Unlike other translations of the Bar do thos grol, the so-called Tibetan Book of the Dead , Robert Thurman's takes literally the entire gamut of metaphysical assumptions. The Bar do thos grol, or as Thurman translates, The Great Book of Natural Liberation through Understanding in the Between, is but one of many mortuary texts of Nyingma sect of Tibetan Buddhism and is commonly recited to or by a person facing imminent death. Thurman reproduces it for this purpose, explaining in some depth the Tibetan conception of post-mortem existence. Over as many as 12 days, the deceased person is given explanations of what he or she sees and experiences and is guided through innumerable visions of the realms beyond to reach eventual liberation, or, failing that, a safe rebirth. Like a backpacker's guide to a foreign land, Thurman's version is clear, detailed, and sympathetic to the inexperienced voyager, including background and supplementary information, even illustrations (sorry, no maps). Don't wait until the journey has begun, every page should be read and memorised well ahead of time. --Brian Bruya

    The concepts and practices of Buddhism, says Batchelor, are not something to believe in but something to do—and as he explains clearly and compellingly, it is a practice that we can engage in, regardless of our background or beliefs, as we live every day on the path to spiritual enlightenment.

    The history, development, and present-day teaching of the various schools of Buddhism, the religion-philosophy which has moulded the life of much of the Eastern world.

    Once you've read it, you'll want to read the rest of the series and find out what Margaret gets up to and how Charlotte fares at her new school. This is a cheaper way to buy the ebook series. If you haven't read Book 1 yet, grab it now! Then you can download books 2-6 and read the rest of this exciting and dramatic series.

    She survived—and, miraculously, the baby was born healthy. But that’s where the good news ends. Marcella was left paralyzed from the chest down. This accident was much more than just a physical and emotional tragedy. Like so many Americans—50 million, or one-sixth of the country’s population—neither Marcella nor her husband, Dave, who works for a small business, had health insurance. On the day of the accident, she was on her way to class for the nursing program through which she hoped to secure one of the few remaining jobs in the area with the promise of employer-provided insurance. Instead, the accident plunged the young family into the tangled web of means-tested social assistance. As a social policy scholar, Campbell thought she knew a lot about means-tested assistance programs. What she quickly learned was that missing from most government manuals and scholarly analyses was an understanding of how these programs actually affect the lives of the people who depend on them. Using Marcella and Dave’s situation as a case in point, she reveals their many shortcomings in Trapped in America’s Safety Net. Because American safety net programs are designed for the poor, Marcella and Dave first had to spend down their assets and drop their income to near-poverty level before qualifying for help. What’s more, to remain eligible, they will have to stay under these strictures for the rest of their lives, meaning they are barred from doing many of the things middle-class families are encouraged to do: Save for retirement. Develop an emergency fund. Take advantage of tax-free college savings. And, while Marcella and Dave’s story is tragic, the financial precariousness they endured even before the accident is all too common in America, where the prevalence of low-income work and unequal access to education have generated vast—and growing—economic inequality. The implementation of Obamacare has cut the number of uninsured and underinsured and reduced some of the disparities in coverage, but it continues to leave too many people open to tremendous risk.Behind the statistics and beyond the ideological battles are human beings whose lives are stunted by policies that purport to help them. In showing how and why this happens, Trapped in America’s Safety Net offers a way to change it.

    In Awakening the Buddha Within, Surya Das shows how we can awaken to who we really are in order to lead a more compassionate, enlightened, and balanced life. It illuminates the guidelines and key principles embodied in the noble Eight-Fold Path and the traditional Three Enlightenment Trainings common to all schools of Buddhism:Wisdom Training: Developing clear vision, insight, and inner understanding--seeing reality and ourselves as we really are.Ethics Training: Cultivating virtue, self-discipline, and compassion in what we say and do.Meditation Training: Practicing mindfulness, concentration, and awareness of the present moment.With lively stories, meditations, and spiritual practices, Awakening the Buddha Within is an invaluable text for the novice and experienced student of Buddhism alike.

    Since its original publication, Chagdud Tulku has continued to teach widely and has met thousands of sincere, enthusiastic, and sometimes skeptical students. The frank questions inspired by these teachings form the basis of the material added to this revised edition.

    If the gospel is true, he still is.Christians worldwide believe that Jesus is God. But this belief wasn’t the starting point for Jesus’ earliest followers. While Jesus’ humanity was a given for the disciples, his divinity was a truth they grew into believing—it was a journey of faith. As Christians today, we are also called into a faith journey—this time, to rediscover Jesus’ humanity.Yes, we believe that Jesus is God, but do we truly believe that Jesus is human? And if so, how does that transform our own experience of being human?Through eye-opening yet down-to-earth reflections, Jesus Journey invites you to encounter Jesus again—as if for the first time—by experiencing his breathing, heart-beating, body-and-blood, crying-and-laughing humanity.Join Bible teacher and storyteller Trent Sheppard as he shines new light on the vibrant humanity of the historical Jesus through an up-close look at Jesus’ relationships with Mary and Joseph, with the God he called Abba, with his closest friends and followers, and how, ultimately, his crucifixion and resurrection finally and forever redefine what we mean by the word God. Come encounter the human who radically transforms our view of God.Come encounter the God who forever changes what it means to be human.

    Ram Dass is an American psychologist and spiritual teacher who has studied and practiced meditation for many years.  Here he shares his understanding and explores the many paths of meditation--from mantra, prayer, singing, visualizations, and "just sitting" to movement meditations such as tai chi--and suggests how you can find methods suitable for you.  He illuminates the stages and benefits of meditative practice, and provides wise and often humorous advice on overcoming difficulties along the way.

    Other times, a good laugh can turn the entire day around. Then there are times when a personal insight reminds us that there is more to life than schedules, laundry, and yet another trip to the grocery store. More than 60 straight- to- the- heart messages from the Time Out for Women team of speakers help make the connection between where we are and where we want to be. Included are selections by Mary Ellen Edmunds, Ardeth Kapp, Emily Watts, Hilary Weeks, and Virginia Pearce. This inspirational collection captures the warmth and wisdom of your favorite LDS speakers and authors.He is helping you by Mary Ellen EdmundsDecide once by Don H. StaheliAllowing time for change by Virginia Hinckley PearceAlternatives to growing old by Mary Ellen EdmundsA little lesson I learned from chocolate by Emily WattsStop, look, and listen by Ardeth KappHappy New Year! by Emily WattsThe power to find by James l. FerrellGenuine compliments by Mary Ellen EdmundsHurrah for families! by Virginia Hinckley PearceCall home by Ardeth KappThe Easter poem by Kathleen Hinckley Barnes WalkerSeasons of life by Mary Ellen EdmundsWhy I love this church by Emily WattsThe marvelous cycle of compliments by Hilary WeeksMy family miracle! by Carolyn RasmusWhen I run out of birthdays by Ardeth G. KappSomeday by Emily WattsAfter we put Christmas away by Dean HughesGreat faith has a short shelf life by Kim NelsonFood for thought by Hilary WeeksGetting rid of junk by Cherie CallStaying connected by Ardeth G. KappLong words by Mary Ellen EdmundsLane ends, merge left by Hilary WeeksWhich way is right? by Emily WattsPorches by Mary Ellen EdmundsGot energy? by Hilary WeeksThe little things by Merrilee BoyackSpiritual valleys by Carolyn RasmusListening by Hilary WeeksYou are here by Kim NelsonThe Sunday sacrifice by Emily WattsMiracles by Merrilee BoyackThe real you by Hilary WeeksHelp! I'm surrounded! by Chris StewartOrange eye shadow vs. amazing grace by Cherie CallTomorrow's assignment by Merrilee BoyackLaundry on my birthday?! by Daryl HooleSigns of faith by Pamela HansenBread of life by Sharon G. LarsenA must see! beautiful inside! by Cherie CallThe tow truck parable by Laurel ChristensenA bag of cats by Kim NelsonAre we being wise? by Dean Hughes"Team play" or "giggle ball" by Camille Fronk OlsonGoing once! going twice! sold! by Pamela H. HansenSpring snow by Emily WattsThe top job by Daryl Hoole

    Images of the Buddha are everywhere: selling tea bags, mobile phones, holidays. But what is the true attraction of Buddhism? Why is it the fastest growing religion in the West? Check out the real goods on offer: freedom, compassion, awareness, wisdom and meditation in this clear introduction to the Buddhist path. This best-selling book explains the essential teachings and practices that underlie most forms of Buddhism and may even tempt you to try this practical way of transformation for yourself!

    Now available with a personalized online learning plan, this social work-specific book looks at lifespan through the lens of social work theory and practice. The authors use an empowerment approach to cover human development and behavior theories within the context of family, organizational, and community systems. Using a chronological lifespan approach, the authors present separate chapters on biological, psychological, and social impacts at the different lifespan stages with an emphasis on strengths and empowerment.

    This introduction focuses on how issues involving race, class, and gender influence our understanding of the Bible.Describing how "standard" readings of the Bible are not always acceptable to people or groups on the "margins," this book afters valuable new insights into biblical texts today.

    Comprehensive, thoughtful, and in-depth, "Developing Multicultural Competence "goes beyond general discussions of race and ethnicity to include discourse on a broader, more complex view of multiculturalism in clients' and trainees' lives. Both scholarly and highly interactive, this new text strives to present trainees with empirically-based information about multicultural counseling and social advocacy paired with engaging self-reflective activities, discussion questions, case inserts, and study aids, creating opportunities for experiential learning related to cultural diversity considerations and social advocacy issues within clients' social systems. Addressing CACREP (2001/2009) Standards related to the Social and Cultural Diversity core area, the book is broken into four parts: Part One covers key concepts and terms regarding multicultural constructs and cross-cultural communication; Part Two defines social advocacy and identifies the major forms of oppression; Part Three discusses the major cultural and diversity groups; and Part Four develops trainee skills for working with diverse clients, including infusing multiculturalism in how they conceptualize, evaluate, and treat these clients.

    Abstract and complex ideas are made understandable by the authors' lucid style. Of particular interest is the up-to-date survey of Buddhist Tantra in India, a branch of Buddhism where strictly controlled sexual activity can play a part in the religious path. Williams' discussion of this controversial practice as well as of many other subjects makes Buddhist Thought crucial reading for all interested in Buddhism.