The Buddha is renowned as the founder of one of the five world religions. This is all the more astonishing because he never claimed to be a prophet. Unlike Mohammed, Moses or Jesus he promises human beings no afterlife in Paradise. Nor does he have any stories of God or God's grace. He simply shows us how we can free ourselves, by our own efforts, from fear and attain to the experience of 'Nirvana'. His concern is Man's self-salvation. He formulates his key idea in the doctrine of the 'Four Noble Truths'. To live always means also to suffer, runs the first 'Noble Truth', because, says the Buddha: "Ageing is suffering, sickness is suffering, death is suffering, to be parted from loved ones is suffering..." The second truth then explains the causes of this suffering. These are, above all, our own wishes and needs for pleasure, youth, attractiveness, health, eternal life and happiness. If we succeeded in freeing ourselves from these things then, the Buddha's third Noble Truth runs, the suffering would end. The fourth Noble Truth, finally, describes the famous 'Eightfold Path' that we need to follow in order to achieve "liberation", "awakening" and "serenity" vis-à-vis our own needs. The book "Buddha in 60 Minutes" explains this fascinating doctrine in an easy-to-follow way, especially the key idea 'nirvana'. The Buddha, indeed, arrived at his Four Noble Truths and the nirvana experience only through meditation. But his doctrine can be grasped simply through reason. Are the Four Truths correct? Is the Eightfold Path one we can actually travel? Can the nirvana experience actually help us to achieve a redeeming serenity? Here, the Buddha's key ideas are explained using over a hundred of his most important quotations. The book appears as part of the popular series "Great Thinkers in 60 Minutes" which has now been translated worldwide into six languages.

"Great Thinkers in 60 Minutes Volume 3" comprises the five books "Confucius in 60 Minutes", "Buddha in 60 Minutes", "Epicurus in 60 Minutes", "Descartes in 60 Minutes", and "Hobbes in 60 Minutes". Each short study sums up the key idea at the heart of each respective thinker and asks the question: "Of what use is this key idea to us today?" But above all the philosophers get to speak for themselves. Their most important statements are prominently presented, as direct quotations, in speech balloons with appropriate graphics, with exact indication of the source of each quote in the author's works. This light-hearted but nonetheless scholarly precise rendering of the ideas of each thinker makes it easy for the reader to acquaint him- or herself with the great questions of our lives. Because every philosopher who has achieved global fame has posed the "question of meaning": what is it that holds, at the most essential level, the world together? For Confucius it is the search for the Dao, for the right path that leads us human beings to one another. For the Buddha it is a radical liberation from our needs and the approach, through meditation, to Nirvana. For Epicurus, by contrast, the meaning of life consists in the letting-be of our pleasures and the imbeddedness of existence in our bodies. Descartes, for his part, considers thinking to be the decisive quality of Man, allowing him to explore and master the world. Hobbes, finally, sees the central element of meaning to consist in humans' peaceful coexistence thanks to the founding of states, i.e. in a political act. In other words, the meaning of the world and thus of our own lives remains, among philosophers, a topic of great controversy. One thing, though, is sure: each of these five thinkers struck, from his own perspective, one brilliant spark out of that complex crystal that is the truth.

'Meditation could retune our brains and help us cope with the long-term effects of the pandemic' - New Scientist 'Readers in search of an introduction to mindfulness that's free of woo-woo promises should look no further.' - Publishers Weekly 'For a boost to your wellbeing don't miss the brilliant The No-Nonsense Meditation Book, which unites brain science with practical tips' – Stylist ---- Rigorously researched and deeply illuminating, world-leading neurologist Dr Steven Laureys works with celebrated meditators to scientifically prove the positive impact meditation has on our brains. Dr Steven Laureys has conducted ground-breaking research into human consciousness for more than 20 years. For this bestselling book, translated into seven languages worldwide, Steven explores the effect of meditation on the brain, using hard science to explain the benefits of a practice that was once thought of as purely spiritual. The result is a highly accessible, scientifically questioning guide to meditation, designed to open the practice to a broader audience. A mix of fascinating science, inspiring anecdote and practical exercises, this accessible book offers thoroughly researched evidence that meditation can have a positive impact on all our lives.

This is a synthesis and interpretation of Buddhism in Southeast Asia. No other book matches its depth and breadth or its balance of scholarly interpretation and readable personal portrayal.

“Writing a ‘nuts and bolts’ guide that is genuinely wise, charmingly conversational, and a pleasure to read requires a particular talent, and Jean Smith has proved once again that she has it.”—Sylvia Boorstein, author of Don’t Just Do Something, Sit There The third of Jean Smith’s Beginner’s Guides focuses on the Buddha’s Eightfold Path—the concepts central to practicing the Buddha’s teachings in daily life. The eight steps on the path are: right understanding, thought, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration. Smith explains exactly what the Buddha had in mind, using translations of his own words and then elucidating them for us. Throughout the book are wonderful quotes from a broad range of Buddhist teachers, giving a taste of the very best each of them has to offer. The Beginner’s Guide to Walking the Buddha’s Eightfold Path is a prescription for happiness, not just for overcoming suffering, which is how many people think of Buddhism. Here is a book for Buddhists of every tradition.

Two experienced American meditators explain the stages and techniques of concentration meditation, as taught by the Buddhist master Pa Auk Sayadaw This is a clear and in-depth presentation of the traditional Theravadin concentration meditation known as jhāna practice, from two authors who have practiced the jhānas in retreat under the guidance of one of the great living meditation masters, Pa Auk Sayadaw. The authors describe the techniques and their results, based on their own experience.

Buddhist studies is a rapidly changing field of research, constantly transforming and adapting to new scholarship. This creates a problem for instructors, both in a university setting and in monastic schools, as they try to develop a curriculum based on a body of scholarship that continually shifts in focus and expands to new areas. Teaching Buddhism establishes a dialogue between the community of instructors of Buddhism and leading scholars in the field who are updating, revising, and correcting earlier understandings of Buddhist traditions. Each chapter presents new ideas within a particular theme of Buddhist studies and explores how courses can be enhanced with these insights. Contributors in the first section focus on the typical approaches, figures, and traditions in undergraduate courses, such as the role of philosophy in Buddhism, Nagarjuna, Yogacara Buddhism, tantric traditions, and Zen Buddhism. They describe the impact of recent developments-like new studies in the cognitive sciences-on scholarship in those areas. Part Two examines how political engagement and ritual practice have shaped the tradition throughout its history. Focus then shifts to the issues facing instructors of Buddhism-dilemmas for the scholar-practitioner in the academic and monastic classroom, the tradition's possible roles in teaching feminism and diversity, and how to present the tradition in the context of a world religions course. In the final section, contributors offer stories of their own experiences teaching, paying particular attention to the ways in which American culture has impacted them. They discuss the development of courses on American Buddhism; using course material on the family and children; the history and trajectory of a Buddhist-Christian dialog; and Buddhist bioethics, environmentalism, economic development, and social justice. In synthesizing this vast and varied body of research, the contributors in this volume have provided an invaluable service to the field

This book is not written to reinvent the wheel and offer up just another introduction to Buddhism. This has a fresh approach of Buddhism which does not stir up dust in areas that most people have not thought of. There are Buddhist teachers who would discuss things privately such as Buddhist views on UFOs, Adolf Hitler and the historical Jesus, but they would not give public talks or publish books on such controversal subjects. The author has the courage to do so as he bodly discusses such topics in this book.

"Doug Swenson has created a book about Yoga that captures his delightful and unique teaching style." —Karen Allen, actress, Yoga Practitioner "Doug Swenson masterfully presents one of the most physically challenging styles of Hatha Yoga in a way students of any level will find safe, fun, easeful, and empowering." —John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga In just a few years, Yoga has gone from an obscure spiritual discipline practiced by a handful of the "enlightened" in the Far East, to a mainstream exercise routine taught at gyms all across America. Now, at the turn of the new millennium, Yoga has a younger sibling, Power Yoga. A high-energy physical discipline embraced by Sting, Madonna, and thousands of other celebrities, professional athletes, and health advocates, Power Yoga takes the basics of Yoga and gives it a good healthy dose of aerobics to tone all your muscles, sharpen your focus, ease your spirit, and strengthen your heart. Want to pump up your body and gain peace of mind? Power Yoga For Dummies shows you how. Featuring step-by-step instructions, illustrated with photographs that help you see each move clearly, it shows you how to: Improve flexibility, strength, and endurance Develop rock-hard abs, legs, and arms Find an instructor and the right workout gear Customize workouts for all ages and fitness levels Enhance your practice with a partner Beat stress, sharpen your focus, and lift your spirits Power Yoga celebrity Doug Swenson explains the philosophy and science behind Power Yoga. He gets you ready to take the leap into Power Yoga, and he arms you with: Three complete Power Yoga routines—beginning, intermediate and advanced Exercises to improve specific areas, including flexibility, strength, endurance, and specific muscle groups such as your arms, abs, and glutes Expert tips on diet and nutrition for enhancing your practice and improving your overall health Specific postures and exercises that benefit women and seniors A fun and easy guide for both beginners and experienced practitioners alike, this inspirational guide will help you unit a strong, sleek body with a sharp, clear mind.

Everything you need to make yoga an integral part of your health and well-being If you want to incorporate yoga into your daily routine or ramp up what you're already doing, Yoga All-In-One For Dummies is the perfect resource! This complete compendium of six separate titles features everything you need to improve your health and peace of mind with yoga, and includes additional information on, stretching, meditation, adding weights to your yoga workouts, and power yoga moves. Yoga has been shown to have numerous health benefits, ranging from better flexibility and athletic performance to lowered blood pressure and weight loss. For those who want to take control of their health and overall fitness, yoga is the perfect practice. With Yoga All-In-One For Dummies, you'll have everything you need to get started and become a master of even the toughest yoga poses and techniques. Find out how to incorporate yoga to foster health, happiness, and peace of mind Get a complete resource, featuring information from six titles that are packed with tips Use companion workout videos to help you master various yoga poses and techniques that are covered in the book Utilize tips in the book to increase balance, range of motion, flexibility, strength, and overall fitness Take a deep breath and dive into Yoga All-In-One For Dummies to find out how you can improve your health and your happiness by incorporating yoga into your daily routine.