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Verses from the Center
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Buddhism Without Beliefs
- By: Stephen Batchelor
- Narrated by: Stephen Batchelor
- Length: 4 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 270
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 232
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 230
Demystifing the tenets of Buddhism, this introduction to the Buddhist religion explains, without jargon or obscure terminology, the essential elements of its teachings, presents ways to work toward awakening, and examines Buddhism's relevance in Western culture.
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5 out of 5 stars
-
Good for a beginning secularist
- By Cole B on 08-25-15
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Dzögchen Meditation Training
- A Direct Path for Awakening to the Radiant Buddha Within
- By: Lama Surya Das
- Narrated by: Lama Surya Das
- Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 26
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 23
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 22
You don’t need to spend a lifetime purifying and perfecting yourself in order to touch the bliss of enlightenment. Your essential state of being is already one of pure awareness and incorruptible, innate wakefulness. The question is, how can you access this awakened state? How can you free your luminous true nature?
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1 out of 5 stars
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Mostly a waste of time, unfortunately.
- By Jose Pepe on 11-15-19
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Secular Buddhism
- Imagining the Dharma in an Uncertain World
- By: Stephen Batchelor
- Narrated by: Ralph Lister
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 45
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 42
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 39
As the practice of mindfulness permeates mainstream western culture, more and more people are engaging in a traditional form of Buddhist meditation. However, many of these people have little interest in the religious aspects of Buddhism, and the practice occurs within secular contexts such as hospitals, schools, and the workplace. Is it possible to recover from the Buddhist teachings a vision of human flourishing that is secular rather than religious without compromising the integrity of the tradition?
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4 out of 5 stars
-
Good, but repetition of old material
- By Ludwig on 02-25-18
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Confession of a Buddhist Atheist
- By: Stephen Batchelor
- Narrated by: Stephen Batchelor
- Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 327
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 290
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 288
Written with the same brilliance and boldness that made Buddhism Without Beliefs a classic in its field, Confession of a Buddhist Atheist is Stephen Batchelor's account of his journey through Buddhism, which culminates in a groundbreaking new portrait of the historical Buddha.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Deeply informative, refreshingly honest.
- By Joshua on 04-12-15
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The Way of Chuang Tzu (Second Edition)
- By: Thomas Merton
- Narrated by: Greg Chun
- Length: 2 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 72
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 60
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 61
Working from existing translations, Thomas Merton composed a series of his own versions of the classic sayings of Chuang Tzu, the most spiritual of Chinese philosophers. Chuang Tzu, who wrote in the fourth and third centuries BC, is the chief authentic historical spokesperson for Taoism and its founder, Lao Tzu (a legendary character known largely through Chuang Tzu’s writings).
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5 out of 5 stars
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Wow
- By Michael on 05-17-19
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The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha
- A Translation of the Majjhima Nikāya
- By: Bhikkhu Ñānamoli, Bhikkhu Bodhi
- Narrated by: Taradasa
- Length: 47 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 15
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 14
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 14
This book offers a complete translation of the Majjhima Nikāya, or Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, one of the major collections of texts in the Pāli Canon, the authorised scriptures of Theravada Buddhism. This collection - among the oldest records of the historical Buddha's original teachings - consists of 152 suttas or discourses of middle length, distinguished as such from the longer and shorter suttas of the other collections.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent Reading
- By Palinurus on 10-12-19
-
Buddhism Without Beliefs
- By: Stephen Batchelor
- Narrated by: Stephen Batchelor
- Length: 4 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 270
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 232
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 230
Demystifing the tenets of Buddhism, this introduction to the Buddhist religion explains, without jargon or obscure terminology, the essential elements of its teachings, presents ways to work toward awakening, and examines Buddhism's relevance in Western culture.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Good for a beginning secularist
- By Cole B on 08-25-15
-
Dzögchen Meditation Training
- A Direct Path for Awakening to the Radiant Buddha Within
- By: Lama Surya Das
- Narrated by: Lama Surya Das
- Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 26
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 23
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 22
You don’t need to spend a lifetime purifying and perfecting yourself in order to touch the bliss of enlightenment. Your essential state of being is already one of pure awareness and incorruptible, innate wakefulness. The question is, how can you access this awakened state? How can you free your luminous true nature?
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Mostly a waste of time, unfortunately.
- By Jose Pepe on 11-15-19
-
Secular Buddhism
- Imagining the Dharma in an Uncertain World
- By: Stephen Batchelor
- Narrated by: Ralph Lister
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 45
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 42
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 39
As the practice of mindfulness permeates mainstream western culture, more and more people are engaging in a traditional form of Buddhist meditation. However, many of these people have little interest in the religious aspects of Buddhism, and the practice occurs within secular contexts such as hospitals, schools, and the workplace. Is it possible to recover from the Buddhist teachings a vision of human flourishing that is secular rather than religious without compromising the integrity of the tradition?
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Good, but repetition of old material
- By Ludwig on 02-25-18
-
Confession of a Buddhist Atheist
- By: Stephen Batchelor
- Narrated by: Stephen Batchelor
- Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 327
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 290
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 288
Written with the same brilliance and boldness that made Buddhism Without Beliefs a classic in its field, Confession of a Buddhist Atheist is Stephen Batchelor's account of his journey through Buddhism, which culminates in a groundbreaking new portrait of the historical Buddha.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Deeply informative, refreshingly honest.
- By Joshua on 04-12-15
-
The Way of Chuang Tzu (Second Edition)
- By: Thomas Merton
- Narrated by: Greg Chun
- Length: 2 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 72
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 60
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 61
Working from existing translations, Thomas Merton composed a series of his own versions of the classic sayings of Chuang Tzu, the most spiritual of Chinese philosophers. Chuang Tzu, who wrote in the fourth and third centuries BC, is the chief authentic historical spokesperson for Taoism and its founder, Lao Tzu (a legendary character known largely through Chuang Tzu’s writings).
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Wow
- By Michael on 05-17-19
-
The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha
- A Translation of the Majjhima Nikāya
- By: Bhikkhu Ñānamoli, Bhikkhu Bodhi
- Narrated by: Taradasa
- Length: 47 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 15
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 14
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 14
This book offers a complete translation of the Majjhima Nikāya, or Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, one of the major collections of texts in the Pāli Canon, the authorised scriptures of Theravada Buddhism. This collection - among the oldest records of the historical Buddha's original teachings - consists of 152 suttas or discourses of middle length, distinguished as such from the longer and shorter suttas of the other collections.
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5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent Reading
- By Palinurus on 10-12-19
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After Buddhism
- Rethinking the Dharma for a Secular Age
- By: Stephen Batchelor
- Narrated by: Stephen Batchelor
- Length: 17 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 199
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 179
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 174
Some 25 centuries after the Buddha started teaching, his message continues to inspire people across the globe, including those living in predominantly secular societies. What does it mean to adapt religious practices to secular contexts? Stephen Batchelor, an internationally known author and teacher, is committed to a secularized version of the Buddha's teachings. The time has come, he feels, to articulate a coherent, ethical, contemplative, and philosophical vision of Buddhism for our age.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Eye opening
- By Christopher F. Wilson on 12-20-15
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The Way of the Bodhisattva
- Shambhala
- By: Shantideva, The Padmakara Translation Group - translator, the Dalai Lama - foreword, and others
- Narrated by: Wulstan Fletcher
- Length: 3 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 88
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 77
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Story5 out of 5 stars 76
Treasured by Buddhists of all traditions, The Way of the Bodhisattva (Bodhicharyavatara) is a guide to cultivating the mind of enlightenment and to generating the qualities of love, compassion, generosity, and patience. This text has been studied, practiced, and expounded upon in an unbroken tradition for centuries, first in India, and later in Tibet. Presented in the form of a personal meditation in verse, it outlines the path of the Bodhisattvas - those who renounce the peace of individual enlightenment and vow to work for the liberation of all beings.
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5 out of 5 stars
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To hear again and again
- By Dirk on 07-09-18
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Love for Imperfect Things
- How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection
- By: Haemin Sunim, Deborah Smith - translator
- Narrated by: Raymond Lee
- Length: 4 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 44
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 40
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 39
In this beautiful follow-up to his international best-seller The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down, Zen Buddhist monk Haemin Sunim turns his trademark wisdom to the art of self-care, arguing that only by accepting yourself - and the flaws that make you who you are - can you have compassionate and fulfilling relationships with your partner, your family, and your friends.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Love Haemin Sunims Work
- By KaraJane91 on 01-29-19
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In the Buddha's Words
- An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon
- By: Bhikkhu Bodhi - editor and translator
- Narrated by: Fajer Al-Kaisi
- Length: 18 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 282
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 257
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 254
This landmark collection is the definitive introduction to the Buddha's teachings - in his own words. The American scholar-monk Bhikkhu Bodhi, whose voluminous translations have won widespread acclaim, here presents selected discourses of the Buddha from the Pali Canon, the earliest record of what the Buddha taught. Divided into 10 thematic chapters, In the Buddha's Words reveals the full scope of the Buddha's discourses, from family life and marriage to renunciation and the path of insight.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Engaging,thought provoking,great guide book.
- By Jonny on 08-18-17
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Living with the Devil
- A Meditation on Good and Evil
- By: Stephen Batchelor
- Narrated by: Stephen Batchelor
- Length: 6 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 8
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 8
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 8
In the national best seller Living with the Devil, Batchelor traces the trajectory from the words of the Buddha and Christ, through the writings of Shantideva, Milton, and Pascal, to the poetry of Baudelaire, the fiction of Kafka, and the findings of modern physics and evolutionary biology to examine who we really are and to rest in the uncertainty that we may never know. Like his previous best seller, Living with the Devil is an introduction to Buddhism that encourages listeners to nourish their "buddha nature" and make peace with the devils that haunt human life.
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The Bodhicaryavatara
- A Guide to the Buddhist Path to Awakening
- By: Śāntideva
- Narrated by: William Hope
- Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 61
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 54
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 52
Written in India in the early eighth century CE, Santideva's The Bodhicaryavatara takes as its subject the profound desire to become a Buddha and save all beings from suffering. The person who enacts such a desire is a Bodhisattva. Santideva not only sets out what the Bodhisattva must do and become; he also invokes the intense feelings of aspiration which underlie such a commitment, using language which has inspired Buddhists in their religious lives from his time to the present.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Nice
- By Jeremiah on 07-11-17
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Abiding in Mindfulness, Vol. 3
- On Dhamma
- By: Joseph Goldstein
- Narrated by: Joseph Goldstein
- Length: 19 hrs and 38 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 377
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 329
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 320
In the words of the Buddha, the four foundations of mindfulness (the four sadhipatthanas) are " the direct path for the purification of beings, for the surmounting of sorrow and lamentation, for the disapperance of dukkha (suffering) and discontent, for the acquiring of the true method, for the rea;ization of Nibbahna." Within the quinitessential discourse called the Satipatthana Sutta, we find the Buddha's seminal teachings on the practice of meditation.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful!
- By Sara on 06-17-14
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The Essential Dogen
- Writings of the Great Zen Master
- By: Peter Levitt (editor), Kazuaki Tanahashi (editor)
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 5 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 521
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 457
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 453
This is the first book to offer the great master's incisive wisdom in short selections taken from the whole range of his voluminous works. The pithy and powerful readings, arranged according to theme, provide a perfect introduction to Dogen - and inspire spiritual practice in people of all traditions.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A Great Pearl of Little Price
- By IndyInAsiaPacific on 06-08-17
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The Buddha Before Buddhism
- Wisdom from the Early Teachings
- By: Gil Fronsdal
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
- Length: 3 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 50
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 48
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 48
One of the earliest of all Buddhist texts, the Atthakavagga, or Book of Eights, is a remarkable document, not only because it comes from the earliest strain of the literature - before the Buddha, as the title suggests, came to be thought of as a "Buddhist" - but also because its approach to awakening is so simple and free of adherence to any kind of ideology. Instead the Atthakavagga points to a direct and simple approach for attaining peace without requiring the adherence to doctrine.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A treasure (except the verse numbers)
- By Kong on 05-04-19
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Getting Unstuck
- Breaking Your Habitual Patterns and Encountering Naked Reality
- By: Pema Chodron
- Narrated by: Pema Chodron
- Length: 3 hrs and 24 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,654
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,836
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,793
On Getting Unstuck, Pema Chodron introduces a rare Tibetan teaching she received from her teacher, Dzigar Kontrul Rinpoche, and one that has become critical to her practice. Here, she unveils the mystery of an ineffable quality; a "pre-emotional" feeling that arises in us, brings us discomfort, and causes us to react by escaping the discomfort, often with harmful habits. With Getting Unstuck, she offers us a first look at "both the itch and the scratch": what Tibetan Buddhists call shenpa.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Concrete solutions for addictive behavior
- By Annie M. on 05-12-09
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In Love with the World
- A Monk's Journey Through the Bardos of Living and Dying
- By: Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, Helen Tworkov
- Narrated by: Feodor Chin
- Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 276
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 253
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Story5 out of 5 stars 252
At 36 years old, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche was a rising star within his generation of Tibetan masters and the respected abbot of three monasteries. Then one night, telling no one, he slipped out of his monastery in India with the intention of spending the next four years on a wandering retreat, following the ancient practice of holy mendicants. His goal was to throw off his titles and roles in order to explore the deepest aspects of his being.
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5 out of 5 stars
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An Amazing Story Shared with Profound Perspective
- By Martin Fierro on 06-07-19
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The Vimalakirti Sutra
- By: Anonymous, Burton Watson - translation
- Narrated by: Taradasa
- Length: 5 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 10
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 8
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Story5 out of 5 stars 8
The Vimalakirti Sutra is one of the most popular Mahayana sutras. One reason for the Sutra’s popularity is that its principal character, Vimalakirti, is not a Buddha or a Bodhisattva or even a monk but a layman with a family living in India, leading - apparently - a secular life. This does not hinder his ability, the Sutra proclaims, to be a man of remarkable spiritual understanding and attainment - so much so that he confidently lectures and advises arhats (enlightened monks) and bodhisattvas (perfected individuals working for the enlightenment of all) on spiritual matters.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent performance of a classic
- By Graham on 01-18-19
Publisher's Summary
The understanding of the nature of reality is the insight upon which the Buddha was able to achieve his own enlightenment. This vision of the sublime is the source of all that is enigmatic and paradoxical about Buddhism. In Verses from the Center, Stephen Batchelor explores the history of this concept and provides listeners with translations of the most important poems ever written on the subject, the poems of 2nd century philosopher Nagarjuna.
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