Beginners and long-term meditators alike will appreciate Ajayan Borys’s counterintuitive teaching that one needn’t control the mind to experience the benefits of meditation. Instead, as with falling asleep, ease is essential. Effort fuels accomplishment in the world of action, but in the realm of meditation, struggle blocks success. And just as dreams are a natural part of restful sleep, thoughts during meditation are no obstacle to receiving wonderful, revitalizing results. With clear, us...

In 1996 meditation teacher Ajayan Borys journeyed to the source of the Ganges River high in India’s Himalayas. Intent on Self-realization, he discovered a deserted cave in a Himalayan forest and for two months lived there alone, meditating in silence, surviving on one sparse meal a day. Through unexpected friendships with holy men, encounters with madmen and the Indian army, surviving harsh mountain conditions (including scorpions and mind-numbing cold), he was opened to the depths of the ...

In 1996 meditation teacher Ajayan Borys journeyed to the source of the Ganges River high in India’s Himalayas. Intent on Self-realization, he discovered a deserted cave in a Himalayan forest and for two months lived there alone, meditating in silence, surviving on one sparse meal a day. Through unexpected friendships with holy men, encounters with madmen and the Indian army, surviving harsh mountain conditions (including scorpions and mind-numbing cold), he was opened to the depths of the ...

108 practical teachings for cultivating mindfulness and compassion in the face of fear and uncertainty, from the author of When Things Fall ApartComfortable with Uncertainty offers short, stand-alone readings designed to help us cultivate compassion and awareness amid the challenges of daily living. More than a collection of thoughts for the day, it offers a progressive program of spiritual study, leading the reader through essential conc...

Find lasting happiness, inner peace, and enlightenment through the Dalai Lama’s timeless teachings on mindfulness, compassion, and the Buddhist path to wisdom.As human beings, we all seek happiness and a sense of meaning in our lives. In How to Practice, His Holiness the Dalai Lama—spiritual leader of Tibet, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and internationally bestselling author—shows how true fulfillment begins within. Drawing from centuries of Buddhist wisdom, ...

Discover 50 short and simple mindfulness practices for cultivating happiness—anytime, anywhere—from world-renowned spiritual teacher Thich Nhat Hanh.You don’t need to “formally” meditate in order to bring mindfulness into your daily life.Whether you’re new to Buddhist teaching or you’re a more experienced practitioner, this quintessential resource of Thich Nhat Hanh’s most essential teachings will show you how to walk, sit, work, eat, and e...

In Becoming Enlightened, His Holiness the Dalai Lama powerfully explores the foundation of Buddhism, laying out an accessible and practical approach to age-old questions: How can we live free from suffering? How can we achieve lasting happiness and peace?Drawing from traditional Buddhist meditative practices as well as penetrating examples from today's troubled planet, he presents step-by-step exercises designed to expand the reader's capacity for spiritual growth, along w...

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 f...

“A straightforward and pragmatic guide to deepening levels of concentration and insight. This book is a joy to read and a great gift to us all.”—Joseph Goldstein, author of MindfulnessCountless people worldlwide have made Mindfulness in Plain English a beloved and bestselling classic in almost a dozen languages. Now after nearly two decades, Bhante helps meditators of every stripe take their mindfulness practice to the next level - helping them go...

"My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness." --Dalai LamaThat's easy for the Dalai Lama to say--but for the rest of us, understanding this mysterious, multilayered faith can be very difficult. With this updated and revised edition of the classic Buddhist primer, you can delve into the profound principles of nonviolence, mindfulness, and self-awareness.From Tibetan Buddhism to Zen, you'll explore the traditions of all branches of Buddhism, including:T...

This easy-to-understand introduction to Buddhism is “written for people wanting to understand basic Buddhist principles and how to integrate them into their lives” (H.H. the Dalai Lama)This user’s guide to Buddhist basics takes the most commonly asked questions—beginning with “What is the essence of the Buddha’s teachings?”—and provides simple answers in plain English. Thubten Chodron’s responses to the questions that always seem to arise among people approaching B...

What is meditation? Why practice it? Which techniques are best? How do I do it? The answers to these often-asked questions are contained in this down-to-earth book, making it of enormous value for anyone who wishes to begin and maintain a meditation practice. Written by a Western Buddhist nun with solid experience in both the practice and teaching of meditation, How to Meditate contains a wealth of practical advice on a variety of authentic techniques, from what to do with our min...