Teachers of Enlightenment

Kulananda (Michael Chaskalson) writes on mindfulness and Buddhism. Born in South Africa, he was ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order in 1977. He now lives in Cambridge, UK, with his wife, and teaches mindfulness in the context of organisational leadership.

'Though Teachers of Enlightenment contains much useful information about the figures on the Refuge Tree, about the Buddhist scriptures, and about the historical development of Buddhism, it is above all a call to spiritual practice." - Urgyen Sangharakshita, Buddhist teacher and founder of the Triratna Buddhist Order; 'I am delighted to see this new edition of Teachers of Enlightenment. And I am very happy to see that Dr Ambedkar and Anagarika Dharmapala have been included here. This book will not only benefit those who wish to practise within the Triratna sangha but any Buddhist who is interested to know about the great spiritual beings on this Refuge Tree.' - Amoghasiddhi, Public Preceptor, Indian ordination training team; 'For anyone exploring the Going for Refuge and Prostration Practice of the Triratna Buddhist Order, Teachers of Enlightenment has long been an essential guide. Kulananda presents a wonderful description of each figure, enabling our practice to come alive. This new edition includes Vajratara's excellent introduction to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Anagarika Dharmapala.' - Kalyacitta, women's ordination team, Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre; 'This book is a timely reminder that Buddhism is not reducible to a set of self-help techniques; it invites us to participate in a cosmic myth, which is the compassionate liberation of all beings.' - Nagapriya, author of The Promise of a Sacred World: Shinran's Teaching of Other Power

• Foreword to the New EditionAbout the author Preface to the 2000 edition, by SangharakshitaAuthor's acknowledgementsPublisher's acknowledgementsPart oneIntroduction1 The Refuge Tree of the Triratna Buddhist Order, and the prostration practice2 Visualization and imagination 3 Going for refuge 4 The Refuge Tree, bodhicitta, and 'other-power' Part twoIntroduction1 The Buddhas of the Three Times 2 The Jinas3 The Arhants4 The bodhisattvas 5 Vajrasattva 6 The dharma texts 7 The teachers of the past India Tibet China Japan 8 The teachers of the present ConclusionNotes and references Selected reading Index