Resources for Further Reading

*Denotes books that are good as an introduction to Buddhist practice and teachings.
**Denotes books that are good for more experienced students.

Vipassana, Mindfulness, Insight Meditation

Analayo, Satipatthana: The Direct Path to Realization**

Ajahn Amaro, Small Boat, Great Mountain (link to free copy in .pdf) – (Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery, 2003)**

Guy Armstrong, Emptiness: A Practical Guide for Meditators

James Baraz, Awakening Joy: 10 Steps That Will Put You on the Road to Real Happiness

Sylvia Boorstein, It’s Easier Than You Think: The Buddhist Way to Happiness

Bhikkhu Bodhi, In the Buddha’s Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon (Teachings of the Buddha)**

Tara Brach, Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha *

Tara Brach, Radical Compassion: Learning to Love Yourself and Your World with the Practice of RAIN *

Tara Brach, True Refuge: Finding Peace and Freedom in Your Own Awakened Heart *

Thomas Byrom, The Dhammapada: The Sayings of the Buddha (Sacred Teachings)

Joseph Goldstein and Jack Kornfield, Seeking the Heart of Wisdom: The Path of Insight Meditation (Shambhala Classics)*

Joseph Goldstein, Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening

Joseph Goldstein, One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism

Joseph Goldstein, The Experience of Insight: A Simple and Direct Guide to Buddhist Meditation (Shambhala Dragon Editions)

Henepola Gunaratana, Mindfulness in Plain English, Updated and Expanded Edition*

Henepola Gunaratana, Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness: Walking the Buddha’s Path

Jon Kabat-Zinn, Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life

Jon Kabat-Zinn, [By Jon Kabat-Zinn ] Full Catastrophe Living (Revised Edition) (Paperback)【2018】by Jon Kabat-Zinn (Author) (Paperback)

Dacher Keltner, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life

Mirka Knaster, Living This Life Fully: Stories and Teachings of Munindra

Jack Kornfield, A Path with Heart: A Guide Through the Perils and Promises of Spiritual Life*

Jack Kornfield, No Time Like the Present: Finding Freedom, Love, and Joy Right Where You Are

Jack Kornfield, A Lamp in the Darkness: Illuminating the Path Through Difficult Times

Jack Kornfield, The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness, and Peace

Jack Kornfield, with Gil Fronsdal, Teachings of the Buddha

Jack Kornfield, The Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology

Jack Kornfield and Paul Breiter, A Still Forest Pool: The Insight Meditation of Achaan Chah (Quest Book)

Wes Nisker, Buddha’s Nature: A Practical Guide to Enlightenment Through Evolution

Walpola Rahula, What the Buddha Taught: Revised and Expanded Edition with Texts from Suttas and Dhammapada

Larry Rosenberg, Breath by Breath: The Liberating Practice of Insight Meditation*

Sharon Salzberg, Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness*

Ajahn Sumedho, The Sound of Silence: The Selected Teachings of Ajahn Sumedho**

Nyanaponika Thera, The Heart of Buddhist Meditation: Satipatthna: A Handbook of Mental Training Based on the Buddha’s Way of Mindfulness**

 

Zen

Charlotte Joko Beck, Nothing Special: Living Zen

Thich Nhat Hanh, The Miracle of Mindfulness*

Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace

Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind

Ryokan & John Stevens, One Robe, One Bowl: The Zen Poetry of Ryokan

 

Tibetan Buddhism

Pema Chodron, When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times (Shambhala Classics)

Pema Chodron, The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times (Shambhala Library)

Lama Surya Das, Awakening the Buddha Within: Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World

Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Fearless Simplicity: The Dzogchen Way of Living Freely in a Complex World**

Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Open Heart, Open Mind: Awakening the Power of Essence Love

Tsultrum Allione, Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict

Tulku Urgyen Rimpoche, As It Is, Vol. 2**

Choyam Trungpa, Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism

Choyam Trungpa, Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior

 

Grieving, Death and Dying

Pema Chodron, How We Live Is How We Die

Amy Wright Glenn, Holding Space: On Loving, Dying, and Letting Go

Stan Goldberg, Leaning into Sharp Points: Practical Guidance and Nurturing Support for Caregivers

Joan Halifax, Being with Dying: Cultivating Compassion and Fearlessness in the Presence of Death

Thich Nhat Hanh, No Death, No Fear: Comforting Wisdom for Life

Edie Hartshorne, Light in Blue Shadows

Kelly Koshin, Awake at the Bedside: Contemplative Teachings on Palliative and End-of-Life Care

Robert Lesoine & Marilynne Chophel, Unfinished Conversation: Healing from Suicide and Loss

Stephen Levine, Healing into Life and Death (and other books by Stephen Levine)

Stephen Levine & Ondrea Levine, Who Dies?: An Investigation of Conscious Living and Conscious Dying

Judith L. Lief, Making Friends with Death: A Buddhist Guide to Encountering Mortality

Phillip Moffitt, Dancing With Life: Buddhist Insights for Finding Meaning and Joy in the Face of Suffering

Frank Ostaseki, The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully

Larry Rosenberg, Living in the Light of Death: On the Art of Being Truly Alive

Kathleen Dowling Singh, The Grace in Dying : How We Are Transformed Spiritually as We Die

Francis Weller, The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief

 

Racism, Equity, Inclusivity

Hilda Gutierrez Baldoquin, Dharma, Color, and Culture: New Voices in Western Buddhism

Ta-Nehisi Coates, Between the World and Me

Robin DiAngelo, White Fragility

Gary R. Howard, We Can’t Teach What We Don’t Know: White Teachers, Multiracial Schools (Multicultural Education Series)

Debby Irving, Waking Up White: and Finding Myself in the Story of Race

Charles R. Johnson, Taming the Ox: Buddhist Stories and Reflections on Politics, Race, Culture, and Spiritual Practice

Kate Johnson, Radical Friendship: Seven Ways to Love Yourself and Find Your People in an Unjust World

Valerie Kaur, See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love

Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, The Way of Tenderness: Awakening through Race, Sexuality, and Gender

Resmaa Menakem, My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies

California Newsreel, “Race: the Power of an Illusion” (film series)

Pax Christi Anti-Racist Team, Building Accountable Relationships with Communities of Color (online resource)

Lama Rod Owens, Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation through Anger

Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker, “Not Somewhere Else, But Here” (essay)

Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption

Barbara Trepagnier, Silent Racism: How Well-Meaning White People Perpetuate the Racial Divide

Elizabeth Wilkerson, Caste (Oprah’s Book Club): The Origins of Our Discontents

Larry Yang, Awakening Together: The Spiritual Practice of Inclusivity and Community

 

Books by Buddhists of Color

Charles R. Johnson, Taming the Ox: Buddhist Stories and Reflections on Politics, Race, Culture, and Spiritual Practice

Kate Johnson, Radical Friendship: Seven Ways to Love Yourself and Find Your People in an Unjust World

Valerie Kaur, See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love

Ruth King, Mindful of Race – A Stimulus for Social Healing & Leadership

Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, Sanctuary: A Meditation on Home, Homelessness, and Belonging

Lama Rod Owens, The New Saints: From Broken Hearts to Spiritual Warriors

Menakem, Resmaa, My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies

Sebene Selassie, You Belong: A Call for Connection

Spring Washam, A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage, and Wisdom in Any Moment

Rev. angel Kyodo williams and Lama Rod Owens with Jasmine Syedullah, Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation

Jan Willis, Dreaming Me: Black, Baptist, and Buddhist ― One Woman’s Spiritual Journey

Larry Yang, Awakening Together: The Spiritual Practice of Inclusivity and Community

 

Spiritual Activism/Engaged Buddhism – Serving the World

Gregory Boyle, Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion

Ram Dass & Paul Gorman, How Can I Help?: Stories and Reflections on Service

Fred Eppsteiner, The Path of Compassion: Writings on Socially Engaged Buddhism

Joanna Macy, World as Lover, World as Self: Courage for Global Justice and Ecological Renewal

Lama Rod Owens, The New Saints: From Broken Hearts to Spiritual Warriors

Donald Rothberg, The Engaged Spiritual Life: A Buddhist Approach to Transforming Ourselves and the World

Kittisaro & Thanissara, Listening to the Heart: A Contemplative Journey to Engaged Buddhism

Thanissara, Time to Stand Up: An Engaged Buddhist Manifesto for Our Earth — The Buddha’s Life and Message through Feminine Eyes (Sacred Activism)

 

Moving Towards a Plant-Based Diet: Compassion for All

T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell, The China Study: Revised and Expanded Edition: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, and Long-Term Health

Jonathan Safran Foer, Eating Animals

Melanie Joy, Beyond Beliefs: A Guide to Improving Relationships and Communication for Vegans, Vegetarians, and Meat Eaters

Melanie Joy, Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism

Norm Phelps, The Great Compassion: Buddhism and Animal Rights

Lani Muelrath, The Mindful Vegan: A 30-Day Plan for Finding Health, Balance, Peace, and Happiness

Matthieu Ricard, A Plea for the Animals: The Moral, Philosophical, and Evolutionary Imperative to Treat All Beings with Compassion

Will Tuttle, The World Peace Diet: Eating for Spiritual Health and Social Harmony

 

Mindfulness for Children and Teens

James Baraz, Awakening Joy for Kids

Lee-Anne Gray, Self-Compassion for Teens: 129 Activities & Practices to Cultivate Kindness

Susan Kaiser Greenland, The Mindful Child: How to Help Your Kid Manage Stress and Become Happier, Kinder, and More Compassionate

Thich Nhat Hanh, A Handful of Quiet: Happiness in Four Pebbles

Thich Nhat Hanh, Mindful Movements: Ten Exercises for Well-Being

Thich Nhat Hanh, Planting Seeds: Practicing Mindfulness with Children

Mitchell Hoffsteader and Betsy Thomson, Meditation, My Friend: Meditation for Kids and Beginners of all Ages

Dan Siegel, Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain

Shauna Shapiro and Chris White, Mindful Discipline: A Loving Approach to Setting Limits and Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child

Christopher Willard and Wendy O’Leary, Breathing Makes It Better: A Book for Sad Days, Mad Days, Glad Days, and All the Feelings In-Between

Diana Winston, Wide Awake: A Buddhist Guide for Teens

 

Mindfulness of the Body

Anne Cushman, Moving into Meditation: A 12-Week Mindfulness Program for Yoga Practitioners

Jon Kabat-Zinn, Full Catastrophe Living (Revised Edition)

 

Working with Pain and Illness

Toni Bernhard, How to Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers

Vidyamala Burch, Living Well with Pain and Illness: The Mindful Way to Free Yourself from Suffering

Darlene Cohen, Turning Suffering Inside Out

Stephen Levine, Healing into Life and Death (and other books by Stephen Levine)

 

Trauma and Strong Fear

Judith Blackstone, Trauma and the Unbound Body: The Healing Power of Fundamental Consciousness

Follette, Briere, Rozelle, Hopper and Rome, Mindfulness-Oriented Interventions for Trauma: Integrating Contemplative Practices

Jim Gordon, The Transformation: Discovering Wholeness and Healing After Trauma

Peter Levine, In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness

David Treleaven, Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness: Practices for Safe and Transformative Healing

Rachel Goldsmith Turow, Mindfulness Skills for Trauma and PTSD: Practices for Recovery and Resilience

Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

 

Secular Mindfulness/Neuroscience

Linda Graham, Bouncing Back: Rewiring Your Brain for Maximum Resilience and Well-Being

Dacher Keltner, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life

Rick Hanson and Richard Mendius, Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom

Jean Kristeller, The Joy of Half a Cookie: Using Mindfulness to Lose Weight and End the Struggle with Food

Congressman Tim Ryan, A Mindful Nation: How a Simple Practice Can Help Us Reduce Stress, Improve Performance, and Recapture the American Spirit

Brenda Salgado (edited by), Real World Mindfulness for Beginners: Navigate Daily Life One Practice at a Time

Dan Siegel, Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation

 

Mindful Communication/Relationships

John Amodeo, Dancing with Fire: A Mindful Way to Loving Relationships

Marshall B. Rosenberg, Ph.D., Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life

Oren Jay Sofer, Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication

Sherrie Vavrichek, The Guide to Compassionate Assertiveness: How to Express Your Needs and Deal with Conflict While Keeping a Kind Heart

John Wellwood, Perfect Love, Imperfect Relationships: Healing the Wound of the Heart

 

Compassion and RAIN

Marc Ian Barasch, Field Notes on the Compassionate Life: A Search for the Soul of Kindness

Tara Brach, Radical Compassion: Learning to Love Yourself and Your World with the Practice of RAIN *
• Download your free Radical Compassion Study Guide.

Chris Germer, The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions

Kristin Neff, Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind

Kristin Neff, Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself

 

General Spiritual

Adyashanti, Emptiness Dancing**

Adyashanti, Falling into Grace

Rezvan Ameli, 25 Lessons in Mindfulness: Now Time for Healthy Living

Conniray Andreas, Coming to Wholeness: How to Awaken and Live with Ease (The Wholeness Work)

Stephen Batchelor, Buddhism Without Beliefs: A Contemporary Guide to Awakening

Toni Bernhard, How to Wake Up: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide to Navigating Joy and Sorrow

Richard Brown and Patricia Gerbarg, The Healing Power of the Breath: Simple Techniques to Reduce Stress and Anxiety, Enhance Concentration, and Balance Your Emotions

Mark Epstein, Going to Pieces without Falling Apart: A Buddhist Perspective on Wholeness

Daniel Gottleib, Letters to Sam: A Grandfather’s Lessons on Love, Loss, and the Gifts of Life

Barry Heermann, Noble Purpose: Igniting Extraordinary Passion for Life and Work

Stephen Josephs, Dragons At Work

Jonathan Kaplan, Urban Mindfulness: Cultivating Peace, Presence, and Purpose in the Middle of It All

Loch Kelly, Shift into Freedom: The Science and Practice of Open-Hearted Awareness

Stephen Levine, A Gradual Awakening

Nisargadatta Maharaj, I Am That: Talks with Sri Nisargadatta

Dan Morhaim, The Better End: Surviving (and Dying) on Your Own Terms in Today’s Modern Medical World

Mary O’Malley, What’s in the Way Is the Way

Lewis Richmond, Aging as a Spiritual Practice

Lorin Roche, Ph.D., The Radiance Sutras: 112 Gateways to the Yoga of Wonder and Delight (English and Sanskrit Edition)

Ronald D. Siegel and Christopher Germer (editors), Wisdom and Compassion in Psychotherapy: Deepening Mindfulness in Clinical Practice

Susan Stone, The Kosambi Intrigue; A Tale in the Time of Buddha – NOTE: This is fiction.

George Taylor, A Path for Couples.

Eckhart Tolle, New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose

Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

Will Tuttle, Buddhism and Veganism: Essays Connecting Spiritual Awakening and Animal Liberation

Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, Spiritual Ecology: The Cry of the Earth

Roger Walsh, Essential Spirituality: The 7 Central Practices to Awaken Heart and Mind

Joe Weston, Mastering Respectful Confrontation: A Guide to Personal Freedom and Empowered, Collaborative Engagement

 


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