Awakening the Buddha Within

By: Lama Surya Das

Narrated by: Lama Surya Das

Lama Surya Das, the most highly trained American lama in the Tibetan tradition, presents the first comprehensive book of Western Buddhism for the modern-day spiritual seeker.

Buddhism offers a profound yet practical path to enlightenment. In this loving and generous book, the American-born and Tibetan-trained Lama Surya Das offers at once a definitive and nonsectarian guide to the wisdom found in ancient Tibetan teachings and a tried and true path of spiritual transformation.

The radical and compelling message of Buddhism tells us that each of us has the wisdom, awareness, love, and power of the Buddha within; yet most of us are too often like sleeping Buddhas. Surya Das shows how we can awaken to who we really are and thus walk the liberating, peaceful path of mindful and compassionate living. With lively language, meditations, and spiritual practices, this unique book provides a bridge between East and West, past, present, and future.

Awakening the Buddha Within offers a complete yet accessible understanding of the unique Buddhist teachings embodied in the traditional Noble Eight-Fold Path and its Three Enlightenment Trainings, common to all schools of Buddhism:

Wisdom Training: Developing clear vision, insight, and inner understanding--seeing reality and ourselves as we really are.

Ethics Training: Cultivating virtue, self-discipline, integrity, and compassion in what we say and do.

Meditation Training: Practicing mindfulness, concentration, and awareness of the present moment.

This fresh and original work illuminates such key principles as karma (what we do does matter), rebirth (every moment is an opportunity to start afresh), letting go (simplifying our lives by clarifying our hearts and minds), as well as conscious living and dying, and Dzogchen, the ultimate, mystical teaching of Tibet.

In this wonderful marriage of the timeless and the timely, Surya Das has written an invaluable, authoritative text for the novice and the experienced student of Buddhism alike. Awakening the Buddha Within reveals how sacred wisdom, contemplative practice, and altruism can be integrated into our outer and inner lives--in our relationships, in the workplace, and at home.

Here is a guidebook to enlightenment--a sourcebook of the sacred for anyone who wants to lead a more serene and beautiful life.©1997 Surya Das; (P)1997 Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, a Division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A warm, accessible, deep, brilliantly written exploration and adventure along the Buddhist path." --Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D.

"[T]his is a great achievement and I feel deeply grateful for it."
--Thich Nhat Hanh, author of Living Buddha, Living Christ

"This open-hearted offering of the Buddha's teachings ranges from fundamentals to magic. It is a wonderful gift."
--Sharon Salzberg, author of Loving Kindness

"Wise and wonderful, gentle and profound. . . . This is surely one of the finest spiritual manuals meant for a larger public and it succeeds brilliantly."
--Ken Wilbur, author of A Brief History of Everything

Buddha for the rest of us.

Lama Surya Das helps American listeners (readers) to truly identify with the predominantly Eastern traditions of Buddhism. Although his accent gets distracting (the author/narrator is from Long Island, FYI), he lets it be known that an American/Westerner, with American struggles, American strengths, and the daily life of an American is completely compatible with Buddha. For the most part I absolutely loved it. I went back several times to re-listen and write things down.

Great book

This book is one of my favorite. It presents awesome ideas for calming the mind/ body and develop compassion.

Fantastic!

Great eye opener into the practices of Buddhism, meditation, and seekings of inner peace. Definitely recommend it, even if you're not a religious person but seeking spiritual enlightenment.

super book

this book has helped me get understanding.of me as one I Am thank yo peace be with you

Interesting

I have listened to this before but I like to come back to it. I don't mind the narrator but would probably prefer another reader. Interesting anecdotes among the practical advice.

Felt like I got more through the physical book

Have had the printed copy for 10+ years but tried the audiobook mostly for the meditations, thinking it would've been the same.

Wonderful

This was an excellent introduction to Buddhist practice. I highly recommend it for anyone seeking to understand Buddhism.

One of my favorites yet.

I loved this book and am a big Lama Surya Das fan after having read and listened to it. I love that he narrates it himself. Makes it very personal and relatable, and no guessing on how to convey it. It's his truth and he shares it with easy sincerity.

Excellent Introduction to Buddhism

Lama Surya Das provides a very accessible introduction to Buddhism, entertaining us with personal anecdotes along the way. His voice is very relaxing. After finishing the book, I was ready for more detail and more practical advice on daily practice.

Great listen for the Buddha Minded

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Wonderful insight and story of Buddha practice. If you are seeking to enter into Buddhism or if it is already part of your daily routine this book helps to see the path more clearly. Great, funny and insightful.