|
Books > Philosophy > Non-Western philosophy > Oriental & Indian philosophy
An Unabridged Edition To Include: The Earth Scroll - The Water
Scroll - The Fire Scroll - The Wind Scroll - The Scroll Of
Emptiness - Preface and Notes
In "A Book of Five Rings," Miyamoto Musashi takes the reader into a
world filled to the brim with devotion, self-respect, discipline,
honesty and purity of thought. Written originally for warriors and
samurai in a completely different time and culture, Musashi's book
provides a remarkable source of inspiration for self-development
today. His teachings are concise and to the point. He uses phrases
like "you must understand this" and "you must practice diligently"
and explains only general, but unquestionable and fundamental,
concepts of the Way of the Warrior. While some of his guidelines
are are not directly applicable in our time and age, those about
striving to achieve improvement on the inside as well as the
outside couldn't be more on target. Taken literally this book is
about how to become an efficient, albeit enlightened, killer. It's
value comes from reading between the lines--lines which speak
volumes.
"The Cantong qi is the forefather of the scriptures on the Elixir
of all times. Its words are ancient and profound, arcane and
subtle. No one can fathom their meaning." Thus begins a preface
found in one of the commentaries to the Cantong qi. These words
express several significant features of the work translated in the
present book: the charm of its verses, the depth of its discourse,
its enigmatic language, and its intimate relation to Taoist alchemy
(Waidan and Neidan).
Under an allusive poetical language and thick layers of images
and symbols, the Cantong qi hides the exposition of a doctrine that
inspired a large number of commentaries and other works, and
attracted the attention not only of Taoist masters and adepts, but
also of philosophers, cosmologists, poets, literati, calligraphers,
philologists, and bibliophiles.
Neidan (Internal Alchemy) is the legacy that has shaped the
dominant image and understanding of the Cantong qi in China, by
placing this work at the origins of its teachings and practices.
Besides this one, there has been, within the Taoist tradition, a
second, less well-known way of reading the text: the Cantong qi is
concerned not with one, but with three major subjects, namely
Cosmology (the system of the Book of Changes), Taoism (the way of
"non-doing"), and Alchemy, and joins them to one another into a
single, unique doctrine.
In addition to a complete translation of the Cantong qi, this
book - the fruit of more than 20 years of work - contains
explanations of each of its sections, notes on many of its verses,
and a detailed introduction to its history and doctrines.
Tiantai Buddhism emerged from an idiosyncratic and innovative
interpretation of the Lotus Sutra to become one of the most
complete, systematic, and influential schools of philosophical
thought developed in East Asia. Brook A. Ziporyn puts Tiantai into
dialogue with modern philosophical concerns to draw out its
implications for ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics. Ziporyn
explains Tiantai's unlikely roots, its positions of extreme
affirmation and rejection, its religious skepticism and embrace of
religious myth, and its view of human consciousness. Ziporyn
reveals the profound insights of Tiantai Buddhism while stimulating
philosophical reflection on its unexpected effects.
Revered for millennia in the Chinese spiritual tradition, " Chuang
Tzu " stands alongside the " Tao Te Ching " as a founding classic
of Taoism. The Inner Chapters are the only sustained section of
this text widely believed to be the work of Chuang Tzu himself,
dating to the fourth century B.C.E. Witty and engaging, spiced with
the lyricism of poetry, Chuang Tzu's Taoist insights are timely and
eternal, profoundly concerned with spiritual ecology. Indeed, the
Tao of Chuang Tzu was a wholesale rejection of a human-centered
approach. Zen traces its sources back to these Taoist roots --
roots at least as deep as those provided by Buddhism.
But this is an ancient text that yields a surprisingly modern
effect. In bold and startling prose, David Hinton's translation
captures the "zany texture and philosophical abandon" of the
original. The Inner Chapters' fantastical passages -- in which even
birds and trees teach us what they know -- offer up a wild
menagerie of characters, freewheeling play with language, and
surreal humor. And interwoven with Chuang Tzu's sharp instruction
on the Tao are short-short stories that are often rough and ribald,
rich with satire and paradox.
On their deepest level, the Inner Chapters are a meditation on the
mysteries of knowledge itself. "Chuang Tzu's propositions," the
translator's introduction reminds us, "seem to be in constant
transformation, for he deploys words and concepts only to free us
of words and concepts." Hinton's vital new translation makes this
ancient text from the golden age of Chinese philosophy come alive
for contemporary readers.
Only by inhabiting Dao (the Way of Nature) and dwelling in its
unity can humankind achieve true happiness and freedom, in both
life and death. This is Daoist philosophy's central tenet, espoused
by the person-or group of people-known as Zhuangzi (369?-286?
B.C.E.) in a text by the same name. To be free, individuals must
discard rigid distinctions between good and bad, right and wrong,
and follow a course of action not motivated by gain or striving.
When one ceases to judge events as good or bad, man-made suffering
disappears and natural suffering is embraced as part of life.
Zhuangzi elucidates this mystical philosophy through humor,
parable, and anecdote, deploying non sequitur and even nonsense to
illuminate a truth beyond the boundaries of ordinary logic. Boldly
imaginative and inventively worded, the Zhuangzi floats free of its
historical period and society, addressing the spiritual nourishment
of all people across time. One of the most justly celebrated texts
of the Chinese tradition, the Zhuangzi is read by thousands of
English-language scholars each year, yet only in the Wade-Giles
romanization. Burton Watson's pinyin romanization brings the text
in line with how Chinese scholars, and an increasing number of
other scholars, read it.
This book takes an indepth look at the monster of terrorism beyond
its normal evil manifestations. It examines terrorism with Lord
Krishna's technology of handling evil and evildoers, which as per
the great Lord's divine approach should include: An indepth
analysis of the problem including its causatives; Intense and
persuasive dialogue with evil generators-persuading them to give up
the unrighteous and unsustainable path of terror; Applying swift
and crushing blows with requisite multiple thrusts on those not
responding positively to crush such terror perpetrators and the
terror infrastructure; and Employing a suitable package of the
elements of 'Gandhian Philosophy' on the hearts and minds of evil
doers in order to stop regeneration and re-sprouting of roots,
shoots, seeds, and braches of so crushed terror and terrorists for
a permanent and satisfying change. The 'Current Fortified Strategy'
of handling terrorism can be assembled to take care of the first
three requirements but it remains devoid of any component efforts
to effectively handle the root causes of terrorism which emerge
from misguided human hearts and minds. 'Gandhian Philosophy' is
rich in such 'Brahmastras', which on sustained application, can
decisively and completely root out all thought formations of terror
and terrorism. The reader is bound to appreciate this truth on
going through the uncommon approach of this work.
The Russian-born Peter D. Ouspensky (1878-1947) popularized
interest in the occult in the early 20th century with his own ideas
- as in Tertium Organum in 1912 - and the ideas of G. I. Gurdjieff
in the posthumous 1949 book In Search of the Miraculous. Early in
his career Ouspensky penned a short work on the images of the
tarot, using the recently issued Waite-Smith pictorial deck as his
basis. Here is that work.
Advaita is a spiritual philosophy based on the Upanishads, older
than most other religious systems we know about but also the most
logical and scientific in its approach. The literal meaning is "Not
two". There is only one truth - but, it has to be said, there are
many teachers. So how is a "seeker" to choose between them? This
book is a systematic treatment of Advaita which demystifies it,
differentiating between approaches and teachers, enabling you to
decide which approach is most suitable for you. It compares the
scriptures of traditional Advaita with the words of contemporary
sages and neo-Advaita. Should we ignore the mind? Is the world
real? Is there anything we can do to become "enlightened"? These
questions and many more are addressed, with explanations given in
their own words from those who discovered the truth. This is a
massively comprehensive, definitive work.
The teachings of Confucius have had as great an impact on the
culture of the Far East as the Bible has had on that of West. As
they are presented in this deluxe, hardcover volume, "The Teachings
of Confucius - Special Edition" consists of three books in one
volume: "The Analects," "The Great Learning" and "The Doctrine of
the Mean."
"The Analects" is the most important of the teachings of Confucius.
It is a collection of speeches and discussions between Confucius
and his various disciples that illustrate his precepts: that
anyone, regardless of his station in life, could become a superior
man by living a virtuous life.
"The Great Learning" is a protocol for living, even the humblest
actions of everyday living. It is embodied by the practice
illustrated by the "Seven Steps."
"The Doctrine of the Mean" deals with the means of achieving
perfect virtue by following the middle way. It is a Heavenly
prescription of the golden path by which learning and teaching
ultimately unfold into perfect virtue.
Like other great teachers, Confucius advocated action based on
empathy; on practicing "The Golden Rule" by only doing unto others
as you would have them do unto you. His aim was to improve the
value and quality of life for all mankind.
A modern book of destiny and power, using the ancient principles of
the Tao Te Ching.
How do we begin to discover and live our destined life? How can we
use the ancient, Eastern philosophy to experience more success in
our lives?
From Derek Lin, Taoist master and author of "The Tao of Daily
Life," comes this practical, systematic approach to the ancient and
time-honored spiritual learning process. The Tao of Success
navigates the five rings of life, which are common patterns of
traditional Tao cultivation, conceptualized by the ancient sages:
your spirit, your mind, your relationships, your world, and your
destiny. Success is achieved by discovering and experiencing these
five concentric rings, from the inside out, and not in the future
but in the here and now.
Using the same format that made "The Tao of Daily Life" a breakout
Eastern wisdom bestseller, Lin draws on the power of Taoist stories
to illustrate important keys, or lessons. He then offers commentary
on understanding and applying that story in modern life-all aimed
to help readers live out the destiny that lies within themselves.
By integrating the life-altering lessons of this book into their
busy lives, readers can begin to cultivate the Tao. In "The Tao of
Success," Lin returns with his enlightening approach to
understanding, centered on story and illumination of ancient Taoist
secrets for the modern beginner and the familiar student alike.
The Zen of doing anything is doing it with a particular state of
mind that brings the experience of enlightenment - and through that
experience, happiness. In Zen and the Art of Happiness, you will
learn how to think and feel so that what you think and feel creates
happiness and vibrancy in your life rather than gloominess or
depression. Cutting-edge science and spirituality tell us that what
we believe, think and feel actually determine the makeup of our
body at the cellular level. We all have a personal philosophy that
influences our thoughts and feelings. It deals with what we have
come to believe about the world, its people and its events - about
how those events affect us and how we affect them. Whatever your
personal philosophy is, it is completely responsible for your state
of happiness and well-being because it determines how you respond
to events that come into your life.
Miyamoto Musashi's Go Rin no Sho or the book of five rings, is
considered a classic treatise on military strategy, much like Sun
Tzu's The Art of War and Chanakya's Arthashastra. The five "books"
refer to the idea that there are different elements of battle, just
as there are different physical elements in life, as described by
Buddhism, Shinto, and other Eastern religions. Through the book
Musashi defends his thesis: a man who conquers himself is ready to
take it on on the world, should need arise.
From the early years of the Common Era to 1700, Indian
intellectuals explored with unparalleled subtlety the place of
emotion in art. Their investigations led to the deconstruction of
art's formal structures and broader inquiries into the pleasure of
tragic tales. Rasa, or taste, was the word they chose to describe
art's aesthetics, and their passionate effort to pin down these
phenomena became its own remarkable act of creation. This book is
the first in any language to follow the evolution of rasa from its
origins in dramaturgical thought-a concept for the stage-to its
flourishing in literary thought-a concept for the page. A Rasa
Reader incorporates primary texts by every significant thinker on
classical Indian aesthetics, many never translated before. The
arrangement of the selections captures the intellectual dynamism
that has powered this debate for centuries. Headnotes explain the
meaning and significance of each text, a comprehensive introduction
summarizes major threads in intellectual-historical terms, and
critical endnotes and an extensive bibliography add further depth
to the selections. The Sanskrit theory of emotion in art is one of
the most sophisticated in the ancient world, a precursor of the
work being done today by critics and philosophers of aesthetics. A
Rasa Reader's conceptual detail, historical precision, and clarity
will appeal to any scholar interested in a full portrait of global
intellectual development. A Rasa Reader is the inaugural book in
the Historical Sourcebooks in Classical Indian Thought series,
edited by Sheldon Pollock. These text-based books guide readers
through the most important forms of classical Indian thought, from
epistemology, rhetoric, and hermeneutics to astral science, yoga,
and medicine. Each volume provides fresh translations of key works,
headnotes to contextualize selections, a comprehensive analysis of
major lines of development within the discipline, and exegetical
and text-critical endnotes, as well as a bibliography. Designed for
comparativists and interested general readers, Historical
Sourcebooks is also a great resource for advanced scholars seeking
authoritative commentary on challenging works.
Why did Greek philosophy begin in the sixth century BCE? Why did
Indian philosophy begin at about the same time? Why did the
earliest philosophy take the form that it did? Why was this form so
similar in Greece and India? And how do we explain the differences
between them? These questions can only be answered by locating the
philosophical intellect within its entire societal context,
ignoring neither ritual nor economy. The cities of Greece and
northern India were in this period distinctive also by virtue of
being pervasively monetised. The metaphysics of both cultures is
marked by the projection (onto the cosmos) and the introjection
(into the inner self) of the abstract, all-pervasive,
quasi-omnipotent, impersonal substance embodied in money
(especially coinage). And in both cultures this development
accompanied the interiorisation of the cosmic rite of passage (in
India sacrifice, in Greece mystic initiation).
|
You may like...
The Tao of Pooh
Benjamin Hoff
Paperback
(1)
R265
R212
Discovery Miles 2 120
|