The Dhammapada for Awakening: A Commentary on Buddha's Practical Wisdom - Softcover

(Swami Nirmalananda Giri), Abbot George Burke

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1500767565 ISBN 13: 9781500767563

Publisher: Light of The Spirit Press, 2014

Synopsis

Bringing a refreshing and timely perspective to ancient wisdom and showing seekers of inner peace how they can effectively lead a spiritual life in the modern world, The Dhammapada for Awakening: A Commentary on the Buddha’s Practical Wisdom by Abbot George Burke (Swami Nirmalananda Giri) is the first of a series of new books from Light of the Spirit Monastery in Cedar Crest, New Mexico. The Dhammapada for Awakening explores the Buddha's answers to the urgent questions, such as “How can I find find lasting peace, happiness and fulfillment that seems so elusive?” and “What can I do to avoid many of the miseries big and small that afflict all of us?”. Drawing on the proven wisdom of different ancient traditions, and the contemporary masters of spiritual life, as well as his own studies and first-hand knowledge of the mystical traditions of East and West, to Abbot George illumines the practical wisdom of Buddha in the Dhammapada – and more importantly, and make thatmakes that teaching relevant to present day spiritual seekers. The Dhammapada is the first collection of Gautama Buddha’s practical teachings for those seeking Nirvana, compiled only three months after his passing away by his enlightened disciples, who named it Dhammapada: The Way of Dharma. It is a distillation of forty-five years of the Buddha’s teaching. Abbot George says of the Dhammapada, “Over and over in the teachings of Buddha we find that he is giving us only that which can be applied in our daily lives in order to fit ourselves for freedom from all that binds us.” In The Dhammapada for Awakening you will learn: • An esoteric understanding of the mind and how to deal with it. • How we create our destinies by our thoughts and actions, and how we can use that knowledge to shape a better present and future for ourselves. • What are the obstacles to reaching our full potential, and how we can avoid them. Whether a person is Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, simply spiritual, or merely discontent with the status quo of their lives, the universal spiritual principles in The Dhammapada for Awakening will prove helpful in empowering seekers to tread the path to Freedom, that they may become finders.

About this title

About the Author

Abbot George Burke (Swami Nirmalananda Giri) is the founder and director of the Light of the Spirit Monastery (Atma Jyoti Ashram) in Cedar Crest, New Mexico, USA.

In his many pilgrimages to India, he had the opportunity of meeting some of India's greatest spiritual figures, including Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh and Anandamayi Ma. During his first trip to India he was made a member of the ancient Swami Order by Swami Vidyananda Giri, a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, who had himself been given sannyas by the Shankaracharya of Puri, Jagadguru Bharati Krishna Tirtha.

In the United States he also encountered various Christian saints, including Saint John Maximovich of San Francisco and Saint Philaret Voznesensky of New York. He was ordained in the Liberal Catholic Church (International) to the priesthood on January 25, 1974, and consecrated a bishop on August 23, 1975.

For many years Abbot George has researched the identity of Jesus Christ and his teachings with India and Sanatana Dharma, including Yoga. It is his conclusion that Jesus lived in India for most of his life, and was a yogi and Sanatana Dharma missionary to the West. After his resurrection he returned to India and lived the rest of his life in the Himalayas. 

He has written extensively on these and other topics, many of which are posted at OCOY.org.

From the Back Cover

The Dhammapada is the first collection of Gautama Buddha's practical teachings for those seeking Nirvana, compiled only three months after his passing away by his enlightened disciples, who named it Dhammapada: The Way of Dharma. It is a distillation of forty-five years of the Buddha's teaching.

In The Dhammapada for Awakening, Abbot George Burke draws on various spiritual traditions to illuminate the universal principles of Buddha presented in the Dhammapada. Emphasis is placed on the ways you can understand and apply them in your own personal life.

Reviews:

The writing is well crafted and stocked with anecdotes, humor, literary references and beautiful quotes from the Buddha. I found it to be entertaining as well as illuminating and have come to consider it a guide to daily living.

--Rev. Gerry Nangle, vice president of Johrei Fellowship

This is a book you'll want to take your time to read and keep as reference to reread. Highly recommended for earnest spiritual aspirants, especially those who may need a prod to keep them moving forward.

--Anna Hourihan, editor and publisher of Vedanta Shores Press

I would go as far as to say this is a must read for anyone trying to further their understanding of not only the teaching of the Buddha but the teachings contained in Christianity and Hinduism as well.

--Christopher Todd Cook

Edition details

• Publisher: Light of The Spirit Press
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1500767565
• ISBN 13: 9781500767563
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 336