This ebook combines well-chosen essential teachings by the Tibetan masters Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche supplemented with teachings by American nun, Ven. Amy Miller, to provide a wonderful overview of many of the key points of the path to enlightenment (lamrim). This title covers the following topics: - What is Buddhism? - Who was the Buddha? - What is Dharma? - What is Buddhist Refuge? - The Fundamentals of Karma - What are the Four Noble Truths? - What is Meditation? - Understanding the Mind - Understanding the Teachings - The Importance of a Qualified Teacher - What is the Purpose of Life? - Death and Impermanence - What is Renunciation? - How to Serve Others - What is Emptiness? - Introducing Tantra - Advice for Bringing These Teachings into Your Daily Life - How to Dedicate Your Virtue Each of these sections in this title concludes with a meditation on the subject. Included with this eBook is complimentary access to the online version of Buddhism in a Nutshell, which is available on the FPMT Online Learning Center. This FPMT introductory course consists of 11 hours of clear and accessible teachings and guided meditations by Ven. Amy Miller. These teachings are intended for people encountering Buddhism for the first time, as well as for people who are already familiar with Buddha’s teachings but would like a more structured approach to understanding the whole path to enlightenment. They cover the life of Shakyamuni Buddha,the four noble truths, and the stages of the path to enlightenment (lamrim) based on an explanation of the short poem Foundation of All Good Qualities by Lama Tsongkhapa. In addition, the online course includes transcripts of Ven. Amy Miller’s teachings and meditations together with other online resources, such as points for reflection to help course participants think about the teachings in relation to their own lives. A discussion forum allows course participants to interact with each other and the course elder. A Certificate of Achievement is available to participants who complete all the course requirements. Together the book and the online course provide a comprehensive overview of Buddhism as taught and practiced in the Tibetan Mahayana tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa (Gelug). The teachings by Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche are a must-read for all of their disciples. 243 pages, 2010 edition.

The very idea that the teachings can be mastered will arouse controversy within Buddhist circles. Even so, Ingram insists that enlightenment is an attainable goal, once our fanciful notions of it are stripped away, and we have learned to use meditation as a method for examining reality rather than an opportunity to wallow in self-absorbed mind-noise. Ingram sets out concisely the difference between concentration-based and insight (vipassana) meditation; he provides example practices; and most importantly he presents detailed maps of the states of mind we are likely to encounter, and the stages we must negotiate as we move through clearly-defined cycles of insight. Its easy to feel overawed, at first, by Ingram's assurance and ease in the higher levels of consciousness, but consistently he writes as a down-to-earth and compassionate guide, and to the practitioner willing to commit themselves this is a glittering gift of a book.In this new edition of the bestselling book, the author rearranges, revises and expands upon the original material, as well as adding new sections that bring further clarity to his ideas.

A national bestseller and acclaimed guide to Buddhism for beginners and practitioners alike In this simple but important volume, Stephen Batchelor reminds us that the Buddha was not a mystic who claimed privileged, esoteric knowledge of the universe, but a man who challenged us to understand the nature of anguish, let go of its origins, and bring into being a way of life that is available to us all. The concepts and practices of Buddhism, says Batchelor, are not something to believe in but something to do—and as he explains clearly and compellingly, it is a practice that we can engage in, regardless of our background or beliefs, as we live every day on the path to spiritual enlightenment.

In this introduction to the foundations of Buddhism, Rupert Gethin concentrates on the ideas and practices which constitute the common heritage of the different traditions of Buddhism (Thervada, Tibetan and Eastern) which exist in the world today.

Nautilus Award Finalist The renowned Zen’s monk’s profound study of Buddhist psychology—with insights into how these ancient teachings apply to the modern world Based on the fifty verses on the nature of consciousness taken from the great fifth-century Buddhist master Vasubandhu and the teachings of the Avatamsaka Sutra, Thich Nhat Hanh focuses on the direct experience of recognizing, embracing, and looking deeply into the nature of our feelings and perceptions. Presenting the basic teachings of Buddhist applied psychology, Understanding Our Mind shows us how our mind is like a field, where every kind of seed is planted—seeds of suffering, anger, happiness, and peace. The quality of our life depends on the quality of the seeds in our mind. If we know how to water seeds of joy and transform seeds of suffering, then understanding, love, and compassion will flower. Vietnamese Zen Master Thuong Chieu said, “When we understand how our mind works, the practice becomes easy.”

Based on teachings from the Kadampa Buddhist Tradition, Modern Buddhism is a special presentation that communicates the essence of the entire path to liberation and enlightenment in a way that is easy to understand and put into practice.