Books published by Shambhala Publications Inc

Leading African American Buddhist teachers offer lessons on racism, resilience, spiritual freedom, and the possibility of a truly representative American Buddhism. With contributions by Acharya Gaylon Ferguson, Cheryl A. Giles, Gyozan Royce Andrew Johnson, Ruth King, Kamilah Majied, Lama Rod Owens, Lama Dawa Tarchin Phillips, Sebene Selassie, and Pamela Ayo Yetunde. What does it mean to be Black and Buddhist? In this powerful collection of writings, African American teachers from all the major Buddhist traditions tell their stories of how race and Buddhist practice have intersected in their lives. The resulting explorations display not only the promise of Buddhist teachings to empower those facing racial discrimination but also the way that Black Buddhist voices are enriching the Dharma for all practitioners. As the first anthology comprised solely of writings by African-descended Buddhist practitioners, this book is an important contribution to the development of the Dharma in the West.

Find freedom in your yoga practice with this empowering guide from beloved yoga teacher and social justice activist Dianne Bondy and Yoga International editor-in-chief Kat Heagberg. Yoga Where You Are welcomes readers of all backgrounds, body sizes, and abilities into the practice of yoga. Dianne Bondy and Kat Heagberg offer everything you need to know to build a custom yoga practice that supports you exactly where you are--now and at every stage of your life's journey. Yoga Where You Are discusses how yoga intersects with body image, introduces essential information on elements like breathwork and meditation, and celebrates yoga's diverse roots through an introductory chapter on its origins and history. Whether you're a beginner, a seasoned practitioner, or a yoga teacher, the step-by-step instructions for hundreds of customizable pose variations provide an essential resource you can turn to as your practice evolves. Bondy and Heagberg also present tips to find inspiration and creativity on the mat. With truly inclusive language, alignment options for real bodies, and photos of a range of practitioners, the book provides you with everything you need to customize and deepen your practice with clarity and confidence.

Released in paperback for the first time, this brilliant translation of Longchenpa's famous work presents the entire scope of the Buddhist view combined with pith instructions for pointing out the nature of one's mind.Longchen Rabjam's Finding Rest in the Nature of the Mind is a classic Buddhist manual for attaining true liberation through familiarizing ourselves with our most basic nature--our clear, pristine, and aware mind. Written in the fourteenth century, this text is the first part to Longchenpa's Trilogy of Rest, a work of the esoteric Tibetan Dzogchen tradition. This unique presentation of the Buddhist view and path combines the scholastic expository method of explanation with direct pith instructions designed for yogi practitioners. This text systematically presents the view in thirteen chapters, outlining all that a practitioner must know in order to embark on the complete Buddhist path. Here we find fundamental instructions on the need to turn away from materialism, how to find a qualified guide, how to develop boundless compassion for all beings, tantra and its associated practices, calm abiding (samatha) and deep insight (vipasyana) meditation techniques, all culminating in the practice presented from the perspective of Dzogchen. This first volume of the Trilogy of Rest is a comprehensive teaching on the view from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, setting the foundation for the following two volumes: Finding Rest in Meditation, which focuses on meditation practice, and Finding Rest in Illusion, which focuses on post-meditation yogic conduct. The Padmakara Translation Group has provided us with a clear and fluid new translation of Finding Rest in the Nature of the Mind, which will serve as a genuine aid to study and meditation.

The definitive guide to learning effective skills for engaging in open and honest conversations about divisive issues from three professional mediators.When a conversation takes a turn into the sometimes uncomfortable and often contentious topics of race, religion, gender, sexuality, and politics, it can be difficult to know what to say or how to respond to someone you disagree with. Compassionate Conversations empowers us to transform these conversations into opportunities to bridge divides and mend relationships by providing the basic set of conflict resolution skills we need to be successful, including listening, reframing, and dealing with strong emotions. Addressing the long history of injury and pain for marginalized groups, the authors explore topics like social privilege, power dynamics, and, political correctness allowing us to be more mindful in our conversations. Each chapter contains practices and reflection questions to help readers feel more prepared to talk through polarizing issues, ultimately encouraging us to take risks, to understand and recognize our deep commonalities, to be willing to make mistakes, and to become more intimate with expressing our truths, as well as listening to those of others.

Internationally known yoga teacher Tias Little shares powerful, inspiring wisdom from a lifetime of practice.For over 30 years, Tias Little has explored yoga as a spiritual path. In this book he offers key teachings from his journey that will resonate with anyone who has dedicated themself to a mind-body discipline. In short, accessible chapters, Little shares his struggles and joys as a yogi and chronicles the transformation of his understanding and practice along the way. There are many physical and emotional trials that come up in yoga as a spiritual practice: the urge toward perfectionism, the desire to get it all right, the way we push ourselves in the practice, being with "not-knowing," and the many ways some people use yoga as a sedative. To help the reader embody and experience each theme, Little includes companion practices at the end of each chapter including poses, reflections, meditations, and explorations.

There are many forms of liberation—some that exist at the mercy of circumstance and others that can never be taken away. In this stirring and timely collection of stories, essays, poems, and letters, Jarvis Jay Masters explores the meaning of true freedom on his road to inner peace through Buddhist practice. He reveals his life as a young African American man surrounded by violence, his entanglement in the criminal justice system, and—following an encounter with Tibetan Buddhist teacher Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche—an unfolding commitment to nonviolence and peacemaking. At turns joyful, heartbreaking, frightening, and soaring with profound insight, Masters’s story offers a vision of hope and the possibility of freedom in even the darkest of times.

"In the full bloom of spring, in a beautiful garden, in a place called Lumbini, a prince was born." So begins the extraordinary story of the life of Siddhartha Gautama, the prince who would become the enlightened Buddha, the Awakened One. This classic tale follows Prince Siddhartha's journey of truth-seeking and discovery, including his life-altering encounters with human suffering and his realization of the Four Noble Truths. Today, millions of people all over the world follow the Buddha's teachings on meditation, selflessness, and compassion. Rendered here in exquisite original watercolor illustrations, this inspiring story is brought to life for young readers curious about one of history's most monumental and influential figures.

Winner of the Moonbeams Children's Animals/Pets Non-Fiction Gold Medal!A story about the fundamental connection between animals and people and how we can treat all of Earth's creatures with compassion and empathy.Furry polar bears, playful sea otters, slow sloths, prickly porcupines, and slimy snakes are just a few of the many animals we share our world with. And even though we might not look the same or have the same needs as our animal neighbors, we have more in common with them than we might think. Our Animal Neighbors introduces children to the importance of treating all animals with the care and compassion they deserve. We all want to experience love, safety, and respect and this book is the first step to instilling those values at an early age. This planet is our home, and we should all be free to live a prosperous life regardless of whether we have hands, hooves, scales, or fur."A serious message delivered with humor, simplicity, and charm makes this book an excellent purchase for families that value open-ended discussions. Also a good resource for classrooms and libraries that welcome diverse opinions and points of view."-School Library Journal

Potent advice on how to think and act strategically in business, politics, and relationships--drawn from classic Chinese military and political expertise.The ancient strategies of war and politics have much to offer us in navigating the complicated challenges we face today--and to help us wisely and effectively meet our business, political, and relational goals. Here, eminent Chinese scholar and Taoist teacher Eva Wong unpacks the wisdom of The Thirty-Six Strategies, a collection of advice encoded in sayings, steeped in Chinese history and culture. She explores strategies attributed to renowned military philosophers such as Sun Tzu and Zhuge Liang (aka "The Sleeping Dragon"), along with other less-known advisors, that were implemented during three of the most chaotic eras of Chinese history--the Spring and Autumn Period, the Warring States Period, and the Three Kingdoms. Covering three categories of strategy--proactive, reactive, and desperate--Wong expertly connects the words of ancient military philosophers with timeless advice, as useful today as it was in the Tang dynasty (618-906) when this collection was originally gathered. In Chinese military philosophy and political theory, the thirty-six strategies are considered "yin" or "shadow" in nature, meaning that they operate best in darkness and concealment. As Wong writes, "Desperate times call for desperate measures, and since the thirty-six strategies rose out of times of war and conflict, it is inevitable that they were used to win wars, triumph over opponents, take advantage of situations, and survive when defeat is imminent."

Joanna Macy is a scholar of Buddhism, systems thinking, and deep ecology whose decades of writing, teaching, and activism have inspired people around the world. In this collection of writings, leading spiritual teachers, deep ecologists, and diverse writers and activists explore the major facets of Macy's lifework. Combined with eleven pieces from Macy herself, the result is a rich chorus of wisdom and compassion to support the work of our time. "Being fully present to fear, to gratitude, to all that is-this is the practice of mutual belonging. As living members of the living body of Earth, we are grounded in that kind of belonging. Even when faced with cataclysmic changes, nothing can ever separate us from Earth. We are already home."- Joanna MacyTo learn more, visit www.joannamacy.net.

With over 75 nourishing recipes and herbal remedies, this cookbook and seasonal guide to wellness brings the ancient wisdom of the elements to the 21st century.Turn your kitchen into a healing sanctuary! This cookbook will help you identify your unique constitution based on the five elements--earth, water, fire, wind, and ether. Use that insight to design an everyday wellness plan with nourishing meals, healing herbs, and self-care rituals. Tapping into these elements is at the heart of all traditional medicines--Ayurveda, Western Herbalism, Chinese Medicine, and Tibetan Medicine--and it is the key to discovering your most vibrant self.     Learn to create your own kitchen apothecary to achieve mental clarity, enhanced digestion, a calmed nervous system, and an extra glow. From cleansing tonics like Roasted Dandelion Chai or Hibiscus Punch with Schisandra Salt to rejuvenating classics like Kitchari with Golden Ghee or Tumeric Congee, you''ll find transformative recipes and uses for adaptogenic herbs to restore and find balance every day.

A holistic guide to self-care based on traditional Ayurvedic wisdom--from the bestselling author of The Everyday Ayurveda Cookbook and Everyday Ayurveda Cooking for a Calm, Clear Mind.Learn to befriend your body and discover how best to care for yourself day by day and season by season with Ayurveda, India''s ancient holistic healing system. The Everyday Ayurveda Guide to Self-Care takes the ancient Ayurvedic principles and focuses on how to be an integrated, whole person while balancing the everyday demands of our modern world. Organized into three parts, the book opens with an introduction to Ayurveda, helping you to better understand your doshas and your basic Ayurvedic anatomy. The second section illuminates the art of self-care--exploring the daily routines and seasonal practices that can help prevent imbalance in both mind and body. Part three discusses the medicinal qualities of foods, spices, and herbs to support cleansing, rejuvenation, and management of common imbalances and ailments.From self-massage, oil pulling, and tongue scraping to breathing practices, meditation exercises, and eating with intention--this detailed guide will walk you through every step of important Ayurvedic practices that can be easily integrated into your existing self-care routine. You will also learn how to effectively use herbal routines, recipes, and rituals to achieve exactly what your body needs on a daily basis.

A fascinating exploration of the role that magic has played in the history of BuddhismAs far back as we can see in the historical record, Buddhist monks, nuns, and other ritual specialists have offered services including healing, divination, rain making, aggressive magic, and love magic to local clients. Studying this history, scholar Sam van Schaik concludes that magic and healing have played a key role in Buddhism''s flourishing, yet they have rarely been studied in academic circles or by Western practitioners. The exclusion of magical practices and powers from most discussions of Buddhism in the modern era can be seen as part of the appropriation of Buddhism by Westerners, as well as an effect of modernization movements within Asian Buddhism. However, if we are to understand the way Buddhism has worked in the past, the way it still works now in many societies, and the way it can work in the future, we need to examine these overlooked aspects of Buddhist practice. In Buddhist Magic, van Schaik takes a book of spells and rituals--one of the earliest that has survived--from the Silk Road site of Dunhuang as the key reference point for discussing Buddhist magic in Tibet and beyond. After situating Buddhist magic within a cross-cultural history of world magic, he discusses sources of magic in Buddhist scripture, early Buddhist rituals of protection, medicine and the spread of Buddhism, and magic users. Including material from across the vast array of Buddhist traditions, van Schaik offers readers a fascinating, nuanced view of a topic that has too long been ignored.

How the moments that make us go "Wow!" can make lasting and positive improvements to our health, relationships, and everyday lives.What do you feel when you gaze up at the Milky Way, see a beautiful rainbow, or stand before a mountain that seems impossibly high? Often it''s a profound sense of awe, the overwhelming feeling we experience when we encounter something vast that transcends our understanding. Awe-inspiring moments are all around us, ranging from the grand to the commonplace, and can hold a key to a happy, meaningful, and healthy life.Awestruck serves as a guide to help you tap into the powerful, life-changing benefits of awe. Beginning with a comprehensive explanation of the emotion, Jonah Paquette introduces us to the power of awe and how it can help alleviate struggles in our modern life, including stress, social isolation, and time pressure. Continuing with over 60 practices, this book provides an accessible and tangible path to bring more wonder into your everyday life. Awestruck shows us how to reclaim space for moments of reverence and ultimately find more joy and fulfillment in our lives.

An insightful collection of teachings about death and dying to help face life's greatest mystery calmly and with equanimity.Lifetimes of effort go into organizing, designing, and structuring every aspect of our lives, but how many people are willing to contemplate the inevitability of death? Although dying is an essential part of life, it is an uncomfortable topic that most people avoid. With no idea what will happen when we die and a strong desire to sidestep the conversation, we make all kinds of assumptions.Living Is Dying collects teachings about death and the bardos that have been passed down through a long lineage of brilliant Buddhist masters, each of whom went to great lengths to examine the process in minute detail. Renowned author and teacher Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse responds to the most common questions he's been asked about death and dying--exploring how one prepares for death, what to say to a loved one who is dying, and prayers and practices to use as a handhold when approaching the unknown territory of death. Whether you are facing death today or decades from now, preparing for it can help to allay your worst fears and help you appreciate what it means to be truly alive.

Find order and beauty in the kitchen with this delightfully elegant primer on washing the dishes that elevates and illuminates a seemingly routine chore.Washing the dishes is an ordinary, everyday task--but with examination and care, it can become much more. In this reverent guide to the household chore, Peter Miller shows us how washing dishes can become a joy, a delight, a meditative exercise, and an act of grace and rhythm.We pay so much attention to recipes but little attention to maintenance and cleanup. Washing the dishes is as much a part of making a meal as prepping the vegetables, making the sauces, or seasoning the meats. At times it is quite routine, sometimes raucous, other times complex. It is never convenient. Despite its din and clatter, and despite its reputation, washing the dishes is the coda to the meal. It is a bustling musical of water and soap, of flow and surface, and done well, the fragile shall sit as proudly as the cast-iron.There are some who do the dishes for the clarity and privacy of it, and there are some who relish the quiet isolation of putting things in order where they belong. There are some who feel the time and movement is a kind of digestive. In the evening in particular, there is a silence when it is all done. How to Wash the Dishes brings elegance, art, and a bit of mindfulness to the sink. It is the perfect gift for those who love to clean and equally as apt for those we wish would clean a bit more.

A fun, modern, and irreverent introduction to healing herbs, this field guide to feeling good includes more than 20 plant profiles.Here is an invitation to the wild world of healing plants growing right outside your door. Highlighting herbs from catnip and plantain to nettles and rosemary, this book provides the information you need to assemble an herbal arsenal for combatting any ailment-everything from brewing up a slick lube tea for sexual health to fashioning a simple summer band-aid from backyard "weeds" to crafting an herbal smoking blend to quiet a busy mind. This accessible guide covers questions like: What is plant medicine? What can I put in my mouth and where do I find it? Can I still go to my doctor? We've got you covered.

Achieve vibrant health in every season with the holistic techniques of traditional Chinese medicine.This friendly guide to a 2,000-year-old lineage of healing wisdom integrates both the Five Element theory and the practices of traditional Chinese medicine to uncover what your body needs for balance and optimal health. Everyday Chinese Medicine demystifies, simplifies, and reveals patterns to help you take control of your own well-being from the comfort of your own home and kitchen. Mindi Counts-a holistic medical practitioner, acupuncturist, and herbalist-walks you through the seasons, elements, and organ systems to help you understand your unique constitution and how to achieve energetic and physical balance. With simple recipes, self-care practices, and time-tested herbal remedies, Everyday Chinese Medicine is the perfect companion on your path to complete wellness.

Create your own magical prehistoric terrariums and dioramas while teaching kids about dinosaurs and their habitats.Tiny Dino Worlds shows dinosaur lovers of all ages how to create prehistoric habitats with real plants. From active volcanoes and dino poop to handmade fossils and interactive terrariums, kids and adults alike will have fun building living habitats for all of their favorite dinos.Design a Jurassic world with plants that actually look just like prehistoric ones--or stage an epic battle between the vicious T-rex and the stubborn Triceratops. The book includes 26 simple projects (appropriate for kids ages 4-10), ranging from making sticky mud traps from homemade slime to cracking open "ice eggs" to reveal the dino hidden inside. Written by a crafty mom and vetted by two paleontologists, this book is jam-packed with fun, educational projects, weird but true facts about dinosaurs, and gorgeous step-by-step photography. Tiny Dino Worlds is sure to delight all the dinosaur-lovers in your life!