Suggested Reading

Suggested Reading

You need to learn the Buddhadharma well by reading the correct books, such as books by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It is good to read not just any book on meditation or what is called “spiritual,” but authentic books, especially the lamrim. If they are correct Buddhadharma texts, you won’t be confused.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Suggested Reading

In his book, Enjoy Life Liberated from the Inner Prison, Lama Zopa Rinpoche shares suggestions for a wide range of authentic and trustworthy books, which we share with you here.

The Mind and Meditation

  • Becoming Your Own Therapist & Make Your Mind an Ocean, by Lama Yeshe
  • Buddhist Psychology, by Geshe Tashi Tsering
  • How to Meditate: A Practical Guide, by Kathleen McDonald
  • Mahamudra: How to Discover Our True Nature, by Lama Yeshe

Lamrim (Graduated Path to Enlightenment) Commentaries

  • The Door to Satisfaction, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
  • The Essential Nectar: Meditations on the Buddhist Path, by Geshe Rabten
  • The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment: Lamrim Chenmo, (Vols. 1–3) by Lama Tsongkhapa
  • How to Practice Dharma, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
  • Illuminating the Path to Enlightenment, by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
  • Lamrim Year, by Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche
  • Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand, by Pabongka Rinpoche
  • Nagarjuna’s Letter to a Friend, with commentary by Kangyur Rinpoche
  • The Perfect Human Rebirth, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
  • Practicing the Path: A Commentary on the Lamrim Chenmo, by Yangsi Rinpoche
  • Steps on the Path to Enlightenment: A Commentary on the Tsongkhapa’s Lamrim Chenmo (Vols. 1–5), by Geshe Lhundub Sopa
  • Teachings from the Mani Retreat, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
  • Teachings from the Vajrasattva Retreat, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
  • Wisdom Energy, by Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Short Meditations on the Lamrim (Graduated Path to Enlightenment)

  • Calling the Guru from Afar, by Pabongka Rinpoche
  • A Direct Meditation on the Graduated Path Containing all the Important Meanings, by Vajradhara Losang Jinpa
  • The Foundation of All Good Qualities, by Lama Tsongkhapa
  • A Hymn of Experience, by Lama Tsongkhapa
  • The Three Principal Aspects of the Path, by Lama Tsongkhapa

Bodhicitta (Love & Compassion)

  • Becoming the Compassion Buddha, by Lama Yeshe
  • Bodhichitta, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
  • Eight Verses for Training the Mind, by Geshe Sonam Rinchen
  • A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life, by Shantideva, translated by Vesna A. Wallace and B. Alan Wallace
  • Vast as the Heavens, Deep as the Sea: Verses in Praise of Bodhicitta, by Khunu Rinpoche
  • The Six Perfections: The Practice of the Bodhisattvas, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
  • The Thirty-seven Practices of Bodhisattvas, by Geshe Sonam Rinchen

Thought Transformation (Lojong)

  • Advice from a Spiritual Friend, by Geshe Rabten and Geshe Dhargyey
  • Bodhisattva Attitude, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
  • The Door to Satisfaction, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
  • The Seven-Point Mind Training, by B. Alan Wallace
  • Transforming Adversity into Courage and Joy, by Geshe Jampa Tegchok
  • Transforming Problems into Happiness, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche

The Four Noble Truths

  • The Four Noble Truths, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Karma

  • The Meaning of Life: Buddhist Perspectives on Cause and Effect, by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
  • The Wheel of Sharp Weapons, by Dharmarakshita
  • Steps on the Path to Enlightenment, Volume 2, by Geshe Lhundub Sopa

Purification

  • Becoming Vajrasattva, by Lama Yeshe
  • Purification in Tibetan Buddhism: The Practice of the Thirty-five Confession Buddhas, by Geshe Jampa Gyatso

Death and Dying

  • How to Face Death Without Fear, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
  • Mind of Clear Light: Advice on Dying and Living a Better Life, by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Emptiness and Dependent Arising

  • Essence of the Heart Sutra, by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
  • Emptiness, by Geshe Tashi Tsering
  • Insight into Emptiness, by Khensur Jampa Tegchok
  • Introduction to Emptiness, by Guy Newland
  • Practicing Wisdom: The Perfection of Shantideva’s Bodhisattva Way, by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
  • Tsongkhapa’s Praise for Dependent Relativity, by Losang Gyatso and Graham Woodhouse

Biography and Autobiography

  • The Awakened One: A Life of the Buddha, by Sherab Chödzin Kohn
  • Big Love: The Life and Teachings of Lama Yeshe, by Adele Hulse
  • Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
  • The Lawudo Lama, a biography of both Kunsang Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, by Jamyang Wangmo
  • The Life of My Teacher: A Biography of Ling Rinpoche, by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
  • Like a Waking Dream: The Autobiography of Geshe Lhundub Sopa
  • The Magical Play of Illusion: The Autobiography of Trijang Rinpoche
  • My Life and Lives: The Story of a Tibetan Incarnation, by Khyongla Rato
  • My Spiritual Autobiography, by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
  • Reincarnation: The Boy Lama, a biography of Tenzin Ösel Hita, the reincarnation of Lama Yeshe, by Vicki Mackenzie
  • Any of the biographies of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Sutras

  • The Arya Sanghata Sutra
  • The Diamond Cutter Sutra
  • The Golden Light Sutra
  • The Heart Sutra

Guru Devotion & Guru Yoga

  • The Heart of the Path, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
  • A Daily Meditation on Shakyamuni Buddha, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
  • The Guru Puja, by Panchen Lama Losang Chökyi Gyältsen
  • Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga, by Dulnagpa Paldan Zangpo, translated by Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Tantra

  • Introduction to Tantra, by Lama Yeshe