Pranams
I have in the last few months gone through a period of buying new books. In amaravati buddhist monestery in UK they have an amazing library which I used to spend hours in just browsing, books I feel are a real blessing.
I will list some of the books that I have bought recently that I have found very useful and maybe others can name some titles. I know there is an online library here but many are in Hindi and when I do real reading its not online, nothing beats paper for me.
The Path of Purifciation By Bhadantacariya BuddhaGhosa
A very good study in the concentration states and what supports them, very traditional in its expression.
Untying the Knots of the Buddhism By Alex Wayman
More of a scholarly work, and compares many modern authors with ancient teachers and texts, but I find it really well written and has a good flow to its reading, some parts as with many scholarly works can be quite tedious and austere reading but the general context to the book is very good, I think some advaitists may find some good material in this.
The Collection of Teachings By Ajahn Chah
Its a book that is transcribed Dharma talks by the Venerable Ajahn Chah that never fails to impress me with his simple but profound way of talking.
Vasisthas Yoga By Swami Venkatesananda
This book was recently recommended to me, so far I am on chapter 2, I read chapter 1 very slowly and carefully, its so powerful, what can I say, its an amazing piece of literature.
Bhagavad Gita by Oxford press
It is just the verses but still a good translation, I was more interested to see how the mighty Oxford university would deal with Bhagavad Gita, and its very handy size that one can take around if going out.
Ethics in the Mahabharata A philosophical inquiry for today
By Sitansu S. Chakravarti. I won this on a ebay auction for just 99 pence
It just came this morning. This is also a great book, while it is quite scholarly in parts, the eb and flow is very profound and easy to read, it will suite the beginner and also the more advanced student of Mahabharata. This book actually promted me to start this post, and after I finish my bits of work I am excited to carry on reading it later tonight. It blends eastern and western concepts without diverting from the true essence of Mahabharata.
Avadhuta Gita Of Dattareya By Swami Ashokananada
While this topic is way above my level I still consider it an master piece, its so beautifully expressed, it has both Sanskrit and English verse with the odd commentary here and there.
I am also reading and doing some comparative studies on Bhagavad Gita, Srila Prabhupadas and Srila Narayana Swami's and one online edition that gives commentary's of from 4 Vaishnava schools.
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This book will arrive soon. One: Essential Writings on Nonduality Jerry Katz I won it on an ebay auction for 99pence
I have a couple of versions of Mahabharata, but I am waiting on my first edition of the first set of four books by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, very excited for this book to arrive.
I have a few other books that I read through for reference or at the spur of the moment. I usually read about 10 books at a time, I have always been like that, it suites me and I seem to learn well from reading in this way, so please no comments to say I should read only one book at a time or just from one school, as it will fall on deaf ears . I am always interested in what other people read and and what its about briefly. Maybe some good conversations can come from it.
Ys
Md
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