Buddhist Audio Books
The Rainbow road
From Tooting Broadway to Kalimpong: Memoirs of an English BuddhistBy Sangharakshita
ISBN: 0904766942
Read by Subhadra
This is the first set of memoirs by Sangharakshita. Set out on the Rainbow Road and take an extraordinary journey from wartime London to the dusty villages, ashrams and mountain caves of India. Long before thousands of Westerners flocked to Asia in search of themselves, Dennis Lingwood set out to search for the Buddha’s teaching in the land that gave birth to Buddhism. Accompanying him in his quest, we can follow his life as a homeless wanderer and witness his ordination as the Buddhist monk Sangharakshita. Although full of fascinating characters and keen insights, The Rainbow Road is not just an entertaining travel book - it is a remarkable record of a journey of spiritual exploration.
‘Non-fiction it may be, but he makes his points with all the finesse and resonance of a novelist.... His deft prose should invite comparison with E.M. Forster’ Times Literary Supplement
The Rainbow Road was originally published in two parts: Learning to Walk and The Thousand-Petalled Lotus.
‘Non-fiction it may be, but he makes his points with all the finesse and resonance of a novelist.... His deft prose should invite comparison with E.M. Forster’ Times Literary Supplement
The Rainbow Road was originally published in two parts: Learning to Walk and The Thousand-Petalled Lotus.
Wisdom Beyond Words
The Buddhist Vision of Ultimate RealityBy Sangharakshita
ISBN: 0904766772
Read by Subhadra
Dangerously disorientating to the unwary student, the Prajnaparamita or Perfection of Wisdom teachings can offer a fast route to some well-trodden blind alleys - or to the very heart of Reality.
Sangharakshita’s clarity, scholarship and insight are revealed in this commentary on the Diamond Sutra, the Heart Sutra and the Ratnagunasamcayagatha - core teachings of Mahayana Buddhism. Using this book as a guide we can begin our own investigation of these sublime teachings - and also perhaps be rewarded with a world-shattering glimpse of the Buddhist vision of ultimate Reality.
a learned but practically oriented commentary ... a down-to-earth ring ... which makes the often lofty ideals of the Mahayana path manageable Traditional Yoga Studies Interactive
Sangharakshita’s clarity, scholarship and insight are revealed in this commentary on the Diamond Sutra, the Heart Sutra and the Ratnagunasamcayagatha - core teachings of Mahayana Buddhism. Using this book as a guide we can begin our own investigation of these sublime teachings - and also perhaps be rewarded with a world-shattering glimpse of the Buddhist vision of ultimate Reality.
a learned but practically oriented commentary ... a down-to-earth ring ... which makes the often lofty ideals of the Mahayana path manageable Traditional Yoga Studies Interactive
Tales of Freedom
Wisdom from the Buddhist TraditionBy Vessantara
ISBN: 1899579273
Read by Subhadra
A Zen monk strides empty handed into a tiger's cage. An Indian master spontaneously empties a bag of gold dust into the air. A young woman lays down the burden of her dead child and asks the Buddha to accept her as his disciple.
Here is another book by the popular author, Vessantara, who takes incidents from the lives of the Buddha, Tibetan mystics and Zen masters and uses them to show how we too can live a more fulfilled life. Full of colourful tales, Vessantara's vivid, imaginative style makes these ancient, well-loved stories inspiring tools for self-development.
Here is another book by the popular author, Vessantara, who takes incidents from the lives of the Buddha, Tibetan mystics and Zen masters and uses them to show how we too can live a more fulfilled life. Full of colourful tales, Vessantara's vivid, imaginative style makes these ancient, well-loved stories inspiring tools for self-development.
The three jewels
The Central Ideals of BuddhismBy Sangharakshita
ISBN: 1899579060
Read by Subhadra
Three precious jewels lie at the heart of Buddhism, radiating the light of awakening into the world, the Buddha Jewel: as symbol of Enlightment (the figure of the Buddha), the Dharma jewel: the path to Enlightenment taught by the Buddha, the Sangha jewel, the Enlightened followers of the Buddha down the ages who have truly devoted their lives to his teachings. This book illuminates these precious gems in a clear and radiating light
The Inconceivable Emancipation
Themes from the Vimalakirti-NirdesaBy Sangharakshita
ISBN: 0904766888
Read by Subhadra
Step into the magical, paradoxical world of a Mahayana Buddhist scripture. Mahayana Buddhism, to which the Zen and Tibetan traditions are related, emphasizes the ideal of the Bodhisattva, one who seeks to become Enlightened out of a compassionate desire to help all living beings. In the Vimalakirti-Nirdesa we meet the Bodhisattva Vimalakirti, a worker of wonders, a formidable debater and skillful teacher. Sangharakshita’s commentary illuminates this original text, its myths and symbols, and explores the powerful figure of Vimalakirti and the significance of his teachings. By journeying into this scripture we can find the wisdom and compassion that lie at the heart of the Bodhisattva path and discover, communicate and put into action Vimalakirti’s message
Drama of Cosmic Enlightenment
Parables, Myths, and Symbols of the White Lotus SutraBy Sangharakshita
ISBN: 0904766594
Read by Subhadra
An image or story can mysteriously convey a sense of truth that the most convincing intellectual argument cannot. In the White Lotus Sutra, bursting with symbols, imagery and myths, we meet the Buddha as a story-teller. Indeed, this sutra tells the greatest of all stories, that of human life and human potential. This great story takes the cosmos as its stage and all sentient beings as its players, yet within it lie many tales that address aspects of our lives or personalities. This delightfully illustrated commentary on one of the most influential, revered and well-loved Buddhist scriptures brings these stories vividly to life and shows how they relate to our own spiritual quest.
Dhammapada
the way of truthBy Sangharakshita
ISBN: 9781899579938
Read by Subhadra
Universal in its message, deep in its teaching, refined simplicity of language.
‘Experiences are preceded by mind, led by mind, and produced by mind. If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows like a shadow that never departs.’
The Dhammapada is one of the most popular and influential of Buddhist scriptures. Contained within its short verses are the essential teachings of the Buddha, words to be savoured, reflected upon and revisited.
‘Experiences are preceded by mind, led by mind, and produced by mind. If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows like a shadow that never departs.’
The Dhammapada is one of the most popular and influential of Buddhist scriptures. Contained within its short verses are the essential teachings of the Buddha, words to be savoured, reflected upon and revisited.
The Yogi's Joy
Songs of MilarepaBy Sangharakshita
ISBN: 1899579664
Read by Subhadra
Experience the magical world of Milarepa. Milarepa was a much-loved Tibetan yogi, poet, and teacher. His ‘hundred thousand songs’ have inspired and guided Buddhist practitioners for centuries, yet examinations of them are few. The Yogi’s Joy explores some of these songs to help show how their lessons are relevant to us today.
Here, three stories — The Tale of Red Rock Jewel Valley, Song of a Yogi’s Joy and The Meeting at Silver Spring — are considered. In them, we find such themes as fear, honesty, self-respect, practising with others, the student-teacher relationship, and how we can make teachings our own. Sangharakshita, Buddhist teacher and writer, draws out these elements, bringing alive the delight, joy – and challenges – of this revolutionary guru.
Here, three stories — The Tale of Red Rock Jewel Valley, Song of a Yogi’s Joy and The Meeting at Silver Spring — are considered. In them, we find such themes as fear, honesty, self-respect, practising with others, the student-teacher relationship, and how we can make teachings our own. Sangharakshita, Buddhist teacher and writer, draws out these elements, bringing alive the delight, joy – and challenges – of this revolutionary guru.
Who is the Buddha?
-By Sangharakshita
ISBN: 1899579516
Read by Tejasvini
The image of the Buddha, cross-legged and meditating, appears increasingly in magazines and on television in the West. But who was the Buddha?
Here we see the Buddha as a historical figure, a warrior prince searching for the truth; in the context of the evolution of the human race, as the pinnacle of human perfection, and as an archetype, in the context of both time and eternity.
Here we see the Buddha as a historical figure, a warrior prince searching for the truth; in the context of the evolution of the human race, as the pinnacle of human perfection, and as an archetype, in the context of both time and eternity.
What is the Dharma?
The Essential Teachings of the BuddhaBy Sangharakshita
ISBN: 189957901X
Read by Tejasvini
To walk in the footsteps of the Buddha we need a clear and thorough guide to the essential principles of Buddhism. Whether we have just begun our journey or are a practitioner with more experience, What is the Dharma? is an indispensable exploration of the Buddha’s teachings as found in the main Buddhist traditions.
Constantly returning to the question ‘How can this help me?’ Sangharakshita examines a variety of fundamental principles, including:
karma and re-birth,
nirvana and shunyata,
conditioned co-production,
impermanence, unsatisfactoriness and insubstantiality,
ethics, meditation and wisdom.
The result is a refreshing, unsettling, and inspiring book that lays before us the essential Dharma, timeless and universal.
Constantly returning to the question ‘How can this help me?’ Sangharakshita examines a variety of fundamental principles, including:
karma and re-birth,
nirvana and shunyata,
conditioned co-production,
impermanence, unsatisfactoriness and insubstantiality,
ethics, meditation and wisdom.
The result is a refreshing, unsettling, and inspiring book that lays before us the essential Dharma, timeless and universal.
Living with Awareness
A Guide to the Satipatthana SuttaBy Sangharakshita
ISBN: 1899579389
Read by Subhadra
Mindfulness is the means by which our consciousness is transformed, transcended, Enlightened.
The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the Buddha’s foremost discourses on mindfulness. In Living with Awareness, a commentary on this sutta, Sangharakshita counsels against an over-narrow interpretation of mindfulness as being simply about developing a focused attention on the present moment. To be fully mindful, one needs to look further than the end of one’s nose, and integrate even the most rarefied practice into the context of a fully lived human life.
The guiding principle of Buddhism is that things change - we change - and that we have the capacity to direct that change towards spiritual growth and development. In being mindful, therefore, we recollect not only the breadth of our current experience, but also our purpose in attending to it. Living with Awareness explores this principle progressively through the filter of the sutta.
The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the Buddha’s foremost discourses on mindfulness. In Living with Awareness, a commentary on this sutta, Sangharakshita counsels against an over-narrow interpretation of mindfulness as being simply about developing a focused attention on the present moment. To be fully mindful, one needs to look further than the end of one’s nose, and integrate even the most rarefied practice into the context of a fully lived human life.
The guiding principle of Buddhism is that things change - we change - and that we have the capacity to direct that change towards spiritual growth and development. In being mindful, therefore, we recollect not only the breadth of our current experience, but also our purpose in attending to it. Living with Awareness explores this principle progressively through the filter of the sutta.
Precious Teachers
Indian Memoirs of an English BuddhistBy Sangharakshita
ISBN: 1899579788
Read by Subhadra
In this latest addition to his memoirs, Dennis Lingwood, better known as Urgyen Sangharakshita, shares his recollections of the diverse men and women who lived in and passed through Kalimpong, a hill station at the foot of the Himalayas, just
as Tibetan Buddhism began its exodus into India; Tibetan gurus, peasant farmers, tradesmen and travelling academics. A colourful, thoughtful and entertaining panorama of humanity unfolds in this unique collection of reminiscences.
as Tibetan Buddhism began its exodus into India; Tibetan gurus, peasant farmers, tradesmen and travelling academics. A colourful, thoughtful and entertaining panorama of humanity unfolds in this unique collection of reminiscences.
Living Ethically
Advice from Nagarjuna’s Precious GarlandBy Sangharakshita
ISBN: 9781899579860
Read by Vajragupta
In a world of increasingly confused ethics, Living Ethically looks back over the centuries for guidance from Nagarjuna, one of the greatest teachers of the Mahayana tradition.
Drawing on the themes of Nargarjuna’s famous scripture, Precious Garland of Advice for a King, this book explores the relationship between an ethical lifestyle and the development of wisdom. Covering both personal and collective ethics, Sangharakshita considers such enduring themes as pride, power and business, as well as friendship, love and generosity.
Drawing on the themes of Nargarjuna’s famous scripture, Precious Garland of Advice for a King, this book explores the relationship between an ethical lifestyle and the development of wisdom. Covering both personal and collective ethics, Sangharakshita considers such enduring themes as pride, power and business, as well as friendship, love and generosity.
In the Sign of the Golden Wheel
Indian Memoirs of an English BuddhistBy Sangharakshita
ISBN: 1899579141
Read by Subhadra
The miracle of the talking calf, rumours of black magic and lamas with ‘supernormal’ powers: Sangharakshita’s third volume of memories is full of curious episodes that could only happen in India.
In the Sign of the Golden Wheel recounts the unique experiences of an English Buddhist monk working in the mid-1950s to revive Buddhism in the land of its birth. From his hermitage in the foothills of the Himalayas, Sangharakshita travels across India to the movie world of Bombay and on to a moving and dramatic climax - addressing hundreds of thousands of ex-Untouchables in thirty mass meetings in just four days, to console and encourage them following the sudden death of their hero, the remarkable Dr Ambedkar, only weeks after their mass conversion to Buddhism. Brimming with life and colour, this book is a notable addition to the world of travel literature as we follow the spiritual adventures of an unorthodox and extraordinary Englishman.
In the Sign of the Golden Wheel recounts the unique experiences of an English Buddhist monk working in the mid-1950s to revive Buddhism in the land of its birth. From his hermitage in the foothills of the Himalayas, Sangharakshita travels across India to the movie world of Bombay and on to a moving and dramatic climax - addressing hundreds of thousands of ex-Untouchables in thirty mass meetings in just four days, to console and encourage them following the sudden death of their hero, the remarkable Dr Ambedkar, only weeks after their mass conversion to Buddhism. Brimming with life and colour, this book is a notable addition to the world of travel literature as we follow the spiritual adventures of an unorthodox and extraordinary Englishman.
Living with Kindness
The Buddha's teaching on mettaBy Sangharakshita
ISBN: 1899579648
Read by Satyadaya
Just as a mother would protect her only child at the risk of her own life … let thoughts
of boundless love pervade the whole world. from the Karaniya Metta Sutta
Kindness is one of the most basic qualities we can possess, and one of the most
powerful. In Buddhism it is called metta – an opening of the heart to all that we meet.
Any friendly feeling contains the kernel of metta. It is a seed that is waiting to be
developed, right here amidst the conditions of our daily life.
Living with Kindness is a pithy commentary on the Buddha's teaching of metta in the
Karaniya metta sutta. In it, Sangharakshita, a teacher of Buddhism for over fifty years,
shows us how to cultivate many of the facets of kindness in ordinary, everyday life.
Outlining the nurturing conditions the seed of kindness needs to grow, he encourages
us to follow the path that leads to a warm and expansive heart — and beyond. And
with that heart, we can be happier and more fulfilled in ourselves and empathise with
the joys and sufferings of all living beings.
The Religion of Art
(Sangharakshita Classics)By Sangharakshita
ISBN: 9781899579884
Read by Ratnadhya
In this collection of four essays, Sangharakshita—a Buddhist teacher and poet— discusses how art, like religion, can challenge our perceptions, awareness and experience of truth.
Recounting his own experiences as a young monk and poet, he urges the reader to apply a similar kind of awareness in looking at art to that developed in meditation. In so doing he shows how both have the power to transform the way we see ourselves and the world.
This new edition has been entirely reset and features a timeless new cover and introduction by Dhivan.
Recounting his own experiences as a young monk and poet, he urges the reader to apply a similar kind of awareness in looking at art to that developed in meditation. In so doing he shows how both have the power to transform the way we see ourselves and the world.
This new edition has been entirely reset and features a timeless new cover and introduction by Dhivan.
Bodhisattva Ideal
Wisdom and Compassion in BuddhismBy Sangharakshita
ISBN: 978189957920
Read by Vidyakaya
How can we be happy and at the same time responsive to the suffering of others? It can be done: this is the message of the Bodhisattva ideal. The image of the Bodhisattva, one who wishes to gain Enlightenment for the sake of all beings, lies at the heart of much of Indian, Tibetan and Chinese Buddhism. For one wishing to follow this path, the development of inner calm and positivity that leads to true wisdom is balanced by a genuine and active concern for others which flowers into great compassion. Sustained by a deep understanding gained through meditation and reflection, the Bodhisattva is able to work tirelessly for the benefit of all. Sangharakshita places the ideal of the Bodhisattva within the context of the entire Buddhist tradition. Unfolding this vision of our potential, he demonstrates how we ourselves can move towards this ideal.
Facing Mount Kanchenjunga
An English Buddhist in the Eastern HimalayasBy Sangharakshita
ISBN: 9780904766523
Read by Subhadra
This is the second set of memoirs by Sangharakshita.
In 1950 Kalimpong was a lively trading town in the intrigue-ridden corner of India that borders Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim and Tibet. Finding a welcome in this town, nestled high in the mountains, were a bewildering array of guests and settlers: ex-colonial military men, missionaries, incarnate Tibetan lamas, exiled royalty and Sangharakshita, a young English monk attempting to establish a Buddhist movement for local youngsters.
In this delightful volume of memoirs, Sangharakshita shares the incidents and insights of his early years in Kalimpong. These include brushes with the Buddhist ‘establishment’, a meeting with the ‘Untouchables’ saviour Dr B.R. Ambedkar and his friendship with Lama Anagarika Govinda. Behind these events we witness the development of this remarkable young man into an increasingly effective interpreter of Buddhism for a new age.
In 1950 Kalimpong was a lively trading town in the intrigue-ridden corner of India that borders Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim and Tibet. Finding a welcome in this town, nestled high in the mountains, were a bewildering array of guests and settlers: ex-colonial military men, missionaries, incarnate Tibetan lamas, exiled royalty and Sangharakshita, a young English monk attempting to establish a Buddhist movement for local youngsters.
In this delightful volume of memoirs, Sangharakshita shares the incidents and insights of his early years in Kalimpong. These include brushes with the Buddhist ‘establishment’, a meeting with the ‘Untouchables’ saviour Dr B.R. Ambedkar and his friendship with Lama Anagarika Govinda. Behind these events we witness the development of this remarkable young man into an increasingly effective interpreter of Buddhism for a new age.
Audio Books
- The Rainbow road
- Wisdom Beyond Words
- Tales of Freedom
- The three jewels
- The Inconceivable Emancipation
- Drama of Cosmic Enlightenment
- Dhammapada
- The Yogi's Joy
- Who is the Buddha?
- What is the Dharma?
- Living with Awareness
- Precious Teachers
- Living Ethically
- In the Sign of the Golden Wheel
- Living with Kindness
- The Religion of Art
- Bodhisattva Ideal
- Facing Mount Kanchenjunga
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