The Heart Of Buddhism A Simple Introduction To Buddhist Practice

An excellent introduction to Buddhism as a spiritual practice for a secular age and how it can be applied to daily living in the stress-filled 1990s. Buddhism offers a practical, comprehensive way to achieve peace of mind and generosity of spirit and thus improve the quality of everyday life. This accessible introduction explains why Buddhism is so appropriate to our individual, social, and global predicament.

Buddhism: A Complete Introduction is a comprehensive and easy-to-use introduction, designed to give you everything you need to succeed, all in one place. Written by a leading expert, this book will help you if you are studying for an important exam or essay, or if you simply want to improve your knowledge. It is structured to mirror the way in which Buddhism is usually taught, starting with the life of the Buddha through to the prospects of Buddhism for the next generation. The book covers all the key areas that are considered central to Buddhism, including the Buddha's teachings, the scriptures and schools, the role of meditation and the moral and ethical context. It uses jargon-free English and includes features such as guided further reading and end of chapter questions to ensure that you understand all the concepts covered. Buddhism: A Complete Introduction includes: Chapter 1: Buddhists and Buddhism Who are Buddhists? The Three Jewels The Three Refuges Buddhist Practice In conclusion Chapter 2: The life of the Buddha The Buddha's significance The Four Sights Going forth Self-mortification The enlightenment Turning the wheel of the dharma The mission The growth of the Sangha Paranirvana In conclusion Chapter 3: The Buddha's teaching The first Nobel Truth: all is suffering (dukkha) The second Noble Truth: the origins of suffering (samudaya) The third Noble Truth: the cessation of suffering (nirodha) The fourth Noble Truth: the path to the cessation of suffering (magga) Chapter 4: Buddhist scriptures and schools The Theravada Scriptures The Mahayana Scriptures Pure Land Buddhism The Ch'an and Zen Schools The Tibetan Scriptures In conclusion Chapter 5: Meditation and devotion 1 Mind and heart 2 Heart and mind 3 Devotion as homage 4 Salvific devotion In conclusion Chapter 6: Ethical conduct Sila skilfulness The practicality of buddhist ethics Working on yourself and others The precepts and the dharma Renunciation In conclusion Chapter 7: Moral Issues The natural world Human society In conclusion Chapter 8: The social order Ordination Celibacy Weddings and marriages Family life Death and dying In conclusion Chapter 9: Festivals and ceremonies Theravada festivals Tibetan festivals Japanese and Chinese festivals Western Buddhist festivals In conclusion Chapter 10: Budhist today: East and West The spread of Buddhism Buddhism in India The revival of Buddhism Buddhism in South-East Asia Missionary activity Tibetan Buddhism Buddhism in the West In conclusion Chapter 11: Transition, adaptation and influence: prospects for Buddhism in the twenty-first century Into the twenty-first century Views from the West Transmitting Buddhism to a new generation In conclusion Learn effortlessly with a new easy-to-read page design and added features:Not got much time? One, five and ten-minute introductions to key principles to get you started. Author insights Lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the author's many years of experience. Test yourself Tests in the book and online to keep track of your progress. Extend your knowledge Extra online articles to give you a richer understanding of psychology. Five things to remember Quick refreshers to help you remember the key facts. Try this Innovative exercises illustrate what you've learnt and how to use it.

With poetry and clarity, Thich Nhat Hanh imparts comforting wisdom about the nature of suffering and its role in creating compassion, love, and joy – all qualities of enlightenment. “Thich Nhat Hanh shows us the connection between personal, inner peace, and peace on earth.”—His Holiness the Dalai Lama In The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, now revised with added material and new insights, Nhat Hanh introduces us to the core teachings of Buddhism and shows us that the Buddha’s teachings are accessible and applicable to our daily lives. Covering such significant teachings as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, the Three Doors of Liberation, the Three Dharma Seals, and the Seven Factors of Awakening, The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching is a radiant beacon on Buddhist thought for the initiated and uninitiated alike.

One of the best available introductions to the wisdom and beauty of meditation practice. --New Age Journal In this beautiful and lucid guide, Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh offers gentle anecdotes and practical exercise as a means of learning the skills of mindfulness--being awake and fully aware. From washing the dishes to answering the phone to peeling an orange, he reminds us that each moment holds within it an opportunity to work toward greater self-understanding and peacefulness.

An illustrated introduction to the history of Buddhism through teachings on its relevance today and simple meditation practices. There is only one moment in time when it is essential to awaken. That moment is now. —Buddha The art of Buddhism beautifully depicts enlightened beings who demonstrate the practice of meditation yet, while deeply inspiring, art alone cannot teach one to meditate. In The Pure Joy of Being Fabrice Midal brings together traditional Buddhist art with enlightening text as a way to teach the tradition and practice of meditation. Filled with images of bodhisattvas and awakened beings who illustrate the possibility of freedom, alongside practical instruction, advice, and meditations for the everyday situations we face on a daily basis, this book is an accessible introduction to meditation and the wisdom of the Buddha’s teachings. To meditate is to remain in the present moment with attention and benevolence, to remove the desire to manage everything, and to open yourself up to life and all that is possible. It’s as simple as that. And yet, meditating is not easy. What is true happiness? How can we overcome difficulties in life with courage? Can meditation help in today’s world? The Pure Joy of Being teaches that the goal of meditation is to turn us into beings that are more human, and capable of thinking, feeling, and loving better. It offers contemporary practices to set us on this path.

Featuring a foreword by the Dalai Lama, this introduction to Tibetan Buddhism “will help many on the open path of meditation and in dealing with challenges of everyday life” (Thich Nhat Hanh) An open heart is the dwelling place of compassion that extends toward all beings; a clear mind is the source of the penetrating wisdom of deep insight. Their union leads to the enlightened way of life that is at the heart of the spiritual path as taught by the Buddha. This practical introduction to the Buddha's teachings focuses on the application of Buddhist psychology to modern life. Thubten Chodron, an American Buddhist nun, presents the basic points of this path for understanding ourselves and improving the quality of our lives. Writing with warmth, humor, and easy-to-understand language, Chodron provides the fundamental points of the Buddha's teaching on transforming habitual attitudes and realizing our full human potential.