- Buddha from the Dambulla Caves, Sri Lanka

 

Buddhist Bibliography

Historical and Biographical

The Buddha, by Trevor Ling. A good book on the history of Buddhism, and the development of the early community, with emphasis on the socio-economic conditions at the time of the Buddha.

The Life Of The Buddha by Nanamoli, Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society (1998).

Old Path, White Clouds: the life story of the Buddha, by Thich Nhat Hanh. London: Rider (1991). Edition also published by Parallax Press (Berkeley).

Buddha, Karen Armstrong. London: Phoenix (2000)

Basic Books

The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, by Thich Nhat Hanh (1998) Berkeley: Parallax Press paperback. Excellent detailed survey.

Mindfulness in Plain English, by Henepola Gunaratana. Boston: Wisdom (1993). Excellent meditation instructions, especially good for those without a teacher at hand. Bhante Gurnaratana's essay on mindfulness (Sati) – which can be found at http://www.cloud-gate.net is from this book.

Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Hyperion, paperback (1995)

It's Easier Than You Think: The Buddhist Way to Happiness by Sylvia Boorstein, New York: HarperSanFansisco (Harper Collins) (1995) Very enjoyable essays.

A Path With Heart: A Guide Through the Perils and Promises of Spiritual Life, by Jack Kornfield. New York: Bantham (1993) A classic study of the which includes the ‘perils and pitfalls’ of the path. Highly recommended.

What the Buddha Taught, by Walpola Rahula, New York: Grove Press (1959. Classic summary of the Buddha's teachings.

The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh, Boston: Beacon Press (1975) One of his early books, still very popular, which is very practical. Exercises in the back of the book are very useful

For A Future To Be Possible by Thich Nhat Hanh, Berkeley: Parallax Press (1993) Discusses the householder’s 5 moral precepts in detail. With valuable contributions from other teachers.

A Gradual Awakening by Steven Levine, New York: Anchor Book (Doublday), (1989)

One Dharma: the Emerging Western Buddhism, Joseph Goldstein. London: Rider (2002)

Theravada Buddhism

Seeking the Heart of Wisdom: the Path of Insight Meditation, Joseph Godstein & Jack Kornfield, Boston & London: Shambhala (1987)

A Still Forest Pool: The Insight Meditation of Achaan Chah, by Jack Kornfield and Paul Breiter, Wheaton: Quest (Theosophical Publishing House) (1985)

Living Dharma: Teachings of Twelve Buddhist Masters, Jack Kornfield, Boston: Shambhala (1996)

The Four Noble Truths by Ven. Ajahn Sumedho, Hemel Hempstead: Amaravati Publications (1992)

The Mind and The Way, Buddhist Reflections on Life by Ven. Ajahn Sumedho, Boston:Wisdom , (1995)

Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness by Sharon Salzberg, Boston: Shambhala (1995)

The Heart of Buddhist Meditation by Nyanaponika Thera, York Beach: Samuel Weisner (1965)

Mindfulness with Breathing: A Manual for Serious Beginners, Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, Wisdom Publications (1996). This book contains Thai meditation master Buddhadasa's explanation of one of the most fundamentl and universal of all Buddhist meditation practices, mindfulness with breathing.

Heartwood of the Bodhi Tree: The Buddha's Teaching on Voidness, Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, Wisdom Publications (1994).  To understand voidness, he says, is to understand all dhammas, to understand voidness is to see what brings ease and peace, to understand voidness is to know that all is well. This is the core of the Buddha's teaching.

Great Disciples of the Buddha: Their Lives, Their Works, Their Legacy, Bhikkhu Bodhi (Editor), Boston: Wisdom Publications.

Discourses of the Buddha

Beginner:

Teachings of the Buddha, Jack Kornfield (Ed) Boston: Shambhala (1996)

The Teachings of the Compassionate Buddha, E.A.Burtt (ed)

The Dhammapada - various translations

Advanced:

The Wings to Awakening, Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Free copies of this compilation of the Buddha's essential  teachings are available widely on the net. See BuddhaNet.

The Middle Length Discourses of The Buddha (Majjhima Nikaya), trans. by Bkikkhu Nanamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi. Boston: Wisdom Publications (1995). The Majjhima Nikaya is also available on the WWW.

The Long Discourses of The Buddha (Digha Nikaya), trans. by Maurice Walshe. London: Wisdom Publications (1987).

The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Samyutta Nikaya, Bhikkhu Bodhi (Editor and translator), Boston: Wisdom Publications.

Many of the texts in these three volumes can be found on the net by other translators.

Buddhism and Psychotherapy

Thoughts Without a Thinker: Psychotherapy from a Buddhist Perspective Mark Epstein, New York: Basic Books (Harper Collins) (1995)

Going on Being: Buddhism and the Way of Change – a Positive Psychology for the West, Mark Epstein, New York: Continuum (2001)

The Psychology of Awakening: Buddhism, Science and Our Day-to-Day Lives (1999) Ed. by Gay Watson, Stephen Batchelor, and Guy Claxton. London: Rider

Buddhism and Ecology

Dharma Gaia: a Harvest of Essays in Buddhism and Ecology, ed. Allan Hunt Badiner, Berkeley: Parallax Press (1990)

World as Lover, World as Self by Joanna Macy, Berkeley: Parallax Press (1991)

The Green Buddha, Chistopher Titmuss,  Insight Books (1995)

Buddha's Nature: Who We Really Are and Why It Matters, Wes Nisker, London: Rider (1998)

 

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