The preliminary practices of Tantra aren't a hurdle to be gotten through in order to get somewhere else; they're an extraordinarily rich collection of practices which have much to offer as a means of cultivating and maturing the practitioner's psychological ground. They can enable experiences to unfold, and they can clear the way when there seem to be problems or hindrances practitioners are struggling with. In "Preparing for Tantra, " Preece draws on his experience as a Tantric Buddhist practitioner, meditation teacher, and psychotherapist to explain how to make the preliminary practices psychologically meaningful and spiritually transformative. He examines each of the practices with an eye to revealing how they may be used to heal and transform psychological trauma and offers practical suggestions for integrating them into daily life--as well as ensuring that practitioners are prepared psychologically, emotionally, and energetically to start out safely on the tantric path." Preparing for Tantra" is an accessible guidebook for engaging in ngondro, the preliminary practices that are done before engaging in a long tantric retreat. These practices are also powerful tools for purifying negativities and alleviating guilt, healing difficult experiences, and enriching our minds with goodness so that we will be able to progress in our Dharma practice and gain realizations of the path.

This book is unique in the way in which it explains the rich iconography of Tibetan Buddhism in relation to spiritual psychology and the exploration of our inner world. It is a door into the rich and profound symbolism of Tibetan sacred art. The author uses concepts from Western psychotherapy to bridge an understanding of the meaning and functions of these symbols.

Investigating a murder, cop Olivia Jardan uncovers evidence that the death was an assassination, violating the great compromise between the corporate consensus and the religious Interfaith--the organizations that rule what was once the United States. Jardan knows too much and both sides need her silenced--permanently. Author Rob Preece extrapolates on current social and technological trends to deliver a fast-paced thriller from a near-future that just might be real.

Iraq is dangerous enough with insurgents firing, anger over US bombing of local mosques, and the general lawlessness there, but fellow Americans are supposed to be on your side. Life gets a lot more dangerous for US National Guard Sergeant Ivy Newland when the secretive spy-type she's guarding decides that she's seen too much and tries to kill her. What she's seen is the True Cross--hidden in what is now Iraq for hundreds of years since it was captured from crusaders by Saladin. The Foundation, a secretive US organization, has big plans for the Cross--but considering they tried to kill her, Ivy isn't at all certain she wants to help move those plans forward. What if, as the agent claims, the Cross is the ultimate weapon of mass destruction? Ivy, accompanied by US Army Captain Zack Herrera are chased by the Foundation, by CIA drones and CIA-sponsored pesh merga, by insurgents, and by the US Navy as they flee across Iraq, Turkey, Greece, and finally Italy. Guided by a mysterios vision, or possibly a dream, Ivy knows she must seak something first in Istanbul, then in Venice. But getting there is more than half the problem--as the power of the Cross ensures that the Foundation is never far between. Their journey lets Ivy and Zack explore a growing attraction, puts them in contact with a number of unlikely allies and enemies, and explores both the history, faiths, and people of this crucial section of the world.

Lama Chopa is a practice of guru devotion special to the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. In the Gelugpa tradition, there are many guru yoga sadhanas, but Lama Chopa is the most popular and sacred text. A special practice of Je Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), the founder of the Gelugpa School, Lama Chopa was compiled by the first Panchen Lama, Panchen Lozang Chokyi Gyaltsen (1570-1662), who was the teacher of the fifth Dalai Lama (1617-1682). Lama Chopa became so popular in Tibet and Mongolia that almost every monk of the Gelugpa tradition had it memorized, and recited it on a daily basis, both in the temple as a group practice, and individually. Lama Chopa is considered to be an Anuttarayoga Tantra or Highest Yoga Tantra practice. As indicated by the opening words, "Arising within the sphere of great bliss, I manifest as a Guru Yidam," it contains the idea of personal transformation through the practitioner merging his or her mind with the guru as the meditational deity. The essence of the practice is to see the guru as an Enlightened Being, a Buddha, and to receive his or her blessings in return. This new translation by Rob Preece, with a preface by HH the Dalai Lama's official translator and a foreword by Zasep Tulku Rinpoche, contains all the traditional melodies and sacred hand gestures required to perform the prayer in its traditional form.

Seeing ghosts has always been something of a curse for Annie Neeter but when talking to a ghost makes her a suspect in an attempted murder, she realizes it's gone too far. Still, does she have any chance of convincing the sexy police detective she isn't crazy. Unfortunately, the head of the local mob is a believer and he's thinking of all sorts of ways she, and her ghosts, can help him make crime pay.

Lawyer Erin Tsong knows how to put on her game face, intimidate an opposing witness, play tough, but there's such a thing as carrying intimidation too far. At least that's what the judge says when she grows snakes out of her head. And Erin finds herself without a job, without a boyfriend, and with the threat of her mother coming to take care of her. Unfortunately, what happens to Erin is not unique--all over America, people are being transformed--and Erin is caught up in the backlash. A human retrovirus has exposed long-suppressed DNA sequences, sequences that carry the genes for vampires, giants, shapeshifters, and even Gorgons. As the world struggles to deal with the consequences of the transformation, Erin finds herself caught in the middle. She's involved in a high-profile legal case, one aimed at classifying the transformed as violent criminals, but she's also threatened by a group of vampires who believe she's a traitor to the transformed community.

Abandoned on a medieval-technology planet, Jake Borenski wants nothing more than to return to 'civilization.' But as he learns about the planet, he realizes an entire civilization may vanish unless he does something about it.

Ewan drops into Tia Burns's life like Lucifer falling from the skys. His eyes hold ancient secrets, and from the moment he arrives, she's constantly under threat. Her girlfriend guesses he's a vampire, a creature of the night. Ewan isn't a vampire--exactly. But he hungers for Tia in a way she can't understand, won't accept, yet finds herself unable to resist. Ancient beyond human imagining, Ewan has never needed anyone before, especially not one small woman. For the first time in his existance, he needs Tia. If he can win her, gain her worship, feed off of her strength, he may yet overthrow the bonds put on him over two thousand years earlier. Ewan calls himself a god--but he's a kind of god Tia has never imagined. Her straightforward beliefs hold no place for anyone like him, yet she can't deny the sense of compulsion that draws them together.

A retrovirus mutates human DNA--exposing long-suppressed 'junk DNA, ' and manifesting supposedly magical creatures. When vampires, trolls and werewolves rage out of control, only the Warders stand against darkness. Except, as warder Danielle Goodman finds, sometimes reality is more complicated than myth

Maps the psychological challenges that arise with our struggle to awaken and shows that it is necessary to accept our present imperfections so that we can develop empathy, love and compassion for ourselves and others.

When circumstances are challenging, how do we react? This book offers methods to help us develop greater inner strength and openness to life by changing the habit of what Rob Preece calls self-preoccupation the tendency to act from a narrow perspective dominated by insecurity and isolation. When we learn to look outside this mentality and truly cherish others as well as ourselves, we create a happier, relaxed mind and more fulfilling relationships, as well as realizing our life's purpose in a meaningful way. A long-time Buddhist practitioner and psychotherapist, Preece shares traditional meditations and practices for awakening the mind and heart including tonglen, but he also offers a Jungian perspective on these and his own sense-cultivated during many years' experience of the ways in which Westerners may need to re-see these practices to benefit most from them. Preece's insightful fusion of East and West will help readers tap inner resources of compassion and integrity in order to flourish in times of uncertainty and ultimately generate the altruistic aspiration to realize the awakened mind for the benefit of all living beings. Preece offers meditation practices at the end of many chapters to help the reader digest and integrate the book's information.