<<

Recommended Books

Revised March 30, 2013

The books listed below represent a small selection of some of the key texts in each category. The name(s) provided below each title designate either the primary author, editor, or translator.

Introductions

Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction Damien Keown

Taking the Path of Robert Aitken

Everyday Zen Charlotte

Start Where You Are Pema Chodron

The Eight Gates of Zen

Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind Shunryu Suzuki

Buddhism Without Beliefs: A Contemporary Guide to Awakening Stephen Batchelor

The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming into Peace, Joy, and Liberation

Buddhism For Beginners

The Buddha and His Teachings Sherab Chödzin Kohn and Samuel Bercholz

The Spirit of the Buddha Martine Batchelor

1 and Zen Practice

Mindfulness in Plain English

The Four Foundations of in Plain English Bhante Henepola Gunaratana

Change Your Mind: A Practical Guide to Paramananda

Making Space: Creating a Home Meditation Practice Thich Nhat Hanh

The Heart of Buddhist Meditation Thera Nyanaponika

Meditation for Beginners Jack Kornfield

Being Nobody, Going Nowhere: on the Buddhist Path

The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation Thich Nhat Hanh

Zen Meditation in Plain English John Daishin Buksbazen and

Beyond Thinking: A Guide to Zen Meditation Eihei

On Zen Practice: Body, Breath, and Mind Hakuyu

Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life Jon Kabat-Zinn

How to Train a Wild Elephant

Breathing through the Whole Body: The Buddha's Instructions on Integrating Mind, Body, and Breath Johnson

Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism Chogyam Trungpa

2 Encouraging Words: Zen Buddhist Teachings for Western Students Robert Aitken

Life of the Buddha

Buddha Karen Armstrong

Old Path White Clouds: Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha Thich Nhat Hanh

Path of : Stories from the Buddha's Life Thich Nhat Hanh

The Buddha: A Very Short Introduction Michael Carrithers

Walking the Buddhist Path

The Heart of Being John Daido Loori

For a Future to Be Possible: for Everyday Life Thich Nhat Hanh

Being Upright

Friends on the Path: Living Spiritual Communities Thich Nhat Hanh

Stepping into Freedom: An Introduction to Buddhist (Monastic) Training Thich Nhat Hanh

The Heart Is Noble: Changing the World from the Inside Out The

The Mind of Clover: Essays in Zen Buddhist Ethics Robert Aitkin

Being Good: Buddhist Ethics for Everyday Life Venerable Master

Chanting from the Heart: Buddhist Ceremonies and Daily Practices Thich Nhat Hanh

Living by Vow: A Practical Introduction to Eight Essential Zen and Texts Shohaku Okumura

3 The Six Perfections: Buddhism and the Cultivation of Character Dale Wright

Taking Our Places: The Buddhist Path to Truly Growing Up Norman Fischer

Buddhist Canon (Entry Level Studies)

In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon Bodhi and The Dalai

The

Turning the Wheel of Truth: Commentary on the Buddha's First Teaching Sucitto

First Buddhist Women: Poems and Stories of Awakening Susan Murcott

Great Disciples of the Buddha: Their Lives, Their Works, Their Legacy and Hellmuth Hecker

Buddhist Pali Canon (Advanced Scriptural Studies)

The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha:

The Long Discourses of the Buddha: Maurice Walshe

The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha: Bhikkhu Nanamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi

The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: Bhikkhu Bodhi

A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma Bhikkhu Bodhi

Collegiate Level Textbooks

The Experience of Buddhism: Sources and Interpretations John S. Strong

4 An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices Peter Harvey

Buddhist : A Historical Introduction Richard H. Robinson

Introducing the Buddhist Experience Second Edition Donald W. Mitchell

Mahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations Paul Williams

Reference

The Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen

Encyclopedia of Buddhism Damien Keown and Charles S. Prebish

The Buddhist World John Powers

A Dictionary of Buddhism Damien Keown

A Concise Encyclopedia of Buddhism John Powers

Faces of Compassion: Classic Archetypes and Their Modern Expression - An Introduction to Buddhism

Buddhist : Origin, Development, Transmission Kogen Mizuno

The Social Organization of Zen Practice: Constructing Transcultural Reality David L. Preston

Mahayana Sutras and Literature

The Lotus Burton Watson

The Sutra of Hui-Neng: Grand Master of Zen Thomas Cleary

The : Transforming the Way We Perceive the World Soeng

5 The Diamond That Cuts Through Illusion Thich Nhat Hanh

Cultivating the Empty Field: The Silent Illumination of Hongzhi Taigen Dan Leighton

The Way of the Bodhisattva

Zen Flesh, Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings and

The Sayings of Layman P’ang: A Zen Classic of James Green

The Zen Teachings of

The Lankavatara Sutra: Translation and Commentary Red Pine

The Sutra (Burton Watson) OR ()

The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of The Thomas Cleary

The Heart of Understanding: Commentaries on the Thich Nhat Hanh

The Heart of the Universe: Exploring the Heart Sutra Mu Soeng

There Is No Suffering: A Commentary on the Heart Sutra Sheng Yen

Awakening of the Heart: Essential Buddhist Sutras and Commentary Thich Nhat Hanh

Hsin-Hsin Ming: Verses on the Faith-Mind , Richard B. Clark

Treasury of the True Eye: Zen Master Dogen's Shobo Genzo Eihei Dogen

The Shurangama Sutra: Sutra Text and Supplements

6

A Buddha from : Zen Teachings of Taego Thomas Cleary

The Zen Monastic Experience Robert Buswell

The Compass of Zen Seung Sahn

Wonhyo's of Mind A. Charles Muller

Dropping Ashes on the Buddha Zen Master Seung Sahn

Wanting Enlightenment Is a Big Mistake Seung Sahn and Hyon Gak

The Mirror of Zen: The Classic Guide to Buddhist Practice by Zen Master So Sahn Boep Joeng

No River to Cross: Trusting the Enlightenment That's Always Right Here Zen Master

Currents and Countercurrents: Korean Influences on the East Asian Buddhist Traditions Robert E. Buswell

The Way of Korean Zen Kusan Sunim

Don't-Know Mind: The Spirit of Korean Zen Richard Shrobe

Thousand Peaks Mu Seong

Tracing Back the Radiance: Chinul's Korean Way of Zen Robert Buswell

Makers of Modern Korean Buddhism Jin Y. Park

Sermon of One Hundred Days Venerable

7 Philosophy and Theology (Advanced Studies)

What the Buddha Taught Walpola Rahula

Basic Buddhist Concepts Kogen Mizuno

Buddhist Philosophy: Essential Readings William Edelglass and Jay Garfield

An Introduction to Zen Buddhism D.T. Suzuki

Essential Buddhism: A Complete Guide to Beliefs and Practices Jack Maguire

Philosophical Meditations on Zen Buddhism Dale S. Wright

Zen Philosophy, Zen Practice Thich Thien-An

Toward a Philosophy of Zen Buddhism Toshihiko Izutsu

A Companion to Steven M. Emmanuel

Classics of Buddhism and Zen: Volumes 1-5 Thomas Cleary

Ethics

The Great Compassion: Buddhism and Animal Rights Norm Phelps

To Cherish All Life: A Buddhist Case for Becoming Vegetarian

Food of : Buddhist Teachings on Abstaining from Meat Shabkar

Buddhist Ethics: A Very Short Introduction Damien Keown

Ethics for the New Millennium

8 Destroying Forever: Buddhist Ethics Essays In Honor Of Damien Keown John Powers and Charles S. Prebish

Buddhism and Bioethics Damien Keown

Buddhism and Abortion Damien Keown

An Introduction to Buddhist Ethics: Foundations, Values and Issues Peter Harvey

The Nature of Buddhist Ethics Damien Keown

Contemporary Buddhist Ethics Damien Keown

Sustainability and Consumption

Bicycles and Buddhists: Encounters with a Sustainable Living Community Roberta Palmer

Mindfulness in the Marketplace: Compassionate Responses to Consumerism Allan Hunt Badiner

The Wisdom of Sustainability: Buddhist for the 21st Century

Hooked!: Buddhist Writings on Greed, Desire, and the Urge to Consume Stephanie Kaza

Environmental Consciousness

Dharma Rain: Sources of Buddhist Environmentalism Kenneth Kraft

Mindfully Green: A Personal and Spiritual Guide to Whole Earth Thinking Stephanie Kaza

Dharma Gaia: A Harvest of Essays in Buddhism and Ecology Allan Hunt Badiner

The Attentive Heart: Conversations with Trees Stephanie Kaza

9 The World We Have: A Buddhist Approach to Peace and Ecology Thich Nhat Hanh

Teachings of the Earth: Zen and the Environment John Daido Loori

Love Letter to the Earth Thich Nhat Hanh

Buddhism and Ecology: The Interconnection of Dharma and Deeds Mary Evelyn Tucker

World as Lover, World as Self: Courage for Global Justice and Ecological Renewal Joanna Macy

Sexuality and Gender

The Red Thread: Buddhist Approaches to Sexuality Bernard Faure

The Power of Denial: Buddhism, Purity, and Gender Bernard Faure

Buddhism After Patriarchy: A Feminist History, Analysis, and Reconstruction of Buddhism Rita M. Gross

Shoes Outside the Door: Desire, Devotion, and Excess at Michael Downing

Meeting The Great Bliss Queen: Buddhists, Feminists, And The Art Of The Self Anne Carolyn Klein

Queer Dharma: Voices of Gay Buddhists Vol. 1 & 2 Winston Leyland

A Bull of a Man: Images of Masculinity, Sex, and the Body in Indian Buddhism John Powers

Buddhism, Sexuality, and Gender Jose Ignacio Cabezon

The Narrow Way: A Memoir Of Coming Out, Getting Clean and Finding Buddha Chris Lemig

10

Women in Korean Zen: Lives and Practices Martine Batchelor

Buddhist Women on the Edge: Contemporary Perspectives from the Western Frontier Marianne Dresser

Turning The Wheel: American Women Creating the New Buddhism Sandy Boucher

Women's Buddhism, Buddhism's Women -- Tradition, Revision, Renewal Ellison Banks Findly

Meetings with Remarkable Women: Buddhist Teachers in America Lenore Friedman

Women Living Zen: Japanese Soto Buddhist Paula Kane Robinson Arai

Women of the Way: Discovering 2,500 Years of Buddhist Wisdom Sallie Tisdale

Buddhism Through American Women's Eyes Lekshe Tsomo

Women Under Primitive Buddhism: Laywomen and Almswomen I. B. Horner

Zen Women: Beyond Tea Ladies, Iron Maidens, and Macho Masters Grace Schireson and Miriam Levering

Ties That Bind: Maternal Imagery and Discourse in Indian Buddhism Reiko Ohnuma

A Gathering of Spirit: Women Teaching in American Buddhism Ellen S. Sidor

Daughters of Emptiness: Poems of Chinese Buddhist Nuns Beata Grant

Women in Buddhism: Images of the Feminine in the Mahayana Tradition Diana Y. Paul

Korean Buddhist Nuns and Laywomen: Hidden Histories, Enduring Vitality Cho Eun-Su

11 Right , Right Life: Insights of a Woman Buddhist Priest Jiko Kohno

Blossoms of the Dharma: Living as a Buddhist Thubten Chodron

Buddhist Women Across Cultures Karma Lekshe Tsomo

African American Voices

Meeting Faith: The Forest Journals of a Black Buddhist Nun Faith Adiele

Dreaming Me: Black, Baptist, and Buddhist - One Woman's Spiritual Journey

Being Black: Zen and the Art of Living with Fearlessness and Grace

Turning the Wheel: Essays on Buddhism and Writing Charles Johnson

Dharma, Color, and Culture: New Voices in Western Buddhism Hilda Gutierez Baldoquin

Comparative Buddhism

Going Home: Jesus and Buddha as Brothers and Living Buddha, Living Christ Thich Nhat Hanh

Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings Marcus Borg

Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian Paul F. Knitter

Opening to You: Zen-Inspired Translations of the Psalms Norman Fischer

The Jew in the Lotus

That's Funny, You Don't Look Buddhist: On Being a Faithful Jew and a Passionate Buddhist Sylvia Boorstein

12 Jewish Dharma: A Guide to the Practice of and Zen Brenda Shoshanna

The Ground We Share: Everyday Practice, Buddhist and Christian Robert Aitken

Unexpected Way: On Converting from Buddhism to Catholicism Paul Williams

Benedict's Dharma Patrick Henry

Wrestling with the Ox: A Theology of Religious Experience Paul O. Ingram

The Process of Buddhist-Christian Dialogue Paul O. Ingram

The Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the Teachings of Jesus Dalai Lama

Beside Still Waters: Jews, Christians, and the Way of the Buddha Harold Kasimow

Science and Buddhism

Buddhism and : Breaking New Ground B. Alan Wallace

Contemplative Science: Where Buddhism and Neuroscience Converge B. Alan Wallace

Buddhism and Science: A Guide for the Perplexed Donald S. Lopez Jr.

The Universe in a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science and Dalai Lama

Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom Rick Hanson

The Bodhisattva's Brain: Buddhism Naturalized Owen Flanagan

The Quantum and the Lotus: A Journey to the Frontiers where Science and Buddhism Meet and Trinh Xuan Thuan

13 Zen and the Brain: Toward and Understanding of Meditation and Consciousness James Austin, M.D.

Engaged Buddhism

Engaged Christopher S. Queen

Bearing Witness: A Zen Master's Lessons in Making Peace

Street Zen: The Life and Work of David Schneider

Mindful Politics: A Buddhist Guide to Making the World a Better Place Melvin McLeod

Not Turning Away: The Practice of Engaged Buddhism Susan Moon

Socially Engaged Buddhism Sallie B. King

Being Benevolence: Social Ethics of Engaged Buddhism Sallie B. King

The Engaged Spiritual Life: A Buddhist Approach to Transforming Ourselves and the World Donald Rothberg

The Bodhisattva's Embrace: Dispatches from Engaged's Buddhism's Front Lines

The New Social Face of Buddhism: A Call to Action Ken Jones

The Great Awakening: A Buddhist Social Theory

Good Citizens: Creating Enlightened Society Thich Nhat Hanh

One City: A Declaration of Interdependence Ethan Nichtern

Altars in the Street: A Courageous Memoir of Community and Spiritual Awakening Melody Chavis

14 Buddhist Exploration of Peace And Justice Chanju Mun

Buddhism And Peace: Theory And Practice Chanju Mun

Buddhist Peacework -- Creating Cultures of Peace David W. Chappell

Health, Cooking, and Mindful Eating

The Zen of Eating R. Kabatznick

If the Buddha Came to Dinner: How to Nourish Your Body to Awaken Your Spirit Halé Sofia Schatz

Mindful Eating: A Guide to Rediscovering a Healthy and Joyful Relationship with Food Jan Chozen Bays

The Zen Cookbook: Stories and Recipes from a Zen Kitchen Cheri Huber

Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life Thich Nhat Hanh

The Cosmos in a Carrot: A Zen Guide to Eating Well Carmen Yuen

The Enlightened Kitchen: Fresh Vegetable Dishes from the of Mari Fujii

Veggiyana: The Dharma of Cooking: With 108 Deliciously Easy Vegetarian Recipes Sandra Garson

The Complete Tassajara Cookbook: Recipes, Techniques, and Reflections from the Famed Zen Kitchen

In Buddha's Kitchen: Cooking, Being Cooked, and Other Adventures in a Meditation Center Kimberley Snow

3 Bowls : Vegetarian Recipes from an American Zen Buddhist Monastery Nancy O'Hara

15 Suffering, Illness, and Dying

Hidden Spring: A Buddhist Woman Confronts Cancer Sandy Boucher

Storms Can't Hurt the Sky: A Buddhist Path Through Divorce Gabriel Cohen

Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness Jon Kabat-Zinn

Murder As A Call to Love: A True Story of Transformation and Forgiveness Judith Toy

When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times Pema Chodron

Being with Dying: Cultivating Compassion and Fearlessness in the Presence of Death

Grieving Mindfully: A Compassionate and Spiritual Guide to Coping with Loss Sameet M. Kumar

Wheel of Life and Death: A Practical and Spiritual Guide Roshi Philip Kapleau

How to Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers Toni Bernhard

Making Friends with Death: A Buddhist Guide to Encountering Mortality Judith L. Lief

Dying with Confidence: A Tibetan Buddhist Guide to Preparing for Death Anyen

No Death, No Fear: Comforting Wisdom for Life Thich Nhat Hanh

A Year to Live: How to Live This Year as If It Were Your Last

Recovery

One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps Kevin Edward Griffin

16 The 12-Step Buddhist: Enhance Recovery from Any Addiction Darren Littlejohn

Mindfulness and the 12 Steps: Living Recovery in the Present Moment Therese Jacobs-Stewart

A Burning Desire: Dharma God and the Path of Recovery Kevin Griffin

Ordinary Recovery: Mindfulness, Addiction, and the Path of Lifelong Sobriety William Alexander and Kevin Griffin

The Zen of Recovery Mel Ash

12 Steps on Buddha's Path: Bill, Buddha, and We Laura S.

Let Go: A Buddhist Guide to Breaking Free of Habits Martine Batchelor

Incarceration

Sitting Inside: Buddhist Practice in America's Prisons Kobai Scott Whitney

That Bird Has My Wings: The Autobiography of an Innocent Man on Death Row Jarvis Jay Masters

Razor-Wire Dharma: A Buddhist Life in Prison Calvin Malone

Dharma in : The Prison Writings of Fleet Maull Fleet Maull

Freedom in Bondage: The Life and Teachings of Adeu Rinpoche Adeu Rinpoche

The Autobiography of a Tibetan Palden Gyatso

Buddhism in the West

Buddhism in America, Revised and Expanded Richard Hughes Seager

Wild Geese: Buddhism in J. Harding, V. Hori, and A. Soucy

17 How the Swans Came to the Lake: A Narrative in America Rick Fields

The Faces of Buddhism in America Charles S. Prebish and Kenneth K. Tanaka

Luminous Passage: The Practice and Study of Buddhism in America Charles S. Prebish

Being Buddhist in a Christian World: Gender and Community in a Korean American Sharon A. Suh

American Buddhism: Methods and Findings in Recent Scholarship Christopher Queen

Zen and Western Thought

Dixie Dharma: Inside a in the American South Jeff Wilson

Silence and Noise: Growing Up Zen in America Ivan Richmond

Westward Dharma: Buddhism beyond Charles S. Prebish

The New Buddhism: The Western Transformation of an Ancient Tradition James William Coleman

Parenting

Planting Seeds: Practicing Mindfulness with Children Thich Nhat Hanh

Buddhism for Mothers of Young Children: Becoming a Mindful Parent Sarah Napthali

Buddhism for Mothers of Schoolchildren: Finding Calm in the Chaos of the School Years Sarah Napthali

Momma Zen: Walking the Crooked Path of Motherhood Karen Maezen Miller

Dharma Family Treasures : Sharing Buddhism With Children Sandy Eastoak

18 Buddha at Bedtime: Tales of Love and Wisdom for You to Read with Your Child to Enchant, Enlighten and Inspire Dharmachari Nagaraja

For Teens

Wide Awake: A Buddhist Guide for Teens Diana Winston

Buddha in Your Backpack: Everyday Buddhism for Teens Franz Metcalf and Monk Song Yonk

Blue Jean Buddha : Voices of Young Buddhists Sumi Loundon and Jack Kornfield

The Buddha's Apprentices: More Voices of Young Buddhists Sumi Loundon and

Creativity

The Zen of : Cultivating Your Artistic Life John Daido Loori

Where the Heart Beats: John Cage, Zen Buddhism, and the Inner Life of Artists

Zen Seeing, Zen Drawing: Meditation in Action Frederick Franck

Art As a Way: A Return to the Spiritual Roots Frederick Franck

True Perception: The Path of Dharma Art Chogyam Trungpa

Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within Natalie Goldberg

Biographies

At Hell’s Gate: A Soldier’s Journey from War to Peace

Divine Stories: Divyavadana Andy Rotman

19 Footprints in the Snow: The Autobiography of a Chinese Buddhist Monk by Master Sheng Yen

Wild Ivy: The Spiritual Autobiography of Zen Master Hakuin

Cave in the Snow: 's Quest for Enlightenment

Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind: The Life and Letters of an Irish Zen Saint Maura O'Halloran

First You Shave Your Head Geri Larkin

One Hundred Days of Solitude: Losing Myself and Finding Grace on a Zen Jane Dobisz

The White Buddhist: The Asian Odyssey of Stephen Prothero

Walking the Tiger's Path: A Soldier's Spiritual Journey in Iraq Paul M. Kendel

The Sutras of Abu Ghraib: Notes from a Conscientious Objector in Iraq Aiden Delgado

The Novice: Why I Became a Buddhist Monk, Why I Quit, and What I Learned Stephen Schettini

Lives Lived, Lives Imagined: Biography in the Buddhist Traditions Linda Covill

An American Buddhist Life: Memoirs of a Modern Dharma Pioneer Charles S. Prebish

The Heavenly Exploits: Buddhist Biographies from the Divyavadana Joel Tatelman

Eat Sleep Sit: My Year at Japan's Most Rigorous Zen Temple Kaoru Nonomura

Keep Me in Your Heart a While: The Haunting Zen of Dosho Mike Port

If You're Lucky, Your Heart Will Break: Field Notes from a Zen Life

20 Masao Abe: A Zen Life of Dialogue Donald W. Mitchell

Challenges: The Life and Teachings of Venerable Master Gary Ho

Novice to Master: An Ongoing Lesson in the Extent of My Own Stupidity Soko Morinaga

Holding the Lotus to the Rock: The Autobiography of Sokei-an, America's First Zen Master Michael Hotz

Work and Daily Life

Awake at Work: 35 Practical Buddhist Principles for Discovering Clarity and Balance in the Midst of Work's Chaos... Michael Carroll

Being Buddha at Work: 108 Ancient Truths on Change, Stress, Money, and Success B J Gallagher

Work: How to Find Joy and Meaning in Each Hour of the Day Thich Nhat Hanh

The Art of Happiness at Work Dalai Lama

Mindfulness and Meaningful Work: Explorations in Right Livelihood Claude Whitmyer and Ernest Callenbach

Work, Sex, Money: Real Life on the Path of Mindfulness Chogyam Trungpa

Fearless at Work: Timeless Teachings for Awakening Confidence, Resilience, and Creativity in the Face of Life's... Michael Carroll

Money, Sex, War, Karma: Notes for a Buddhist Revolution David R. Loy

Work as a Spiritual Practice: A Practical Buddhist Approach to Inner Growth and Satisfaction on the Job Lewis Richmond

21