Five essential books

lobster

Now that I am almost enlightened (expected sometime this month) I don't read much unless on the inter-web . . .
Years ago I weaned my book collection to five essentials to study. At the time one of the books was the bible, I think now it would be the
Philokalia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philokalia
I would also have my Koran for its commentary by Al Ghazali
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Ghazali
Tao Te Ching would be there
. . . how about a couple of Buddhist texts? Not sure, might confuse me too much . . .

What five books would you consider your essentials?

fivebells

Wings to Awakening: An Anthology from the Pali Canon

Wake Up To Your Life: Discovering the Buddhist Path of Attention.

karasti

Hmm, tough one. I'm still attached to my book collection.

The Way of the Bodhisattva and The Tibetan Book of the Dead. I think I could read them both over and over the rest of my life and never know them fully.
But I'd add The Talisman by Stephen King and Running from Safety by Richard Bach to that list, because I read them pretty often.

person

I'll second the Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva.

robot

The shambala publications audio book version of the Way of the Bodhisattva is really well done. The fellow reading it does a great job and manages to add an emotional emphasis to the different chapters.

Jeffrey

Openness Clarity and Sensitivity by Rigdzin Shikpo
My course packs for Discovering the Heart of Buddhism by Lama Shenpen Hookham
Start Where You Are by Pema Chodron
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa
Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness by Khenpo Gyamptso Tsultrim Rinpoche

lamaramadingdong

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by S Suzuki
Taking the Leap by Pema Chodron
The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Dhammapada; The Sayings of the Buddha translated by Thomas Byron
Mindfulness in Plain English by B Gunaratana

riverflow

In this order:

1) The Dhammapada (Glenn Wallis' translation)
2) The Lotus Sutra
3) Dogen's Shobogenzo
4) Dao De Jing (probably Red Pine's translation)
5) Seneca's Letters (I'd sneak in his essay 'On Anger' in there too!)

There was a time when I would not have included the Dhammapada on such a list (especially numero uno!), thinking it so 'basic.' But every time I re-visit it I realise more and more how wonderful this text is!

sova

Bodhicharyavatara (Way of the Bodhisattva) by Shantideva

Intermediate Stages of Meditation by the Dalai Lama
(really put a lot together for me)


...and an internet connection to accesstoinsight xD