Books published by Shambhala Publications Inc

Learn to face, participate in, and ultimately love all aspects of your experience with this fresh and accessible guide to embodiment training.​ Buddhism aims for the development of a flexible mind and skillful responsiveness-whether toward problems in one's personal life or broader issues like the ecological crisis. But in a culture now saturated with cliches about mindfulness and unrealistic fantasies about happiness, what does it truly mean to walk this path? The key practice is that of embodied aliveness. In The Path of Aliveness, Zen and Taoist Qigong teacher Christian Dillo offers a path of meaningful transformation tailored to our times. Through potent conceptual work and practical examples, he shows how to carefully examine the interrelationship between our senses, body energy, thoughts, and emotions so that we can transform our lives in the direction of less suffering and more freedom, wisdom, and compassion. This secular reconstruction respectfully plumbs Buddhist tradition-including classic teachings such as the foundations of mindfulness meditation, the practice of loving kindness, and the four noble truths-while encouraging practitioners to rely on their own body-mind and trust their own experience as the basis for deepening vitality.

"Aging isn't easy. But it can still be filled with joy-maybe even more joy than expected. Described by the New York Journal of Books as "a Buddhist Anne Lamott," Zen teacher and writer Susan Moon explores both the losses and the gifts that come with the final years. Joining levity with tenderness, Moon shares stories from her own life including knee replacements, cornea surgery, Zoom chats with grandchildren, and dementia. Moon illustrates the strength that can come from within, sometimes unexpectedly, even as our bodies fail. Our radiant aliveness can be discovered and rediscovered any time up to the last moment. Alive Until You're Dead offers a Zen approach to aging.. Moon's stories explore being present with what is, not turning away from what's difficult, wishing for and working for the wellbeing of others, and being willing not to know what's next. Moon writes of her most personal vulnerabilities in the service of connecting with everyone. These field notes from an old human being invite us to feel more alive in the final stretch, whatever it holds"--

"This work combines historical summary, personal experience, description of tantric methods, and explanations of the ultimate nature of phenomena, based on the Tibetan practice of Chèod, or "Cutting Through." Anam Thubten offers straightforward teachings on this swift tantric method to cut through ego-clinging in many forms. For those who feel caught in endless deliberation and overanalysis, this book offers teachings on directly cutting through our conflicting emotions, right on the spot with rigorous honesty. Chèod was established in the eleventh century by the female yogini Machik Labdron and is a method practiced throughout the Himalayas and increasingly worldwide. In straightforward and accessible language, Anam Thubten brings to life for readers the deeper meaning of this practice, revealing its core teaching of fearless self-awareness with particular relevance to our difficult times. He shows that the heart of Chèod practice is to face our inner demons by venturing with an open heart into real and imaginative dark places, what he calls the "haunted grounds" of everyday life, with courage, compassion and resilience. Anam Thubten writes: "It is said that all Tibetan Buddhist teachings came from India except for Machig Labdrèon's form of Chèod. Not only did she establish it in Tibet, but some say her distinct Chèod wisdom is the only Buddhist teachings that journeyed back to India from Tibet." Anam Thubten details his experience bringing this practice of Chèod even farther outside of Tibet, teaching and leading retreat practice in new cultural contexts including California and Navajo Nation"--

Uncover the nature of the mind with this ground-level, practice-oriented presentation of Tibetan Buddhism. A personal and accessible guide to establishing progress on the path.The book begins with the awakening of students' interest in spirituality and the initial encounter with Tibetan Buddhism, then leads us through all the steps necessary for successful practice in the West. Included is succinct counsel on finding an appropriate teacher, receiving empowerments, becoming active in a center, and launching and sustaining a Vajrayana practice. Special emphasis is placed on the potential pitfalls, and the marvelous benefits, of the guru-disciple relationship.

A lively collection of folk tales and Buddhist teaching stories from four noted premodern Japanese Zen masters: Taigu Sôchiku (1584–1669), Sengai Gibon (1750-1831), Hakuin Ekaku (1686-1769), and Taigu Ryôkan (1758-1831). Zen Master Tales collects never before translated stories of four prominent Zen masters from the Edo period of Japanese history (1603-1868). Drawn from an era that saw the “democratization” of Japanese Zen, these stories paint a picture of robust, funny, and poignant engagement between Zen luminaries and the emergent chоnin or “townsperson” culture of early modern Japan. Here we find Zen monks engaging with samurai, merchants, housewives, entertainers, and farmers. These masters affirmed that the essentials of Zen practice—zazen, koan study, even enlightenment—could be conveyed to all members of Japanese society in ordinary speech, including even comic verse and work songs. Against the backdrop of this rich tableau, Zen Master Tales serves not only as a text for Zen students but also as a wide-ranging window onto the fascinating literary, material, and social history of Edo Japan.  In his introduction, translator Peter Haskel explains the history of Zen “stories” from the tradition’s Golden Age in China through the compilation of the classic koan collections and on to the era from which the stories in Zen Master Tales are drawn. What was true of the Chinese tradition, he writes—“its focus on the individual’s ordinary activity as the function, the manifestation of the absolute”—continued in the Japanese context. “Most of these Japanese stories, however unabashedly humorous and at times crude, impart something of the character of the Zen masters involved, whose attainment must be plainly manifest in even the most humble and unlikely of situations.”

"What was the historical context for the Buddha's teachings on rebirth? What is reborn? Do all Buddhist traditions agree about what happens after death? Is it necessary to believe in rebirth to consider oneself a Buddhist? All these questions will be addressed in this short, reliable, and accessible introduction to Rebirth across Buddhist history and traditions. The book will also cover contemporary refutations of rebirth in secular Buddhist contexts as well as western scientific attempts to document reincarnation in conversation with Buddhist beliefs"--

A story for kids ages 4–8 about a young girl and her encounters with a dog that teaches her friendship, presence, loss, and bravery.This story follows a young girl named Sophie and a sweet old dog who cross paths in the midst of a storm. “Breathing in, I am safe; breathing out, I am free,” Sophie repeats again and again to remind herself and the "old one" to stay present and brave when feeling scared or unsettled. In helping each other through their fears, a deep kinship is formed that makes a lasting impact on Sophie’s life.

2022 NAPPA Award winnerKai is a warrior!  And as a warrior, Kai has a code to live by and share with others.  This is the warrior’s code: to be peaceful, to be kind of heart, and to respect all living things.An empowering “code of conduct” book that teaches kids age 4-8 that bravery and courage mean treating others with kindness, standing up for what’s right, and demonstrating peace and self-respect.  Inspired by the classic spiritual text, Shambhala: Sacred Path of the Warrior, this uplifting story for children will build self-esteem, cultivate kindness, and instill values of compassion, nonviolence, and honoring.  Written by a 7th degree Kajukenbo black belt, The Warrior’s Code distills the ethics of traditional martial arts into a simple and clear message that kids can memorize, embody, and understand.  Kids who follow the code of the warrior can become more mindful, resilient, and confident.

An engaging story that helps children work with difficult emotions by imagining them as playful monsters in a parade (ages 3-7). Watch as the anger monster passes and the sadness monster disappears--it’s all part of the parade of  feelings we experience every day. Instead of holding on to their emotions, kids can acknowledge them and let them go on their way.    What’s happening in your parade today?   Here’s the angry monster Headed this way  It growls so loud But you know it won't stay

Parenting toddlers can be challenging but mindfulness can help! The popular author of Sitting Still Like a Frog offers advice and tools for parents of kids ages 18 months-4 years to respond skillfully and with mindful intention, especially in difficult moments. ​In The Little Frog Awakes, Eline Snel offers parents of young children advice and tools for responding mindfully and effectively in the moment. These skills help us regain trust in ourselves and in the integral wholeness of our kids. And when we make mindfulness practice a part of daily life, it gives our children a powerful message on how to recognize, name, and deal with emotions and situations.  This practical guide will help you to:   •  connect with and respond mindfully to your own feelings as they arise  •  cultivate compassion for yourself as a parent or caregiver through meditations and breathing practices  •  encourage serenity, self-confidence, and emotional regulation in your children, through stories and activities  •  strengthen your bond with your kids and help all of you manage stress  •  be more fully present with your children, and more able to give them your undivided attention  •  embrace imperfection and focus on the things that really matter  •  and more  The book and the accompanying audio include activities, practices, and stories for both you and for your toddler that cultivate mindful moments and action, and self-compassion.

Conceived at the crossroads of Buddhism and indigenous earth-based practice, The Shamanic Bones of Zen explores the deep human traditions of transformation that are made possible by meditation, ceremony, ritual, dreams, and spiritual connection to one's ancestry.In The Shamanic Bones of Zen, celebrated author and Buddhist teacher Zenju Earthlyn Manuel undertakes a rich exploration of the connections between contemporary Zen practice and shamanic, or indigenous, spirituality. Drawing on her personal journey with the black church, with African, Caribbean, and Native American ceremonial practices, and with Nichiren and Zen Buddhism, she builds a compelling case for discovering and cultivating the shamanic, or magical, elements in Buddhism-many of which have been marginalized by colonialist and modernist forces in the religion. Displaying reverence for the Zen tradition, creativity in expressing her own intuitive seeing, and profound gratitude for the guidance of spirit, Manuel models the path of a seeker unafraid to plumb the depths of her ancestry and face the totality of the present. The book conveys guidance for readers interested in developing practices of ritual in their own lives, such as preparing a sanctuary, engaging in chanting practices, and deepening embodiment with ceremony. "I often felt my ancestors at ease with my practice of Zen. I felt they had led me through other traditions to this practice of ritual and ceremony," writes Manuel. "The ancestors needed me to be still and breathe as they approached with what they had to offer my life."

Deepen and invigorate your yoga practice with yogic themes based on ancient wisdom designed to inspire you on and off the mat.Yoga draws many practitioners because of its physical benefits--from exercise to stress relief--but it is the recognition and experience of peace that keeps people returning to yoga and turning the focus of their practice from the physical to the spiritual. For those seeking deeper spiritual teachings, Threads of Yoga brings yoga philosophy from the ashram to your mat. Threads of Yoga is comprised of short chapters that introduce practitioners to 30 foundational yogic themes, such as letting go, the breath, the yamas and the niyamas, and the chakra system. Each theme is accompanied by practices, which might include a meditation, complementary poses, breath work, or quotes to contemplate. It is an ideal guide to deepen personal practice or to assist teachers in what is often the most difficult aspect of building an excellent yoga class: developing a theme and then supporting that motif throughout the class. Drawing on over twenty years of experience as a yoga teacher and practitioner, Pamela Seelig offers a much-needed resource for yoga practitioners and teachers who want to connect with and share the spiritual wisdom of yoga.

Unraveling the subtle processes that condition our thinking and experience, Maitreya's teaching reveals a powerful path of compassionate vision and spiritual transformation. Middle Beyond Extremes contains a translation of the Buddhist masterpiece Distinguishing the Middle from Extremes. This famed text, often referred to by its Sanskrit title, Madhyāntavibhāga, is part of a collection known as the Five Maitreya Teachings. Maitreya is held to have entrusted these profound and vast instructions to the master Asaṅga in the heavenly realm of Tuṣita.Distinguishing the Middle from Extremes employs the principle of the three natures to explain the way things seem to be as well as the way they actually are. It is presented here alongside commentaries by two outstanding masters of Tibet’s nonsectarian Rimé movement, Khenpo Shenga and Ju Mipham.

A playful, read-aloud exploration of all the different thoughts we have every day and their role in our lives."Sharks rule!" "That's gross." "I love tofu." "Is she from Montreal?" Whether our thoughts are happy, sad, scared, excited, or worried, they come in a constant flow. Through playful rhyming text and vivid, fun illustrations, Just a Thought introduces kids 4-8 to the way our lives are shaped by our thoughts. The story helps to teach self-awareness by recognizing negative self-thought and recurring thought patterns. Regardless of whether you have happy, weird, or mean thoughts-they are all just thoughts, and no single thought can define you. The magic of mind is that it's a space where anything is possible!

A fresh translation of the classical Buddhist poetry of Saigyō, whose aesthetics of nature, love, and sorrow came to epitomize the Japanese poetic tradition.Saigyō, the Buddhist name of Fujiwara no Norikiyo (1118–1190), is one of Japan’s most famous and beloved poets. He was a recluse monk who spent much of his life wandering and seeking after the Buddhist way. Combining his love of poetry with his spiritual evolution, he produced beautiful, lyrical lines infused with a Buddhist perception of the world.Gazing at the Moon presents over one hundred of Saigyō’s tanka—traditional 31-syllable poems—newly rendered into English by renowned translator Meredith McKinney. This selection of poems conveys Saigyō’s story of Buddhist awakening, reclusion, seeking, enlightenment, and death, embodying the Japanese aesthetic ideal of mono no aware—to be moved by sorrow in witnessing the ephemeral world.

Outlining the difference between appearance and reality, this work shows that the path to awakening involves leaving behind the inaccurate and limiting beliefs we have about ourselves and the world around us and opening ourselves to the limitless potential of our true nature. By divesting the mind of confusion, the treatise explains, we see things as they actually are. This insight allows for the natural unfolding of compassion and wisdom. According to tradition, Maitreya, the Buddha's regent, taught the root text of Distinguishing Phenomena from Their Intrinsic Nature to Asanga, who recorded the verses. The text is part of a larger collection of philosophical works that have become classics of the Indian Buddhist tradition. This volume includes commentaries by Khenpo Shenga and Ju Mipham, whose discussions illuminate the subtleties of the root text and provide valuable insight into the nature of reality and the process of  awakening. Khenpo Shenga and Ju Mipham were both among the most influential figures to come out of the Tibetan tradition in recent centuries. Their writings contributed tremendously to the flourishing of Buddhist philosophy and practice in Tibet.

A milestone in Buddhist literature, this comprehensive presentation of the practice of Dhamma shows how it can quench the dissatisfaction and suffering common in our lives.Dhamma--a Pali word meaning “law of nature” or “truth,” but commonly used to refer to the overall body of Buddhist teachings--has the potential to fundamentally change one's life. In this comprehensive set of teachings, Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, perhaps the most influential Thai Buddhist of the twentieth century, introduces the Dhamma to lay practitioners in a relatable and powerful way. Beginning with an extensive discussion of spiritual practice and moving into specific teachings on Dhamma, this book will be an indispensable resource for Theravada Buddhists, Insight Meditation practitioners, and all readers interested in a profoundly committed modern approach to the Buddhist path.

In this volume of The Treasury of Precious Instructions, Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye compiles teachings and practices by and about the renowned Indian Buddhist masters known as mahāsiddhas, recognized in all eight practice lineages of Tibetan Buddhism.The Treasury of Precious Instructions by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye, one of Tibet''s greatest Buddhist masters, is a shining jewel of Tibetan literature, presenting essential teachings from the entire spectrum of practice lineages that existed in Tibet. In its eighteen volumes, Kongtrul brings together some of the most important texts on key topics of Buddhist thought and practice while also authoring significant new sections of his own. This volume presents a selection of teachings and practices centered on the mahāsiddhas, Indian masters of tantric Buddhism, some of whom were of vital importance in transmitting the Vajrayāna teachings to Tibet. The mahāsiddha Mitrayogin, whose work forms the majority of this volume, visited Tibet in the late twelfth century. His ritual texts and instructions are translated from Tibetan, including sādhanas, empowerments, guru yogas, authorization rituals for protector deities, and detailed compositions on Mahāmudra practice, or resting in the nature of mind.In addition to instructions given by mahāsiddhas, this volume includes ritual practices to visualize them and transmit their blessings, including a devotional text composed by Jamgön Kongtrul himself. This translation, which may be engaged as a practice manual, preserves ancient teachings significant to the literature and history of world religions.