Questions tagged [books]

Questions that are related to books either a question about a particular book or taking it's inspiration from the book. The tag is different to the texts tag as it does not necessary relate to canonical texts, commentary or scripture and can be modern dharma books or literature with a significant dharma theme.

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How Lord Buddha did sermon for the people who was long distance

If my memory is correct, Lord Buddha did a sermon for the long-distance people. It is mentioned that Lord Budha can do a sermon even for someone in another solar system. How is it possible? Because to ...
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2 answers
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Looking for Dhammapada in Ebook format

I'm looking for a collection of the entire Dhammapada in Ebook format (not PDF-format) that can be read in the Kindle App. Free or paid. I've been looking myself without finding anything. Maybe ...
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Where can I find an English translation of a Bön text called the Ma Gyud / Ma Gyudr (Mother Tantra)?

There is a Bön text I found out about recently that I’ve spent a lot of time looking for but haven’t been able to find anywhere as an English translation. The text is: Ma Gyud / Ma Gyudr / Ma Rgyud (...
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2 answers
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Looking for a book specifically about the 37 factors of enlightenment

Not sure if this is the correct place to ask this question so sorry if it is not. I am just looking for a book that is specifically about the 37 factors that explains each one in depth.
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3 answers
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Theravadian encyclopedia/ dictionary

Is there a reference text for the theravada tradition that contains a lists of concepts for quick reference? Such as a text that allows for reference of ideas found in the pali canon when reading, ...
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Books on monastic traditions and techniques

Almost twenty years ago I did a meditation on death that catapulted me into a Near Death Experience the likes of which I could not even have imagined possible. This 'mini enlightenment' allowed me to ...
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2 votes
2 answers
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Where can we find (Lost) ancient Indian text by Buddhist scholars which was Translated in other languages?

Where can we find (Lost) ancient Indian text by Buddhist scholars which was Translated in other languages? A Lot of Ancient Indian Buddhist text(Which was lost over a period of time with decline of ...
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2 votes
1 answer
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Is there a compendium of enlightenment stories (about Arhats and/or Bodhisattvas)?

If I'm getting this right it is/was customary to utter a poem shortly after realizing enlightenment. Are these verses and/or maybe stories and accounts surrounding these beings collected somewhere?
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Is there an online copy of English translation of Pramanavarttika of Shri Dharmakirthi?

Is there a an online copy of English translation of Pramanavarttika of Shri Dharmakirthi? Of the available links only second chapter is available. If the full version is available, please provide the ...
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0 votes
4 answers
130 views

Best book or documentary related to mindfulness

What is your best mindfulness book or documentary? I have experienced Vipassana retreats. I would like to know more about mindfulness.
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In the Tibetan book of the dead, Chapter 2, what is the significance of NOT renouncing the 3 poisons

I am reading the Tibetan Book of the Dead Chapter 2 page 26, "A prayer for union with the spiritual teacher [entitled], Natural Liberation, without renunciation of the three poisons". Now in ...
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1 answer
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Buddhist magazines

I'm looking for Buddhist magazines - relevant for lay practitioners - and would like to request a list of these if anyone can help Examples of the sort of magazines i'm thinking of: Turning Wheel ...
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Seeking a specific book on Buddhism

Back in the late 1980s I was in San Francisco on business. My hotel room had, of course, a Gideon Bible but surprisingly to me, it also had a book on Buddhism, I think it was called "The Way of ...
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3 answers
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Basic readings and references: where to start

Although I have read some basic articles and book about buddhism, they are all written by modern western sources, and I would like to get to know the foundations. Even when reading this site, I ...
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6 answers
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A beginner facing Culadasa

I am a complete beginner who was looking for a good Buddhist guide for meditation. I discovered the book "The Mind Illuminated" by Culadasa and I thought I had found the grail: the shape of the guide ...
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Where is the Tibetan Book of the Dead online in Tibetan script?

THLib contains the Kangyur and Tengyur in Tibetan script, which is a lot of text. But it doesn't seem to contain the Tibetan Book of the Dead :( Is there any place online that has the Tibetan Book of ...
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6 votes
4 answers
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Introductory/Beginner books on Buddhism, but for children

There are a few posts on the site asking for good introduction/beginner books on Buddhism, but I can't seem to find any that a child could read and understand. Although age range doesn't really ...
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How does the བར་དོ་ཐོས་གྲོལ (Bardo Thodol) "Tibetan Book of the Dead" fit in with the Kangyur and Tengyur

I am looking for a public domain copy of the Tibetan book of the dead (in original Tibetan script, not a translation) online in text format (i.e. not a PDF). This lead me to the main question... My ...
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1 answer
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Can anyone please list important books on Buddhism?

What all are the important books, that are part of Buddhism, other than Dhammapada?
7 votes
6 answers
214 views

Help writing a Buddhist book?

I'm working on a book about Enlightenment as cessation of Reification, and thinking of hiring a professional writer to help me put it down in good English. So far I have spoken with scribewriting.com, ...
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4 votes
9 answers
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Pro's and cons of Buddhist books

What would a perfect book about Buddhism look like? Between translations of ancient texts... most of which are deep but rather obscure... and modern books by Theravada, Zen, and Vajrayana teachers... ...
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1 vote
2 answers
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Please Recommend Pure Land / Other Power Buddhism Books

I have gradually become a Pure Land Buddhist. I chant as I cycle. But I would also like to read, in English or Japanese. Recently I read the book below (Not generally available I am afraid) and it ...
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2 answers
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The Story of Buddha

Recently I am fascinated by the accounts of Gautama Buddha and of Buddhism, after having read The Story of Buddha within the book The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson. I am led to want ...
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3 answers
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Where can i find the original text of learning the jhanas

I want to find the cannon text on learning the jhanas. Is there a pdf or something in english i can download? Any help would be appreciated
3 votes
1 answer
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Which is a good book to read about history of Buddhism?

I'd like to read about the history of Buddhism. Which book or books would you recommend?
2 votes
1 answer
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Where to get the genuine e-book on "Jataka Tales" in English?

I have been looking for an e-book on "Jataka Tales", I got one in Marathi by Ven.Dharmanand Kosambi which I feel is good and the another one I got is in English by Todd Anderson which is totally ...
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4 answers
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Interpretation of Siddhartha by Herman Hesse

Siddhartha by Herman Hesse is an excellent book and is written with the spirit of mystery and wonder that also permeates most Buddhist teachings. Does anyone know what Hesse intended us to derive ...
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What is the best introductory (but comprehensive) book on SECULAR Buddhism?

There is already a question on the best overall books, but many readers/newcomers may be put off (as I have been) by books that discuss for instance rebirth and karma in a literal sense. So what is ...
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7 answers
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I would like to become Buddhist

I'm a mathematics student and I want to become a buddhist because I've heard that they don't believe in any god. How can I get in to buddhism? What kind of books do you recomend to read for starters?...
1 vote
1 answer
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How can fiction writing be best used for achieving enlightenment?

It seems that many fiction writers were very wise, including those, who had little or no access to spiritual teachings (e. g. the Strugatsky brothers). Allegedly, in Japanese culture non-spiritual ...
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Good works of Buddhist fiction? [duplicate]

Earlier this year I finished the Buddha series by Osamu Tezuka, and really enjoyed it. I liked the blend of historical references with fictional dramatic elements (and the art, of course). I also read ...
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6 votes
4 answers
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Accurate translation of "Satipatthana Sutta"

I'm looking for an accurate translation of "Satipatthana Sutta". Could someone let me know what is the best available accurate translation? I don't want to be confused by just reading all available ...
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3 votes
2 answers
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Is there a sanskrit translation of the Pali tipitaka online?

I see the ambatta sutta in pali and in English, but my personal preference is to read it in Sanskrit. Is there a sanskrit translation available online (say in a scanned book at archive.org)?
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1 answer
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Can the practices of 'Art of War' align with Buddhism?

The Art of War by Sun Tzu is a philosophy espoused by military, politics and enterprises. I recent read of The complete Art of War translated by Ralph Sawyer proposes its use in personal relationships ...
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6 votes
4 answers
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Prajñāpāramitā Hṛdaya Sūtra in Sanskrit with English translation

Is there any book or internet resource which has Prajñāpāramitā Hṛdaya Sūtra in Sanskrit and word to word English translation? I am not exactly looking for commentaries(though I don't mind ...
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6 votes
8 answers
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Looking for a book that covers the biography of the Buddha's life

Which biography of the Buddha is written in (or translated into) English, and is the most widely read (from a Theravada perspective)?
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4 votes
3 answers
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Is there any authenticity to the book 'The Deathbed Sutra of the Buddha: Or Siddhartha's Regrets'?

I found this book in a local bookstore and went online to research it. I could not find much reference to it. The author, George C. Adams Jr., purports to have been given a lost sutra of the Buddha, ...
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6 votes
4 answers
420 views

What books address various difficulties that may arise during various stages of meditation practice?

I am looking for books that go beyond the usual introduction on how to do various form of Buddhist meditation practice but rather, in addition to describing the practices themselves, discuss various ...
4 votes
1 answer
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Can you help me identify this English translation of The Gateless Gate?

Over the years, as I have seen various commentaries on koans, I've become aware that the quoted text seems to always derive from one of a very few English translations, but the translation concerned ...
3 votes
2 answers
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The Mahayana faith and wisdom

I have a few questions about "wisdom", which I would personally define as it appears in Zhiyi's book the Great Calming and Contemplation, in the section on the six identities If one is endowed with ...
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3 votes
1 answer
134 views

Was Buddhism the dominant religion of India for one thousand years?

I read in a book by Amartya Sen 'The Argumentative Indian', (link) that Buddhism was the dominant religion of India for about a 1000 years, and that foreigners referred to India as a Buddhist kingdom. ...
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Where to get the Pali Canon in Pali?

Does anyone know of a place on the Internet, where one can find the entire Pali Canon written in Pali ? I did a basic search but could not find any such resource. Also, where can one buy a ...
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3 answers
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Vipassana texts and books references request [duplicate]

I just read Allan Wallace's "The Attention Revolution: Unlocking the Power of the Focused Mind" book. He cites vipashyana (or vipassana, vipassanā, vipaśyanā, lha-thong) but he doesn't deepen much on ...
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6 votes
4 answers
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Can someone regain a Beginners Mind when it has gone?

Shunryu Suzuki famously said in Zen Mind, Beginners Mind In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few But if one's beginners mind has gone is it ...
2 votes
1 answer
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Who is Bhikkhu Sīlācāra?

... The architect Rutch from Breslau had already designed a monastery with huts for monks, and the plan was that Bhikkhu Sīlācāra and other disciples were to join Nyanatiloka there. ... (Wikipedia ...
6 votes
2 answers
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To what extent is Theravāda followed in Japan?

Extract from Ven. Nyanatiloka's Bio says In 1920, after being denied re-entry into British ruled Sri Lanka, Nyanatiloka taught at Japanese universities for five years, including at Taisho ...
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1 answer
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Books for intermediate/advance students [closed]

Most of the books about Buddhism I can find were made for Beginners, most are very good and touch the key points, easy to find and to buy. The problem is that after a while I started to look for more ...
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10 answers
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What is Nirodha?

I came across the concept of Nirodha in the book The Meditative Mind by Daniel Goleman. I think it's originally from the Visuddhimagga. In the book it seems to be placed above Nirvana in the path of ...
5 votes
3 answers
1k views

What are the main differences between the different Zen schools?

What are the main differences between the Rinzai and Soto Zen schools? Is it right that koans are only used in one of the schools? Also are there other Zen schools and if so what distinguishes those ...
5 votes
3 answers
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What is observing the precepts in a Hinayana way or a Mahayana way?

In Zen Mind, Beginners Mind Shunryu Suzuki says observing the precepts in a Hinayana way is violating the precepts in a Mahayana way Can an one give an explanation of way he is getting at here ...