Philosophy and Religion

The organizations and institutions that, in a traditional civilization and society, would have allowed an individual to realize himself completely, to defend the principal values he recognizes as his own, and to structure his life in a clear and unambiguous way, no longer exist in the contemporary world. Everything that has come to predominate in the modern world is the direct antithesis of the wo

A book of daily inspirational readings taken from 25 years of lectures to spiritual seekers, expressed with the simplicity and authority of one who speaks from his own experience. For each day of the year there is a new message to offer spiritual guidance for that day.These daily inspirational readings contain Swami Satchidananda's teachings on the spiritual life -how to serve others and realize p

Childress opens the door to the amazing world of ancient technology, from the computers of the ancient world to the 'flying machines of the gods'. The book explores the technology that was allegedly used in Atlantis and the theory that the great pyramid of Egypt was originally a gigantic power station. From beginning to end, the book is filled with facts, keen observations and tales that challenge

At an elderly age Porphyry the Neoplatonist married Marcella, a widow of a close friend who had seven children, but shortly thereafter he was called away, urged on by the gods, to attend to the affairs of the Greeks. Out of print for nearly a hundred years, Porphyry's Letter to Marcella is a personal and moving document. In addition to explaining why he chose Marcella as his partner in marriage, P

In this radical new view of the person of Jesus, political philosopher Lance deHaven-Smith examines early Christian writings to discover the message of social reform underlying the teachings of Jesus. Based on the premise that Jesus could not speak his thoughts openly without running afoul of the authorities, the book demonstrates how Jesus sought to dismantle worldly systems of command and status

Embark on a magical voyage to the enchanted sites of the ancient world, all associated with legends of mystery and power. From Stonehenge in England to the oracle of Apollo in Greece, Magical and Mystical Sites explores the most remarkable and significant places of antiquity — temples, places of learning, monuments, ruins, and sacred groves -- and the legends that accompany them.Filled with deta

Pythagoras (fl. 500 B.C.), the first man to call himself a philosopher or lover of wisdom, was both a brilliant mathematician and spiritual teacher. This anthology, the largest collection of Pythagorean writings ever to appear in the English language, contains the four ancient biographies of Pythagoras and over 25 Pythagorean and Neopythagorean writings from the Classical and Hellenistic periods.

Hermes the fascinating, mercurial messenger of the gods, eloquent revealer of hidden wisdom, and guardian of occult knowledge has played a central role in the development of esotericism in the West. Drawing upon many rare books and manuscripts, this highly illustrated work explores the question of where Hermes Trismegistus came from, how he came to be a patron of the esoteric traditions, and how t

Robert Fludd was one of the last true 'Renaissance men' who took all learning as their preserve and tried to encompass the whole of human knowledge. His voluminous writings were devoted to defending the philosophy of the alchemists and Rosicrucians, and applying their doctrines to a vast description of man and the universe.Expounding the ideas of cosmic harmony, the multiple levels of existence an

The Goddess is an eternal archetype in the human psyche. She is always with us, even though neglected, repressed, or outwardly denied. The Goddess has shown herself from the earliest times of civilization, and appears in many guises in contemporary culture.This book explores the inner structure of the Triple Goddess and shows how, by relating to this archetype, one can overcome and redeem the inne

The Rosicrucian Emblems is a significant yet little-known work of emblematic philosophy published in 1617, only one year after the appearance of The Chemical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz.The work consists of 40 emblematic plates, each bearing a title, together with a verse from the Bible and two lines in Latin. The plates revolve around the symbolism of the heart, which undergoes a variety of

The Clavis or 'Key' of Jacob Boehme, the seventeenth-century German theosopher, is a condensed version of the principal points of his mystical philosophy.Boehme, an unschooled shoemaker, experienced while young an intense vision of the spiritual world a vision of the origin of the universe, the struggle of polarities in creation, and the role of Sophia or Divine Wisdom in the world. This vision in

This new, innovative translation of the New Testament opens the closed doors of preconception and allows the reader to view these important Greek writings in an entirely different light. Based on a radical and startling premise, The Unvarnished New Testament asks "Why not present the New Testament simply as it appears in the original Greek?"

Elucidates the main aspects of Tibetan medicine and compares them to the Chinese system.

Presenting the life and teachings of Gautama Buddha, drawn directly from 24 Pali, Sanskrit, and Chinese sources—and retold by beloved Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh Retold in Thich Nhat Hanh´s inimitably beautiful style, this book traces the Buddha´s life over the course of 80 years—partly through the eyes of Svasti, the buffalo boy, and partly through the eyes of the Buddha himself. Ol

Hermitage Among the Clouds tells the story of the fourteenth century Princess Amazing Jewel, the daughter of one of Vietnam's greatest historical Zen master kings. This beautifully written story expreses the suffering caused by war and conflict, the transformative potential of a commitment to practicing peace and building reconciliation, and the simple beauty of a spiritual life. Thich Nhat Hanh g

Love in Action is a collection of over two decades of Thich Nhat Hanh’s writing on nonviolence, peace, and reconciliation. Reflecting on the devastation of war, he makes the strong argument that mindfulness, insight, and altruistic love are the only sustainable bases for political action. This timeless book is an important resource for those interested in social change.

For 2,500 years, The Dhammapada has been an essential Buddhist classic. Translated by Ananda Maitreya, the 100-year-old elder of Sri Lankan Buddhism.