First published in 1985, The Chinese Art of Tea is an exploration into the history of tea and the Chinese art of tea, known as ch’a-shu.The book begins by delving into the history and legends surrounding tea before moving on to a study of the Emperor Hui Tsung’s treatise on tea and approaches to tea during the Ming Dynasty. It discusses tea gardens, teahouses, the relationship between tea and ceramics, and the connection between tea and health. The book also features a det...

First published in 1973, The Secret and Sublime is a warmly sympathetic account of Taoism, a colorful religion and way of life. Perhaps for the first time, all aspects of Taoism are brought together within one audiobook: popular Taoism with its lavish ceremonies, demon exorcism, oracles, ghosts, fox-fairies and adepts with strange powers; yogic Taoism with its emphasis on rejuvenation and longevity attained by means of sexual conservation yoga or by the ‘internal alchemy’; philoso...

This book, first published in 1980, comprises separate sections on Taoist and Buddhist contemplative yogas, each divided into a theory part (summarising their fundamental principles and outlook) and a practice part (detailing their various practices).

First published in 1973, The Secret and Sublime is a warmly sympathetic account of Taoism, a colourful religion and way of life. Perhaps for the first time, all aspects of Taoism are brought within the covers of one book: popular Taoism with its lavish ceremonies, demon exorcism, oracles, ghosts, fox- fairies and adepts with strange powers; yogic Taoism with its emphasis on rejuvenation and longevity attained by means of sexual conservation yogas or by the ‘internal alchemy’; phil...

First published in 1970, The Way of Power is an exploration of the school of Mahayana Buddhism prevalent in Tibet and Mongolia, known as the Vajrayana.Divided into two parts, the book provides an introduction to the background and theory behind the Vajrayana before progressing to a study of Vajrayana in practice. In doing so, it provides an overview of the history, development, and contemporary status of the Vajrayana, and takes a look at the different schools and sects. T...

First published in 1977, in this unique and beautifully illustrated book called Mantras, John Blofeld, an acknowledged authority on Buddhist yogic contemplation, explains the significance and operation of the sacred ‘words of power’. With the dramatic growth of interest in the religions and mysticism of the East, more and more people have become fascinated by ‘mantras’, the sacred formulae memorised for meditation in India, China and Tibet. Their precise meaning and exactly how th...

This book, first published in 1968, examines the I Ching, one of the oldest books in the world and certainly the most influential in Chinese thought. This modern translation features extensive explanatory material, and is the product of the author’s great experience in the field and of close contact with Chinese scholars and experts.

First published in 1974 Beyond the Gods argues that true mystics transcend religious boundaries,and that Eastern mysticism has increasing relevance for the troubled minds and spirits of the West. Blofeld’s approach is a highly personal one based on encounters with monks, lamas, and recluses in their mountain retreats. He also includes a vivid description of the Chinese religious scene and chapters on the mystical practices of Taoism, Ch’an (Zen) and the Tantric Buddhism of Tibet. ...

The author of Buddhism Without Beliefs bridges the gap between Western and Eastern philosophy with this humanist approach to Buddhism.This uniquely contemporary guide to understanding the timeless message of Buddhism, and in particular its relevance in actual human relations, was inspired by Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way Of Life, which the author translated into English, the oral instructions of living Buddhist masters, Heidegger's c...

This complete collection of teachings by the 9th century Zen Master has been an essential text in the study of Zen for centuries—now available in English.This translation of the original collection of sermons, dialogues, and anecdotes of Huang Po, the illustrious Chinese master of the Tang Dynasty, allows the Western reader to gain an understanding of Zen from the original source, one of the key works in its teachings. It also offers deep and often startling insight...

This Historical text from the direct teaching of the Zen master, Huang Po, allows the Western reader to gain an understanding of Zen from the original source, one of the key works in its teachings; it also offers deepening and often startling insights into the rich treasures of Eastern thought.Huang Po, also known as Hsi Yun, is believed to have died as late as 850 A.D. He is regarded in a sense as the founder of the great Lin Chi sect. He lived below the Vulture Peak on Mount Huang...

Know Your Mind is an accessible introduction to traditional Buddhist psychology, offering a clear description of the nature of mind and how it functions. Sangharakshita guides us expertly through the Abhidharma classification of positive and negative mental states and shows us how we can work with them. In exploring the part we play in creating our own suffering and happiness, he elucidates the relationship of the mind to karma and rebirth, and stresses the ethical, other-regarding nature ...