arts Press
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594772054, $19.95 www (dot) healingartspress (dot) com

"Traditional Thai Yoga" teaches readers about a practice rooted in the
Ayurvedic tradition, involving exercises that originated with Buddha's
own physician. Each posture works the sen energy system of Thai
medicine, and the postures here are solutions to many common ailments
of the back, knees, hips and neck. The exercises promote weight loss
and circulation improvement too; any New Age collection strong in yoga
techniques will want this photo-packed visual introduction.

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