This book contains a selection of edited public talks given by James Low. They cover a wide range of topics yet share a common theme: how to apply Buddhist teachings in our complex engagement with the modern world. We are all faced with ever increasing tasks of life maintenance as we struggle to cope with the profound impact of climate change, conflict, economic chaos, environmental and political instabilities. Moreover our own inner life is prey to habitual tendencies, impulses and blind spots so that our sense of the world is often more muddled than we imagine it to be.

The Buddhist view encourages us to see the ungraspable illusory nature of every situation in order that we might avoid being buffeted by samsara's waves of hopes and fears. With this clarity our own potential can be turned towards the benefit of the many rather than towards individual selfish pursuits.

The Buddha shows the way contains eighteen short chapters which can be read in any order so it is a book that can be dipped into according to your mood and time available.

Buddha Shows the Way: A Collection of Public Talks and Teachings, James Low, Simply Being, Paperback, 285 pages, $21.00

James Low is a disciple and teacher in the Byangter and Khordong lineages of the late Chhimed Rigdzin Lama.

He began studying and practising Tibetan Buddhism in India in the 1960's and received teachings from Kalu Rinpoche, Chatral Rinpoche, Kanjur Rinpoche and Dudjom Rinpoche. Having met his root teacher, Chhimed Rigdzin Lama (also known as C R Lama), he lived in his home in West Bengal, India for many years, serving him as required and being taught many aspects of the tradition. During this period in India James did several retreats and pilgrimages in the Himalayas. In the 1970's and 1980's, on his return to Europe, he also had teachings and guidance from Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche.

James translated many tantric texts and sadhanas with CR Lama who wanted texts from his lineages, Byangter and Khordong, to be available in English. These are used as practice texts by CR Lama's disciples and have been translated into various European languages.

CR Lama asked James to teach in 1976 and later gave him the transmissions necessary to do this, together with full lineage authority. In particular, James was encouraged to give the traditional instructions using methods that enable people in the west to get the point. James has been teaching in this way for over twenty years.

James regularly teaches the principles of dzogchen in Europe and he publishes translations and commentaries from time to time.

Many of his seminars have been recorded, transcribed and made available on his website in the hope that they may be useful for those seeking to deepen their dharma understanding and to explore how to apply it in the complexities of everyday life.

James studied at Edinburgh and other universities and has retired from his work in London as a Consultant Psychotherapist in the National Health Service. He is slowly winding down his private psychotherapy practice. He has taught on many psychotherapy trainings in Britain.

CONTENTS: Buddha Shows the Way
The Basis of awakening is already present within us		7
Emptiness, equanimity and kindness		10
A Buddhist approach to staying relaxed & open in modern life		38
Openness and clarity		66
The Experience of self-liberation		81
Space is the greatest friend we have: working in an organisation		94
Our transient roles in the drama of life		112
Ground, path and result		115
Relax and release reliance on illusions		117
The Wonder of being		121
The Radiance of emptiness		138
Healing and the five elements: dzogchen in daily life		155
The Nature of self in Tibetan Buddhism		173
Releasing attachment and confusion in the space of being		191
Love and attachment in the dzogchen view		209
Chod: cutting free of the four demons		228
The Natural freedom of the mind		238
Finding ourselves in the river of life		253
Appendix		271
Books by this author		273