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BOOKS IN BRIEF | EASTERN HORIZON 57

BOOKS IN BRIEF

Wisdom Publications.
199 Elm Street, Somerville, MA 02144, USA
www.wisdompubs.org

Saṃsāra, Nirvāṇa, and Buddha Nature. Ecology, Ethics, and Interdependence. Mindfulness and Insight. The Mahasi
The Dalai Lama and Thubten Chodron. The Dalai Lama in Conversation with Method. Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw.
2018. pp 410. US$29.95. Hardcover Leading Thinkers on Climate Change. 2019. pp 276. US$17.95
Edited by John Dunne and Daniel
In this new book, which is the third Goleman. 2018. pp 333. US$18.95 This classic by Mahasi Sayadaw is an
volume in the series of books co-authored excerpt of two key chapters from the
by Venerable Thubten Chodren and the The Mind & Life Institute convened a comprehensive, authoritative Manual
Dalai Lama, the reader will discover the think tank of more than a dozen leading of Insight, which expounds the doctrinal
mind's infinitely vast potential, its Buddha scientists, interdisciplinary scholars, and and practical aspects of mindfulness
nature. In its examination of Buddha Buddhist teachers at the residence of (satipaṭṭhāna) and the development
nature – spanning early discussions of HH The Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India, of insight knowledge (vipassanā) up to
the mind’s potential in the Pāli Canon in 2011. Typical of these dialogues, it and including nibbāna. In Manual of
through to the teachings of Dzogchen, the provided a forum both to educate the Insight, Mahasi Sayadaw acknowledged
Great Perfection, it casts a bright light to Dalai Lama and to solicit his input. But that these two chapters alone offer
dispel the darkness of materialism, which it also provided an avenue to introduce suitable guidance on our own journey of
deludedly reduces the mind to a mere Buddhist perspectives to cutting-edge awakening by realizing path knowledge,
epiphenomenon or emergent property of interdisciplinary scholarship, interfaith fruition knowledge, and nibbāna,
the brain. Knowledge of Buddha nature dialogue, and public discourse. However, particularly for those with little or no
reveals and reconciles the paradox of at this conference, the focus was a topic knowledge of the Pāli scriptures.
how the mind can be the basis for both unrelated to cognitive science: Ecology, Part 1, “The Development of
the sufferings of saṃsāra (the unpurified Ethics, and Interdependence. The result Mindfulness,” offers comprehensive
mind) and the bliss and fulfilment of of this conference is a skilfully edited instructions for developing mindfulness
nirvāṇa (the purified mind). To illustrate and easily readable book that answers based on the Buddha’s teachings on
this, the authors first takes readers some of the most urgent questions facing the four foundations of mindfulness, as
through Buddhist thought on the self, humanity today: outlined in the highly regarded Discourse
the four noble truths, and their sixteen on Mindfulness (Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta).
attributes. It then explains afflictions- • What is happening to our planet? Part 2, “Practical Instructions,” provides
-including how they arise and their • What can we do about it? guidance in both the practices preliminary
antidotes--followed by an examination of • How to balance animal rights and to undertaking insight meditation and in
karma and cyclic existence (dependent needs of an ecosystem? developing insight knowledge, ranging
origination), and, finally, a deep and • What is the most skilful way to enact from initial practices to advanced levels of
thorough elucidation of Buddha nature. change? practice. EH
Essentially, this text shows us how to • And how do we fight on, even when
purify our minds and cultivate awakened our efforts seem to bear no fruit? EH
qualities. EH