The Buddhism category has 290 audiobooks on Listento.it, with an average listener rating of 4.7★ across 2,780 ratings. The most-rated is Think Like a Monk.
In Love with the World
Summary
A rare, intimate account of a world-renowned Buddhist monk’s near-death experience and the life-changing wisdom he gained from it “One of the most inspiring books I have ever read.” (Pema Chödrön, author of When Things Fall Apart) “This book has the potential to change the reader’s life forever.” (George Saunders, author of Lincoln in the Bardo) 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. He immediately discovered that a lifetime of Buddhist education and practice had not prepared him to deal with dirty fellow travelers or the screeching of a railway car. He found he was too attached to his identity as a monk to remove his robes right away or to sleep on the Varanasi station floor, and instead paid for a bed in a cheap hostel. But when he ran out of money, he began his life as an itinerant beggar in earnest. Soon he became deathly ill from food poisoning - and his journey took a startling turn. His meditation practice had prepared him to face death, and now he had the opportunity to test the strength of his training. In this powerful and unusually candid account of the inner life of a Buddhist master, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche offers us the invaluable lessons he learned from his near-death experience. By sharing with listeners the meditation practices that sustain him, he shows us how we can transform our fear of dying into joyful living. Praise for In Love with the World: “Vivid, compelling... This book is a rarity in spiritual literature: Reading the intimate story of this wise and devoted Buddhist monk directly infuses our own transformational journey with fresh meaning, luminosity, and life.” (Tara Brach, author of Radical Acceptance and True Refuge) “In Love with the World is a magnificent story - moving and inspiring, profound and utterly human. It will certainly be a dharma classic.” (Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart) “This book makes me think enlightenment is possible.” (Russell Brand)
©2019 Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche (P)2019 Random House Audio
Real Love
Summary
This program is read by the author. You are a person worthy of love. You don't have to do anything to deserve all the love in the world. Real Love is a creative tool kit of mindfulness exercises and meditation techniques that help you to truly engage with your present experience and create deeper love relationships with yourself, your partner, friends and family, and life itself. Sharon Salzberg, a leading expert in Lovingkindness meditation, encourages us to strip away layers of negative habits and obstacles, helping us to experience authentic love based on direct experience rather than preconceptions. Across three sections Sharon explains how to dispel cultural and emotional habits and direct focused care and attention to recapture the essence of what it is to love and be loved. With positive reflections and practices, Sharon teaches us how to shift the responsibilities of the love that we give and receive to rekindle the powerful healing force of true connection. By challenging myths perpetuated by popular culture, we can undo the limited definitions that reduce love to simply romance or passion and give the heart a much needed tune-up to connect ourselves to the truest experience of love in our daily lives.
©2017 Sharon Salzberg (P)2017 Macmillan Audio
True Love
Summary
Love might not be what we think it is. We all seek the happiness that comes from loving and being loved, yet we often find ourselves dissatisfied in our relationships and unable to grasp the cause. Thich Nhat Hanh here shows the way to overcome our recurrent obstacles to love - by learning to be mindful, open, and present with ourselves and others. As he explains, "training is needed in order to love properly; and to be able to give happiness and joy, you must practice deep looking directed toward the person you love. Because if you do not understand this person, you cannot love properly. Understanding is the essence of love." This quintessential guide to loving also introduces the four key aspects of love described in the Buddhist tradition - loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and freedom - and describes many simple and direct ways in which we can practice authentic love in our everyday lives. Cover art: White Lotus (Nelumbo Odorata), c. 1800, unknown artist. Courtesy of Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Eric Schroeder
©2004 Thich Nhat Hanh (P)2018 Random House Audio
Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism
Summary
In this modern spiritual classic, the Tibetan meditation master Chögyam Trungpa highlights the commonest pitfall to which every aspirant on the spiritual path falls prey: what he calls spiritual materialism. The universal tendency, he shows, is to see spirituality as a process of self-improvement - the impulse to develop and refine the ego when the ego is, by nature, essentially empty. "The problem is that ego can convert anything to its own use," he said, "even spirituality." His incisive, compassionate teachings serve to wake us up from this trick we all play on ourselves and to offer us a far brighter reality: the true and joyous liberation that inevitably involves letting go of the self rather than working to improve it. It is a message that has resonated with students for nearly thirty years and remains fresh as ever today. This new edition includes a foreword by Chögyam Trungpa's son and lineage holder, Sakyong Mipham.
©1973 Chögyam Trungpa (P)2015 Audible, Inc.
Mindfulness for Beginners
Summary
What if you could profoundly change your life just by becoming more mindful of your breathing? According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, you can. What if "paying attention on purpose and non-judgmentally" could improve your health? Again, according to Dr. Kabat-Zinn, it can. In Mindfulness for Beginners, this internationally known scientist, best-selling author, and teacher who brought mindfulness meditation into the mainstream of medicine and society gives you immediate access to a practice that can potentially add years to your life, and will certainly enhance the quality of your moments and your years. Join Dr. Kabat-Zinn to: Explore five guided meditations that lead you breath by breath into the essence of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), a program offered in medical clinics and hospitals around the world Cultivate the Seven Key Attitudinal Factors of MBSR, qualities of heart and mind that lay the foundation for mindfulness practice and for seeing and accepting things as they are as a first step to working wisely and compassionately with stress, pain, illness, and sorrow as well as life's joys and pleasures, Zorba's "full catastrophe" Free yourself from limiting perspectives, and become more intimate with your own boundless awareness"You're already in the perfect moment for inhabiting this liberating awareness, which is always available," teaches Jon Kabat-Zinn. With Mindfulness for Beginners, he invites you to cultivate mindfulness as if your life depended on it, which it surely does, and experience the magnitude and beauty of who you already are.
©2006 Jon Kabat-Zinn (P)2006 Sounds True
Making Friends with Your Mind
Summary
Have you ever found yourself thinking your way into a tangle of fret, frustration, or gloom? And then something small - a few kind words, the sun glancing through the clouds, a warm cup of tea - gave you a welcome pause from all your inner chatter? With Making Friends with Your Mind, that's what Pema Chödrön helps us to do, not by chance but with our full intention: to stop fighting with our thoughts and reopen ourselves to wonder as naturally as we breathe. The Buddha saw that the human experience is full of drama: confusion and conviction, joy and sorrow, success and failure - and that our minds love to amplify all of it. "We decide somebody or something is a certain way," muses Pema Chödrön, "and then that judgment gets frozen and fixated, long after things change. And things always change, right?" In these free-spirited sessions, Ani Pema helps you to bring awareness to those inflexible thoughts and sticking points. Through meditations, daily practices, and the kind of simple pointers that can change our lives, you'll learn that it is entirely possible to return to the flow and freedom of your experiences - and to find your way each day closer to a place of unconditional friendliness with yourself and with those in need.
©2016 Sounds True (P)2016 Sounds True
Buddhism: A Beginners Guide Book for True Self Discovery and Living a Balanced and Peaceful Life
Summary
Find out all about mysterious Buddhism, its origins, its secrets, and its answers to the challenges of modern life. This book contains a basic overview of Buddhism, including the life of Buddha and the various kinds of Buddhism that have developed. It takes a look at all the key concepts and most important teachings, methods, and insights in a way that is easy to understand. Filled with a wealth of common sense and other worldly wisdom, the path to enlightenment is considered. Learn about meditation, mindfulness, happiness, samadhi, nirvana, and all the other important concepts that have helped shape our understanding of reality. Find out about Zen Buddhism and study all the basic elements that make the Buddha dharma so compelling to people of all walks of life. What you'll learn.... Learn about Siddartha Guatama, who became the Buddha Find out about different Buddhist schools Understand meditation, mindfulness, and awareness Learn about relaxing and letting go and their benefits Find out what samadhi is all about Find out about karma, whether good or bad Discover the teachings about reincarnation Learn about impermanence and how that affects you Consider the status of women in Buddhism Find out what Buddhism means in practical life Discover the wisdom latent inside you Learn to let go of anger and frustration Learn how all things are connected, including you Discover new mental possibilities Find your own path to enlightenment Much, much more! Make use of this book today to educate yourself about one of the most popular ideas in history: transcending the mundane and discovering the ultimate. Get to know Buddhism intimately and understand why it has had such a powerful effect on the world. Download today!
©2015 Sam Siv (P)2015 Sam Siv
Meditation in Action
Summary
This classic teaching by a Tibetan master continues to inspire both beginners and long-time practitioners of Buddhist meditation. Chgyam Trungpa Rinpoche shows that meditation extends beyond the formal practice of sitting to build the foundation for compassion, awareness, and creativity in all aspects of life. He explores the six activities associated with meditation in action - generosity, discipline, patience, energy, clarity, and wisdom - revealing that through simple, direct experience, one can attain real wisdom: the ability to see clearly into situations and deal with them skillfully, without the self-consciousness connected with ego.
©1991 Diana Mukpo. Afterword 2010 by Samuel Bercholz (P)2014 Audible Inc.
What the Buddha Taught
Summary
Long regarded as one of the best introductions to Buddhism, What the Buddha Taught draws on the actual words spoken by the Buddha to give a lucid and accurate account of the fundamental principles of Buddhist doctrine. Richly supported by extracts from the ancient texts, Walpola Rahula gives clear and direct explanations of Buddhism's essential teachings including: the Buddhist attitude of mind the Four Noble Truths The Noble Eightfold Path meditation and mental development what the Buddha taught and the world today. What the Buddha Taught also features an illustrative selection of texts from the Suttas and the Dhammapada. The Venerable Dr Walpola Sri Rahula was a Buddhist monk and scholar. He received a traditional training and education in his native Sri Lanka before studying at the University of Calcutta and the Sorbonne. He held a chair at Northwestern University, Illinois, and was Vice-Chancellor of Vidyodaya University, Colombo. He was widely regarded as one of the most qualified and enlightened scholars of the Buddhist tradition with a deep knowledge of the original texts.
©1959 The Estate of Walpola Sri Rahula (P)2016 Dharma Audiobooks
Radical Self-Acceptance
Summary
The Practice of Self-Acceptance, Taught by a Buddhist Clinical Psychologist... How would your life change if you genuinely accepted yourself, just the way you are? According to Dr. Tara Brach, feelings of shame and unworthiness are the source of many problems we experience with our relationships, careers, creative endeavors, and most fundamentally, our spiritual unfolding. On Radical Self-Acceptance, this respected clinical psychologist and Buddhist meditation teacher shows you how to free yourself from the grip of your insecurities about being "good enough." With insights from both Eastern contemplative traditions and Western psychotherapies, Dr. Brach guides you through a full program of meditations and skills you need to become more compassionate toward the "unforgivable" parts of your self. As Dr. Brach says, the most difficult - and pervasive - challenge to Westerners today is the suffering caused by our feelings of unworthiness and self-aversion. Radical Self-Acceptance offers a way to break out of this emotional prison, so you can discover the freedom that comes with kindness and true appreciation of yourself and others.
©2005 Tara Brach (P)2008 Sounds True
The Myth of Freedom and the Way of Meditation
Summary
ChgyamTrungpa's unique ability to express the essence of Buddhist teachings in the language and imagery of modern American culture makes his books among the most accessible works of Buddhist philosophy. Here Trungpa explores the true meaning of freedom, showing us how our preconceptions, attitudes, and even our spiritual practices can become chains that bind us to repetitive patterns of frustration and despair. This edition features a new foreword by Pema Chödrön, a close student of Trungpa and the best-selling author of When Things Fall Apart.
©1976 Chögyam Trungpa; Foreword 2001 by Pema Chödrön (P)2014 Audible Inc.
Teachings of the Buddha
Summary
This treasury of essential Buddhist writings draws from the most popular Indian, Tibetan, Chinese, and Japanese sources. Among the selections are some of the earliest recorded sayings of the Buddha on the practice of freedom, passages from later Indian scriptures on the perfection of wisdom, verses from Tibetan masters on the enlightened mind, and songs in praise of meditation by Zen teachers. The audiobook also includes traditional instruction on how to practice sitting meditation, cultivate calm awareness, and live with compassion. Jack Kornfield, one of the most respected American Buddhist teachers, has compiled these teachings to impart the essence and inspiration of Buddhism to listeners of all spiritual traditions. A Dedication and Editor’s Preface are included, narrated by Jack Kornfield.
©1993, 1996 Jack Kornfield (P)2014 Audible Inc.
Comfortable with Uncertainty
Summary
This audiobook by Pema Chödrön, the renowned American Buddhist nun, offers short, stand-alone sections designed to help us cultivate compassion and awareness amid the challenges of daily living. More than a collection of thoughts for the day, Comfortable with Uncertainty offers a progressive program of spiritual study, leading the listener through essential concepts, themes, and practices on the Buddhist path. Comfortable with Uncertainty does not assume prior knowledge of Buddhist thought or practice, making it a perfect introduction to Chödrön's teachings on lovingkindness, meditation, mindfulness, "nowness", letting go, and working with fear and other painful emotions. Through the course of this audiobook, listeners will learn practical methods for heightening awareness and overcoming habitual patterns that block compassion.
©2017 Pema Chödrön (P)2017 Random House Audio
Living Without Stress or Fear
Summary
The Mindful Path to Freedom from the Emotions That Cause Suffering A life without stress or fear may seem like an impossible dream—yet Thich Nhat Hanh has spent a lifetime proving that it is not only possible, it is also within our grasp. On Living Without Stress or Fear, this treasured Zen master shares a message of hope: that we can, through the practice of mindfulness, find freedom from the grip of emotions like anxiety, anger, and despair. “Suffering persists because we nourish the feelings that cause it,” reveals Thich Nhat Hanh. “Through mindful living, we learn to nourish our compassionate nature instead.” Discovering Your “True Home” in the Present Moment We do not find happiness by suppressing emotions like stress or fear. As Thich Nhat Hanh teaches, you can develop a capacity to deal with such emotions by building a sanctuary—your “true home”—in the present moment. Through techniques such as “mindful breathing” and the “begin anew” practice, you purposefully expand your ability to dwell in a state of peaceful clarity, and develop the insight to see through to the underlying causes of negative emotions. By facing your inner darkness with awakened compassion, you can transform toxic energies within you—and radiate the energy of loving kindness to everyone around you. Essential Teachings from a Legendary Voice for Peace Thich Nhat Hanh has lived and taught the path of peace in the most challenging situations—carrying the light of compassion into places stricken by war, famine, and despair. Refined throughout a lifetime of mindfulness in action, he now shares his most transformative teachings and practices to guide you in your own journey to the source of happiness on Living Without Stress or Fear. Highlights Foundational mindfulness practices: being fully present while walking, breathing, and eating Seeds of happiness, seeds of suffering—how we choose which emotions to nourish with our attention The four-pebble meditation for openness, clarity, and grounding “No death and no birth, neither being nor non-being”—embracing the central paradox at the heart of fearless living The role of community in supporting your practice “We are all one organism”—perspective-shifting meditations on compassion Practices for bringing mindfulness into your family and your relationships Six sessions of Thich Nhat Hanh's core teachings and guided practices on mindfulness, compassion, and finding freedom from suffering Thich Nhat Hanh is a Zen master in the Vietnamese tradition, scholar, poet, and peace activist who was nominated for the 1967 Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King, Jr. He is the author of more than 40 books in English, including Peace Is Every Step and Living Buddha, Living Christ. ***PLEASE NOTE THE AUDIO IS FROM A LIVE RECORDING***
©2009 Sounds True (P)2009 Sounds True
The Urban Monk
Summary
We all struggle to discover satisfaction and contentment in the modern world, and yet the more technology we use, the more things seem to get worse. What are we all missing? What will it take for us to find our centers? Pedram Shojai shares how the calmness of Zen masters is attainable in today's fast-paced world, and with practice you, too, can stop time, refuel, and focus on the things that really matter. The Urban Monk, a New York Times best seller, reveals the secrets to finding an open heart, sharp mind, and grounded sense of well-being, even in the most demanding circumstances. Shojai's no-nonsense life mastery program brings together clear tools and exercises that can elevate your existence. Learn to honor your body with nutrition and shake free from addictions to toxic substances and experiences. Let your body and mind unwind each day with evening meditations, loosening exercises, and resting rituals that will keep any stress or unfinished business out of the bedroom, helping you sleep better so that your body can rejuvenate. The Urban Monk is filled with priceless practices that you can use in your daily life, right here and now. It is designed to be your companion in this crazy world we live in. Take it with you on your journey to becoming an Urban Monk. There's no need to move or drastically change your current life. You can find peace within, and The Urban Monk will teach you how to calm the chaos in your head. The world needs you to step up and live your life to the fullest. Pedram Shojai is the Urban Monk who can show you how to drink from infinity, find peace and prosperity, and thrive in a modern world.
©2016 Pedram Shojai (P)2016 Audible, Inc.
The Joy of Living
Summary
For millennia, Buddhists have enjoyed the limitless benefits of meditation. But how does it work? In this groundbreaking book, world-renowned Buddhist teacher Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche invites us to join him in unlocking the secrets behind the practice of meditation. With an infectious joy and insatiable curiosity, he weaves together the principles of Tibetan Buddhism, neuroscience, and quantum physics in a way that will forever change the way we understand the human experience. Using the basic meditation practices he provides, we can discover paths through everyday problems, transforming obstacles into opportunities to recognize the unlimited potential of our own minds. With an introduction by co-author Eric Swanson, The Joy of Living is a stunning breakthrough, an illuminating vision of the science of Buddhism and a handbook for transforming our minds, bodies, and lives.
©2007 Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche (P)2007 Random House Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House Inc.
Going to Pieces without Falling Apart
Summary
Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart shows us that happiness doesn't come from any kind of acquisitiveness, be it material or psychological. Happiness comes from letting go. Weaving together the accumulated wisdom of his two worlds - Buddhism and Western psychotherapy - Mark Epstein shows how "the happiness that we seek depends on our ability to balance the ego's need to do with our inherent capacity to be." He encourages us to relax the ever-vigilant mind in order to experience the freedom that comes only from relinquishing control. Drawing on events in Epstein's own life and stories from his patients, Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart teaches us that only by letting go can we start on the path to a more peaceful and spiritually satisfying life.
©1998 Mark Epstein (P)2015 Tantor
True Refuge
Summary
How do you cope when facing life-threatening illness, family conflict, faltering relationships, old trauma, obsessive thinking, overwhelming emotion, or inevitable loss? If you're like most people, chances are you react with fear and confusion, falling back on timeworn strategies: anger, self-judgment, and addictive behaviors. Though these old, conditioned attempts to control our life may offer fleeting relief, ultimately they leave us feeling isolated and mired in pain. There is another way. Beneath the turbulence of our thoughts and emotions exists a profound stillness, a silent awareness capable of limitless love. Tara Brach, author of the award-winning Radical Acceptance, calls this awareness our true refuge, because it is available to every one of us, at any moment, no exceptions. In this book, Brach offers a practical guide to finding our inner sanctuary of peace and wisdom in the midst of difficulty. Based on a fresh interpretation of the three classic Buddhist gateways to freedom - truth, love, and awareness - True Refuge shows us the way not just to heal our suffering, but also to cultivate our capacity for genuine happiness. Through spiritual teachings, guided meditations, and inspirational stories of people who discovered loving presence during times of great struggle, Brach invites us to connect more deeply with our own inner life, one another, and the world around us. True Refuge is essential listening for anyone encountering hardship or crisis; anyone dedicated to a path of spiritual awakening. The book reminds us of our own innate intelligence and goodness, making possible an enduring trust in ourselves and our lives. We realize that what we seek is within us, and regardless of circumstances, "there is always a way to take refuge in a healing and liberating presence".
©2013 Tara Brach (P)2013 Tantor
Lovingkindness Meditation
Summary
Within your own heart is a limitless source of supreme energy, the energy of love. No other force in the universe compares to it. The world's great spiritual traditions, both past and present, agree on this simple principle. Can love be harnessed and applied to others, used as a "tool" for changing lives? Lovingkindness Meditation teaches a traditional practice for cultivating love, and applying it as a life-changing force. Dating back 2,600 years, the practice of metta (an ancient Buddhist term meaning "lovingkindness") is a timeless method for unlocking your heart's immense healing resources.
©1996 Sharon Salzberg (P)2005 Sounds True
Awakening Compassion
Summary
For more than 800 years, Tibetan Buddhists have used the principles of lojong (literally, "mind training") to transform difficulties into insights, and conflict into genuine communication. Lojong practice is grounded in a special meditation technique and complemented by 59 written maxims - a treasury of practical wisdom that inspires everyday awareness. Awakening Compassion is the first audio retreat on the practice of lojong taught by Pema Chödrön, the American-born Tibetan Buddhist nun and best-selling author. With an informal teaching style, both playful and insightful, Pema uses restful meditations in teaching the lojong way for turning painful emotions into the stepping stones to wisdom, compassion, and fearlessness.
©1995 Pema Chö 24 6