The COVID-19 crisis has affected us all differently. I've been very aware of the situation in India and the work Triratna charities are doing there to meet the material and spiritual needs of people with fewer protections than exist in many other parts of the world. To raise money for one of these charities, the Karuna Trust, I've recorded an album of Buddhist mantras. The album has raised £917 so far, but with a fundraising target of £5,000 there’s still a long way to go. To find out how you can help me reach my target and support the life-changing work of the Karuna Trust, click here.    

In our Free the Dharma campaign this week, we’re giving away the eBook edition of Living With Awareness by Sangharakshita. It’s an in-depth commentary on the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta, the discourse on the four foundations of mindfulness, which claims to be “the direct path… for the surmounting of sorrow and lamentation, for the disappearance of pain and grief… for the realization of Nibbāna [Enlightenment].” Download it here. NB: It looks like there may be a problem with the .mobi (Kindle) version of the file. This is unfortunate timing, as our tech expert is away on holiday this week! Any issues with the .mobi file should hopefully be resolved next week. The eBook will remain free until July 20th.

We’ve chosen Living With Awareness to tie in with The Buddhist Centre Online’s next home retreat in conjunction with Tārāloka retreat centre, entitled Alive, Aware, Awake! The four foundations of mindfulness, which will be running from Friday 10th to Thursday 16th July. 

The books we’re discounting in our Stay at Home Sale this month are linked by the theme of wisdom – from working on the mind with the help of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, to the working out of the Dharma in everyday life.

Dr Ambedkar and the Revival of Buddhism I (was £17.95, now £13.50) describes the vision and leadership of Dr Ambedkar and how Sangharakshita and then Triratna have been part of the social and spiritual liberation that the wisdom of the Dharma brings. 

Finding the Mind (was £6.99 now £5.25) looks at our existential condition, and what the author calls the ‘mystery of awareness’. It explores profound wisdom teachings through images, stories and an inviting set of reflections. 

A Guide to the Deities of the Tantra (was £11.99 now £8.99) explores the aspects of wisdom which the great archetypal beings embody, and which they bring forth in us as we come into relationship with them.  

Buddhism: Tools for Living Your Life (was £12.99 now £9.75) offers guidance for developing wisdom and bringing it to bear in all aspects of life, including relationships and the world of work.

Living Wisely (was £10.99 now £8.25) is a commentary by Sangharakshita on a famous text from the Buddhist Vajrayāna tradition, said to be given by philosopher-yogi Nāgārjuna to a king. 

You’ll find links to all the discounted paperbacks here.

And finally, we were delighted to learn that Life With Full Attention by Maitreyabandhu was recommended recently in an article in The Guardian entitled The best books for frazzled parents – and their children. A practical eight-week course in mindfulness, Life With Full Attention teaches you how to pay closer attention to your experience. Each week, Maitreyabandhu introduces a different aspect of mindfulness – such as awareness of the body, feelings, thoughts and the environment – and recommends a number of easy practices. It’s suitable for newcomers and is also a great refresher course for more experienced practitioners.