"At a time when the New Age movement is starting to make good on the Spiritualists' vision of America as a 'grand clairvoyant nation', Carroll's work raises provocative questions about the tension betwen freedom and authority in the harmonial religions of today." Church History

..". offers the most comprehensive, sane examination of its topic yet available, no mean achievement for a subject long afflicted by religious partisanship and now perhaps in danger of sympathetic attraction." Journal of American History

..". fascinating reading it will be for those with a taste for good scholarly writing and a love of the American past and the manifold varieties of the spiritual quest." The Quest

"In addition to being an excellent introduction to mid-19th-century Spiritualism, Carroll s work also offers scholars a new vantage point from which to view the religious creativity that was so prominent in antebellum America in general." Choice

During the decade before the Civil War, a growing number of Americans gathered around tables in dimly lit rooms, joined hands, and sought enlightening contact with spirits. The result was Spiritualism, a distinctly colorful religious ideology centered on spirit communication and spirit activity. Spiritualism in Antebellum America analyzes the attempt by spiritually restless Americans of the 1840s and 1850s to negotiate a satisfying combination of freedom and authority as they sought a sense of harmony with the universe."

Translated by F. Rothwell. Contents: Krishna (India and the Brahmanic Initiation); Heroic India, the Sons of the Sun and of the Moon; King of Mathura; Virgin Devaki; Krishna's Youth; Initiation; Doctrine of the Initiates; Triumph and Death; Radiance of the Solar World. Orpheus (The Mysteries of Dionyson); Prehistoric Greece, The Bacchantes, Appearance of Orpheus; Temple of Jupiter; Dionysiac Fete in the Valley of Tempe; Evocation; Death of Orpheus.

A treatise Written for the Personal Use of Those Who are Ignorant of the Eastern Wisdom, and Who Desire to Enter Within its Influence. Introduction by C. Jinarajadasa. (see also our book, "Our Glorious Future" by the same author which is a continuation of this book.)

In the spiritual language of the 20th century few names raise such varied reactions as that of George Ivanovitch Gurdjieff (1866-1949). Much of what is considered New Age spirituality can be attributed to Gurdjieff. This book is a tribute not only to the scope and power of Gurdjieff's ideas, but to the special "atmosphere" that surrounded his work with pupils.

Rene Querido presents here a historical overview of the Western perspective of karma and rebirth, which he places in the context of the spiritual-scientific research of Rudolf Steiner. He has chosen a representative selection of Steiner's lectures and writings discussing the causes and effects of karma in relation to world events, natural phenomena, illness, and much more. Here Steiner describes how we can come to understand our own karma in the light of past incarnations, and how we can take fuller responsibility for our own destinies. From the Vista series.

The Interpretation of "Light on the Path." Contents: Self-Conquest; The Disciple; "Attend You Unto Them"; The Masters; Sight, Hearing; Speech; Stability; The Transmutation of Desire; Work and Effort; Separateness; Sensation; The Retreat; The Advance; The Blooming of the Flower; Contemplation; The Study of Mankind; The Study of the Self; The Logos; The Gifts of the Disciple; The Victory; "I and My Father." (see also our book, "Light on the Path" by the same author.)

Ever since nature and consciousness were separated in the late Middle Ages, giving rise to a science of matter alone, the spiritual beings who are the universe have felt abandoned and unable to complete their work, for this work depends for its success on human collaboration. At the same time, human beings have also felt abandoned, condemned to a speck of dust in an infinitely decaying universe. In these remarkable lectures, Rudolf Steiner reestablishes the human being as a participant in an evolving, dynamic universe of living spiritual beings: a living universe, whole and divine. And he does so in concrete images, capable of being grasped by human consciousness as if from within. How is this possible? Implicit in Rudolf Steiner's view is the fact that, fundamentally, the universe consists of consciousness. Everything else is illusion. Hence to understand the evolution of the cosmos and humanity in any terms other than consciousness is also illusion. Whenever we have to do with mighty cosmic facts, we have to do with states of consciousness. But states of consciousness never exist apart from the beings who embody them. Therefore, the only true realities are beings in different states of consciousness. In this sense, Rudolf Steiner's spiritual science is a science of states of consciousness and the beings who embody them. Indeed, rightly considered, all science-physics, chemistry, botany, zoology, geology, psychology, astronomy, etc.-is a science of beings. And the sensory perception, the physical trace, is but the outer vestment of the activity of beings in different states of consciousness. To describe these beings, Steiner uses the names made familiar by the wisdom tradition of theWest. He speaks of the evolutionary states of Saturn, Sun, Moon, Earth, Jupiter, Venus, and Vulcan; and the nine "choirs" of angels (Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones; Dominions, Virtues, and Powers; Principalities, Archangels, and Angels); as well as of elemental beings and nature spirits; and the elements of fire, earth, air, and water.

Sawai Jai Singh, the statesman astronomer of 18th century India, designed astronomical instruments of masonry and stone, built observatories, prepared by Zij or a text for astronomical calculations. He opted for the naked eye masonary instruments when telescope had become quiet common with European astronomers.

This work by Prof. Haridas Bhattacharyya may be considered a landmark in the study of comparative Religion. The author has created a brilliantly authoritative and comprehensive work on five major religions, Viz., Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Zoroastrianism. The scholar has also attempted a calm and critical examination of five principal living faiths, including the faith he personally professes.

The practical sequel to Mother Earth Spirituality that applies Native American teachings and ritual to comtemporary living.

This is a textbook dealing with the living religions of India. It has been written by a scholar who has devoted more than fifty years in pondering over the subject. The account of each religion is accurate and reliable. The book aims at establishing harmony between religions.

From its obscure beginnings in Jamaica in the early 1930s, Rastafari has grown into an international socio-religious movement. It is estimated that 700,000 to 1 million people worldwide have embraced Rastafari, and adherents of the movement can be found in most of the major population centres and many outposts of the world. Rastafari: A Very Short Introduction provides an account of this widespread but often poorly understood movement. Ennis B. Edmonds looks at the essential history of Rastafari, including its principles and practices and its internal character and configuration. He examines its global spread, and its far-reaching influence on cultural and artistic production in the Caribbean and beyond. 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.

This exceptionally well-written book is good reading, not only for specialists but also for beginning students interested in women, Korean culture, and shamanism.

'It tells of terrible journeys, of men masked against the sun (riding through ethereal regions with their feet frozen), of welcoming fog-girt monasteries lit by butter lamps at the journey's end' - "New Statesman". "The Way of the White Clouds" is the remarkable narrative of a pilgrimage, which could not be made today. Lama Anagarika Govinda was among the last to journey through Tibet before its invasion by the Chinese. His unique account is not only a spectacular and gloriously poetic story of exploration and discovery; but also invaluable for its sensitive and clearly presented interpretation of the Tibetan tradition. 'Why is it that the fate of Tibet has found such a deep echo in the world? There can only be one answer: Tibet has become the symbol of all that present-day humanity is longing for' - Lama Anagarika Govinda.