Best Buddhist Rituals & Practice Books of 2025

With poetry and clarity, Thich Nhat Hanh imparts comforting wisdom about the nature of suffering and its role in creating compassion, love, and joy – all qualities of enlightenment. . “Thich Nhat Hanh shows us the connection between personal, inner peace, and peace on earth.”—His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, now revised with added material and new insights, Nhat Hanh introduces us to the core teachings of Buddhism and shows us that the Buddha’s teachings are accessible and applicable to our daily lives. . Covering such significant teachings as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, the Three Doors of Liberation, the Three Dharma Seals, and the Seven Factors of Awakening, The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching is a radiant beacon on Buddhist thought for the initiated and uninitiated alike..

When Wherever You Go, There You Are was first published in 1994, no one could have predicted that the book would launch itself onto bestseller lists nationwide and sell over 750,000 copies to date. Ten years later, the book continues to change lives. In honor of the book's 10th anniversary, Hyperion is proud to be releasing the book with a new afterword by the author, and to share this wonderful book with an even larger audience.

“A masterpiece.” —Jon Kabat-Zinn. Mindfulness in Plain English was first published in 1994, is one of the bestselling — and most influential — books in the field of mindfulness. It’s easy to see why. Author Bhante Gunaratana, a renowned meditation master, takes us step by step through the myths, realities, and benefits of meditation and the practice of mindfulness. The book showcases Bhante’s trademark clarity and wit as he explores the tool of meditation, what it does, and how to make it work.   This book is: A best-selling introduction to mindfulnessFull of practical advice on developing a meditation practiceWritten in approachable, clear languageContaining chapters on loving-kindness and concentration   The reader can gain deeper understanding, inner peace, and clarity through meditation practice with the thoughtful guidance of this classic book. Written for those without any meditation background, but also an essential handbook for established students, Mindfulness in Plain English is a must-have for anyone exploring the benefits of Buddhist meditation. This expanded edition includes the complete text of its predecessor along with a new chapter on cultivating loving kindness, an especially important topic in today’s world. For anyone who is new to meditation, this is a great resource for learning how to live a more productive and peaceful life. “The ‘you’ that goes in one side of the meditation experience is not the same ‘you’ that comes out the other side.” —Bhante Gunaratana in Mindfulness in Plain English

One of the best available introductions to the wisdom and beauty of meditation practice. --New Age Journal. In this beautiful and lucid guide, Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh offers gentle anecdotes and practical exercise as a means of learning the skills of mindfulness--being awake and fully aware. From washing the dishes to answering the phone to peeling an orange, he reminds us that each moment holds within it an opportunity to work toward greater self-understanding and peacefulness.

You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment by Thich Nhat Hanh teaches readers to find happiness in the present moment. The book offers a range of effective practices for cultivating mindfulness, such as awareness of breathing and walking, deep listening, and skillful speech. The author emphasizes the power of mindfulness to transform our lives and witness the wonder of life. The energy of mindfulness is the energy of the Buddha, and it can be produced by anybody, as Thich Nhat Hanh declares. This book is a must-read for those looking to find inner peace and transform their suffering into compassion, tenderness, and peace.

The 50th Anniversary edition of "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" by Shunryu Suzuki is a must-read for anyone interested in Zen practice. The book offers a clear and concise introduction to the basics of Zen, from posture and breathing to the perception of nonduality. Suzuki's teachings are not only remarkably clear but also resonate with the joy of insight from the first to the last page. The book has become one of the great modern spiritual classics and is much recommended as the best first book to read on Zen. Overall, this book is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of Zen practice.

If you change your brain, you can change your life.Great teachers like the Buddha, Jesus, Moses, Mohammed, and Gandhi were all born with brains built essentially like anyone else’s―and then they changed their brains in ways that changed the world. Science is now revealing how the flow of thoughts actually sculpts the brain, and more and more, we are learning that it's possible to strengthen positive brain states.By combining breakthroughs in neuroscience with insights from thousands of years of mindfulness practice, you too can use your mind to shape your brain for greater happiness, love, and wisdom. Buddha's Brain draws on the latest research to show how to stimulate your brain for more fulfilling relationships, a deeper spiritual life, and a greater sense of inner confidence and worth. Using guided meditations and mindfulness exercises, you'll learn how to activate the brain states of calm, joy, and compassion instead of worry, sorrow, and anger. Most importantly, you will foster positive psychological growth that will literally change the way you live in your day-to-day life.This book presents an unprecedented intersection of psychology, neurology, and contemplative practice, and is filled with practical tools and skills that you can use every day to tap the unused potential of your brain and rewire it over time for greater well-being and peace of mind.

Get on the path to zen bliss―an essential beginner's guide to Buddhism.How is an awakening different from enlightenment? Can agnostics and atheists be Buddhist? Am I supposed to stop thinking when I meditate? In No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners, renowned Buddhism teacher and host of the popular Secular Buddhism podcast, Noah Rasheta, delivers an easily accessible introduction to the teachings of Buddhism that answers these common questions and many more.With No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners you’ll gain a fundamental understanding of Buddhism and how to apply the philosophies in your everyday life, through:A simple 4-part structure addressing the different aspects of Buddhism―the Buddha, key Buddhist concepts, the Buddha’s teachings, and current Buddhist practicesStraightforward Q&A’s that simplify the vital concepts of Buddhism into easy-to-understand ideas “Everyday Buddhism” Sidebars that make Buddhism less abstract by offering down-to-earth examples from everyday lifePresented in a simple, conversational style, the information and guidance in No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners provides the groundwork that is necessary for building or continuing your own Buddhist practice.

Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm by Thich Nhat Hanh is a practical guide that explores the origins of fear and offers powerful tools to help readers eradicate it from their lives. The author, a Vietnamese Buddhist Zen Master, poet, scholar, and peace activist, shows us that by embracing our whole experience with acceptance, love, and understanding, we can go beyond fear and anxiety to find fearlessness and inner peace. This book is a timeless path for living fearlessly that is worth considering for those who want to overcome their fears.

The Wise Heart by Jack Kornfield is a comprehensive guide to Buddhist psychology that offers transformative power to both meditators and mental health professionals. Kornfield presents a practical path to awaken unlimited capacities for love, joy, and freedom within oneself. The book is a journey to the highest expression of human possibility and a vision of radiant human dignity. The author's beautiful writing and sweet humor make it an enjoyable read. The Wise Heart is a transformative gift from one of the great spiritual teachers of our time and a must-read for anyone interested in personal transformation and self-help books.