Reddit mentions: The best theravada buddhism books

Having done a lot of work on changing the way I think, I can say that the thoughts will stop when you stop having interest in them.

This can be helped first and foremost with a balanced diet over time. Learning about Hunger Hormones if you haven't already is a start. Balance, balance, balance.

A direction for changing the thoughts is to replace them with stronger interests. So, you have to cultivate the interests. For example, perhaps you rode a tricycle at an early age. Then you became interested in a 2-wheeler. So, you gave up the tricycle for a stronger interest. You didn't fight with yourself to give up the tricycle, it wasn't a battle, you just did it.

As such, develop a stronger interest in your inner beauty and that will radiate to your outer beauty. For example, (I'm not Buddhist but I find these teachings interesting) the Buddha said that by practicing loving-kindness your face will be radiant. See this article for whole list.

There are many links on the benefits of Loving-kindness practice, here's one by Kripalu, a wonderful center. Sharon Salzberg has some good info and I think a free home course. She's excellent.


Another benefit of the loving-kindess practice is being happy with yourself as you are. This is huge. I did a lot of journaling and meditation on what I valued within myself to stop the inner critic.

That inner voice will stop, I guarantee it, because I overcame that and if I can, anyone can. You have to set aside time daily to work on affirmations, maybe journaling and maybe meditation. I did all three. You have to recognize that being kind, generous, sincere, all these things matter more than size. A book that helped me with these things is Quiet Mind, Open Heart.

Beauty is as beauty does, and by spreading kindness and acceptance within yourself you can more easily spread it in the world. You can do it. More power to you. PM me if you want.

edit: You can't fight the thoughts (that is showing "interest" in them still), but you can learn to not have an interest in the thoughts about restricting and overexercising which are always the precursors to those behaviors. The hurtful voices end when you know they are not true. To prove to yoursef they aren't true, you have to recognize your inner worth which can be done with loving-kindness, journaling, meditation. Therapy can help, too.

Ahimsa is not emphasized in Buddhism, but instead there are the related concepts of metta and lojong. You will find it more complex and nuanced than the Hindu/Jain equivalent of ahimsa. In fact, lojong even makes a connection between past karma and ethics. If you are interested in ahimsa per se, then your best bet is the Bhagavad Gita and the Patanjali Yoga sutras.

• Power of mind - Sayalay Susila ... A wide-ranging talk on the why and how of metta with many examples.
  
  
• Metta meditation - Sayalay Susila. Also in the published book: Path to happiness.
  
  
• The Four Sublime States - Contemplations on Love, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy and Equanimity
  
  
• Mirror to your life - Tenzin Zopa ... Commentary on the great Lojong text Wheel of Sharp Weapons

These two are good for all levels: A book on the Tao, A Thousand Names for Joy: Living in Harmony with the Way Things Are by Byron Katie. For using journaling to support meditation: Quiet Mind, Open Heart. Lots of thought provoking questions, as well as meditation practices.

For people who have practiced a while: The End of Your World: Uncensored Straight Talk on the Nature of Enlightenment. It can really help give direction beyond basics.

If you mean this book I couldn't agree more. TWIM is the bomb (if bombs were gentle, joyful, and led to awakening). :)

I own this one: https://www.amazon.com/Mahamevnawa-Pali-English-Paritta-Chanting-Book-ebook/dp/B01496JUCE/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=paritta&qid=1562913827&s=gateway&sr=8-2

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I enjoy the Pali which is side by side the English, which is good and helpful for memorization of the original version.

I was going to recommend the Nikayas as well. I recommend Ajahn Chah's books along with most of the rest of the Thai Forest Tradition. This book is one of my personal favorites as it tackles the difficult subject of voidness and does away with a lot of Buddhist superstition. Unfortunately it is out of print and so people are jacking the price up to over 100 dollars and trying to sell it. You can wait for it to be reprinted by Wisdom Publications or read it here as well.

Different teachers emphasize different things. Mahasi Sayadaw, Pa Auk Sayadaw, Goenka, etc. all have different takes on Vipassana. Make your peace with that.

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That said, especially at this early stage, you can hardly go wrong with one of the well known teachers.

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For myself, I'm a big fan of Pa Auk's "Knowing and Seeing" for clarity of method and technique: https://www.amazon.com/Knowing-Seeing-Pa-Auk-Tawya-Sayadaw/dp/145659964X/

Sure. There's a bit of a story arc where I came to my senses first, then discovered I wanted to unfuck my life, and leanfire principles is a part of that.

The one that started it all was The Art of Happiness. I was miserable and herein the Dali Lama shocked my life with his assertion that the goal of your life is to be happy. I had a mindset that I had to suffer in order to be worthy of good things in life.

Then, if I recall correctly were non buddhist books, but in the realm getting your head straight:Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life: I saw this man's TED talk.

& How to Stubbornly Refuse to Make Yourself Miserable About Anything

These two go great together to discover that its all in your head and you can change that. I had a terrible inner dialogue and was able to be rid of it. Life Changer!

The I think I read The Wisdom of Insecurity: A Message for an Age of Anxiety probably 10 times over the last 4-5 years & listened to the audio book when falling asleep. This one really underlined how miserable we make ourselves striving for security that isn't to be had. There is wisdom here that constantly reveals itself long after having read it.

The Pema Chodron Audio Collection was a constant go to also.

My most recent listening are lectures by Ajahn Brahm of Buddhist Society of Western Australia - These lectures really turned me around to moving past the pain, fear & worry about changing my life.

\^\^ I really like listening to these while falling asleep or with a nap on the couch on Sat/Sun afternoons.

Some other notables:

Fuck It: The Ultimate Spiritual Way : Saying Fuck It when you're miserable due to expectations and attachments has a real emotional response vs the above which can be very cerebral.

Man's Search for Meaning: Sometimes it's hard to grateful when wrapped up in our own lives. I read this once a year as a refresher. When I'm being ungrateful I try to remember what others have put up with and it calms down my complaining mind.

The Art of Disappearing: Buddha's Path to Lasting Joy : more from Ajahn Brahm - There is a better way to live our lives and not be miserable. Simplicity and lean fire go really well together.

More minimalism than buddhism, but they jive well together:

Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism

Above all I feel these are all about snapping out of the nonsense mindsets & habits many of us have.

Good luck.

You may enjoy this book: [The Awakened Ape] (https://www.amazon.com/Awakened-Ape-Biohackers-Evolutionary-Stress-Free-ebook/dp/B01MSJN3Q4) It discusses a lot of the changes you suggest, written by a participant on another forum I've visited called Dharma Overground.

• Buddhist Ethics - Ven. Saddhatissa
  
  
• An Introduction to Buddhist Ethics: Foundations, Values and Issues - Peter Harvey

Uhh ya let me find it. It was an obscure book from my monastery.
EDIT: Found it ! http://www.amazon.com/Stories-Ghosts-Petavatthu-Kiribathgoda-Gnanananda/dp/9556870539/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449160850&sr=1-2&keywords=kiribathgoda

I highly recommand:

https://www.amazon.com/Heartwood-Bodhi-Tree-Teachings-Voidness/dp/0861710355