Wisdom
books (UK)
Snow
Lion (USA)
100,000 Songs of Milarepa (Vol’s 1 &
2.)
Garma CC Chang
This classic and essential text has for
a number of years been out of print, and as such almost impossible to purchase
other than from expensive specialist used book shops, but thankfully a
new combined hardback version is now available - try Wisdom Books or Snow
Lion (see links at top of page). A treasury of wisdom by the greatest
enlightened yogi of Tibet and a founder of the Kagyupa lineage.
Becoming Your Own Therapist
Lama Yeshe
ISBN 1-891868-00-4
A brief but enlightening booklet distributed
for free by the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive, Boston. Was available free with
any order from Wisdom Books (see link above).
Buddhist Ethics
Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye
ISBN 1-55939-066-2
An encyclopedic and comprehensive account
of the three major systems of ethics found in the Tibetan tradition, widely
known as the "Three Vows"; the Pratimoksa vows of personal liberation,
the Bodhisattva vows of universal liberation, and the Tantric
vows
of secret mantrayana. Also discusses the teacher-student relationship,
and the pledges and precepts of both monastic and lay practitioners.
Cloudless Sky - The Mahamudra path of
the Tibetan Buddhist Kagyu School
The Third Jamgon Kongtrul
ISBN 0-87773-694-4
A detailed commentary on the Vajra song
of the first Jamgon Kongtrul (1813-1899) elucidating the ground, path,
and fruition of the Mahamudra system. The Vajra song itself is beautiful
and moving, and the commentary is profound.
Creation and Completion: Essential Points
of Tantric Meditation
Jamgon Kongtrul
ISBN 0-86171-105-X
According to Thrangu Rinpoche this text
is “exceptionally important, very beneficial to read and possess. It will
answer all questions and resolve all doubts about Vajrayana practice, such
as ‘Why are there deities in a non theistic tradition?’ and ‘Why are there
such elaborate practices when emptiness is the Mahayana view?’”
Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism
Chogyam Trungpa
ISBN 0-87773-050-4
A vital text, very highly recommended &
admired by almost everyone I know who has read it.
Dharma Paths
Khenpo Kathar Rinpoche
ISBN 1-55939-002-6
This was one of the first Dharma books
I read, and was suggested to me by my teacher. It contains an excellent
distillation of the entire Kagyu path, from basic Samatha meditation through
to the Bodhisattva Vow and the six perfections. A great ‘first
book’ on Buddhism.
Drinking the Mountain Stream
Milarepa; translated by Lama Kunga
Rinpoche & Brian Cutillo
ISBN 0-86171-063-0
Further spontaneous songs of liberation
by Tibet's greatest yogin. This collection shows more than any other the
scathingly direct and humorous wisdom with which Milarepa's actions cut
through veils of illusion.
The Four Ordinary Foundations of Buddhist
Practice
Thrangu Rinpoche
ISBN 81-7030-416-4
A concise and accessible teaching on the
‘four thoughts that turn the mind to the Dharma’; Precious Human Birth,
Impermanence, the Shortcomings of Samsara, and the Law of Karma. These
are normally the first contemplative practices undertaken in the Karma
Kagyu tradition.
Gems of Dharma, Jewels of Freedom
Gampopa
ISBN 0-9524555-0-1
Ken & Katia Holmes’ translation of
Gampopa's ‘Jewel Ornament of Liberation’, with a preface by the XIIth Tai
Situpa. This is the classic Lam Rim (stages of the path) text of the Kagyu
lineages. “Anyone who knows the Jewel Ornament well can say that
they really understand Buddhism”- Khenpo Konchog Gyaltsen
Introduction To Tantra
Lama Yeshe
ISBN 0-86171-021-5
A good introduction to Vajrayana Buddhism in general, and the Tantric perspective in particular.
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation
Konchog Gyaltsen
ISBN 1-55939-092-1
The Konchog Gyaltsen version of the Jewel
Ornament is perhaps the nicest, published by Snow Lion.
Karmapa
Ken Holmes
0-9524555-4-4
A wonderful book full of colour and black
and white photo's of his Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Urgyen Trinley
Dorje. Wonderful and comprehensive text regarding the Kagyu Lineage, reincarnation,
Vajrayana, and the history of the Karmapa lineage.
The Life of Milarepa
Lobsang P. Lhalungpa
ISBN 0-394-72696-0
The illustrated biography of Milarepa,
the eleventh century yogin and poet, who is the most renown saint in Tibetan
Buddhist history. At once an inspirational spiritual biography, introduction
to Vajrayana Buddhism, and powerful and graphic folk tale.
Luminous Mind
Kalu Rinpoche
ISBN 0-86171-118-1
An anthology over the whole range of teachings
compiled by Lama Denis, and for my money
is one of the best "full picture in one"
books that there is. - Alex Wilding
Mahamudra Eliminating the Darkness of
Ignorance
Wangchuk Dorje, translated by Berzin.
My version is Library of Tibetan Works
and Archives, and was published in 1978 without an ISBN, but I think there
are newer versions. - Alex Wilding
The Practice of Tranquility and Insight
- a Guide to Tibetan Buddhist Meditation
Kenchen Thrangu Rinpoche
ISBN 1-55939-106-5
A practical guide to the two types of meditation
that form the core of Buddhist spiritual practice- Samatha (tranquility)
meditation, which aims at stilling the mind, and Vipasyana (insight) meditation
which produces 'clear vision', or insight into the nature of phenomenon.
The Six Perfections
Geshe Sonam Rinchen
ISBN 1-55939-073-5
A practical and very helpful guide to integrating
the six perfections of the Bodhisattva into our own actions; seperate chapters
cover the importance and common sense of practicing to increase Generosity,
Ethical Discipline, Patience, Enthuseastic Effort, Concentration, and Wisdom
for the sake of all beings. Very inspiring.
The Teacher-Student Relationship
Jamgon Kongtrul; translated by Ron
Garry
ISBN 1-55939-096-4
"I highly recommend this book because it
shows us in a clear and concise way how to create and nurture this relationship..."
- from the foreword by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche.
Torch of Certainty
Jamgon Kongtrul
ISBN 0-87773-380-5
One of the best of the few English
language books on Ngondro practice, The Four Special Foundations. A very
important and respected work. Includes commentary on both the four
ordinary and four special foundations, as well as discussion of the importance
of lineage, the Kagyu sect and the student teacher relationship. Jam packed
with good, good stuff.
The Words of My Perfect Teacher
Patrul Rinpoche
ISBN 0-06-066449-5
The classic introduction to Tibetan Buddhism,
covering the ordinary and special foundations of the Nyingma school, and
a wealth of moving and heartfelt anecdotes and teachings about the student
teacher relationship. A favorite of Tibetans and recommended by the Dalai
Lama.
The Uttara Tantra: A Treatise on Buddha
Nature
Thrangu Rinpoche
ISBN 81-7030-401-6
A commentary on the Uttara Tantra Shastra of Asanga, an important text on the qualities and nature of a Buddha. The root text is not included in this commentary, however, but it can be purchased from Thrangu Rinpoche's homepage (see the 'Links' page).