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Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Non-Christian religions > Religions of Indic & Oriental origin > Hinduism
A comprehensive, yet entertaining introduction to Advaita, the
non-dual philosophy which provides a completely reasonable
explanation for who we are and the nature of the universe. There
are many self-help approaches promising enlightenment and happiness
but most are illogical and lack any proven capability. Advaita has
a guru-disciple tradition stretching back for several thousand
years and can guarantee the sincere seeker a progressive path to
self-realization. A 21st Century treatment of this ancient eastern
philosophy, this book addresses all of the issues that are covered
by both traditional teachers from the lineage of Shankara and by
modern satsang teaching and Direct Path methods stemming from
Ramana Maharshi and Krishna Menon. The topics are explained in an
accessible and readable manner, using amusing quotations and
stories along with an abundance of metaphors from a wide variety of
sources.
Many of us face the difficulty of trying to change something in our nature, only to find that it is either difficult or virtually impossible. We struggle, try to suppress various actions, only to have these actions rebound on us and cause feelings of failure, shame, guilt or frustration. The key to solving this problem actually lies in a deeper understanding of the true nature of our psychological being. We are actually composed of various different "parts" or "planes" of action that combine together, interact with one another and impinge upon one another. This understanding allows us to differentiate between a mental idea, a force of will, an emotional movement, a vital energy, or a physical structure, and thereby more clearly understand the results of our psychological efforts and growth activities.
The first book to put the sacred and sensuous bronze statues from
India's Chola dynasty in social context From the ninth through the
thirteenth century, the Chola dynasty of southern India produced
thousands of statues of Hindu deities, whose physical perfection
was meant to reflect spiritual beauty and divine transcendence.
During festivals, these bronze sculptures-including Shiva, referred
to in a saintly vision as "the thief who stole my heart"-were
adorned with jewels and flowers and paraded through towns as active
participants in Chola worship. In this richly illustrated book,
leading art historian Vidya Dehejia introduces the bronzes within
the full context of Chola history, culture, and religion. In doing
so, she brings the bronzes and Chola society to life before our
very eyes. Dehejia presents the bronzes as material objects that
interacted in meaningful ways with the people and practices of
their era. Describing the role of the statues in everyday
activities, she reveals not only the importance of the bronzes for
the empire, but also little-known facets of Chola life. She
considers the source of the copper and jewels used for the deities,
proposing that the need for such resources may have influenced the
Chola empire's political engagement with Sri Lanka. She also
investigates the role of women patrons in bronze commissions and
discusses the vast public records, many appearing here in
translation for the first time, inscribed on temple walls. From the
Cholas' religious customs to their agriculture, politics, and even
food, The Thief Who Stole My Heart offers an expansive and complete
immersion in a community still accessible to us through its
exquisite sacred art. Published in association with the Center for
Advanced Study in the Visual Arts, National Gallery of Art,
Washington, DC
Drawing on both textual and archaeological evidence, this study
offers an integrated approach to scholarly debates on monasteries
and guru relics in South India between the fourteenth and
seventeenth centuries. This study analyzes the role of the guru in
the development of Hindu monastic orders, from centers of education
to institutions of traditional authority. Focusing on the complex
socio-religious context of the whole-body icon, the author analyzes
the relic as a nexus of contradictions surrounding sacredness and
death.
Here is a storybook for everyone - with lions and kings, rogues and
saints, a boy who can stop an elephant, and a milkmaid who can walk
on water! Filled with wisdom, adventure and surprises, these
timeless tales remind us of what is important as we enter the
twenty-first century. At once entertaining and instructive, these
simple, practical stories have been related by Sri Swami
Satchidananda, who is well-known and well-loved for his deep
spiritual insight, as well as his sense of humor. Some of the
stories that he tells have been drawn from nature; others have been
passed on from generation to generation. Some come from ancient
scriptures, others from folklore of India. They enlighten us about
how to lead easeful, peaceful, useful lives and, ultimately, attain
spiritual realization.
The search for a higher state of consciousness takes many forms:
eastern religions, meditation, mysticism, and transpersonal
psychology, to name a few. But one common theme unites these
seemingly diverse approaches to spirituality-kundalini, a Sanskrit
word that refers to our potential to reach a higher spiritual
plane. Through kundalini yoga our vital life force is channeled up
through the spine and concentrated in the brain, resulting in
personal transformation and enlightenment. Here are the most
authentic and insightful writings on every aspect of this
fascinating phenomenon including: - Traditional views of kundalini
- Personal accounts of the kundalini experience - Scientific
explorations in kundalini research - Advice for seekers This volume
includes the writings of Gopi Krishna, Swami Rama, Yogi Bhajan,
Christopher Hills, Lee Sannella, and Ken Wilbur, among others. The
views of these respected authorities provide the most reliable
information on kundalini and valuable guidance for getting in touch
with your spiritual self.
For roughly two thousand years, the veneration of sacred fossil
ammonites, called Shaligrams, has been an important part of Hindu
and Buddhist ritual practice throughout South Asia and among the
global Diaspora. Originating from a single remote region of
Himalayan Nepal, called Mustang, Shaligrams are all at once
fossils, divine beings, and intimate kin with families and
worshippers. Through their lives, movements, and materiality,
Shaligrams then reveal fascinating new dimensions of religious
practice, pilgrimage, and politics. But as social, environmental,
and national conflicts in the politically-contentious region of
Mustang continue to escalate, the geologic, mythic, and religious
movements of Shaligrams have come to act as parallels to the
mobility of people through both space and time. Shaligram mobility
therefore traverses through multiple social worlds, multiple
religions, and multiple nations revealing Shaligram practitioners
as a distinct, alternative, community struggling for a place in a
world on the edge.
This book shows how the Bhagavad Gi ta (part of the great Indian
epic - the Maha bha rata) can be approached as a powerful tool for
change management and as a catalyst for organizational
transformation. It presents time-tested leadership strategies drawn
from the Bhagavad Gi ta that are relevant for today's leaders. This
book focuses on how to harmonize the needs of the individual with
the needs of society, and by extension, how to harmonize the needs
of employees and the organization. It employs an inside-out
leadership development approach based on Self-knowledge and
Self-mastery, the two highly important areas for practicing
effective Self-leadership. The Gi ta is a non-sectarian spiritual
text with a universal message for living a life of meaning,
purpose, and contribution and for leading from our authentic self.
It shows how to manage oneself, as a necessary prelude to leading
others. Students and organizational leaders will learn to integrate
leadership function more effectively into all aspects at the
individual, team, and institutional level.
A fresh English translation laid out facing the original Sanskrit
for easy reference and accompanied by a wealth of essential
ancillary materials that make this book a complete course on the
"Bhagavad-Gītā "in a single volume.
This translation stands out from the many others first of all in
its careful faithfulness to the original language, but also for the
extensive tools for understanding it provides. It is accompanied by
detailed explanatory notes, as well as by the entire Sanskrit text
on facing pages--both in the original Devanagri alphabet and in a
romanized version that allows the reader to approximate the sounds
of this work (a pronunciation guide is also provided). Also
included is a literal, word-for-word translation for comparison;
extensive material on the background, symbolism, and influence of
the "Gītā"; and an exhaustive glossary of terms.
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