Historical, anthropological, and philosophical in approach, Buddha in the Crown is a case study in religious and cultural change. It examines the various ways in which Avalokitesvara, the most well known and proliferated bodhisattva of Mahayana Buddhism throughout south, southeast, and east Asia, was assimilated into the transforming religious culture of Sri Lanka, one of the most pluralistic in Asia. Exploring the expressions of the bodhisattva's cult in Sanskrit and Sinhala literature, in iconography, epigraphy, ritual, symbol, and myth, the author develops a provocative thesis regarding the dynamics of religious change. Interdisciplinary in scope, addressing a wide variety of issues relating to Buddhist thought and practice, and providing new and original information on the rich cultural history of Sri Lanka, this book will interest students of Buddhism and South Asia.

The young Dalai Lama, the supreme political and spiritual leader of Tibet, disappears amid a bloody kidnapping by a crack force of Major Chen Ling's communist Chinese commandos. To gain strategic international ground, the President orders the Night Stalkers to undermine the Chinese hold on Tibet--and rescue the Dalai Lama.

The sixteen sutras in this book are English translations of texts selected from the Chinese Buddhist Canon. Thirteen of them have never before been published in book form. The translators introduction to Buddhist doctrine provides an organized background for readers at all levels to better understand and appreciate the teachings in these sutras, which cover a wide range of interesting topics. For example, in Sutra 1, the Buddha teaches karmic requitals and how one can avoid or mitigate unfortunate requitals. In Sutra 6, He predicts that long after His Dharma has perished, the next Buddha, Maitreya, will bring the Dharma back to this world. In Sutra 13, the Buddha reveals the mystery of consciousness, giving a detailed description of ones rebirth according to karmic force. In Sutra 14, He declares the eternity of nirvana and ones Buddha nature. In Sutra 16, He affirms that ones great compassion for all sentient beings will quickly lead one to Buddhahood. These English translations are easy to read, and Buddhist terms are explained in the glossary. One can read this book for pleasure, or study it for spiritual development. One can also recite the sutras, prayers, and mantras as a spiritual practice. Students in Buddhist Studies certainly can use this book to support and enhance their learning.

This book, Learning from Buddha, is a Dharma that H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III openly imparted in Miami, Florida for disciples who accompanied Him on that trip. It is also a most important Dharma treasure that all Buddhist disciples must study and put into practice in order to attain accomplishment and liberation. When this Dharma was being imparted, a gigantic leaf of a Western bodhi tree fell from the air in front of all who were there. That occurrence added a holy miracle to this Dharma treasure.