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Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Non-Christian sacred works & liturgy > Sacred texts > General
This five thousand year old book of ancient wisdom teachings tells
the story of what happens on a battlefield when Arjuna, a man
fighting for the sake of his land and birthright, meets Lord
Krishna, God in human semblance. Krishna proceeds to give to Arjuna
the spiritual and philosophic instruction that has made this book
an all-time classic of Eastern religious thought. It answers such
pressing questions as "What happens when we die?," and "Do we live
again?"; as well as the correct pathway to enlightenment and moral
service to God. This timeless treasure of spiritual wisdom will not
fail to serve as a fount of inspiration for both the seeker and the
committed spiritual devotee. LARGE PRINT FOR EASIER READING.
The Bhagavad Gita is one of the most widely read Hindu scriptures
in the Western world. Taking the form of a dialogue between the
warrior Arjuna and the divine Krishna on the eve of battle, it is
concerned with the most profound aspects of social and religious
duty, and the relationship of human beings to God. In its eighteen
short chapters it explores the spiritual struggle of the human soul
and the search for both the true self and eternal life, culminating
in an unparalleled vision of God the omnipotent.
This edition goes beyond others that largely leave readers to their
own devices in understanding this cryptic work, by providing an
entree into the text that parallels the traditional Chinese way of
approaching it: alongside Slingerland's exquisite rendering of the
work are his translations of a selection of classic Chinese
commentaries that shed light on difficult passages, provide
historical and cultural context, and invite the reader to ponder a
range of interpretations. The ideal student edition, this volume
also includes a general introduction, notes, multiple appendices --
including a glossary of technical terms, references to modern
Western scholarship that point the way for further study, and an
annotated bibliography.
The Pitfalls of Piety for Married Women shows how problematic the
practice of Buddhist piety could be in late imperial China. Two
thematically related "precious scrolls" (baojuan) from the Ming
dynasty, The Precious Scroll of the Red Gauze and The Precious
Scroll of the Handkerchief, illustrate the difficulties faced by
women whose religious devotion conflicted with the demands of
marriage and motherhood. These two previously untranslated texts
tell the stories of married women whose piety causes them to be
separated from their husbands and children. While these women labor
far away, their children are cruelly abused by murderous
stepmothers. Following many adventures, the families are reunited
by divine intervention and the evil stepmothers get their just
deserts. While the texts in The Pitfalls of Piety for Married Women
praise Buddhist piety, they also reveal many problems concerning
married women and mothers. Wilt L. Idema's translations are
preceded by an introduction that places these scrolls in the
context of Ming dynasty performative literature, vernacular
literature, and popular religion. Set in a milieu of rich
merchants, the texts provide a unique window to family life of the
time, enriching our understanding of gender during the Ming
dynasty. These popular baojuan offer rare insights into lay
religion and family dynamics of the Ming dynasty, and their
original theme and form enrich our understanding of the various
methods of storytelling that were practiced at the time.
There is no question that the Torah is one of the most influential
documents in Western civilization. It is the source of widely known
characters like Joseph, Moses, and Noah, and timeless stories such
as the Garden of Eden and the Exodus. Jointly authored by
professors of Judaism and Christianity, The Torah: A Beginner's
Guide takes a unique approach, exploring the interplay and dynamics
of how these two religions share this common scripture. Drawing on
both scholarly and popular sources, Kaminsky and Lohr examine the
key debates, while simultaneously illustrating the importance of
the Torah in western jurisprudence, ethics, and contemporary
conceptions of the family, morality, and even politics.
‘In death thy glory in heaven, in victory thy glory on earth. Arise therefore, Arjuna, with thy soul ready to fight’ The Bhagavad Gita is an intensely spiritual work that forms the cornerstone of the Hindu faith, and is also one of the masterpieces of Sanskrit poetry. It describes how, at the beginning of a mighty battle between the Pandava and Kaurava armies, the god Krishna gives spiritual enlightenment to the warrior Arjuna, who realizes that the true battle is for his own soul. Juan Mascaró’s translation of The Bhagavad Gita captures the extraordinary aural qualities of the original Sanskrit. This edition features a new introduction by Simon Brodbeck, which discusses concepts such as dehin, prakriti and Karma.
This new verse translation of the classic Sanskrit text combines
the skills of leading Hinduist Gavin Flood with the stylistic verve
of award-winning poet and translator Charles Martin. The result is
a living, vivid work that avoids dull pedantry and remains true to
the extraordinarily influential original. A devotional, literary,
and philosophical masterpiece of unsurpassed beauty and imaginative
relevance, The Bhagavad Gita has inspired, among others, Mahatma
Gandhi, J. Robert Oppenheimer, T. S. Eliot, Christopher Isherwood,
and Aldous Huxley. Its universal themes life and death, war and
peace, sacrifice resonate in a West increasingly interested in
Eastern religious experiences and the Hindu diaspora."
The Inner Chapters are the oldest pieces of the larger collection
of writings by several fourth, third, and second century B.C.
authors that constitute the classic of Taoism, the Chuang-Tzu (or
Zhuangzi). It is this core of ancient writings that is ascribed to
Chuang-Tzu himself.
Let the wisdom of Colossians transform relationships in every area
of your life -- home, church, and even the world -- with this study
guide from renowned Bible teacher Joyce Meyer. Paul's letter to the
Colossians reminds us that as we have died with Christ, we also
need to die to our sins. It encourages us that because we have also
been raised in Him, we must submit to Jesus and adopt qualities
motivated by Christian love. In this comprehensive study tool,
Joyce Meyer's commentary on Colossians affirms the Lordship of
Christ and offers practical advice on family, relationships, and
faith.
Exploring the subjectivity of the Qur'an's meaning in the world,
this book analyses Qur'anic referencing in Muslim political
rhetoric. Informed by classical Arabic-Islamic rhetorical theory,
the author examines Arabic documents attributed to the 'Abbasid
Caliph al-Ma'mun (r. 813-833), whose rule coincided with the
maturation of classical Islamic political thought and literary
culture. She demonstrates how Qur'anic referencing functions as
tropological exegesis, whereby verses in the Qur'an are
reinterpreted through the lens of subjective experience. At the
same time socio-historical experiences are understood in terms of
the Qur'an's moral typology, which consists of interrelated
polarities that define good and bad moral characters in mutual
orientation. Through strategic deployment of scriptural references
within the logical scheme of rhetorical argument, the Caliph
constructs moral analogies between paradigmatic characters in the
Qur'an and people in his social milieu, and situates himself as
moral reformer and guide, in order to persuade his audiences of the
necessity of the Caliphate and the religio-moral imperative of
obedience to his authority. The Ma'munid case study is indicative
of the nature and function of Qur'anic referencing across
historical periods, and thus contributes to broader conversations
about the impact of the Qur'an on the shaping of Islamic
civilization. This book is an invaluable resource for those with an
interest in Early Islamic History, Islam and the rhetoric of
contemporary Middle East regional and global Islamic politics.
Reading the Qur'an in the Twenty-First Century considers the
development of Qur'anic interpretation and highlights modern
debates around new approaches to interpretation. It explores how
Muslims from various theological, legal, socio-political and
philosophical backgrounds think about the meaning and relevance of
the Qur'an, and how their ideas apply in the contemporary world.
The book: reflects on one of the most dominant approaches to
interpretation in the pre-modern period, textualism, and the
reaction to that in Muslim feminist readings of the Qur'an today.
covers issues such as identifying the hierarchical nature of
Qur'anic values, the criteria for the use of hadith in
interpretation, fluidity of meaning and ways of ensuring a degree
of stability in interpretation. examines key Qur'anic passages and
compares pre-modern and modern interpretations to show the evolving
nature of interpretation. Examples discussed include: the authority
of men over women, the death of Jesus, shura and democracy, and
riba and interest. Abdullah Saeed provides a practical guide for
interpretation and presents the principal ideas of a contextualist
approach, which situates the original message of the Qur'an in its
wider social, political, cultural, economic and intellectual
context. He advocates a more flexible method of interpretation that
gives due recognition to earlier interpretations of the Qur'an
while also being aware of changing conditions and the need to
approach the Qur'an afresh today.
Millions of non-Muslims know the name of the Muslim scripture,
whether it is written as "Qur'an" or "Quran" or "Koran." But for
most, that is all they know. Many have fallen victim to the mass of
misinformation that circulates about the Qur'an. Others may have
tried to read the Qur'an, but the text itself is tough to decipher.
With no sense of context, chronology, or interpretive history, many
would-be readers of the Qur'an quickly give up the effort. As for
those trying to find out what the Qur'an says about any particular
subject or issue, they, too, soon discover that this is not a
simple or straightforward undertaking. A clear, concise
introduction to the holy book that guides the lives of 1.6 billion
people on our planet, this brief volume opens the world of the
Qur'an to interested readers who want to know where this scripture
came from and how it has achieved a profound influence in today's
world. Writing in an easy-to-read question-and-answer format, Jane
McAuliffe, one of the world's foremost scholars of the Qur'an,
introduces readers to this important text by discussing its
origins, structure, themes, interpretations, and what it has to say
about a host of critical contemporary issues. Where did the Qur'an
come from? Do Muslims believe that the Qur'an is God's own word?
How do Muslims study the Qur'an? What does the Qur'an say about
God? About family? About ethics? About violence? By answering the
questions that many people have about the Qur'an and its role in
Muslim faith, this book offers an invaluable resource for anyone
who is curious about one of the world's most important faiths.
This definitive sourcebook presents more than sixty authoritative
new translations of key Islamic texts. Edited and translated by
three leading specialists, Classical Islam features eight
thematically-linked sections covering the Qur'an and its
interpretation, the life of Muhammad, hadith, law, theology,
mysticism and Islamic history. The new edition has been expanded to
cover a fuller range of material illustrating the growth of Islamic
thought from its seventh-century origins through to the end of the
medieval period. It includes illustrations, a glossary, extensive
bibliography and explanatory prefaces for each text. Classical
Islam is an essential resource for the study of early and medieval
Islam and its legacy.
This book challenges the dominant scholarly notion that the Qur'an
must be interpreted through the medieval commentaries shaped by the
biography of the prophet Muhammad, arguing instead that the text is
best read in light of Christian and Jewish scripture. The Qur'an,
in its use of allusions, depends on the Biblical knowledge of its
audience. However, medieval Muslim commentators, working in a
context of religious rivalry, developed stories that separate
Qur'an and Bible, which this book brings back together. In a series
of studies involving the devil, Adam, Abraham, Jonah, Mary, and
Muhammad among others, Reynolds shows how modern translators of the
Qur'an have followed medieval Muslim commentary and demonstrates
how an appreciation of the Qur'an's Biblical subtext uncovers the
richness of the Qur'an's discourse. Presenting unique
interpretations of 13 different sections of the Qur'an based on
studies of earlier Jewish and Christian literature, the author
substantially re-evaluates Muslim exegetical literature. Thus The
Qur'an and Its Biblical Subtext, a work based on a profound regard
for the Qur'an's literary structure and rhetorical strategy, poses
a substantial challenge to the standard scholarship of Qur'anic
Studies. With an approach that bridges early Christian history and
Islamic origins, the book will appeal not only to students of the
Qur'an but of the Bible, religious studies and Islamic history.
This volume brings together the work of a group of Islamic studies
scholars from across the globe. They discuss how past and present
Muslim women have participated in the struggle for gender justice
in Muslim communities and around the world. The essays demonstrate
a diversity of methodological approaches, religious and secular
sources, and theoretical frameworks for understanding Muslim
negotiations of gender norms and practices. Part I (Concepts) puts
into conversation women scholars who define Muslima theology and
Islamic feminism vis-a-vis secular notions of gender diversity and
discuss the deployment of the oppression of Muslim women as a
hegemonic imperialist strategy. The chapters in Part II (Sources)
engage with the Qur'an, hadith, and sunna as religious sources to
be examined and reinterpreted in the quest for gender justice as
God's will and the example of the Prophet Muhammad. In Part III
(Histories), contributors search for Muslim women's agency as
scholars, thinkers, and activists from the early period of Islam to
the present - from Southeast Asia to North America. Representing a
transnational and cross-generational conversation, this work will
be a key resource to students and scholars interested in the
history of Islamic feminism, Muslim women, gender justice, and
Islam.
A collection of 40 Hadith (sayings) of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
focusing on the notion of social justice in Islam.
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