Our Digital Library

Theravada Buddhist Books

Theravada Buddhist Books

Many books have been written about meditation and Buddhism. On this page we host a collection of books on Theravada Buddhism and Buddhist meditation that we think are worth reading.

Are you looking for all available work by a specific author? Then visit our authors page.

If you have a recommendation, please contact us!

Are you looking for a reading guide? Then read which 16 books on Buddhism and meditation we recommend.

A Burden Off the Mind: A Study Guide
28-12-22
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A Burden Off the Mind: A Study Guide

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

A study guide on the five khandhas (aggregates) emphasizing the importance of bringing the right questions to the teachings on the khandhas. If you use them to…

A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma
28-12-22
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A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma

Bhikkhu Bodhi

This modern translation of the Abhidhammattha Sangaha (Manual of Abhidhamma) offers an introduction to Buddhism’s fundamental philosophical psychology.

A Discourse on the Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta
29-12-22
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A Discourse on the Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta

Mahasi Sayadaw

All teachings or beliefs outside of the Buddha’s Dispensation fall under the category of beliefs in a self, attā. They hold to the view that there is such a…

A Heart Released
29-12-22
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A Heart Released

Ajahn Mun

uch has been written about the life of Phra Ajahn Mun Bhūridatta Thera (1870-1949), the founder of the Thai Forest Tradition, but very little was recorded of…

A Manual of the Excellent Man
29-12-22
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A Manual of the Excellent Man

Ledi Sayadaw

This manual is written in reply to a layperson requesting guidance in developing insight, clarifying doctrinal aspects, and advancing from a blind worldling to…

A Meditator’s Tools: A Study Guide
28-12-22
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A Meditator’s Tools: A Study Guide

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

This is a study guide on the ten recollections, a set of meditation themes that highlight the positive role that memory and thought play in training the mind.

A Taste of Freedom
29-12-22
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A Taste of Freedom

Ajahn Chah

This book contains ten Dhamma talks given by the renowned Thai meditation master Venerable Ajahn Chah. In a clear and simple yet penetrative style…

Abhidhamma in Daily Life
28-12-22
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Abhidhamma in Daily Life

Nina van Gorkom

Abhidhamma in Daily Life is an exposition of absolute realities in detail. Abhidhamma means higher doctrine and the book’s purpose is to encourage the right…

Abhidhamma Studies
28-12-22
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Abhidhamma Studies

Nyanaponika Thera

The Abhidhamma, the third great division of early Buddhist teaching, expounds a revolutionary system of philosophical psychology rooted in the twin Buddhist…

Advice to Rahula: Four Discourses of the Buddha
28-12-22
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Advice to Rahula: Four Discourses of the Buddha

Nyanaponika Thera

This book contains a collection of teachings the Buddha gave to his son Rahula. The first of the texts translated here, the Exhortation to Rāhula given at…

All of Us: Beset by Birth, Decay and Death
29-12-22
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All of Us: Beset by Birth, Decay and Death

Ayya Khema

This book, containing transcriptions of twelve talks by the renowned Buddhist nun Ayya Khema, is for all people everywhere who seek liberation from suffering…

An Unentangled Knowing: The Teachings of a Thai Buddhist Lay Woman
29-12-22
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An Unentangled Knowing: The Teachings of a Thai Buddhist Lay Woman

Upasika Kee Nanayon

A collection of Dhamma talks from the foremost woman Dhamma teacher in modern Thailand.

Anguttara Nikaya Anthology
28-12-22
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Anguttara Nikaya Anthology

Nyanaponika Thera

This book contains an anthology of 154 selected discourses from the Pali canon. The original translation was by Nyanaponika Thera and was published in the BPS…

Awareness Itself
29-12-22
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Awareness Itself

Ajahn Fuang

A collection of teachings spanning the whole range of practice by Ajahn Lee’s principal student and Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu’s teacher.

Banner of the Arahants
29-12-22
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Banner of the Arahants

Khantipalo

This book covers in outline, but with many interesting stories and examples, the history and development of the Sangha, the Buddhist Order of monks and nuns…

Basic Themes: Four Treatises on Buddhist Practice
29-12-22
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Basic Themes: Four Treatises on Buddhist Practice

Ajahn Lee

Uniquely among the Ajahns in the Thai Wilderness tradition Ajahn Lee composed systematic treatises on the practice. These are valuable documents…

Beyond Coping: A Study Guide on Aging, Illness, Death & Separation
28-12-22
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Beyond Coping: A Study Guide on Aging, Illness, Death & Separation

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

Passages from the Pāli Canon arranged in five sections: the Buddha as physician; diagnoses of the conditions of aging, etc.; the conditions as motivations for…

Bodhinyana
29-12-22
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Bodhinyana

Ajahn Chah

This was the first compilation of a series of translated talks by Ajahn Chah. After its initial printing in 1979 it has been reprinted many times.

Buddhism in a Nutshell
28-12-22
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Buddhism in a Nutshell

Narada Maha Thera

This work contains some of the most important and inspiring discourses of the Buddha such as the Kalama Sutta, and many discourses with practical advice for lay…

Buddhism: A Living Message
28-12-22
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Buddhism: A Living Message

Piyadassi Thera

The scientist has brought the external world under his sway, and seems to promise that he can turn this world into a paradise. But humans cannot yet control…

Buddhist Dictionary: A Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines
28-12-22
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Buddhist Dictionary: A Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines

Nyanatiloka Thera

Translations of important Pali words and meditation terms arranged in alphabetical order; definitions include a longer discussion of certain complex concepts…

Buddhist Women at the Time of the Buddha
29-12-22
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Buddhist Women at the Time of the Buddha

Hellmuth Hecker

A small booklet containing the following: the Verses of Final Knowledge of Bhikkhunī Sujātā; Queen Mallikā; What Cannot Be Got (The Buddha’s Words to King…

Burmese Monk’s Tales
29-12-22
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Burmese Monk’s Tales

Maung Htin Aung

The tales contained in this collection were first told in the dark decade of Burmese history (1876–85) during the coming event of the British conquest.

Cetasikas
28-12-22
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Cetasikas

Nina van Gorkom

Cetasika means belonging to the mind. It is a mental factor which accompanies consciousness (citta) and experiences an object. There are 52 cetasikas.

Clarity of Insight
28-12-22
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Clarity of Insight

Ajahn Chah

Two lessons on meditation given by Ajahn Chah. The first lesson is about meditating on buddho, the meditation method that Ajahn Chah frequently taught.

Come & See
29-12-22
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Come & See

Ajahn Funn

Three Dhamma talks on the importance of being in touch with the truths inside—the truths of the body and of the mind—so that the mind can be trained to bring…

Dependent Origination (Paticca Samupadda)
29-12-22
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Dependent Origination (Paticca Samupadda)

Piyadassi Thera

Dependent origination, paṭicca-samuppāda, is a basic teaching of Buddhism. The doctrine therein being so deep and profound it is not possible within the limited…

Devotion in Buddhism: Three Essays
29-12-22
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Devotion in Buddhism: Three Essays

Nyanaponika Thera

Religion and devotion are inseparable, and Buddhism is no exception to this rule. Theravada, or Buddhism based on the Pali Tipiṭaka, the original Teachings of…

Dhamma Reflections
29-12-22
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Dhamma Reflections

Bhikkhu Bodhi

This volume brings together fifty-three essays of Bhikkhu Bodhi that were earlier published by the BPS in newsletters and other publications.

Dhammapada: A Translation
28-12-22
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Dhammapada: A Translation

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

An anthology of verses attributed to the Buddha long recognized as one of the masterpieces of early Buddhist literature. This edition has the full Introduction…

Dimensions of Buddhist Thought
29-12-22
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Dimensions of Buddhist Thought

Francis Story

A volume of essays which shows the vital significance of Buddhism in the 20th century. This volume brings together the author’s numerous contributions to BPS’s…

Everything is Teaching Us
29-12-22
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Everything is Teaching Us

Ajahn Chah

This book summarizes Ajahn Chah’s approach quite neatly. Showing us the immediacy of the Dhamma, he demystified the concepts of Buddhism so that almost anyone…

Fistful of Sand & The Light of Discernment: Teachings of Phra Ajahn Suwat Suvaco
28-12-22
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Fistful of Sand & The Light of Discernment: Teachings of Phra Ajahn Suwat Suvaco

Ajahn Suwat

In 1989 Ajahn Suwat, the founder of Metta Forest Monastery, guided a meditation retreat for Westerners at Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA.

Food for the Heart
29-12-22
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Food for the Heart

Ajahn Chah

Renowned for the beauty and simplicity of his teachings, Ajahn Chah was Thailand’s best-known meditation teacher. His charisma and wisdom influenced many…

Food for Thought
29-12-22
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Food for Thought

Ajahn Lee

The title of this collection reflects how it invites the reader to fill in the spaces suggested by the talks to reflect on how the images and teachings they…

Foundations of Buddhism: The Four Noble Truths
29-12-22
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Foundations of Buddhism: The Four Noble Truths

Francis Story

Now these truths, as we shall see, are something quite different from the usual bases of religious belief; so different, in fact, that it has been questioned…

Frames of Reference
29-12-22
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Frames of Reference

Ajahn Lee

A practical explanation for meditators of the four frames of reference from the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta (the Discourse on the Foundations of Mindfulness) by Ajahn…

Freedom Within: Liberation Teachings on the Satipatthana Meditation Practice
28-12-22
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Freedom Within: Liberation Teachings on the Satipatthana Meditation Practice

Sayadaw U Pandita

The teachings contained in this publication are a selection of transcribed talks given by Venerable Sayadaw U Pandita at the Tathagatha Meditation center…

Fundamentals of Buddhism
28-12-22
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Fundamentals of Buddhism

Peter Della Santina

At the request of the Srilankaramaya Buddhist Temple Dr. Santina gave a series of lectures in which the foundation of Buddhism was given.

Fundamentals of Buddhism: Four Lectures
29-12-22
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Fundamentals of Buddhism: Four Lectures

Nyanatiloka Thera

I shall give a short exposition of the essence of the genuine teaching of the Buddha, such as we still find it in the Buddhist scriptures handed down to us in…

Gifts He Left Behind: The Dhamma Legacy of Phra Ajahn Dune Atulo
29-12-22
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Gifts He Left Behind: The Dhamma Legacy of Phra Ajahn Dune Atulo

Ajahn Dune

This book is a compilation of Ajahn Dune’s short teachings — pure truths at the highest level, lessons and admonishments he gave his students…

Gleanings in Time
29-12-22
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Gleanings in Time

admin

As a tribute to the memory of a dear and esteemed friend and of a brilliant and creative mind, these pages gleaned from his posthumous papers are here presented.

Gods and the Universe in Buddhist Perspective
29-12-22
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Gods and the Universe in Buddhist Perspective

Francis Story

One of the descriptive titles given to the Buddha is that of satthā-deva-manussānaṃ, the Teacher of Gods and Men. It is found in the earliest texts of the…

Great Disciples of the Buddha: Their Lives, Works and Legacy
28-12-22
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Great Disciples of the Buddha: Their Lives, Works and Legacy

Nyanaponika Thera

Twenty-four of the Buddha’s most distinguished disciples are brought to life in ten chapters of rich narration. They include monks who were very close to him…

Guide Through the Abhidhamma Pitaka
28-12-22
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Guide Through the Abhidhamma Pitaka

Nyanatiloka Thera

An outline or synposis of the seven books of the advanced analytical collection of the Pali Canon, the Abhidhamma Pitaka. Each of the books of this collection…

Handful of Leaves vol. 1: An Anthology from the Digha Nikaya
28-12-22
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Handful of Leaves vol. 1: An Anthology from the Digha Nikaya

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

This volume is the first in a four-volume anthology of suttas (discourses) drawn from the Sutta Piṭaka (discourse basket or repository) of the Pāli Canon.

Handful of Leaves vol. 2: An Anthology from the Majjhima Nikaya
28-12-22
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Handful of Leaves vol. 2: An Anthology from the Majjhima Nikaya

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

The Majjhima Nikāya — the Middle Collection — is the second collection in the Sutta Piṭaka. It takes its name from the length of the discourses it contains…

Handful of Leaves vol. 3: An Anthology from the Samyutta Nikaya
28-12-22
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Handful of Leaves vol. 3: An Anthology from the Samyutta Nikaya

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

The Saṁyutta Nikāya, a collection of short to medium-length discourses, takes its name from the way the discourses are organized into groups connected…

Handful of Leaves vol. 4: An Anthology from the Anguttara Nikaya
28-12-22
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Handful of Leaves vol. 4: An Anthology from the Anguttara Nikaya

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

The Aṅguttara Nikāya, a collection of short to medium-length discourses, takes its name from the way the discourses are grouped by the number of their parts…

Handful of Leaves: An Anthology from the Sutta Pitaka
28-12-22
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Handful of Leaves: An Anthology from the Sutta Pitaka

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

This all-in-one book bundles all of the sutta collections: the Dīgha, Majjhima, Saṁyutta, and Aṅguttara Nikāyas, as well as six books from the Khuddaka Nikāya…

In Simple Terms
29-12-22
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In Simple Terms

Ajahn Chah

Ajahn Chah was a master at using the apt and unusual simile to explain points of Dhamma. The translations of these similes have been polished as little as…

In This Very Life: The Liberation Teachings of the Buddha
28-12-22
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In This Very Life: The Liberation Teachings of the Buddha

Sayadaw U Pandita

Burmese meditation master Sayadaw U Pandita shows us that freedom is as immediate as breathing, as fundamental as a footstep. In this book he describes the path…

Inner Strength
29-12-22
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Inner Strength

Ajahn Lee

A collection of 20 Dhamma Talks by Ajahn Lee, from the basics of breath meditation to longer talks with extended metaphors on consciousnesses…

Into the Stream: A Study Guide
28-12-22
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Into the Stream: A Study Guide

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

For your practice to lead to Awakening, you must develop reliable standards for judging — which practices lead to stream entry, what indicates a true experience…

Intuitive Awareness
28-12-22
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Intuitive Awareness

Ajahn Sumedho

This book is compiled from talks given mostly in 2001 by Ajahn Sumedho. The first edition was originally published in 2004, but has long since been out of print.

Investigating the Dhamma
29-12-22
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Investigating the Dhamma

Bhikkhu Bodhi

This book brings together eight essays of Bhikkhu Bodhi, five of which were earlier published in academic journals and volumes, and three not published before.

It’s Like This
29-12-22
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It’s Like This

Ajahn Chah

Ajahn Chah was a master at using the apt and unusual simile to explain points of Dhamma. He was especially talented at exploiting the open-ended nature of the…

Itivuttaka: This was Said by the Buddha
28-12-22
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Itivuttaka: This was Said by the Buddha

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

The Itivuttaka is a newly updated translation of a collection of 112 short suttas, each one a prose passage followed by a verse. This collection is shaped less…

Just Seeing: Insight Meditation and Sense Perception
28-12-22
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Just Seeing: Insight Meditation and Sense Perception

Cynthia Thatcher

In eloquent, expressive language this book explores in depth the Buddha’s significant teaching, “When seeing, just see; when hearing, just hear…

Karma Q&A
28-12-22
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Karma Q&A

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

Kamma and rebirth are often understood to be teachings of fate and helplessness in the face of unknowable influences from the past. Instead of teaching fate…

Keeping the Breath in Mind
29-12-22
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Keeping the Breath in Mind

Ajahn Lee

A fundamental guidebook for breath meditation and practicing the jhānas (concentration absorptions) by Ajahn Lee.

Khuddakapatha: Short Passages
28-12-22
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Khuddakapatha: Short Passages

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

This, the first book in the Khuddaka Nikāya (Collection of Short Discourses), appears to have been designed as a primer for novice monks and nuns.

29-12-22
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Knowing the World

Ajahn Liem

Within this little booklet are teachings on the nature of the mind and the world given by Luang Por Liem Thitadhammo. During a visit to Sri Lanka in March, 2013…

Last Days of the Buddha
28-12-22
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Last Days of the Buddha

Francis Story

On the stirring final journey of the Buddha, covering three months, he instructs his disciples on the elements needed to keep the Dhamma strong and stresses the…

Lay Buddhist Practice: The Shrine Room, Uposatha Day and Rains Residence
29-12-22
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Lay Buddhist Practice: The Shrine Room, Uposatha Day and Rains Residence

Khantipalo

A practical manual for lay Buddhists covering devotional practices (chanting, setting up a shrine room, etc.), uposatha day observances, lay precepts…

Living Dhamma
29-12-22
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Living Dhamma

Ajahn Chah

This is a collection of nine transcribed Dhamma talks given by Ajahn Chah to the lay community as well as to the monastic community in Thailand.

Meditation: A Collection of Talks on Cultivating the Mind
29-12-22
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Meditation: A Collection of Talks on Cultivating the Mind

Ajahn Chah

This compilation consists of five talks and three question and answer sessions by the renowned Thai Forest Tradition teacher Venerable Ajahn Chah.

Metta: The Philosphy and Practice of Universal Love
29-12-22
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Metta: The Philosphy and Practice of Universal Love

Acharya Buddharakkhita

The Pali word mettā is a multi-significant term meaning loving-kindness, friendliness, goodwill, etc. If these qualities of mettā are sufficiently cultivated…

Mind Overcoming its Cankers
28-12-22
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Mind Overcoming its Cankers

Acharya Buddharakkhita

Mind Overcoming its Cankers by Acharya Buddharakkhita is a profound exposition of the āsavas, the mental pollutions that maintain samsāra…

Mindful of the Body: A Study Guide
28-12-22
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Mindful of the Body: A Study Guide

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

This study guide focuses on the primary sutta in the Pāli Canon dealing with the contemplation of the body: The Discourse on Mindfulness Immersed in the Body…

Mindfulness of Breathing (Anapanasati)
28-12-22
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Mindfulness of Breathing (Anapanasati)

Bhikkhu Ñānamoli

Anapanasati, or “mindfulness of breathing,” is among the Buddhist methods of mind training given most prominence in the Pali Canon. It was originally for his…

Modern Buddhist Masters
29-12-22
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Modern Buddhist Masters

Jack Kornfield

The Material in this book have been collected or translated over a number of years. They represent an intimate record of spoken Dhamma, the teaching of many of…

Mudita: The Buddha’s Teaching on Unselfish Joy
29-12-22
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Mudita: The Buddha’s Teaching on Unselfish Joy

Nyanaponika Thera

This book contains several short essays, one by the editor, Venerable Nyanaponika, and three by lay practitioners on one of the lesser known and too-little…

On Meditation
28-12-22
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On Meditation

Ajahn Chah

In this short work there are some Dhamma talks by Ajahn Chah about meditation. Ajahn Chah talks about buddho, samādhi (concentration) and wisdom. It’s a good…

Patipada: Venerable Acariya Mun’s Path of Practice
28-12-22
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Patipada: Venerable Acariya Mun’s Path of Practice

Ajahn Mun

This book is a translation of the Dhutanga Kammaṭṭhāna practices of Ajahn Mun Bhūridatta Thera, and it was written by Venerable Ajahn Mahā Boowa Ñāṇasampanno…

Poems of the Elders: An Anthology from the Theragatha & Therigatha
28-12-22
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Poems of the Elders: An Anthology from the Theragatha & Therigatha

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

This is an anthology consisting of 97 poems from the Theragāthā (Poems of the Elder Monks) and 34 from the Therīgāthā (Poems of the Elder Nuns). These texts are…

Practical Insight Meditation: Basic and Progressive Stages
29-12-22
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Practical Insight Meditation: Basic and Progressive Stages

Mahasi Sayadaw

The practice of vipassana or insight meditation was described by the Buddha as the direct way, for the overcoming of all sorrow and grief and for realizing…

Prayer and Worship
29-12-22
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Prayer and Worship

Francis Story

Prayer is a vehicle of desire, and desire is wedded to the deceptive idea of selfhood. The only safe wish is the wish to attain Nibbāna, the wish to strip away…

Rebirth as Doctrine and Experience
29-12-22
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Rebirth as Doctrine and Experience

Francis Story

Francis Story had a particular fascination with the memories of rebirth that he encountered in Burma. He wrote prolifically about his experiences and remains…

Recognizing the Dhamma: A Study Guide
28-12-22
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Recognizing the Dhamma: A Study Guide

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

The Buddha taught eight principles for recognizing what qualifies as Dhamma and Vinaya, and what does not. They form the standards against which the validity of…

Right Mindfulness: Memory & Ardency on the Buddhist Path
28-12-22
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Right Mindfulness: Memory & Ardency on the Buddhist Path

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

For the past several decades, a growing flood of books, articles, and teachings has advanced theories about the practice of mindfulness which are highly…

Satipatthana Vipassana: Insight through Mindfulness
29-12-22
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Satipatthana Vipassana: Insight through Mindfulness

Mahasi Sayadaw

On the personal request of the Honourable U Nu, Prime Minister, and Thado Thiri Thudhamma Sir U Thwin, President of the Buddha Sāsanānuggaha Association…

Satipatthana: The Direct Path to Realization
28-12-22
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Satipatthana: The Direct Path to Realization

Bhikkhu Anālayo

This book helps to fill what has long been a glaring gap in the scholarship on Early Buddhism, offering us a detailed textual study of the Satipatthana Sutta…

Starting out Small
29-12-22
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Starting out Small

Ajahn Lee

In this collection of talks Ajahn Lee covers the sorts of questions that occur to people new to meditation— Why meditate? How should I meditate? And why in that…

Still Flowing Water
29-12-22
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Still Flowing Water

Ajahn Chah

A collection of eight new or significantly revised translations of Ajahn Chah’s Dhamma talks by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. Two of them have never been translated…

Stillness Flowing: The Life and Teachings of Ajahn Chah
28-12-22
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Stillness Flowing: The Life and Teachings of Ajahn Chah

Ajahn Chah

A biography about Ajahn Chah, one of the greatest meditation teachers within Theravāda Buddhism of the last century. Ajahn Chah steadily practiced the path of…

Stories of Old: Gathered from the Pali Commentaries
29-12-22
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Stories of Old: Gathered from the Pali Commentaries

Nyanaponika Thera

These stories have been collected from the ancient commentaries to the Pali Canon that were compiled and translated in Sri Lanka by Venerable Buddhaghosa in the…

Straight From the Heart
29-12-22
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Straight From the Heart

Ajahn Maha Boowa

The talks in this collection all deal with the practice of meditation, and particularly with the development of discernment. These talks were originally given…

Sutta Nipāta: The Discourse Group
28-12-22
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Sutta Nipāta: The Discourse Group

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

This is a translation of the entire collection of 72 suttas, which includes some of the longer and more famous poems in the Pāli Canon, such as the Discourse on…

Taming the Mind: Discourses of the Buddha
29-12-22
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Taming the Mind: Discourses of the Buddha

Nyanaponika Thera

Selected discourses of the Buddha on meditation and the mind, compiled by the renowned Buddhist monk Nyanaponika Thera.

Ten Perfections: A Study Guide
28-12-22
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Ten Perfections: A Study Guide

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

For people in the modern world facing the issue of how to practice the Dhamma in daily life, the ten perfections provide a useful framework for how to do it.

The All-Embracing Net of Views
29-12-22
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The All-Embracing Net of Views

Bhikkhu Bodhi

The Brahmajala, one of the Buddha’s most important discourses, weaves a net of sixty-two cases capturing all the speculative views on the self and the world.

The Autobiography of Phra Ajahn Lee
29-12-22
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The Autobiography of Phra Ajahn Lee

Ajahn Lee

Phra Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo was one of the foremost teachers in the Thai forest ascetic tradition of meditation founded at the turn of the twentieth century by…

The Bodhisattva idea: Essays on the Emergence of Mahayana
29-12-22
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The Bodhisattva idea: Essays on the Emergence of Mahayana

Bhikkhu Bodhi

This book brings together six essays on the origin and history of the bodhisattva ideal and the emergence of the Mahāyana. The essays approach the subject from…

The Book of Protection
28-12-22
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The Book of Protection

Piyadassi Thera

The world of English Buddhist literature has been enriched by the publication of this book entitled “The Book of Protection.” This is a translation by the…

The Buddha and His Teachings
29-12-22
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The Buddha and His Teachings

Narada Maha Thera

A clear, detailed introduction to the basic teachings of Buddhism available in English, this book explains concepts and doctrines which form the common bedrock…

The Buddha Smiles: Humor in the Pali Canon
28-12-22
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The Buddha Smiles: Humor in the Pali Canon

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

An analysis of the style and function of humor in the Pāli Canon along with translated passages from the Canon.

The Buddha: His Life and Teaching
29-12-22
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The Buddha: His Life and Teaching

Piyadassi Thera

The ages roll by and the Buddha seems not so far away after all; his voice whispers in our ears and tells us not to run away from the struggle but, calm eyed…

The Buddha’s Ancient Path
28-12-22
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The Buddha’s Ancient Path

Piyadassi Thera

Over the years, many expositions of the Buddha’s teachings have been published in English, but many lack authenticity and do not represent what the Buddha…

The Buddha’s Path to Deliverance: A Systematic Exposition in the Words of the Sutta Pitaka
28-12-22
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The Buddha’s Path to Deliverance: A Systematic Exposition in the Words of the Sutta Pitaka

Nyanatiloka Thera

A classic entry in the Pali canon, this anthology charts the entire course of spiritual development as prescribed in the most ancient Buddhist texts.

The Buddha’s Teachings: An Introduction
28-12-22
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The Buddha’s Teachings: An Introduction

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

A short introduction to the basic concepts and values underlying Buddhist practice, with special attention to clearing up common misinterpretations about what…

The Buddhist Monastic Code I & II
28-12-22
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The Buddhist Monastic Code I & II

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

This two-volume set attempts to give an organized, detailed account of the Vinaya training rules and the traditions that have grown up around them.

The Case for Rebirth
29-12-22
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The Case for Rebirth

Francis Story

The doctrine of reincarnation, the ceaseless round of rebirths, is not, as many people imagine, confined to Buddhism and Hinduism. It is found in some form or…

The Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah
28-12-22
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The Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah

Ajahn Chah

Ajahn Chah’s teachings were disarming in their directness and inspiring in their relevance. He would say: “If you let go a little, you will have a little peace.

The Craft of the Heart
29-12-22
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The Craft of the Heart

Ajahn Lee

This book, Ajahn Lee’s first, is also his most comprehensive, covering all aspects of the path of practice, from taking the five precepts to the attainment of…

The Dhammapada
28-12-22
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The Dhammapada

Acharya Buddharakkhita

The Dhammapada is the best known and most widely esteemed text in the Pali Tipitaka, the sacred scriptures of Theravada Buddhism. The work is included in the…

The Discourse on the Root of Existence
29-12-22
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The Discourse on the Root of Existence

Bhikkhu Bodhi

This profound and difficult discourse of the Buddha aims at exposing and eliminating the concept of the ego at its most fundamental level.

The Essential Practice: Part I
29-12-22
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The Essential Practice: Part I

Webu Sayadaw

The Webu Sayadaw emphasized the practice of meditation as the only way to bring the teachings of the Buddha to fulfillment. The study of the scriptures…

The Essential Practice: Part II
29-12-22
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The Essential Practice: Part II

Webu Sayadaw

The discourses included in this booklet were translated from talks the author gave to groups of lay disciples in the Burmese countryside.

The Essentials of Buddha Dhamma in Meditative Practice
29-12-22
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The Essentials of Buddha Dhamma in Meditative Practice

U Ba Khin

A profound essay of extraordinary conciseness, clarity and power, in which the teacher of S. N. Goenka sums up the technique of vipassana.

The Experience of Insight
29-12-22
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The Experience of Insight

Joseph Goldstein

Joseph Goldstein teaches meditation as a method of experiencing things as they are, entering the remarkable flow of the mind/body process. This work…

The Five Mental Hindrances and Their Conquest
28-12-22
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The Five Mental Hindrances and Their Conquest

Nyanaponika Thera

Many are the obstacles which block the road to spiritual progress, but there are five in particular which, under the name of hindrances (nivarana)…

The Four Noble Truths
28-12-22
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The Four Noble Truths

Ajahn Sumedho

A small booklet of edited talks given by Ajahn Sumedho on the central teaching of the Buddha: that the unhappiness of humanity can be overcome through spiritual…

The Four Nutriments of Life
29-12-22
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The Four Nutriments of Life

Nyanaponika Thera

All beings subsist on nutriment” — this, according to the Buddha, is the one single fact about life that, above all, deserves to be remembered…

The Four Sublime States & The Practice of Loving-Kindness (Metta)
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The Four Sublime States & The Practice of Loving-Kindness (Metta)

Nyanaponika Thera

This booklet contains two essays: Four Sublime States by Nyanaponika Thera and The Practice of Loving-Kindness (Mettā) by Ñāṇamoli Thera. The “four sublime…

The Fruits of Recluseship: The Sammannaphala Sutta and its Commentaries
29-12-22
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The Fruits of Recluseship: The Sammannaphala Sutta and its Commentaries

Bhikkhu Bodhi

In reply to a question on the fruits of the monk’s life, the Buddha traces the entire progress of the disciple from the first step of the path to its…

The Great Discourse on Causation
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The Great Discourse on Causation

Bhikkhu Bodhi

The Mahanidana Sutta, “The Great Discourse on Causation,” is the longest and most detailed of the Buddha’s discourses dealing with dependent arising (paticca…

The Greater Discourse on the Elephant-Footprint Simile
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The Greater Discourse on the Elephant-Footprint Simile

Nyanaponika Thera

The Greater Discourse on the Elephant-footprint Simile (Mahāhatthipadopama Sutta) is the 28th sutta of the Majjhima-Nikāya (Middle Collection).

The Heart of Buddhist Meditation
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The Heart of Buddhist Meditation

Nyanaponika Thera

This is a classic text on the essence of Buddhist meditation. It is an excellent, indepth description of mindfulness practice and its benefits.

The Heightened Mind
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The Heightened Mind

Ajahn Lee

In previous collections of Ajahn Lee’s talks, the main focus has been on technique. Here the focus is more on attitudes to bring to the practice of…

The Intelligent Heart: Five Dhamma Talks
28-12-22
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The Intelligent Heart: Five Dhamma Talks

Ajahn Suwat

A collection of Dhamma talks published to commemorate Ajahn Suwat’s 100th birthday.

The Jhanas in Theravada Buddhist Meditation
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The Jhanas in Theravada Buddhist Meditation

Bhante Henepola Gunaratana

If you want to know more about meditation in the Theravada tradition, then you need to undertsand what the suttas really say about the jhanas. It is a path to…

The Lamp of the Law: Excerpts from Gurulugomi’s Dharmapradipaka
29-12-22
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The Lamp of the Law: Excerpts from Gurulugomi’s Dharmapradipaka

Soma Thera

An old Buddhist handbook of instruction on practical points of doctrine. Translated by Piyadassi Thera and Soma Thera.

The Life of Sariputta
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The Life of Sariputta

Nyanaponika Thera

Sariputta is a man of profound intellect and sublime nature, a true disciple of the Great Teacher, whose story we have set down, to the best of our ability…

The Life of the Buddha
28-12-22
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The Life of the Buddha

Bhikkhu Ñānamoli

Composed entirely of texts from the Pali canon, this unique biography presents the oldest authentic record of the Buddha’s life and revolutionary philosophy.

The Manual of Insight & The Noble Eightfold Path and Its Factors Explained
29-12-22
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The Manual of Insight & The Noble Eightfold Path and Its Factors Explained

Ledi Sayadaw

Knowing that reliable information on the practice of insight meditation was much needed by practitioners in the West, the renowned Burmese master Ledi Sayadaw…

The Manual of Light & The Manual of the Path to Higher Knowledge
29-12-22
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The Manual of Light & The Manual of the Path to Higher Knowledge

Ledi Sayadaw

his book contains two advanced expositions on the development of higher insight knowledge by the renowned Burmese scholar monk and meditation master Ledi…

The Manuals of Dhamma
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The Manuals of Dhamma

Ledi Sayadaw

A collection of writings from an outstanding figure in the resurgence of the Buddha’s teachings, this book is a mixture of detailed analysis, vivid stories…

The Meditative Mind
29-12-22
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The Meditative Mind

Ayya Khema

This book contains ten talks on the meditative development of the mind given by the Buddhist nun Ayya Khema. In a clear and straightforward manner Ayya Khema…

The Noble Eightfold Path
28-12-22
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The Noble Eightfold Path

Bhikkhu Bodhi

This book offers a clear, concise account of the Eightfold Path prescribed to uproot and eliminate the deep underlying cause of suffering — ignorance.

The Power of Mindfulness
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The Power of Mindfulness

Nyanaponika Thera

This is a commentary on the Satipatthana mindfulness meditation, an inquiry into the scope of their attention and the principal sources of its strength.

The Practice Which Leads to Nibbana
28-12-22
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The Practice Which Leads to Nibbana

Pa-Auk Sayadaw

The method of practicing meditation that is taught at Pa Auk Tawya Monastery is based on the explanation of meditation found in the Visuddhimagga commentary.

The Progress of Insight: A Modern Pali Treatise on Buddhist Satipatthana Meditation
29-12-22
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The Progress of Insight: A Modern Pali Treatise on Buddhist Satipatthana Meditation

Mahasi Sayadaw

The practice of vipassana or insight meditation was described by the Buddha as the “direct way” for the overcoming of all sorrow and grief and for realizing…

The Psychological Aspect of Buddhism
29-12-22
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The Psychological Aspect of Buddhism

Piyadassi Thera

Buddhism is the most psychological of religions. It is significant that the intricate workings of the human mind are more fully dealt with in Buddhism rather…

The Question of Bhikkhuni Ordination
28-12-22
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The Question of Bhikkhuni Ordination

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

A complete collection of Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu’s writings since 2009 on the validity of recent attempts to reinstitute bhikkhunī (nun) ordination.

The Questions of King Milinda
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The Questions of King Milinda

N.K.G. Mendis

The Milindapanha is one of the great classics of Pali Buddhist literature, a spirited dialogue between the Greek king Milinda and the Buddhist sage Nagasena.

The Removal of Distracting Thoughts
29-12-22
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The Removal of Distracting Thoughts

Soma Thera

A translation of the Vitakka-Santhana Sutta together with its Commentary and notes from the Subcommentary.

The Requisits of Enlightenment
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The Requisits of Enlightenment

Ledi Sayadaw

In this treatise, noted Burmese scholar and monk Ledi Sayadaw explains the bodhipakkiya dhamma: the 37 requisites of enlightenment. The requisites are comprised…

The Roots of Good and Evil
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The Roots of Good and Evil

Nyanaponika Thera

Greed, hatred, and delusion – these are the three bad roots in us. Conversely the good ones are non-greed (i.e generosity), non-hatred (love)…

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment (Satta Bojjhanga)
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The Seven Factors of Enlightenment (Satta Bojjhanga)

Piyadassi Thera

The Tipitaka, the Buddhist canon, is replete with references to the factors of enlightenment expounded by the Enlightened One on different occasions under…

The Simile of the Cloth, and the Discourse on Effacement
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The Simile of the Cloth, and the Discourse on Effacement

Nyanaponika Thera

This discourse of the Buddha — the seventh in the Collection of Middle Length Texts (Majjhima Nikaya) — deals first with a set of sixteen defilements of the…

The Skill of Release
29-12-22
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The Skill of Release

Ajahn Lee

A selection of Ajahn Lee’s teachings, including a few full talks, some short passages, and sometimes even half-thoughts, if they seemed provocative enough.

The Snake Simile
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The Snake Simile

Nyanaponika Thera

The discourse of the Buddha on the Snake Simile (Alagaddupama Sutta) that is presented here, together with explanatory notes taken mostly from the commentarial…

The Sublime Attitudes: A Study Guide on the Brahmaviharas
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The Sublime Attitudes: A Study Guide on the Brahmaviharas

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

The sublime attitudes (brahmaviharas) are the Buddha’s primary heart teachings—the ones that connect most directly with our desire for true happiness.

The Thread
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The Thread

Ajahn Kalyano

Four short Dhamma talks by Ajahn Kalyano for reflection and inspiration.

The Three Basic Facts of Existence I: Impermancence (Anicca)
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The Three Basic Facts of Existence I: Impermancence (Anicca)

Nyanatiloka Thera

If we contemplate even a minute sector of the vast range of life, we are faced with such a tremendous variety of life’s manifestations that it defeats…

The Three Basic Facts of Existence: III – Egolessness (Anatta)
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The Three Basic Facts of Existence: III – Egolessness (Anatta)

Nyanatiloka Thera

The present volume on anatta concludes the treatment of The Three Basic Facts of Existence (or The Three Characteristics) within The Wheel series.

The Threefold Refuge
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The Threefold Refuge

Nyanaponika Thera

In making an actual and intelligent use of that fourfold devotional Road of the Ancients, we shall preserve the most popular religious practice in the Buddhist…

The Truth of Rebirth
28-12-22
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The Truth of Rebirth

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

A short treatise explaining that the Buddha did not teach the doctrine of rebirth because he was blindly following the cultural norms of his time. Instead…

The Udana & The Itivuttaka
29-12-22
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The Udana & The Itivuttaka

John D. Ireland

his book includes two small classics of the Pali Canon in one volume. The Udana, or Inspired Utterances of the Buddha, consists of eighty discourses…

The Vision of Dhamma
28-12-22
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The Vision of Dhamma

Nyanaponika Thera

The distinguished German scholar-monk Nyanaponika Thera explains some of the core issues in the teachings of the Buddha in lucid and accessible language.

The Way It Is
28-12-22
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The Way It Is

Ajahn Sumedho

This book contains a collection of teachings of Ajahn Sumedho given to people who are familiar with the conventions of Theravada Buddhism and have some…

The Way of Mindfulness
29-12-22
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The Way of Mindfulness

Soma Thera

The text of the Satipatthana Sutta is central to the teaching of vipassana meditation. This book contains a fifteen-page abbreviated version of this sutta and a…

The Way to Happiness and Peace: Understanding the Basics of Insight Meditation
28-12-22
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The Way to Happiness and Peace: Understanding the Basics of Insight Meditation

Sayadaw U Pandita

All beings Everywhere by their very nature seek happiness, but few realize that happiness can only be found by obtaining peace of mind. The Buddha taught that…

The Way to Ultimate Calm
28-12-22
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The Way to Ultimate Calm

Webu Sayadaw

Webu Sayadaw was believed by many to have attained complete peace and happiness, the eradication of desire, anger and delusion. He was venerated by many in his…

The Wings to Awakening: An Anthology from the Pali Canon
28-12-22
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The Wings to Awakening: An Anthology from the Pali Canon

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

This anthology contains more than 200 new translations of passages from the Buddha’s teachings, along with commentary to help the reader understand their…

The Word of the Buddha
28-12-22
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The Word of the Buddha

Nyanatiloka Thera

The three levels of Buddhist teaching are called ‘vehicles’ because they comprise the teachings and methods that will carry us to enlightenment…

Things As They Are
29-12-22
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Things As They Are

Ajahn Maha Boowa

These talks were originally given to the monks at Venerable Ācariya Mahā Boowa’s monastery in Thailand. They deal in part with issues particular to Buddhist…

Three Cardinal Discourses of the Buddha
28-12-22
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Three Cardinal Discourses of the Buddha

Nyanaponika Thera

This booklet contains the first three discourses that the Buddha gave after his Awakening. In these three discourses the Buddha displays the fundamental…

Timeless Wisdom: Teachings on Satipatthana Vipassana Meditation Practice
28-12-22
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Timeless Wisdom: Teachings on Satipatthana Vipassana Meditation Practice

Sayadaw U Pandita

This book contains the essence of over 50 years of Sayadaw U Pandita’s clarification of Satipatthana Vipassana meditation practice. The message conveyed in this…

Udāna: Exclamations
28-12-22
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Udāna: Exclamations

Thānissaro Bhikkhu

A complete translation of the book of the Udāna from the Khuddaka Nikāya collection of the Pāli Canon. The role of the Udāna within the context of the Pāli…

Venerable Acariya Mun Buridatta Thera
28-12-22
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Venerable Acariya Mun Buridatta Thera

Ajahn Mun

Ajahn Mun is a towering figure in contemporary Thai Buddhism. He was widely revered during his lifetime for the extraordinary courage and determination he…

Vimuttimagga: The Path of Freedom
28-12-22
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Vimuttimagga: The Path of Freedom

Soma Thera

The Vimuttimagga (The Path of Freedom), which serves as a meditation manual, is broadly considered a great and important work. It is similar to the Path of…

Visuddhimagga (The Path of Purification)
28-12-22
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Visuddhimagga (The Path of Purification)

Bhikkhu Ñānamoli

One of Buddhism’s foundational texts, the Visuddhimagga is a systematic examination and condensation of Buddhist doctrine and meditation technique.

Walking Meditation
28-12-22
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Walking Meditation

Ajahn Nyanadhammo

Walking meditation is often used in vipassanā meditation, especially during retreats. In this book Ajahn Nyanadhammo explains various techniques of walking…

What The Buddha Taught
28-12-22
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What The Buddha Taught

Bhante Walpola Rahula

A classic introductory book to Buddhism, What the Buddha Taught contains a selection of illustrative texts from the original Pali texts…

Where Are You Going Part 1: Rude Awakenings
28-12-22
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Where Are You Going Part 1: Rude Awakenings

Ajahn Sucitto

Half raucous adventure and half inspirational memoir, Rude Awakenings documents an unusual pilgrimage. Two very different men – life-loving naturalist Nick…

Where Are You Going Part 2: Great Patient One
28-12-22
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Where Are You Going Part 2: Great Patient One

Ajahn Sucitto

This book is a sequel to Rude Awakenings, which began the account of a six-month epic journey by two Englishmen, a monk and layman, to the Buddhist holy places…