Philosophy and Religion

One of the great masterpieces of Western religious thought—culled by the greatest authority on Jewish mysticism. The Zohar represents an attempt to uncover hidden meanings behind the world of appearances. It is the central work in the literature of the Kabbalah, the Jewish mystical tradition. This volume of selected passages from the Zohar offers a sampling of its unique vision of the eso

Students of mediation are usually surprised to discover that a Jewish mediation tradition exists and that it was an authentic and integral part of mainstream Judaism until the eighteenth century.   Jewish Meditation is a step-by-step introduction to meditation and the Jewish practice of meditation in particular. This practical guide covers such topics as mantra meditation, contemplation,

In On the Kabbalah and Its Symbolism, Gershom Scholem guides the reader through the central themes in the intricate history of the Kabbalah, clarifying the relations between mysticism and established religious authority, the mystics' interpretation of the Torah and their attempts to discover the hidden meaning underlying Scripture, the tension between the philosophical and the mystical concepts of

A Holocaust survivor's surprising and thought-provoking study of forgiveness, justice, compassion, and human responsibility, featuring contributions from the Dalai Lama, Harry Wu, Cynthia Ozick, Primo Levi, and more. You are a prisoner in a concentration camp. A dying Nazi soldier asks for your forgiveness. What would you do? While imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp, Sim

Responsibility and Judgment gathers together unpublished writings from the last decade of Arendt’s life, where she addresses fundamental questions and concerns about the nature of evil and the making of moral choices. At the heart of the book is a profound ethical investigation, “Some Questions of Moral Philosophy,” in which Arendt confronts the inadequacy of traditional moral “truths” as st

When you dream of dragons, what is your unconscious trying to tell you? - Why is the number 4 a sign of good luck in some cultures, bad luck in others? - What symbolizes both the Greek goddess Diana and the Virgin Mary? The answers to these and hundreds of other fascinating questions can be found in The Modern Witch's Book of Symbols. Organized alphabetically by subject and lavishly illustrate

For the first time in paperback comes a comprehensive guide to Wicca for both established followers and newcomers to the Craft, designed to carry the modern Witch through every season and aspect of life. From Wicca´s ancient beginnings to its current practice worldwide, Wicca for Life encompasses the rites, rituals, and customs every practitioner needs to know. Written by Raymond Buckland, the lea

An expanded edition of the quintessential Wiccan classic written by the father of the pagan renaissance. First published in 1954, this landmark exploration of Wicca inspired a passionate revival of interest in indigenous British religion and led to the rebirth of a way of life. Encompassing an explanation of Wiccan rituals and tenents, as well as a comprehensive study of occult practices worldwid

A journey to fulfillment and renewal. In Essential Asatru, renowned author and priestess Diana Paxson demystifies an ancient, rich, and often misunderstood religion, and offers a practical guide for its modern followers. Filled with clear, concise instructions on living Asatru every day, this truly accessible guide takes you on a journey from Asatru´s origins in Scandinavian and German

An elegant and thoughtful tour of modern Druidism. With impeccable scholarship, America's most legendary Druid explores Druidic archaeology and mythology and helps to demystify rituals and prayers. Providing a complete overview of Druidic history, from its origins to its extermination by the Romans and triumphant resurgence as an earth religion in the 20th century, Bonewits explains Druidic tradit

In this beautiful and lucid guide, Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh offers gentle anecdotes and practical exercise as a means of learning the skills of mindfulness--being awake and fully aware. From washing the dishes to answering the phone to peeling an orange, he reminds us that each moment holds within it an opportunity to work toward greater self-understanding and peacefulness.

“Our main object will be to describe one of the most incomparably beautiful myths that has ever flowered from the mind of man, or from the unconscious processes which shape it and which are in some sense more than man.… This is, furthermore, to be a description and not a history of Christian Mythology.… After description, we shall attempt an interpretation of the myth along the gener

Called "a first rate piece of work" by T.S. Eliot, this book offers a comprehensive discussion of Taoism, one of the world's major religions, as well as a study of the Tao te ching, the best known Taoist text and Lao-tzu as a Taoist prototype. "Clarifies a large area of literature and history that has been a mystery to the West and makes fascinating reading even for those whose interest is casual.

Why have the monotheistic religions failed to produce societies that live up to their ethical ideals? A prominent rabbi answers this question by looking at his own faith and offering a way for religion to heal itself. In Putting God Second, Rabbi Donniel Hartman tackles one of modern life s most urgent and vexing questions: Why are the great monotheistic faiths Judaism, Christianity, and Islam chr

This clear and comprehensive anthology, culled from the vast corpus of Christian mystical literature by the renowned theologian and historian Bernard McGinn, presents nearly one hundred selections, from the writings of Origen of Alexandria in the third century to the work of twentieth-century mystics such as Thomas Merton. Uniquely organized by subject rather than by author, The Essential Writin

In Basic Teachings of the Buddha, Glenn Wallis selects sixteen essential dialogues drawn from more than five thousand Pali-dialect suttas of the Buddhist canon. The result is a vibrant introductory guide to studying Buddhist thought, applying its principles to everyday life, and gaining a deeper understanding of Buddhist themes in modern literature. Focusing on the most crucial topics for today

Trembling and quivering is the mind, Difficult to guard and hard to restrain. The person of wisdom sets it straight, As a fletcher does an arrow. The Dhammapada introduced the actual utterances of the Buddha nearly twenty-five hundred years ago, when the master teacher emerged from his long silence to illuminate for his followers the substance of humankind´s deepest and most abiding con

The Pope and Mussolini tells the story of two men who came to power in 1922, and together changed the course of twentieth-century history. In most respects, they could not have been more different. One was scholarly and devout, the other thuggish and profane.

The definitive edition of HPB's writings in 15 extensive volumes. Volume 1 is from 1874 to 1878, and includes articles such as: 'About Spiritualism'; 'A Story of the Mystical'; 'The Theosophical Society': 'Its Origin, Plan and Aim'; 'The Diaries of H. P. Blavatsky'.

The definitive edition of HPB's writings in 15 volumes. Volume 2 is from 1879 to 1880, and includes articles such as:' Erroneous Ideas concerning the Doctrines of the Theosophists'; 'Antiquity of the Vedas'; 'The Number Seven'; 'The Theory of Cycles'.