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most of the books applicable to buddhism i find personaly powerful in terms of their zen experience so im not so sure what other denominational practitioners will make of them but i doubt it will be anything negative. they are really good books.

I would reccomend Dharma Bums, by Jack Kerouac. its a fantastic story about two american zen buddhists in California during the Beat Generation(1950's counter culture group). Its based off of Jack's own desires to be a 'Zen Lunatic' as he calles them and his relationship with contemporary poet and friend Gary Snyder, who is in himself an excellent writer to look at too.

both of thier poetry is incredibly significant to the buddhist faith.

another writer i would have to reccomend is Henry David Thourough. Walden and Civil dissobedience, Walden is more of a zen meditative natural book. and Civil dissobedience is more political. both are more or less a collection of essays but incredibly important.

Both Thourough and his inspiried teacher Ralph Waldo Emmerson read the the Bhagavad Gita it is actualy a hinduist book on choices and spirituality. really really good. its about a single conversation between the Hindu God Kirshna (Vishnu) and his human friend Arjuna amidst a war this book is anchient... it is basicly THE book that the Harre Kirshnists base thier faith. probably a great read for tantric practitioners.

probably my most favorite book about buddhism in and of itself is Buddhism plain and simple by Steve hagen it is basicly a book with the basics of zen buddhism and the continueing information and conversation an advanced and 'intellegented' buddhist would enjoy.

last i would probably reccomend Siddartha by Herman Hesse the book is synopsised in a thread right below this one.

OH OH not to forget... poem and Haiku collections are excellent and definately worth while... and if you get a haiku book chances are one or two will have been translated by Gary snyder ^_^

I've found the dali llama's books to be very useful - esecially 'the art of happiness'

plus some origional scriptures

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/index.html


{do i need approval to join btw?}

Thanks for the list! I've read Walden and the Bhagavad Gita, both of which were good works.

Here's a list of some of my favorites:

Ocean of Eloquence: Tsong kha pa's Commentary on the Yogacara Doctrine of Mind, which is a good exposition on the Eight Consciousnesses system in Mind-Only/Yogacara philosophy. Translated by Gareth Sparham and published by the State University of New York (1993)

The Ninth Karmapa's "The Ocean of Definitive Meaning", by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. It is a thorough discussion of Mahamudra practice based on the Rinpoche's retreat lectures on the original text. (Probably published by Snow Lion or Shambala Press)

The Sun of Wisdom by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso, based on Nagarjuna's "Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way." Concerns Nagarjuna's views on Middle Way/Madyhamika philosophy.

Tibet's Great Yogi Milarepa by W.Y. Evans-Wentz (Oxford University Press), a biography of Tibet's beloved poet-saint.

The Tibetan Book of the Dead, translated by Francesca Fremantle and Chogyam Trungpa (Shambhala Library). Classic discussion of the Tibetan views on the dying process and the phantasmagorial intermediate state that follows (Bardo); advice for the dying on how to avoid rebirth or at least avoid bad rebirth.

Buddhism the First Millenium, by Daisaku Ikeda* and translated by Burton Watson (Kodansha International). A good discussion of Buddhism's first 1000 years, from Buddha Gautama to Nagarjuna and Vasubandhu.

*FYI May be a familiar name to Japanese (and some international) Buddhists as a leading figure of the Soka Gakkai organization.

The Secret of the Golden Flower, new translation by Thomas Cleary (1991). This is a short nonsectarian (Buddhist-Taoist-Confucian) book by an unknown author who belonged to the Complete Reality School in China. A very interesting take on spiritual theory and practice that you may relate to. Cleary provides excellent notes and discussion of the original text. It has nothing to do with the recent movie, "The Curse of the Golden Flower."

Tantra: the Path of Ecstasy by Georg Feuerstein (Shambhala). A popular discussion of Tantric history, theory, and practice, though focusing on Hindu Tantrism.

The Song of the Sacred Tremor or Yoga Spandakarika, translated by Daniel Odier and Clare Frock. This is a beautiful 52-line poem
about religious attainment/experience from the Shaiva-Shakta Hindu (Tantric) viewpoint. You'll probably find it appealing, if not moving.