##----------------------------------------------## ## ## ## Insight Meditation Center ## ## Dharma Friends Reading Recommendations ## ## 2020-2021 ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## (revision 2021-08-13) ## ##----------------------------------------------## Amaro Dass Matthiessen O'Reilley Sumedho Armstrong Hanson McLeod Pasanno Thanissaro Batchelor Jootla Munindo Payutto Toomey Chah Kornfield Murcott Ricard Various Chodron Mackenzie Napthali Sucitto ##---------## ## A ## ##---------## 1. The Breakthrough By AJAHN AMARO Copyright (C) 2017 by Amaravati Publications ISBN 978-1-78432-070-6 (PDF is 362 pages) full text (epub, mobi, PDF, Post): https://forestsangha.org/teachings/books/the-breakthrough?language=English our review: Buddhist meditation as a means of liberation. I liked the excerpt I read. --Fred W. 2. An Introduction to the Life and Teachings of Ajahn Chah By AJAHN AMARO Copyright (C) 2012 by Amaravati Publications ISBN 978-1-870205-43-6 (PDF is 81 pages) full text (epub, mobi, PDF): https://forestsangha.org/teachings/books/an-introduction-to-the-life-and-teachings-of-ajahn-chah?language=English reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23322360-an-introduction-to-the-life-and-teachings-of-ajahn-chah our review: I read the first half of this book before bed one evening, and the second half at lunch the next day. Ajahn Amaro's overview of Ajahn Chah's life and teachings is well-written and very engag- ing. Not to mention more than a little bit uplifting. I recom- mend it. It's adapted from the Introduction to _Food for the Heart_, Wisdom Publications, 2002, and _The Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah_, Aruna Publications, 2011, Amaravati Publications, 2011. --Eric D. 3. Emptiness: A Practical Guide for Meditators By GUY ARMSTRONG Copyright (C) 2017 by Guy Armstrong ISBN 978-1-61429-363-7 (hardcover, 328 pages) full text: not found reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30753521-emptiness excerpt: https://wisdomexperience.org/academy/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2017/09/Emptiness-Course-Lesson-1-Reading.pdf our review: This is a very digestible and a practical guide to the understanding of the teachings on emptiness. --Marsha G. ##---------## ## B ## ##---------## 4. Confession of a Buddhist Atheist By STEPHEN BATCHELOR Copyright (C) 2010 by Stephen Batchelor ISBN 978-0-385-52706-4 (hardcover, 306 pages) full text: not found reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6957758-confession-of-a-buddhist-atheist our review: A very personal account of one man's journey as a Buddhist that largely aligns with my own beliefs. Namely, that I'm less on board with much of Buddhism's metaphysics while agreeing with most if not all of its morality. A very well-written, very engaging book. --Eric D. ##---------## ## C ## ##---------## 5. Food for the Heart By AJAHN CHAH Copyright (C) 2018 by Amaravati Publications ISBN 978-1-78432-100-0 (PDF is 180 pages) full text (epub, mobi, PDF, Post): https://forestsangha.org/teachings/books/food-for-the-heart?language=English reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195650.Food_for_the_Heart our review: One of my good friends who meditates, when I asked him last year (2020) what his favorite Buddhist book was, answered with no hesitation: "Food for the Heart". As I've not yet read much Ajahn Chah yet and have been meaning to, his response caused me to put this book on my list. While the free 100th anniversary edition at forestsangha.org is different from the 2002 Wisdom Publications/Abhayagiri Monastic Foundation version with a foreword by Jack Kornfield that my friend pointed me to, their contents overlap. Incidentally, it's my understanding that both of these editions are subsets of the three volume set The Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah. --Eric D. 6. When Things Fall Apart By PEMA CHODRON Copyright (C) 1997 by Pema Chodron ISBN 1-57062-160-8 (hardcover, 147 pages) full text (web): https://archive.org/details/whenthingsfallap00pema/ reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/687278.When_Things_Fall_Apart excerpt: http://ixian.com/passages/ our review: You might want to look at the first page of Chapter Seven: "Hopelessness and Death". I read this book after we received my husband's diagnosis of Alzheimer's. It inspired me to find meaning and purpose in facing my husband's decline and death. Recently (2020-11) a friend asked how I had managed to get through the challenge of dealing with dementia. I recommended this book, but re-read it before I lent it to her. I was amazed at how relevant it was to my struggle with depression. It may be timely depending on the election and its aftermath. --Cecilia B. ##---------## ## D ## ##---------## 7. Be Here Now By RAM DASS Copyright (C) 1971 by Ram Dass ISBN 978-0-517-54305-4 (paperback, 416 pages) full text (PDF): While the book is apparently no longer available at archive.org, section two of the book, "From Bindu to Ojas: The Core Book", is presently (2021-04) available at: https://wikischool.org/_media/be_here_now.pdf . reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41580312-be-here-now our review: I finally picked this book up last year (2020), and was glad I did. It's profound. Ram Dass was not only way ahead of his time, his teachings are still advanced for /today/. I view this book as one that any earnest person on any path should work through, very slowly, at least once in their lives. --Eric D. ##---------## ## H ## ##---------## 8. Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness By RICK HANSON and FORREST HANSON Copyright (C) 2018 by Rick Hanson and Forrest Hanson ISBN 978-0-451-49884-7 (hardcover, 304 pages) full text (audiobook): https://archive.org/details/Rick_Hanson_And_Forrest_Hanson-Resilient-AUDiOBOOK-WEB-2018-PROLOG reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36025434-resilient excerpt: resilient--hanson-and-hanson--2018--excerpt.pdf ##---------## ## J ## ##---------## 9. Inspiration from Enlightened Nuns By SUSAN ELBAUM JOOTLA Copyright (C) 1988 by Buddhist Publication Society ISBN 955-24-0032-5 (paperback, 46 pages) full text (epub, PDF, web): http://www.bps.lk/library-search-select.php?id=wh349 our review: This book is mostly about early women of the Buddha's time and draws on the Terigatha and early commentaries. I liked the excerpt I read. --Fred W. ##---------## ## K ## ##---------## 10. The Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology By JACK KORNFIELD Copyright (C) 2008 by Jack Kornfield ISBN 978-0-553-80347-1 (hardcover, 439 pages) full text (web): https://archive.org/details/wiseheartguideto00korn reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1920089.The_Wise_Heart our review: This, along with another book, was the best book on insight or Buddhism that I read in 2015. It's supremely crisp and clear, and a beautiful read. --Eric D. ##---------## ## M ## ##---------## 11. Cave in the Snow: Tenzin Palmo's Quest for Enlightenment By VICKI MACKENZIE Copyright (C) 1998 by Vicki Mackenzie ISBN 1-58234-004-8 (hardcover, 256 pages) full text (web): https://archive.org/details/caveinsnowtenzin00mack reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1282710.Cave_in_the_Snow our review: A well written descriptive narrative by the first Western Buddhist nun who was ordained in the East. --Marsha G. 12. Nine-Headed Dragon River By PETER MATTHIESSEN Copyright (C) 1985 by Zen Community of New York ISBN 0-87773-325-2 (hardcover, 288 pages) full text (web): https://archive.org/details/nineheadeddragon00pete https://archive.org/details/nineheadeddragon00matt https://archive.org/details/nineheadeddragon0000matt reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122681.Nine_Headed_Dragon_River our review: I reread this book this past winter of 2020-2021, and found in it depths that were too great for me to plumb when I read it thirty years ago. This time around, many parts of it spoke to my mind, while other parts transported me. --Eric D. 13. Reflections on Silver River By KEN McLEOD Copyright (C) 2014 by Ken McLeod ISBN 978-0-98951-530-6 (paperback, 186 pages) full text: not found reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20455465-reflections-on-silver-river https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22051977-reflections-on-silver-river excerpt: http://ixian.com/passages/ our review: I used this in a book club years ago and we loved it. We would pick a number of verses to read and then discuss. Each was a mini topic, each held value, some more than others. Sometimes we stayed on one verse the whole evening, other times we went through a few. The teachings really ask one to be curious, to consider what our behaviors and thoughts say, to let it all sink in. It's a deep look at what it means to be a bodhisattva today. --Susan B. 14. Alert to the Needs of the Journey By AJAHN MUNINDO Copyright (C) 2018 by Aruno Publications ISBN 978-1-908444-61-5 (PDF is 142 pages) full text (epub, mobi, PDF, Post): https://forestsangha.org/teachings/books/alert-to-the-needs-of-the-journey?language=English our review: A companion volume to Ajahn Munindo's book Servant of Reality. --Anne F. 15. In Any Given Moment By AJAHN MUNINDO Copyright (C) 2021 by Aruno Publications ISBN 978-1-908444-69-1 (PDF is 552 pages) full text (epub, mobi, PDF): https://forestsangha.org/teachings/books/in-any-given-moment?language=English our review: I find Ajahn Munindo to be a wonderful author. I've just found his prior books and Dhamma talks clear and practical so I was curious about this latest book. --Jan S. 16. The First Buddhist Women: Translations and Commentary on the Therigatha By SUSAN MURCOTT Copyright (C) 1991 by Susan Murcott ISBN 0-938077-42-2 (paperback, 219 pages) full text (web): https://archive.org/details/firstbuddhistwom00murc reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1226675.The_First_Buddhist_Women our review: A discussion of the Therigatha, the verses of Buddhist nuns from the time of the Buddha. Includes some of the verses and background on the nuns too. I read this long ago, but found it very moving to have a sense of those on the path thousands of years before me. Another book has recently been released that caused quite a kerfuffle as it was sort of a rewrite of Therigatha verses. These translations are not questioned in that same way. --Jan S. ##---------## ## N ## ##---------## 17. Buddhism for Mothers: A Calm Approach to Caring for Yourself and Your Children By SARAH NAPTHALI Copyright (C) 2003 by Sarah Napthali ISBN 1-74114-010-2 (paperback, 240 pages) full text (web): https://archive.org/details/completebuddhism0000napt reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/85681.Buddhism_for_Mothers our review: I found this to be a down-to-earth book on integrating meditation, etc. into one's life, and a very pleasant read. --Eric D. ##---------## ## O ## ##---------## (Note: As a group, we completed this book in August 2021.) 18. The Barn at the End of the World By MARY ROSE O'REILLEY Copyright (C) 2000 by Mary Rose O'Reilley ISBN 1-57131-237-4 (hardcover, 316 pages) full text (web): https://archive.org/details/barnatendofworld0000orei https://archive.org/details/barnatendofworld0000orei_g9k3 reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/841997.The_Barn_at_the_End_of_the_World excerpt: http://ixian.com/passages/ our review: I loved this book. Mary Rose O'Reilley is totally down to earth, and writes supremely warmly, whether about her time on the farm or her time at Plum Village. --Eric D. ##---------## ## P ## ##---------## 19. Abundant, Exalted, Immeasurable By AJAHN PASANNO Copyright (C) 2016 by Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery ISBN 978-1-63271-011-6 (PDF is 213 pages) full text (epub, mobi, PDF, Post): https://forestsangha.org/teachings/books/abundant-exalted-immeasurable?language=English our review: A clear and powerful discussion of the Brahma Viharas. The chapters are talks from a retreat on that topic. Includes wonderful instructions on meditation and how the Brahma Viharas relate to the hindrances, the aggregates, and many other teachings. --Jan S. 20. Good, Evil and Beyond: Kamma in the Buddha's Teaching By BHIKKHU P.A. PAYUTTO Copyright (C) 1992 by Bhikkhu P.A. Payutto ISBN 974-575-262-2 (PDF is 134 pages) full text (PDF): http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/good_evil_beyond.pdf our review: An explanation of the Buddha's teaching on Kamma. I found it extremely useful and helpful in understanding this complex teaching. --Jan S. ##---------## ## R ## ##---------## 21. The Art of Meditation By MATTHIEU RICARD Copyright (C) 2008 by Matthieu Ricard ISBN 978-1-848-87075-8 (hardcover, 208 pages) full text: not found reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7575251-the-art-of-meditation 22. Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill By MATTHIEU RICARD Copyright (C) 2003 by NiL editions, Paris ISBN 978-0-316-05783-7 (hardcover, 304 pages) full text (web): https://archive.org/details/happinessguideto00rica reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/96885.Happiness ##---------## ## S ## ##---------## 23. Kamma and the End of Kamma (2nd Edition) By AJAHN SUCITTO Copyright (C) 2020 by Amaravati Publications ISBN 978-1-78432-169-7 (PDF is 204 pages) full text (epub, mobi, PDF): https://forestsangha.org/teachings/books/kamma-and-the-end-of-kamma-2nd-edition?language=English reviews (of the 1st edition): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16137896-kamma-and-the-end-of-kamma our review: A newly released update to a book published about fifteen years ago, expanded and updated based on his years of teaching. I find most everything by Ajahn Sucitto useful. I think the original was based on a retreat he gave, and was put together by others. I think he wasn't completely happy with it and so wanted to revise and expand it. I was interested to read what he's added and amplified after another several decades of practice. I've not yet read the new version which is why it interested me. --Jan S. 24. Unseating the Inner Tyrant By AJAHN SUCITTO Copyright (C) 2014 by Amaravati Publications ISBN 978-1-78432-027-0 (PDF is 36 pages) full text (epub, mobi, PDF, Post): https://forestsangha.org/teachings/books/unseating-the-inner-tyrant?language=English our review: This can be used as a 1-2 week filler. The inner tyrant is a nagging voice that demands you achieve perfection, never offers congratulation. It cuts off access to the natural empathy of the heart. I liked the excerpt I read. --Fred W. 25. Gratitude By AJAHN SUMEDHO Copyright (C) 2020 by Amaravati Publications and Pra Depnyanavidesa (Ajahn Sumedho) ISBN 978-1-78432-082-9 (PDF is 49 pages) full text (PDF): https://forestsangha.org/teachings/books/gratitude?language=English our review: I find Ajahn Sumedho to be a wonderful author. He is now (2021) in his late 80's and has a lifetime of deep practice and teach- ing, so I think whatever he has to say will be a distillation of all those years, and likely very helpful. --Jan S. 26. The Way It Is By AJAHN SUMEDHO Copyright (C) 1991 by Amaravati Publications ISBN 1-870205-11-1 (PDF is 170 pages) full text (epub, mobi, PDF): https://forestsangha.org/teachings/books/the-way-it-is?language=English our review: This book contains a collection of teachings of Ajahn Sumedho given to people who are familiar with Theravada Buddhism and have some experience of meditation. Most of the chapters are edited from talks given during retreats for lay people or for Ajahn Sumedho's monastic disciples. I liked the excerpt I read. --Fred W. ##---------## ## T ## ##---------## 27. Gifts He Left Behind: The Dhamma Legacy of Phra Ajaan Dune Atulo Translated from the Thai by THANISSARO BHIKKU (Geoffrey DeGraff) Copyright (C) 2005 by Metta Forest Monastery no ISBN (PDF is 128 pages) full text (PDF, web): https://accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/dune/giftsheleft.html https://accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/dune/giftsheleft.pdf reviews: https://www.amazon.com/Gifts-He-Left-Behind-Dhamma/dp/B00IOZL688 our review: Fred recommended this little book of short stories to me, and I'm glad he did. I agree with the sole Amazon reviewer: The book consists of short (less than a page long) stories about this clearly renowned Thai Buddhist monk, each one closing with a quotation from him that illustrates some key point of dharma. I was impressed overall with his cool, precise presentation of the dharma. He did not get embroiled in lengthy difficulties or florid expressions of things. Luang Pu gently and persistently exhorted his followers to watch and understand their minds, and to use this as the basis for growth and realizations. --Eric D. 28. Selves & Not-self: The Buddhist Teaching on Anatta By THANISSARO BHIKKHU Copyright 2011 by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2021-02 revision) no ISBN (PDF is 140 pages) full text (azw3, epub, mobi, PDF): https://www.dhammatalks.org/ebook_index.html#selvesnotself reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24647787-selves-not-self our review: Many think Thanissaro Bhikkhu is too dry, but I find him so wonderfully clear. I've read almost everything by him. I also find his framing of 'selfing' as an activity very useful. --Jan S. 29. In Search of Buddha's Daughters: A Modern Journey Down Ancient Roads By CHRISTINE TOOMEY Copyright (C) 2015 by Christine Toomey ISBN 978-1-61519-326-4 (hardcover, 384 pages) First published in Great Britain as The Saffron Road: A Journey with Buddha's Daughters full text: not found reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25894449-in-search-of-buddha-s-daughters https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25724568-the-saffron-road dust jacket: http://ixian.com/passages/ our review: A riveting read. Toomey is a journalist and she knows how to write. She visited over thirty women around the world (Nepal, India, Burma, Japan, the US, the UK, and France) who came to the ordained life from every faith and career, and had deep conversations with them. I loved this book. Did I mention that Toomey knows how to write? --Eric D. ##---------## ## V ## ##---------## 30. Recollections of Ajahn Chah By VARIOUS AUTHORS Copyright (C) 2013 by Amaravati Publications ISBN 978-1-870205-65-8 (PDF is 176 pages) full text (epub, mobi, PDF): https://www.amaravati.org/dhamma-books/recollections-of-ajahn-chah/ our review: I like the look of this book. I strongly prefer philosophical/ insight/Buddhist texts that show rather than tell, and this one looks to fall squarely into that former camp. Hearing what an advanced individual did do in his life when interacting with others really works for me. Plus, I like stories, accounts; they're less dry. --Eric D. --- * --- -- $Ixian: insight-meditation-center--dharma-friends-reading-recommendations--2020-2021.txt,v 1.09 2021-08-13 01:30:56 ead Exp $