Best karma books according to redditors
We found 108 Reddit comments discussing the best karma books. We ranked the 50 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
12. Awakening from the Daydream: Reimagining the Buddha's Wheel of Life
2 mentions
Wisdom Publications
As a man born into Catholicism but now an atheist, it's my opinion that Buddhism is the most logical and reasonable religion that I've been exposed to. As someone mentioned before, it's almost like a philosophy mixed in with religion. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about Buddhism.
Apparently it is from this intriguing-sounding book: https://www.amazon.com/True-Perception-Path-Dharma-Art/dp/1590305884
I've thought a lot about this apparent conflict during the past years and my conclusion is that there is no conflict for two reasons.
First, Buddhism is about working with our present situation as it is, and that includes paying bills, living in a society, having responsibilities and relationships.
Second, goals are just imaginary. We put a lot of landmarks in our lifes, and we constantly compare our present self with those future ideals in order to value ourselves. But the more our lifes are closer to Dharma, the more we value the present moment, and thus the less interesting those imaginary goals become, to the point that simply living becomes the goal. At this point we still work, study and strive to be good at what we do, but the whole process looks less heavy and more joyful. That's the difference.
I recommend you the book Work, Sex, Money: Real Life on the Path of Mindfulness by Trungpa Rinpoche.
Definitely buy the guide that accompanies Words of My Perfect Teacher.
WOMPT is not a book you want to get through quickly. Read it carefully, and reflect on the teachings.
If you come across a profound thought: try your best to understand it, then reflect on the passage, and lastly
mediatemeditate on it.It truly is a life changing book if you take your time with it.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802130313/
What the Buddha Taught is a good start. Its brief, its easy to read and gives you an overview of what Buddhism is about. If you like it from there, get a copy of the Dhammapada
http://www.amazon.com/Dhammapada-Translation-Buddhist-Classic-Annotations/dp/1590303806
Two of my favorite books on the topic are very in-depth and detailed:
I seriously can't recommend them enough. I think they are brilliant. They are more academic than "scriptural" if that makes sense. They're the sort of books you'd read in college that are about Tibetan Buddhism.
The Words of My Perfect Teacher and it's Commentary by Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang go into these states in a lot of detail. As do most Tibetan texts which teach the preliminary practices (ngöndro) or the four thoughts that turn the mind to Dharma.
think about getting a copy of this: Dhammapada
I went through something similar (no death - just loss) last fall and it helped me find my way through some things that I didn't know if I would ever overcome -and if you're an atheist, you don't need to accept any notions of 'god.' (not there's anything wrong with god if that's what you're into...yadda yadda)
Meditation in Action - Chogyam Trungpa. This is a great introduction to basic principles of Shamatha meditation and mindfulness in action, it is highly practice-oriented. Also, The Sanity We Are Born With, same author. Teachings on basic sanity, wheel of life, and basically a wonderful bit about Buddhist Psychology. This one is slightly more advanced than meditation in action.
Might I also recommend reading some original sources. Reading about Buddhism is surely good for context and all that, but you can also dive right in to what those books are about.
Thich Nhat Hanh has been mentioned here recently. His sutra translations are awesome: https://plumvillage.org/category/sutra/
I like this edition of the Dhammapada, but there are version for free online: https://www.amazon.com/Dhammapada-Translation-Buddhist-Classic-Annotations/dp/1590303806/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1541179036&sr=8-1&keywords=dhammapada+book
Also check out the Lotus Sutra: https://www.nichirenlibrary.org/en/lsoc/toc/
That's like the blockbuster of sutras-- it has it all! It also has some clear formulations on what's going on with Buddhism, supposedly from late in Shakyamuni's life.
>True. I just think emphasis is perhaps more essential than name.
Yeah, from a practice point of view, one should treat the differences very seriously. It's the critical historians who like to insinuate that it was mostly rhetorical.
>the actual Jatakas were kind of entertaining, anyway, and their mere presence doesn't mean Chan would have been all hard-line about rebirth
I agree these stories are also very entertaining. Sometimes, those who grew up in predominantly Christian cultures have a hard time seeing humour and entertainment as anything other than secular pursuits. My experience is that Chinese religions very frequently incorporate humour and irreverence, and that these are quite compatible with an attitude of religious piety. So Westerners see Yunmen calling Buddha a "shit-stick", and think there's no way he could possibly have been a pious Buddhist. I disagree with that.
I suppose I'm waiting to find a clear indication from a traditional Chan source that rebirth is nothing more than a fancy joke. Until then, I'm going to assume the teaching was taken seriously.
>I don't know if it was you I already asked, but how/when did you learn Classical Chinese?
My undergraduate degree was in Chinese Studies. I got the opportunity to take a course in basic Classical Chinese around my second or third year, and a more advanced course in my fourth year. (Sadly, the latter course has since been axed at my institution.) I just kept at it when I began postgrad studies. The first year of my PhD was pretty much all spent translating Chan texts. That was a great year.
I'm on leave right now, and might never return (?), but last time I was lecturing I was the course co-ordinator for the same introductory Classical Chinese subject which I'd taken as an undergrad. And also for a complimentary subject in Chinese philosophy, which dealt with much the same sources albeit in English translation.
EDIT: btw, if you are going to learn Tibetan and Chinese, you might be able to do work on the Tibetan Zen corpus from Dunhuang. Sometimes those Tibetan translations shed light on things which are not too clear in the Chinese, for example Bodhidharma's "wall-gazing" meditation technique. Also, you would be well-placed to tell the world how Nyingma Vajrayana and Chan Buddhism might have influenced each other. That would make Padmasambhava-related posts on /r/zen a real possibility. ;)
Supposedly, "karmic results of our actions most frequently do not ripen in the same lifetime in which we commit the actions."
"So for a result to arise in this lifetime, a deed must have great power, and to produce a deed of great power, the person (object) to whom we are doing this deed must be someone special, such as a fully enlightened being. The motivation for doing the deed must be incredibly strong, and the article involved in the deed must be a special object. If either of these elements are not strong enough, then the result will arise in the next lifetime; if they are even less powerful, then the result can only arise after three or more lifetimes. Thus, it is very difficult to obtain a result quickly in this lifetime." - Khenpo Appey Rinpoche
"Some of our acts are what we call karma that is visibly experienced: the act and the motivation are so strong that the result comes in this very life. If we do something extremely good and virtuous in this life, its result might be happiness in this very life." - Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche
"By giving to the poor, giving food, clothing, housing, and medicine, and by generally serving the needy, you create the causes of a long, healthy, and comfortable life. Some of these results may ripen in this life; most will be experienced in future lives." - Geshe Lhundub Sopa
Yeah it's not easy, but I had a lot of trauma and heartbreak to actually face and move on, which was holding me back because I was starting to resent people that just seemed to have life just fall into place for them, while mine was falling apart. It all started to change about a year ago when I read the book, "The Practice of Lojong". It's a bit difficult to read sometimes, but it will start to get your brain on the "right track" and start to see life, and other people in a different light.
http://www.amazon.com/Practice-Lojong-Cultivating-Compassion-Training/dp/1590303784
Ok, I've given you enough assignments now.... lol. Now go prosper, and spread the good word, and shine your light for others!
This may help:
http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/study/comparison_buddhist_traditions/tibetan_traditions/intro_compar_5_traditions_buddhism_bon.html
I can also recommend three comprehensive books:
http://www.amazon.com/Indo-Tibetan-Buddhism-Buddhists-Tibetan-Successors/dp/1570629730
http://www.amazon.com/Indestructible-Truth-Spirituality-Tibetan-Buddhism/dp/1570629102/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1321049941&sr=8-2
http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Vajra-World-Tantric-Buddhism/dp/157062917X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1321049984&sr=8-3
Good luck!
I really appreciate lojong training and think it's pretty underrated. The Great Path of Awakening, Training the Mind, and The Practice of Lojong are great texts to work with.
Like contemplating insight, studying lojong is a pithy way of integrating / absorbing dharma. I've found that studying them intensively allows them to arise in the conditions they best benefit in. For example, yesterday I was feeling contracted and the slogan regard all dharma [experience] as dreams spontaneously arose in mind*,* which effected an instant release and shifted perception into a dreamlike state.
>Slogan 19. All dharma agrees at one point -- All Buddhist teachings are about lessening the ego, lessening one's self-absorption.
This reminds us to not get caught in sectarian squabbling, or perhaps help us appreciate whatever tradition is most available and keep us from continuously shopping for something "better."
>Slogan 22. If you can practice even when distracted, you are well trained.
This can help prevent us from overly-criticizing our practice when our minds are frantic rather than still, recognizing that we are being mindful all the same.
Hopefully you'll find something worth exploring in the slogans listed on the wiki!
A frequent question with no easy answer.
To give another option than the ones already mentioned, I recently gave away "Secret of the Vajra World: The Tantric Buddhism of Tibet" to someone wanting to learn the basics of Vajrayana. After reading it, I thought it might make for a sane and solid introduction to people grown up in the modern world. In my experience, older texts like "Word of my Perfect Teacher" are fantastic, but not necessarily for new students.
Anyway, good luck! :)
What the Buddha Taught is the best "intro to Buddhism" book I've read yet, I highly recommend it. This is a book you will constantly be coming back to, if you decide to keep pursuing Buddhism that is, for it contains all of the essentials (IMO). The author also includes several key suttas given by the Buddha (several especially directed towards lay people like ourselves), and a collection of key verses from the Dhammapada (a classic Buddhist scripture). The other "Intro to Buddhism" book I will recommend is Becoming Enlightened by His Holliness the Dalai Lama, which gives an overview of the Buddhist path to Enlightenment that emphasizes the role of compassion, altruism, and wisdom.
 
For learning to meditate and practice mindfulness, I recommend Mindfulness in Plain English. What the Buddha Taught also has a great chapter on meditation and mindfulness.
 
Once you feel more comfortable with the basic principles of Buddhism, if you'd like to start reading and studying key Buddhist scriptures, I'd recommend starting with the following: In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon and The Dhammapada. The Pali Cannon in the oldest complete Buddhist cannon of scriptures that survives today. The Dhammapada is a short collection of sayings within the Pali Cannon that is thought to summarize the essence of the Buddha's teachings.
a nice book covering some methods and objects: https://www.amazon.com/Contemplating-Reality-Practitioners-Indo-Tibetan-Buddhism/dp/1590304292/
> I really like drawing
In Tibetan Buddhism there is a concept called "miksang", which translates as "good eye." Although it typically refers to a form of contemplative photography (based on the Dharma Art teachings of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche), it can be expanded upon to incorporate art in many forms – drawing, calligraphy, even flower arranging. So from a Buddhist point of view, art can be used as a great opportunity of noticing how you perceive the world. And in that context it is certainly encouraged as a tool rather than discouraged. For more information, refer to Trungpa's book here.
Another great book with a interesting view of the 6 realms is "Awakening from the Daydream: Reimagining the Buddha's Wheel of Life" by David Nichtern - https://www.amazon.com/Awakening-Daydream-Reimagining-Buddhas-Wheel/dp/1614290059/
https://www.amazon.com/Treatise-Stages-Enlightenment-Lamrim-Chenmo/dp/1559394420/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479264719&sr=8-1&keywords=lam+rim
I'm not a teenager but I am a college student. Early 20's. I have learned a great deal from this book Really goes into some Buddhist practices and everyday life. Deals with issues like parties, drinking, money and women. Really practical for a beginner in an ever changing world. I found it really helpful in tough "college" situations. I also want to put out there that Buddhism isn't a religion but a way of life. Explore the world and live your life while being mindful! Good luck.
I haven't read that yet, but will definitely put it on my list of books to read.
I'm currently reading "The Sun of Wisdom" by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso. It's a modern explanation of the famous "The Fundamental wisdom of the Middle Way" by Nagarjuna.
https://www.amazon.com/Sun-Wisdom-Teachings-Nagarjunas-Fundamental/dp/1570629994
In addition to what the others said, get A Guide to the Words of My Perfect Teacher and read them alongside each other.
Prana (Sanskrit) or lung/rlung (Tibetan) or chi/qi (Chinese) is a "subtle energy" or "inner wind" that often manifests as a tingling, pulsing, or vibrating sensation. It is said that we should ignore these sensations and return our attention to the breadth or (some other object of meditation).
I've experienced prana on the forehead (tingling/pulsing) a few times and once on the lips (vibrating) while in meditation. The vibration felt so real and intense that I decided to touch my lips to see if they were in fact vibrating like mad; they weren't at all. One can also experience these prana sensations outside of meditation; I experienced prana on the forehead while briefly pondering the last part of this sentence: "Milarepa spotted a yak horn on the ground and quickly took refuge inside of it--without the horn becoming larger or Milarepa becoming smaller."
Our society is incredibly unhealthy, far more unhealthy than it is possible for most people to understand. You are beginning to realize this and "wake up", and it can be scary. You have been programmed with all these unhealthy patterns that make living a sheer misery and a terror, but you are expected to act as if nothing is wrong. It's very tricky to climb out of a hole like this.
Where are your bright spots? Do you have any good friends? Any communities you belong to? What are your dreams and passions in life?
The best thing I can recommend is Chogyam Trungpa's three-part series The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma. It is a complete guide to all of the aspects of Buddhist practices to end suffering and create a happy life. If you read and master any one of these three books, your problems will end. Very practical:
These books are not about religion, but are technical guides for how to handle your life and existential issues of suffering and love, motivation and joy, depression and alienation, etc. I would recommend getting the first two books and working diligently out of them. You will find your problems quickly resolving themselves if you do something like this.
Another perspective that helps me relax is the Church of the SubGenius. Their parody religion is actually a very high quality actual religion. Their main books, The Book of the SubGenius and Revelation X are hilarious and full of techniques for getting through the day and living with the "normals" or "pinkboys".
There is also a fun community on Telegram you can join. See the sidebar in my subreddit, /r/sorceryofthespectacle, for a link to join the Telegram channel. Say hi to me on Telegram and I will introduce you to the wizards there.
P.S. It sounds to me more like you have found your spark, than lost it ;-)
The Dhammapada is a small collection of verses that represents the gist of Buddhism well. My preferred translation is Gil Fronsdal's. Another book that might be appropriate is The Buddha Before Buddhism which is also translation of a short selection of text by Gil Fronsdal.
Learning breath meditation might be a good thing to do before heading off. Bhikkhu Thanissaro's With Each and Every Breath is a great meditation manual. Paying attention to the breath while walking can be quite pleasant.
IMHO, forget "articulate, accurate synopsis" and get a very realistic, real-world, human understanding of Buddhism. The Buddha Walks into a Bar...: A Guide to Life for a New Generation! has been a huge help for me. It's a very down-to-earth book that explains things for ley people, even novices like me. (< 1 year practicing Buddhism)
There a few meditation suggestions already and second those suggestions. I identify completely with what you described, and my quality of life was starting to suffer because of the side effects. Mindfulness and meditation is helping me get control of my thoughts and live in the "now". This is the book I started with ( http://www.amazon.com/The-Buddha-Walks-into-Bar/dp/1590309375 ).
There is an excellent book on this topic. Goes deep into the existence of Chan in Tibet early on and how the 2 influenced each other. It uses direct documents from the time. They’re mainly from the border areas of the Tibetan and Chinese empires. It’s called “Tibetan Zen” and is a bit academic, but very interesting read. Here’s a link to it on Amazon: Tibetan Zen: Discovering a Lost Tradition https://www.amazon.com/dp/1559394463/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_UAEkDb1BD6F8W
Carefree Dignity by Tsoknyi Rinpoche
Mahamudra: The Moonlight by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal
Vivid Awareness by Khenchen Thrangu
Lankavatara sutra
Could you be more specific as to what problems you are having? I am familiar with this book and with related materials on Madhyamaka, as are a lot of other people on this subreddit so ask away!
Also, there is a very similar book to this that goes into a lot more detail but goes over the same subject material called Contemplating Reality.
Thubten Chodron - Open Heart, Clear Mind
Also, good book on "Vivid Awareness: The Mind Instructions of Khenpo Gangshar ", by (iirc) the root guru of Ven. Chogyam Trumpa (or at least one of his main teachers). (It used to be free on Amazon Kindle Unlimited.)
https://www.amazon.com/Vivid-Awareness-Instructions-Khenpo-Gangshar/dp/1590308166/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1473534460&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=vivid+awareness
To get an idea of how far away our experience is from the truth I'd recommend 'The Sun of Wisdom: Teachings on the Noble Nagarjuna's Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way'
http://www.amazon.com/Sun-Wisdom-Teachings-Nagarjunas-Fundamental/dp/1570629994
That or 'Green Eggs and Ham'.
I have read a couple of decent books that are kind of a spiritual/metaphysical approach to self-help. These aren't so much about self-confidence as they are about gaining a more peaceful perspective on your entire life, which in turn will help you feel more confident about yourself.
The first is called Loving What Is by Byron Katie. She discusses a method called the turnaround, where you examine negative beliefs about yourself, and sort of meditate on them to realize that they are not true. Then you start to replace them with more positive beliefs, and your perspective becomes a lot brighter.
Another one I liked is Work Sex Money by Chogyam Trungpa.. This one is about taking a sort of Western-adapted Buddhist approach to your life without traveling to a monastery or any of the garbage that people assume they have to do in order to be more peaceful. It provides very logical ideas for examining your life and taking the stress out of it, which will help you find more of your own identity.
Finally, this is a bit of a weird one, but A Course in Miracles is my favorite. I don't recommend this for personal reading, but if you can find a weekly group or something where they read this book, it can be an amazing resource for improving your life. The book goes against a lot of Christian beliefs about the afterlife and metaphysics, but it basically teaches that you are the only one in control of your life.
If these are too intense, maybe try Tony Robbins, Deepak Chopra, Eckhart Tolle, Wayne Dyer, Marianne Williamson, Ken Wapnick. Sorry if none of these interest you.
For a good overview of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, try this one.
[Indestructible Truth - The Living Spirituality of Tibetan Buddhism Vol 1, by Reginald Ray]
(http://www.amazon.com/Indestructible-Truth-Spirituality-Tibetan-Buddhism/dp/1570629102?ie=UTF8&amp;keywords=indestructibe%20truth&amp;qid=1465296734&amp;ref_=sr_1_sc_1&amp;s=books&amp;sr=1-1-spell)
Part 2 within Vol 1 of this book, delves on this topic.
Well since you kids didn't like my oh-so-funny Troma Entertainment comment, how about this:
T'hroma is a practice, discovered by Padampa Sangye (and Machig Labdron ) of visualizing the offering of all that to which we are most attached, with special emphasis on the body.
Of modern masters, one of the most well known in recent history was Chagdud Tulku. If you get a chance, have a listen to the recordings of him practicing with his sangha.
The late Lama Tharchin Rinpoche, a friend of Chagdud Tulku and student of Dungse Rinpoche, was also a practitioner of T'hroma.
Author and lotsawa Sarah Harding wrote (or translated?) a book on the practice called, "Clarifying the Meaning"
Oh my God. Your own post itself is full of pure preciousness and wisdom it needs its own companion.
Commentaries are, IMHO, necessary for both texts (especially so for the Treasury). The Zindri (Zindri means Kunzang Lama’i Shyalung Zindri. Kunzang Lama’i Shyalung Zindri means a text by Khenpo Ngawang Palzang that elaborates on The Words of My Perfect Teacher. It other words Zindri means the book called "A Guide to the Words of My Perfect Teacher") by Khenpo Ngawang Palzang is the standard companion to Words of my Perfect Teacher (at least for practitioners of the Longchen Nyingthik; (Longchen Nyingthig is a hidden Nyingma teachings & practices on Dzogchen revealed by Jigme Lingpa in the 1700s) *there may be others, though I suspect all Nyingmapa lamas and lay teachers use the KLS (*Kunzang Lama’i Shyalung, the Zindri, the book "A Guide To The Words of my Perfect Teacher) and the Zindri side-by-side as their standard teaching and study texts for the LN ngöndro).
Building on u/Namkha_'s comment, the Treasury is presented as a lam rim (literally a "graded path"). The tertön Kangyur Rinpoche's (KR was the teacher to Matthieu Ricard and Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche. He made commentaries on (Yonten Dzo by Jigme Lingpa) and translated in English it's called the Treasury of Precious Qualities ) commentary is one that I've heard many people describe as accessible. The translation group overseen by Kangyur Rinpoche's son, Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche, translated and published the elder Rinpoche's commentary.
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Note to self: Get the Guide to the Words of...and skip the Treasury for now.
I read some of his stuff, long time ago, but he doesn't really appeal much to me, to be honest. One book I read recently that contained really lucid and detailed instructions on this tipe of meditation was Vivid Awareness, from Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. Can't recomend it enough.
Trungpa's Tantric Path of Indestructible Wakefulness is great if you want a pretty in depth survery of the whole landscape of Tantrayana.
It's a bit expensive though.
I think this may be what you're looking for.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1590309375?pc_redir=1405865875&amp;amp;robot_redir=1
Of course you could be very wrong. There is only one true tradition and that is Buddhism the rest are like different medicines for the ignorant. Zen, Mahamudra, Dzogchen all stem from Buddhism (baudda in Sanskrit). Btw, have you read the bk. Tibetan Zen?
i couldn't recommend enough, david Nichtern awakening from the day dream. this book gives a new modern day approach to the wheel of life that is more applicable to people in the west.
https://www.amazon.com/Awakening-Daydream-Reimagining-Buddhas-Wheel/dp/1614290059
They're not all secret. The basis of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism is the Lamrim Chenmo, which is completely exoteric (publicly known). This isn't some preliminary teaching, this is the whole deal. Any esoteric stuff is a helpful addition.
EDIT: Also, if you're finding the anticipation of the dialogue distracting, it may be useful to keep in mind that it's not the dialog itself that is causing the "problem". The distraction is the problem, not the dialogue or the anticipation. (I love the question "Can you feel the shape of your hands?")
I found this topic through Sam Harris as well.
I found that Mahamudra for the Modern World was what I was looking for. It's quite pricey, but it's as close as I could get to getting an authentic teacher without traveling and upending my current life. I also found that spending that large amount of money made me take the CD's more seriously and commit more time to them. A bit of a placebo I think, but it was still effective. He also has various shorter and cheaper CD options for guided meditations on his site, but I don't have have experience with those so I can't comment on them.
The CD's are a combination of lectures and guided meditations. It's given me a far more "deep" understanding of the concepts, but also resulted in some of the most profound experiences and realizations in my life. In particular, a mix of tummo and metta meditation about halfway through the series had a huge effect on my state of mind and resulted in huge changes in how I lived my life.
If the CD's aren't an option, I would also recommend Secret of the Vajra World
by the same author, which has been recommended on this sub in the past.
This will be focused on the conceptual understanding of the practice, but I still find it valuable and fascinating.
Also, be aware that you'll be asked to imbibe some religious thinking/concepts (in the words of Harris) as you start pulling information from Dzogchen and Mahamudra instead of from more Western sources like Harris.
On the topic of emptiness, I thought I'd recommend this book too, Contemplating Reality by Andy Karr. It's a summary/distillation of the ideas present in the Mahayana/Vajrayana development over hundreds of years. Armstrong has a background in Mahamudra/Dzogchen as well, but I don't know how much of his book delves into the worlds post-Pali Canon.
Contemplating Reality: A Practitioner's Guide to the View in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism https://www.amazon.com/dp/1590304292/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_p3GczbDC94KSZ
Buddha Nature: The Mahayana Uttaratantra Shastra with Commentary https://www.amazon.com/dp/155939482X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_S2nDDbMAM8F97
Open Heart, Clear Mind by Thubten Chodron, great book and easy to read, I have to say the best beginner book on Buddhism I have ever read. She has her email at the end and she will actually write back to you.
Open Heart, Clear Mind: An Introduction to the Buddha's Teachings https://www.amazon.com/dp/0937938874/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_WIw7CbRQ6T3N0
If you are looking for something more studious you can get the Buddha's discourses, they are a bit dry at times but they are the closest thing to the Buddha's own words you will be able to find.
The Long Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Digha Nikaya (The Teachings of the Buddha) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0861711033/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_jIw7Cb6WRBSMW
The one is Wilhelm's I Ching, the other is from Machik's Complete Explanation: Clarifying the Meaning of Chod. Definitely worth a peek ;)
You can try Buddhism for Beginners by Thubten Chodron, a highly reviewed book with recommendations from leading Buddhist figures like the Dalai Lama. Once you're a little more familiar with basic Buddhist concepts, you can try more in-depth books such as The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice by the Dalai Lama, if you're interested in more detailed philosophical explanations of Buddhism. For lighter books that focus on applying a few core Buddhist concepts to everyday life, there's quite a few bestsellers by the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh to check out. If you eventually take an interest in the Vajrayana aspect of Buddhism, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche is the author to go - he also has an intro to Buddhism-ish book called What Makes You NOT a Buddhist, which is another highly reviewed & recommended book.
Edit: https://studybuddhism.com/ is also a great source, founded by a longtime Western student of the Dalai Lama.
Source: Longtime Buddhist practitioner with exposure to both the Chinese & Tibetan Buddhist traditions. I tend to suggest books by authors who are both highly experienced in the philosophy and practice of a certain lineage, because I feel that a lot of books where the author is only knowledgeable about philosophy are just... really lacking in quality, to be honest. Buddhist philosophy is great, but it's the practice of it that really brings these philosophies alive.
here we go :)
http://www.amazon.com/Meditation-Action-Chogyam-Trungpa/dp/159030876X