Philosophy and Religion

In 1999 two French journalists spent time with Buddhist Zen master and Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh at Plum Village, the religious community he founded in southwestern France. This account of their experience shows what daily life is like in this celebrated community and provides a glimpse of the personality and teachings of the revered teacher. Thich Nhat Hanh has brought an awareness of Buddh

Opening the door to the core teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, Michie reveals how incorporating simple Buddhist practices into daily lives can help individuals understand the difference between temporary pleasure and lasting fulfillment.

An indispensable guidebook through the journey of life and death, Mind Beyond Death weaves a synthesis of wisdom remarkable in its scope. With warm informality and profound understanding of the Western mind, the Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche makes the mysterious Tibetan teachings on the bardos—the intervals of life, death, and beyond—completely available to the modern reader. Drawing on a

His Holiness the Dalai Lama provides intimate details on an advanced meditation practice called Dzogchen using a visionary poem by the 19th-century saint Patrul Rinpoche, author of the Buddhist classic Words of My Perfect Teacher. The Dalai Lama deftly connects how training the mind in compassion for other beings is directly related to—and in fact a prerequisite for—the very pinnacle

This treasury of essential Buddhist writings draws from the most popular Indian, Tibetan, Chinese, and Japanese sources. Among the selections are some of the earliest recorded sayings of the Buddha on the practice of freedom, passages from later Indian scriptures on the perfection of wisdom, verses from Tibetan masters on the enlightened mind, and songs in praise of meditation by Zen teachers. The

This guide to the spiritual landscape of Taoism not only introduces the important events in the history of Taoism, the sages who wrote the Taoist texts, and the various schools of Taoist thinking, but also gives the reader a feel for what it means to practice Taoism today. The book is divided into three parts:    1.  "The History of Taoism" traces the development of the tra

This classic teaching by a Tibetan master continues to inspire both beginners and long-time practitioners of Buddhist meditation. Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche shows that meditation extends beyond the formal practice of sitting to build the foundation for compassion, awareness, and creativity in all aspects of life. He explores the six activities associated with meditation in action—genero

Based on talks given during a one-month meditation retreat at Gampo Abbey, this book contains teachings that were intended to inspire and encourage practitioners to remain wholeheartedly awake to everything that occurs and to use the abundant material of daily life as their primary teacher and guide. The message for the retreat participants—and for the reader as well—is to be with ones

The beautiful practicality of her teaching has made Pema Chödrön one of the most beloved of contemporary American spiritual authors among Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. A collection of talks she gave between 1987 and 1994, the book is a treasury of wisdom for going on living when we are overcome by pain and difficulties. Chödrön discusses:    • 

Rumi has never been more popular among American readers. Here is a pocket-sized collection of his inspiring poetry, small enough to take anywhere. The Pocket Rumi Reader contains selections from four previously published books, as well as new translations of Rumi's short lyric poems Kabir and Camille Helminski, and others.

Zen has inspired and uplifted the minds of people in all walks of life: artists, poets, and philosophers; political, religious, and military leaders; men and women, young and old. Buddhists from other schools studied the impartial way of Zen. So did followers of other religions, including Confucianists, Taoists, and Shintoists—and, in our own time, Christians and Jews—who have used Zen

A Brief History of Everything is an altogether friendly and accessible account of men and women's place in a universe of sex, soul, and spirit, written by an author of whom New York Times reporter Tony Schwartz says: "No one has described the path to wisdom better than Ken Wilber." Wilber examines the course of evolution as the unfolding manifestation of Spirit, from matter to life to mind, inc

New York Times Bestseller The inspirational teachings in this collection show that the real way of the warrior is based on compassion, wisdom, fearlessness, and love of nature. The teachings are drawn from the talks and writings of Morihei Ueshiba, founder of the popular Japanese martial art of Aikido, a mind-body discipline he called the "Art of Peace," which offers a nonviolent way to victory i

The most widely known and read Chinese classic in the West, the Tao Teh Ching is a series of insightful comments on life and nature. Part poetry, part paradox, always forceful and profound, the Tao Teh Ching has been leading its readers to expand their view of life since it was written over two thousand years ago. The Tao Teh Ching teaches that the qualities of the enlightened sage or ideal rule

A bewitching spell-casting book that focuses on cats as familiars (that is, creatures who aid in magickal works), THE GOOD CAT SPELL BOOK presents spells and incantations to influence and enhance ones career, well-being, relationships, and moreall performed in partnership with ones feline companion. Including a specially designed kitty divination tool known as the Cat Oracle, as well as fascinatin

"To heal oneself means to heal the world." With this starkly simple statement, Diane Stein draws upon the great mystical traditions, including Kundalini yoga, Wicca, Taoism, and more. In the final installment of her ENERGY BALANCING trilogy, she discusses 24 processes for healing individual and collective karma on the cosmic level. The much-anticipated culmination of Diane Stein's definitive thre

In this best-selling guide to enlightened living, Chögyam Trungpa offers an inspiring vision for our time, modeled on the universal archetypal symbol of the peaceful warrior. In ancient times, the warrior learned to master the challenges of life, both on and off the battlefield. He acquired a sense of courage and power—not through violence or aggression, but through gentleness, courage,