Happy Reading and Gifting
For the person who has everything - get them the latest electronic gadget for reading all your Buddhist books and magazines.
Or if you prefer to read an "ordinary" book those are also available.
The following is a related reading list on Buddhism recommended by Red Dawn (Refuge name Rinchen
Chodron or "precious dharma lamp"):
Your can purchase a copy of these books at a discount from clicking on the link following it.
If you are interested in a book not listed, just click on ANY link and then search by title or author. Enjoy your reading.
Women of Wisdom by Tsultrim Allione. This book
celebrates the lives of six Tibetan female mystics. These six women
achieved full illumination and serve as an inspiration to women on
a Buddhist path.
The Oral Tradition From Zhang-Zhung by John Myrdhin Reynolds
This book is an introduction to the Bonpo Dzogchen
teachings of the oral tradition known as the Zhang-zhung snyan-rgyud
which originated in Central Asia sometimes called Tazik or Uddiyana.
Blazing Splendor - The Memoirs of Tulku Urgyen
Rinpoche by Erik Pema Kunsang and Marcia Binder Schmidt.
This book on Dzogchen covers the life of Tulku Urgyen
Rinpoche who was one of the greatest teachers of the 20th century.
This book is both spiritual and historical. It would make a treasured gift.
Roaring Silence - Discovering The Mind of Dzogchen by Ngakpa Chogyam
and Khandro Dechen This book on Dzogchen, or the direct
experience of enlightenment, walks the reader through meditation
techniques which enable us to experience ourselves directly. This
text is both practical and inspirational. "The lion, however, does not
give voice to reality in order to intimidate - its roar is simply a
roaring silence: The self-existent proclamation of self-existent
confidence. This confidence, which is naturally ours, is the empty
confidence that has no need of reference points. It is the confidence
that makes itself known within the subatomic structure of our
experience." Well worth the read.
Into Tibet - The CIA's First Atomic Spy and
His Secret Expedition to Lhasa by Thomas Laird
This new book is an exotic and intriguing political
adventure. It is based on investigative reporting on the events that
led up to the loss of Tibetan independence to the Chinese in the 50s.
Covert actions by the CIA's bungled classified missions caused the
death of America's first atomic agent and the Chinese invasion of Tibet.
This is a gripping true story of survival and courage. This comes
highly recommended.
The Sun of Wisdom by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Click here to purchase. Using Nagarjuna's root text and the great modern master Ju Mipham's commentary as a framework, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso explains the most important verses from each chapter in the text in a style that illuminates for modern students both the meaning of these profound teachings and how to put them into practice in a way that benefits both oneself and others.
Machik's Complete Explanation - Clarifying the Meaning of ChodTranslated and edited by Sarah Harding Click here for details. This is a special gift to students of Machik Lapdron's chod practice. This female saint (yogini) addresses our fear, negativity and anger in a direct way. It covers how to invoke and nurture our "demons" and methods to transform these emotions into love by cutting through the ego.
SECRET OF THE VAJRA WORLD - The Tantric Buddhism of Tibet; by Reginald A. Ray; published by Shambhala; 2001 Click here to see more. This book concerns the path of Vajrayana Buddhism. A wonderful resource. Ray also wrote INDESTRUCTIBLE TRUTH- The Living Spirituality of Tibetan Buddhism which I also recommend.
The 37 Practices of Bodhisattvas; by Geshe Sonam Rinchen; translated
and edited by Ruth Sonam; published by Snow Lion; 1997
This book is about working solely for the good of all so we
can become a Bodhisattva ourself.
SAFFRON DAYS IN L.A. - TALES OF A BUDDHIST MONK IN AMERICA; by Bhante Walpola Piyananda; published by Shambhala; 2001 Click here to learn more. This book is an absolute delight. It contains many stories about the joy and pain of the human condition and the power of compassion.
EMBRACING HEAVEN & EARTH - THE LIBERATION TEACHINGS OF ANDREW COHEN; by Andrew Cohen; published by Moksha Press; 2000 Click here to read reviews or purchase. This book can greatly benefit any spiritual seeker. It is clear, easy to read and PROFOUND! Also very reasonably priced.
THE DIAMOND CUTTER - THE BUDDHA ON STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING YOUR BUSINESS AND YOUR LIFE; by Geshe Michael Roach; published by Doubleday; 2000 Click here to order or find out more. This book is about applying Buddhist principals to your business. It has many useful tips for managers.
My Path Leads to Tibet ; by Sabriye Tenberken; published by Arcade Publishing; 2000 Click here to see more. This book documents how a young blind German woman named Sabriye Tenberken goes to Tibet (part of China) in 1997 and starts a school for the blind there.
BLUE JEAN BUDDHA - VOICES OF YOUNG BUDDHISTS; edited by Sumi Loundon; published by Wisdom Publications; 2001 Click here to order or find out more. This book has astounding stories of what young buddhists have achieved. Very inspiring.
TIBETAN PORTRAIT - THE POWER OF COMPASSION; Photographs by Phil Borges; text by the Dalai Lama; published by Rizzoli; 1996 Click here to order. This book has really wonderful photography and text. Would make a great gift for any Buddhist!
HIDDEN SPRING - A BUDDHIST WOMAN CONTRONTS CANCER; by Sandy Boucher; Wisdom Publications, 2000 Order here. About Sandy's struggle with Stage III Colon Cancer. How she dealt with the uncertainty and faced this challenge.
DREAMING WHILE AWAKE; by Arnold Mindell; published by Hampton Roads; 2000 Click here. Covers techniques for 24-hour lucid dreaming by the founder of Process Oriented Psychology.
THE SEARCH FOR THE PACHEN LAMA; by Isabel Hilton; published by W.W. Norton & Company; 4/2000 Click here to purchase this book at 30% off list.. This tells the story about how this young boy - the 2nd most important incarnation in the Tibetan Buddhist heirarhy - was kidnapped after he was recognized. It combines history, politics and travel and is excellent investigative journalism.
DHARMA RAIN - Sources of Buddhist Environmentalism; by Stephanie Kaza and Kenneth Kraft; published by Shambhala; 2000 Click here to find out more. This newly published book is a really Wonderful collection of Buddhist writings on the environment. I loved it!
THE BUDDHA FROM BROOKLYN; by Martha Sherrill; published by Random House; 2000 Click here to order or find out more. This newly published book is about Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo the first American woman to be named a tulku. The most interesting part was learning about the inside workings of the Tibetan Buddhist community in Poolesville, Maryland.
TAKING THE KALACHAKRA INITIATION; by Alexander Berzin; published by Snow Lion; 1997 Click here for more information about this book. This book was written to help both participants and observers of the Kalachakra initiation to make their experience more meaningful and understandable.
IN SEARCH OF THE MEDICINE BUDDHA; by David Crow; published by Penguin Putnam; 2000 Click here to order. David Crow reviews his mentorship experiences with Dr. Ngawang Chopel who trained him in Tibetan medicine in Kathmandu.
INDESTRUCTIBLE TRUTH; by Reginald Ray; published by Shambala; 2000 Click here to find out more. This book covers the living spirituality of Tibetan Buddhism. Ray is a senior teacher in the lineage of Chogyam Trungpa & is associated with the Rocky Mountain Shambhala Center in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado.
TIBET'S GREAT YOGI MILAREPA; Edited by W.Y. Evans-Wentz; published by Oxford University Press; 2000 Click here. A biography of Milarepa.
START WHERE YOU ARE- A GUIDE TO COMPASSIONATE LIVING; by Pema Chodron; published by Shambala; 1994 Click here to order or find out more about this book. Pema Chodron has written several excellent Buddhist books - all are great! I highly endorse her writing.
BHUTAN MOUNTAIN FORTRESS OF THE GODS; Edited by Christan Schicklgruber and Francoise Pommaret; published by Shambala; 1998 Click here to order. This is the ultimate resource on Bhutan! Wonderful photography. Covers the heritage, Bhutanese Buddhism, history of Bhutan, and Women in the City.
SKY DANCER: THE SECRET LIFE AND SONGS OF THE LADY YESHE TSONGYEL; by Keith Dowman; Snow Lion; Click here to order. A wonderfully thorough text on the life of Yeshe Tsongyel.
JOURNEY TO ENLIGHTENMENT - THE LIFE AND WORLD OF KHYENTSE RINPOCHE, SPIRITUAL TEACHER FROM TIBET; by Mathieu Richard; Aperture; Click here to find out more. A fine dedication to Khyentse Rinpoche - very thorough.
THE TIBETAN YOGAS OF DREAM AND SLEEP; by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche; published by Snow Lion; 1998 Order here. Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche now resides in Virgnia where he founded The Lingmincha Institute. He was influenced by both Dzogchen and Bon traditions. A guide for using our dreams for awakening.
THE MANDALA - Sacred Circle in Tibetan Buddhism; by Martin Brauen; published by Shambhala; 1998 Order here. Explains how the mandala is an allegory in Tantric Buddhism for man's relationship to the cosmos. He explains primarily the sacred symbolism of the Kalacakra mandala.
CIRCLING THE SACRED MOUNTAIN - A Spiritual Adventure Through the Himalayas; by Robert Thurman and Tad Wise; published by Bantam Books; 1999 Order here. This is a travelogue or pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash with every other chapter written by guru and student. Robert Thurman is the Director of the Center for Buddhist Studies, & Chair of the Dept. of Religion at Columbia University - his other books are also treasures.
A PATH WITH HEART- A GUIDE THROUGH THE PERILS AND PROMISES OF SPIRITUAL LIFE; by Jack Kornfield; published by Bantam New Age Books; 1993 Click here to order or find out more about this book. If you are like me you choose authors which you like and read their other books as well. Some of the other titles by Kornfield are: Living Buddhist Masters; A Still Forest Pool; Seeking the Heart of Wisdom; Stories of the Spirit, Stories of the Heart; Sayings of the Buddha, After Ecstacy the Laundry - you can't go wrong with any of them.
SORROW MOUNTAIN - THE JOURNEY OF A TIBETAN WARRIOR NUN; by Ani Pachen & Adelaide Donnelley; published by Kodansha International; February 2000 Click here to order.About a nun who was imprisoned for 21 years by the Chinese and her resistance efforts. Ani Pachen passed away in early 2002.
THE GREAT EASTERN SUN - THE WISDOM OF SHAMBHALA; by Chogyam Trungpa; published by Shambala Publications, Inc.; 1999 Click here to order. Trungpa was the founder of the Naropa Institute in Boulder, Colorado. This is the newest of his books on meditation.
WOMEN'S BUDDHISM, BUDDHISM'S WOMEN; Edited by Ellison Banks Findly; published by Wisdom Publications; 2000 Order here. Covers many writings by women on the spiritual path.
DALAI LAMA, MY SON - A MOTHERS STORY; by Diki Tsering and edited by Khedroob Thondup; published by Viking/Arkana; 2000 Click here to find out more. This book was compiled from interviews with the mother of the Dalai Lama. It includes information on the customs & rituals of old Tibet and the families escape and exile.
DZOGCHEN THE SELF-PERFECTED STATE; by Namkhai Norbu; published by Snow Lion; 1996 Click here. A small book which condenses the essence of Dzogchen.
LONGING FOR DARKNESS: Tara and the Black Madonna; by China Galland; Viking; 1990 Find out more. This book is about women and religion and China's travels and research into the interconnections ofthe Black Madonna and the Tibetan Goddess Tara.
THE BUDDHA WITHIN by S.K. Hookham published by State University of New York Press; 1991 Click here to order or find out more about this book. This book is rather deep and for the academically minded seeker. It covers Tathagatagarbha Doctrine According to the Shentong Interpretation of the Ratnagotravibhaga.
BEING BODIES - BUDDHIST WOMEN ON THE PARADOX OF EMBODIMENT; edited by Lenore Friedman & Susan Moon; published by Shambhala; 1997 Order here. On being a woman and being a student of Bhuddhism.
THE TANTRIC MYSTICISM OF TIBET; by John Blofeld; published by E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc.; Reissue October 1992; Click here to order or read reviews. This is a guide to the theory, purpose & techniques of Tantric meditation.
PASSIONATE ENLIGHTENMENT: WOMEN IN TANTRIC BUDDHISM; by Miranda Shaw; published Princeton University Press; 1994; Click here to read reviews. A treat for women! Covers the outspoken founders of Tantric Buddhism.
THE DALAI LAMA, A POLICY OF KINDNESS; an anthology of writings by and about the Dalai Lama, compiled and edited by Sidney Piburn; published by Snow Lion Publications; 1990; Click here to order or read reviews. Wonderful!
ILLUSION'S GAME- THE LIFE AND TEACHING OF NAROPA; by Chogyam Trungpa, edited by Sherab Chodzin; published by Shambhala; 1994;
Click here to order or read reviews. A great read!
THE TIBETAN BOOK OF THE DEAD; 3rd edition by W.Y. Evans-Wentz;
published by Oxford University Press; 1960; Click here to order or read reviews.
THE TIBETAN BOOK OF LIVING AND DYING; by Sogyal Rinpoche; edited by Patrick Gaffney & Andrew Harvey; published by HarperSanFrancisco; 1993; Click here to order or read reviews. HarperSanFrancisco and the author together with the Rainforest Action Network will facilitate the planting of two trees for every one tree used in the manufacture of this book.
SEVEN YEARS IN TIBET; by Heinrich Harrer translated by Richard Graves; published by E.P. Dutton & co., Inc.; 1954; Click here to order or read reviews. This is the book on which the movie was based.
I am an avid reader and only recommend books which I have read and enjoyed. So check back because this page will be refreshed often. Thanks for your visit!
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May All Beings Benefit.
Copyright 2000 - 2008 Marsha Camblin
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