Best of
Spirituality

2004

Purification of the Heart: Signs, Symptoms and Cures of the Spiritual Diseases of the Heart


Imam al-Mawlud - 2004
    Diseases examined include miserliness, envy, hatred, treachery, rancour, malice, ostentation, arrogance, covetousness, lust, and other afflictions that assail people and often control them. The causes and practical cures of these diseases are discussed, offering a penetrating glimpse into how Islam deals with spiritual and psychological problems and demonstrating how all people can benefit from these teachings.

Feeling Is The Secret 1944


Neville Goddard - 2004
    Feeling Is the Secret 1944 by Neville.

The Prayer That Changes Everything: The Hidden Power of Praising God


Stormie Omartian - 2004
    You can't see all that is being affected, but you can trust that it is. It is impossible to come into contact with all that God is without change taking place.

Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung?: Inspiring Stories for Welcoming Life's Difficulties


Ajahn Brahm - 2004
     The 108 pieces in the international bestseller Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung? offer thoughtful commentary on everything from love and commitment to fear and pain. Drawing from his own life experience, as well as traditional Buddhist folk tales, author Ajahn Brahm uses over thirty years of spiritual growth as a monk to spin delightful tales that can be enjoyed in silence or read aloud to friends and family. Featuring titles such as “How to Be a VIP” and “The Worm and His Lovely Pile of Dung,” these wry and witty stories provide playful, pithy takes on the basic building blocks of everyday happiness. Suitable for children, adults, and anyone in between, this eloquent volume delivers insight and inspiration in a humorous and engaging voice. Features of this book: A collection of stories full of humor and wisdom Useful for stress relief and handling life’s ups and downs Perfect for gifting Written in easy-to-understand language Delightful for Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike This book contains both encouraging, uplifting stories and thoughtful teachings in Ajahn Brahm’s characteristic joyful style. Ajahn Brahm helps us navigate all of life’s difficulties and beautiful moments. Who Ordered this Truckload of Dung? is certain to be an enjoyable addition to any individual or family’s most treasured collection.

Pathways to Bliss: Mythology and Personal Transformation


Joseph Campbell - 2004
    For Campbell, many of the world's most powerful myths support the individual's heroic path toward bliss.In Pathways to Bliss, Campbell examines this personal, psychological side of myth. Like his classic best-selling books Myths to Live By and The Power of Myth, Pathways to Bliss draws from Campbell's popular lectures and dialogues, which highlight his remarkable storytelling and ability to apply the larger themes of world mythology to personal growth and the quest for transformation. Here he anchors mythology's symbolic wisdom to the individual, applying the most poetic mythical metaphors to the challenges of our daily lives.Campbell dwells on life's important questions. Combining cross-cultural stories with the teachings of modern psychology, he examines the ways in which our myths shape and enrich our lives and shows how myth can help each of us truly identify and follow our bliss.

Paths to God: Living the Bhagavad Gita


Ram Dass - 2004
    As profound and powerful as this classic text has been for generations of seekers, integrating its lessons into the ordinary patterns of our lives can ultimately seem beyond our reach. Now, in a fascinating series of reflections, anecdotes, stories, and exercises, Ram Dass gives us a unique and accessible road map for experiencing divinity in everyday life. In the engaging, conversational style that has made his teachings so popular for decades, Ram Dass traces our journey of consciousness as it is reflected in one of Hinduism's most sacred texts. The Gita teaches a system of yogas, or "paths for coming to union with God."In Paths to God, Ram Dass brings the heart of that system to light for a Western audience and translates the Gita's principles into the manual for living the yoga of contemporary life.While being a guide to the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, Paths to God is also a template for expanding our definition of ourselves and allowing us to appreciate a new level of meaning in our lives.

Emptiness Dancing


Adyashanti - 2004
    Whether you read each chapter in succession or begin on any page you feel inspired to turn to, you will find in Adyashanti's wisdom an understanding and ever-ready guide to the full wonder of your infinite self-nature.

Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization


Bhikkhu Anālayo - 2004
    Anālayo marshals the suttas of the Pāli canon, works of modern scholarship, and the teachings of present-day meditation masters to make the rich implications of this text, so concise in the original, clear to contemporary students of the Dharma. Unlike more popular books on the subject, he is not out to establish the exclusive validity of one particular system of meditation as against others; his aim, rather, is to explore the sutta as a wide-ranging and multi-faceted source of guidance which allows for alternative interpretations and approaches to practice. His analysis combines the detached objectivity of the academic scholar with the engaged concern of the practitioner for whom meditation is a way of life rather than just a subject of study.The book should prove to be of value both to scholars of Early Buddhism and to serious meditators alike. Ideally, it will encourage in both types of reader the same wholesome synthesis of scholarship and practice that underlies the author's own treatment of his subject.

Invitation to Solitude and Silence: Experiencing God's Transforming Presence


Ruth Haley Barton - 2004
    I have found myself . . . drawn to the task and yet somehow strangely resistant. On the one hand, I have been drawn to the task because my journey into solitude and silence has been the single most meaningful aspect of my spiritual life to date. . . . On the other hand, I am aware of the continuing challenge solitude and silence represent in my own life. Even though it has been well over ten years since I first said yes to God's invitations to enter more intentionally into these disciplines, I still find it challenging to protect space for these times apart which so deeply satisfy the empty places of my soul.Ruth Haley Barton describes how she has discovered the real presence of God--the God who is present through the practice of solitude and silence. Her book invites you to meet God deeply and fully outside the demands and noise of daily life. It is a call to the adventure of spiritual transformation--an adventure that will lead you to freedom and authenticity, allowing you to become the person God created you to be.In Invitation to Solitude and Silence Barton offers spiritual guidance for your journey, helping you to hear God's call more clearly and showing you concrete ways to say yes. Chapter by chapter she combines teaching and reflection on different aspects of the journey with activities and disciplines that will help you to practice solitude and silence. Barton offers the prophet Elijah as a biblical guide for your journey. And she offers her own perspective to help you understand the ups and downs you might experience along the way.The beauty of a true invitation is that you really do have a choice. You can say yes or no. God is waiting for you to respond to him from the depths of your desire for relationship, belonging and transformation. Will you say yes?

Same Soul, Many Bodies: Discover the Healing Power of Future Lives through Progression Therapy


Brian L. Weiss - 2004
    Weiss, M.D., shows us how. Through envisioning our lives to come, we can influence their outcome and use this process to bring more joy and healing to our present lives. Dr. Weiss pioneered regression therapy -- guiding people through their past lives. Here, he goes beyond that to demonstrate the therapeutic benefits of progression therapy -- guiding people through the future in a scientific, responsible, healing way.Through dozens of case histories detailing both past-life and future-life experiences, Dr. Weiss shows how the choices that we make now will determine our future quality of life. From Samantha, who overcame academic failure once she learned of her future as a great physician, to Evelyn, whose fears and prejudices ended after she envisioned prior and forthcoming lives as a hate victim, Dr. Weiss gives concrete examples of lives transformed by regression and progression therapy.A groundbreaking work, Same Soul, Many Bodies is sure to deeply affect peoples' lives as they strive toward their future.

Reality Transurfing 1: The Space of Variations


Vadim Zeland - 2004
    The book opens a bizarre world where everyday reality reveals facets which you are not familiar with. Many issues of day-to-day life are perceived in an absolutely new way. We all, in one way or another, find ourselves trapped by circumstances. Desires go unfulfilled, dreams never come true, whereas our worst expectations justify themselves, as if to spite us. Can’t we turn this around? It appears that we can. And you’ll learn how. Transurfing is the technology for controlling reality. You don’t have to “attain your objectives” as everything will happen in accordance with you desires without any effort. All goals are reached without you. Unbelievable? Well, you won’t be asked to just believe it as the author presents specific methods that allow you to verify everything yourself. And only then will your ordinary way of looking at things fall apart. In spite of the completely fantastic nature of the ideas presented in this book, they have already found practical affirmation. Those who have tried Transurfing, have experienced amazement, verging on ecstasy. The world surrounding transurfers changes in an inexplicable way, literally before their very eyes. And here there is no place for mysticism as everything is absolutely real. Readers say: “It seems we knew it intuitively before! And here, at long last our gut feelings were put into words and our vague ideas proved.” This is the first English translation of the first volume of Reality Transurfing, the top non-fiction bestellers in the world in 2005 and 2006. It describes a new way of looking at reality, indeed of creating it. It provides a scientific explanation of the laws that help you do this, building up a scientific model, speaking in detail about particular rules to follow and giving important how-to tips, illustrated with examples.

The Way of Tarot: The Spiritual Teacher in the Cards


Alejandro Jodorowsky - 2004
    The Tarot is first and foremost a powerful instrument of self-knowledge and a representation of the structure of the soul. The Way of Tarot shows that the entire deck is structured like a temple, or a mandala, which is both an image of the world and a representation of the divine. The authors use the sacred art of the original Marseille Tarot--created during a time of religious tolerance in the 11th century--to reconnect with the roots of the Tarot’s Western esoteric wisdom. They explain that the Tarot is a “nomadic cathedral” whose parts--the 78 cards or “arcana”--should always be viewed with an awareness of the whole structure. This understanding is essential to fully grasp the Tarot’s hermetic symbolism. The authors explore the secret associations behind the hierarchy of the cards and the correspondences between the suits and energies within human beings. Each description of the Major Arcana includes key word summaries, symbolic meanings, traditional interpretations, and a section where the card speaks for itself. Jodorowsky and Costa then take the art of reading the Tarot to a depth never before possible. Using their work with Tarology, a new psychological approach that uses the symbolism and optical language of the Tarot to create a mirror image of the personality, they offer a powerful tool for self-realization, creativity, and healing.

Opening the Hand of Thought: Foundations of Zen Buddhist Practice


Kosho Uchiyama - 2004
    This is the revised edition of Kosho Uchiyama's singularly incisive classic. This new edition contains even more useful material: new prefaces, an index, and extended endnotes, in addition to a revised glossary. As Jisho Warner writes in her preface, Opening the Hand of Thought "goes directly to the heart of Zen practice... showing how Zen Buddhism can be a deep and life-sustaining activity." She goes on to say, "Uchiyama looks at what a person is, what a self is, how to develop a true self not separate from all things, one that can settle in peace in the midst of life." By turns humorous, philosophical, and personal, Opening the Hand of Thought is above all a great book for the Buddhist practitioner. It's a perfect follow-up for the reader who has read Zen Meditation in Plain English and is especially useful for those who have not yet encountered a Zen teacher.

Working with the Law: 11 Truth Principles for Successful Living


Raymond Holliwell - 2004
    Here are 11 Truth Principles to apply to everyday life.

You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment


Thich Nhat Hanh - 2004
    “Mindfulness is not an evasion or an escape,” he explains. “It means being here, present, and totally alive. It is true freedom—and without this freedom, there is no happiness.”Based on a retreat that Thich Nhat Hanh led for Westerners, this book offers a range of simple, effective practices for cultivating mindfulness, including awareness of  breathing and walking, deep listening, and skillful speech. You Are Here also offers guidance on healing emotional pain and manifesting real love and compassion in our relationships with others. Simple, warm, direct, and startlingly potent, this book reveals the heart of the Buddhist path and helps us to reconnect with the joy and wonder of being alive, regardless of life’s changing circumstances. Praise for Thich Nhat Hanh “Among Buddhist leaders influential in the West, Thich Nhat Hanh ranks second only to the Dalai Lama.”—New York Times “Thich Nhat Hanh writes with the voice of the Buddha.”—Sogyal Rinpoche, author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

Messiah's Handbook: Reminders for the Advanced Soul


Richard Bach - 2004
    Part of Shimoda's secret was a small book, bound in what looked like suede: Messiah's Handbook, Reminders for the Advanced Soul. "Open it," he said, "and whatever you need to know is there. "Lost for decades and rediscovered, here it is in print at last--reminders for those who have outgrown cynicism and doubt.

Simplicity: The Freedom of Letting Go


Richard Rohr - 2004
    Rohr’s bestselling books, this revised and updated edition explores St. Francis’s ancient call to the simple life, where joy, not dry theology, helps us build relationships and find peace in ourselves.

Prayer: The Art of Believing


Neville Goddard - 2004
    Neville Goddard believed that prayer is the master key. A key may fit one door of a house, but when it fits all doors it may well claim to be a master key. Such and no less a key is prayer to all earthly problems.

The Secret Teachings of Plants: The Intelligence of the Heart in the Direct Perception of Nature


Stephen Harrod Buhner - 2004
    Less well known is that many Western peoples made this same assertion. There are, in fact, two modes of cognition available to all human beings--the brain-based linear and the heart-based holistic. The heart-centered mode of perception can be exceptionally accurate and detailed in its information gathering capacities if, as indigenous and ancient peoples asserted, the heart’s ability as an organ of perception is developed.Author Stephen Harrod Buhner explores this second mode of perception in great detail through the work of numerous remarkable people, from Luther Burbank, who cultivated the majority of food plants we now take for granted, to the great German poet and scientist Goethe and his studies of the metamorphosis of plants. Buhner explores the commonalities among these individuals in their approach to learning from the plant world and outlines the specific steps involved. Readers will gain the tools necessary to gather information directly from the heart of Nature, to directly learn the medicinal uses of plants, to engage in diagnosis of disease, and to understand the soul-making process that such deep connection with the world engenders.

The Great Seal: Limitless Space & Joy: The Mahamudra View of Diamond Way Buddhism


Ole Nydahl - 2004
    THE GREAT SEAL describes our basis for development, the path, and the goal of Diamond Way Buddhism and offers insight into both the conditioned world and absolute reality. THE GREAT SEAL, or Mahamudra view, is compared to painting on water. Everything fits perfectly in the moment, yet while it appears it is also dissolving. Enlightened actions work in the same way: here and now, beyond expectations or fears, without holding on or pushing away.

The Diamond in Your Pocket: Discovering Your True Radiance


Gangaji - 2004
    When he heard it had been purchased, he spent three days trying to steal the rare jewel. He failed.Finally, the thief walked right up to the owner and asked, "How did you hide this precious jewel from me?"To which the owner replied, "I placed it where I knew you would never look--in your own pocket!"This insightful tale opens the first major book release from Gangaji--an American-born teacher who has influenced the lives of thousands of people through her public events.In The Diamond in Your Pocket, Gangaji describes our never-ending search as human beings to find fulfillment--which, paradoxically, already exists if only we will stop long enough to experience it. Readers join Gangaji to learn more about:How to let go of your need to control, and activate instead the choice of where you put your mind's attention- Cultivating the courage to be vulnerable, so you can meet--and deeply merge with--the unknown- How to unearth the roots of suffering--learn to stop replaying your life's dramatic stories over and over, and much more"As long as you are searching for it, it cannot be found, " teaches Gangaji. Written as a series of short contemplations, The Diamond in Your Pocket shows you thought-by-thought how to stop the endless activity of your mind, and experience the brilliance and radiance of who you really are.

The Pema Chodron Audio Collection: Pure Meditation:Good Medicine:From Fear to Fearlessness


Pema Chödrön - 2004
    Now three of her most popular teachings are available in one boxed set. Pema Chdrn is a bhikshuni,or Buddhist nun in the Tibetan Vajrayana tradition. Since her ordination in 1974,Ane Pema has conducted workshops,seminars,and meditation re&ndsh;treats in Europe,Australia,and throughout North America. For the first time,enjoy over seven hours of Ani Pema’s trademark humor and a down&ndsh;to&ndsh;earth style in one collectors edition.6 CDs,7 hours

Spontaneous Awakening


Adyashanti - 2004
    According to Adyashanti, this idea may actually be the most powerful impediment to our awakening. On Spontaneous Awakening, he invites you to inquire into the “ordinary nature” of enlightenment—and the profound truth of who you really are. “Do not think that enlightenment is going to make you special—it’s not. If you feel special in any way, then enlightenment has not occurred,” teaches Adyashanti. So where do we start? With the desire to look fearlessly at and inquire passionately into truth, explains Adyashanti. “When you stop resisting experience, what remains is the bliss of sheer nothingness. And everything that is possible lives in that nothingness.” With more than seven hours of teachings, two guided meditations, and an exclusive Sounds True interview, Spontaneous Awakening is an eye-opening program that explores topics including: The self-authenticating nature of spiritual discovery• The link between personal awareness and awareness itself• How attachment can lead to complete freedom and unattachment• Why genuine spiritual knowing requires mental subtraction—not addition.

Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life


Richard Rohr - 2004
    Richard Rohr seeks to help readers understand the tasks of the two halves of life and to show them that those who have fallen, failed, or gone down are the only ones who understand up. Most of us tend to think of the second half of life as largely about getting old, dealing with health issues, and letting go of life, but the whole thesis of this book is exactly the opposite. What looks like falling down can largely be experienced as falling upward. In fact, it is not a loss but somehow actually a gain, as we have all seen with elders who have come to their fullness.Explains why the second half of life can and should be full of spiritual richness Offers a new view of how spiritual growth happens?loss is gain Richard. Rohr is a regular contributing writer for Sojourners and Tikkun magazines This important book explores the counterintuitive message that we grow spiritually much more by doing wrong than by doing right.

Path of Empowerment: Pleiadian Wisdom for a World in Chaos


Barbara Marciniak - 2004
    Sharing new inspirations from over eight years of previously unpublished Pleiadian wisdom, Marciniak offers creative solutions for changing beliefs, reclaiming one's power, and creating a world of unlimited possibilities. She also presents critical new material on how to deal with the world's increasing chaos and the accelerated pace of life. Consisting of profound new insights on power, fear, love, desire, health, sexual intimacy, energy, and creativity, this timely text is for those ready and willing to embrace self-empowerment, seek the truth, broaden awareness, and meet the challenges of a world on the brink of major change.

Magick of Reiki: Focused Energy for Healing, Ritual, & Spiritual Development


Christopher Penczak - 2004
    The history, mythos, variations, and three degrees of Reiki are discussed in depth. Penczak also suggests way to integrate Reiki and magickal practice, such as using Reiki energy for psychic development and with candle magick, crystals, herbs, charms, and talismans.Winner of the 2005 COVR Award (Best Alternative Health Book)

How Yoga Works


Michael Roach - 2004
    The Sanskrit text is written in 210 brief, cryptic verses whose meaning has long ago sunk into darkness; the many, confusing modern attempts to explain them bear little resemblance to each other, which is just a sign of how difficult this priceless little book can be. Geshe Michael Roach is an honors graduate of Princeton University and the first westerner in the 600-year history of Sera Mey Tibetan Monastery to be awarded the degree of Geshe, or Master of Buddhism. He is known for his business bestseller, The Diamond Cutter: The Buddha on Managing Your Business & Your Life. Using a database of almost half a million pages of ancient Asian literature, Geshe Michael has produced a fresh, clear, and immediately usable translation of the Yoga Sutra in the form of a wonderful novel about a young Tibetan woman who uses the wisdom to transform the corrupt world around her into a paradise on earth. How Yoga Works has been acclaimed as a must-read for anyone who does yoga and who wants to know what the Yoga Sutra really says. It is an especially popular reading for yoga teacher training courses throughout the world, and as a personal daily guide for spiritual inspiration.

Joy: The Happiness That Comes from Within


Osho - 2004
    Joy is the spiritual dimension of happiness, in which one begins to understand one's intrinsic value and place in the universe. Accepting joy is a decision to "go with the flow," to be grateful to be alive and for all the challenges and opportunities in life, rather than setting conditions or demands for happiness.The Insight for a New Way of Living series aims to shine light on beliefs and attitudes that prevent individuals from being their true selves. The text is an artful mix of compassion and humor, and readers are encouraged to confront what they would most like to avoid, which in turns provides the key to true insight and power.Joy is a wondrous investigation into the source and importance of joyfulness in our lives.

Prayers for Forgiveness


الحسن البصري - 2004
    Forgiveness means a way out, a second chance, a feeling of hope with which to turn a new page in life. It is through the seeking of forgiveness that we begin to understand that there is no reason whatsoever to despair of the mercy of God. Islam encourages us to not run away in fear of Allah but rather to turn toward God the same way a baby would run into its mother's lap. So lovingly does God, Most High, address His sinful servants: "Say (to humanity, O Muhammad): O My servants—those (of you) who have committed (sins in great) excess against their own souls—never despair of the mercy of Allah! For, indeed, Allah forgives sins, one and all. Indeed, it is He who is the All-Forgiving, the Mercy-Giving. So turn in penitence to your Lord. And submit yourselves to Him." (The Qur'an 39:53-54) This collection of seventy prayers for forgiveness [istighfarat] is attributed to one of the greatest spiritual luminaries of the past, Hasan al-Basri, and it has been presented here to offer a way for us to navigate through the complications and pitfalls of this life. Set out in Arabic script, with adjoining translation in English, this edition also includes transliteration of the prayers to facilitate reading for those who are not so well-versed in Arabic.

One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps


Kevin Griffin - 2004
    The book takes us on a journey through the Steps, examining critical Twelve Step ideas like Powerlessness, Higher Power, and Moral Inventory through the lens of Buddhism. One Breath at a Time presents potent ancient techniques for finding calm and clarity and offers a vision of a Higher Power not tied to traditional Western Judeo-Christian concepts. One Breath at a Time, describes the convergence of two vital traditions, one ancient, the other contemporary, and shows how they are working together to create a rich spiritual path for our times.Certain to resonate with both meditators and those whose mantra is "One day at a time," One Breath at a Time should find a large, welcoming audience.

Way of Mastery


Shanti Christo Foundation - 2004
    Contains CD "A Meditation into the Heart of Christ"

Soordas


Pushpa Bharati - 2004
    Little did his family realize that Soordas could often see more than anyone else. He could direct a shepherd to his lost goat and a father to his missing son. He could describe exactly how the idol of his beloved Lord Krishna was dressed in the temple each day. The Mughal emperor Akbar personally came to invite him to his court. The poet Tulsidas visited him. The powerful, the wise and the ordinary flocked to him for his all-seeing wisdom and his soul-stirring songs of devotion.

A Year with Thomas Merton: Daily Meditations from His Journals


Thomas Merton - 2004
    A 365 daily with inspirational and provocative selections from the journals of Thomas Merton combined with drawings and photographs by Merton.This volume of daily inspiration from Thomas Merton draws from Merton's journals and papers to present, each day, a seasonally appropriate and thought-provoking insight or observation.Each month will begin with one of Merton's delightful pen-and-ink drawings or one of his elegant black-and-white photographs.

The Wisdom of Tenderness: What Happens When God's Fierce Mercy Transforms Our Lives


Brennan Manning - 2004
    A Stirring Invitation to Accept God's Unfathomable Tenderness

True Love: A Practice for Awakening the Heart


Thich Nhat Hanh - 2004
    With simplicity, warmth, and directness, he explores the four key aspects of love as described in the Buddhist tradition: lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and freedom—explaining how to experience them in our day-to-day lives. He also emphasizes that in order to love in a real way, we must first learn how to be fully present in our lives, and he offers simple techniques from the Buddhist tradition that anyone can use to establish the conditions of love. Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, is an internationally known author, poet, scholar, and peace activist who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King Jr.

The World Peace Diet: Eating for Spiritual Health and Social Harmony


Will Tuttle - 2004
    By eating the plants and animals of our earth, we literally incorporate them. It is also through this act of eating that we partake of our culture's values and paradigms at the most primal levels. It is becoming increasingly obvious, however, that the choices we make about our food are leading to environmental degradation, enormous human health problems, and unimaginable cruelty toward our fellow creatures.Incorporating systems theory, teachings from mythology and religions, and the human sciences, The World Peace Diet presents the outlines of a more empowering understanding of our world, based on a comprehension of the far-reaching implications of our food choices and the worldview those choices reflect and mandate. The author offers a set of universal principles for all people of conscience, from any religious tradition, that they can follow to reconnect with what we are eating, what was required to get it on our plate, and what happens after it leaves our plates.The World Peace Diet suggests how we as a species might move our consciousness forward so that we can be more free, more intelligent, more loving, and happier in the choices we make.Now includes a full index.

The Lost Art of Compassion: Discovering the Practice of Happiness in the Meeting of Buddhism and Psychology


Lorne Ladner - 2004
    Seeing compassion in this way, we lose out on experiencing the transformative potential of one of our most neglected inner resources.Dr Lorne Ladner rescues compassion from this marginalised view, showing how its practical application in our life can be a powerful force in achieving happiness. Combining the wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism and Western psychology, Ladner presents clear, effective practices for cultivating compassion in daily living.

Letters to a Young Catholic


George Weigel - 2004
    Mary's Church in Greenville, South Carolina; the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem and G.K. Chesterton's favorite pub; the grave of a modern martyr in Warsaw, and the Sistine Chapel. Weaving together insights from history, literature, theology, and music, Weigel uses these touchstones to illuminate the beliefs that have shaped Catholicism for two thousand years.With clarity and conviction, Weigel examines the foundations of Catholic faith and explores the topics of grace, prayer, vocation, sin and forgiveness, suffering, and-most importantly-love. Putting a dramatic face on this invitation to Catholicism, Weigel introduces some of the figures who have shaped his faith and thought-Michelangelo and Fra Angelico; Evelyn Waugh and Cardinal John Henry Newman; Father Jerzy Popieuszko and Pope John Paul II; Edith Stein and Mother Teresa-as he also shares anecdotes from his own Catholic life. To a world that sometimes seems closed and claustrophobic, he suggests, Christian humanism offers a world with windows and doors-and a skylight.In these letters, George Weigel conveys the power of a faith that is at once personal and universal, timely and eternal. His book will inspire not only the young generation of Catholics whose World Youth Day celebrations have launched an era of renewal for the Church, but also the faithful, the doubtful, and the searchers of every age.

Even Greater: 12 Real-Life Stories That Inspire You to Do Great Things for God


Reinhard Bonnke - 2004
    It's true - God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary works. This book presents the stories to prove this aspect.

Leveraging the Universe: 7 Steps to Engaging Life's Magic (Abridged)


Mike Dooley - 2004
    So just pitch your pitches, take your baby steps, enjoy the journey, and prepare to be astounded. Building on the principles shared in Infinite Possibilities and Manifesting Change, New York Times bestselling author Mike Dooley offers his first “how-to” book, spelling out exactly what can, should, and must be done to harness the Universe and life’s magic and what should—at all costs—never be done. In just seven steps, from understanding the nature of reality to aligning your beliefs with your dreams, Dooley shares exactly what you can immediately do to chart a course for seeing lasting results. Interwoven with the author’s inspiring personal history, from fear to fortune, to demonstrate firsthand how you can begin from wherever you are, find traction, and blast forward to success, Leveraging the Universe is about using the gifts of thought, word, and deed to harness an infinite grace that tirelessly strives to sweep you off your feet, surround you with friends, and create the life you most want.

Evolutionary Witchcraft


T. Thorn Coyle - 2004
    A learned and serious manual to Witchcraft for the mature practitioner, by one of the craft's leading teachers.

The Thich Nhat Hanh Collection: Peace is Every Step; Teachings on Love; The Stone Boy and Other Stories


Thich Nhat Hanh - 2004
    3 parts in 1 book,CD included with the book

Seeing Is Believing: Experience Jesus Through Imaginative Prayer


Gregory A. Boyd - 2004
    Sure, they believe in him and love him, but he somehow doesn't seem to enter their daily lives in a real sense. Some might say, "You ought to pray more." Others would advise, "You ought to witness more." While this may be true, we don't get closer to God just because we "ought to." Boyd believes that the way to true spiritual transformation and feeling the presence of God in your life comes from a little R and R: rest and reality. Boyd encourages readers to stop striving and learn to rest in an experience of Jesus as real. The best way to do this, he says, is through imaginative prayer. Experiencing Jesus will teach readers how to use God's gracious gift of creative imagination to know him better and feel his presence in their daily lives.

Adam's Return: The Five Promises of Male Initiation


Richard Rohr - 2004
    Based on decades of work, travel, and experience, Rohr, a Franciscan brother and best-selling author, unearths the complexities of male spiritual maturation and helps us to understand the importance of male initiation rights in both culture and the church.

Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires


Esther Hicks - 2004
    Wayne W. Dyer.

The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way


Wayne W. Dyer - 2004
    In this view, an attitude that combines hard work with an indefatigable drive toward excellence is the way to succeed. However, intention is viewed very differently in this book. Dr. Wayne W. Dyer has researched intention as a force in the universe that allows the act of creation to take place. This book explores intention—not as something you do—but as an energy you’re a part of. We’re all intended here through the invisible power of intention. This is the first book to look at intention as a field of energy that you can access to begin co-creating your life with the power of intention. Part I deals with the principles of intention, offering true stories and examples on ways to make the connection. Dr. Dyer identifies the attributes of the all-creating universal mind of intention as creative, kind, loving, beautiful, expanding, endlessly abundant, and receptive, explaining the importance of emulating this source of creativity. In Part II, Dr. Dyer offers an intention guide with specific ways to apply the co-creating principles in daily life. Part III is an exhilarating description of Dr. Dyer’s vision of a world in harmony with the universal mind of intention.

The Healing Power of Kindness, Vol. 1: Releasing Judgment


Kenneth Wapnick - 2004
    The teaching staff was struck by the paradox of students on the one hand spending a week discussing healing, in terms of forgiveness and undoing separation, and on the other, fervently practicing judgment and condemnation of each other,directly opposite to the kind, gentle tone of Jesus' words in 'A Course in Miracles. This talk thus was devoted to the kindness of healing, in hopes of reinforcing Jesus' message of undoing separation. Kindness reflects our inherent oneness with each other, while attack drives us still further apart in our awareness. In reviewing the principles of sickness and healing and some common misapplications, the discussion in this book helps us undo the sources of unkindness, so that in all our interactions we would reflect the Source of kindness. It is hoped that this little book will serve to remind us all of the need to be kind, the spiritual principle par excellence.

Inner Teachings of Hinduism Revealed


Choa Kok Sui - 2004
    Drawing upon his vast knowledge of various cultures and religions and with his background as a Master Pranic Healer, Grand Master Choa Kok Sui reveals in this book the true meaning behind many of the symbols and rituals of Hinduism. Deeply insightful, this book is for anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of the Hindu religion, helping him appreciate the wisdom inherent in its teachings and symbolism.

A Path and a Practice: Using Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching as a Guide to an Awakened Spiritual Life


William Martin - 2004
    But no modern translation has yet captured the essential thrust of Lao Tzu's work as a practical guide to living an awakened life. Now William Martin, whose acclaimed previous reinterpretations of the Tao (for parents, couples, and elders) have introduced or reacquainted this classic text to thousands of readers, strikingly translates the Tao's eighty-one chapters to uniquely address someone on a Tao—or path—with a practice. Martin frames his new translation with two illuminating, groundbreaking sections: "A Path," which introduces the Tao's nonlinear construction and explains how it works its themes; and "A Practice," which provides practical guidance for readers exploring each of the Tao's themes in depth. Martin's genius in this new translation uncovers how directly the Tao speaks to readers on or about to embark on a spiritual journey.

How to Profit from Your Faults: Based on the Writings of St. Francis de Sales


Claude-Joseph Tissot - 2004
    Author Joseph Tissot wrote this book to help readers gain a proper sense of themselves and an accurate perspective on their own failings. Drawing on the wisdom of St. Francis de Sales and other great saints, as well as a rich understanding and broad experience of human nature, Tissot offers practical guidance for the interior struggle.

The Red Book


Laura Knight-Jadczyk - 2004
    It is theorized to be statistically probable sometime in the early 21st century. The concept of The Wave is vital for anyone wishing to understand the deeper meaning and reality of the human experience and what our very near future may have in store for us.

Joy Unspeakable


Barbara A. Holmes - 2004
    Holmes's research - through oral histories, church records, and written accounts - details not only ways in which contemplative experience is built into African American collective worship but also the legacy of African monasticism, a history of spiritual exemplars, and unique meditative worship practices.

Angel Medicine


Doreen Virtue - 2004
    Doreen Virtue looks at case studies of angel guidance that have had positive effects on an individual's emotional and physical well being, as well as focusing on the importance of light.

Your Spiritual Authority


Charles Capps - 2004
    Readers will learn that the name of Jesus gives believers authority in three worldsbeings in earth, beings under the earth, and beings in heaven. God has restored the believers authority in the earth through the rebirth of the human spirit and has given back that which Satan stole from Adam. This newly packaged version of this breakthrough teaching will unleash new life and faith in the lives of believers.

Messages for the Enlightenment of a Humanity in Transformation (TELOS, Vol. 2)


Aurelia Louise Jones - 2004
    We urge you to begin creating your lives with much greater ease and grace. The long dark night is now drawing to a close on the surface of our planet, and it is time for all of you to start dreaming a new dream for yourself and for the Earth.Let go of all concepts of limitation, sorrow and fear. Believe in the God Presence that beats your heart, and create magic in all aspects of your lives. We encourage you to open yourselves fully to all of the wondrous possibilities that are awaiting you. May peace, love, wisdom and deep understanding be your Beacon of Light, and may you embrace the consciousness that will bring you back home. We miss you as much as you miss us.

Seven Things the Holy Spirit Will Do in You


Chris Oyakhilome - 2004
    Meet the Holy Spirit in this powerful, inspirational classic and discover seven crucial blessings He brings into your life, only when you receive Him and give Him unlimited access.

Possible Miracles - The Golden Lotus Sutras on Pranic Healing


Choa Kok Sui - 2004
    

One-Minute Prayers for Women Gift Edition


Harvest House - 2004
    This delightful collection of one-minute talks with God will help you share your heart's desire to walk with Jesus, grow spiritually strong, reach out to others, and find comfort.Whether you start your morning with God, find strength in the middle of the afternoon, or close your day with Him, you'll experience His peace, embrace His grace, and find joy in His presence.Cause my faith to grow, Lord. Each day that I come to meet with You, may I know You better. Replace my ignorance with Your knowledge. Help me be strong in my commitment to You.

Praying the Right Way


Chris Oyakhilome - 2004
    But He'll hear and answer only when you're 'PRAYING THE RIGHT WAY.' Discover the secrets and principles of effective prayer in this concise, yet comprehensive book by Chris Oyakhilome and rid yourself of any wrong mindsets, doctrines, perceptions, practices and prayers that may have clogged the wheels of your prayer life.

Ending Our Resistance to Love


Kenneth Wapnick - 2004
    This is the topic explored in this book, which consists of an edited transcription of a talk given to a group of students by Kenneth Wapnick, supplemented with two articles, co-authored with his wife Gloria, that appeared in the Foundation's newsletter, "The Lighthouse." The focus is on the many forms of resistance and their basis in the fear of love. Freud's valuable insights are discussed, along with Jesus' role in helping us look without judgment at our investment in maintaining the ego's thought system--the miracle that resolves the paradox.

Om Mani Padme Hum


Choa Kok Sui - 2004
    You will get the experience of how to properly use this chant, some practical exercises, and learn inner stillness. You will also gain an understanding of spiritual cords/connections and how different spiritual teachers have developed the size of their spiritual connection.

To Whom Shall We Go?: Lessons from the Apostle Peter


Timothy M. Dolan - 2004
    Presented as an example for all of us, here are the words and actions of St. Peter--his strengths, weaknesses, joys, and sorrows.

Opening The Invitation: The Poem That Has Touched Lives Around the World


Oriah Mountain Dreamer - 2004
    The prose poem The Invitation was originally passed from reader to reader over the internet and hand–to–hand; it was these readers who helped make the book a best–seller.This small, beautifully presented book, incorporating the poem and two short additional new chapters by Oriah, gives old and new readers the beloved poem in a fresh way, as a gift for others or oneself. The often moving and sometimes funny chapters give a fresh, full account of how the poem came to be, and then discuss the life of the poem after it was written and circulated to so many readers, via the internet, photocopies, and eventually the full book The Invitation. Artwork will accompany each paragraph of the poem.

How to Hear from God Study Guide: Learn to Know His Voice and Make Right Decisions (Meyer, Joyce)


Joyce Meyer - 2004
    This book will teach you how to open your heart to develop a special sensitivity to the many different ways you can hear God speak to you.

Spiritual Essence of Man: The Chakras and The Inverted Tree of Life


Choa Kok Sui - 2004
    With incisive simplicity, he offers very practical and, in many instances, provocative answers to the seemingly complex problems of our time. Here is a book that breathes life into the spiritual dimensions of wealth, sex, war, alchemy and other mundane preoccupations. These teachings are infused with an amazingly fresh perspective that may yet restructure, if not alter, the paradigm of many global leaders, politicians, businessmen, religious people and just about anybody sincerely searching for more balanced mode of existence. Set against a multi-cultural backdrop are the syntheses of various esoteric systems. The chakras, the sephiroth, the triple cross and other symbols are like pearls of wisdom beautifully strung together, bestowing to the ardent seeker a most effective strategy for living a blessed life. The Tree of life is an alternative path towards reclaiming and redeeming spirituality.

The Witch's Shield: Protection Magick and Psychic Self-Defense


Christopher Penczak - 2004
    First, find out how to protect yourself using personal energy, will, and intent. Next, discover how to connect with your guardian spirits, angels, and patron deities. Finally, learn how to use traditional spellcraft and ritual for protection.This comprehensive guide to psychic self-defense and protection magick also includes an audio CD of protection meditations read by the author.Praise: A wise, helpful book for beginners and intermediate students of the Craft.--Publishers Weekly2005 Coalition of Visionary Resources (COVR) 1st Runner Up in Magic/Magick category

The Dhammapada: Verses on the Way (Modern Library Classics)


Glenn Wallis - 2004
    The nature of the self, the value of relationships, the importance of moment-to-moment awareness, the destructiveness of anger, the suffering that attends attachment, the ambiguity of the earth’s beauty, the inevitability of aging, the certainty of death–these dilemmas preoccupy us today as they did centuries ago. No other spiritual texts speak about them more clearly and profoundly than does the Dhammapada.In this elegant new translation, Sanskrit scholar Glenn Wallis has exclusively referred to and quoted from the canonical suttas–the presumed earliest discourses of the Buddha–to bring us the heartwood of Buddhism, words as compelling today as when the Buddha first spoke them. On violence: All tremble before violence./ All fear death./ Having done the same yourself,/ you should neither harm nor kill. On ignorance: An uninstructed person/ ages like an ox,/ his bulk increases,/ his insight does not. On skillfulness: A person is not skilled/ just because he talks a lot./ Peaceful, friendly, secure–/ that one is called “skilled.”In 423 verses gathered by subject into chapters, the editor offers us a distillation of core Buddhist teachings that constitutes a prescription for enlightened living, even in the twenty-first century. He also includes a brilliantly informative guide to the verses–a chapter-by-chapter explication that greatly enhances our understanding of them. The text, at every turn, points to practical applications that lead to freedom from fear and suffering, toward the human state of spiritual virtuosity known as awakening.Glenn Wallis’s translation is an inspired successor to earlier versions of the suttas. Even those readers who are well acquainted with the Dhammapada will be enriched by this fresh encounter with a classic textFrom the Hardcover edition.

God's Creative Power Gift Coll. DS


Charles Capps - 2004
    The gift collection includes three books, which are: God's Creative Power for Healing, God's Creative Power Will Work For You, and God's Creative Power for Finances.

Called to Question: A Spiritual Memoir


Joan D. Chittister - 2004
    Joan Chittister's most personal and intense writing to date. Centered around a series of conversations with spiritual writers featured in her private journal, Sr. Joan looks at the common questions or dimensions of life as we know them in our daily lives-not answers as we've been given them-in an attempt to unravel their many meanings, to give them flesh, to honor their spiritual import now and here, in our time and in our own lives. By sharing the questions, doubts, and convictions in her own heart, Chittister explores the heart of faith itself and nurtures a spirituality that pushes readers beyond superficial questioning and unexamined faith. The paperback edition includes a new Prologue about the power of questions in today's society. Following a moving prologue on the nature of faith, Called to Question is broken into six parts that explore key themes- the inward life, immersion in life, resistance, feminist spirituality, ecology, dailiness. Within each theme is a wide array of topics that embody Sr. Joan's life's work as a sociologist, theologian, Benedictine nun, rights activist, and spiritual guide to countless people throughout the world. Alive with the raw energy of a journal and polished with the skill of a master storyteller, each chapter is an engaging dialogue between Sr. Joan and many different wisdom sources about such topics as God's existence and call, experience, struggle, justice, the role of women and men in society and church, living through doubt, and celebrating life. Called to Question is a rare and powerful invitation to look into the center of our own souls, name our questions about God and life, admit the worst, and pursue the best-even when we are unsure where that pursuit will take us.

Living Wabi Sabi: The True Beauty of Your Life


Taro Gold - 2004
    A blend of Eastern wisdom, feng shui, and the movement toward simplicity, Wabi Sabi is a Japanese expression meaning "wisdom in natural simplicity." Wabi Sabi helps us to see the beauty in imperfection, to discover that our unique flaws also can lead us to our greatest strengths and treasures.No one is perfect--in fact, we all are perfectly imperfect. That is the paradoxical first lesson shared by Taro Gold in Living Wabi Sabi: The True Beauty of Your Life. What is Wabi Sabi? A universal ideal of beauty, Wabi Sabi celebrates the basic, the unique, and the imperfect parts of our lives. Wabi Sabi is the comfortable joy you felt as a child, happily singing off key, creatively coloring outside the lines, and mispronouncing words with gusto. On a deeper level, Wabi Sabi is the profound awareness of our oneness with all life and the environment. It includes a deep awareness of the choices we make each day, the power we have to accept or reject each moment of our lives, and to find value in every experience.Appreciate this and every moment, no matter how imperfect, for this moment is your life. When you reject this moment, you reject your life. You don't have to settle for this moment, you are free to steer a different course, but for now, this moment is yours, so be mindful to make the most of it."Living Wabi Sabi: The True Beauty of Your Life leads us to discover the true beauty of our lives, to know true joy here and now, to reveal the most powerfully positive sides of imperfection. Illustrated with stunning yet simple watercolor art, Living Wabi Sabi: The True Beauty of Your Life is a beautiful keepsake that is sure to become a beloved resource for wisdom in the joy of living.

Answered Prayers: Love Letters from the Divine


Julia Cameron - 2004
     This enlightening companion to Julia Cameron's bestselling Prayers Trilogy (Blessings, Heart Steps, and Transitions) is for anyone who has yearned for a more spiritual life, for anyone who has felt that their prayers have gone unheard. In this luminous book God answers our prayers with a prayer of His own: It is His greatest wish that we recognize the divine grace and goodness present within all of us. In Answered Prayers, the divine creator who watches over us-regardless of religion or creed-reveals that He is with us in every moment, that He in fact never leaves our side. In a language that is at once simple and eloquent, He responds to all of our fears and all of our longings are understood, and are answered. Answered Prayers is truly a gift from God. Award-winning writer Julia Cameron is the author of twenty books, both fiction and nonfiction, including the bestselling works on the creative process The Artist's Way, Walking in This World, The Vein of Gold, The Right to Write, and The Sound of Paper. A novelist, playwright, songwriter, and poet, she has extensive credits in theater, film, and television.

The Four Things That Matter Most: A Book About Living


Ira Byock - 2004
    In many ways, they contain the most powerful words in our language. These four phrases provide us with a clear path to emotional wellness; they guide us through the thickets of interpersonal difficulties to a conscious way of living that is full of integrity and grace.In The Four Things That Matter Most, Dr. Ira Byock, an international leader in palliative care, teaches us how to practice these life-affirming words in our day-to-day lives. Too often we assume that the people we love really know we love them. Dr. Byock reveals the value of stating the obvious and provides insights into how we burden ourselves by hanging on to old grudges unconsciously and unnecessarily. He shows us how to avoid living with those awkward silences and uncomfortable issues that distance us from the people we love and erode our sense of well-being and joy. His insights and stories help us to forgive, appreciate, love, and celebrate one another more fully. The inspiring stories in The Four Things That Matter Most demonstrate the usefulness of the Four Things in a wide range of life situations. They also show that a degree of emotional healing is always possible and that we can experience a sense of wholeness even in the wake of family strife, personal tragedy, divorce, or in the face of death. With practical wisdom and spiritual punch, The Four Things That Matter Most gives us the language and guidance to honor and experience what really matters most in our lives every day.

The Peaceful Stillness of the Silent Mind.


Thubten Yeshe - 2004
    Here are some exerpts:Lama Yeshe on Buddhism:"Buddhism is not just about one or two small things; it is not some tiny philosophy. Lord Buddha explained the nature of every single phenomenon in the universe."On Mind:"At certain times, a silent mind is very important, but 'silent' does not mean closed. The silent mind is an alert, awakened mind; a mind seeking the nature of reality."On Meditation:"Meditation is the right medicine for the uncontrolled, undisciplined mind. Meditation is the way to perfect satisfaction. The uncontrolled mind is by nature sick; dissatisfaction is a form of mental illness. What's the right antidote to that? It's knowledge-wisdom; understanding the nature of psychological phenomena; knowing how the internal world functions."This title was published by the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive, a non-profit organization established to make the Buddhist teachings of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche freely accessible in many ways, including on our website for instant reading, listening or downloading, and as printed and electronic books. Our website offers immediate access to thousands of pages of teachings and hundreds of audio recordings by some of the greatest lamas of our time. Our photo gallery and our ever-popular books are also freely accessible there. You can find out more about becoming a supporter of the Archive and see all we have to offer by visiting the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive website.

Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism


Howard Schwartz - 2004
    Drawing from the Bible, the Pseudepigrapha, the Talmud and Midrash, the kabbalistic literature, medieval folklore, Hasidic texts, and oral lore collected in the modern era, Schwartz has gathered together nearly 700 of the key Jewish myths. The myths themselves are marvelous. We read of Adams diamond and the Land of Eretz (where it is always dark), the fall of Lucifer and the quarrel of the sun and the moon, the Treasury of Souls and the Divine Chariot. We discover new tales about the great figures of the Hebrew Bible, from Adam to Moses; stories about God's Bride, the Shekhinah, and the evil temptress, Lilith; plus many tales about angels and demons, spirits and vampires, giant beasts and the Golem. Equally important, Schwartz provides a wealth of additional information. For each myth, he includes extensive commentary, revealing the source of the myth and explaining how it relates to other Jewish myths as well as to world literature (for instance, comparing Eves release of evil into the world with Pandoras). For ease of use, Schwartz divides the volume into ten books, Myths of God, Myths of Creation, Myths of Heaven, Myths of Hell, Myths of the Holy Word, Myths of the Holy Time, Myths of the Holy People, Myths of the Holy Land, Myths of Exile, and Myths of the Messiah.

The Gregg Braden Audio Collection: Awakening the Power of Spiritual Technology


Gregg Braden - 2004
    The Gregg Braden Audio Collection brings together for the first time his revolutionary works including a bonus CD with all-new teachings, available nowhere else. Boxed set includes:Beyond Zero Point—Introduces Gregg Braden's pioneering theory that hidden within the earliest prophecies of the Essenes, Hopis, Egyptians, and others lies a universal and sacred set of technologies with the capacity to alter the future of civilization• The Isaiah Effect—Bridging new insights into the physics of time with ancient wisdom from the Dead Sea Scrolls, Braden reveals how to harness the awesome potential of both prayer and prophecy to create "the Isaiah Effect"—a transformative tool for healing ourselves and the planet• The Lost Mode of Prayer—Through freshly translated texts of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Braden exposes the inner workings of a potent force for creating profound changes in ourselves and those around us• Plus The Gift of Blessing—an exclusive 60-minute CD on the practice of prayer and how to give and receive blessing. Includes a special extended guided blessing exercise

Fate and Destiny, The Two Agreements of the Soul


Michael Meade - 2004
    Drawing on folktales and myths from many cultures and spiritual ideas from the East and West, he leads us to an undeniable truth: that the only story we came here to live is our own. Meade shows how the limitations of family and fate form the inner threads from which our individual destiny must emerge. He explains how our wounds can become doorways to our deepest gifts, and how our greatest efforts in the world are intended to lead us to a treasure divinely seeded within us before birth. Fate and Destiny speaks directly to young people looking to find a genuine path in life and trying to awaken to the dream they carry inside. It offers penetrating insights for those caught in life s inevitable struggles and shows how the wisdom of elders depends upon re-membering the spirit of eternal youth. As one story puts it, god has only one question to ask you at the end of life: did you become yourself? Weaving stories within stories, lacing pertinent psychology within cultural analysis, and mixing autobiography with myth, Meade opens the territory of fate and destiny to new interpretations and deeper meanings.

The Emptiness of Our Hands: 47 Days on the Streets


Phyllis Cole-Dai - 2004
    They went to the streets with a single intention: to be as present as possible to everyone we met, offering them sustained and nonjudgmental attention. Such attention is the heart of compassion. This book chronicles their streets experiences. It will thrust you out the door of your comfortable life, straight into the unknown. It will force you to confront what might happen to you, and who you might become, if suddenly you had no home. The meditative narrative is accompanied by pinhole photographs shot by James using cameras he constructed from trash. This is the third edition of the book, lightly edited. Though recounting events that occurred in 1999, The Emptiness of Our Hands remains as relevant today as ever. An "eye-opening" and "life-changing" read! Read this book on its own or in the company of Practicing Presence: Insights from the Streets, which Phyllis wrote on the tenth anniversary of her time on the streets. Take your reading slow, perhaps one chapter per day, so you can absorb and reflect. If you happen to be Christian, you might consider using this book and Practicing Presence as companion resources during Lent and Holy Week, which served as a backdrop for Phyllis and James's experience. But you don’t need to be a Christian to take this stumbling journey into practicing mindfulness on the streets. Just allow these forty-seven days to be for you what they were for Phyllis and James: a deep embrace of core values that human beings around the world have held in common for millennia. These values might best be articulated as questions: How do we treat others as we would have them treat us? How do we love our neighbors, including those who seem “alien” and “other?” How do we extend hospitality to strangers, allowing them an honored place among us? These age-old questions have no simple answers. We must seek to answer them daily with our lives. Get your free sampler of Phyllis's work when you join her mailing list at http://subscribe.phylliscoledai.com/. It includes music, poetry, spiritual nonfiction and historical fiction. You can also join her mailing list at http://www.phylliscoledai.com. CATEGORIES FOR THIS BOOK: --spirituality --memoir --mindfulness --homelessness --Lent & Holy Week --social conscience --engaged Buddhism

Encountering the Wisdom Jesus


Cynthia Bourgeault - 2004
    How do we reclaim that fire today?On Encountering the Wisdom Jesus, this brilliant author and dynamic Episcopalian priest presents her first full-length audio course about rediscovering the Master of Wisdom. Twelve immersive sessions cover: the parables as wisdom tools; Jesus's teachings about kenosis (or self-emptying: a path as radical today as it was 2,000 years ago); Jesus as tantric master; Centering Prayer, an approach to meditation as Jesus lived it, and much more.

The Enlightened Gardener Revisited


Sydney Banks - 2004
    Author and philosopher Sydney Banks once again brings to life his wise and simple gardener as a voice through which Banks presents more implications of the Three Principles that create human reality, calling on us to realize that to fully understand the Principles is to liberate one's spirit.

It's All about Him


Lee Venden - 2004
    But do you know how much God needs you? The One whose mercies are new every morning wants to be your friend!

Hearing God Through the Year: The Gospel from Everywhere to Everyone


Dallas Willard - 2004
    The second half of this conversation is so important--and so difficult. How do we hear God? In these daily devotionals Dallas Willard helps us understand how we can know the voice of God and act on it. Each day you'll read Scripture on this topic and find suggestions for prayer, journaling and reflection to draw you into God's presence. You may be surprised--and even transformed--by what you discover."

Franciscan Prayer


Ilia Delio - 2004
    Through her experience as a discalced Carmelite nun and then her transformation into Franciscan scholar, Sister Delio brings to light the “contemplative,” “cosmic” and “evangelizing” aspects of Franciscan prayer.Everyone, says Delio, seems to know about Francis’ life, his miracles, his devotion to evangelization and his dedication to living a simple and humble life, yet few know about his prayer life, which seemed, over the centuries, to get lost in the paper shuffle between theologians, followers and historical biographers.It is through Clare of Assisi, Delio asserts, that we have insights into the Franciscan path of prayer. “[Clare] provides the ‘road-map’ of prayer for evangelical life…she was able to do this because she lived under monastic rule while ardently desiring evangelical life.” Through Clare’s letters and actions, we find the rudiments of Franciscan prayer: “Gaze—Consider—Contemplate—Imitate.”Delio also uses the insights of Saint Bonaventure as well as Saint Francis to fully show the meaning and purpose of prayer in the Franciscan tradition.

Living a Life of Inner Peace


Eckhart Tolle - 2004
    Beyond the information that is being conveyed, something deeper happens. For the listener, a field of alert stillness arises where before there was mental noise, signaling the entry to a state of presence that precedes transformation.While Tolle's writing is not simple, he does not "speak down" to his audience in any way — his talks are far more informal, relaxed, and funny. Tolle makes people laugh at themselves, with the result being powerfully effective therapy. Living a Life of Inner Peace records one of Tolle's most moving, transformative talks. For those new to his teachings, this is an ideal introduction. Those familiar with his work, including the bestsellers The Power of Now and Stillness Speaks, should be prepared for something extraordinary.

The Daffodil Principle


Jaroldeen Asplund Edwards - 2004
    Amazingly, this special spot, known as "The Daffodil Garden," was planted by one person, one bulb at a time, over a period of thirty-five years.  Since “The Daffodil Principle” was first published, the story has gained international popularity and has been retold innumerable times. Available now for the first time as an illustrated gift book featuring vibrant artwork by Anne Marie Oborn, this story will touch your heart with its simple message: Start today, one step at a time, to change your world.

If Satan Can't Steal Your Dream...: He Can't Control Your Destiny


Jerry Savelle - 2004
    When He first plants this gift in your heart, it is as tiny as the smallest seed. but don't be fooled. It has the portential to grow into something great and marvelous in both size and beauty. The gift is simply a dream.What better way for Satan to rob you of your future than to quench your enthusiasm for this God-given vision? And be assured, he is definitely ready with every trick he knows to sow seeds of doubt, fear, distraction, and discouragement into your life.The good news is that with God on your side, Satan does not have the power to take from you what God has given to you, unless you let him. Bestselling author Jerry Savelle will teach you:Satan's #1 strategy for robbing you of your dreams The tell-tale signs that indicate your faith is wavering -- and what to do about it immediately The secrets of recapturing your dreams The four universal principles of bringing your dreams into reality Your future is sure. Why? What God has started in you, He will bring to fruition as you turn to Him with faith and obedience.

The Call to Discernment in Troubled Times: New Perspectives on the Transformative Wisdom of Ignatius of Loyola


Dean Brackley - 2004
    Dean Brackley integrates a realistic analysis of today's social crisis with the deep personal spirituality of St. Ignatius Loyola.

Proverbs 31 Wife Handbook (The Proverbs 31 Woman)


Lara Velez - 2004
    The Proverbs 31 Wife Handbook is a book that was written for any wife who wants to have a better marriage, be the wife that God designed them to be, or is desperate for a change.

Becoming Vajrasattva: The Tantric Path of Purification


Thubten Yeshe - 2004
    Common to all four traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, the practice of Vajrasattva is used to purify obstacles to spiritual development, negative karma, and illness. Lama Yeshe, the inspirational teacher who strongly influenced the development of Buddhism in the West, found that the practice of Vajrasattva brought dramatic results for his Western students. Becoming Vajrasattva is a complete guide to this purification practice, providing instruction on the method, commentary on the traditional texts, and insight into tantra. Also included is an entire section of complete retreat instructions required reading for anyone undertaking a meditation retreat in the Tibetan tradition.

The Hidden Power in Humans: Chakras and Kundalini


Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda - 2004
    Step by step the author leads us on the journey towards our own Self. He makes us familiar with the eight main Chakras and their function, and hands us the tools needed to reach our most important goal union with our true Self. An exceptional feature of this Chakra Book is that it also includes a description of the very little known or mentioned Bindu Chakra, which is one of the most mysterious and remarkable energy centres within humans. People very often dream about discovering the "Fountain of Eternal Youth". This fountain of youth, vitality and health can be found in the Bindu Chakra and through special exercises can be made to flow. This book not only imparts theoretical knowledge but, more importantly, guides us towards recognition of the divine truth. If the instructions given are followed, the way to liberation from the cycle of rebirth and death unfolds before us. Hardcover, 17 x 24 cm, 272 pages, with many diagrams and illustrations.

God's Way Day By Day


Charles F. Stanley - 2004
    This best-selling devotional is loaded with life-changing thoughts and beautiful four-color illustrations. Divided into twelve months but not dated for a specific year, this book promises to become a perennial favorite.

Intelligence: The Creative Response to Now


Osho - 2004
    Intellect is logical, he says; intelligence is paradoxical. Intellect takes things apart to see how they work; intelligence puts things together to see the functioning of the whole. Osho posits that when our education systems put too much emphasis on developing intellect, an imbalance is created and both the individual and the society suffer. It is only through intelligence that we can respond creatively to the challenges of a changing world. The Insights for a New Way of Living series aims to shine light on beliefs and attitudes that prevent individuals from being their true selves. The text is an artful mix of compassion and humor, and readers are encouraged to confront what they would most like to avoid, which in turn provides the key to true insight and power.By exploring the distinction between intellect and intelligence, Intelligence encourages readers to be more aware of how they approach problems---logical, emotional, and practical---and how they solve them.Osho challenges the idea that the best way to promote intelligence is to train the intellect. Intellect is logical, he says, intelligence is paradoxical. Intellect takes things apart to see how they work; intelligence puts things together to see the functioning of the whole. When our education systems put too much emphasis on developing intellect, an imbalance is created and both the individual and the society suffer. It is only through intelligence that we can respond creatively to the challenges of a changing world. By exploring the distinctions between intellect and intelligence, the book encourages readers to be more aware of how they approach problems - logical, emotional, and practical - and how they resolve them.

Conversations with Yogananda: Stories, Sayings and Wisdom


Paramahansa Yogananda - 2004
    Yogananda is one of the world's most widely known and universally respected spiritual masters. His Autobiography of a Yogi has helped stimulate a spiritual awakening in the West and a spiritual renaissance in his native land of India. More than half a century ago, in a hilltop ashram in Los Angeles, California, an American disciple sat at the feet of his Master, faithfully recording his words, as his teacher had asked him to do. Paramhansa Yogananda knew this disciple would carry his message to people everywhere. Kriyananda was often present when Yogananda spoke privately with other close disciples; when he received visitors and answered their questions; when he was dictating and discussing his important writings. Yogananda put Kriyananda in charge of the other monks, and gave him advice for their spiritual development. In all these situations, Kriyananda recorded the words and guidance of Yogananda, preserving for the ages wisdom that would otherwise have been lost, and giving us an intimate glimpse of life with Yogananda never before shared by any other student. These Conversations include not only Yogananda's words as he first spoke them, but also the added insight of an intimate disciple who has spent more than 50 years reflecting on and practicing the teachings of Yogananda. Through these Conversations, Yogananda comes alive. Time and space dissolve. We sit at the feet of the Master, listen to his words, receive his wisdom, delight in his humor, and are transformed by his love.

The End of Your World: Uncensored Straight Talk on the Nature of Enlightenment


Adyashanti - 2004
    Because with spiritual awakening, you find that the strongly held beliefs and perceptions you've taken to be 'you' and 'your world' vanish into the unmanifest nature of all that is. The End of Your World presents a landmark six-CD course on the reality of enlightenment and the total re-wiring of your being that accompanies it what Adyashanti calls our journey into the infinite, our true nature as pure consciousness itself.

Tara's Enlightened Activity: An Oral Commentary on the Twenty-One Praises to Tara


Palden Sherab - 2004
    She clears away fears, overpowers negative emotions, and enables all beings to reach enlightenment. She has special resonance as a source of female spiritual wisdom. Tibetans of all schools and traditions recite the verses on which this commentary is based. Focused contemplative meditation in relation to the myriad aspects of Tara works to transform the practitioner's mind into those enlightened qualities and mind states that Tara represents. Sought-after teachers throughout the West for over twenty-five years, Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and his brother Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche illuminate the practice of the Praises to the Twenty-one Taras with humor and wisdom. The explanations cover progressively more subtle levels from basic Buddhism through the Inner Tantras and culminate with Dzogchen. Interspersed with lively stories about Tara, the authors explain the physical conditions for practice, the outer and inner meanings of the text itself, and give solutions for problems that may emerge as practice progresses.

Heart Without Measure: Gurdjieff Work with Madame de Salzmann


Ravi Ravindra - 2004
    Ravindra’s account of his meetings, letters and encounters with Madame de Salzmann is deeply intimate, yet it is not merely personal. His questions, doubts and insights are not unlike our own. In these recollections of a pupil, we hear Madame de Salzmann’s voice; the clarity of her perception and the force of her insight are evident throughout.

Dharma, Color, and Culture: New Voices in Western Buddhism


Hilda Gutiérrez Baldoquín - 2004
    Alice Walker, Maxine Hong Kingston, Charles Johnson, Thich Nhat Hanh, and twenty-five other contributors share their unique perspectives on the fundamental Buddhist concepts of suffering and the path to the cessation of suffering. Together they represent the entire spectrum of Buddhist tradition.Thought-provoking and passionate, Dharma, Color, and Culture forges a new path in our understanding of the simple truths of Buddhism and their relevance for all of us. Essays by Latino, Asian, African-American, and Native American Buddhist practitioners, lay people, and Dharma teachers address the connection between diversity, racism, and Buddhism at four levels: the personal, the interpersonal, the institutional, and the cultural. Recognizing that attention to the pain of racism is essential, the overarching theme of this work is how the Dharma becomes an effective antidote to the suffering and a vehicle for healing and liberation.

Gift of the Dreamtime - Awakening to the Divinity of Trauma


S. Kelley Harrell, M. Div. - 2004
    Groundbreaking at the time of its first publication in 2004, still no other modern shamanic work shares an experience of soul healing told from within the shamanic narrative, bringing relatable and credible insight to contemporary shamanic healing. Through that rare glimpse into her experiences traversing the spirit world, Harrell’s story becomes the reader’s adventure. Not always easy to read, there are unflinching passages examining hurtful childhood memories, confrontations with overzealous spirit guides, and challenging personal obstacles she must overcome in order to heal.

Deep Unto Deep: The Journey of His Embrace


Dana Candler - 2004
    Dana explores these themes of communion with the Holy Spirit, addressing both the mystical and practical dimensions of connecting with God in a life of prayer.

What Is My Song?


Dennis Linn - 2004
    Ages 9-12. +

The Art of Life


Ernest Shurtleff Holmes - 2004
     Originally published in the first half of the twentieth century, these meditative, concise volumes have never previously appeared in paperback. Whether a newcomer to the philosophy Holmes founded or a veteran reader, you will find great power and practicality in the words that render Holmes one of the most celebrated and beloved mystical teachers of the past hundred years.