"Walking the spiritual path properly is a very subtle
process; it is not something to jump into naively. There are
numerous sidetracks which lead to a distorted, ego-centered
version of spirituality; we can deceive ourselves into thinking
we are developing spiritually when instead we are stengthening
our egocentricity through spiritual techniques. This fundamental
distortion may be referred to as spiritual materialism."
First discussed are the various ways in which people involve
themselves in spiritual materialism; the many forms of
self-deception into which aspirants may fall. After this tour of
the sidetracks along the way, the broad outlines of the true
spiritual path are discussed. The approach presented is a
classical Buddhist one; not in the scholastic sense but in the
manner of directly and simply presenting the heart of the
Buddhist approach to spirituality.
Although the Buddhist way is non-theistic, these insights do
not conflict with the contemplative and moral persuits of
theism.There may be various differences of view and practices
between the religions, but the basic problems of spiritual
materialism are commonly found in all spiritual endevours.
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True Perception: The Path of
Dharma Art
Chögyam Trungpa, with Judith
Lief
"Trungpa's notion of dharma art is an approach to art as
meditation, an attitude of directness and unselfconsciousness in
creative work. Lief's inspired selection and careful editing make
this an essential book for those committed to view that the
artist should be a spiritual teacher."-Publishers Weekly
Genuine art has the power to awaken and liberate. The renowned
meditation master and artist Chögyam Trungpa called this
type of art "dharma art"-any creative work that springs from an
awakened state of mind, characterized by directness,
unselfconsciousness, and nonaggression. Dharma art provides a
vehicle to appreciate the nature of things as they are and
express it without any struggle or desire to achieve. A work of
dharma art brings out the goodness and dignity of the situation
it reflects-dignity that comes from the artist's interest in the
details of life and sense of appreciation for experience. Trungpa
shows how the principles of dharma art extend to everyday life:
any activity can provide an opportunity to relax and open our
senses to the phenomenal world.
An expanded edition of Trungpa's Dharma Art (1996), this book
includes a new introduction and essay.
Meditation in Action
Chögyam Trungpa
This classic teaching continues to inspire both beginner and
long-time practitioners of Buddhist meditation. Trungpa Rinpoche
shows that meditation extends beyond the formal practice of
sitting to build the foundation for compassion, awareness and
creativity in all aspects of life.
He explores the six activities associated with meditation in
action -- generosity, discipline, patience, energy, clarity, and
wisdom -- revealing that through simple, direct experience one
can attain real wisdom: the ability to see clearly into
situations and deal with them skillfully without the
self-consciousness connected with ego.
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The Myth of Freedom
and the Way of Meditation
Chögyam Trungpa
Freedom is generally thought of as the ability to achieve
goals and satisfy desires. But what are the sources of these
goals and desires? If they arise from ignorance, habitual
patterns and negative emotions -- psychologically destructive
elements that actually enslave us -- is the freedom to pursue
them true freedom or just a myth?
In this book Trungpa Rinpoche explores the meaning of freedom
in the profound context of Tibetan Buddhism. He shows how our
attitudes, preconceptions and even our spiritual practices can
become chains that bind us to repetitive patterns of frustration
and despair. He also explains the role of meditation in bringing
into focus the causes of frustration and in allowing these
negative forces to become aids in advancing toward true
freedom.
Trungpa's unique ability to express the essence of Buddhist
teachings in the language and imagery of contemporary American
culture makes this book one of the most immediately available
sources for the meaning of the Buddhist doctrine ever
written.
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The Wisdom of No
Escape
and the
Path of Loving-Kindness
Pema Chödron
This book is about saying yes to life; about making friends
with ourselves and our world; about accepting the delightful and
painful situation of "no-exit." It exhorts us to wake up
wholeheartedly to everything and to use the abundant richly
textured fabric of everyday life as our primary spiritual teacher
and guide.
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When Things Fall
Apart:
Heart Advice for Difficult Times
Pema Chödron
The beautiful practicality of her teaching has made Pema
Chödrön one of the most beloved of contemporary
American spiritual authors, among Buddhists and non-Buddhists
alike. This new collection, taken from talks she gave between
1987 and 1994, is a treasury of wisdom for going on living "when
things fall apart", when we are overcome by pain and
difficulties.
The good news, according to Pema, is that when we fearlessly
approach suffering, relaxing into the groundlessness of our
situation, we will discover a simple, subtle yet indestructible
kind of happiness. With clarity and humor she shows how we can
cultivate maitri, loving-kindness, and a fearlessly compassionate
attitude toward our own pain and that of others.
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Start Where You Are:
A Guide to Compassionate Living
Pema Chödron
An inspiring and practical book on how to make friends with
ourselves and develop genuine compassion toward others. With
insight and humor, Pema Chödrön presents down-to-earth
teachings on how we can overcome our own suffering as well as
alleviate the suffering of others. This is only possible, the
author says, if we "start where we are", embracing rather than
pushing away the painful aspects of our lives. Pema
Chödrön frames her teachings on the fifty-nine
traditional Tibetan Buddhist slogans that make up the Seven
Points of Mind Training by Chekawa Yeshe Dorje. The slogans
include such maxims as:
"Always apply only a joyful state of mind."
"Don't seek others' pain as the limbs of your own
happiness."
"Always meditate on whatever provokes resentment."
"Be grateful to everyone."
Working with these slogans and through the meditation practice
of tonglen -- sending and taking -- the author shows how anyone
can develop the courage to face difficulties and discover inner
joy, well-being, and confidence. Start Where You Are is an
indispensable handbook for cultivating fearlessness and awakening
a compassionate heart.
Places That Scare
You:
A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times
Pema Chödron
We always have a choice, Pema Chodron teaches: We can let the
circumstances of our lives harden us and make us increasingly
resentful and afraid, or we can let them soften us and make us
kinder.
Pema's previous works provided the inspiration and guidance to
confront the problems and difficulties that life throws our way.
Here she provides the specific tools to deal with them - to
cultivate the awakened, compassionate ability to open our hearts
and minds to our own suffering and that of others. This wisdom is
always available to us, Pema teaches, but we usually block it
with habitual patterns rooted in fear. Beyond that fear lies a
state of openheartedness and tenderness.
In The Places That Scare You, Pema Chodron shows us how awaken
our basic goodness, cultivate loving-kindness, and stay in the
present moment by seeing through the strategies of ego that cause
us to resist life as it is.
