East Asian and Indian philosophy Books

Book SynopsisIntroduced to the West by Paul Brunton, Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi (1879-1950) is widely hailed as the greatest Indian saint and sage in modern times, whose teachings continue to influence thousands around the world today. This intimate biography by his disciple Arthur Osborne interweaves the story of Ramana's life with his spiritual journey, from his awakening as a teenager to his later teachings and writings, offering a detailed account of a unique life.Osborne shares many of Ramana's lessons, including his emphasis on the importance of self-enquiry - that self-knowledge cannot be gained externally, but only through becoming aware of our own state of pure being. With his emphasis on the qualities of insight, simplicity and kindness, Ramana has much to offer us today.

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive, yet entertaining introduction to Advaita, the non-dual philosophy which provides a completely reasonable explanation for who we are and the nature of the universe. There are many self-help approaches promising enlightenment and happiness but most are illogical and lack any proven capability. Advaita has a guru-disciple tradition stretching back for several thousand years and can guarantee the sincere seeker a progressive path to self-realization. A 21st Century treatment of this ancient eastern philosophy, this book addresses all of the issues that are covered by both traditional teachers from the lineage of Shankara and by modern satsang teaching and Direct Path methods stemming from Ramana Maharshi and Krishna Menon. The topics are explained in an accessible and readable manner, using amusing quotations and stories along with an abundance of metaphors from a wide variety of sources.Trade ReviewThis book will greatly contribute to a deeper understanding of this important movement [Advaita], sweeping the West, and which eventually leads to Self Realisation. (Alan Jacobs, Chairman , Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK) There are many places to find advaita teachings - in ancient texts, modern books, in satsang, and on the Internet. Dennis Waite has found them all. He writes as a friendly tour guide, presenting the teachings with simplicity, humor and deep understanding. (Dr. Gregory Goode, PhD (Philosophy), Philosphical Counselor, New York)

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Book SynopsisThe use of Mudras, or "yoga of the hands", has been recognised for centuries as a simple yet effective healing tool, known to prevent and cure illnesses and bring about spiritual regeneration. This book examines Mudras, and teaches how regular practice can rejuvenate your body and mind and transform your everyday life.Covering all you need to know about performing Mudras, this insightful and informative book will enable you to gain an understanding of a form of yoga that has already helped thousands of people. Clear illustrations explain exactly how to use Mudras, and chapters explore everything from the use of Mudras in dance and martial arts to diet and the practice of visualisation. Further sections look at how combining Mudras with positive colours and music can improve your wellbeing. They take minutes to perform, and can be done almost anywhere at any time, yet the effects are hugely beneficial.This book is a must for anyone who wants to unlock their spirituality and change their daily lives. Mudras are believed to be the key to spiritual and mental wellbeing, and will radically enhance every aspect of your existence.Trade ReviewWhen The Healing Power of Mudras was sent to the Eternal Spirit office, I jumped at the chance of reviewing it... this book brings those mysterious hand gestures to life and may even be of sufficient interest to change yours. -- Eternal SpiritThis book is an excellent, affordable guide to a little-known practice that can have benefits far beyond its modest appearance. -- ForeWord ReviewsTable of Contents1. Preface. 2. Understanding Mudras. 3. Ancient Healing Rediscovered. 4. Some Interesting Facts. 5. Mudras and Dance. 6. Meaning and Purpose of Mudras. 7. The Practice of Visualisation. 8. Practising Mudras. 9. Preferable Accompaniments: Music and Colour. 10. The Meaning of Namaste. 11. Mudras in the Martial Arts. 12. Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Hindu Deities and Mudras. 13. How to do a Mudra. 14. Fingers and Mudras. 15. The Yogic Life as Accessory. 16. The Right Diet Helps.

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Book SynopsisIn Creativity and Taoism, Chang Chung-yuan makes the elusive principle of Tao available to the western mind with objectivity, warmth, and depth of insight. It is an important contribution to the task of making the Taoist wisdom accessible to the western intellect' - Ira Progoff'No one can read Chang's book without experiencing a broadening of his mental horizons' - John C. H. Wu, Philosophy East and West'His interpretation of the Taoist roots of Ch'an has been presented with taste and learning that help to clear up many questions that must have occurred to anyone familiar with his subject. "The Spirit of the Valley" dwells in this quiet and gentle man who, as so rarely happens, actually embodies some of the philosophic traits of which he writes' - Gerald Sykes'If the end of reading is the enhancement of life, the enlargement of experience and understanding, then this book becomes an important step in that direction. Dr. Chang writes in a style both lucid and felicitous. He displays with becoming modesty a mastery of the field, its development and its ideas... There is hardly a page which does not give pleasure' - Robert R. Kirsh, Los Angeles Times'Professor Chang's study, a brilliant exposition and analysis, is concerned with the relevance and applicability of the Taoist view in Chinese artistic and intellectual creativity. Few other works facilitate so sensitive an understanding of creative impulse and expression in Chinese culture' - Hyman Kublin, Library JournalSimultaneously accessible and scholarly, this classic book considers the underlying philosophy and the aesthetics of Chinese art and poetry, the expression of the Taoist approach to existence. Chapters cover everything from the potential of creativity to the way tranquillity is reflected in Chinese poems and painting. Chung-yuan Chang's deceptively simple and always lucid narrative explores the relationship between the Tao and the creative arts, introducing classic paintings and poems to bring Taoism to life.Trade Review"'In Creativity and Taoism, Chang Chung-yuan makes the elusive principle of Tao available to the western mind with objectivity, warmth, and depth of insight. It is an important contribution to the task of making the Taoist wisdom accessible to the western intellect' (Ira Progoff) 'No one can read Chang's book without experiencing a broadening of his mental horizons' (John C. H. Wu, Philosophy East and West) 'His interpretation of the Taoist roots of Ch'an has been presented with taste and learning that help to clear up many questions that must have occurred to anyone familiar with his subject. "The Spirit of the Valley" dwells in this quiet and gentle man who, as so rarely happens, actually embodies some of the philosophic traits of which he writes' (Gerald Sykes) 'If the end of reading is the enhancement of life, the enlargement of experience and understanding, then this book becomes an important step in that direction. Dr. Chang writes in a style both lucid and felicitous. He displays with becoming modesty a mastery of the field, its development and its ideas... There is hardly a page which does not give pleasure' (Robert R. Kirsh, Los Angeles Times) 'Professor Chang's study, a brilliant exposition and analysis, is concerned with the relevance and applicability of the Taoist view in Chinese artistic and intellectual creativity. Few other works facilitate so sensitive an understanding of creative impulse and expression in Chinese culture' (Hyman Kublin, Library Journal)"Table of ContentsIntroduction. 1. Invisible Ground of Sympathy. 2. Immeasurable Potentialities of Creativity. 3. Peace as Identification of Reality and Appearance. 4. Process of Self-Realization. 5. Tranquillity Reflected in Chinese Poetry. 6. Tranquillity Reflected in Chinese Painting. Concluding Remarks.

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Book SynopsisNei Gong has been a well-kept secret within the Daoist sects of China for centuries. Based upon the original teachings of the great sage Laozi, it has only ever been taught to close students of the masters chosen as the heads of the ancient orders. This book provides a breakdown of the entire Nei Gong process, and explains in plain English the philosophy which underpins Nei Gong practice, and which is based on the original teachings of the ancient Daoist priests. The methodology of Sung breathing, an advanced meditative practice which has until now been reserved for 'inner-door' students is described, and the book contains an entire set of Qigong exercises accompanied by instructional photographs and drawings. This book will be of interest to all practitioners of Qi Gong, martial arts and meditation, and will be a rewarding read for anyone interested in Eastern philosophy.Trade ReviewThe author suggests that the "Dao is accessible by everyone in one way or another. The form it takes only depends upon how much you are willing to put in." As with any worthwhile goal in life, it takes patience, diligent practice, good teaching and persistence to get the maximum benefits. So it is with Nei Gong. This book will give the reader enough insights to persue the study of Nei Gong further. The practices of Sung breathing and the Ji Ben Qigong set are bound to be of value to all who read this book. -- Yang-Sheng Online JournalThis book drills down into the golden core of the ancient Chinese art and science of internal self-cultivation known as "Chi Gung" or "energy work", and after reading it, you'll understand why Chi Gung is the best way on earth to protect your health, prolong your life, and clarify your awareness of both aspects of the "Three Treasures" of life - mortal body, breath, and mind; and immortal essence, energy, and spirit. Known simply as "Nei Gung", or "internal work", this inner alchemy may be learned and practiced by anyone. Written by a dedicated practitioner who verifies scholarly research with personal experience and illustrates ancient theory with contemporary practice, this book provides the Western mind with a clear-cut introduction to Chi Gung that informs as well as inspires the reader to practice. -- Daniel ReidThis is one of the best if not the best book on Daoist internal arts that I've ever read... Many books give practices but you don't understand the principles and reasons for doing them. This book is written so that you can understand the principles behind the practices. It is soundly based on the simple teachings of Lao Tze... I would recommend anyone interested in qigong and nei gong to get this book. -- Qigong Healing.co.ukTable of ContentsAcknowledgements. Notes on Romanization of Pinyin. Disclaimer. Foreword by Author. 1. Introduction to Nei Gong. 2. The Three Bodies of Man. 3. Sung Breathing. 4. The Ji Ben Qi Gong. 5. Nei Gong Preparation. 6. Lower Dan Tien Work. 7. Going Deeper into Nei Gong. 8. Advanced Nei Gong Practice. Conclusion. Appendix I. Glossary of Terms. Recommended Reading. About the Author. Index.

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Book SynopsisThis exceptional translation of the Tao Tê Ching by Chinese scholar Chung-yuan Chang reveals the true wisdom and beauty of this ancient Chinese text. Traditionally attributed to Taoist philosopher Lao Tzu, the Tao Tê Ching remains relevant worldwide today, more than two thousand years after it was written. This translation of the Taoist text, with Chang's accompanying commentaries, illuminates the real meaning of the Tao Tê Ching and makes this Chinese classic both accessible and relevant to modern ways of thinking, without any reduction of the complex thought within its pages. Chang Chung-yuan is unique in his approach and his introduction and commentaries place the Taoist text in the context of Western metaphysics, making reference to Heidegger, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Jung, Plato, Kant and Nietzsche, as well as capturing the context within which Taoism came to the West. Tao: A New Way of Thinking will be fascinating to anyone with an interest in Taoism and will be particularly appealing to those interested in comparative philosophy.Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Meaning of Tao and Its Reflection in Western Thought. Note on the Text. Translation and Commentaries of the Tao Tê Ching. Bibliography of Works in English. Chronological Bibliography of Works in Chinese.

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Book SynopsisExploring Karma & Rebirth is a vigorous and thought-provoking inquiry into two important but often misunderstood Buddhist doctrines. This challenging book: clarifies and critically appraises these traditional Buddhist doctrines, examines them in relation to their cultural origins and discusses whether these teachings are still relevant today, and offers an imaginative reading of what the teachings could mean for the postmodern Western world Above all, Exploring Karma & Rebirth insists that, to be of enduring value, these doctrines must continue to serve the overriding aim of Buddhism: spiritual awakening.Trade Review"An excellent introduction to the complex and frequently misinterpreted Buddhist doctrines of karma and rebirth..." - Stephen Batchelor, author of Buddhism Without Beliefs."

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Book SynopsisOriginal translated text from theIndian Atharvaveda with commentary and notes by Hermann Beckh.

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Book SynopsisIf you are a long-time martial artist, you have likely been either the recipient, the victim – or both – of the "wise old master" phenomenon, whereby budo students reverentially enfold their teachers as martial, moral and mystical juggernauts sans reproach, in which case, this book will make you clench your fists and laugh out loud, often while reading the same sentence. Iconoclastic, rebellious, yet fiercely holding to some of the most traditional values of Japanese martial culture, Amdur brought something new to martial arts writing - a startling honesty about the flaws, not only within martial arts culture, but also within its practitioners, often using himself as an exemplar of the latter. Originally published in 2000, and now fully revised, with eight new chapters, new artwork and photography, Dueling with O Sensei, Revised and Expanded Edition will be an invaluable addition to the library of old readers and new alike. Trade Review'If there were an 'ordinary martial arts book', this would be its evil twin. Unflinchingly honest, writing from an unique, insider-turned-outsider's perspective, Ellis explores aspects of budo, its philosophies and dilemmas through the lens of aikido, a modern martial art whose founder is discussed in reverential tones and wrapped in quasi-religious mystique. Looking at the idea of budo-as-way-of-life and a path to personal perfection, Ellis confronts the real-world complexities and contradictions behind these simplified stereotypes, revealing insights which hold value for any martial artist or even a non-martial artist with an interest in the darker aspects of human nature.' Dave Lowry, author of Persimmon Wind: A Martial Artist’s Journey in JapanTable of Contents1: The Knights of the Moldy Rope 2: Ukemi from the Ground Up 3: My First Days at the Headquarters D?j? 4: The Best of Their Time 5: Forever Young 6: A Conversation with Dait?-ry?’s Other Child 7: Atemi: Striking to the Heart of the Matter 8: Did You Ever Meet O-sensei? O-sensei Who? 9: Tenchi: Head in the Clouds and Feet in the Muck 10: Toward Simple Morality—Or How Come Something So Fine Sometimes Turns So Ugly? 11: Otoko (Manhood) 12: Anyone Can Be O-sensei In One’s Own Movie 13: The Ring is Where You Draw It 14: So How Tough Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up? 15: Setsunint?—Katsujinken 16: Hiding in the Shadows of the Warrior 17: Aiki: A State of the Union 18: Aiki is Not Always Pretty 19: Cutting the Circle 20: Musubi: Tying Together or Tying in Knots 21: Bushi no Nasake 22: Kamae: Taking a Stand 23: Oniisan (Elder Brother) Epilogue

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Book SynopsisIn this highly readable book, Master Gou Jun brings Chan’s powerful and profound teachings to the page in a way that is accessible and warm. This is a book for those new to Chan, and for seasoned practitioners.Essential Chan Buddhism is the rare unearthing of an ancient and remarkable Chinese spiritual tradition. Master Guo Jun speaks through hard-won wisdom on Chan''s spiritual themes familiar to Western readers, such as mindfulness and relaxation in meditation, as well as profound, simply expressed teachings and insightful explorations of religious commitment. Essential Chan Buddhism filters formal spiritual practices through the lens of mundane and everyday life activities. The work captures the lyrical beauty and incantatory style of Guo Jun’s spoken English from the talks he gave at a fourteen-day retreat near Jakarta in 2010 and in subsequent conversations with his editor Kenneth Wapner.

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Book SynopsisImmerse yourself in the world of the Samurai with this classic text, translated and interpreted for the modern reader.Code of the Samurai is the four-hundred-year-old summary of the rules and expectations embodied in Bushido—the ancient Japanese "Way of the Warrior." Bushido has played a major role in shaping the behavior of modern Japanese government, corporations, society, and individuals, as well as in shaping modern Japanese martial arts within Japan and internationally.This accessible and enjoyable translation is by Thomas Cleary, the foremost translator of Asian martial classics, accompanied by the powerful line drawings of master illustrator Oscar Ratti, and a number of color photos. A new foreword by Alexander Bennett, a leading expert on Samurai history, explains the lasting importance of this classic work and its place within the canon of Japanese literature.This accesible classic is an indispensable resource to the corporate executive, student of the Asian Culture, martial artist, and those interested in Eastern philosophy or military strategy, as well as for those simply interested in Japan and its people.Trade Review"…a wonderful book for anyone who wants to understand the ideals behind the true warrior."--Bohdi Sanders, author of Warrior Wisdom: Ageless Wisdom for the Modern Warrior"This is a compelling, well-written translation." --Lawrence Kane, author of The Little Black Book of Violence and The Way of Kata

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Book SynopsisThis book is an engaging introduction to Watts' fascinating and enduring Zen teachings.

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Book SynopsisThe Pancaratra school has an important place exerting its great influence on the culture, philosophy and religion of India. Its has a very ancient origin shrouded in mystery. The scholars have not given the same attention to the Agama literature as they have done as regards the Vedic literature.

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Book SynopsisLikewise, it contains the first Indian critique of the tenets of Islamic philosophy. This volume also examines several methods to calibrate the biomechanics of prana-vayu to defer the impending death.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe publication of this book itself is news. Hackett has emerged as one of the three leading publishers in English of books in philosophy, especially of classic texts and studies of classic texts. Their publication of a second edition of Ivanhoe's study is a strong signal that China is now on the English-speaking world's philosophical map . . . . Besides being a harbinger, Ivanhoe's book has singular merits. He is a careful and thorough interpreter of texts, and also has the knack of presenting an insight or an interpretive move in a short space and in pointed language. This ability to say something important in a condensed and vivid way is invaluable in a book whose intended audience includes not only scholars of Chinese philosophy but also philosophically grounded readers whose previous knowledge of Chinese philosophy has been slight. Another merit is the way in which Ivanhoe presents other people's scholarship. He provides a wide range of citations of recent interpretations of the texts under discussion; but in general the explanation and Ivanhoe's answering comment are kept brief, which enhances the readability of the book for its intended audiences . . . . As a detailed presentation of Confucian accounts of moral self cultivation, and of recent scholarship pertaining to this, [this book] is I think superb and unrivaled. --Joel J. Kupperman, Journal of Chinese Philosophy

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Book SynopsisThis volume serves both as an introduction to the thought of Mengzi (Mencius) and Wang Yangming and as a comparison of their views. By examining issues held in common by both thinkers, Ivanhoe illustrates how the Confucian tradition was both continued and transformed by Wang Yangming, and shows the extent to which he was influenced by Buddhism. Topics explored are: the nature of morality; human nature; the nature and origin of wickedness; self cultivation; and sagehood. In addition to revised versions of each of these original chapters, Ivanhoe includes a new chapter on Kongzi''s (Confucius'') view of the Way.Trade ReviewThis enlightening book is a comparative study of the moral and metaphysical theories of these two luminaries of the Confucian tradition. . . . Ivanhoe draws in masterful strokes the trajectory of the Confucian image of the sage, from the semi-divine creator heroes revered by Kongzi, to Mengzi's human exemplars of perfected self-cultivation, to Wang Yangming's concept of the innate sagehood of every human. --Rene Goldman, Pacific AffairsIvanhoe's fine book deserves a wide readership. It will interest scholars of Confucianism as well as those specializing in Chinese intellectual history. Two informative appendices, along with the excellent index (which includes the most important Chinese characters used in the book), make it a useful work for specialists. I also recommend this book to anyone concerned with comparative philosophy and to those currently working in virtue ethics. The latter will find many ideas and arguments within this book that resonate with, and perhaps complement, Western virtue ethics. --Victoria Harrison-Carter, Dao: A Journal of Comparative Philosophy

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Book SynopsisThis book introduces the vast topic of Indian philosophy. It begins with a study of the major Upanishads, and then surveys the philosophical ideas contained in the Bhagavadgita. After a short excursion into Buddhism, it summarizes the salient ideas of the six systems of Indian philosophy: Nyaya, Vaisesika, Samkhya, Yoga, Purva Mimamsa, and Vedanta. It concludes with an introduction to contemporary Indian thought.Trade Review“Written in an easy-flowing style, Professor Ram Murty’s Indian Philosophy: An Introduction can serve as an ideal textbook for undergraduates interested in Indian philosophy. The chapters are well-structured, and the chapter on Modern Thought is especially attractive as it illustrates the application of Indian philosophical concepts in the lives of some contemporary thinkers.” — Trichur S. Rukmani, Professor Emeritus and former Chair in Hindu Studies at Concordia University“Professor Murty’s book provides a unique Neo-Vedantic perspective on Indian philosophy in the grand tradition of Vivekananda, Aurobindo, and Radhakrishnan. An appendix includes study questions and a guide for undergraduate writers. The book will also be of interest to advanced students, given its copious detail and skillful interpretative framework. Highly recommended.” — Michael W. Myers, Professor of Philosophy and Coordinator of the Religious Studies Program at Washington State UniversityTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsPrefaceIntroductionWhy Study Indian Philosophy?An Outline of Indian Philosophy1 The Vedas 2 The Upanishads The Isa Upanishad3 The Kena and Katha Upanishads The Kena UpanishadThe Katha Upanishad4 Prasna and Mundaka UpanishadsThe Prasna UpanishadThe Mundaka Upanishad5 The Māndukya, Taittirīya, and Chāndogya UpanishadsThe Māndukya UpanishadThe Taittirāya UpanishadThe Chāndogya Upanishad6 The Brhadāranyaka and Other UpanishadsThe Brhadāranyaka UpanishadA Brief Look at Some Other Upanishads7 The BhagavadgītaThe Historical and Literary Background of the GitaAn Overview of the Bhagavadgīta8 BuddhismThe Story of the BuddhaEthical Philosophy of the DhammapadaThe Expansion of Buddhist Thought9 Nyāya and VaisesikaNyāyaVaisesika10 Sāmkhya and YogaSāmkhyaYoga11 Pūrva Mimāmsā and VedāntaPūrva MimāmsāVedānta12 Modern ThoughtVivekanandaAurobindoTagoreGandhiKrishnamurtiRadhakrishnanAppendix 1: Possible Topics for Essay 1Appendix 2: Possible Topics for Essay 2Appendix 3: How to Write an EssayWorks CitedIndex

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Book SynopsisAn exceptional contribution to the teaching and study of Chinese thought, this anthology provides fifty-eight selections arranged chronologically in five main sections: Han Thought, Chinese Buddhism, Neo-Confucianism, Late Imperial Confucianism, and the Twentieth Century. The editors have selected writings that have been influential, that are philosophically engaging, and that can be understood as elements of an ongoing dialogue, particularly on issues regarding ethical cultivation, human nature, virtue, government, and the underlying structure of the universe. Within those topics, issues of contemporary interest, such as Chinese ideas about gender and the experiences of women, are brought to light. Introductions to each main section provide an overview of the period, while brief headnotes to selections highlight key points. The translations are the works of many distinguished scholars, and were chosen for their accuracy and accessibility, especially for students, general readers, and scholars who do not read Chinese. Special effort has been made to maintain consistency of key terms across translations. Also included are a glossary, bibliography, index of names, and an index locorum of The Four Books.

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Book SynopsisA shorter and less technical treatment of its subject than the author’s acclaimed Buddhism As Philosophy (second edition, Hackett, 2021), Mark Siderits's The Buddha’s Teachings As Philosophy explores three different systems of thought that arose from core claims of the Buddha. By detailing and critically examining key arguments made by the Buddha and developed by later Buddhist philosophers, Siderits investigates the Buddha's teachings as philosophy: a set of claims—in this case, claims about the nature of the world and our place in it—supported by rational argumentation and, here, developed with a variety of systematic results. The Buddha’s Teachings As Philosophy will be especially useful to students of philosophy, religious studies, and comparative religion—to anyone, in fact, encountering Buddhist philosophy for the first time.Trade Review"The philosopher Vasubandhu described the Buddha's teaching as an immaculate path of reasons. There are few who know every twist and turn of this path as well as Mark Siderits, and this book is the perfect guide for those starting out on their way."—Sonam Kachru, University of Virginia"This intriguing yet accessible text critically examines Buddhist perspectives on central issues in metaphysics, ethics, and soteriology. It is an excellent choice for classes on Buddhist philosophy, non-Western philosophy, philosophy of religion, and introductions to philosophy."—Kris McDaniel, University of Notre Dame"Fantastic! Mark Siderits' Buddha’s Teachings as Philosophy is a lively but rigorous introduction to Buddhism's philosophical foundations and provides a glimpse of later interpretations of the Buddha's teachings. Siderits explains Buddhist ideas in such an accessible way that virtually no attentive student could fail to understand." –Geoffrey Bagwell, Spokane Community College

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Book SynopsisAn indispensable guide to koans, teaching the reader about the importance of lineage, the practice of “just sitting,” and koan practice as paths to awakening.“This marvelous book opens the treasure house of Zen and yet, happily, does not dispel its mystery. James Ford, an excellent storyteller and longtime Zen practitioner, presents a detailed and beautiful description of the craft of zazen, including “just sitting” and various forms of breath meditation—but focuses primarily on koan introspection. The power of koans, these 'public cases' from China, has never ceased to enrich my own experience of Zen. They are a medium of exploration of the history, culture, and view of Zen, but most importantly are a medium of awakening. James Ford is fundamentally a koan person, and for this, the book is particularly rich, opening the practice of koans in a splendid way. I am grateful for his long experience as a teacher and practitioner of this rare and powerful practice. Since the word koan has found its way into popular English usage, I am grateful too for the more nuanced and fertile view of koans that Ford presents. His definition of the word is telling: “a koan points to something of deep importance, and invites us to stand in that place.” He has also has created a wonderful translation of the Heart Sutra, Zen’s central scripture—and carefully opens up the heart of the Heart Sutra through scholarship and practice. Rich in textual sources and woven throughout with the perspectives of contemporary teachers, Introduction to Zen Koans sheds new light on ancient teachings. Through it, the reader will discover the importance of lineage, the traceless traces of the Zen ancestors, and the places of “just sitting” and koan practice as paths to awakening, as the great doorways into Zen.” —from the foreword by Joan Halifax  

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewKarapanagiotis skillfully examines the complex dynamic of a movement that originated in India with the specific mission of spreading throughout North America and Europe that eventually alienated its target converts. . . . This book will clearly be very useful for scholars of new religions, who will make up the majority of those wanting to know what happened with ISKCON after the lawsuits and scandals of the 1970s and 1980s. Students and scholars of religion and marketing in general will also find this book worth reading. However, it will also appeal more widely to a general audience because it is a well written and carefully argued study. -- Susannah Crockford * Nova Religio *Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsNote on TransliterationIntroduction1. A Brief History of ISKCON: 1965-present2. Contextualizing the Krishna Branders3. Krishna Gets a New PR Team: Branding ISKCON as a Meditative Social Club4. Branding ISKCON as the Heart of Yoga5. Krishna West: ISKCON Must Be Reinvented, Not (Just) RebrandedConclusionGlossaryBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisOffers a robust understanding of materiality from a feminist point of viewTrade ReviewThis richly layered collection of essays explores materiality from the perspectives of an international group of feminist theorists. The editors categorize the essays into three sections: Material Theory, Material World, and Material Bodies. In the introduction, the editors argue that feminist theorists tend "to focus on the discursive at the expense of the material." Rather than the concept of mind over matter, this work maintains that matter and mind are equal forces, and that there are real consequences to placing one above the other. After defining the theory, section two looks at nature, which the editors state is "entangled with the nature of philosophy, politics, literature, and popular culture." The third section grounds the other two, giving body to the theories of material feminisms. It is in this last section that readers can see how feminist theory can embrace matter without hierarchy. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students, faculty. -- K.G. Saulton * Choice *. . . Material Feminisms . . . clearly charts new theoretical waters, demonstrating how feminist thinking about materiality suffuses multiple disciplines and keeps them in lively conversation with one another. . . . [It] provide[s] succinct and rich overviews of where feminist studies, especially feminist technoscience studies, stands today. . . . Material Feminisms includes articles that address race, ethnicity, and disability. -- Olivia P. Banner * SIGNS *. . . clearly charts new theoretical waters, demonstrating how feminist thinking about materiality suffuses multiple disciplines and keeps them in lively conversation with one another. . . . provide[s] succinct and rich overviews of where feminist studies, especially feminist technoscience studies, stands today. -- Olivia P. Banner * University of California, Los Angeles *This richly layered collection of essays explores materiality from the perspectives of an international group of feminist theorists. . . . Recommended.November 2008 -- K.G. Saulton * Capella University *Table of ContentsContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Emerging Models of Materiality in Feminist Theory / Stacy Alaimo and Susan HekmanPart 1. Material Theory1. Darwin and Feminism: Preliminary Investigations for a Possible Alliance / Elizabeth Grosz2. On Not Becoming Man: The Materialist Politics of Unactualized Potential / Claire Colebrook3. Constructing the Ballast: An Ontology for Feminism / Susan Hekman4. Posthumanist Performativity: Toward an Understanding of How Matter Comes to Matter / Karen BaradPart 2. Material World5. Otherworldly Conversations, Terran Topics, Local Terms / Donna J. Haraway6. Viscous Porosity: Witnessing Katrina / Nancy Tuana7. Natural Convers(at)ions: Or, What if Culture Was Really Nature All Along? / Vicki Kirby8. Trans-Corporeal Feminisms and the Ethical Space of Nature / Stacy Alaimo9. Landscape, Memory, and Forgetting: Thinking through (My Mother's) Body and Place / Catriona Mortimer-SandilandsPart 3. Material Bodies10. Disability Experience on Trial / Tobin Siebers11. How Real Is Race? / Michael Hames-García12. From Race/Sex/Etc. to Glucose, Feeding Tube, and Mourning: The Shifting Matter of Chicana Feminism / Suzanne Bost13. Organic Empathy: Feminism, Psychopharmaceuticals and the Embodiment of Depression / Elizabeth A. Wilson14. Cassie's Hair / Susan BordoList of ContributorsIndex

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Book SynopsisThe authors consider the intersection of Daoism and ecology, looking at the theoretical and historical implications associated with a Daoist approach to the environment. They also analyze perspectives found in Daoist religious texts and within the larger Chinese cultural context in order to delineate key issues found in the classical texts.

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Book SynopsisHis discourses on yoga and its philosophy will help every individual who is looking to tread down the path of enlightenment through meditation and contemplation

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewConfucius taught that 'virtue is never solitary; it always has neighbors.' (4.25). Based on the best modern and traditional Chinese and Western scholarship, Edward Slingerland's exemplary new translation of the Analects—including selections from the traditional commentaries on each passage of the text—is a welcome edition. Contemporary readers will be enlightened as to what Confucius taught his disciples and will share the experience of being a neighbor to all the generations of students who have pondered the sometimes cryptic and enigmatic words of Confucius. Slingerland's use of commentary gives readers a fighting chance at understanding and appreciating this foundational Confucian classic. --John Berthrong, Boston UniversityThis work not only exemplifies meticulous research and scrupulous craft of translation, it also offers a new perspective for Analects scholarship and a new model for Analects translation. Edward Slingerland should be congratulated for providing such an invaluable service to American college students as well as the scholarly community at large. There is much for us to learn from this new translation, and we are all indebted to its author. --Yuet Keung Lo, China Review InternationalEdward Slingerland's new translation of the Confucian Analects is something that we have long needed: an accurate, lucid rendition paired with helpful explanations and reference material, including selections from the most important traditional commentaries. General readers and students will find no more accessible, reliable entree to this difficult and seminal text. This new Analects is an extraordinary contribution and should by rights become the preferred starting-point for English-language readers. --David Schaberg, University of California, Los Angeles

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Book SynopsisJiddu Krishnamurti (1895-1986) rose from humble beginnings to become a leading spiritual and philosophical thinker. His works continue to influence thousands of people around the world; Joseph Campbell, Alan Watts, Eckhart Tolle and Deepak Chopra have all been indebted to him. And yet he belonged to no religion, sect or country. Nor did he subscribe to any school of political or ideological thought. On the contrary, Krishnamurti maintained that these are the very factors that divide human beings and bring about conflict and war – an approach that makes his teachings particularly appealing in our own times.The Flight of the Eagle is regarded as one of Krishnamurti’s key works, grappling with themes such as freedom, change, peace, violence and – finally – the transcendental and the unknown.Trade ReviewOne of the greatest thinkers of the age. -- His Holiness the Dalai LamaIn my own life, Krishnamurti influenced me profoundly and helped me personally break through the confines of my own self-imposed restrictions to my freedom. -- Deepak ChopraKrishnamurti’s words offer the intimate spirit of a truly remarkable presence: poetic, gracious, vast as the sky, and wonderfully wise -- Jack KornfieldI feel the meaning of Krishnamurti for our time is that one has to think for oneself and not be swayed by any outside religions or spiritual authorities. -- Van Morrison

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Book SynopsisThe Bhagavad Gita opens with a crisis - Prince Arjuna despairs on the battlefield, unsure if he should fight his kinsmen in a dreadful war. For Easwaran, the Gita's epic battle represents the war in our own hearts and Arjuna's anguish reflects the human condition: torn between opposing forces, confused about how to live. Sri Krishna's timeless guidance, Easwaran argues, can shed light on our dilemmas today. Placing the Gita's teachings in a modern context, Easwaran explores the nature of reality, the illusion of separateness, the search for identity, the meaning of yoga, and how to heal the unconscious. The key message of the Gita is how to resolve our conflicts and live in harmony with the deep unity of life, through the practice of meditation and spiritual disciplines. Sri Krishna doesn't tell Arjuna what to do. He points out the prince's choices, and then leaves it to Arjuna to decide. Easwaran shows us clearly how these teachings still apply - and how, like Arjuna, we must take courage and act wisely if we want our world to thrive.Trade Review"It is impossible to get to the heart of those classics unless you live them, and [Easwaran] did live them. My admiration of the man and his works is boundless." - H U S T O N S M I T H, author of The World's Religions (Reviewing Easwaran's translation, The Bhagavad Gita)Table of ContentsPreface: The Wisdom of India Introduction 1. The War Within 2. The Search for Reality 3. The Higher and Lower Mind 4. The Causes of Delusion 5. Yoga as the Way Forward 6. Meditation 7. Yoga in Daily Life 8. Yoga in Work and Relationships 9. Healing the Unconscious 10. Death and the Continuity of Life 11. Spiritual Evolution 12. Faith and Incarnation 13. The End of Sorrow: Portraits of the Illumined Person Further Reading Glossary Favorite Verses from the Gita Index

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Book SynopsisTHIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU • to appreciate the variety, subtlety and wisdom of a unique philosophical tradition • to understand the major schools of thought that have shaped Chinese civilization • to draw on a rich cultural resource for different perspectives on questions of our time • to recognize traditional concepts that continue to inform Chinese thinking today China, an emerging superpower, is heir to an ancient civilization that owes little to outside influences. This compelling introduction to Chinese philosophy describes the major traditional schools of thought that continue to underpin much of Chinese thinking today. It includes an outline of the country’s early history, and traces the development of Chinese thought, which evolved in a continuum and generally in isolation from the rest of the world, from the earliest concerns with ritual and divination until the arrival of Buddhism in the first century. The best known strand of Chinese philosophy is Confucianism, which is basically a philosophy of relationships between different levels in a hierarchy, from the ruler down to the individual. In complete contrast, the almost contemporary school of Laozi espoused the wisdom and freedom of the Dao, based on the concept of alignment with nature and reverence for the environment. There followed schools of analytical logic, Legalism, and the arrival of Buddhism, which became associated in China with the mystical writings of Laozi, adding the dimension of compassion. These schools gradually fused in a neo-Confucian synthesis that went unchallenged in China until the encounter with the West. The book touches on the relationship between philosophical thought and politics, and brings the reader up to date by looking at the considered way in which China has adapted foreign ideas in modern times. Written by a distinguished author in clear, everyday language, it is a fascinating and accessible introduction to an important subject. ACCESS THE WORLD'S PHILOSOPHIES Simple Guides: Philosophy is a series of concise introductions to the major philosophies of the world. Written by experts in the field, these accessible guides offer a fascinating account of the rich variety of arguments, ideas and systems of thought articulated by different cultures in the attempt to explore and define the nature of reality and the meaning, purpose and proper conduct of life. The Simple Guides will appeal to analytical thinkers and spiritual seekers alike. Taken together, they provide a basic introduction to the evolution of human thought, and a point of reference for further exploration and discovery. By offering essential insights into the world views of different societies, they also enable travellers to behave in way that fosters mutual respect and understanding.Table of ContentsThe Earliest Traces - The Yijing - Daoism - The Teachings of Zhuangzi - Confucius - Mozi, The First Opponent of Confucius - Xunzi, Critic of Mencius - The School of Names - Legalism - The Rise and Fall of The Empire of Qin - Buddhism in China - The Neo-Confucian Synthesis - From Tang to Qing - The End of the Confucian Empire - Philosophy After the Empire - Philosophy After Mao

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Book SynopsisIndia has a long, rich, and diverse tradition of philosophical thought, spanning some two and a half millennia and encompassing several major religious traditions.This Very Short Introduction emphasizes the diversity of Indian thought, and is structured around six schools which have achieved classic status. Sue Hamilton explores how the traditions have attempted to understand the nature of reality in terms of an inner or spiritual quest, and introduces distinctively Indian concepts such as karma and rebirth. She also shows how Indian thinkers have understood issues of reality and knowledge -- issues which are also an important part of the Western philosophical tradition. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewIndian Philosophy by Sue Hamilton, the perfect gift for anyone who wishes to sort out their karma and nirvana * The Independent Weekend Review 02/06/01 *Table of ContentsPreface ; Introduction ; 1. The Brahmanical beginnings: Vedic sacrifice and the early Upanisads ; 2. Beyond Brahmanism: the Buddha and other renouncers ; 3. Issues and justifications: language, grammar, and the emerging of polemics ; 4. Nyaya and Vaisesika ; 5. Developments in Buddhist thought: Abhidharma, Madhyamaka, and Yogicara ; 6. Yoga and Samkhya ; 7. Grammar again, and the exegetical traditions: Bhartrhari, Mimamsa, and Vedanta ; Further reading ; Index

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Book SynopsisPyrrhonian Buddhism reconstructs the path to enlightenment shared both by early Buddhists and the ancient Greek sceptics inspired by Pyrrho of Elis, who may have had extended contacts with Buddhists when he accompanied Alexander the Great to India in the third century BCE.This volume explores striking parallels between early Buddhism and Pyrrhonian scepticism, suggesting their virtual identity. Both movements saw beliefsâfictions mistaken for truthsâas the principal source of human suffering. Both practiced suspension of judgment about beliefs to obtain release from suffering, and to achieve enlightenment, which the Buddhists called bodhi and the Pyrrhonists called ataraxia. And both came to understand the structure of human experience without belief, which the Buddhists called dependent origination and the Pyrrhonists described as phenomenalistic atomism.This book is intended for the general reader, as well as historians, classicists, Buddhist scholars, philoTable of ContentsPreface; 1. West Meets East; 2. Diogenes Laertius; 3. Sextus Empiricus; 4. Timon and Aulus Gellius; 5. Pragmata and Dependent Origination; 6. Emptiness and the Suspension of Belief; 7. Ataraxia and Bodhi; Bibliography; Index

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Book SynopsisThis careful analysis of early Buddhist thought opens out a perspective in which no permanent Self is accepted, but a rich analysis of changing and potent mental processes is developed. Explores issues relating to self-development, moral responsibility and the between-lives period, and more.Trade Review'Anyone interested in Buddhism, psychospiritual/yogic processes, and the phenomenology of meditation/ecstasy will unquestionably find this book a treasure trove.' - www.yrec.infoTable of ContentsIntroduction; I: Exploring the Notion of Selflessness; 1: The Question of Self; 2: The Meaning of ‘Not-Self'; 3: Developing a Self Without Boundaries; 4: Personal Continuity and Responsibility; 5: My World and its End; 6: The Life-Principle and the Between-Lives State; II: Sa?s?ric and Nibb?nic Discernment; 7: The Centrality of Discernment; 8: Discernment and Conditioned Arising; 9: Discernment and the Perceptual Process; 10: Bhava?ga and the Brightly Shining Mind; 11: Nibb?na as the Timeless ‘Stopping' of the Entire Personality; 12: Nibb?na as a Transformed State of Discernment; 13: Seeking The Tath?gata; 14: Conclusion

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Book SynopsisExamining the evolution of the Confucian doctrine of tianxia (all under heaven), which aspires to a unitary worldview that cherishes global justice and transcends social divides, the contributors show how it has shaped China's political organization, foreign policy, and worldview from the Han dynasty to the present.Trade Review“Chinese Visions of World Order is the best kind of edited volume; it gives the impression that its diverse array of contributions have been curated rather than commissioned.” -- Salvatore Babones * MCLC Resource Center *"Compiles a fascinating multiplicity of philosophical thoughts and historiographic accounts of the Chinese tianxia . . . . A good read for anyone interested in Chinese intellectual history and philosophy." -- Nele Noesselt * The China Quarterly *Table of ContentsIntroduction / Ban Wang 1 Part I. Tianxia, Confucianism, and Empire 1. Tianxia and the Invention of Empire in East Asia / Mark Edward Lewis and Hsieh Mei-yu 25 2. From Empire to State: Kang Youwei, Confucian Universalism, and Unity / Wang Hui 49 3. The Chinese World Order and Planetary Sustainability / Prasenjit Duara 65 Part II. Tianxia, Cross-Cultural Learning, and Cosmopolitanism 4. The Moral Vision in Kang Youwei's Book of the Great Community / Ban Wang 87 5. Greek Antiquity, Chinese Modernity, and the Changing World Order / Yiquan Zhou 106 6. Realizing Tianxia: Traditional Values and China's Foreign Policy / Daniel A. Bell 129 Part III. Tianxia and Socialist Internationalism 7. Tianxia and Postwar Japanese Sinologists' Vision of the Chinese Revolution: The Cases of Nishi Junzō and Mizoguchi Yūzō / Viren Murthy 149 8. China's Lost World of Internationalism / Lin Chun 177 9. China's Tianxia Worldlings: Socialist and Postsocialist Cosmopolitanisms / Lisa Rofel 212 Part IV. Tianxia and Its Discontents 10. The Soft Power of the Constant Soldier: or, Why We Should Stop Worrying and Learn to Love the PLA / Haiyan Lee 237 11. Tracking Tianxia: On Intellectual Self-Positioning / Chishen Chang and Kuan-Hsing Chen 267 Bibliography 293 Contributors 319 Index 323

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Book SynopsisChristian theologians have for some decades affirmed that they have no monopoly on encounters with God or ultimate reality and that other religions also have access to religious truth and transformation. If that is the case, the time has come for Christians not only to learn about but also from their religious neighbors. Circling the Elephant affirms that the best way to be truly open to the mystery of the infinite is to move away from defensive postures of religious isolationism and self-sufficiency and to move, in vulnerability and openness, toward the mystery of the neighbor.Employing the ancient Indian allegory of the elephant and blind(folded) men, John J. Thatamanil argues for the integration of three often-separated theological projects: theologies of religious diversity (the work of accounting for why there are so many different understandings of the elephant), comparative theology (the venture of walking over to a different side of the elephant), and constructiTable of ContentsPreface: Autobiography and Comparative Theology | xi Note on Transliteration | xix Introduction: Revisiting an Old Tale | 1 1 Religious Difference and Christian Theology: Thinking About, Thinking With, and Thinking Through | 21 2 The Limits and Promise of Exclusivism and Inclusivism: Assessing Major Options in Theologies of Religious Diversity | 41 3 No One Ascends Alone: Toward a Relational Pluralism | 70 4 Comparative Theology after Religion? | 108 5 Defining the Religious: Comprehensive Qualitative Orientation | 152 6 The Hospitality of Receiving: Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Interreligious Learning | 193 7 God as Ground, Singularity, and Relation: Trinity and Religious Diversity | 213 8 This Is Not a Conclusion | 249 Acknowledgments | 259 Notes | 263 Index | 289

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Book SynopsisShows that the Pure Land tradition informed twentieth-century Japanese thought in profound and surprising ways and suggests that it might do the same for twenty-first-century thinkers. The critical power of Pure Land utopianism has yet to be exhausted.

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Book SynopsisWritten by the author of The Zen Book and Zen Cards, Zen Life is a compilation of 108 Zen stories and aphorisms, ancient and modern, which are meant to be opened at random and consulted for their wisdom and insights.

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Book SynopsisThis clearly written text explores the breadth of Buddhist philosophy and its historical unfolding. It considers the basic teachings of the Buddha, and the value of meditation for improving and shaping one's life. This Second Edition includes new chapters on Buddhist ethics and meditative practices for living a flourishing life.Table of ContentsPart I. A Sketch of the Buddha and the Dhamma: 1. The life of Siddhattha Gotama; 2. The contexts for the emergence of Buddhism; 3. The basic teachings of the Buddha; 4. One Buddhism or many Buddhisms?; Part II. Details of the Dhamma; 5. Kamma, Samsara, and rebirth; 6. Interdependent arising; 7. Impermanence, no-enduring-self, and emptiness; 8. Moksa and Nibbana; Part III. Development of the Dhamma/Dharma: 9. Bodhidharma's and Huineng's Buddhisms; 10. Pure Land Buddhism ; 11. Tibetan Buddhism; 12. Two forms of contemporary Buddhism; Part IV. Applications and Assessment of the Dhamma/Dharma: 13. Applied Buddhist Ethics or Engaged Buddhism; 14. Buddhist Epistemology and Buddhist Meditation.

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