Bestselling author and renowned Zen teacher Steve Hagen penetrates the most essential and enduring questions at the heart of the Buddha's teachings: How can we see the world in each moment, rather than merely as what we think, hope, or fear it is? How can we base our actions on reality, rather than on the longing and loathing of our hearts and minds? How can we live lives that are wise, compassionate, and in tune with reality? And how can we separate the wisdom of Buddhism from the cultural trappings and misconceptions that have come to be associated with it?

Drawing on down-to-earth examples from everyday life and stories from Buddhist teachers past and present, Hagen tackles these fundamental inquiries with his trademark lucid, straightforward prose. The newcomer to Buddhism will be inspired by this accessible and provocative introduction, and those more familiar with Buddhism will welcome this much needed hands-on guide to understanding what it truly means to be awake. By being challenged to question what we take for granted, we come to see the world as it truly is. Buddhism Is Not What You Think offers a profound and clear path to a life of joy and freedom.

The past century has born witness to a growing interest in the belief systems of ancient Europe, with an array of contemporary Pagan groups claiming to revive these old ways for the needs of the modern world. By far the largest and best known of these Paganisms has been Wicca, a new religious movement that can now count hundreds of thousands of adherents worldwide. Emerging from the occult milieu of mid twentieth-century Britain, Wicca was first presented as the survival of an ancient pre-Christian Witch-Cult, whose participants assembled in covens to venerate their Horned God and Mother Goddess, to celebrate seasonal festivities, and to cast spells by the light of the full moon. Spreading to North America, where it diversified under the impact of environmentalism, feminism, and the 1960s counter-culture, Wicca came to be presented as a Goddess-centred nature religion, in which form it was popularised by a number of best-selling authors and fictional television shows. Today, Wicca is a maturing religious movement replete with its own distinct world-view, unique culture, and internal divisions. This book represents the first published academic introduction to be exclusively devoted to this fascinating faith, exploring how this Witches' Craft developed, what its participants believe and practice, and what the Wiccan community actually looks like. In doing so it sweeps away widely-held misconceptions and offers a comprehensive overview of this religion in all of its varied forms. Drawing upon the work of historians, anthropologists, sociologists, and scholars of religious studies, as well as the writings of Wiccans themselves, it provides an original synthesis that will be invaluable for anyone seeking to learn about the blossoming religion of modern Pagan Witchcraft.

Curate the ultimate crystal collection and bring harmony to mind, body and spirit with this modern guide to these enchanting stones They're striking, precious and have long been prized for their beauty, but have you ever tapped into the extraordinary magic of crystals? The grand powers attributed to these little stones are infinite, and this book is here to help enhance your everyday life by revealing the practical and spiritual benefits each crystal has to offer. Crystals can bring positivity and prosperity into your life, and the easy-to-follow information in this book offers guidance on choosing the right crystal for your needs and harnessing their awesome healing energies. This is the ideal guide for ardent and aspiring crystal lovers alike. Discover how to make the most of your collection with simple tips on the best methods of cleansing, charging and storing your crystals. Featuring detailed crystal profiles complete with beautiful colour photos and key information on dozens of stones - from their identifiable features to their unique energies - these pages contain everything you need to know to feel the full force of these natural treasures.

In an age of social isolation, what does it mean to belong? Humanity is at an inflection point. Stress, disconnection, and increasing environmental degradation have people yearning for more than just material progress, personal freedom, or political stability. We are searching for deeper connection. We are longing to belong. On Belonging is an exploration of the crisis of social isolation and of the fundamental human need to belong. It considers belonging across four core dimensions: in our relationships with other people, in our rootedness in nature, in our ability to influence political and economic decision-making, and in our finding of meaning and purpose in our lives, with lessons on how to create communities centered on human connection. A trailblazing advocate and thought leader on questions of social connectedness, Kim Samuel introduces readers to leaders around the world who are doing the work to cultivate belonging. Whether through sports, medicine, music, business, culture, or advocacy, the people and programs in this book offer us meaningful lessons on building a world where we all feel at home.

Our dreams can be wild, beautiful, and sometimes just bizarre, but what do they mean? First published in the 19th century, but now updated and revised for modern readers, The Dream Book is your guide to untangling the meaning of every midnight reverie. The Dream Book includes two ways to make sense of your dreams. First, guided by your intuition, you'll learn to create a unique cipher that will guide you to the meaning of your dream. The second part of the book features a dictionary of symbols - from camels to kisses, kittens to coffee (don't worry, your dream latte portends great happiness) - and their meanings. Beautiful and baffling, sacred and scary, The Dream Book is a lighthearted guide to deciphering the meaning of every dream.

The third and final book in Cornelia Funke's internationally celebrated trilogy - magical, thrilling and mesmerising. 'I don't think I've ever read anything that conveys so well the joys, terrors and pitfalls of reading' Diana Wynne Jones on Inkheart Life in the Inkworld has been far from easy since the extraordinary events of Inkspell, when the story of Inkheart magically drew Meggie, Mo and Dustfinger back into its pages. With Dustfinger dead, and the evil Adderhead now in control, the story in which they are all caught has taken an unhappy turn. Even Elinor, left alone in the real world, believes her family to be lost - lost between the covers of a book. But as winter comes on there is reason to hope - if only Meggie and Mo can rewrite the wrongs of the past and make a dangerous pact with death ... A thrilling and magical series about stories and the imagination they inspire Book 1, Inkheart, is now a major movie starring Andy Serkis, Paul Bettany and Brendan Fraser! Cornelia Funke is the critically-acclaimed, internationally bestselling author of Dragon Rider and The Thief Lord

'In a world dominated by distraction, this book is a timely reminder of the value of focused attention.' Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again Does your mind wander? Do you find it hard to concentrate? Do you jump from one task to another? Are you stressed? Anxious? Depressed? Fearful? The life you want is within reach by learning to focus. By mastering the skill of focus, we can become our best selves. Focus lies at the core of all human success, but never before have so many of us experienced the inability to concentrate. Distraction is a silent epidemic in our modern world. It is damaging relationships, our working lives and our happiness. We've become masters of distraction because that's what we practice all day, every day. As our fast-paced lives compete with a relentless bombardment of information, we switch focus from one thing to another all the time. The Power of Unwavering Focus is a practical, ten-step guide to understanding and harnessing the human mind. Whether you're seeking to improve yourself as a parent, a leader or an attentive listener, this book will help you learn how to focus and in doing so, dramatically improve your productivity, relationships, mental health, happiness and your ability to achieve your life goals. Drawing on ancient Hindu monastic tradition, Dandapani shows us that concentration is a skill that we can learn and improve through practice.

Originally published as a 24-week correspondence course, The Master Key System is a step by step process for achieving the life and success that you’ve always desired. Using the creative power of thought, Charles F. Haanel guides readers to understand and harness their own mental power in order to manifest the life they wish to experience. Each of the 24 lessons includes study questions and responses to deepen your understanding of the material. Practical and accessible, The Master Key System is a transformative guide to living a fulfilling, successful life. The Master Key System is part of the GPS (Good, Practical Simple) Guides to Life series, which aims to introduce a new audience of readers to the life changing writings of past generations. This new edition also includes the bonus book Mental Chemistry also by Haanel.

The Map of Consciousness Explained is an essential primer on the late Dr David R. Hawkins's teachings on human consciousness and their associated energy fields. Using muscle testing, Dr Hawkins conducted more than 250,000 calibrations during 20 years of research to define a range of values, attitudes and emotions that correspond to levels of consciousness. This range of values - along with a logarithmic scale of 1 to 1,000 - became the Map of Consciousness, which Dr Hawkins first wrote about in his New York Times bestseller, Power vs. Force. In this book, readers will gain an introduction and deeper understanding of the Map, with visual charts and practical applications to help them heal, recover and evolve to higher levels of consciousness and energy.

"The Secret" continues to be the publishing phenomenon of the year, an international mega-bestseller that has inspired millions of people to live extraordinary lives. "The Secret Gratitude Book" is the only official, authorized companion to the original book. This beautiful journal is full of passionate and wise affirmations and insights, written by Rhonda Byrne, that will allow readers to bring joy and harmony to every aspect of their lives.Inspired by Rhonda's writings, it condenses the essence and wisdom of the original book, helping readers to continue their personal journey of transformation. This is not a diary and it does not contain dates - it is a timeless workbook that fans of "The Secret" will use as a personal record of their soul's journey, as they continue to enhance and enrich their lives. Beautifully designed, with a magnetic flap closer and a ribbon marker, it will help readers focus their energies and clearly and effectively maximize the law of attraction in their lives. It is one of the most powerful tools you can use to transform your life into total joy.

This easy-to-use guide is filled with bite-sized tips, techniques and inspiration for helping you to manifest your best life Everyone's definition of happiness looks different; whether you base your contentment on success, love or financial security, this book will help you to identify and clarify your goals, and provide you with everything you need to start manifesting the life of your dreams. Manifestation is one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal, and the good news is that anyone can try it - the universe is ready and waiting to help you achieve your goals, realize your dreams and live your best life. By harnessing your positive energy through techniques such as visualization and scripting, you can communicate your desires to the universe and start working towards attaining them. It's time to start changing your life through the power of your mind! Inside you'll find: A range of manifesting techniques to maximize success Easy-to-follow visualization methods Top tips on how to get the most out of your manifesting Uplifting quotes and affirmations to inspire your journey Trust in the universe and it will deliver.

The book Dr. Christiane Northrup promised "will change your mind and your brain in the best possible way," A strong memory and a healthy brain aren't as difficult to maintain as one might think. Combining the latest neuroscience research with age-old wisdom about resilience, mindfulness, and stress reduction, Drs. Henry Emmons and David Alter show that vibrant aging is within reach. Together they demonstrate how to blend the best of modern science and Eastern holistic medicine to form a powerful drug-free program that will maintain a youthful mind and a happy life. With more than fifty-five years of combined experience in the fields of neuroscience and psychiatry, Dr. Emmons and Dr. Alter have taken their expertise and translated the fundamentals of brain science into an easily accessible collection of the nine key lessons proven to preserve and strengthen mental acuity. Filled with easy-to-understand theories and practical exercises to work out your brain, Staying Sharp provides you with "reliable information on how to minimize cognitive decline" (The New York Times) so you can live more joyfully, age more gracefully, and build intimacy in your relationships, no matter what your age.