Buddhism

Mala beads are a string of 108 beads used for meditation, mantras, and similar in Buddhism, Hinduism, and other Indic religions and philosophies. They’re basically the eastern equivalent of a rosary. The beads can be made of pretty much any material, but tend to be made of seeds or stones.… Read the rest “What Are Mala Beads?”

Lama Anagarika Govinda’s Foundations of Tibetan Mysticism is pretty much the best book to read once you get the foundations down if you’re serious. This book will take you to new heights in your understanding of the philosophy, metaphysics, and mysticism of Tibetan Buddhism as a whole.… Read the rest “Lama Anagarika Govinda’s “Foundations of Tibetan Mysticism””

Rebecca McClen Novick’s Fundamentals of Tibetan Buddhism is a great overview of Tibetan Buddhism. Don’t expect it to delve too deep, but this is the book I wish I read before The Complete Foundation. This book covers the fundamentals of Tibetan Buddhism from a more academic perspective.… Read the rest “Rebecca McClen Novick’s “Fundamentals of Tibetan Buddhism””

The Dalai Lama’s The Complete Foundation is one of the most inspirational and transformational books on Tibetan Buddhism that you’ll read. If you are getting serious about practicing Buddhism, this book will help you progress along your spiritual path.

Robert Aitken’s Taking the Path of Zen is an introductory work on Zen Buddhism and how to actually practice it. It differs a bit from other works in that it focuses on actually practicing Zen rather than just discussing the ideas behind it.… Read the rest “Robert Aitken’s “Taking the Path of Zen””

If you’re interested in Zen Buddhism, D.T. Suzuki’s An Introduction to Zen Buddhism is one of the best works to read. The copy I have is only 132 pages, but it is one of the densest philosophical books I’ve ever read.… Read the rest “A Review of D.T. Suzuki’s “An Introduction to Zen Buddhism””