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.
We also recommend the books of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, whose writings offer profound yet accessible guidance on compassion, wisdom and daily life. A complete list of his 140+ published works can be found on his website.
The Mind and Meditation
- Becoming Your Own Therapist by Lama Yeshe
- Make Your Mind an Ocean by Lama Yeshe
- Buddhist Psychology by Geshe Tashi Tsering
- How to Meditate: A Practical Guide by Ven. Sangye Khadro (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: Practice for a Meaningful Life 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: How to Dedicate Your Life to Others 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
Karma
- The Wheel 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: The Tantric Path of Purification 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: A Handbook 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: The Foundation of Buddhist Thought, Volume 5 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 Ven. Losang Gyatso and Geshe Graham Woodhouse
Biography and Autobiography
- The Awakened One: A Life of the Buddha by Sherab Chödzin Kohn
- Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Big Love: The Life and Teachings of Lama Yeshe by Adele Hulse
- The Lawudo Lama, a biography of both Lama Zopa Rinpoche and his previous reincarnation Kunsang Yeshe, 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 Rinpoche
- 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
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