“When you think of napa cabbage, don’t just see it as a vegetable, but consider as well that it will become a part of your body and your self…. This means that it should be handled with the same care and delicacy as if it were your own body. If you make kimchi with this mindset, it will be good.” So says Jeongkwan Snim, a Buddhist nun and chef renowned for her plant-based cooking. After a highly successful Netflix documentary was made about her, she collaborated with Hoo Nam Seelmann in creating Korean Temple Cooking: Lessons on Life and Buddhism, with Recipes (Hardie Grant). This beautiful book includes exquisite photographs of South Korean temple life, an exploration of the history and rituals around food in Buddhist South Korea, and a comprehensive interview with Jeongkwan Snim. Her recipes are often simple—the secret to their success is time and care. From these pages, learn how to make everything from soya sauce to tofu to homemade noodles, dumplings, and more.
The Tibetan word bardo is used to describe a between-state or a period of transition. It most often refers to the period between death and rebirth, as depicted in Bardo Thödel, or, as it is known in English, The Tibetan Book of the Dead. But the bardo teachings are important both after death and during life. In her new book, Traveling in Bardo: The Art of Living in an Impermanent World (Balance), author Ann Tashi Slater explores the death of her grandmother in Darjeeling, her own near-death experience when she was diagnosed with endocarditis in Tokyo, and other intimate, liminal moments through the lens of these bardo teachings. Slater’s great-grandfather, an important Tibetan functionary and Buddhist, was instrumental in bringing The Tibetan Book of the Dead to the West after WWI. In her new book, Slater hopes to continue her great-grandfather’s work, not by providing an exhaustive account of The Tibetan Book of the Dead, but rather by taking a dive into how the bardo teachings can improve our lives.
Learn to tap into sources of love and compassion with How Compassion Works: A Step-by-Step Guide to Cultivating Well-Being, Love, and Wisdom (Shambhala). Intended for a wide audience including activists, caregivers, practicing Buddhists, and people on other spiritual paths, this manual is a collection of meditations that focus on our fundamental ability to love and take care of ourselves and each another. The practice involves finding love and empathy within and then fostering it until you have enough to share with the rest of the world. Authors John Makransky and Paul Condon both lead retreats in sustainable compassion training (SCT), which underpins this book. SCT is largely rooted in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, but it’s also informed by attachment theory, social baseline theory, and cognitive science.
I Had a Good Teacher: Practicing Suzuki Roshi’s Way of Zen (Monkfish) is a collection of Les Kaye’s talks, writings, and question-and-answer sessions, which was compiled by a small, enthusiastic group of his Zen students. Kaye’s teachings were, in turn, inspired by his own teacher, Suzuki Roshi, whose famous book Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind was also compiled and published by his students. For more than thirty years, Kaye maintained a steady job as an engineer working in Silicon Valley and took care of his family, all while maintaining a serious Zen practice. The book is full of wisdom, focusing specifically on how to integrate Zen into a busy, Western-style life without “dropping out.” Kaye even talks about his relationship with Steve Jobs, who sought ways to integrate meditation into the workday at Apple.
Lawrence Pintak’s latest book, Lessons from the Mountaintop: Ten Modern Mystics and Their Extraordinary Lives (Sentient), explores common threads that tie modern mystics together. It was inspired by his friendships with mystics from diverse traditions—from the art director at Columbia Records who became a Sufi, to a Carthusian monk who also runs a zendo on Tuesday evenings and the Australian doctor who transcribed and published his lama’s talks in a book called Wisdom Energy, leading to the formation of Wisdom Publications. Pintak worked for many years as Middle East Correspondent for CBS News. He holds a PhD in Islamic Studies and has been a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner for over thirty years. He’s the author of seven books about the intersection of religion and policy and has previously contributed to a panoply of spiritually oriented publications, including Lion’s Roar.
Are you curious about Buddhism? Whether you are considering becoming a Buddhist or just want to know more about what Buddhism is, The Buddha in You: A Beginner’s Guide to Buddhism, from Karma to Nirvana (Sounds True) provides an easy-to-read summary of the basic precepts, and answers questions such as: Do I have to become vegetarian? What are mantras? Who do I pray to? How do I meditate? What are the differences between the different schools of Buddhism? The book includes optional reflections and meditations and a list of resources for readers who wish to pursue their quest further. Authors Lama Lhanang Rinpoche and Mordy Levine also cowrote The Tibetan Book of the Dead for Beginners and The Beginner’s Guide to Karma.
Hip-hop and dharma might seem an unlikely mix. But Ofosu Jones-Quartey, aka Born I, has managed to meld the two. Born I is both a certified meditation teacher and highly acclaimed hip-hop artist. For a long time, Born I tried to keep hip-hop and dharma apart, as he didn’t want to lose his “edge” as a rapper, but he eventually realized the power he had through his music to reach people and bring awareness to human suffering. His book, Lyrical Dharma: Hip-Hop as Mindfulness (Parallax), is a collection of song lyrics, commentary, and storytelling, complemented by striking photographs and drawings. Born I writes: “I am enough / is the mantra repeated / for all of the love and compassion that’s needed / and yes I might fall again but / Then I’ll rise again / sitting cross-legged / and closing my eyes again.”
This small book focuses on the simplicity of the Buddha’s message. Written by Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche, holder of the Tibetan Mindrolling lineage, How Not to Miss the Point: The Buddha’s Wisdom for a Life Well Lived (Shambhala) is a straightforward guide to training your mind. Part 1 outlines the arc of the Buddhist path and explores the concept of dharma, while Part 2 discusses key supports necessary for someone who is new to the practice. Khandro Rinpoche, with her many years of experience teaching Buddhism to students in the West, reminds the reader that although finding the right teacher is essential, it’s also important not to treat Buddhism as something for which you can shop around. Looking for a Buddhist teacher is not the same as looking for the newest style or a good deal. “Candyfloss” Buddhism, as she calls it, will not be enough to quell a lifetime of neuroses. She urges us to commit to one path and stick to it.
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