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Books and Websites

Best of , (Books, Links, Sites and Stuff)

Trying to put together a list of Books and links of what I have personally read, or read enough of that the Book or link has helped in some way, for every book or link provided there are dozens of other books and links that are not provided due to quality, content and/or due to  the reality of our short lifespans.  

But, there are probably many books, teachers and links of a high standard and quality that are not on this list, that  would be due to my having not encountered the book, link or teaching, I haven't posted it yet, or someone else  hasn't posted it yet, (So if anyone has suggestions, please add to the list)

I apologize in advance if these posting are a nuisance, but don't worry, eventually it will settle down and  pass away, as all things do.  

And I also apologize for not having put Daniel Ingram's Book in the post to begin with, but it seemed silly at first, as it would be a link right back to the same website that I am posting from, but no offense was ever intended, so to rectify this situation  Daniel's book will get honor of  the first link, as indeed, without having read MCTB, I would not be here, and would probably be only be practicing somewhat half-heartedly, and half-assed,  while MCTB methods are not all of what I practice personally, the book has had a definite triggering effect within me to practice, Makin' it Real.

Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha  Daniel Ingram

http://static.squarespace.com/static/5037f52d84ae1e87f694cfda/t/5055915f84aedaeee9181119/1347785055665/





Saints and Psychopaths  William L. Hamilton


http://www.scribd.com/doc/19649507/Saints-and-Psychopaths


Ayya Khema  Wat Buddha Dhamma Australia 1992

http://ayyakhematalks.org/Wat_Buddha_Dhamma_1992.html

Nibbana The Mind Stilled  Ven. Nanananda

http://www.seeingthroughthenet.net/eng/gen.php?gp=books&cat=ms&p=1


The Magic of the Mind  Ven. Nanananda

http://www.seeingthroughthenet.net/files/eng/books/other/the_magic_of_the_mind.pdf


Concept and Reality  Ven. Nanananda

http://www.seeingthroughthenet.net/files/eng/books/other/concept_and_reality.pdf


The Worn Out Skin Nyanaponika Thera

http://www.bps.lk/olib/wh/wh241.pdf


The Power of Mindfulness  Nyanaponika Thera

http://www.bps.lk/olib/wh/wh121.pdf


Contemplation of Feeling Nyanaponika Thera

http://www.bps.lk/olib/wh/wh303.pdf


Three Basic Facts of Existence I: Impermanence (Anicca) Collected Essays, by Nyanaponika Thera

http://www.bps.lk/olib/wh/wh186.pdf


Three Basic Facts of Existence II: Suffering (Dukkha) - Collected essays, by Nyanaponika Thera

http://www.bps.lk/olib/wh/wh191.pdf


Three Basic Facts of Existence III: Anatta, Collected essays, by Nyanaponika Thera

http://www.bps.lk/olib/wh/wh202.pdf


Mindfulness in Plain Englishby Ven. Henepola Gunaratana

http://www.vipassana.com/meditation/mindfulness_in_plain_english.php


A Critical Analysis of the Jhanas in Theravada Meditation
This work, by Ven. Henepola Gunaratana


http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/printguna.pdf





The Seven Stages of Purification and The Insight Knowledges  The Venerable Mahathera Matara Sri Nanarama

http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/bm7insight.pdf


The Seven Contemplations of InsightA Treatise on Insight Meditation  The Venerble Mahathera Matara Sri Nanarama

http://books.google.com/books?id=gK8KAAAAYAAJ&q=nanarama+seven+contemplations+of+insight&dq=nanarama+seven+contemplations+of+insight&hl=en&sa=X&ei=m0GmU6TjEoO0yATRpYCgCw&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA


To be continued....


RE: Best of , (Books, Links, Sites and Stuff)
Answer
6/22/14 8:03 AM as a reply to Psi Phi.
The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story     Richard Preston

http://www.amazon.com/The-Hot-Zone-Terrifying-Story/dp/0385479565/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403441243&sr=8-1&keywords=hot+zone


Awakenings      Oliver Sacks

http://www.amazon.com/Awakenings-Oliver-Sacks/dp/0375704051/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403441454&sr=8-1&keywords=awakenings+oliver


The Naked Ape: A Zoologist's Study of the Human Animal     Desmond Morris


http://www.amazon.com/The-Naked-Ape-Zoologists-Animal/dp/0385334303/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403441525&sr=8-1&keywords=naked+ape



Virus of the Mind: The New Science of the Meme        Richard Brodie

http://www.amazon.com/Virus-Mind-The-Science-Meme/dp/1401924697/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403441584&sr=8-1&keywords=virus+of+the+mind


Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance     Robert Pirsig


http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Art-Motorcycle-Maintenance-Inquiry/dp/0060589469/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1403441734&sr=1-1&keywords=zen+and+the+art+of+motorcycle+maintenance


Dancing Wu Li Masters: An Overview of the New Physics    Gary Zukav


http://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Wu-Li-Masters-Overview/dp/0060959681/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1403441877&sr=1-1&keywords=dancing+wu+li+masters+by+gary+zukav


A Short History of Nearly Everything    Bill Bryson

http://www.amazon.com/A-Short-History-Nearly-Everything/dp/076790818X/ref=pd_sim_b_8?ie=UTF8&refRID=0FXX3ACBGZYWFHA9WGC8


The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark    Carl Sagan


http://www.amazon.com/The-Demon-Haunted-World-Science-Candle/dp/0345409469/ref=pd_sim_b_30?ie=UTF8&refRID=0PHVHNJNW57KNT7N76VB


To be continued...

RE: Best of , (Books, Links, Sites and Stuff)
Answer
6/22/14 8:31 AM as a reply to Psi Phi.
Practical Mysticism by Evelyn Underhill


http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21774




As a Man Thinketh by James Allen



http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4507



The Imitation of Christ by à Kempis Thomas



http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1653




RE: Best of , (Books, Links, Sites and Stuff)
Answer
6/22/14 8:36 AM as a reply to Psi Phi.
my proposition if anyone didn't read those mandatory Dharma/Buddhist materials already

Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha, An Unusually Hardcore Dharma Book, Daniel Ingram
http://integrateddaniel.info/book/

Suttas collection
http://www.buddhasutra.com/

The Gateless Gate
http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/awakening101/mumonkan.html

ps. Do you intent to put in here every single Dharma book that ever existed?

RE: Best of , (Books, Links, Sites and Stuff)
Answer
6/22/14 9:00 AM as a reply to Paweł K.
Only the Best of, (IMHO) would also like to include physical and energy practices, some science, some documentaries,  but stuff that works, "Real" techniques, using Archetypes and Visualization is cool, it works , not all of the brain can communicate with words, Large chunks of the mind uses pictures and symbols, and other parts use only sensations, and chemcal reactions, somehow, IMHO, it seems one has to unify all of this "unravelling the Unconscious knot", and bring the unconscious into the conscious realm...

I was looking through C.W. Leadbeaters book "The Chakras"  He writes about the opening of the Third eye, Ajna Chakra, and how it is like the use of a "tube" of sight, that can be reduced to microscopic level, or expanded to a universal view.  He discusses the Functions of the awakened chakras around chapter IV, though if yours are already awakend this may all be redundant, like looking at a map to the beach, while sitting on the beach.

The Chakras  C.W. Leadbeater

http://www.anandgholap.net/Chakras-CWL.pdf

RE: Best of , (Books, Links, Sites and Stuff)
Answer
6/22/14 2:42 PM as a reply to Psi Phi.
If energetic practices are welcome here I'm inclined to post this Reichian textbook. It's the most powerful physio-energetic system I've ever encountered. Don't underestimate it
Reichian Therapy: The Technique, for Home Use by Jack Willis

Also, Crowley's yoga book is a classic.
Eight Lectures on Yoga by Aleister Crowley

This book on hypnosis seems off-topic but the tie-ins to meditation are deep. Can help one more intimately understand how language and 'out-of-conscious systems' pull us away from responding to phenomena as they arise, and towards robotic reliving of previous conditioning. Also, just an enjoyable read
Monsters and Magical Sticks: There's No Such Thing as Hypnosis

Feeling alienated in the Dark Night? Dark Night, get your Dark Night

Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross
The Dark Night of the Soul: A Psychiatrist Explores the Connection Between Darkness and Spiritual Growth by Gerald G. May
A Hell of Mercy: A Meditation on Depression and the Dark Night of the Soul by Tim Farrington
Dark Night: The Soundtrack!

All I've got for now.

RE: Best of , (Books, Links, Sites and Stuff)
Answer
6/22/14 2:58 PM as a reply to Psi Phi.
Two books I haven't seen mentioned but were extremely helpful to me are the Cloud of Unknowing and the sayings of the Desert Fathers.

RE: Best of , (Books, Links, Sites and Stuff)
Answer
6/23/14 7:45 PM as a reply to Psi Phi.
That's what He said....  (The Buddha that is)  As straight from the Horse's Mouth as we can get , so to speak, I am sure there are other translations, but I have not read them, and thus can not recommend them.




 (Digha Nikaya) The Long Discourses of the Buddha  Maurice Walsh Translator


http://www.amazon.com/The-Long-Discourses-Buddha-Translation/dp/0861711033/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403549150&sr=8-1&keywords=digha+nikaya


(Majjhima Nikaya) The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Majjhima Nikaya (Teachings of the Buddha)   The translation is based on an original draft translation left by the English scholar-monk Bhikkhu Nanamoli, which has been edited and revised by the American monk Bhikkhu Bodhi, who provides a long introduction and helpful explanatory notes.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Middle-Length-Discourses-Buddha/dp/086171072X/ref=pd_sim_b_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=007P6DGSB0ZY3G7H651E




(Samyutta Nikaya) The Connected Discourses of the Buddha Bhikku Bodhi


http://www.amazon.com/The-Connected-Discourses-Buddha-Translation/dp/0861713311/ref=pd_sim_b_6?ie=UTF8&refRID=007P6DGSB0ZY3G7H651E



(Anguttara Nikaya)  The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha: A Complete Translation of the Anguttara Nikaya (Teachings of the Buddha)  Bhikku Bodhi


http://www.amazon.com/The-Numerical-Discourses-Buddha-Translation/dp/1614290407/ref=pd_sim_b_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=18C8R3VT43P9BRR0276V



The Udana & The Itivuttaka  John D Ireland translator
http://www.amazon.com/Udana-Itivuttaka-Classics-Pali-Canon/dp/B005HZHNLM/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1403549938&sr=1-2&keywords=john+d+ireland+buddhism



The Rhinoceros Horn and Other Early Buddhist Poems: The Group of Discourses (Sutta-Nipata, Vol 1)  K,R, Norman Translator

http://www.amazon.com/Rhinoceros-Other-Early-Buddhist-Poems/dp/0860131548/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1403550123&sr=1-1&keywords=the+rhinoceros+horn+buddhism





















RE: Best of , (Books, Links, Sites and Stuff)
Answer
6/23/14 7:19 PM as a reply to Psi Phi.
Breath Meditation Condensed by Upasika Kee Nanayon translated from the Thai by Thanissaro Bhikkhu

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/kee/condensed.html



Upasika Kee Nanayon


http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/kee/



The Teachings of Ajahn Chah

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/chah/the_teachings_of_ajahn_chah_web.pdf



Bhante Vimalaramsi    Moving Dhamma Volume 1


http://library.dhammasukha.org/uploads/1/2/8/6/12865490/moving-dhamma-1.pdf



Bhante Vimalaramsi   The Breath of Love

http://library.dhammasukha.org/uploads/1/2/8/6/12865490/breath-of-love.pdf





RE: Best of , (Books, Links, Sites and Stuff)
Answer
6/23/14 9:25 PM as a reply to Psi Phi.
MTCB did help especially with the emphasis on consistent noting and noting more detail.  Daniel's comments in the website and in the book helped me treat thoughts like I treat sensations.

The Direct Path video by Kenneth Folk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WiCXn87BF4

This video series reminds to you anchor yourself into your body.

Analayo's books remind you of everything you've forgotten.  I especially like the descriptions of the 7 factors of awakening:

http://www.amazon.com/Satipatthana-Direct-Path-Realization-Analayo-ebook/dp/B00DEDAXQ6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1403573521&sr=8-2&keywords=Analayo

http://www.amazon.com/Excursions-into-Thought-World-Pali-Discourses-ebook/dp/B009N33KSO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1403573521&sr=8-3&keywords=Analayo

Mathieu Boisvert:

http://www.amazon.com/Aggregates-Understanding-Theravada-Psychology-Soteriology/dp/8170305624/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403575133&sr=8-1&keywords=The+5+aggregates

This book connects the 5 aggregates via perception to dependent arising.

Nagarjuna:

http://www.amazon.com/Nagarjuna-Richard-H-Jones/dp/1451539797/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1403574687&sr=8-3&keywords=Nagarjuna

Nagarjuna is great at reminding one of the middle path and avoiding extreme inherent existence and extreme nihilism.  Some of this stuff is a little beyond me but a lot of it is within reach for most people.  His understanding of perception and relativity of shapes, sizes, and measurements and reactivity to them is masterful.

Return to the source - Shinzen Young:

http://www.shinzen.org/Retreat%20Reading/Return%20to%20the%20Source.pdf

This pdf helped me deal with the self hijacking the meditation and feeling like a controller.  It smoothed out the noting practice.


Rob Burbea's talks help to look into the concept of time and how the arising and passing away of experience is also not inherent and still conceptual.  Since all experiences are touching the separation of time as an inherently existing phenomenon is too simplistic.  All measurements (including time measurements) can be subdivided infinitely with no final inherent existence that can be found.  Looking into particle physics is also a good idea now that the Higgs Boson is found and scientists want to dig deeper and find more.

http://www.dharmaseed.org/teacher/210/

The Direct Path by Greg Goode:  This helped me with Advaita style relaxing in consciousness.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Direct-Path-User-Guide/dp/1908664029/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403575569&sr=8-1&keywords=Greg+Goode

RE: Best of , (Books, Links, Sites and Stuff)
Answer
6/25/14 5:17 AM as a reply to Psi Phi.
thank for link, it was interesting read, with some interesting concepts. It was unfortunately too much theosophical for me =)
It did made me however interested more in book knowledge about the topic, how other people perceive chakras