2012 Reprint of 1933 Edition. Exact facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. This is a set of lectures by Swami Vivekananda on the subject of Karma Yoga, one of the several yogic paths to enlightenment. Karma Yoga is a mental discipline which allows one to carry out one's duties as a service to the entire world, as a path to enlightenment. By working in the real world, but giving up attachment to work, we can obtain spiritual liberation. Vivekananda discusses the concept of Karma in the Bhagavada-Gita, and singles out the Buddha as a primary example of this form of yoga. Chapters include: Chapter I. Karma In Its Effect On Character Chapter II. Each Is Great In His Own Place Chapter III. The Secret of Work Chapter IV. What is Duty? Chapter V. We Help Ourselves, Not the World Chapter VI. Non-Attachment Is Complete Self-Abnegation Chapter VII. Freedom Chapter VIII. The Ideal of Karma-Yoga

Gives a brief account of the history and traditions of the modern Assyrian people, and the fateful history of the Church of the East. The first seven Chapters are dedicated to the modern period, while the final six chapters discuss Christian-Moslem relations and the fate of the Church of the East and the Assyrian people during and after World War I.

2012 Reprint of 1935 American Edition. Exact facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. Illustrated Edition. Paul Brunton (1898 - 1981) was a British philosopher, mystic, traveler, and guru. He left a journalistic career to live among yogis, mystics, and holy men, and studied Eastern and Western esoteric teachings. Dedicating his life to an inward and spiritual quest, Brunton felt charged to communicate his experiences about what he learned in the east to others. His works had a major influence on the spread of Eastern mysticism to the West. Taking pains to express his thoughts in layperson's terms, Brunton was able to present what he learned from the Orient and from ancient tradition as a living wisdom. His writings express his view that meditation and the inward quest are not exclusively for monks and hermits, but will also support those living normal, active lives in the Western world. Brunton is credited with introducing Ramana Maharshi to the West through his book "A Search in Secret India" and "The Secret Path."

This is an edition of the metrical English translation by C.C. Caleb of the great Hindu classic, the Bhagavad-gita, or The Song Divine. It includes an introduction to the text, annotations drawn from the commentary of Sankaracarya, and an appendix containing some of the traditional summaries of the text from different schools of interpretation. This edition does not include the original Sanskrit text of the Gita.

This is the French language edition of Autobiography of a Yogi. Selected as "One of the 100 Best Spiritual Books of the Twentieth Century," Autobiography of a Yogi has been translated into more than 30 languages, and is regarded worldwide as a classic of religious literature. Several million copies have been sold, and it continues to appear on best-seller lists after more than sixty consecutive years in print.

Self-Realization Fellowship's editions, and none others, include extensive material added by the author after the first edition was published, including a final chapter on the closing years of his life.

With engaging candor, eloquence, and wit, Paramahansa Yogananda tells the inspiring chronicle of his life. Autobiography of a Yogi is profoundly inspiring and at the same time vastly entertaining, warmly humorous and filled with extraordinary personages.

This volume brings together the selected papers of the Fribourg-Utrecht symposium Augustine and Manichaeism in the Latin West, organized on behalf of the International Association of Manichaean Studies. It contains a considerable number of contributions by leading authorities on the subject, focussing on both the diffusion of Mani's religion in the Latin West and its substantial impact upon St. Augustine.

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910-1991) was one of the greatest Tibetan Buddhist teachers of the 20th century. While a practitioner in the Nyingma lineage, he held empowerments and teachings from many traditions and was a strong supporter of the Rimey non-sectarian movement. This Rimey Lama Chopa is a liturgical guruyoga text encompassing all stages of the Path to Enlightenment, with special emphasis on the Eight Chariots Rimey lineages. Lama Chopa is one of the central esoteric practices of Vajrayana Buddhism; and as such, this text is a unique and powerful contribution to world spiritual literature. On the centennary of Dilgo Khyentse's birth, a great celebration was held in Nepal, for which a locally-printed English edition of his well-known Rimey Lama Chopa was commissioned. The limited English edition was created by Glenn Mullin, a well-known Canadian Buddhist translator with many books to his credit. We are fortunate to have received permission from Mr. Mullin to create this new edition. In addition, we are fortunate to have the participation of Dilgo Khyentse's chief western disciple, the Venerable Matthieu Ricard, who has written an insightful foreword for the book and provided personal photographs of Rinpoche for this edition. 50% of profits from sales of this book will go to benefit charitable activities of Rinpoche's Karuna-Shechen Foundation in the Himalayas.

2011 Reprint of 1922 Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. This book, subtitled "An Introduction to the Supersensible Knowledge of the World and the Destination of Man," is a good starting point among the hundreds of books written by Rudolf Steiner. He sees a tripartate model of the individual here: body, soul and spirit, cautioning us that these are only approximate terms. In the course of this short two hundred page book we explore higher realities which have eluded the scientific method: planes of seething elemental spirits, zones wandered by reincarnating entities, and more abstract 'places' where Platonic Archetypes dwell. He explains how auras are one modality of these higher existences which we can view in our present form. Steiner provides a precise, phenomenological description of his own supersensible experiences and the supersensible phenomena revealed by them. "Theosophy" is organized in four parts. First, Steiner builds up a comprehensive understanding of human nature, beginning with the physical bodily nature and moving up through the soul nature to our spiritual being: the "I" and the higher spiritual aspects of our being. This then leads to the experience of the human being as a sevenfold interpenetrated being of body, soul, and spirit. Secondly, Steiner gives an extraordinary overview of the laws of reincarnation and the workings of karma as we pass from one life to the next. Thirdly, Steiner shows the different ways in;which we live, during this life on earth and after death, in the three worlds of body, soul and spirit, as well as the ways in which these worlds in turn live into us. Fourthly, a succinct description is given of the path of knowledge by which each one of us can begin to understand the marvelous and harmonious complexity of the psycho-spiritual worlds in the fullness.

The best-selling author of T"he Healing Power of Mind" presents a historical overview and detailed explanation of the phenomenon of incarnate enlightened beings, known as "tulkus" in Tibetan. A tulku, out of kindness for beings, is born again and again as a teacher who dedicates his or her life to serving others, specifically through sharing the teachings of the Buddha. He or she is usually recognized by those well-trained friends and students who were close to the previous incarnation and who have the appropriate insight to recognize their deceased master in the form of a very young child. Throughout the history of Tibetan Buddhism, tulkus have been the standard-bearers of the tradition and providers of spiritual and social guidance for both the ordained and the lay people of that culture.
The book covers the following topics: the fundamental principle of the tulku; the three kinds of tulkus; the methods for recognizing tulkus; stories of tulkus' miracles and clairvoyance; the goals fulfilled by them; the roles tulkus have played in history; and the attainments they have displayed at death.

"Rollicking and well-researched...A story of scandal, financial shenanigans, bodily discipline, oversize egos and bizarre love triangles." -"Wall Street Journal"
More than fifteen million Americans currently practice yoga (according to "Yoga Journal"), but how many of them know the true story of how Downward Dog first captivated America? Resurrecting a fascinating and forgotten tale, journalist Robert Love returns to the Gilded Age, when Dr. Pierre Bernard (ne Perry Baker in Iowa) revived a discipline banned in Victorian India, packaged it for Americans, and taught legions of followers, who bankrolled his luxurious Hudson River ashram- the first in the nation. Filled with Jazz Age celebrities, heiresses, spies, and outraged clergy, "The Great Oom" is the enthralling life story of the unlikeliest of gurus, and a stunning saga of mysticism, intrigue, and the American dream.

2010 Reprint of 1924 Edition. In 1924 Spalding published this first and most important volume of Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East. It describes the travels to India and Tibet of a research party of eleven scientists in 1894. During their trip they claim to have made contact with "the Great Masters of the Himalayas," immortal beings with whom they lived and studied, gaining a fascinating insight into their lives and spiritual message. This close contact enabled them to witness many of the spiritual principles evinced by these Great Masters translated into their everyday lives, which could be described as 'miracles'. Such examples are walking on water, or manifesting bread to feed the hungry party. These books have remained consistently popular with spiritual seekers, those interested in the philosophy of the East and those who enjoy a good story because of their accessible nature and easy-to-follow format. However, despite most of the action taking place in India, the Great Masters make it clear that the greatest embodiment of the Enlightened state is that of the Christ (as personified by Jesus): "The Masters accept that Buddha represents the Way to Enlightenment, but they clearly set forth that Christ IS Enlightenment, or a state of consciousness for which we are all seeking - the Christ light of every individual; therefore, the light of every child born into the world."

2010 Reprint of 1935 American Edition. Illustrated Edition. Paul Brunton (1898 - 1981) was a British philosopher, mystic, traveler, and guru. He left a journalistic career to live among yogis, mystics, and holy men, and studied Eastern and Western esoteric teachings. Dedicating his life to an inward and spiritual quest, Brunton felt charged to communicate his experiences about what he learned in the east to others. His works had a major influence on the spread of Eastern mysticism to the West. Taking pains to express his thoughts in layperson's terms, Brunton was able to present what he learned from the Orient and from ancient tradition as a living wisdom. His writings express his view that meditation and the inward quest are not exclusively for monks and hermits, but will also support those living normal, active lives in the Western world. Brunton is credited with introducing Ramana Maharshi to the West through his books A Search in Secret India and The Secret Path.

However varied in its attitudes and ideas, Chinese philosophy has typically centred on the concrete problems of human life, from the personal to the political, and is first and foremost a path to be followed. "The Way of the World" is a wonderfully readable collection of writings that demonstrate the range of Taoist approaches to the practical dynamics involved in the relationship between the individual and society. The writings - some in prose and some in verse - focus on self-cultivation, how to approach the problems of life, and how to acquire the skills necessary for leadership. The material in this collection comes from a variety of sources and spans several time periods including some of the earliest texts. Highlights include selections from Guanzi (dated from 725-645 b.c.e.) on the mastery of the self as a prerequisite to leadership, a commentary on the maxims of Lao Tzu, and famous Taoist anecdotes.

As important to Chinese civilization as the Bible is to Western culture, the I Ching or Book of Changes is one of the oldest treasures of world literature. In this masterful new interpretation, Jack Balkin returns the I Ching to its rightful place as a book of wisdom that teaches how to live one's life in a changing and confusing world. Balkin's comprehensive and perceptive commentaries highlight a clear, understandable version of the core text of the I Ching that preserves its striking imagery while remaining faithful to the long tradition of ethical interpretations of the work. The Laws of Change: I Ching and the Philosophy of Life offers the most detailed commentaries available in English on the I Ching's ethical and philosophical teachings, a comprehensive survey of different methods of consulting the I Ching, and an excellent history of the I Ching's transformation from a Bronze Age diviner's manual to a beloved book of wisdom that lies at the very heart of Chinese culture. This is an indispensable work for anyone who wants to understand the I Ching and its history.

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

This book is the first to trace the history of Chod practice in Tibet's indigenous Bon tradition. Chod (cutting through) is a meditative practice in which the practitioner imagines offering his or her body in sacrifice through elaborate contemplative visualization. Although a meditative practice, Chod is not done sitting comfortably on a cushion in a shrine room, but instead is often practiced in terrifying places like cemeteries or charnal grounds. The feelings of fear that result are used by the Chod practitioner to cut through his or her own ego. Chod contains elements of early shamanism, of sutric and tantric teachings also found in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, and of the Tibetan highest school of Dzogchen.

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

Eastern Wisdom: Five Paths to Enlightenment explores Buddhism, Taoism, Hindu Mysticism, Confucianism, and Shinto. Here are spiritual paths that most Westerners have no real understanding of, but the wisdom here is both timeless and liberating. These five classics-The Creed of Buddha; The Sayings of Lao Tzu; The Yengishiki; The Great Learning, and Hindu Mysticism-are valuable introductions of the religions of the East.

I have carried the manuscript of these translations about with me for days, reading it in railway trains, or on the top of omnibuses and in restaurants, and I have often had to close it lest some stranger would see how much it moved me. These lyrics-which are in the original full of subtlety of rhythm, of untranslatable delicacies of colour, of metrical invention-display in their thought a world I have dreamed of all my live long. The work of a supreme culture, they yet appear as much the growth of the common soil as the grass and the rushes. A tradition, where poetry and religion are the same thing, has passed through the centuries, gathering from learned and unlearned metaphor and emotion, and carried back again to the multitude the thought of the scholar and of the noble. -W. B. Yeats

The transcendent experience that many Christians seek in Eastern religions is abundantly available to those who make use of the suggestions in this introduction to contemplative Christianity. The Christian heritage contains a rich contemplative wisdom, literature, and practice, and this volume is written for those who would like to find enrichment in spiritual practices grounded in non-Christian religions while retaining basic Christian commitments. Traditional Christian subjects such as sacrifice, redemption, salvation, faith, and prayer are discussed to foster understanding of their contemplative aspects. Explanations on how practices such as Lectio Divina clear the mind of the hectic nature of everyday life and help prepare the heart for profound listening to the divine within are also included.

Read China Galland's posts on the Penguin Blog With this book, China Galland brought increased attention to the spiritual traditions of the Black Madonna and other cross-cultural expressions of the feminine divine. The popularity of recent works by authors like Sue Monk Kidd and Kathleen Norris have only increased readers' fascination. Now with a new introduction by the author, Longing for Darkness explores Galland's spellbinding and deeply personal journey from New Mexico through Nepal, India, Switzerland, France, the former Yugoslavia, and Poland-places where such figures as Tara, the female Buddha of the Tibetan tradition, and the Black Madonna are venerated today.

An uncomplicated, easy to use feng shui manual for Spanish readers.

Is it true, as they say, the virtues of wisdom, bravery, honor, loyalty, compassion and purity enshrined in the Japanese soul have become lost in the rush of modern civilization? Has the power divine, the spirit of infinite light, love, tears and remembrance, and the courage to die for a noble cause become the stuff old movies in Japan are made of? After more than forty years in Japan I once thought so. But through a revelation of penetrating spiritual observations about the legacy of gods and men enshrined in the Japanese soul the late head priest of "tatsuta taisha," the Dragon Shrine, showed me I was wrong.

"Where the Trees Grow Thick" is a search for a dying fortress called the Yamato spirit The unseen is never easy to find, but searching for it--as I discovered--is like coming to know one's True Self.

Now the question arises, If all human beings are endowed with Buddha-nature, why have they not come naturally to be Enlightened? To answer this question, the Indian Mahayanists told the parable of the drunkard who forgets the precious gems put in his own pocket by one of his friends. The man is drunk with the poisonous liquor of selfishness, led astray by the alluring sight of the sensual objects, and goes mad with anger, lust, and folly. Thus he is in a state of moral poverty, entirely forgetting the precious gem of Buddha-nature within him. -from "The Nature of Man" There are, unknown to many Western minds, two schools of Buddhist thought: the Theravada, the one Westerners are generally more familiar with, and the Mahayanistic, or Zen, philosophy, which is still a great mystery even to occidental explorers of world religions. This 1913 book, one of the first works on Zen written in the English language, examines the Zen mode of meditation, which is virtually unchanged from the practices of the pre-Buddhistic recluses of India, and discusses the intensely personal aspects of this branch of Buddhism, which stresses the passing of wisdom through teachers rather than Scripture. Ardently spiritual and beautifully reflective, this splendid book will be treasured by all seekers of the divine. KAITEN NUKARIYA was a professor at Kei-o-gi-jiku University and So-to-shu Buddhist College, Tokyo.