Buddhist Ethics (Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye)

Full Title: Buddhist Ethics (Treasury of Knowledge)
Major Topic: The three vows (individual freedom, awakening being and knowledge holder)
Level: advanced
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Comprehensive summary of ethical systems and ordinations as practiced in the Tibetan tradition for the last thousand years; one chapter of Kongtrul’s encyclopedia of Tibetan Buddhism. This is a reference [...]

Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa (Garma C. C. Chang)

Full Title: Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa: The Life Story and Teaching of the Greatest Poet-Saint Ever to Appear in the History of Buddhism
Major Topic: Milarepa’s challenges and teachings
Level: all levels
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For those familiar with Tibetan Buddhism concepts, Milarepa’s songs are an inexhaustible treasury of teaching and instruction. Two [...]

Creation and Completion (Jamgon Kontrul)

Full Title: Creation and Completion: Essential Points of Tantric Meditation
Major Topic: creation and completion phase practice in Vajrayana
Level: experienced and advanced
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Practical exposition of the key points in Vajrayana practice and how to integrate the many different elements of this form of practice. For Vajrayana practitioners, this book will [...]

Life of Shabkar (tr. Matthieu Ricard)

Full Title: Life of Shabkar: The Autobiography of a Tibetan Yogin
Major Topic: Shabkar’s challenges and teachings
Level: all levels
This biography, like that of Milarepa’s, is a treasury of teaching and guidance. Two ways to use this book. Some of the chapters are wonderful accounts of spiritual challenges, albeit in highly mythic language. Second, the songs themselves [...]

The Jewel Ornament of Liberation (Gampopa & Herbert Guenther)

Full Title: The Jewel Ornament of Liberation: The Wish-Fulfilling Gem of the Noble Teachings
Major Topic: Tibetan mahayana Buddhism
Level: all levels
A classical description of the path of spiritual awakening according to the Tibetan Mahayana Buddhist tradition. Gampopa blends the classical Indian scholastic tradition he received in his Kadampa training with the training in practice and mahamudra [...]

Wake Up To Your Life (Ken McLeod)

Full Title: Wake Up To Your Life: Discovering the Buddhist Path of Attention
Major Topic: how to practice Buddhism
Level: all levels
A comprehensive manual, almost an encyclopedia, of practice methods, starting with basic meditation and ending with the experience of no separation. The methods are derived principally from the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism. The commentary is likely [...]

Natural Great Perfection (Nyoshul Khenpo)

Full Title: Natural Great Perfection
Major Topic: dzogchen, direct awareness
Level: all levels
Compilation of talks by contemporary Dzogchen master; clear, simple, and profound. Read and savor each of the chapters, sit with them, and let them guide your practice.

Treasury of Precious Qualities (Longchen Yeshe Dorje)

Full Title: Treasury of Precious Qualities: A Commentary on the Root Text of Jigme Lingpa
Major Topic: Tibetan form of Mahayana Buddhism
Level: all levels
Thorough exposition of the concepts and teachings at the base of all Tibetan Buddhist practice. A reference book that provides classical presentations of the path as practiced in Tibetan Buddhism.

Tibetan Book of Living and Dying (Sogyal Rinpoche)

Full Title: Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
Major Topic: Death
Level: experienced and advanced
Comprehensive book on traditional Tibetan Buddhism written in contemporary language. The language here is totally mythic. Do not take this book literally.

Lamp of Mahamudra (Tsele Natsok Rangdrol & Erik Pema Kunsang)

Full Title: Lamp of Mahamudra
Major Topic: Mahamudra, direct awareness practice
Level: experienced and advanced
Concise, comprehensive treatment of Mahamudra meditation. This is a practice manual. Study the fundamentals and let the richness of the teachings unfold in your practice.