East Asian and Indian philosophy Books

This is a book of guidance for life's journey rooted in the wisdom of ancient China. Best-selling author Deng Ming-Dao provides key poetic lines that distill the essence of Taoism, organizing them in the form of a journey. The material here is drawn from...

The hopeful teaching of this book is that while everybody suffers, most of this suffering is unnecessary--it can be overcome. The legacy of Aristotle is that we think that things must be either true or untrue. Thus we tend to think in terms of...

In this insightful guide minister Jonalu Johnstone invites readers into an adventure of encountering firsthand the words and stories that have inspired billions throughout the centuries. Exploring the wisdom of the ages, she argues, helps equip us to...

The Sanskrit for Patanjali's Yoga Sutras has existed unchanged for more than 2000 years. No authentic, accurate, and reliable translation of it exists. This original Yoga Sutras book now provides that truly authentic translation, documenting the meanings...

A new critical approach to cinema and media based on Buddhism as a philosophical discourse How can a philosophical discourse generated in Asia help us reframe and renew cinema and media theory? Cinema Illuminating Reality provides a possible way to do...

This biography of one of the few women in her generation to devote herself entirely to the pursuit of meditation also includes Dipa Ma's spiritual teachings, which have made her a major figure in contemporary Buddhism.

Employing the tenets of Zen Buddhist awareness practice, the book provides numerous exercises and self-help tools for working through problems with resistance, revealing how resistance operates in everyday life and guiding readers to consider how they...

Achaan Chah spent many years walking and meditating in the forest monastery of Wat Ba Pong, engaging in the uncomplicated and disciplined Buddhist practice called dhudanga. A Still Forest Pool reflects the quiet, intensive, and joyous practice of the...

Hans-Georg Moeller has achieved the perfect blend with Daoism Explained. It is both a fascinating introduction on Daoist thought as well as an original and insightful contribution to Eastern philosophy. This book will take the place of The Tao of Pooh by...

This authorized biography of contemporary Taoist expert Wang Liping (1949-), an 18th generation transmitter of Dragon Gate Taoism, tells the true story of his apprenticeship in Taoist wizardry, as well as the specialized body of knowledge, mystical...

Taoism for Beginners is a practical guide to applying the key notions, concepts and beliefs underlying Taoism's various branches and schools. Authors C. Alexander and Annellen Simpkins tap into their years of training and study in meditation,...

Thousands of readers - from prisoners to priests - have embraced Jerry Braza's insights - adopting and integrating the mindfulness practices and habits this book presents. This new edition expands on the author's time-tested approach, introducing...

Introduction to Zen Training is a translation of the Sanzen Nyumon, a foundational text for beginning meditation students by Omori Sogen - one of the foremost Zen teachers of the twentieth century. Written to provide a solid...

Archery for Beginners is the complete instructional guide for anyone interested in taking up recreational archery. This book covers all the essentials for the beginning archer - from basic skills and equipment to effective and safe training...

Named one of TIME magazine's 100 Greatest Men of the Century, Bruce Lee's impact and influence has only grown since his untimely death in 1973. Part of the seven-volume Bruce Lee Library, this installment of the famed martial artist's private notebooks...

Learn how to target the weaknesses of an attacker and effectively exploit them in order to defend yourself. The 36 Deadly Bubishi Points gives detailed explanations on how the pressure points of traditional Chinese medicine found in the Bubishi, the...

Follow the brilliant and hilarious adventures of a mad Zen Buddhist monk who rose from humble beginnings to become one of China's greatest folk heroes! Ji Gong studied at the great Ling Yin monastery, an immense temple that still ranges up the steep...

This masterfully crafted guide to ninjutsu or budo explores in depth the history, culture, and philosophy of this fascinating and enduring Japanese martial art.Budo is one of the least understood forms of art in the world. Even more than skills or...

Zen Masters of Japan is the second book in a series that traces Zen's profoundly historic journey as it spread eastward from China and Japan, toward the United States. Following Zen Masters of China, this book concentrates on Zen's significant passage...

In Losing Ourselves, Jay Garfield, a leading expert on Buddhist philosophy, offers a brief and radically clear account of an idea that at first might seem frightening but that promises to liberate us and improve our lives, our relationships, and the...

A trenchant defense of hierarchy in different spheres of our lives, from the personal to the politicalAll complex and large-scale societies are organized along certain hierarchies, but the concept of hierarchy has become almost taboo in the modern world...

A smart and accessible introduction to the most important works of ancient Chinese philosophy-the Analects of Confucius, Mozi, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Sunzi, Xunzi, and Han FeiziThis book provides an unmatched introduction to eight of the most...

A delightfully illustrated version of Sunzi's classic The Art of War by bestselling cartoonist C. C. TsaiC. C. Tsai is one of Asia's most popular cartoonists, and his editions of the Chinese classics have sold more than 40 million copies in over twenty...

A delightfully illustrated selection of the great Daoist writings of Zhuangzi by bestselling cartoonist C. C. TsaiC. C. Tsai is one of Asia's most popular cartoonists, and his editions of the Chinese classics have sold more than 40 million copies in over...

Wabi sabi, the quintessential Japanese design aesthetic, is quickly gaining popularity around the world. Taken from the Japanese words wabi, which translates to less is more, and sabi, which means attentive melancholy, wabi...

The Essential Mengzi offers a representative selection from Bryan Van Norden's acclaimed translation of the full work, including the most frequently studied passages and covering all of the work's major themes. An appendix of selections from the classic...

Martial arts and philosophy have always gone hand in hand, as well as fist in throat. Philosophical argument is closely paralleled with hand-to-hand combat. And all of today's Asian martial arts were developed to embody and apply philosophical ideas. In...

First among the ancient classics, the I Ching or Book of Changes is one of the world's most influential books, comparable to the Bible, the Koran, and the Upanishads.The I Ching's purpose is universal: to provide good counsel to its users in making...

"Zen Flesh, Zen Bones," the best-selling collection of the most popular enlightenment stories, anecdotes, and koans of Zen literature, introducing a generation of Americans to Zen. Included here are four Zen and pre-Zen classics:101 Zen...

Learn the ways of the Japanese Bushido Code with this very readable, modern translation of theBushido Shoshinshu.Code of the Samurai is a four-hundred-year-old explication of the rules and expectations embodied in Bushido, the Japanese Way of the Warrior...

Not believing, but only experiencing, says Osho in this inspiring book, is a way of finding truth and meaning. While Nietzsche's declaration that "God is dead, therefore man is free" was an incredible step in understanding, he argues, it is in itself a...

This volume provides a translation of over two-thirds of the classic Daoist text Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu), including the complete Inner Chapters and extensive selections from the Outer and Miscellaneous Chapters. Also included are judicious selections from...

Bruce Lee was more than just a man of action - he was a man of words. A voracious reader, Lee studied text after text, taking meticulous notes to devise his theories both in fighting and in life strategy. For the first time in paperback, John Little, who...

This beautiful book, illustrated with more than 400 photographs and drawings, is the first full retrospective of his work to be published anywhere. It includes 37 gardens in a wide variety of types and settings: traditional or contemporary, urban or...

Philip J. Ivanhoe's richly annotated translation of this classic work is accompanied by his engaging interpretation and commentary, a lucid introduction, and a Language Appendix that compares eight classic translations of the opening passage of the work...

Sun Tzu's The Art of War has been the premier manual of Chinese military strategy for the past two millennia and, as thousands of Asian businessmen can attest, this classic work is as applicable to the corporate world as it is to the battlefield...

In this engaging volume, Daniel Gardner explains the way in which the Four Books-Great Learning, Analects, Mencius, and Maintaining Perfect Balance-have been read and understood by the Chinese since the twelfth century. Selected passages in translation...

"This book is an introduction in the very best sense of the word. It provides the beginner with an accurate, sophisticated, yet accessible account, and offers new insights and challenging perspectives to those who have more specialized knowledge...

Japanese Proverbs is filled with universal truths ('Fall down seven times, get up eight') as well as uniquely Japanese sayings and folk wisdom ('Even a one-inch insect has a half-inch soul') which may seem cryptic and difficult to understand until you...

In Soul of the Samurai respected author and translator Thomas Cleary reveals the true essence of Bushido or Zen warrior teachings according to 17th-century Japanese sword master Yagyu Munenori and his Zen teacher Takuan Soho...

This anthology of discourses from the Pali Canon-the only student edition of such works available-provides an account of Buddhist teachings directly from the earliest primary sources. Seventeen discourses are provided, including those most essential to...

Nirvana has become an idealized word associated with the juxtaposition of a cult rock celebrity who died before his time and a vague new age version of Eastern religion. An altered state to be hoped for, but likely unattainable, reinforcing that all too...

This new translation of the Mengzi (Mencius) is accurate, philosophicallynuanced, and fluent. Accompanied by selected passages from the classic commentary of Zhu Xi-one of the most influential and insightful interpreters of Confucianism-this edition...

A fresh, modern re-imagining of the essential Osho meditation text   For decades Meditation: The First and Last Freedom has been the essential guide to meditation and Osho meditation techniques. Developed specifically for a contemporary audience, this...

The first collection of its kind: a compendium of source texts on yoga, translated, introduced and edited by two of the foremost yoga scholars in the world  'Yoga is to be known through yoga. Yoga arises from yoga. One who is vigilant by means of yoga...

Buddhism is all about training the mind, and boot camp is an ideal training method for this generation’s short attention span. The chapters in this small book can be read in any order, and are simple and easy to understand. Each story, inspirational...