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NITYANANDA INSTITUTE
NITYANANDA INSTITUTE RESOURCE CENTER: READING LIST
This annotated list includes books used in various study groups at Nityananda Institute, as well as others that we have enjoyed, on the following topics.
( Updated March 2, 2004 )
Kashmir
Shaivism: Foundational Texts
Other
Texts of Kashmir Shaivism
Nityananda
Institute Lineage Books
Vajrayana
Buddhism (Primarily Nyingma)
Kashmir Shaivism: Foundational Texts
Siva Sutras: The Yoga of Supreme
Identity, translated
by Jaideva Singh
Motilal Banarsidass, 1979
An early text that outlines the strategies for liberation. Commentary
by Ksemaraja, a disciple of Abhinavagupta.
The Aphorisms of Siva, translated by Mark Dyczkowski
State University of New York, 1992
The Shiva Sutras with a commentary by Bhaskara.
The Yoga of Vibration and
Divine Pulsation (Spanda
Karikas), translated by Jaideva Singh
State University of New York, 1992
A commentary on the Siva Sutras. Focuses on the divine
creative pulsation called spanda. Includes a discussion
on mantra and the process of liberation.
The Stanzas on Vibration, translated by Mark Dyczkowski. Edited
by H.P. Alper, The SUNY Series in the Shaiva Traditions of
Kashmir.
State University of New York, 1992
The Spanda Karikas with four commentaries.
The Yoga of Delight, Wonder
and Astonishment: A Translation of the Vijnanabharaiva, translated by Jaideva Singh
State University of New York, 1991
A treasury of 112 different yoga practices from the ancient Tantras.
These practices or, more accurately, moments of illumination,
provide concrete examples of the upayas or strategies explained
in the Siva Sutras.
Ksemaraja, The Doctrine of
Recognition, translated by Jaideva Singh
State University of New York, 1990
A digest of the main principles of the Pratabhijna school of
Kashmir Shaivism.
Focuses on the nature of the Absolute and the process of wordly
manifestation.
Abhinavagupta, A Trident of Wisdom,
translated by Jaideva Singh
State University of New York, 1998
A translation of the Paratrisika Vivarana, an extensive commentary
on tantric sadhana.
Abhinavagupta's Commentary on the Bhagavad
Gita (Gitartha-Samgraha), translated by Boris Marjanovic
Indica Books, 2002
This commentary interprets the Bhagavad Gita according to the principles of
Kashmir Shaivism. An excellent translation.
Other Texts of Kashmir Shaivism
Bailly, Constantina Rhodes. Shaiva
Devotional Songs of Kashmir: A Translation and Study of Utpaladeva's Shivastotravali.
State University of New York, 1987
Utpaladeva was a founder of the Pratabhijna school of Shaivism
and is best known for his philosophical treatises. These songs
reveal his own experiences on the spiritual path.
Hughes, John. Self Realization
in Kashmir Shaivism: The Oral Teachings of Swami Lakshmanjoo.
State University of New York, 1995
Swami Lakshmanjoo was the last master in the lineage of Abhinavagupta.
This volume includes lectures as well as translations of two
Shaiva texts with commentary.
Lakshman Jee, Swami. Kashmir
Shaivism: The Secret Supreme
State University of New York, 1988
Compiled from lectures given in 1971-1972.
Chetanananda, Swami. Dynamic
Stillness-Part I: The Practice of Trika Yoga.
Rudra Press, 1990
An introduction to the three aspects of practice: the teacher,
meditation, and extending the energy.
---. Dynamic Stillness-Part
II: The Fulfillment of Trika Yoga
Rudra Press, 1991
An elaboration of the upayas or strategies for practice
Dyczkowski, Mark. The Doctrine
of Vibration: An Analysis of the Doctrines and Practices of Kashmir
Shaivism
State University of New York, 1987
An introduction to the texts and scriptures of Kashmir Shaivism
with emphasis on the concept of spanda.
Mishra, Kamalakar. Kashmir
Shaivism: The Central Philosophy of Tantrism
Rudra Press, 1993
An exploration of tantra using Abhinavagupta's Tantraloka
as the focus..
Muller-Ortega, Paul E. The
Triadic Heart of Siva: Kaula Tantrism of Abhinavagupta in the
Non-dual Shaivism of Kashmir.
State University of New York, 1989
A study of the symbol of the heart, a central element in the
work of Abhinavagupta.
Sanderson, Alexis. "Saivism and the Tantric
Traditions," in The World's Religions, ed., Steward Sutherland,
Leslie Houlden, Peter Clarke, Friedhelm Hardy.
Routledge, Kegan, Poul, 1988.
Discusses the history and development of various Shaiva traditions.
Shankarananda, Swami. Consciousness
Is Everything: The Yoga of Kashmir Shaivism.
Shaktipat Press, 2003.
An accessible overview of Shaiva philosophy.
Silburn, Lilian. Kundalini,
the Energy of the Depths, translated by Jacques Gontier.
State University of New York, 1988
A discussion of kundalini, with excerpts from texts of the Kaula,
Trika and Krama schools of Shaivism.
Other
Hindu Texts
The Bhagavad Gita, translated by Juan Mascaro
Penguin Books, 1983
A clear translation of the foremost spiritual text in Hinduism.
Its core teaching, according to Swami Chetanananda, is that "the
highest action is to be established in our own essence."
Vasistha's Yoga, translated by Swami Venkatesananda
State University of New York, 1993
A Vedanta treatise which is characterized by a practical approach
to spirituality.
Nityananda Institute Lineage Books
Chetanananda, Swami. The Breath
of God
Sterling, 2001
A collection of short essays on many aspects of living a spiritual
life.
---. Choose to Be Happy: The
Craft and the Art of Living Beyond Anxiety
Rudra Press, 1996
Describes a process for continuously deepening our experience
of happiness.
---. There Is No Other
Rudra Press, 2000
Simple, profound and practical ways to live a life of love, growth
and integration.
---. Will I Be the Hero of
My Own Life?
Rudra Press, 1995
A discussion of how to live an inspired life through spiritual
work.
---. Open Heart, Open Mind:
Practical Lessons in Loving Your Life
Sterling, 2001
An exploration of the nature of authentic love and advice about
how to experience and live our lives from a position of genuine
strength.
---. Songs from the Center
of the Well
Rudra Press, 1984
A collection of short inspirational verse that speaks to the
heart of living a conscious spiritual life.
Rudrananda, Swami. Spiritual
Cannibalism
Rudra Press, 1987
A discussion of Rudi's experience of spiritual growth and the
reality of spiritual work.
---. Rudi in His Own Words
Rudra Press, 1990
Explains how life's tensions and stress can be transformed into
energy for spiritual growth.
---. Entering Infinity
Rudra Press, 1994
A collection of talks given by Rudi in the last year of his life.
Hatengdi, M. U. Nityananda:
In Divine Presence
Rudra Press, 1984
Stories collected from devotees of Nityananda provide an intimate
portrait of a life filled with the divine presence.
Nityananda, Bhagavan. The
Sky of the Heart: Jewels of Wisdom from Nityananda
Rudra Press, 1996
A collection of sutras spoken by Nityananda and compiled by devotees
in the early 1920's. These verses contain the essence of Nityananda's
spiritual wisdom.
Vajrayana Buddhism (Primarily Nyingma)
Edou, Jerome. Machig Labdrön and the
Foundations of Chöd
Snow Lion, 1996
A biography of Machig Labdrön and an overview of the origins of Chöd.
English, Elizabeth. Vajrayogini: Her Visualizations,
Rituals and Forms
Wisdom, 2002
A comprehensive study of the Vajrayogini tantras.
Labdron, Machik. Machik's Complete
Explanation: Clarifying the Meaning of Chöd, translated
by Sarah Harding.
Snow Lion, 2003.
A collection of Machik's oral teachings to her disciples.
Khyentse, Dilgo. The Wish-Fulfilling
Jewel
Shambala, 1999
Teachings on the practice of guru yoga.
Longchenpa. Kindly Bent to
Ease Us, Part One: Mind, translated by Herbert V. Guenther
Dharma Publishing, 1975
A guide to enlightenment by one of Tibet's most brilliant scholars
and writers.
---. Kindly Bent to Ease Us,
Part Two: Meditation, translated
by Herbert V. Guenther
Dharma Publishing, 1976
---. Kindly Bent to Ease Us,
Part Three: Wonderment , translated
by Herbert V. Guenther
Dharma Publishing, 1976
Padmasambhava. Advice from
the Lotus-Born
Rangjung Yeshe, 1994
A collection of oral teachings given by Padmasambhava to his
close disciples. A companion volume to Dakini Teachings.
---. Dakini Teachings
Shambala, 1990
Padmasambhava's oral instructions on spiritual practice.
Penick, Douglas J. The Warrior Song
of King Gesar.
Wisdom, 1996.
The epic story of one of Tibet's greatest kings.
Ray, Reginald
A. Secrets of the Vajra World: The Tantric Buddhism
of Tibet
Shambhala , 2001
An accessible and engaging introduction to Vajrayana Buddhism.
Rinpoche, Patrul. The Words of My Perfect
Teacher, translated by the Padmakara Translation Group
Harper Collins, 1994
A popular introduction to the preliminaries of the Longchen Nyingthig tradition
of Nyingma practice.
Sangpo, Khetsun. Tantric Practice
in Nyingma
Snow Lion, 1986
A commentary on the same text that is presented in The Words
of My Perfect Teacher, as well as other teachings.
Santideva. A Guide to the
Bodhisattva Way of Life, translated by Vesna A. Wallace
and B. Alan Wallace
Snow Lion, 1997
A classic treatise and the most widely read text in Indo-Tibetan
Buddhism.
Trungpa, Chogyam. Cutting
Through Spiritual Materialism
A landmark work on following the spiritual path.
Goldsmith, Joel. Living the
Infinite Way
Devorss, 1995
Joel Goldsmith was an inspired 20th century spiritual healer
and mystic, and Living the Infinite Way is a synthesis
of his ideas.
Goldsmith, Joel. Practicing
the Presence
Harper San Francisco, 1991
Teaches us that God is present within us, and that all we need
to do is open ourselves to that Presence.
Tantra in Practice, edited by David Gordon White
Princeton University Press, 2000
Selections from texts representing a range of Tantric practice
traditions from China, India, Japan, Nepal and Tibet, with introductions
to each.
Barks, Coleman. The Essential Rumi.
Harper San Francisco, 1997.
The Kabir Book: Forty-Four of the Ecstatic
Poems of Kabir. Translated by
Robert Bly.
Beacon Press, 1993.
Lalla, Naked Song. Translated
by Coleman Barks
Maypop, 1992.
Rumi, Jelaluddin. One-Handed
Basket Weaving. Translated by Coleman Barks.
Maypop, 1991.
---. Open Secret.
Translated by John Moyne and Coleman Barks.
Threshold Books, 1984.
---. Say I Am You. Translated by
John Moyne and Coleman Barks.
Maypop, 1994.
---. Unseen Rain. Translated
by John Moyne and Coleman Barks.
Shambhala, 2001.
Baker, Ian A., and Thomas Laird.
The Dalai Lama's Secret Temple: Tantric Wall Paintings from
Tibet
Thames and Hudson, 2000
Beer, Robert. Encyclopedia
of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs
Shambala, 1999
Bubriski, Kevin, and Keith Dowman. Power
Places of Kathmandu: Hindu and Buddhist Holy Sites in the Sacred Valley of
Nepal
Inner Traditions International, 1995
Dehejia, Vidya, Richard H. Davis, R. Nagaswamy
and Karen Pechilis Prentiss. The Sensuous and the Sacred: Chola
Bronzes from South India.
University of Washington Press, 2003.
Khanna, Madhu, Yantra: The
Tantric Symbol of Cosmic Unity
Thames and Hudson, 1997
Kossak, Steven M. and Jane Casey
Singer. Sacred Visions: Early Paintings from Central Tibet
Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1998
Landaw, Johnathan and Andy Weber. Images
of Enlightenment: Tibetan Art in Practice
Snow Lion, 1997
Pal, Pratapaditya. Himalayas: An Aesthetic
Adventure.
University of California Press, 2003.
Reynolds, Valrae, Janet Gyatso,
Amy Heller and Dan Martin. From the Sacred Realm: Treasures
of Tibetan Art from the Newark Museum
Prestel, 1999
Rhie, Marilyn M. and Robert Thurman. Wisdom and Compassion:
The Sacred Art of Tibet
Harry N. Abrams, 1996
Coulter, H. David, and Timothy McCall.
The Anatomy of Yoga: A Manual for Students, Teachers and Practitioners
Body & Breath, 2001
Desikachar, T.K.V. The Heart
of Yoga
Inner Traditions, 1995
Kraftsow, Gary. Yoga for Wellness:
Healing with the Timeless Teachings of Viniyoga
Penguin Compass, 1999
Mohan, A.G. Yoga for Body,
Breath and Mind
Rudra Press, 1993
Pierce, Margaret D. and Martin G. Pierce Yoga for Your
Life
Rudra Press, 1996
Schiffman, Eric. Yoga: The
Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness
Pocket Books, 1996
Nityananda
Institute Resource Center
Please also visit the main site
of Nityananda Institute at www.nityanandainstitute.org,
or view the official page of Swami
Chetanananda.