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Recommended Books and Movies - Page 2

Please purchase your books from the links below and 100% of the profits will go to IBC to help us build and support our new Indiana Buddhist Center. May the compassion and generosity generated from reading and utilizing these resources cause all sentient beings to accumulate merit and achieve buddhahood in this life.

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The Jewel Tree of Tibet: The Enlightenment Engine of Tibetan Buddhism (Paperback)Robert Thurman is probably best know for his translation of the sacred text The Tibetan Book of the Dead, although he has published many works of both translation and exploration of Tibetan Buddhism. The Jewel Tree of Tibet is a significant addition to Thurman’s contribution to this field of spiritual scholarship. His deep knowledge and devotion are in evidence on every page. His style is straightforward and inviting. He also provides a short introduction to the history of Buddhism which is as clear and straightforward as possible for what can be an exceptionally complex and entangled topic. In short, Thurman writes for real people with an interest in (perhaps longing for) a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in the world. In addition to a clear and inviting style and providing the reader with an accessible understanding of important spiritual matters, this book is exceptionally openhanded and openhearted. While Thurman wants us to share the dharma of the Jewel Tree he also wants the reader to know that they are already on their path- no matter what their faith or non-faith, political beliefs, no matter what manner of thinking may appear to divide, separate, or individualize us: Thurman presents a view of the self in which we can see that it is possible to overcome these limitations and alienations and to see ourselves as inhabiting common ground with the suffering, the joy, and the seeking of others. His bias is ecumenical in the best and most generous sense of the word. This is an excellent book for the person just awakening to their spiritual path and for the seeker of many years.--Julian Riepe

The Tibetan Book of the Dead (Mystical Classics of the World) (Paperback) Imagine that as you leave your body at death, you hear the voice of a loved one whispering in your ear explanations of everything you see in the world beyond. Unlike other translations of Bar do thos grol (or The Tibetan Book of the Dead), Robert Thurman's takes literally the entire gamut of metaphysical assumptions. Thurman translates Bar do thos grol as The Great Book of Natural Liberation through Understanding in the Between. It is one of many mortuary texts of the Nyingma sect of Tibetan Buddhism and is commonly recited to or by a person facing imminent death. Thurman reproduces it for this purpose, explaining in some depth the Tibetan conception of postmortem existence. Over as many as 12 days, the deceased person is given explanations of what he or she sees and experiences and is guided through innumerable visions of the realms beyond to reach eventual liberation, or, failing that, a safe rebirth. Like a backpacker's guide to a foreign land, Thurman's version is clear, detailed, and sympathetic to the inexperienced voyager. It includes background and supplementary information, and even illustrations (sorry, no maps). Don't wait until the journey has begun. Every page should be read and memorized well ahead of time. --Brian Bruya

The Lhasa Moon Tibetan Cookbook a collection of recipes from "one of the finest Tibetan restaurants in the West."

From Library Journal - It's probably safe to say that few libraries or cooks have a Tibetan cookbook on their shelves. Lhasa Moon is a Tibetan restaurant in San Francisco, and Wangmo, its owner, and writer Houshmand have put together a collection of 80 recipes that will serve as an introduction to Tibetan food for most readers. Chiles (lots of them), garlic, ginger, Szechuan peppercorns, and cilantro are favorite flavorings. Wangmo has modified some dishes for American tastes, created more vegetarian dishes than one typically finds in Tibetan cooking, and adapted recipes as necessary to Western ingredients. However, sidebars are careful to describe the authentic versions, and chapter introductions and photographs and line drawings throughout provide more context.

The Nepal Cookbook is the second edition of the 1989 cookbook entitled Nepali Delights.

Midwest Book Review The Nepal Cookbook is a treasury of recipes from the members of the Association of Nepalis in the Americas representing the best of authentic Nepali cuisine. From festival dishes to simple everyday favorites, the recipes included here reflect the many facets of Nepal's colorful and diverse cultures. Nepali food, which is simple to prepare and subtle in flavor, is influenced by the cuisines of both India and Tibet. Here are recipes for all the elements of a full-course Nepali meal: appetizers, soups and lentils, vegetables, meats, pickles and chutneys, rice and breads, and desserts. The most commonly used flavorings include cumin , red and green chilies, garlic, ginger, szechwan pepper, cilantro, and scallions. Special cooking methods and ingredients unfamiliar to a Western audience are fully explained. The Nepal Cookbook is an ideal reference for gourmet clubs and any chef with an adventurous nature. A terrific addition to any kitchen bookshelf!

Peacock in the Poison Grove : Two Buddhist Texts on Training the Mind was written by Michael J. Sweet, Leonard Zwilling, Geshe Lhundub Sopa

From the introduction: "The two teachings contained in this book, "The Wheel-Weapon" and "The Poison-Destroying Peacock" are early examples of the Tibetan religious genre known as lojong, or mind training. This class of literature developed within the Kadampa school, the earliest of the organized Tibetan Buddhist denominations, and was introduced to Tibet by Atisha Dipamkara, best known for his teachings on "The Seven Points of Mind Training". Atisha's arrival in western Tibet in 1042 is universally regarded as one of the great landmarks in the history of Tibetan Buddhism. (...) By the fifteenth century, the Kadampa evolved into the Gelukpa."

"In fact, lojong is not just a genre of religious literature, but the defining ideology of the Kadampa school itself, just as the Great Perfection (dzogchen) is for the Nyingmapas, the Great Seal (mahamudra) for the Kagyupas, the Paths and Fruits for the Sakyapas, and the Stages of the Path (lamrim) for the Gelukpas."

More books will be added soon. If you can't find what you're looking for, use the link below to find it on Amazon. All profits from using this link (although smaller) will go to the Indiana Buddhist Center.

[Books Page 1]  [ Books Page 2]  [ Audio Tapes Page 1] [DVD's Page 1]