Buddhist Literature

Author and painter Mark McGinnis has collected over 40 of these hallowed popular tales and retold them in vividly poetic yet accessible language, their original Buddhist messages firmly intact.

A wise and colorful collection of ten Buddhist fables, this modern telling of ancient Indian stories, centering around animals and nature, teaches vibrant and timeless life lessons.

366 daily doses of profound and practical Buddhist teachings for true transformation. Why do so many people still embrace the wisdom of Buddhism, even after twenty-five hundred years? The answer lies in the fact that, although the world may look different now, humans still grapple with the same...

Embark on a journey into the heart of Buddhist wisdom, distilled from the most essential teachings in the Tripitaka. Buddhist Foundations: Monastic Code, Teachings, and Mind Training for Beginners brings you closer to the ancient principles that have guided seekers to inner peace and enlightenment for centuries. With this 3-in-1 collection, gain a clear and insightful understanding of the Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, and Abhidhamma Pitaka—the cornerstone texts of Buddhism. Each page opens a new door to ancient wisdom, inviting you to explore the teachings that inspire greater self-...

Drawing on decades of experience, a psychotherapist and Zen practitioner makes the Abhidharma—the framework of Buddhist psychology—accessible to a general audience for the first time. The Abhidharma, one of the 3 major text collections of the original Buddhist canon, explores the critical...

Hojoki is an introspective poem written in the 13th century by the enigmatic Japanese hermit Kamo no Chomei, who as a young man served in the capital as official court poet, but later in life withdrew from society.

This is the story of a springer spaniel and her half-sister, who set out to discover the reason their owner meditates and is so interested in the teachings of the Buddha. Ably assisted by a bookshelf, who holds a fountain of knowledge, they embark upon a quest to discover the secrets of meditation and uncover the path to ancient wisdom. As they progress along the road to enlightenment, they not only transform their own perception of life, but also the lives of those around them.

Each story follows ordinary people at turning points: a word left unsaid, a grievance released, a kindness misunderstood, a life re-examined just before it changes. Rather than dramatic revelations, the book dwells in small awakenings—those moments when a character realizes that what they are running from is already behind them, and what they seek cannot be grasped by force. Woven through themes of compassion, impermanence, and non-attachment, Rearview Karma invites the reader to look back without clinging, forward without fear, and inward with honesty. It is not a book about ...

In little time, Loy has become one of the most powerful advocates of the Buddhist worldview, explaining like no one else its ability to transform the sociopolitical landscape of the modern world. In this, his most accessible work to date, he offers sharp and even shockingly clear presentations of oft-misunderstood Buddhist staples - the working of karma, the nature of self, the causes of trouble on both the individual and societal levels - and the real reasons behind our collective sense of "never enough", whether it's time, money, sex, security...even war.

Often considered the highest achievement in Korean fiction, The Nine Cloud Dream poses the question: Will the life we dream of truly make us happy? Written in 17th-century Korea, this classic novel's wondrous story begins when a young monk living on a sacred Lotus Peak in China succumbs to the temptation of eight fairy maidens. For doubting his master's Buddhist teachings, the monk is forced to endure a strange punishment: reincarnation as the most ideal of men. 

This book is not meant to convince people to become Buddhists. That is a decision people have to make on their own. You won't be able to convert to Buddhism overnight by listening to this book, but you will learn the basics of the religion's history and what becoming a Buddhist would entail if you were to become one. Aside from learning about Buddhism, you may learn about how to deal with your own suffering or the suffering of those around you.

When Cora’s husband retired from the Navy, he came back a bald-headed Buddhist, a very unusual situation in their small Texas town. What’s more, when he started giving classes on Buddhism, folks didn’t know quite what to make of it. Later, they got a genuine Tibetan lama to come to teach, — a most unexpected and unusual individual. Though only a boy, he could see inside his pupils feelings, and his love, compassion, and patience slowly began changing those who came to him… and slowly, the town itself began to change.

This is an audiobook of Bodhi Leaves No. 56 by Dr. H. Hecker, James Allen, and Kosho Yamamoto.

Embark on a captivating journey through the rich tapestry of Buddhism, from Siddhartha's quest for enlightenment to Buddhism's place in the modern world. Guided by the power of AI, this book delivers a comprehensive exploration of Buddhism, its history, doctrines, practices, and societal influences, shedding light on its enduring wisdom and relevance.

Fans of Thich Nhat Hanh’s Peace is Every Step and Anger, and Deepak Chopra’s Buddha, will appreciate Hanh’s wisdom and storytelling in his novel The Novice, which contains universal themes that transcend all boundaries of faith, creed, country, and era. Through the parable of a young woman...

Becoming Forest opens with Aishling—the young Irish woman at the heart of this story—as she visits her grandmother in California following her grandfather’s death. Aishling finds her grandfather’s journal and reads about a trip he made to India years ago to visit the original Bodhi Tree, the place where the Buddha found enlightenment. At the end of the journal, she finds a letter addressed to her from her grandfather asking for her help passing along his message of “deep security” to her generation as they deal with the climate crisis and the uncertain future ahead.

Cha Ming and Huxian have faced the heavens and lived.... Crippled and broken, Cha Ming finds himself in an isolated village. Only the efforts of a mortal doctor are keeping him alive. His qi pathways are ravaged, and his organs are failing. It’s only a matter of time before his wounds claim him. Meanwhile, Huxian finds himself in his natural environment—a mountain crawling with powerful demons. To survive, he’ll need to eat or be eaten. It’s a good thing eating is what he does best. One man. One fox. One shared life. If one fails, so does the other.

The mind is everything. What you think, you become. So what, exactly, are you thinking? You already know that something is not quite right. The scrolling, the striving, the low-grade anxiety that hums beneath even your good days. You are not broken — you are simply operating without a map. The extraordinary news is that a map exists, and it is older than the oldest institution you can name. The Buddha walked out of a palace into the wilderness and returned with a set of insights so precise, so psychologically acute, that two and a half millennia have done nothing to blunt their edge. ...

Nicole Hennessy's life revolves around her Zen practice at the Boston Zendo, seeking spiritual solace in the tenets of Buddhism. After a decade of grueling spiritual practice under her master's tutelage, living on a shoestring as a shop clerk, Nicole has become sexually and emotionally entangled with her mentor. To break free, she must retrace her entire life's journey - from her strict Irish Catholic upbringing to her drug-fueled year as a teenage runaway. Even as she reinvents herself in New York City, her master's intoxicating voice pursues her, whispering dangerously in her ear.

Insights: Tantric Buddhist Reflections on Life is Rama - Dr. Frederick Lenz's audiobook of poems that immerses you in the magical, cosmic, poignant, radiant, courageous, and silly world of Tantric Buddhism, also known as the fast path to enlightenment. Life is not what we think, this book teaches us, and only by learning how not to think can we gently and deeply probe life's mysteries. Along the way, we learn the importance of giving it up, dancing alone, and letting go.