The magic, mystery, and wisdom of Tibet come alive in this collection of 14 tales with timeless life lessons for kids (ages 6+) read by author, Laura Burges. From the magical mountains and valleys of Tibet, these Buddhist-themed folk tales for kids offer a captivating view into the lore and wisdom of Tibetan culture and tradition. Buddhism and its profound effect on Tibet's people and culture is reflected in these stories, each of which is imbued with life lessons for all ages. Threaded through these tales are the teachings of the Buddha and the special quality and relationship that Tibetans have with the mountains, trees, rocks, rivers, and sky. The collection features tales of renowned Tibetan Buddhist figures such as: Songsten Gampo, the king known as the reincarnation of the Buddha of Compassion, and how even a small creature like a mouse can have a big impact on the world Yeshe Tsogyal, the Mother of Tibet whose teachings have guided generations on the path of love and insight Gesar of Ling, the 12th-century super-human warrior king of Tibet, a shining inspiration for overcoming life's obstacles Guru Rinpoche, also known as Padmasambhava, the great teacher who brought the teachings of Buddhism to Tibet Recounted with humor and cleverness, the stories feature animals and archers, spirits and deities, bodhisattvas and dakinis, lamas and rulers, heroes and heroines—and highlight the mystical power of the natural world. Running time: 2 hours, 41 minutes

Diligence is the essential quality to inspire joy and openheartedness for Buddhist practice and daily life. As one of the six paramitas or perfections that are fundamental for following the bodhisattva path and helping others, diligence can profoundly impact our lives. In this commentary focused on the Diligence Chapter from Shantideva’s eighth-century classic The Way of the Bodhisattva, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche illuminates how diligence is the inner vigor that sparks enthusiasm despite difficulty, the dynamic armor that protects against laziness, and the inner strength that aims to meet the world with joy and openheartedness. He explores traditional teachings on diligence, like the three kinds of laziness, the two strengths, rebirth, and the nature of emptiness, and shows how diligence combined with joy can lead us to success in every endeavor. Running time: 7 hours, 15 minutes

For readers of mythology, an original and introspective journey through the life of the Buddha accompanied by 26 beautiful color illustrations and 8 meditations. From longtime Zen teacher and poet John Tarrant comes an original retelling of the foundational myth of Buddhism—the life of the Buddha. Told and retold for centuries, this story holds a special place in the human legacy because it is, ultimately, an investigation of the nature of mind and consciousness. Tarrant leans into his memories of the Egyptian and Greek myths he encountered as a child. “If we pour ourselves into the story of the Buddha,” he writes, “we enter the journey from an unusual place as far as myths go; we begin where the Odyssey ends.” The Buddha already had everything—a palace, family, food, wealth—yet he was suffocating with discontent. He needed to embark on a journey involving pain, searching, magic, and personal discovery. This led to his awakening and the teachings that form the basis of Buddhism. With twenty-six gorgeous historical illustrations and eight meditations drawn from the Zen tradition, the Buddha’s story becomes your own story, opening an unexpected path to awakening. If you listen to the images that arise in its telling, you can find where you are in life and where you are headed. Running time: 1 hour, 23 minutes

The first portrait of spiritual luminary Thomas Keating’s remarkable evolution, in the last decades of his life, into a fully realized modern-day Christian mystic. In the first four decades of his life as a Trappist monk, Thomas Keating created a comprehensive, unified psychospiritual pathway leading from healing to holiness and from contemporary psychological wellness to classic mystical sanctity and beatitude. As one of the key innovators of the meditative practice of Centering Prayer, he fashioned a powerful on-ramp to the Christian contemplative tradition. Yet, as beloved author and Keating disciple Cynthia Bourgeault shows, that was not the end of Keating’s story—his evolution as a spiritual thinker and mystic continued in ways few have explored in depth. In this unique blend of biography, personal experience, and close reading of his late works, Bourgeault illuminates Keating’s remarkable spiritual development from the late 1980s until his death in 2018. Running time: 7 hours, 53 minutes

In A Heart as Wide as the World, one of America’s most popular and beloved Buddhist teachers offers encouragement and inspiration for anyone on the spiritual path. In short sections that include many stories and anecdotes drawn from her years as a student and teacher of Buddhist meditation, Sharon Salzberg reveals how our own happiness is found in the capacity to open our hearts to others—and that this capacity is far vaster than we ever thought possible. Through meditation and the practice of lovingkindness, we can discover our connection to those around us and to all life. This realization acts as a hidden storehouse of strength, allowing us to face whatever the world offers us with greater wisdom and compassion and shows us that our heart can be truly as wide as the world. Running time: 6 hours, 58 minutes

The Hundred Verses of Advice audiobook sample by Shambhala Publications

Our modern, Western societal understanding of what happens to a woman when she becomes a mother largely remains uncharted territory. Mothershift offers a supportive, affirming road map to take women through the cascade of identity change and transformation that is motherhood.     Jessie Harrold introduces her “map for your becoming,” a research-based, four-phase model that maps out how the transition to motherhood unfolds—and helps women to navigate every step along the way. Harrold also includes self-inquiry questions and journal prompts in each chapter to help women identify and thrive amidst the cascade of changes they can expect as they enter motherhood. Her wise, inspiring, and practical approach shows what it can look like when women are supported and encouraged to experience motherhood as a rite of passage filled with power and potential. Running time: 8 hours, 26 minutes

Senior Diamond Approach teacher Dominic Liber in conversation and practice with Shambhala Publications staff.

You are about to listen in to a conversation between Leigh Brasington and the entire staff of Shambhala Publications. Leigh is the author of Right Concerntation: A Practical Guide to the Jhanas and is the editor of the newly released The Path of Peace: A Buddhist Guide to Cultivating Loving-Kindness based on talks of his teacher, the Ven Aya Khemma. You will hear Leigh discuss Ayya Khema and her life, and having her as a teacher. He then discusses metta, or Loving Kindness meditation, answers some questions about it including how it relates to sammatha, vipassana, and the path to enlightenment. He then leads a guided metta meditation taught to him by Ayya Khema. We conclude with a short clip from the audiobook edition of The Path to Peace.

In 2016, the Tsadra Foundation sponsored a series of talks on the Treasury of Precious Instructions focusing on Kongtrul and the specifics of the Eight Chariots.  Translator and teacher Sarah Harding who has been immersed in this work for decades and has completed several volumes of this work leads it.  Also included are Elizabeth Callahan and Acharya Tenpa Gyaltsen.  You can listen or download the full series here.

In 2016, the Tsadra Foundation sponsored a series of talks on the Treasury of Precious Instructions focusing on Kongtrul and the specifics of the Eight Chariots.  Translator and teacher Sarah Harding who has been immersed in this work for decades and has completed several volumes of this work leads it.  Also included are Elizabeth Callahan and Acharya Tenpa Gyaltsen.  You can listen or download the full series here.