Meditation Cushion: Beginner's Guide The choices in meditation cushions here are actually simple . . . . What, for you, is the right distance between your bottom and the floor?
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A selection of what we consider to be the best books
and courses (including CDs and DVDs) by respected teachers on meditation for beginners wanting to learn how to meditate.
We also have books offering
instruction for those experienced buddhist practitioners seeking further guidance in mindfulness (breathing) and insight (vipassana) meditation.
Whether for health reasons or as part of your spiritual practice, the benefits of meditation have been well documented. These resources can
help you to establish and develop a meditation practice that supports a sane and balanced lifestyle.
In the mahayana tradition we experience a sense of gentleness toward ourselves, and a sense of friendliness to others begins to arise. That friendliness or compassion is known in Tibetan as nyingje, which literally means "noble heart." We are willing to commit ourselves to working with all sentient beings. But before we actually launch into that project, we first need a lot of training.
The obstacle to becoming a mahayanist is not having enough sympathy for others and for oneself--that is the basic point. And that problem can be dealt with by practical training, which is known as lojong practice, "training the mind." That training gives us a path, a way to work with our crude and literal and raw and rugged styles, a way to become good mahayanists. ~ Training the Mind and Cultivating Loving Kindness by Chögyam Trungpa
Meditation Courses
Meditation courses (as cds or dvds) offer guided meditation with step-by-step instructions as well as practical insights.
These teachings, by some of today's most gifted Buddhist teachers, can help you begin and maintain your practice of mindfulness meditation.
Pema Chödrön
Pema Chödrön is widely known for her charming and down-to-earth interpretation of Tibetan Buddhism for Western audiences. Pema studied under the meditation master Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and currently studies with Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. Pema is the resident teacher at Gampo Abbey, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
We offer a comprehensive selection of her books and recordings of her talks.
New Meditation Books
Some of the latest titles available online.
Chögyam Trungpa
The founder of Shambhala, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche (1939-1987) was the 11th in the line of Trungpa tulkus of the Kagyu lineage of Tibet.
He was instrumental in bringing the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism to the west, and was renowned for his ability to present the essence of the dharma in language that speaks directly to western students.
Thich Nhat Hanh is a Zen master, scholar, poet, and peace activist. He lives in Plum Village, his meditation community in France, where he teaches, writes, and gardens. He leads mindful living retreats worldwide. He was nominated by Martin Luther King, Jr. for the Nobel Peace Prize and is the author of over thirty books.
Sakyong Mipham
The eldest son and spiritual successor of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche is the holder of the Shambhala Buddhist tradition, as well as the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages of Tibet. Educated in Buddhist meditation, philosophy, and ritual, as well as calligraphy, poetry and archery, Sakyong Mipham was raised in both Eastern and Western traditions and is also an accomplished marathon runner. He teaches throughout the world.
Health and Healing
The Buddhist perspective on health and healing.
Tibetan Buddhism
Books from the Mahayana and Tantric Tibetan Buddhist tradition on mindfulness and awareness meditation practice; Mahamudra and Dzogchen; stages of the path; Lojong mind training; Madhyamaka or Middle-way meditations; and Ngondro and Yidam practices; from the Indian lineage ancestors through to contemporary teachers' instruction on the tradition's application to modern life.
Death and Rebirth
Most of us go to extraordinary lengths to ignore, laugh off, or deny the fact that we are going to die, but preparing for death is one of the most rational and rewarding acts of a lifetime. ~ A Year to Live: How to Live This Year As If it Were Your Last, by Stephen Levine.
We carry Buddhist music in several styles, including:
Music by dharma teachers
Traditional Tibetan chanting and songs
Tibetan chanting with modern instrumentation
Contemporary dharma songs
Soothing instrumental music
Vegetarian Cookbooks
Our cookbooks include vegetarian cookbooks from dharma centers and guides to mindful eating, as well as the perennial favorites Moosewood and Enchanted Broccoli Forest. Nepali and Tibetan cookbooks include traditional meat dishes.
Classic Texts
A selection of sutras - the original teachings of the Buddha - and commentaries on them
A variety of translations of the Dhammapada
Life stories of the Buddha and Jataka Tales
Essential texts in the Mahayana and Zen traditions
