With his books Landscapes of Wonder and Longing for Certainty, the American monk Bhikkhu Nyanasobhano led readers down literary trails, providing enlightening glimpses of the natural world.
In Available Truth, he guides us further along the path. His unqualified embrace of the Buddha's worldview "in intelligent and deeply thoughtful prose distinguishes his work from many other Western Buddhist books. Along with reflections on mindfulness, impermanence, and the end of suffering, Bhikkhu Nyanasobhano is not afraid to delve into the topics of rebirth, karma, nonvirtue, and the roles of reasoned faith, ritual, and monasticism, revealing their continuing relevance for today's seeker. His patient awareness of the workings of the mind and the natural world will enable readers to deepen both their practice and their lives.
Available Truth will surely stand the test of time as both sound teaching and elegant writing.
Available Truth: Excursions into Buddhist Wisdom and the Natural World, Bhikkhu Nyanasobhano, Wisdom Publications, Paperback, 2007, 180 Pages, $16.95
Bhikkhu Naynasobhano was an actor and playwright before being ordained in Thailand in 1987. He now lives in the United States.
| Preface
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vii
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| 1. |
Toward the Horizon
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1
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| 2. |
Sangha and Laity
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15
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| 3. |
Contemplations from the Highway
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29
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| 4. |
Alone Between Past and Future
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43
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| 5. |
The Ritual Element
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55
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| 6. |
Multiflora Rose
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67
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| 7. |
Two Bright States
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81
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| 8. |
Our Next Destination
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93
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| 9. |
February in the Hills
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109
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| 10. |
Desperation and Peace
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123
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| 11. |
Undeclared Questions
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137
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| 12. |
A Cold Day with Much Sun
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149
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| 13. |
Dust and Excuses
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159
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| 14. |
Investigations in the Evening
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169
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