Appendix B

Additional Buddhist Resources to Check Out

In an introductory book like this one, we can’t possibly do justice to all the many different aspects of Buddhism and its 2,500-year history. But we hope that we’ve sparked your interest and that you want to explore Buddhism further.

If you want to know more about Buddhism in general or any of its various traditions, you’ve come to the right place. This appendix offers a list of books and other resources that can help you. Within the list of magazines, we also include a few websites that contain lots of useful and interesting information about all things Buddhist, including the names of Buddhist centers near you. And as soon as you start surfing the web, you’re bound to discover many more intriguing sites on your own. (An excellent place to start is www.buddhanet.net, the website of the Buddhist Education and Information Network.)

When we first became seriously interested in Buddhism 30 years or so ago, the Internet didn’t exist, and the number of books on Buddhism suitable for a general reader was quite small — especially compared to the embarrassment of riches available now. Today so many Buddhist publications line bookstore shelves and fill newsstands that our biggest problem in compiling this appendix has been limiting ourselves to a manageable number of entries. From the works we left out, we could easily put together several other excellent lists. Consider this brief catalogue as your entrance into a vast world just waiting for you to explore. Enjoy!

The Story of the Buddha

The life of Shakyamuni Buddha has been told numerous times. Readers from different backgrounds have found these versions particularly inspiring.

The Life of the Buddha, by Venerable H. Saddhatissa (HarperCollins). A highly respected monk-scholar from Sri Lanka drew this compelling account of the life of Shakyamuni Buddha from original Sanskrit and Pali sources.

The Light of Asia, by Sir Edwin Arnold (numerous publishers). Since it first appeared in 1879, this poetic version of the Buddha’s story has been an international favorite.

Old Path White Clouds: Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha, by Thich Nhat Hanh (Parallax Press). Drawing from Pali, Sanskrit, and Chinese sources, this evocative work tells the story of the Buddha’s life as seen partly through the eyes of the fictional buffalo boy Svasti.

Prince Siddhartha, by Jonathan Landaw (Wisdom Publications). This story of the life of the Buddha is retold especially for children — and their parents.

Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse, newly translated by Sherab Chodzin Kohn (Shambhala). Written by the Nobel Prize–winning author in 1922, this novel, set at the time of Shakyamuni Buddha, brings the reader into the world of Buddhism’s founder. The translator is a longtime student of Buddhism and Eastern philosophy.

Buddhist Classics, Old and New

The following list contains some of the most influential and popular books on Buddhism.

Buddhist Scriptures, by Edward Conze (Penguin Books). This compact volume contains a wide selection of useful material from Indian, Tibetan, Chinese, and Japanese sources.

Cutting through Spiritual Materialism, by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche (Shambhala). A contemporary Tibetan lama who had a profound impact on Buddhism in the West clearly addresses the problems and pitfalls that spiritual seekers face.

The Dhammapada (numerous translations by different publishers). This ancient collection (a version of it is also known as Dharmapada) of verses on Buddhist themes is an excellent introduction to Buddhist thought and teachings.

The Bodhicharyavatara (many translations). This important Indian Mahayana text was written by the monk Shantideva in the first half of the eighth century. It details the conduct of a bodhisattva, from the moment he generates the thought of enlightenment (bodhichitta) until he attains insight.

The Experience of Insight: A Simple and Direct Guide to Buddhist Meditation, by Joseph Goldstein (Shambhala). As the title implies, this book is a straightforward manual on the practice of Buddhist vipassana (insight) meditation. The author is one of the founders of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts.

The Heart of Buddhist Meditation, by Nyanaponika Thera (Red Wheel/Weiser). Originally published in 1962, this classic outlines the practice of meditation in the Theravada tradition.

Loving-kindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness, by Sharon Salzberg (Shambhala). Filled with personal anecdotes and insights from one of the founders of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, this accessible guidebook offers meditations for cultivating not only loving-kindness, but also compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity.

Masters of Enchantment: The Lives and Legends of the Mahasiddhas, by Keith Dowman (Inner Traditions International). Richly illustrated by Robert Beer, this work is a fascinating introduction to the ancient and magical world of Indian Vajrayana Buddhism.

Mother of the Buddhas: Meditation on the Prajnaparamita Sutra, by Lex Hixon (Quest Books). More than a mere translation of a major Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, this is a work of rare devotional beauty that welcomes the reader to share a glorious vision of insight and compassion.

A Path with Heart, by Jack Kornfield (Bantam Books). Written by the author of numerous works on Buddhist thought and practice, this bestseller provides a friendly, psychologically astute introduction to meditation. Kornfield is a founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts and the Spirit Rock Center in California.

Three Pillars of Zen: Teaching, Practice, and Enlightenment, by Philip Kapleau (Anchor Books). The first popular Zen guidebook written by an enlightened Westerner for Westerners, Three Pillars single-handedly introduced a generation to Zen Buddhism.

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, by Sogyal Rinpoche (Harper SanFrancisco). Filled with teaching stories, meditations, and time-honored insights from the Tibetan Vajrayana tradition, this bestseller approaches the experience of dying — and living — with compassion and wisdom.

The Way of Zen, by Alan W. Watts (Vintage Books). Written in 1957, this work by one of the most influential commentators on Eastern philosophy and religion is still one of the best introductions to the world of Zen thought and practice. Also see his Psychotherapy East and West (Vintage Books) for a thought-provoking discussion of the common ground between Western psychiatry and Eastern philosophy.

When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times, by Pema Chodron (Shambhala). This favorite is a warm, lucid, and accessible guide to the practice of compassion, especially toward oneself, by an American Buddhist nun who is the resident teacher at a Vajrayana retreat center in Nova Scotia.

Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, by Shunryu Suzuki (Weatherhill). A classic collection of talks by the beloved Japanese-American Zen master that covers posture, attitude, and understanding from a Soto Zen perspective.

Well Worth Reading

Here are some additional titles that we think you’ll like. Take a look.

Buddhism for Beginners, by Thubten Chodron (Snow Lion Publications). Using a question-and-answer format, a leading American Buddhist nun addresses some of the most fundamental issues raised by those encountering Buddhism for the first time.

Buddhism with an Attitude: The Tibetan Seven-Point Mind-Training, by B. Alan Wallace (Snow Lion Publications). In this work, Wallace (one of the leading Western translators and writers on Buddhism) brings the traditional techniques of thought transformation directly into the modern world.

The Buddhist Handbook: The Complete Guide to Buddhist Schools, Teaching, Practice, and History, by John Snelling (Inner Traditions). This invaluable resource for anyone wanting to know more about Buddhism past and present contains appendixes that list useful addresses of Buddhist organizations in North America, major Buddhist festivals, an extensive selection of further readings, and much more.

Cultivating Compassion: A Buddhist Perspective, by Jeffrey Hopkins (Broadway Books). Retired professor at the University of Virginia, interpreter for the Dalai Lama for more than ten years, and translator and editor of numerous works of Buddhism, Hopkins presents a compelling and extremely moving account of the practice of compassion in everyday life.

Developing Balanced Sensitivity: Practical Buddhist Exercises for Daily Life, by Alexander Berzin (Snow Lion Publications). Author, translator, and worldwide lecturer, Berzin introduces a series of techniques adapted from traditional Buddhist sources for dealing with both insensitivity and hypersensitivity. Also check out Berzin’s Relating to a Spiritual Teacher (Snow Lion) for a comprehensive discussion of the all-important, but often misunderstood, relationship between disciples and their spiritual guides.

Dharma Family Treasures: Sharing Mindfulness with Children, edited by Sandy Eastoak (North Atlantic Books). This anthology of Buddhist writings offers a wealth of ideas for helping children bring Buddhist teachings into their daily lives.

The Diamond Cutter: The Buddha on Strategies for Managing Your Business and Your Life, by Geshe Michael Roach (Doubleday). This book, by an American who completed the rigorous Tibetan geshe training, masterfully weaves together commentary on the profound Diamond Cutter Sutra and practical advice for running a business based on the author’s experiences in the New York diamond trade. You can also check out Geshe Roach’s The Garden (Doubleday), a beautiful parable of the Buddhist wisdom teachings.

The Heart of Buddha’s Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation, by Thich Nhat Hanh (Parallax Press). This clear and poetic introduction to the core teachings of Buddhism covers the four noble truths, the eightfold path, the six perfections, the 12 links, and much more.

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Buddhist Wisdom: A Complete Introduction to the Principles and Practices of Buddhism, by Gill Farrer-Halls (Quest Books). Visually attractive and easy to read, this volume provides an excellent overview of the world of Buddhism.

Introduction to Tantra: A Vision of Totality, by Lama Thubten Yeshe (Wisdom Publications). This presentation of the most essential features of Vajrayana Buddhism features clarity and engaging humor.

Living Buddhism, by Andrew Powell (Harmony Books). Graham Harrison’s beautiful photographs richly illustrate this wide-ranging survey of Buddhist thought and practice. This book covers the development of Buddhism in India and its spread throughout Asia and to the West.

Lotus in a Stream: Essays in Basic Buddhism, by Hsing Yun (Weatherhill). This work by the contemporary Chinese monk and Chan (Zen) master Hsing Yun is a well-organized and easily readable reference to the major themes of Buddhist thought and practice.

Mindfulness in Plain English, by Venerable Henepola Gunaratana (Wisdom Publications). This step-by-step insight meditation manual is accessible to all readers. Of related interest is Ajahn Sumedho’s slim volume Mindfulness: The Path to the Deathless (Amaravati Publications).

Moon in a Dewdrop: Writings of Zen Master Dogen, edited by Kazuaki Tanahashi (North Point Press). These beautiful translations of writings by the Japanese Zen master Dogen (1200–1253), the founder of the Soto school, include a variety of practical instructions, as well as philosophical and poetical works.

Practical Insight Meditation, by Mahasi Sayadaw (Unity Press). A revered Burmese master provides an in-depth look at mindfulness meditation: the heart of Theravada Buddhist practice.

Transforming Problems into Happiness, by Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche (Wisdom Publications). Lama Zopa’s commentary on a short thought-transformation text by a past Tibetan master is filled with practical advice that can be valuable to anyone, regardless of spiritual background.

Voices of Insight, edited by Sharon Salzberg (Shambhala). This collection of articles by many of the most well-known and articulate teachers of the Theravada vipassana tradition provides an excellent introduction to the world of Buddhist meditation.

The Zen of Seeing: Seeing/Drawing As Meditation, by Frederick Franck (Vintage Books). This wonderful book approaches the art of seeing/drawing as a spiritual discipline endowed with the Zen flavor of experiencing the world freshly in each moment.

By and about the Modern Masters

In Chapter 15, we introduce you to four teachers who have exerted a great influence on contemporary Buddhism. Here we present a sampling of books written by and about these illustrious teachers.

The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living, by the Dalai Lama (Riverhead Books). This bestseller, coauthored by American psychiatrist Howard Cutler, presents many different methods for dealing with the challenges of everyday life.

Dipa Ma: The Life and Legacy of a Buddhist Master, by Amy Schmidt (BlueBridge Books). This inspiring biography of Dipa Ma (1911–1989) brings to life one of the most beloved and influential Buddhist teachers of the Theravada tradition.

Food for the Heart: The Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, introduced by Ajahn Amaro (Wisdom Publications). This compilation provides an excellent overview of Ajahn Chah’s teachings, and its introduction ushers the reader into the Thai Forest Tradition that this beloved Buddhist master helped to revitalize.

The Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the Teachings of Jesus, by the Dalai Lama (Wisdom Publications). Invited to give his commentary on the Gospels, the Dalai Lama responds with what Huston Smith has called “arguably the best book on inter-religious dialogue published to date.”

The Jew in the Lotus, by Rodger Kamenetz (Harper). This engaging and often humorous account of the meeting of Jewish religious leaders and the Dalai Lama throws light on the issues facing Buddhists, Jews, and all people of faith striving to survive in the secular world.

Living Buddha, Living Christ, by Thich Nhat Hanh (Riverhead Books). The Vietnamese Zen master explores the meeting ground of two of the world’s major spiritual traditions. Also check out his Going Home: Jesus and Buddha As Brothers (Riverhead Books).

Meeting of Minds: A Dialogue on Tibetan and Chinese Buddhism, by the Dalai Lama and Chan Master Sheng-yen (Dharma Drum Publications). This historical dialogue between two of the leading exponents of Tibetan and Chinese Buddhism throws much-needed light on the similarities and differences between the wisdom teachings of the Vajrayana and Zen traditions.

An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life, by the Dalai Lama (Little, Brown and Company). This easy-to-comprehend work provides a basic understanding of Buddhism and some of the key methods for cultivating compassion and wisdom in your daily life, no matter what your religious affiliation may be.

The World of the Dalai Lama: An Inside Look at His Life, His People, and His Vision, by Gill Farrer-Halls (Thorsons). This richly illustrated and delightfully written account of the world of the Dalai Lama, both inside and outside Tibet, demonstrates the impact a life of dedication can have on others, no matter what their religious or cultural heritage.

Women and Buddhism

One of the most interesting developments in contemporary Buddhism is the increasing role that women are playing in this traditionally male-dominated sphere. The following books present a variety of points of view on this significant phenomenon.

Buddhist Women on the Edge: Contemporary Perspectives from the Western Frontier, edited by Marianne Dresser (North Atlantic Books). This work contains contributions from important authors such as Pema Chodron, Jan Willis, Tsultrim Allione, Anne Klein, Thubten Chodron, and Kate Wheeler.

Dreaming Me: An African American Woman’s Spiritual Journey, by Jan Willis (Riverhead Books). This personal memoir takes the reader along on the author’s remarkable journey from an Alabama mining camp, through undergraduate life at Cornell University, to a Tibetan Buddhist monastery, and eventually to her position as Professor of Religion at Wesleyan University.

The First Buddhist Women: Translations and Commentary on the Therigatha, by Susan Murcott (Parallax Press). This look at the early history of women in Buddhism includes a translation of the earliest-known collection of women’s religious poetry, the Therigatha.

Sakyadhita: Daughters of the Buddha, edited by Karma Lekshe Tsomo (Snow Lion Publications). This collection of essays is the result of the International Conference of Buddhist Nuns held in Bodh Gaya, India, in 1987, the first such conference ever convened.

Turning the Wheel: American Women Creating the New Buddhism, by Sandy Boucher (Beacon Press). This account of the challenges facing women attempting to create a vital tradition of contemporary Buddhism addresses issues of great importance to both men and women.

Women of Wisdom, by Tsultrim Allione (Routledge & Kegan Paul). These biographies of six extraordinary Tibetan female mystics invite the reader to gain a deeper understanding of women’s experiences of Buddhism.

Women Practicing Buddhism: American Experiences, edited by Peter N. Gregory and Susanne Mrozik (Wisdom Publications). This is an interesting collection of articles by Susanne Mrozik, Thubten Chodron, and others on life stories of American Buddhist women.

Socially Engaged Buddhism

The practice of Buddhist meditation is, by its nature, a personal, private, and inner-directed activity. But the ultimate purpose of this and other Buddhist practices is to bring as much benefit to others as possible. This compassionate concern for the welfare of others has given rise to Engaged Buddhism. To find out more about this important trend in contemporary Buddhism, check out the following books.

Being Peace, by Thich Nhat Hanh (Parallax Press). By one of the founders of the Engaged Buddhism movement, this book contains lectures given to activists and meditators about the importance of embodying peace in one’s own life.

Buddhist Peace Work: Creating Cultures of Peace, edited by David Chappell (Wisdom Publications). This compilation contains first-person accounts of the ideas and work of illustrious leaders from a wide variety of Buddhist traditions on the subject of creating and maintaining peace. Of related interest are Daisaku Ikeda’s For the Sake of Peace: Seven Paths to Global Harmony, A Buddhist Perspective (Middleway Press) and Sulak Sivaraksa’s Seeds of Peace: A Buddhist Vision for Renewing Society (Parallax Press).

Dharma Gaia: A Harvest of Essays in Buddhism and Ecology, edited by Alan Hurt Badiner (Parallax Press). This work contains contributions by such luminaries as the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh and authors such as Joanna Macy and Joan Halifax.

Engaged Buddhism in the West, edited by Christopher Queen (Wisdom Publications). The history and teachings of Engaged Buddhism are presented here in terms of the individuals and organizations involved in Buddhist activism.

Socially Engaged Buddhism: Dimensions of Asian Spirituality, by Sallie B. King (University of Hawaii Press). This important book examines how Buddhist activists have applied fundamental Buddhist teaching when engaging with social, economic, and ecological problems in the world.

World As Lover, World As Self, by Joanna Macy (Parallax Press). An influential scholar of Buddhism and general systems theory shows how redefining your relationship to the world helps promote not only your own spiritual development, but also the health of the planet.

At Your Local Newsstand

If you’re interested in the Buddhist perspective on current social and political affairs, you may want to look at some of the following magazines and periodicals. They’re also excellent sources of up-to-date information on meditation courses and study groups organized in your local area.

Inquiring Mind. Born out of the Theravada Buddhist community of insight (vipassana) meditators, this journal is highly regarded for its excellent thought-provoking interviews with Buddhist teachers, philosophers, psychologists, and artists, as well as for its poetry, stories, and humorous essays. Each issue includes an extensive international calendar of vipassana retreats and listings of events and sitting groups throughout North America (Internet: www.inquiringmind.com).

Mandala: Buddhism in Our Time. Published by the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), this magazine regularly features articles by and about the founder of the FPMT, Lama Thubten Yeshe (1935–1984), and its current head, Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, in addition to general coverage of the Buddhist scene (Internet: www.mandalamagazine.org).

Shambhala Sun: Creating Enlightened Society. This magazine contains articles on all facets of Buddhism and its relationship to contemporary society (Internet: www.shambhalasun.com). You can also take a look at Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Quarterly (Internet: www.thebuddhadharma.com).

Snow Lion. The newsletter of Snow Lion Publications is a major source of news, books, tapes, and related material on Buddhism (Internet: www.snowlionpub.com/pages/N76.html).

Tricycle: The Buddhist Review. Reading this attractive publication, the most popular Buddhist magazine in America, is an excellent way to keep up on a wide range of issues relating to Buddhist thought and practice (Internet: www.tricycle.com/magazine/).

Turning Wheel. Published by the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Turning Wheel provides a Buddhist perspective on such current issues as ecology, peace activism, human rights, and much more (Internet: www.bpf.org).