Sacred texts, scriptures and revered writings Books

Book SynopsisThe Qur'an, believed by Muslims to be the word of God, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad 1400 years ago. It is the supreme authority in Islam and the living source of all Islamic teaching. Recognized as the greatest literary masterpiece in Arabic, it has nevertheless remained difficult to understand in its English translations. This new translation is written in a contemporary idiom that remains faithful to the original, making it easy to read while retainingits powers of eloquence.Trade Review'one of the best [translations] to have appeared in recent times' * Muslim News *'accessible and compelling...a remarkable achievement' * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisThus, unlike other editions of the Gita, this one is presented as it is--without the slightest taint of adulteration or personal motivation. This edition is certain to stimulate and enlighten with its ancient yet thoroughly timely message.

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Book SynopsisWhile Buddhism has no central text such as the Bible or the Koran, there is a powerful body of scripture from across Asia that encompasses the dharma, or the teachings of Buddha. This rich anthology brings together works from a broad historical and geographical range, and from languages such as Pali, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese. There are tales of the Buddha''s past lives, a discussion of the qualities and qualifications of a monk, and an exploration of the many meanings of Enlightenment. Together they provide a vivid picture of the Buddha and of the vast nature of the Buddhist tradition.Table of ContentsBuddhist ScripturesAcknowledgments Technical Note Introduction: Digesting the Dharma Further ReadingThe Buddhist Universe 1. The Realms of Rebirth 2. A Call to Practise 3. Karma Tales 4. A Lesson from a Ghost 5. A Scripture that Protects Kings 6. One Buddha per Universe 7. Two Buddhas Seated Side by Side 8. Rebirth in the Land of Bliss 9. Avoiding Hell, Gaining Heaven 10. A Chinese Pilgrim in India 11. A Sacred Peak 12. Maitreya Describes the FutureThe Buddha 13. The Three Jewels 14. The Noble Search 15. A Life of the Buddha 16. Maya, Mother of the Buddha 17. Why the Buddha Had Good Digestion 18. A King Gives Away His Head 19. Rupyavati Gives Away Her Breasts 20. How the Buddha Became a Bodhisattva 21. Proving the Buddha 22. Enshrining a Relic 23. The Consecration of a Buddha Image 24. A Hymn to the BuddhaMonastic Life 25. The Evolution of Ordination 26. Making Men into Monks 27. A Murderer Becomes a Monk 28. The Ascetic Ideal 29. Monks in the Mahayana 30. Making New Monastic Rules 31. Lives of Eminent Monks and Nuns 32. The Nine Patriarchs of the East 33. Taking the Vinaya Across the Sea 34. Zen for National Defence 35. How a Monk Freed his Mother from Hell 36. Living in the Degenerate AgeMeditation and Other Rituals 37. The Direct Path to Enlightenment 38. Wisdom and Compassion 39. Serenity and Discernment 40. On the Relation of Study and Meditation 41. Both Sudden and Gradual Enlightenment 42. Reciting the Name of the Buddha 43. The Bodhisattva Vow 44. Freeing Birds and Fish from Bondage 45. Against Animal Sacrifice 46. Feeding Hungry Ghosts 47. A Sutra for Long Life 48. Transforming Death into BuddhahoodEnlightenment 49. A Lay Minister of Meditation 50. Nuns Triumph Over Evil 51. The Perfection of Wisdom 52. In Praise of Reality 53. Songs of the Siddhas 54. The Ultimate Couple 55. Buddhahood in this Lifetime 56. The Practice of No Thought 57. Finding Enlightenment in the Final Age 58. The Gift of Faith 59. A Zen Master Interprets the Dharma 60. Dedication of MeritGlossary

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Book Synopsis''I have heard the supreme mystery, yoga, from Krishna, from the lord of yoga himself.''Thus ends the Bhagavad Gita, the most famous episode from the great Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata. In its eighteen short chapters Krishna''s teaching leads the warrior Arjuna from perplexity to understanding and correct action, in the process raising and developing many key themes from the history of Indian religions.The Bhagavad Gita is the best known and most widely read Hindu religious text in the Western world. It considers social and religious duty, the nature of sacrifice, the nature of action, the means to liberation, and the relationship of human beings to God. It culminates in an awe-inspiring vision of Krishna as God omnipotent, disposer and destroyer of the universe.ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade Review'an excellent primer in the Hindu belief system' * Daily Telegraph, October 1994 *'freshly accessible to a Western readership...The presentation is both scholarly and inviting. * Good Book Guide, January 1995 *

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Book SynopsisA stylish pocket version of the English Standard Version Bible with hardwearing soft-touch binding, presentation page and ribbon marker. Ideal for personal use or as a gift.The English Standard Version is a highly accurate translation of the Bible from the original sources. It sits in the classic stream of word-for-word Bible translations, using the Revised Standard Version as a base, but incorporates all the most recent advances in modern language use. It combines the utmost accuracy with readability and literary beauty.The Translation Oversight Committee and Translation Review Board are composed of evangelical scholars from many different denominations and from various countries. Setting aside doctrinal difference and personal preferences they have striven to render the closest possible equivalent to the original in modern English.This new Compact typesetting uses a clearer, larger typeface to enhance readability, and also includes a short concordance to aid study.Trade Review“With majesty of language and clarity of thought – the ESV is a grand accomplishment”Dr. Ravi Zacharias, Author and Speaker “We are building all our future ministry around the ESV…”John Piper, Pastor for Preaching and Vision, Bethlehem Baptist Church “I highly recommend the English Standard Version (ESV) to you”Joni Eareckson Tada, Founder, President, Joni and Friends

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Book SynopsisAmong the oldest of India's spiritual texts, the Upanishads are records of intensive question-and-answer sessions given by illumined sages to their students - in ashrams, at family gatherings, in a royal court, and in the kingdom of Death. The sages share flashes of insight, extraordinary visions, the results of their investigation into consciousness itself. The Upanishads have puzzled and inspired wisdom seekers from Yeats to Schopenhauer. In this best-selling translation, Eknath Easwaran makes these challenging texts more accessible by selecting the passages most relevant to readers seeking timeless truths today. This book includes an overview of the cultural and historical setting, with chapter introductions, notes, and a Sanskrit glossary. But it is Easwaran's understanding of the wisdom of the Upanishads that makes this edition truly outstanding. Each sage, each Upanishad, appeals in a different way to the reader's head and heart. For Easwaran, the Upanishads are part of India's precious legacy, not just to Hinduism but to humanity, and in that spirit they are offered here.Trade Review“No one in modern times is more qualified – no, make that ‘as qualified’ – to translate the epochal Classics of Indian Spirituality than Eknath Easwaran. And the reason is clear. It is impossible to get to the heart of those classics unless you live them, and he did live them. My admiration of the man and his works is boundless.” – Huston Smith, author of The World’s ReligionsTable of ContentsTable of Contents Foreword 7 Introduction 13 ISHA 51 The Inner Ruler KATHA 61 Death as Teacher BRIHADARANYAKA 93 The Forest of Wisdom CHANDOGYA 119 Sacred Song SHVETASHVATARA 153 The Faces of God MUNDAKA 179 Modes of Knowing MANDUKYA 197 Consciousness & Its Phases KENA 207 Who Moves the World? PRASHNA 219 The Breath of Life TAITTIRIYA 239 Ascent to Joy AITAREYA 263 The Unity of Life MINOR UPANISHADS Beads of Wisdom TEJOBINDU 283 ATMA 286 AMRITABINDU 288 PARAMAHAMSA 291 Afterword 295 A Religion for Modern Times by Michael N. Nagler Glossary 337 Notes 345 Index 377

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Book SynopsisThe Bhagavad Gita, "The Song of the Lord," is probably the best known of all the Indian scriptures, and Easwaran's clear, accessible translation is the best-selling edition. The Gita opens dramatically, with prince Arjuna collapsing in anguish on the brink of a war that he doesn't want to fight. Arjuna has lost his way on the battlefield of life, and turns to his spiritual guide, Sri Krishna, the Lord himself. Krishna replies in 700 verses of sublime instruction on living and dying, loving and working, and the nature of the soul. This book includes an extensive and very readable introduction, which places the Gita in its historical setting, explains the key concepts, and brings out the universality of its teachings. Individual chapter introductions prepare the reader for the main themes, and notes, a Sanskrit glossary, and an index are included. Although the battlefield is a perfect backdrop, for Easwaran the Gita's subject is the war within, the struggle for self-mastery that every human being must wage. Arjuna's dilemma is acutely modern, and the Gita's message remains as relevant for us now as it was for ancient India.Trade Review“No one in modern times is more qualified — no, make that ‘as qualified’ — to translate the epochal Classics of Indian Spirituality than Eknath Easwaran. And the reason is clear. It is impossible to get to the heart of those classics unless you live them, and he did live them. My admiration of the man and his works is boundless.”— Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions"The translation...is smooth, eloquent, and reliable...[I] would unhesitatingly recommend Easwaran to someone searching for the spirituality of the Gita." — Choice [1st edition]

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Book SynopsisThis humble effort is an attempt to facilitate the Tilaawah of The Holy Quran with proper Tajweed.

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Book SynopsisWith an attractive new slipcase and binding, this pocket-sized white Bible is an ideal gift for any special occasion, including confirmation, weddings or first communion.The full text of the ever-popular Authorized King James Version Bible, with all its literary beauty and poetic grandeur, in an attractive small size and with beautiful binding and slipcase making it an ideal gift.

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Book SynopsisThe Analects express a philosophy, or a moral code, by which the author, one of the most humane thinkers, believed everyone should live. Upholding the ideals of wisdom, self-knowledge, courage and love of one's fellow man, this title argues that the pursuit of virtue should be every individual's supreme goal.Trade Review“For more than two millennia, the teachings of Confucius have served as a guide for a substantial portion of humanity. English-language readers seeking to understand this remarkable body of thought are fortunate to have Annping Chin’s highly readable and judiciously annotated edition of The Analects.” —Henry A. Kissinger“An astonishingly lucid exposition of The Analects. A kind of serene insight pervades the commentaries.” —Harold Bloom“An incomparable new volume that combines a fresh and sympathetic translation with a wonderfully readable annotation. It is a joy to use and will unlock a whole new level of meaning for English-language readers.” —Orville Schell, Director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations and co-author of Wealth and Power: China’s Long March to the Twenty-First CenturyTable of ContentsBook I; book II; book III; book IV; book V; book VI; book VII; book VIII; book IX; book X; book XI; book XII; book XIII; book XIV; book XV; book XVI; book XVII; book XVIII; book XIX; book XX. Appendices: events in the life of Confucius chronology; the disciples as they appear in "The Analects"; the Lun Yu.

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Book SynopsisToday’s foremost yoga researcher offers a clear and lively introduction to the history, philosophy, and practice of the Tantric spiritual tradition   Tantra—often associated with Kundalini Yoga—is a fundamental dimension of Hinduism, emphasizing the cultivation of “divine power” (shakti) as a path to infinite bliss. Tantra has been widely misunderstood in the West, however, where its practices are often confused with eroticism and licentious morality. Tantra: The Path of Ecstasy dispels many common misconceptions, providing an accessible introduction to the history, philosophy, and practice of this extraordinary spiritual tradition. The Tantric teachings are geared toward the attainment of enlightenment as well as spiritual power and are present not only in Hinduism but also Jainism and Vajrayana Buddhism. In this book, Georg Feuerstein offers readers a clear understanding of authentic Tantra, as well as appropriate guidance for spiritual practice and the attainment of higher consciousness.

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive guide to Kundalini, Chakras, and Kriya Yoga in Tantra. Covers theory, practices, and scientific research. Essential for Yoga and Tantra students.

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Book SynopsisJanet Soskice grew up in Canada and has lived for some years in England where she is Reader in Philosophical Theology at Jesus College, University of Cambridge. As well as lecturing around the world, she writes for the Times and The Times Literary Supplement, and is a frequent contributor to radio and television.Trade ReviewThe hunt for early Bible manuscripts was among the most romantic of all the 19th century's grand quests... At the heart of this lively, inspiring double biography is the story of how a pair of spirited Presbyterian women made their own extraordinary discovery * Sunday Times *A bracing and moving book...a reminder of the ardour, hardship and energy invested in the pursuit of knowledge and that endlessly inquiring and industrious Victorian age * New York Times *This pacy tale involves not only an Indiana Jones-like quest, but camel rides across the Sinai desert, trips up the Nile, bickerings, misunderstandings and confusions... A cracking tale of two irresistible characters * Herald *[A] luminous new study... Sisters of Sinai is by turns a rattling adventure yarn - thick with roving Bedouin and ancient tombs - and a testament to the power of perseverance * Washington Post *Marvellous... A fine, fascinating account * Los Angeles Times *

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Book SynopsisFor thousands of years, no book has been more shrouded in mystery than the Zohar, yet no book offers us greater wisdom. The central text of Kabbalah, the Zohar is a commentary on the Bible’s narratives, laws, and genealogies and a map of the spiritual landscape. In The Essential Zohar, the eminent kabbalist Rav P. S. Berg decodes its teachings on evil, redemption, human relationships, wealth and poverty, and other fundamental concerns from a practical, contemporary perspective. The Zohar and Kabbalah have traditionally been known as the world’s most esoteric sources of spiritual knowledge, but Rav Berg has dedicated his life to making this concentrated distillation of infinite wisdom available to people of all faiths so that we may use its principles to live each day in harmony with the divine.

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Book Synopsis'An amazingly wide-ranging book, showing that the world's religious texts can be a force for good today' John Barton, author of A History of the BibleIn our increasingly secular world, holy texts are at best seen as irrelevant, and at worst as an excuse to incite violence, hatred and division. The Quran, the Torah and the Bible are often employed selectively to underwrite arbitrary and subjective views. They are believed to be divinely ordained; they are claimed to contain eternal truths. But as Karen Armstrong, a world authority on religious affairs, shows in this fascinating journey through millennia of history, this narrow reading of scripture is a relatively recent phenomenon. Armstrong argues that only by rediscovering an open engagement with their holy texts will the world’s religions be able to curtail arrogance and intolerance. And if scripture is used to engage with the world in more meaningful and compassionate ways, we will find that it still has a great deal to teach us.‘Magisterial… A dazzling accomplishment’ New York Times‘Glorious… Armstrong is the most articulate and generous-hearted exegete of religion writing in English at the present time’ A.N. Wilson, New StatesmanTrade Review'Karen Armstrong has written an amazingly wide-ranging book, showing that the world's religious texts can be a force for good today, rather than a cause of conflict. The scale of her knowledge never ceases to astonish' -- John Barton, author of A History of the BibleA triumph... Karen Armstrong is one of our great commentators on the sacred. In this book she explores the sacred texts with a scholar’s eye and an illuminating clarity suggesting how much their wisdom and lasting power are still needed today -- Salley Vickers[The Lost Art of Scripture] takes us on a glorious journey… Armstrong is the most articulate and generous-hearted exegete of religion writing in English at the present time -- AN Wilson * New Statesman *Rich and wide-ranging… [The Lost Art of Scripture] makes a fascinating read… a treasure chest of social and religious history. Armstrong’s lucid prose makes her many-stranded story remarkably straightforward to follow… a learned and stimulating book -- Teresa Morgan * Tablet *A remarkable book by a remarkable writer… the author’s mission is urgent in the light of the uses to which the world’s scriptures are sometimes put -- Rev Dr Neil Richardson * Methodist Recorder *The Lost Art of Scripture… exhibits [Armstrong’s] well-known and admired characteristics as a writer: an ability to be both authoritative on all the major faiths…a reasoned insistence that religion today is misunderstood, as much by the religious as by their critics; and a passionate appeal to our fractious and fractured world to embrace religion’s core message…compassion and respect for others -- Peter Stanford * Sunday Times *Magisterial ... a dazzling accomplishment, a reflection of an encyclopaedic knowledge of comparative religion and of a wisdom about spirituality in the human species * New York Times Book Review *Exhilarating, challenging and curiously comforting… [The Lost Art of Scripture has] been written not only with intellectual rigour and an accessible turn of phrase, but also with love -- Lucy Winkett * Prospect *One of our best living writers on religion * Financial Times *Karen Armstrong is a genius -- A.N. WilsonKaren Armstrong is one of the handful of wise and supremely intelligent commentators on religion -- Alain De BottonA fascinating excursion into neo-Gnosticism… Armstrong…has clearly done an enormous amount of reading and research to handle so skilfully the mass of material she surveys -- Jack Carrigan * Catholic Herald *[Armstrong] weaves…[a] truly vast history into a coherent and fascinating narrative… an interesting and very well-written book -- Gavin Flood * Church Times *An epic story with a polemical edge… [a] lucid account of the evolution of sacred text… The Lost Art of Scripture is an impressive achievement, presenting a wide sweep of global religious history in little more than five hundred pages… Armstrong is…an accomplished and fluent writer * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisChronicles the mythical origins of Japan's islands and their ruling dynasty through a diverse array of genealogies, tales, and songsTrade ReviewAn accomplished and approachable translation of a crucially important work that has been desperately in need of such a new rendition. -- David Lurie, Columbia University A translation of the Kojiki that is accurate and faithful to the original and at the same time exciting to read. A key element of the Kojiki mythology is the power of naming, and Heldt's decision to translate the names of its various gods and royal figures has brought the narrative alive in a way that it has never been before in English. -- Torquil Duthie, University of California, Los Angeles Heldt's new, complete, and contemporary translation brings vibrancy and clarity to this often politicized work of ancient Japan. The poetry is rendered exquisitely, the narratives unfold with clarity; the translation itself is at once impeccable and imaginative. A master work that will generate discussions far into the future. -- James E. Ketelaar, University of Chicago The Kojiki has a lot to interest those with a strong passion for Japanese literature... an essential read if you have more than a superficial interest in the culture. Tony's Reading List For the reader willing to surrender his or her empirical insistencies - to luxuriate in the beauty of language - the Kojiki is time well spent. The Japan Times The first time a translator has gone so far as to translate the names of the spirits, rulers, and places, an addition that makes the text infinitely more meaningful. CHOICE This rich and accessible translation will be welcomed by specialists and students alike, and will no doubt invite renewed interest in the Kojiki as literature in the English reading audience. -- Ann Wehmeyer H-Asia Gustav Heldt's translation of the Kojiki provides the English-speaking reader with the easiest access to Japan's oldest extant book. Japanese Journal of Religious StudiesTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Preface Book One The First Generations of Spirits Izanagi and Izanami Amaterasu and Susa-no-o Okuni-nushi Hiko-ho-no-ninigi Ho-deri and Hoho-demi Book Two Sovereign Jinmu Sovereign Suisei Sovereign Annei Sovereign Itoku Sovereign Kosho Sovereign Koan Sovereign Korei Sovereign Kogen Sovereign Kaika Sovereign Sujin Sovereign Suinin Sovereign Keiko Sovereign Seimu Sovereign Chuai Sovereign Ojin Book Three Sovereign Nintoku Sovereign Richu Sovereign Hanzei Sovereign Ingyo Sovereign Anko Sovereign Yuryaku Sovereign Seinei Sovereign Kenzo Sovereign Ninken Sovereign Buretsu Sovereign Keitai Sovereign Ankan Sovereign Senka Sovereign Kinmei Sovereign Bidatsu Sovereign Yomei Sovereign Sushun Sovereign Suiko Glossary of General Terms Glossary of Personal Names Glossary of Place Names Map 1. Ancient Lands of Yamato Japan Map 2. Central Yamato Bibliography

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Book SynopsisA collection of funerary texts from a variety of sources, dating from the fifteenth to the fourth century BC. It consists of spells, prayers and incantations, and contains the words of power to overcome obstacles in the afterlife. It offers insights into ancient Egypt.

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Book SynopsisWritten in India in the early eighth century AD, Santideva's Bodhicaryavatara became one of the most popular accounts of the Buddhist spiritual path. Important as a manual of training among Mahayana Buddhists, especially in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, it continues to be used as the basis for teaching by modern Buddhist teachers. This is a new translation from the original Sanskrit, with detailed annotations explaining allusions and technical references. The Introductions set Santideva's work in context, and for the first time explain its structure.

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive manual for living a spiritual life, based on a verse-by-verse commentary on India’s timeless scripture – from the author of its best-selling translation.(The ebook The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living 9781586381455 includes all three volumes in this series.)The Bhagavad Gita is set on the battlefield of an apocalyptic war between good and evil. Faced with a dire moral dilemma, the warrior prince Arjuna turns in anguish to his spiritual guide, Sri Krishna, for answers to the fundamental questions of life.Easwaran points out that Arjuna’s crisis is acutely modern. The Gita’s battlefield is the struggle for self-mastery that every human being must wage. Arjuna represents each of us, and Sri Krishna is the Lord, instructing us in eighteen chapters of lofty wisdom as we face the social, environmental, and global challenges that threaten our world today.Easwaran is a spiritual teacher and author of deep insight and warmth. His verse-by-verse commentary interprets the Gita’s teachings for modern readers, explaining the Sanskrit concepts and philosophy and applying them with practicality, wisdom, and humor to every aspect of our work, our relationships, and our lives. With everyday anecdotes, stories, and examples, he shows that the changes we long to see in the world start with the transformation of our own consciousness.The practical exercises recommended by Easwaran to achieve transformation are part of a spiritual program he developed for his own life. They are accessible to people from all backgrounds and cultures. Urging us to adopt a higher image of the human being, he assures us that peace and unity are within reach.Each volume of this series covers six chapters of the Gita. Each may be read on its own, but all three volumes together form an in-depth, verse-by-verse explanation of this ancient scripture and its relevance today. Each volume includes instructions in Easwaran's universal eight-point program of passage meditation.Volume 1: The first six chapters of the Gita explore the concept of the innermost Self and source of wisdom in each of us. Easwaran explains how we can begin to transform ourselves, even as householders engaged in busy lives.Volume 2: The next six chapters of the Gita go beyond the individual Self to explore the Supreme Reality underlying all creation. Easwaran builds a bridge across the seeming divide between scientific knowledge and spiritual wisdom, and explains how the concept of the unity of life can help us in all our relationships.Volume 3: The final six chapters put forth an urgent appeal for us to begin to see that all of us are one – to make the connection between the Self within and the Reality underlying all creation. Global in scope, the emphasis is on what we can do to make a difference to heal our environment and establish peace in the world.Easwaran’s commentary is for all students of the Gita, whatever their background, and for anyone who is trying to find a path to wisdom, love, and kindness in themselves and our troubled world. Written as an authoritative, accessible guide to a much-loved scripture, it is a handbook for finding peace and clarity within.This second edition incorporates revisions made across all three volumes following the author’s final instructions.Trade ReviewNo one in modern times is more qualified — no make that ‘as qualified’ — to translate the epochal Classics of Indian Spirituality than Eknath Easwaran. And the reason is clear. It is impossible to get to the heart of those classics unless you live them, and he did live them. My admiration of the man and his works is boundless.” Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions.Table of ContentsTable of Contents FOREWORD TO THE FIRST EDITION A Living Tree 7 INTRODUCTION The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living 11 CHAPTER ONE The War Within 23 CHAPTER TWO Self-Realization 48 CHAPTER THREE Selfless Service 147 CHAPTER FOUR Wisdom in Action 213 CHAPTER FIVE Renounce and Rejoice 294 CHAPTER SIX The Practice of Meditation 334 Passage for Meditation 393 Glossary and Guide to Sanskrit Pronunciation 395

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Book SynopsisA beautiful book of illustrated Bible stories, retold by the world's best-loved cleric.Nobel prizewinner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, re-tells over fifty of his favourite Bible stories for an audience of young readers.From classics such as the stories of Noah and the calming of the storm, to less-known stories such as Naboth's Vineyard or Ruth, the Archbishop makes these time-honoured stories come to life in his own inimitable voice.The book has a truly international flavour, with illustrators from around the world contributing their interpretations of the stories. The result is a glorious, and great value, package that will inspire a generation of children and their carers.Trade ReviewShortlisted for the Christian Library Book Award 2011 ‘Accessible and heartwarming…The Children of God Storybook Bible will draw in everyone who hears it’ – The Times

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Book SynopsisOne of the most influential books in human history, in a revelatory new translation.China''s first and greatest teacher, Confucius traveled from state to state as an itinerant philosopher. The Analects preserves his major teachings, as compiled by his disciples after his death - everything from how people should relate to each other (the Golden Rule, which he was the first to define), to how a country should be organized (like a family), to how to lie in bed (not like a corpse).This new translation, by one of the pre-eminent scholars of Confucius, draws on the most recent excavated texts and latest scholarship. The historian Annping Chin sets out to illuminate the historical context of Confucius''s teachings, explaining who the many local figures referenced in The Analects are, and navigating a rich tradition of historical commentaries toTrade Review“For more than two millennia, the teachings of Confucius have served as a guide for a substantial portion of humanity. English-language readers seeking to understand this remarkable body of thought are fortunate to have Annping Chin’s highly readable and judiciously annotated edition of The Analects.” —Henry A. Kissinger“An astonishingly lucid exposition of The Analects. A kind of serene insight pervades the commentaries.” —Harold Bloom“An incomparable new volume that combines a fresh and sympathetic translation with a wonderfully readable annotation. It is a joy to use and will unlock a whole new level of meaning for English-language readers.” —Orville Schell, Director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations and co-author of Wealth and Power: China’s Long March to the Twenty-First Century

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Book SynopsisThe Koran is a book apart, not only as Holy Scripture for Muslims, but as the supreme classic of Arabic literature. In its 114 Suras, or chapters, it comprises the total of revelations believed to have been communicated to the prophet Muhammad as a final expression of God''s will and purpose for man. The revelations were received over a number of years, the first dating from AD 610, the last shortly before Muhammad''s death in AD 632, and the definitive canon was established some twenty years later. The Koran is neither prose nor poetry but a unique fusion of both. In his attempt to convey the sublime rhetoric of the original, Professor Arberry has carefully studied the intricate and richly varied rhythms which - apart from the message itself - serve to explain the Koran''s undeniable claim to rank among the greatest literary masterpieces of mankind. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

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Book SynopsisWith over 140 million copies in print, and serving as the principal proselytizing tool of one of the world''s fastest growing faiths, the Book of Mormon is undoubtedly one of the most influential religious texts produced in the western world. Written by Terryl Givens, a leading authority on Mormonism, this compact volume offers the only concise, accessible introduction to this extraordinary work. Givens examines the Book of Mormon first and foremost in terms of the claims that its narrators make for its historical genesis, its purpose as a sacred text, and its meaning for an audience which shifts over the course of the history it unfolds. The author traces five governing themes in particular--revelation, Christ, Zion, scripture, and covenant--and analyzes the Book''s central doctrines and teachings. Some of these resonate with familiar nineteenth-century religious preoccupations; others consist of radical and unexpected takes on topics from the fall of Man to Christ''s mortal ministries and the meaning of atonement. Givens also provides samples of a cast of characters that number in the hundreds, and analyzes representative passages from a work that encompasses tragedy, poetry, sermons, visions, family histories and military chronicles. Finally, this introduction surveys the contested origins and production of a work held by millions to be scripture, and reviews the scholarly debates that address questions of the record''s historicity. Here then is an accessible guide to what is, by any measure, an indispensable key to understanding Mormonism. But it is also an introduction to a compelling and complex text that is too often overshadowed by the controversies that surround it.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 Review"Taking the Book of Mormon on its own terms, Terryl Givens offers a complex, reverent analysis of a powerful epic history." --Daniel Walker Howe, Pulitzer-Prize Winning author of What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848. "For all who need to have an accurate account of what Mormons believe-and they are a faith community that now spans the globe-familiarity with the message of the Book of Mormon is the basic starting point. And there is no better guide to that text than Terryl Givens, a marvelous scholar who has now given us this highly readable and insightful introduction." --Richard J. Mouw, Professor of Christian Philosophy and President, Fuller Theological Seminary "If you have the slightest interest in the Book of Mormon for any reason you should read this book. Those unfamiliar with the Book of Mormon will find an excellent supplement here. If you are already familiar with the Book of Mormon, this re-introduction will make it seem like you're meeting again for the first time." --Association of Mormon Letters

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Book SynopsisThe Upanisads'' is the Hindu equivalent of the Christian New Testament. It is a collection of spiritual treatises written in Sanskrit between 800 and 400 BCE. This title focuses on understanding the inner meaning of the religion.

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Book SynopsisThe Mishna, a six-part codification of oral rabbinic law, is the basis of the Talmud. It is one of the two holy books upon which Judaism has been constructed. This edition aims to provide as close to a literal translation as possible, following the syntax of Mishnaic Hebrew.

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive manual for living a spiritual life, based on a verse-by-verse commentary on India’s timeless scripture – from the author of its best-selling translation.(The ebook The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living 9781586381455 includes all three volumes in this series.)The Bhagavad Gita is set on the battlefield of an apocalyptic war between good and evil. Faced with a dire moral dilemma, the warrior prince Arjuna turns in anguish to his spiritual guide, Sri Krishna, for answers to the fundamental questions of life.Easwaran points out that Arjuna’s crisis is acutely modern. The Gita’s battlefield is the struggle for self-mastery that every human being must wage. Arjuna represents each of us, and Sri Krishna is the Lord, instructing us in eighteen chapters of lofty wisdom as we face the social, environmental, and global challenges that threaten our world today.Easwaran is a spiritual teacher and author of deep insight and warmth. His verse-by-verse commentary interprets the Gita’s teachings for modern readers, explaining the Sanskrit concepts and philosophy and applying them with practicality, wisdom, and humor to every aspect of our work, our relationships, and our lives. With everyday anecdotes, stories, and examples, he shows that the changes we long to see in the world start with the transformation of our own consciousness.The practical exercises recommended by Easwaran to achieve transformation are part of a spiritual program he developed for his own life. They are accessible to people from all backgrounds and cultures. Urging us to adopt a higher image of the human being, he assures us that peace and unity are within reach.Each volume of this series covers six chapters of the Gita. Each may be read on its own, but all three volumes together form an in-depth, verse-by-verse explanation of this ancient scripture and its relevance today. Each volume includes instructions in Easwaran's eight-point program of passage meditation.Volume 1: The first six chapters of the Gita explore the concept of the innermost Self and source of wisdom in each of us. Easwaran explains how we can begin to transform ourselves, even as householders engaged in busy lives.Volume 2: The next six chapters of the Gita go beyond the individual Self to explore the Supreme Reality underlying all creation. Easwaran builds a bridge across the seeming divide between scientific knowledge and spiritual wisdom, and explains how the concept of the unity of life can help us in all our relationships.Volume 3: The final six chapters put forth an urgent appeal for us to begin to see that all of us are one – to make the connection between the Self within and the Reality underlying all creation. Global in scope, the emphasis is on what we can do to make a difference to heal our environment and establish peace in the world.Easwaran’s commentary is for all students of the Gita, whatever their background, and for anyone who is trying to find a path to wisdom, love, and kindness in themselves and our troubled world. Written as an authoritative, accessible guide to a much-loved scripture, it is a handbook for finding peace and clarity within.This second edition incorporates revisions made across all three volumes following the author’s final instructions.Trade ReviewNo one in modern times is more qualified — no make that ‘as qualified’ — to translate the epochal Classics of Indian Spirituality than Eknath Easwaran. And the reason is clear. It is impossible to get to the heart of those classics unless you live them, and he did live them. My admiration of the man and his works is boundless.” — Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions.Table of ContentsTable of Contents INTRODUCTION The Unity of Life 9 CHAPTER SEVEN Wisdom from Realization 21 CHAPTER EIGHT The Eternal Godhead 88 CHAPTER NINE The Royal Path 136 CHAPTER TEN Divine Splendor 200 CHAPTER ELEVEN The Cosmic Vision 269 CHAPTER TWELVE The Way of Love 327 Passage for Meditation 421 Glossary and Guide to Sanskrit Pronunciation 425 Index 431

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Although there are major differences in the lifestyles of the numerous Native American nations, they share fundamental beliefs. The spiritual wisdom of these people is based on a love and reverence for Nature, a belief in a Supreme Being and a spirit world that interacts with human activity. Organized in alphabetical order and grouped around the main Native American Nations from Apache to Zuni, including the Sioux, Eskimo, Cherokee and many more, the evocative words that Alan Jacobs has selected from all the major tribes express the love and respect they feel for their environment and our place within it.

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Book SynopsisThe DHAMMAPADA is a daily inspiration for millions of Buddhists all over the world and for non-Buddhists who have been impressed by its beauty and power. These words spoken by Buddha himself over 2500 years ago contain all of Buddhism's key teachings. However the DHAMMAPADA is notoriously difficult to understand for the novice and is full of references and allusions that the uninformed reader is sure to miss. Now you can understand the DHAMMAPADA with understanding even if you have no previous knowledge of Buddhism. This accessible edition offer the complete text plus enlightening facing-page commentary that explains all the names terms and references giving you the kind of insight into the text not usually available for first time readers and at the same time providing an excellent first introduction to Buddhist life and practice.Trade Review"The pith of Buddha's teachings are herein wondrously and excellently presented." —Joan Halifax Roshi, Head Teacher, Upaya Zen Center "Provides access to the wisdom of the text in a way that invites further exploration of one's own transformation." —Kay Lindahl, founder, The Listening Center; author, The Sacred Art of Listening: Forty Reflections for Cultivating a Spiritual Practice “The words of the Buddha become fresh and alive in this wonderful edition. Wisdom shines through, ready for application in daily life.” —Ani Konchog Drolma, head of monastic training at Gampo Abbey “A friendly introduction to a sacred text at the heart of Buddhist teaching.” —Marcia Z. Nelson, author, Come and Sit: A Week Inside Meditation Centers “These verses can be read and appreciated simply as wise philosophy; as such, they are part of the great literature of the world. But for those who would follow it to the end, the Dhammapada is a sure guide to nothing less than the highest goal life can offer: self-realization.” —Eknath Easwaran “The verses, along with well-placed guiding annotations, will be inspiring to young people exploring the Buddhist path.” —Sumi Loundon, editor, Blue Jean Buddha: Voices of Young BuddhistsTable of ContentsForeword by Andrew Harvey ix Acknowledgments and Dedication xvii About the Dhammapada xix 1. The Twin Verses 3 2. Vigilance 9 3. The Mind 13 4. Flowers 17 5. The Fool 21 6. The Wise One 27 7. The Enlightened One 31 8. Better than a Thousand 35 9. Evil 39 10. Punishment 43 11. Old Age 47 12. Self 51 13. The World 55 14. The Buddha 59 15. Happiness 63 16. Pleasure 67 17. Anger 71 18. Impurity 75 19. The Just 81 20. The Way 85 21. Miscellany 91 22. The Downward Course 95 23. The Elephant 99 24. Thirst 103 25. The Monk 111 26. The Brahman 117 Sources and Suggested Readings 126 List of Special Terms 128

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Book SynopsisTHE YOGA OF THE BHAGAVAD GITA sheds a fascinating light on the true intent of India''s beloved scripture. Yogananda shows how the warriors doing battle on the field of Kurukshetra are intended metaphorically to represent the negative tendencies of the human ego pitted against the divine qualities latent in each soul. He describes how each of us, through applying the profound wisdom of yoga, can achieve material and spiritual victory on the battlefield of daily life.This concise and inspiring new book is a compilation of selections from Paramahansa Yogananda''s in-depth, critically acclaimed - volume translation of and commentary on the Bhagavad Gita (God Talks With Arjuna). It presents truth-seekers with an ideal introduction to the Gita''s timeless and universal teachings - the liberating path of right action and meditation to achieve a permanent state of higher consciousness.Along with its companion volume The Yoga of Jesus, this book will appeal to anyone interested in the time-prov

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book Synopsis

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisNine short essays exploring the K'iche' Maya story of creation, the Popol Vuh. Written during the lockdown in Chicago in the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, these essays consider the Popol Vuh as a work that was also written during a time of feverish social, political, and epidemiological crisis as Spanish missionaries and colonial military deepened their conquest of indigenous peoples and cultures in Mesoamerica. What separates the Popol Vuh from many other creation texts is the disposition of the gods engaged in creation. Whereas the book of Genesis is declarative in telling the story of the world's creation, the Popol Vuh is interrogative and analytical: the gods, for example, question whether people actually need to be created, given the many perfect animals they have already placed on earth. Emergency uses the historical emergency of the Popol Vuh to frame the ongoing emergencies of colonialism that have surfaced all too clearly in the global health crisis of COVID-19. In Trade Review"A work concerned with multiplicity. . . . Garcia’s Emergency is a reorientation, a shift in perspective, while recognizing there is no such thing as a return to originality nor to a specific origin point. What if origin is a weaving, a constant wearing of stories and timetables, perpetual changes and cyclical advantages?" * Cleveland Review of Books *“Garcia contributes a penetrating and eloquent exposition of a unique document of the indigenous Americas. He shows how the Popol Vuh extends our understanding of oppression and ecological ruin in our time.” -- Alphonso Lingis, author of Irrevocable: A Philosophy of Mortality“In this brilliant exegesis, Garcia reveals the Popol Vuh as a living document, a dialogical story of creation crafted in conditions of colonial emergency, which still bears urgent relevance today. Consisting of a series of short and lyrical essays on a wide range of topics, Emergency is a thought-provoking commentary essential for anyone who engages with this foundational text.” -- Claudia Brittenham, author of The Murals of Cacaxtla: The Power of Painting in Ancient Central Mexico“I would like to believe that the exquisite tapestry of this book, which weaves together history, myth, philosophical reflection, and literary criticism, heralds a new era of poetic scholarship in the humanities (‘poetic’ in Vico’s sense). We are in need of this kind of imaginative reanimation of our academic vocation.” -- Robert Pogue Harrison, author of Juvenescence: A Cultural History of Our AgeTable of ContentsBirds Wealth Caves Television Demons Migrations Love The Sun Mormons Afterword References Index

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Book SynopsisAcclaimed Islamic scholar, Ingrid Mattson now updates her authoritative and comprehensive introduction through the addition of expanded sections on the Qur an in art and architecture, in the life cycle of Muslims, and in Islamic ethics and law.Table of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgments to the Second Edition ix Preface to the First Edition xi 1 God Speaks to Humanity 1 God Hears and Responds 1 Defining the Qur’ an 2 Ancient Origins of the Meccan Sanctuary 4 The Arabian Context 7 The Arabic Language 11 The Jahiliyya: A Time of Lawlessness and Immorality 13 The Early Life of Muhammad 16 Muhammad as the Messenger of God 18 2 The Prophet Conveys the Message 27 Historicizing the Qur’ an 27 The Medium and the Message 34 God is One 37 Moral Conduct and Its Ultimate Consequences 46 Servants of God 50 Persecution of Believers Past and Present 55 Establishing a Viable State and a Just Political Order 61 Building Community 68 A Door to Heaven is Closed 73 3 The Voice and the Pen 79 A Sacred Pedigree 79 Recited and Written 85 The Prophet and the First Collection of the Qur’ an 88 The Early Generations: Regional Schools of Recitation and the Elaboration of the Mushaf 100 Standardizing the Curriculum 105 Qur’ anic Recitation and Ritual Life 109 Breaking the Tradition 119 The Value of Memorization 124 Transmission of the Qur’ an in the Modern Age 127 Conclusion 133 4 Blessed Words: The Qur’ an and Culture 141 The Qur’ an as the Word of God 141 The Qur’ an and Sacred Architecture 147 The Elevation of the Qur’ an 155 Language, Naming, and Common Expressions 157 Ritual Purity and Purifying Rituals 161 Death, Mourning, and the Afterlife 168 5 What God Really Means: Interpreting the Qur’ an 185 Exegesis before Hermeneutics 185 The Epistemological Challenge 193 Intertextuality: The Isra’iliyyat 197 Occasions of Revelation 201 Understanding the Language of the Qur’ an 204 Relating the Sunna to the Qur’ an 210 Deriving Legal Norms from the Qur’ an 215 Consensus and Diversity in Legal Reasoning 223 Modernity: Making the Words “Reasonable” 226 Some Contested Issues 235 Inheritance 235 Wife-beating 237 Conclusion 242 6 Conclusion: Listening for God 247 Glossary 267 Bibliography 271 Index of Qur’ anic Citations and References 287 Index 289

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Book SynopsisHuman cultures, especially religious groups but also secular artists and performers, often ritualize bodies as sacred books and books as divine beings. An international team of scholars addresses this theme of books as sacred beings in this volume through an impressively diverse range of primary material and perspectives. These studies show the wide variety of ways in which books, bodies, and beings intermingle in material sacred texts manipulated by human bodies, and also in literary and artistic depictions of transcendent textual bodies. The boundary between material immanence and spiritual transcendence turns out to be very thin indeed when people use books. The chapters on specific book practices in different cultures are bracketed by an introduction to the collection and by a concluding essay that extrapolates on the widespread theme of books as sacred beings.Table of Contents1. Introduction James W. Watts 2. Performing Scriptures: Ritualizing Written Texts in Seolwi-seolgyeong, the Korean Shamanistic Recitation of Scriptures Yohan Yoo 3. Embodying the Qu’ran Katharina Wilkens, LMU Munich 4. Sacred Texts and the Digital Turn: Reflections on Scriptures as Material Objects in a Liminal Age Brad Anderson, Dublin City University 5. Being the Bible: Sacred Bodies and Iconic Books in Bring Your Bible to School Day Dorina Miller Parmenter, Spalding University 6. Body Building in the Hindu Tantric Tradition: The Advantages and Confusions of Scriptural Entextualization in the Worship of the Goddess Kali Rachel McDermott, Barnard College and Columbia University 7. Saints’ Lives as Performance Art Virginia Burrus, Syracuse University 8. Aspiring Narratives of Previous Births: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Written and Visual Media in Ancient Gandhara Jason Neelis, Wilfrid Laurier University 9. Daoist Writs and Scriptures as Sacred Beings: With a Focus on Cosmological Meaning Jihyun Kim, Seoul National University 10. Books as Sacred Beings James W. Watts

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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