The Rooftop Sutras


Book Description

"The rooftop sutras is a series of strange and unusual tales set in a mythologised "suburbia". It follows various inhabitants as they attempt to stay awake amidst hypnotic repitions of routine"... backcover.




Shambhala Sutra


Book Description

Following the Shambhala Sutra an ancient manuscript written by Penchen Lama over two hundred years ago Laurence Brahm started his journey to Shambhala in Lhasa and continued deep into the harsh regions of Tibet. Shambhala Sutra presents Brahm s expedition across western Tibet s Ngari region where he learned that the ancient sutra was actually a metaphorical guidebook. He traces a route embedded with riddles through deserts and mountains. The lessons learned from this journey (as told in the sutra as a prophecy) are that shortsighted greed, war, and failure to protect our environment will cause kingdoms and empires to vanish. Mankind s future depends on ensuring a sustainable planet through more holistic economics, empowering communities and people, and preserving our environment. These are the messages hidden in the Shambhala Sutra. "




American Sutra


Book Description

Winner of the Grawemeyer Award in Religion A Los Angeles Times Bestseller “Raises timely and important questions about what religious freedom in America truly means.” —Ruth Ozeki “A must-read for anyone interested in the implacable quest for civil liberties, social and racial justice, religious freedom, and American belonging.” —George Takei On December 7, 1941, as the bombs fell on Pearl Harbor, the first person detained was the leader of the Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist sect in Hawai‘i. Nearly all Japanese Americans were subject to accusations of disloyalty, but Buddhists aroused particular suspicion. From the White House to the local town council, many believed that Buddhism was incompatible with American values. Intelligence agencies targeted the Buddhist community, and Buddhist priests were deemed a threat to national security. In this pathbreaking account, based on personal accounts and extensive research in untapped archives, Duncan Ryūken Williams reveals how, even as they were stripped of their homes and imprisoned in camps, Japanese American Buddhists launched one of the most inspiring defenses of religious freedom in our nation’s history, insisting that they could be both Buddhist and American. “A searingly instructive story...from which all Americans might learn.” —Smithsonian “Williams’ moving account shows how Japanese Americans transformed Buddhism into an American religion, and, through that struggle, changed the United States for the better.” —Viet Thanh Nguyen, author of The Sympathizer “Reading this book, one cannot help but think of the current racial and religious tensions that have gripped this nation—and shudder.” —Reza Aslan, author of Zealot




Sutra of Bian Que


Book Description

In Jiading, the imperial court was in a state of turmoil, with smoke rising in all directions in the north, and the imperial government in the south Song Dynasty was in a more peaceful corner, not thinking about going north anymore, and still living a happy life of singing and dancing. Shi Mi Yuan, a powerful official, had killed a famous Gold Resisting Scholar, but after gaining the actual power, he had actually restored the main culprit that had caused the death of King Yue Feiyue. He was reprimanded by the people as an ancient sinner, such as Qin Hui, and his title as a loyal sacrifice had been completely broken for Jin and Mongolia. Resisting the Golden Name Han Ying with this accusation of the crimes of Shi Mi Yuan, Shi Mi Yuan with hatred in his heart, liaising with Han's adversary, Queen Yang, and joining forces to accuse Han Long of having an affair with Jin Guo, selling the owner for honor. Since Song Ning Zong knew Han Yu's character and ignored him, Shi Mi Yuan secretly connected with the Kingdom of Jin to lure experts into the martial world and prepare to make a move against a famous man of his generation. The already restless martial arts world was once again filled with a bloody storm. Close]




Campervan Kama Sutra


Book Description

This true story tells of one family’s hilarious journey through Australia’s rugged outback countryside. Our intrepid adventurers work their way through numerous mishaps, including, but not limited to, an ill-advised river crossing, an inappropriately packed roof rack and some truly horrible singing. During their journey they stumble across a motley assortment of characters such as a confused check-in clerk, a grey nomad with an eye for detail regarding torches, and several Crazy Germans. While reading Campervan Kama Sutra, you’ll not only fall in love with Australia’s vast, ever-changing countryside, but you’ll also delight in the tragicomedy that arrives with unerring regularity. You’ll laugh until something hurts. *P.S. There was no dog.




The Lotus Sutra (Saddharma-Pundarika) (Annotated Edition)


Book Description

This is the extended and annotated edition including * an extensive annotation of more than 10.000 words about the history and basics of Buddhism, written by Thomas William Rhys Davids The Lotus Sūtra is one of the most popular and influential Mahāyāna sūtras, and the basis on which the Tiantai and Nichiren schools of Buddhism were established. This sutra is known for its extensive instruction on the concept and usage of skillful means – the seventh paramita or perfection of a Bodhisattva – mostly in the form of parables. It is also one of the first sutras to use the term Mahāyāna, or "Great Vehicle", Buddhism. Another concept introduced by the Lotus Sutra is the idea that the Buddha is an eternal entity, who achieved nirvana eons ago, but willingly chose to remain in the cycle of rebirth (samsara) to help teach beings the Dharma time and again. (courtesy of wikipedia.com) Contents: Buddhism The Lotus Sutra (Saddharma-Pundarîka) Chapter I. Introductory. Chapter Ii. Skilfulness Chapter Iii. A Parable. Chapter Iv. Disposition. Chapter V. On Plants. Chapter Vi. Announcement Of Future Destiny. Chapter Vii. Ancient Devotion. Chapter Viii. Announcement Of The Future Destiny Of The Five Hundred Monks. Chapter Ix. Announcement Of The Future Destiny Of Ânanda, Rahula, And The Two Thousand Monks. Chapter X. The Preacher. Chapter Xi. Apparition Of A Stûpa. Chapter Xii. Exertion. Chapter Xiii. Peaceful Life. Chapter Xiv. Issuing Of Bodhisattvas From The Gaps Of The Earth. Chapter Xv. Duration Of Life Of The Tathâgata. Chapter Xvi. Of Piety. Chapter Xvii. Indication Of The Meritoriousness Of Joyful Acceptance. Chapter Xviii. The Advantages Of A Religious Preacher. Chapter Xix. Sadâparibhûta. Chapter Xx. Conception Of The Transcendent Power Of The Tathâgatas. Chapter Xxi. Spells. Chapter Xxii. Ancient Devotion Of Bhaishagyarâga. Chapter Xxiii. Gadgadasvara. Chapter Xxiv. Chapter Called That Of The All-Sided One, Containing A Description Of The Transformations Of Avalokitesvara. Chapter Xxv. Ancient Devotion. Chapter Xxvi. Encouragement Of Samantabhadra. Chapter Xxvii. The Period (Of The Law, Dharmaparyâya).




Kama Sutra of Love


Book Description

DescriptionThis collection of short stories shows a rear glimpse into human nature with its beauty, ugliness and sufferings. These cover a variety of topics--life, love, dejection, horror and humour. Confronting despair with courage may lead to its transcendence. Tales of high literary value and entertainment. These will be enjoyed by variety of people. About the AuthorDurlabh Singh is a writer and an artist based in London, England. He has been published widely in over 300 publications worldwide. His other publications include: Chrome Red - Collected Poems.Spaces of Heart - Illustrated Verse. Kama Sutra of Love - Collections of Short StoriesKeeper of Reflections & Other Stories.In The Days of Love - Novel. Throughout his life, he had to struggle against the odds. Having lost his father at very early age, he had to take up the role of head of family, being the only male member in the household. Facing all the injustices of Indian social class system where he had to provide big dowries for marrying his sisters and getting into debts. The things took turn for worse when he came to England, as extreme racism was rampant there when he was constantly ridiculed and set upon by gangs of youths. Landlords refused to rent him even a room and shopkeepers refused to serve. He was subject to racial taunts in streets and at work. He suffered number of physical attacks and partially lost sight of an eye as he was beaten in a busy London street. That constant harassment eventually resulted in acute depression and a mental breakdown and as a result he was admitted to a mental hospital. He took up painting and writing as a therapy and developed these arts where he could find easier to breath from constant atmosphere of suffocation. It helped him to survive and keep his mental balance, in finding transcendence and wider fields of human creativity. People suffering from mental distress may find some solace in his works.




The Complete Nyingma Tradition from Sutra to Tantra, Book 13


Book Description

Chöying Tobden Dorje's magnum opus presented in English for the first time, in an authoritative translation prepared under the auspices of well-known and highly respected Tibetan teachers and translators. In 1838, Choying Tobden Dorje, a yogin and scholar of northeastern Tibet, completed a multivolume masterwork that traces the entire path of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism from beginning to end. Written by a mantra practitioner for the benefit of mantra practitioners living among the lay community, it was intended to be informative, inspirational, and above all, practical. Its twenty-five books, or topical divisions, offer a comprehensive and detailed view of the Buddhist path according to the early translation school of Tibetan Buddhism, spanning the vast range of Buddhist teachings from the initial steps to the highest esoteric teachings of great perfection. Choying Tobden Dorje’s magnum opus appears in English here for the first time. Book 13 presents the philosophical systems of India and Tibet, according to the writings of Longchen Rabjam and the revelations of Orgyan Lingpa. First, it discusses the views attributed to classical Hinduism, Jainism, materialism, and nihilism. Second, it describes the standpoints of the Vaibhashika and Sautrantika exponents of the lesser vehicle, exemplified by pious attendants and hermit buddhas, and the Cittamatra (“mind only”) and Madhyamaka (“middle way”) commentators of the great vehicle, exemplified by great bodhisattva beings. Third, it analyzes the inner and outer vehicles of the Buddhist tantras, with an emphasis on the three classes of the great perfection. Fourth, it documents the lines of philosophical transmission within Tibet, including Bon, Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, Kadampa, and Geluk. It concludes with an extract from a well-known treatise of the Fifth Dalai Lama, applying the techniques of consequential reasoning to the first chapter of Vasubandhu’s Treasury of Phenomenology.




The Laughing Sutra


Book Description

Iron & Silk, Mark Salzman's bestselling account of his adventures as an English teacher and martial arts student in China, introduced a writer of enormous charm and keen insight into the cultural chasm between East and West. Now Salzman returns to China in his first novel, which follows the adventures of Hsun-ching, a naive but courageous orphan, and the formidable and mysterious Colonel Sun, who together travel from mainland China to San Francisco, risking everything to track down an elusive Buddhist scripture called The Laughing Sutra. Part Tom Sawyer, part Tom Jones, The Laughing Sutra draws us into an irresistible narrative of danger and comedy that speaks volumes about the nature of freedom and the meaning of loyalty.




The Mama Sutra


Book Description

A “beautifully written and self-revealing” memoir of motherhood—in all its messy glory—as a spiritual practice, by a longtime yoga and dharma teacher (Tara Brach, author of Radical Acceptance) Sutra is the Sanskrit name for a short spiritual teaching, and it comes from the same root as the English word suture, or stitch. This story of motherhood as a path to awakening is, says yoga and meditation teacher Anne Cushman, “an homage to the long threads that run through all human lives, stitching up what’s shredded in our hearts.” The Mama Sutra spans an eighteen-year journey through motherhood as a spiritual practice, chronicling Cushman’s first pregnancy, her daughter's tragic stillbirth, the joyful birth of her son, the “home retreat” of early motherhood, the challenges of parenthood, the diagnosis and gifts of her son’s developmental differences, the meltdown of her nuclear family and its reconfiguration into a new and joyful form, and more. This is a powerful story of the rawness and beauty of life.