Best theravada buddhism books according to redditors
We found 38 Reddit comments discussing the best theravada buddhism books. We ranked the 10 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 38 Reddit comments discussing the best theravada buddhism books. We ranked the 10 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
Sure. There's a bit of a story arc where I came to my senses first, then discovered I wanted to unfuck my life, and leanfire principles is a part of that.
The one that started it all was The Art of Happiness. I was miserable and herein the Dali Lama shocked my life with his assertion that the goal of your life is to be happy. I had a mindset that I had to suffer in order to be worthy of good things in life.
Then, if I recall correctly were non buddhist books, but in the realm getting your head straight:Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life: I saw this man's TED talk.
& How to Stubbornly Refuse to Make Yourself Miserable About Anything
These two go great together to discover that its all in your head and you can change that. I had a terrible inner dialogue and was able to be rid of it. Life Changer!
The I think I read The Wisdom of Insecurity: A Message for an Age of Anxiety probably 10 times over the last 4-5 years & listened to the audio book when falling asleep. This one really underlined how miserable we make ourselves striving for security that isn't to be had. There is wisdom here that constantly reveals itself long after having read it.
The Pema Chodron Audio Collection was a constant go to also.
My most recent listening are lectures by Ajahn Brahm of Buddhist Society of Western Australia - These lectures really turned me around to moving past the pain, fear & worry about changing my life.
\^\^ I really like listening to these while falling asleep or with a nap on the couch on Sat/Sun afternoons.
Some other notables:
Fuck It: The Ultimate Spiritual Way : Saying Fuck It when you're miserable due to expectations and attachments has a real emotional response vs the above which can be very cerebral.
Man's Search for Meaning: Sometimes it's hard to grateful when wrapped up in our own lives. I read this once a year as a refresher. When I'm being ungrateful I try to remember what others have put up with and it calms down my complaining mind.
The Art of Disappearing: Buddha's Path to Lasting Joy : more from Ajahn Brahm - There is a better way to live our lives and not be miserable. Simplicity and lean fire go really well together.
More minimalism than buddhism, but they jive well together:
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life
Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism
Above all I feel these are all about snapping out of the nonsense mindsets & habits many of us have.
Good luck.
Yeah. I know that one. I spent a lot of time with self-help journaling over years to learn to help myself see that I do act with integrity, and things that go wrong aren't my fault (ok, sometimes they are).
There are a lot of self help books out there. Matthew McKay writes a lot. Another less known book that helped me a lot had journaling and meditation, Quiet Mind, Open Heart. It's not about/against narcissists, but it was something that gave me positive focus on myself that really helped.
I was going to recommend the Nikayas as well. I recommend Ajahn Chah's books along with most of the rest of the Thai Forest Tradition. This book is one of my personal favorites as it tackles the difficult subject of voidness and does away with a lot of Buddhist superstition. Unfortunately it is out of print and so people are jacking the price up to over 100 dollars and trying to sell it. You can wait for it to be reprinted by Wisdom Publications or read it here as well.
Different teachers emphasize different things. Mahasi Sayadaw, Pa Auk Sayadaw, Goenka, etc. all have different takes on Vipassana. Make your peace with that.
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That said, especially at this early stage, you can hardly go wrong with one of the well known teachers.
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For myself, I'm a big fan of Pa Auk's "Knowing and Seeing" for clarity of method and technique: https://www.amazon.com/Knowing-Seeing-Pa-Auk-Tawya-Sayadaw/dp/145659964X/
These two are good for all levels: A book on the Tao, A Thousand Names for Joy: Living in Harmony with the Way Things Are by Byron Katie. For using journaling to support meditation: Quiet Mind, Open Heart. Lots of thought provoking questions, as well as meditation practices.
For people who have practiced a while: The End of Your World: Uncensored Straight Talk on the Nature of Enlightenment. It can really help give direction beyond basics.
Reading recommendations - Sayalay Susila's Path to happiness on Amazon or other free books on her website.
If you mean this book I couldn't agree more. TWIM is the bomb (if bombs were gentle, joyful, and led to awakening). :)
Uhh ya let me find it. It was an obscure book from my monastery.
EDIT: Found it ! http://www.amazon.com/Stories-Ghosts-Petavatthu-Kiribathgoda-Gnanananda/dp/9556870539/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449160850&sr=1-2&keywords=kiribathgoda
I own this one: https://www.amazon.com/Mahamevnawa-Pali-English-Paritta-Chanting-Book-ebook/dp/B01496JUCE/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=paritta&qid=1562913827&s=gateway&sr=8-2
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I enjoy the Pali which is side by side the English, which is good and helpful for memorization of the original version.
You may enjoy this book: [The Awakened Ape] (https://www.amazon.com/Awakened-Ape-Biohackers-Evolutionary-Stress-Free-ebook/dp/B01MSJN3Q4) It discusses a lot of the changes you suggest, written by a participant on another forum I've visited called Dharma Overground.
I highly recommand:
https://www.amazon.com/Heartwood-Bodhi-Tree-Teachings-Voidness/dp/0861710355