A Heart Full of Peace

Read an Excerpt

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One Dharma:
The Emerging Western Buddhism

From the Introduction:

"We are living in remarkable times. A genuine Western Buddhism is now taking birth. Its defining characteristic is neither an elaborate philosophical system nor an attachment to any particular sectarian viewpoint. Rather, it is a simple pragmatism that harkens back to the Buddha himself, who pointedly questioned the established tenets of ancient Indian thought. It is an allegiance to a very simple question: "What works?" What works to free the mind from suffering? What works to engender a heart of compassion? What works to awaken?"

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Insight Meditation:
The Practice of Freedom

The fruit of more than twenty years' experience leading Buddhist meditation retreats, this book, now in paperback, touches on a wide range of topics raised repeatedly by students, whether they are beginners attending their first weekend course or seasoned practitioners on a three-month retreat.

In short sections that can be read in sequence or browsed through at leisure, Joseph Goldstein offers favorite dharma stories, key teachings, and answers to most-asked questions. The discussions include relationship with parents, right livelihood, the Buddhist teaching of no- self, dealing with negative emotions, boredom, psychotherapy and meditation, humor, the role of a teacher, understanding pain, subtleties of karma.

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Seeking the Heart of Wisdom:
The Path of Insight Meditation

The path of insight meditation is a journey of understanding our bodies, our minds, and our lives, of seeing clearly the true nature of experience. For those who are treading this path, as well as those just starting out, Seeking the Heart of Wisdom will be a welcome companion along the way. Born out of the authors' twelve- year collaboration in teaching intensive meditation retreats throughout the world, it guides the reader in developing the openness and compassion that are at the heart of this spiritual practice.

Among the topics covered are:

• The hindrances to meditation--ranging from doubt and fear to painful knees--and skillful means of overcoming them
• How compassion can arise in response to the suffering we see in our own lives and in the world
  How to integrate a life of responsible action and service with a meditative life based on nonattachment
• The law of karma and how it enables us to actively create our reality

These and other discussions are accompanied by specific exercises and practices to help readers deepen their understanding of the subjects.

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The Experience of Insight:
A Simple & Direct Guide to Buddhist Meditation

Here is a modern classic of unusually clear, practical instruction for the practice of Buddhist meditation: sitting and walking meditation, how one relates with the breath, feelings, thought, sense perceptions, consciousness, and everyday activities. Basic Buddhist topics such as the nature of karma, the four noble truths, the factors of enlightenment, dependent origination, and devotion are discussed.

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Voices of Insight:
Teachers of Buddhism in the West Share Their Wisdom, Stories, and Experiences on the Path of Insight Meditation; Edited by Sharon Salzberg

The founding of the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in 1975 heralded a fresh expression of Theravada Buddhism among lay practitioners in the West. Today this flourishing tradition offers a path to liberation suited to people of our own time and place, amidst our own families and communities.

Here is the first collection of writings by leading teachers of insight meditation who have taught at IMS: Joseph Goldstein on "The Science and Art of Meditation," Jack Kornfield on "Path of Parenting, Path of Awakening," Larry Rosenberg on "Moving into Deep Silence," Sylvia Boorstein on "Perfecting the Heart," Carol Wilson on "The First Buddhist Women," and many others.

In all, seventeen men and women-hailing from North America, Hawaii, England, Australia, and South Africa-share their intimate experiences of the practice of mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation; their understanding of the basic teachings of the Buddha; the lessons they learned from their own teachers; and advice on following the Buddha Dharma in relationships, work, and spiritual practice.

Contributors: Steve Armstrong, Sylvia Boorstein, Christina Feldman, Joseph Goldstein, Narayan Liebenson Grady, Bhante Gunaratana, Gavin Harrison, Jack Kornfield, Kamala Masters, Michele McDonald-Smith, Larry Rosenberg, Sharon Salzberg, Rodney Smith, Steven Smith, Ajahn Sumedho, Christopher Titmuss, Carol Wilson

All royalties from this book will be donated to Ram Dass-author of Be Here Now and other modern spiritual classics, who recently suffered a major stroke-in gratitude for his teachings and in support of his ongoing medical needs.

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Audio

Abiding in Mindfulness, Volume I: The Body

In the words of the Buddha, the four foundations of mindfulness (the four satipatthanas) are “the direct path for the purification of beings, for the surmounting of sorrow and lamentation, for the disappearance of dukkha (suffering) and discontent, for acquiring the true method, for the realization of Nibbana.” Within the quintessential discourse called the Satipatthana Sutta, we find the Buddha’s seminal teachings about the practice of meditation. On Abiding in Mindfulness, Volume I: The Body, esteemed teacher and author Joseph Goldstein presents a 7-CD audio curriculum to reveal the deeper insights of this vital sutta—and how it serves to inform and guide your own daily practice.

Available through Sounds True, 1 (800) 333-9185 and amazon.com.

Abiding in Mindfulness, Volume II: On Feeling, the Mind & Dhamma

In the words of the Buddha, the four foundations of mindfulness (the four satipatthanas) are “the direct path for the purification of beings, for the surmounting of sorrow and lamentation, for the disappearance of dukkha (suffering) and discontent, for acquiring the true method, for the realization of NibbÅna.” Within the quintessential discourse called the Satipatthana Sutta, we find the Buddha’s seminal teachings about the practice of meditation. On Abiding in Mindfulness, Volume 2: On Feeling, the Mind & Dhamma, esteemed teacher and author Joseph Goldstein presents a 9-CD audio curriculum to reveal the deeper insights of this vital sutta—and how it serves to inform and guide your own daily practice.

Available through Sounds True, 1 (800) 333-9185 and amazon.com.

Insight Meditation:
A Complete Correspondence Course

When you seek to live a spiritual life, what matters most is not what you know, but the actions you take. How do you best embody the spiritual principles that uplift you and those whose lives you touch? On Insight Meditation, you will learn one of the world's great contemplative practices, as it was taught by the Buddha himself, and then passed "candle to candle" for over 2,500 years.

Based on the curriculum developed at the Insight Meditation Society's retreat center in Barre, Massachusetts, this audio correspondence course is presented by IMS cofounders Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein, who are among the West's most respected meditation teachers. Students will learn with a qualified meditation instructor how to establish and sustain a daily meditation practice.

As each lesson unfolds, and the principles of mindful living are revealed, students learn to see past the illusion of life's obstacles, and move toward an awakened mind-state - the true freedom we seek to achieve.

Now you can experience this rich and sacred retreat environment in your own home, with these same masterful instructors. Insight Meditation presents:

12 sequential lessons - 18 hours of classical teachings, practices, and meditations
A 100-page workbook with interactive exercises, resources, articles, and much more
One-on-one guidance and ongoing support from your personal instructor
From great mystics to those in chronic pain; from political leaders to spiritual seekers; from bus drivers to CEOs; those who have developed a personal meditation practice confirm its power to enrich every aspect of daily life. For most of us who have tried meditation, the question has always been: "How do I keep going?" Insight Meditation offers the answer to this question: 12 months of personal guidance and support as you illuminate for yourself the way to freedom, one moment at a time. Includes 100-page workbook. Approximately 18 hours.

Available from Sounds True, 1 (800) 333-9185 or amazon.com

Insight Meditation: A Step-by-Step Course on How to Meditate with Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein

This boxed set on Insight Meditation includes a workbook, study cards and two CDs of guided meditations. It is a complete self-guided introduction for new students and a support for those who are experienced in meditation practice.

Available from Sounds True, 1 (800) 333-9185 and amazon.com.