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Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Non-Christian sacred works & liturgy > Sacred texts
Voted one of Christianity Today's 1995 Books of the Year For 40
years, the New Bible Commentary has set the standard for works of
its kind. Now in this completely revised fourth edition (including
over 80% new and updated material), the New Bible Commentary is
positioned to maintain its standing as the leading one-volume
commentary on the whole Bible well into the 21st century. This
readable and accessible volume brings together many of the finest
scholars of our day to meet the needs of students, teachers and
Bible readers. The 21st-century edition of the New Bible Commentary
offers 66 solid, concise, evangelical commentaries--one on each
book of the Bible. These detailed (passage-by-passage or
verse-by-verse) commentaries, based on the NIV text, are
accompanied by introductory material on date, authorship, purpose,
key themes, outlines and discussions of recent developments in
biblical scholarship. In addition seven articles overview biblical
history and types of biblical literature, including the Pentateuch,
poetry, the Gospels, the Epistles, and the Apocrypha and other
apocalyptic writings. Completely updated for a new generation of
readers, the newNew Bible Commentary will be a powerful aid for all
who want to understand the foundational book of the Christian
faith.
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The Zen Way
(Paperback)
Venerable Myokyo-Ni
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R456
R374
Discovery Miles 3 740
Save R82 (18%)
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Ships in 10 - 15 working days
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The Zen Way is an invaluable introduction to Zen practice. It is
divided into three parts: in the first, Ven. Myokyo-ni provides an
overview of Buddhist belief in general, from the perspective of
Zen. In her second part, she describes the daily rituals in a
Rinzai Zen training monastery; while in the third, Ven. Myokyo-ni
assesses Zen practice from a modern and European perspective.
Paramahansa Yogananda - author of the bestselling classic
"Autobiography of a Yogi" - delves into the deeper meaning of the
Bhagavad Gita's symbology, and sheds a fascinating light on the
true intent of India's beloved scripture. He describes how each of
us, through applying the profound wisdom of yoga, can achieve
material and spiritual victory on the battlefield of daily life.
This concise and inspiring book is a compilation of selections from
Yogananda's in-depth, critically acclaimed two-volume translation
of and commentary on the Bhagavad Gita ("God Talks with Arjuna").
The seventh and final book of the monumental R?m?ya?a of V?lm?ki,
the Uttarak???a, brings the epic saga to a close with an account of
the dramatic events of King R?ma's millennia-long reign. It opens
with a colorful history of the demonic race of the r?k?asas and the
violent career of R?ma's villainous foe R?va?a, and later recounts
R?ma's grateful discharge of his allies in the great war at Lank?
as well as his romantic reunion with his wife S?t?. But dark clouds
gather as R?ma, confronted by scandal over S?t?'s time in captivity
under the lustful R?va?a, makes the agonizing decision to banish
his beloved wife, now pregnant. As R?ma continues as king,
marvelous tales and events unfurl, illustrating the benefits of
righteous rule and the perils that await monarchs who fail to
address the needs of their subjects. The Uttarak???a has long
served as a point of social and religious controversy largely for
its accounts of the banishment of S?t?, as well as of R?ma's
killing of a low-caste ascetic. The translators' introduction
provides a full discussion of these issues and the complex
reception history of the Uttarak???a. This translation of the
critical edition also includes exhaustive notes and a comprehensive
bibliography.
2022 Top Ten Book from Academy of Parish Clergy The teachings of
the great twentieth-century Jewish thinker Martin Buber empower us
to enter a spiritual dimension that often passes unnoticed in the
daily routine. In A Year with Martin Buber, the first Torah
commentary to focus on his life's work, we experience the
fifty-four weekly Torah portions and eleven Jewish holidays through
Buber's eyes. While best known for the spiritual concept of the
I-Thou relationship between people, Buber graced us with other
fundamentals, including Over Against, Afterglow, Will and Grace,
Reification, Inclusion, and Imagine the Real. And his life
itself-including his defiance of the Nazis, his call for
Jewish-Arab reconciliation, and his protest of Adolf Eichmann's
execution-modeled these teachings in action. Rabbi Dennis S. Ross
demonstrates Buber's roots in Jewish thought and breaks new ground
by explaining the broader scope of Buber's life and work in a
clear, conversational voice. He quotes from the weekly Torah
portion; draws lessons from Jewish commentators; and sets Buber's
related words in context with Buber's remarkable life story,
Hasidic tales, and writing. A wide variety of anecdotal
illustrations from Buber as well as the author's life encourages
each of us to "hallow the everyday" and seek out spirituality
"hiding in plain sight."
Ever since the first scrolls were found in the Judaean desert in
1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls have been the subject of passionate
speculation and controversy. The possibility that they might
challenge assumptions about ancient Judaism and the origins of
Christianity, coupled with the extremely limited access imposed for
many years, only fueled debate on their meanings. With all the
scrolls now available in translation, conclusions can be drawn as
to the authorship and origins, their implications for Christianity
and Judaism, and their link with the ancient site of Qumran. This
book, written by three noted scholars in the field, draws together
all the evidence to present a fully illustrated survey of every
major manuscript. With numerous factfiles, reconstructions, scroll
photographs, and a wealth of other illustrations, it is the most
comprehensive and accessible account available on the Dead Sea
Scrolls.
In this book, Lynn Kaye examines how rabbis of late antiquity
thought about time through their legal reasoning and storytelling,
and what these insights mean for thinking about time today.
Providing close readings of legal and narrative texts in the
Babylonian Talmud, she compares temporal ideas with related
concepts in ancient and modern philosophical texts and in religious
traditions from late antique Mesopotamia. Kaye demonstrates that
temporal flexibility in the Babylonian Talmud is a means of
exploring and resolving legal uncertainties, as well as a tool to
tell stories that convey ideas effectively and dramatically. Her
book, the first on time in the Talmud, makes accessible complex
legal texts and philosophical ideas. It also connects the
literature of late antique Judaism with broader theological and
philosophical debates about time.
Reprint of the 1998 work (Collins, San Francisco). Writing for non-
Muslims, Cragg offers an abridged literary (as opposed to literal)
translation of the Qur'an, presenting the text in eight segments
representing eight main themes. He also includes a substantial
introductory essay explaining this approach and reflecting on the
relevance of the Qur'an in the contemporary world.
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The Koran
(Paperback)
Arthur J. Arberry
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R326
R272
Discovery Miles 2 720
Save R54 (17%)
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Ships in 9 - 15 working days
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The Koran is a book apart, not only as Holy Scripture for Muslims,
but as the supreme classic of Arabic literature. In its 114 Suras,
or chapters, it comprises the total of revelations believed to have
been communicated to the prophet Muhammad as a final expression of
God's will and purpose for man. The revelations were received over
a number of years, the first dating from AD 610, the last shortly
before Muhammad's death in AD 632, and the definitive canon was
established some twenty years later. The Koran is neither prose nor
poetry but a unique fusion of both. In his attempt to convey the
sublime rhetoric of the original, Professor Arberry has carefully
studied the intricate and richly varied rhythms which - apart from
the message itself - serve to explain the Koran's undeniable claim
to rank among the greatest literary masterpieces of mankind. ABOUT
THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made
available the widest range of literature from around the globe.
Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship,
providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable
features, including expert introductions by leading authorities,
helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for
further study, and much more.
Internationally renowned author and Bible teacher Joyce Meyer
provides a close study on Philippians, emphasizing the true joy
that comes from serving others through Christ. Paul's letter to the
people at Philippi serves as a reminder that if we search for joy
in possessions, places, or people, we will always come up short.
True, lasting joy comes only through faith in Jesus Christ, living
in harmony with His followers, and serving others in the name of
Christ. The life lived by the Philippians is still attainable
today. In her comprehensive approach, Joyce Meyer takes a deep dive
into well-known and beloved verses, identifying key truths and
incorporating room for personal reflection. Joyce's Philippians
provides a key study tool that will help you develop a stronger
relationship with God. If you take time to examine His word, you'll
see how much He loves you and how much He desires that you live a
joyful, content life on earth!
Jewish thought since the Middle Ages can be regarded as a sustained
dialogue with Moses Maimonides, regardless of the different social,
cultural, and intellectual environments in which it was conducted.
Much of Jewish intellectual history can be viewed as a series of
engagements with him, fueled by the kind of 'Jewish' rabbinic and
esoteric writing Maimonides practiced. This book examines a wide
range of theologians, philosophers, and exegetes who share a
passionate engagement with Maimonides, assaulting, adopting,
subverting, or adapting his philosophical and jurisprudential
thought. This ongoing enterprise is critical to any appreciation of
the broader scope of Jewish law, philosophy, biblical
interpretation, and Kabbalah. Maimonides's legal, philosophical,
and exegetical corpus became canonical in the sense that many
subsequent Jewish thinkers were compelled to struggle with it in
order to advance their own thought. As such, Maimonides joins
fundamental Jewish canon alongside the Bible, the Talmud, and the
Zohar.
Night of Beginnings is a groundbreaking new haggadah for the
Passover seder from acclaimed poet, translator, and liturgist
Marcia Falk, beautifully designed and illustrated with original
color drawings by the author. Unlike both traditional and new
haggadahs, which do not contain a full recounting of the biblical
story, Night of Beginnings presents the Exodus narrative in its
entirety, providing a direct connection to the ancient origins of
the holiday. This retelling highlights the actions of its female
characters, including Moshe's sister, Miriam; Pharaoh's daughter,
who adopts the baby Moshe; and the midwives Shifrah and Pu'ah, who
save the Hebrew male infants. Falk's revolutionary new blessings,
in Hebrew and English, replace the traditional, patriarchal seder
blessings, and her kavanot-meditative directions for
prayer-introduce a genre new to the seder ritual. Poems, psalms,
and songs are arranged to give structural coherence to the
haggadah. A new commentary raises interpretive questions and
invites us to bring personal reflections into the discussion. Like
the author's widely acclaimed previous prayer books, The Book of
Blessings and The Days Between, Falk's poetic blessings for the
seder envision the divine as a Greater Whole of which we are an
inseparable part. The inclusive language of Falk's blessings makes
room for women to find and use their voices more full-throatedly
than they were able to do with the male-centered prayers inherited
from the early rabbis. Men, too, will encounter here a spiritually
moving and thought-provoking experience.
This commentary on a selection of daily chants offers an important
perspective upon some of the core tenets of Buddhist thought and
teaching. The Venerable Myoko-ni surveys some of the key chants,
including The Repentance Sutra, The Heart Sutra, and The Four Great
Vows, assessing their origins, and the meaning that lies behind
their creation and interpretation. An invaluable guide to all
engaged in Buddhism and some of its key daily practices.
This book presents an intellectual history of today's Muslim world,
surveying contemporary Muslim thinking in its various
manifestations, addressing a variety of themes that impact on the
lives of present-day Muslims. Focusing on the period from roughly
the late 1960s to the first decade of the twenty-first century, the
book is global in its approach and offers an overview of different
strands of thought and trends in the development of new ideas,
distinguishing between traditional, reactionary, and progressive
approaches. It presents a variety of themes and issues including:
The continuing relevance of the legacy of traditional Islamic
learning as well as the use of reason; the centrality of the
Qur'an; the spiritual concerns of contemporary Muslims; political
thought regarding secularity, statehood, and governance; legal and
ethical debates; related current issues like human rights, gender
equality, and religious plurality; as well as globalization,
ecology and the environment, bioethics, and life sciences. An
alternative account of Islam and the Muslim world today,
counterbalancing narratives that emphasise politics and
confrontations with the West, this book is an essential resource
for students and scholars of Islam.
THE BHAGAVAD-GITA (For Children and Beginners in English only. Book
Size 5.25" x 8.0") With Introduction, children level meaning of
more than 181 simpler Gita Verses and is illustrated With 26
Stories from our scriptures and 14 pictures. It is suitable for
children of grades 8th. and above as well as the first-time
readers. A meditation technique and simple mantras are also
included. This will make a great gift to children.
An essential companion to a timeless spiritual classic The Lotus
Sutra is among the most venerated scriptures of Buddhism. Composed
in India some two millennia ago, it asserts the potential for all
beings to attain supreme enlightenment. Donald Lopez and Jacqueline
Stone provide an essential reading companion to this inspiring yet
enigmatic masterpiece, explaining how it was understood by its
compilers in India and, centuries later in medieval Japan, by one
of its most influential proponents. In this illuminating
chapter-by-chapter guide, Lopez and Stone show how the sutra's
anonymous authors skillfully reframed the mainstream Buddhist
tradition in light of a new vision of the path and the person of
the Buddha himself, and examine how the sutra's metaphors,
parables, and other literary devices worked to legitimate that
vision. They go on to explore how the Lotus was interpreted by the
Japanese Buddhist master Nichiren (1222-1282), whose inspired
reading of the book helped to redefine modern Buddhism. In doing
so, Lopez and Stone demonstrate how readers of sacred works
continually reinterpret them in light of their own unique
circumstances. An invaluable guide to an incomparable spiritual
classic, this book unlocks the teachings of the Lotus for modern
readers while providing insights into the central importance of
commentary as the vehicle by which ancient writings are given
contemporary meaning.
WINNER OF THE 2019 DUFF COOPER PRIZE A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
'With emotional and psychological insight, Barton unlocks this
sleeping giant of our culture. In the process, he has produced a
masterpiece.' Sunday Times The Bible is the central book of Western
culture. For the two faiths which hold it sacred, it is the bedrock
of their religion, a singular authority on what to believe and how
to live. For non-believers too, it has a commanding status: it is
one of the great works of world literature, woven to an
unparalleled degree into our language and thought. This book tells
the story of the Bible, explaining how it came to be constructed
and how it has been understood, from its remote beginnings down to
the present. John Barton describes how the narratives, laws,
proverbs, prophecies, poems and letters which comprise the Bible
were written and when, what we know - and what we cannot know -
about their authors and what they might have meant, as well as how
these extraordinarily disparate writings relate to each other. His
incisive readings shed new light on even the most familiar
passages, exposing not only the sources and traditions behind them,
but also the busy hands of the scribes and editors who assembled
and reshaped them. Untangling the process by which some texts which
were regarded as holy, became canonical and were included, and
others didn't, Barton demonstrates that the Bible is not the fixed
text it is often perceived to be, but the result of a long and
intriguing evolution. Tracing its dissemination, translation and
interpretation in Judaism and Christianity from Antiquity to the
rise of modern biblical scholarship, Barton elucidates how meaning
has both been drawn from the Bible and imposed upon it. Part of the
book's originality is to illuminate the gap between religion and
scripture, the ways in which neither maps exactly onto the other,
and how religious thinkers from Augustine to Luther and Spinoza
have reckoned with this. Barton shows that if we are to regard the
Bible as 'authoritative', it cannot be as believers have so often
done in the past.
A concise and illuminating portrait of Allah from one of the
world's leading Qur'anic scholars The central figure of the Qur'an
is not Muhammad but Allah. The Qur'an, Islam's sacred scripture, is
marked above all by its call to worship Allah, and Allah alone. Yet
who is the God of the Qur'an? What distinguishes the qur'anic
presentation of God from that of the Bible? In this illuminating
study, Gabriel Said Reynolds depicts a god of both mercy and
vengeance, one who transcends simple classification. He is personal
and mysterious; no limits can be placed on his mercy. Remarkably,
the Qur'an is open to God's salvation of both sinners and
unbelievers. At the same time, Allah can lead humans astray, so all
are called to a disposition of piety and fear. Allah, in other
words, is a dynamic and personal God. This eye-opening book
provides a unique portrait of the God of the Qur'an.
Often thought of as the Bible of India, "The Bhagavad Gita" is the
most important sacred text of Hinduism, and the third most
important among world scriptures, after the Bible and the Qur'an.
It tells the story of the moral struggles of the warrior Arjuna,
who, before the start of a great battle between good and evil,
discusses the big questions of life and death with his charioteer
who is (unbeknownst to Arjuna) the Hindu god Krishna in disguise.
This masterful translation of a classic text includes the following
key features: fresh, easy-to-read translation in free verse form;
beautiful edition - elegant jacket, interior design, and ribbon
marker; short introduction, allowing the reader to jump right into
the text; annotations at the foot of the page to explain foreign
concepts or terms; extensive concluding essay for deeper
understanding of the text; and, glossary of religious terms and
Sanskrit words.
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