2. Buddhist Book, Magazine & Audio suppliers

What follows is a necessarily selective list of publishers of books, audio and magazines on Buddhism. Priority has been given to a) contacts offering ordering by mail and phone and b) non affiliated organizations & suppliers. In the case of publishers linked to a particular Dharma tradition, as material will prioritise their own teachers & practice we give information about the parent organization and have attempted to represent the range of traditions found in the UK today.

Suppliers of general Buddhist material

Wisdom Books

Largest mail order supplier of books, audio material and videos on Buddhism in the UK. Unaffiliated business, stocks titles relating to all Buddhist traditions - Theravada, Tibetan, Zen/ Ch’an, Mahayana; also Tao and other schools. Catalogue includes short reviews for each title. Some print catalogues available but they advise use of the web site if possible due to stock changes. Contact: Wisdom Books, 25 Stanley Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 1RW, UK. Tel: 0208 553 5020, email

Also provide the following non-affiliated Buddhist magazines:

• Tricycle is a quality Buddhist Journal published in the US with in depth, topical contributions from many of the best writers on Buddhism today. Published quarterly - approx. £6.50 per issue.
• Buddhadharma ‘the practitioners quarterly’ - quality magazine focussing on Dharma discussion and teachings. £6.25 per issue.

Buddhist Publishing Group

Independent publisher of a range of CDs, Dharma talks and books from different Buddhist traditions; also Buddhist magazine Buddhism now; organize the annual Buddhist summer school and are also connected to the Golden Buddha project (see communities). Contact (subscriptions & orders): Buddhist Publishing Group, Orchard House, 9 Kerswill Road, Exeter, EX4 1NY, UK. Tel: 01392 679002. Fax: 01803 732037.  To join the mailing list, send this email.

• Buddhism Now journal covers the teachings of all schools of Buddhism: it is independent of any one tradition, organisation or teacher. Buddhism now ‘deals directly with living a Buddhist way of life, offering practical help for ordinary people.’ Email.

Gaia House

Centre for Meditation, Inquiry and Compassion, non-affiliated. Offers Insight (Vipassana) and Zen Retreats.

Available from bookshop: Insight Tapes (approx £5 each), based on lectures by resident and visiting teachers at Gaia House can be ordered online or write to Insight Tapes, Gaia House, West Ogwell, Newton Abbott, Devon TQ12 6EN. Brochure of their talks available on request.  Gaia House, West Ogwell, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 6EN, UK. Tel: 01626 333613. Email.

Suppliers linked to specific traditions

Community of Interbeing (COI)

UK organisation that supports the practice of Mindfulness as taught by Vietnamese Zen master and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Thich Nhat Hanh. ‘These teachings are based on conscious breathing and being fully aware of the present moment. Through the practice of meditation in everyday life and by showing compassion to all living beings, peace becomes possible within ourselves and extends to everyone we touch.’

• Bookshop supplies CDs, tapes and videos of Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings, and all of his books available in English. To obtain list of titles, send s.a.e. to: Teri West, Sloo Cottage, Horns Cross, Bideford, Devon EX39 5EA. Tel: 01237 451588. Publications will also be appearing on their web site soon, online ordering available second half of 2005.  See also Parallax Press(US); Community of Interbeing website; Plum Village retreat centre.
• The Mindfulness Bell Journal (3 issues a year), US published, “a journal of the Art of Mindful Living, including essays, stories, teachings, photos and artwork”. To subscribe in the UK write enclosing a cheque payable to Community of Interbeing, to: Community of Interbeing, 18a Hove Park Villas, Hove, BN3 6HG, UK. £12 /£10 (low income) per annum/ £4 for a sample issue.
• Free online manual for developing the practice of Mindfulness.

Friends of the Triratna Buddhist Order (FTBO), formerlyWestern Buddhist Order (FWBO)

Founded in 1967 by Sangarakshita, an Englishman who lived in India for 20 years where he was ordained into the three main traditions of Buddhism. The Sangha has 38 centres with several thousand members in the UK plus in many other countries. Centres often run beginners and drop- in classes in meditation. Contact: London Buddhist centre, 51 Roman Road, Bethnal Green, London E2 0QN. Tel: 020 8981 0091  FWBO

• Windhorse Publications - an extensive range of books, brochure sent out on request. Contact: Windhorse Publications, 11 Park Road, Mosely, Birmingham B13 8AB, UK. Tel: 0121 449 9191
• Dharmachakra audio publications - catalogue of lectures, talks and meditation courses.  Tel: 01223 868 625. Email, or write to PO Box 50, Cambridge, CB1 3BG

Soto Zen Tradition

Throssel Hole Abbey  is a training monastery and retreat centre in the Serene Reflection meditation or Soto Zen tradition. Men and women monastics have equal status and are ordained within the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives. Bookshop offers a selection of books, taped talks by Senior monks at the Abbey and videos including Serene Reflection Meditation for beginners. Contact: Throssel Hole Buddhist Bookshop, Carrshield, nr Hexham, Northumberland, NE47 8AL, UK. Tel: 01434 345204. A catalogue of books is on the web site but for those who are unable to access web due to illness or disability, a printout will be posted - email

Theravada Tradition

Amaravati is ‘a monastery in the Theravada tradition of Buddhism and a centre of teaching and practice. Its heart is a resident community of monksandnuns, whose life of meditation and work is open for visitors to share, as a living example of the Buddhist path. Amaravati Publications have many books which have been sponsored for free distribution (except postage cost). To obtain please send SAE to "Books", c/o Amaravati Buddhist Monastery. ‘The weight and minimum size of envelope for each book is given as a guide for your requests. You may send one envelope with extra stamps for requests of more than one book.’ Forest Sangha Newsletter (also available free if postage costs covered) provides list of regional centres. For retreat information send SAE to Retreat Manager.

Contact: Amaravati Buddhist Monastery, Great Gaddesden, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP1 3BZ.

Tel: 01442 842455.  See also  forestSANGHA, download talks at Amaravati

Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism’s spread in the West has been inextricably linked to efforts to preserve what remains of Tibetan religion and culture since the Chinese occupation of Tibet, which destroyed many temples and monastic communities. There are five distinct lineages in Tibetan Buddhism. Beginners are advised to note that practitioners are expected to commit to one lineage.

• FPMT (Foundation for the preservation of the Mahayana tradition) set up by Lama Thubten Yeshe. Publications include Discovering Buddhism series DVD & videos from £50. UK centre Jamyang Buddhist Centre - see under courses. Publishes Mandala Magazine 6 issues a year. £2.70, back issues available  Contact: FPMT, PO Box 46744, London SW17 7WR UK, email (also available from Wisdom Books).
• RIGPA UK 330 Caledonian Road, London N1 1BB. For regional groups tel: 020 7700 0185, email. Run classes based on Sogyal Rinpoche’s teachings, found in the classic Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. RIPGA’s audio visual publisher is ZAM. Print brochure from RIGPA UK, or direct tel (France): 0033 4 6788 4632.
• Awakened Heart Sangha - see courses.

Mail order Mind Body suppliers 

Cygnus PO Box 15, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, SA19 6YX, UK. Tel: 01550 777701 for bargain prices for current New Age titles as well as writers on Buddhism and meditation. Those on the mailing list receive a popular free inspirational magazine with reviews, listings and articles.

The following also sell high quality remaindered material (new age, holistic, meditation, Buddhist) at low prices:

• The Speaking Tree Bookshop, 5 High St. Glastonbury, BA6 9DP.  Tel: 01458 835974, email.
• Greensleeves family-run business also selling secondhand titles. PO Box 156 Chipping Norton DO, Oxford, OX7 3XT, UK. tel 01608 676140, Greensleeves.  email
• Tao of Books Tel 0845 3456222 - includes audio music range.
• The Inner Bookshop, 111 Magdalen Road, Oxford OX4 1RQ UK tel 01865 245301, have a huge selection of mind body material including both new and used books (including a Buddhism  section) as well as audio available online or by mail order (email or call for the catalogue).

Lending Libraries 

Some tips

• Your own local authority library may run a housebound delivery service, in which case you can specifically ask for books on Buddhism, meditation or related themes to be brought to you at home. Services vary from area to area - call your local library (in the phone book under the local council departments) for details. 
• Regional Buddhist groups & centres may have a collection of books and tapes to loan out to their members. If you’re not well enough to attend meetings, it’s worth telephoning and explaining your circumstances - they might post material out to you. Larger centres are more likely to offer a mailing service for library material

Contacts

• The Buddhist society operates a postal lending library. For details of membership and costs send SAE. Contact: Buddhist Society, 58 Eccleston Square, London, SW1V 1PH, UK. Tel 0207 834 5858 (afternoons). 
• Jamyang video library - extensive collection of material on Tibetan Buddhism including videos featuring HH Dalai Lama, available to borrow by post. Mention you're a Stillpoint user & ask for Gordon tel: 0207 820 8787