Gil Fronsdal

The Dhammapada is the most widely read Buddhist scripture in existence, enjoyed by both Buddhists and non-Buddhists. This classic text of teaching verses from the earliest period of Buddhism in India conveys the philosophical and practical foundations of the Buddhist tradition. The text presents two distinct goals for leading a spiritual life: the first is attaining happiness in this life (or in future lives); the second goal is the achievement of spiritual liberation, freedom, absolute peace. Many of the key themes of the verses are presented in dichotomies or pairs, for example, grief and suffering versus joy; developing the mind instead of being negligent about one's mental attitude and conduct; virtuous action versus misconduct; and being truthful versus being deceitful. The purpose of these contrasts is, very simply, to describe the difference between what leads to desirable outcomes and what does not. For centuries, this text has been studied in its original Pali, the canonical language of Buddhism in Southeast Asia. This fresh new translation from Insight Mediation teacher and Pail translator Gil Fronsdal is both highly readable and scholarly authoritative. With extensive explanatory notes, this edition combines a rigorous attention to detail in bringing forth the original text with the translator's personal knowledge of the Buddhist path. It is the first truly accurate and highly readable translation of this text to be published in English.

The Dhammapada is a collection of sayings of the Buddha, presented in verse form. Poetic, inspirational, and broadly accessible, this is the most widely read of all classical Buddhist texts. Presenting two distinct goals for leading a spiritual life--attaining happiness in this life (and in future lives) and the achievement of absolute peace--this classic text of teaching verses from the earliest period of Buddhism in India conveys the philosophical and practical foundations of the Buddhist tradition. This accessible translation combines Gil Fronsdal's personal knowledge of the Buddhist path with his rigorous attention to detail in bringing forth the original Pali text for seekers of all levels. This book is part of the Shambhala Pocket Library series. The Shambhala Pocket Library is a collection of short, portable teachings from notable figures across religious traditions and classic texts. The covers in this series are rendered by Colorado artist Robert Spellman. The books in this collection distill the wisdom and heart of the work Shambhala Publications has published over 50 years into a compact format that is collectible, reader-friendly, and applicable to everyday life.

A translation with commentary of one of the earliest of the surviving Buddhist texts, which reveals the teachings to be remarkably simple and free of religious trappings. The A??hakavagga, or “Book of Eights,” is believed by scholars to be among the earliest of written Buddhist texts, and in it we find the Buddha’s teaching pared down to its most uncomplicated essence. Gil Fronsdal’s translation and commentary reveals the text’s central concern to be the joy that comes from recognizing and letting go of attachment to the illusory views that create suffering. It’s simple medicine that works for us today as well as it did for the Buddha’s first listeners.

The early history of the Mahayana movement has drawn a great deal of attention from scholars over the last half century. Among the various suggestions made about its origins are that it was initially a lay movement, a path of greater stringency for monastics, a stupa cult, a practice of forest recluses, or even the result of influences from outside the Buddhist tradition. In this study Gil Fronsdal examines the Daoxing jing, a second-century Chinese translation of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines. The Daoxing jing is the earliest version of the Perfection of Wisdom scripture, one of the most important foundational texts of the Mahayana movement. In this study Fronsdal challenges many contemporary presumptions, including those about the characteristics of the aspiration for buddhahood and what it means to be a bodhisattva, and offers insight into the early formation of a strain of thought and practice that contributed to what eventually became the Mahayana as we know it today.

Essais portant sur la pratique Bouddhiste de l'attention: une compilation tr s accessible et motivante d'essais et d'expos s portant sur la pratique bouddhiste de l'attention. Comme le dit Gil Fronsdal: "essayer de toucher le coeur du sujet signifie essayer de toucher ce qui est port e de main: ce qui peut- tre vu, entendu, senti, go t , ressenti et directement connu dans le pr sent". Gil applique la pratique de l'attention non seulement la m ditation formelle, mais tous les diff rents aspects de la vie quotidienne.

Aufs tze ber die bung buddhistischer Achtsamkeit. Eine inspirierende und leicht zug ngliche Sammlung von Essays und bearbeiteten Vortr gen ber die bung buddhistischer Achtsamkeit. Gil Fronsdal schreibt, dass die Suche nach dem was zur Hand liegt, die Suche nach dem ist, das uns am n chsten liegt, nach dem, das im gegenw rtigen Augenblick direkt gesehen, geh rt, gerochen, geschmeckt, gef hlt und erkannt wird. Gil bringt die bung der Achtsamkeit nicht nur bei formeller Meditation zum Einsatz, sondern auch bei all den unterschiedlichen Aspekten des t glichen Lebens.

Ensayos budistas sobre la atenci n plena; una accesible e inspiradora compilaci n de ensayos y pl ticas editadas sobre la pr ctica budista de la atenci n plena. Como el autor afirma, "la b squeda del meollo del asunto inmediato es la b squeda de lo que est m s a la mano, ya que lo que se ve directamente, se oye, se huele, se saborea es la cognici n del presente." Gil Fronsdal aporta la pr ctica de la atenci n plena no s lo a la meditaci n formal, sino tambi n a todos los diversos aspectos de la vida cotidiana.

Inspired by his years of Buddhist monastic life, Gil Fronsdal has written these warm-hearted stories as part of the tradition of teaching through storytelling. These are tales of transformation and spiritual growth. They delight and challenge as they express different facets of the Buddhist path to liberation in familiar, yet fresh and engaging, ways. These stories can be reread often, each time supporting new reflec- tions on the spiritual life and the possibility of each person awakening to the kindness, clarity and insight available to all of us. A Monastery Within points to how each person can build an inner home for the awakened life.