This unique selection of illustrations with commentaries and source texts guides us on a fascinating journey through the representations of the secret arts.

    Hall's masterpiece of symbolic philosophy, The Secret Teachings of All Ages.   In Lectures on Ancient Philosophy, Manly P. Hall expands on the philosophical, metaphysical, and cosmological themes introduced in his classic work, The Secret Teachings of All Ages. Hall wrote this volume as a reader's companion to his earlier work, intending it for those wishing to delve more deeply into the esoteric philosophies and ideas that undergird the Secret Teachings. Particular attention is paid to Neoplatonism, ancient Christianity, Rosicrucian and Freemasonic traditions, ancient mysteries, pagan rites and symbols, and Pythagorean mathematics. First published in 1929-the year after the publication of Hall's magnum opus-this edition includes the author's original subject index, twenty diagrams prepared under his supervision for the volume, and his 1984 preface, which puts the book in context for the contemporary reader.

    Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj (1897-1981) lived and taught in a small apartment in the slums of Bombay. A realized master of the Tantric Nath lineage, he supported himself and his family by selling cheap goods in a small booth on the streets outside his tenement for many years. His life exemplified the concept of absolute nonduality of being. In this volume, Maharaj shares the highest truth of nonduality in his own unique way. His teaching style is abrupt, provocative, and immensely profound, cutting to the core and wasting little effort on inessentials. His terse but potent sayings are known for their ability to trigger shifts in consciousness, just by hearing or reading them."The point is that man freed from his fetters is morality personified. Such a man therefore does not need any moralistic injunctions in order to live righteously. Free a man from his bondage and thereafter everything else will take care of itself. On the other hand, man in his unredeemed state cannot possibly live morally, no matter what moral teaching he is given. It is an intrinsic impossibility, for his very foundation is immorality. That is, he lives a lie, a basic contradiction: functioning in all his relationships as the separate entity he believes himself to be, whereas in reality no such separation exists. His every action therefore does violence to other 'selves' and other 'creatures,' which are only manifestations of the unitary consciousness. So Society had to invent some restraints in order to protect itself from its own worst excesses and thereby maintain some kind of status quo. The resulting arbitrary rules, which vary with place and time and therefore are purely relative, it calls 'morality,' and by upholding this man-invented 'idea' as the highest good–oftentimes sanctioned by religious 'revelation' and scriptures–society has provided man with one more excuse to disregard the quest for liberation or relegate it to a fairly low priority in his scheme of things."

    A Treatise In Three Parts.

    It also shows how enlightenment is earned by personal dedication to a spiritual code of conduct.

    Opens up not only the exhilarating truths that science reveals of the birth of the universe, but how these truths can transform our lives.

    This fascinating work presents the first comprehensive analysis of New Age Religion and its historical backgrounds, thus providing a means of orientation in the bewildering variety of the movement. Making extensive use of primary sources, the author thematically analyses New Age beliefs from the perspective of the study of religions. While looking at the historical backgrounds of the movement, he convincingly argues that its foundations were laid by so-called western esoteric traditions during the Renaissance. Hanegraaff finally shows how the modern New Age movement emerged from the increasing secularization of those esoteric traditions during the nineteenth century.

    the Dalai Lama Imagine you are carrying a private retreat around inside you--a sanctuary you can visit whenever modern life gets too much. Imagine contentment and freedom from fear--whenever you wish it. You are imagining the peace of body, mind, and soul that meditation can bring you. This outstanding meditation handbook is by one of the world's greatest spiritual teachers, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj. His deep wisdom and sympathetic advice, together with the simple exercise techniques he teaches, have brought spiritual benefits to millions. Now he can help guide you on the path to divine love and fulfillment. Whether you are already meditating or a complete beginner, young or old, Sant Rajinder Singh's easy-to-read manual will help you achieve personal transformation. As a result, you can contribute to outer peace and the raising of global consciousness. "Rajinder Singh's new book is food for the soul. It is an inspiring and informative source that speaks to both beginner and experienced travellers on the path of life. I was uplifted as I read this book, and re-dedicate myself to honoring my inner work."--Steven Halper, recording artist and educator Sant Rajinder Singh is an internationally recognized expert teacher of meditation. He is the author of Empowering Your Soul through Meditation, Spark of the Divine, Meditation as Medication for the Soul, Silken Thread of the Divine, and Spiritual Pearls for Enlightened Living. He has taught his meditation technique to millions of people throughout the world through meditation seminars, conferences, books, CDs, DVDs, magazine articles, and appearances on television, radio, and Internet broadcasts. His regular talks on DVD, audio, and written messages are posted on www.sos.org.

    Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, explains the highest standard for human beings, the practice of the science of self-realization, bhakti-yoga. A chronicle of an historic series of talks by Srila Prabhupada, who has been acclaimed by scholars as the greatest exponent of the Indian spiritual tradition, this books probes deeply the nature of consciousness, meditation, karma, death and reincarnation. He prescribes a simple process to purify the mind and elevate the consciousness, which not only assures readers inner peace, but the power to change the chaotic trend of modern society.

    Included for reference are the actual Sanskrit texts for each hymn. The "Doctrine of the Mystics" reveals the underlying philosophical, psychological and spiritual truths experienced by the sages. This book is for the seeker, the yogi, and the sage as well as the philosopher or student of comparative religion.

    Provides guidance on how to call on angels for help and companionship in our lives.

    The eyes of a child are an abyss, there is no bottom to them."---OshoChildren have an authentic freedom. They are joyful, playful, and naturally creative. But by the time they grow up, most children have been sacrificed to the gods of "productivity" and good behavior to the extent that only nostalgia for childhood remains. Osho says, "It is the child's experience that haunts intelligent people their whole life. They want it again---the same innocence, the same wonder, the same beauty." And while each adult generation may vow, with the best of intentions, not to repeat the mistakes of the past, they inevitably find themselves imposing their own inherited limitations on new generations to come.This book calls for a "children's liberation movement" to break through old patterns and create opportunities for an entirely new way of relating as human beings. It is a guide for grown-ups to become aware of their own conditioning as they relate to the children in their lives. And, with that awareness, to learn when to nurture and protect and when to get out of the way, so that children can flower into their highest potential and greatest capacity for joy.

    He thought of himself as a disciple of Plato, but in his efforts to defend Platonism against Aristotelians, Stoics, and others, he actually produced a reinvigorated version of Platonism that later came to be known as Neoplatonism. In this volume, sixteen leading scholars introduce and explain the many facets of Plotinus' complex system. They place Plotinus in the history of ancient philosophy while showing how he was a founder of medieval philosophy.

    Higginson is a former president of the Haiku Society of America and the author of numerous haiku collections.

    This is the first English translation by noted writer Thomas Cleary of the authorized biography by two longtime disciples of this living master of the Dragon Gate branch of the Complete Reality school of Taoism, which integrated Buddhism and Confucianism into a comprehensive new form of Taoism.

    Most of the time, we are unaware of it. Yet, every now and then, on account of some fluke, we are startled by the results of its presence. We realize we have been part of something with neither consciousness nor consent. It is so sweet and then it is gone. You say, But I don t believe in God. And I ask, What makes you think it matters to God?" fromLawrence Kushner, whose previous books have opened up new spiritual possibilities, now tells us stories in a new literary form.Through his everyday encounters with family, friends, colleagues and strangers, Kushner takes us deeply into our lives, finding flashes of spiritual insight in the process. Such otherwise ordinary moments as fighting with his children, shopping for bargain basement clothes, or just watching a movie are revealed to be touchstones for the sacred.This is a book where literature meets spirituality, where the sacred meets the ordinary, and, above all, where people of all faiths, all backgrounds can meet one another and themselves. Kushner ties together the stories of our lives into a roadmap showing how everything ordinary is supercharged with meaning if we can just see it.

    On the State of Nature, a detailed critique of Rousseau's Discourse on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality, focuses on Rousseau's belief in the natural goodness of man; On the Sovereignty of the People, a critique of Social Contract, explores Rousseau's theory of popular sovereignty. In Maistre's eyes Rousseau encouraged the socially destructive individualism that lay at the heart of the French Revolution. However, the essays reveal some surprising ambiguities in the relationship between two seminal thinkers who are usually thought of as polar opposites, suggesting that Maistre's vision was more akin to Rousseau's than he would have admitted. Against Rousseau offers valuable insights into the evolution of Maistre's counter-revolutionary ideas during the crucial years of 1792-97 and illustrates his remarkable insights into society and politics. It is vital to any consideration of his thought or the counter-revolutionary movement in eighteenth-century France.

    During a series of public lectures and question-and-answer sessions with political activists, religious leaders, students, scientists, Buddhist practitioners, and interfaith organizations, His Holiness responds to a wider range of contemporary social, political, and religious issues. Topics include the practice of Buddhism in the West; nonviolence, human rights, and the Tibetan crisis; ecumenical approaches to spirituality; the meeting of Buddhism and science; and more.