Book picks similar to
Buddhism from Within: An Intuitive Introduction to Buddhism by Daizui Macphillamy
buddhism
social-science
spirituality
The Lifetimes When Jesus and Buddha Knew Each Other: A History of Mighty Companions
Gary R. Renard - 2017
Gary immortalized what he learned in the books of his best-selling series: The Disappearance of the Universe, Your Immortal Reality, and Love Has Forgotten No One. This fourth book is a companion to the original trilogy, yet written to stand alone, an invitation for new readers into this fascinating work.This book explores six of the lifetimes in which the incarnations of Jesus and Buddha lived together, beginning in 700 B.C. when they were known as Saka and Hiroji. Arten and Pursah, through the spiritual lessons that Jesus and Buddha learn on their path, clarify the difference between duality and nonduality. When you are able to internalize these lessons, you will be saved countless years in your spiritual development.
Buddhism: A Way of Life & Thought
Nancy Wilson Ross - 1980
Explains the origins, development and basic principles of the religion followed by nearly one-quarter of the people on earth.
The Quantum and the Lotus: A Journey to the Frontiers Where Science and Buddhism Meet
Matthieu Ricard - 2000
Eventually he left his life in science to study with Tibetan teachers, and he is now a Buddhist monk and translator for the Dalai Lama, living in the Shechen monastery near Kathmandu in Nepal. Trinh Thuan was born into a Buddhist family in Vietnam but became intrigued by the explosion of discoveries in astronomy during the 1960s. He made his way to the prestigious California Institute of Technology to study with some of the biggest names in the field and is now an acclaimed astrophysicist and specialist on how the galaxies formed. When Matthieu Ricard and Trinh Thuan met at an academic conference in the summer of 1997, they began discussing the many remarkable connections between the teachings of Buddhism and the findings of recent science. That conversation grew into an astonishing correspondence exploring a series of fascinating questions. Did the universe have a beginning? Or is our universe one in a series of infinite universes with no end and no beginning? Is the concept of a beginning of time fundamentally flawed? Might our perception of time in fact be an illusion, a phenomenon created in our brains that has no ultimate reality? Is the stunning fine-tuning of the universe, which has produced just the right conditions for life to evolve, a sign that a “principle of creation” is at work in our world? If such a principle of creation undergirds the workings of the universe, what does that tell us about whether or not there is a divine Creator? How does the radical interpretation of reality offered by quantum physics conform to and yet differ from the Buddhist conception of reality? What is consciousness and how did it evolve? Can consciousness exist apart from a brain generating it?The stimulating journey of discovery the authors traveled in their discussions is re-created beautifully in The Quantum and the Lotus, written in the style of a lively dialogue between friends. Both the fundamental teachings of Buddhism and the discoveries of contemporary science are introduced with great clarity, and the reader will be profoundly impressed by the many correspondences between the two streams of thought and revelation. Through the course of their dialogue, the authors reach a remarkable meeting of minds, ultimately offering a vital new understanding of the many ways in which science and Buddhism confirm and complement each other and of the ways in which, as Matthieu Ricard writes, “knowledge of our spirits and knowledge of the world are mutually enlightening and empowering.” “The Quantum and the Lotus is a mind-expanding, eye-opening exploration of the exciting parallels between cutting-edge thinking in physics and Buddhism–a scintillating conversation any thinking person would delight in overhearing.” —Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence“The Quantum and the Lotus is the rich and inspiring result of a deeply interesting dialogue between Western science and Buddhist philosophy. This remarkable book will contribute greatly to a better understanding of the true nature of our world and the way we live our lives.” —His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Finding God in the Questions: A Personal Journey
Timothy Johnson - 2004
Timothy Johnson, medical editor for ABC News. He believes that's where God meets you--in the midst of honest grappling with heartfelt issues. In this remarkable book, Dr. Johnson discloses his deeply personal journey of faith. With the same keen mind accustomed to medical and scientific examination, he investigates the plausibility of God's existence and explores the significance of the person of Jesus. Despite all the difficulties of faith, he explains what he believes and why. He writes, "As a physician, I have committed my professional life to healing and wellness. But my public work is only a small part of who I really am--or rather, who I want to be. This book is, in a sense, 'the rest of the story.' "For many people, religion provides answers to the big questions of life. For others, the absolute claims of religion raise more questions than they answer. I have lived on both sides--and in some senses, I still do. My path of faith has wandered through both doubt and belief, often at the same time. "Doubt doesn't have to tear down belief, however; it can purify it. When it does, the beliefs on the other side become more certain. This is why I would like to affirm that it is possible to find God even while you are still asking the big questions." Come join a fellow pilgrim on the journey. Ask your questions--and perhaps find God behind them. This new paperback edition includes a new afterword and a study guide with questions for personal reflection or group discussion.
Walking the Walk: Putting the Teachings Into Practice When It Matters Most
Pema Chödrön - 2014
But it's another thing to walk the walk--or to put into practice the good advice we've been given. What does it mean to walk the walk in our everyday lives? According to Pema Ch�dr�n, it means being down-to-earth, genuine, and perhaps most importantly, it means engaging in the teachings in order to actively confront anything and everything we've heretofore rejected in our attempts to find happiness. Created to help us respond with compassion and authenticity when our spiritual ideals are put to the test, Walking the Walk brings you four inspirational sessions with Pema Ch�dr�n, as you explore:Stabilizing the Mind--awareness, presence, and the foundation of the spiritual path- Unconditional Friendship with Yourself--getting unstuck from the patterns that create our own misery- Freedom from Fixed Mind--how to release biases and prejudices to revitalize your everyday experiences- Taking Care of One Another--essential guidance in the ability to truly be there for othersThe teachings in these sessions are not about perfection or unrealistic standards. Baby steps are okay when learning to walk the walk, explains Pema. No matter the situation you find yourself in, here is a program for remaining true to the values we seek to live by, and staying open to the kindness and love that is always available to support us.Course objectives: Discuss how the practice of Stabilizing the Mind, through awareness and presence, is the foundation of the spiritual path.- Define and practice Unconditional Friendship with Yourself as a way to get unstuck from the patterns that create suffering, while opening to the kindness and love that is always available to support us- Summarize how the practice of Freedom from Fixed Mind invites you to release biases and prejudices to revitalize your everyday experiences- Discuss the practice of Taking Care of One Another as essential guidance in the ability to truly be there for ourselves and others
A Tree in a Forest. A Collection of Ajahn Chah's Similes
Ajahn Chah - 1995
How do I prepare my mind for meditation?There is nothing special. I just keep it where it always is.They ask, 'Then are you an arahant?'Do I know?I am like a tree in a forest, full of leaves, blossoms and fruit.Birds come to eat and nest, and animals seek rest in its shade.Yet the tree does not know itself.It follows its own nature.It is as it is.""All the teachings" Ajahn Chah taught, "are merely similes and comparisons, means to help the mind see the truth. If we establish the Buddha within our mind, then we see everything, we contemplate everything, as no different from ourselves.Many of the similes that Ajahn Chah himself used to teach came out of his vast experience of living in the forest. His practice was simply to watch, all the while being totally open and aware of everything that was happening both inside and outside himself. He would say that his practice was nothing special. He was, in his own words, like a tree in a forest, "A tree is as it is," he's say. And Ajahn Chah was as he was. But out of such "nothing specialness" came a profound understanding of himself and the world.Ajahn Chah used to say, "The Dhamma is revealing itself in every moment, but only when the mind is quiet can we understand what it is saying, for the Dhamma teaches without words." Ajahn Chah had this uncanny ability to take that wordless Dhamma and convey its truth to his listeners in the form of a simile that was fresh, easy to follow, sometimes humorous, sometimes poetic, but always striking a place in the heart where it would jar or inspire the most: "We are like maggots; life is like a falling leaf; our mind is like rain water."The teachings of Ajahn Chah teem with similes and comparisons like these. We thought it would be a good idea to collect them all in the form of a book as a source of inspiration for those who may want some respite from the "heat" of the world and seek some rest in the cool and abundant shade of "a tree in the forest".
Is Heaven for Real? Personal Stories of Visiting Heaven
Patrick Doucette - 2013
They are all sincere; they all had a story to tell and they attempted to share their experience to the best of their ability. They each have unique aspects even though they share some similarities. Some of these stories will likely resonate and encourage and inspire you. Some may be difficult to relate to or to understand; if that is the case, I would suggest you skip that particular story for the time being and move on to the next one.Perhaps the afterlife is revealed to us in such a way that allows each of us to understand and comprehend the process of passing in a way that we can accept. The uniqueness of each experience may be in part due to the individual; their ability to take in the awesomeness of such an event may be reflected in their memory of the event.In any case, these incidents are presented to the reader in the hopes that they will encourage and inspire; my hope is that you will find, as I did, a common theme within these experiences which seem to reflect the powerful love of God towards humanity, towards each one of us.
The Trifecta Secret of Wealth & Abundance: Align Your Higher Self & You Shall Arrive
John Paul Khoury - 2014
The Trifecta Secret of Wealth & Abundance is an easy-to-follow guide that leads you straight to the life you are meant to live. Each of us has a special purpose, and learning our own unique truth opens us up to receiving the three things we most want and need in life: Health, Wealth, and Love. Many self-help books zero in on one area: how to get rich, or how to get fit, find love, or be happy. But they fall short of the mark simply because of their narrow focus. For, as The Trifecta Secret of Wealth & Abundance clearly illustrates, it is in achieving a balance of love, health, and money that true happiness and plenty are found. Avoiding the usual fluff, this book dives right into the heart of its message. It's straight to the point and offers up substantial information from the very first page to the very end. The truth is that the power lies within each one of us to create our own abundance. So, before we can achieve success in the outside world, we must begin by bringing balance to our inner world. Start your journey today.
The Existence Of God Is Self-Evident
Choa Kok Sui - 2012
Such a straightforward book that has multiple layers of energy and helps develop spirituality just by daily reading. This treasure reveals: The path of knowledge & understanding Union of spirituality and science The I Am Spiritual Findings Spiritual evolution and its cyclical trends
The Choice
Jakub Trpiš - 2012
It can change both your life and society as a whole. Read this story with its thrilling finale! The Choice has already helped tens of thousands of people regain hope and control of their lives. You will think that you are the main character in this story and in the end you will actually find that you were! The book is full of spiritual lessons which can change your life forever. Discover power hidden within yourself; learn how to reconnect with your soul and finally become the person you always wanted to be. Tomáš is a young man in the prime of life. Though he appears to lack nothing, he is becoming increasingly depressed. At work things are going from bad to worse, and he gives up his vain efforts to revive his relationship with Eliška, his wife. As if that weren’t enough he is haunted by post-apocalyptical dreams of despair. His depressive state does not lift until he gets to know the eccentric therapist Kohl, who shows him how to be a better, happier person, but that is just the start of Tomáš’s story. Key features- Combines elements of spiritual literature, science fiction, detective stories and love stories.- Summarizes all the essentials of personal development literature.- Describes the life of an ordinary person doing extraordinary things.- Shows the outcome of the current situation, if humanity does not change.- Its fusion of narrative and spiritual teachings makes it similar in some ways to The Alchemyst and The Celestine Prophecy.- The novel has been rendered into English by experienced translator Melvyn Clarke.What readers have said about the Choice: “All you need to know about a happy, fulfilling life is inside this book. The book is so simple, yet so complex, but above all, everyone will understand it. The author has put a piece of his soul into The Choice – which is why an odd, heart-warming feeling will last long after you have finished the book. We can be so much more than we realize…” Paula. About the authorJakub has a unique style of writing that grabs the reader from the first lines. His books are not only thrilling, but also full of spiritual messages that can change the lives of individuals and show how we can ultimately transform our society. “We all deserve to be happy,” he says. “I wrote The Choice to help people realize that. It's the best feeling in the world when I can see how it has helped somebody to finally wake up and become a better version of themselves.”- In the last 8 years he has written 100+ articles on personal development, which have been read over million times.- His first book The Choice became a bestseller in Czech Republic and was published worldwide in 2018- Visit his official website https://www.jakubtrpis.com/ where you can also buy his book with an autograph and personal dedication
God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World--and Why Their Differences Matter
Stephen R. Prothero - 2010
For good and for evil, religion is the single greatest influence in the world. We accept as self-evident that competing economic systems (capitalist or communist) or clashing political parties (Republican or Democratic) propose very different solutions to our planet's problems. So why do we pretend that the world's religious traditions are different paths to the same God? We blur the sharp distinctions between religions at our own peril, argues religion scholar Stephen Prothero, and it is time to replace naÏve hopes of interreligious unity with deeper knowledge of religious differences. In Religious Literacy, Prothero demonstrated how little Americans know about their own religious traditions and why the world's religions should be taught in public schools. Now, in God Is Not One, Prothero provides readers with this much-needed content about each of the eight great religions. To claim that all religions are the same is to misunderstand that each attempts to solve a different human problem. For example: –Islam: the problem is pride / the solution is submission –Christianity: the problem is sin / the solution is salvation –Confucianism: the problem is chaos / the solution is social order –Buddhism: the problem is suffering / the solution is awakening –Judaism: the problem is exile / the solution is to return to God Prothero reveals each of these traditions on its own terms to create an indispensable guide for anyone who wants to better understand the big questions human beings have asked for millennia—and the disparate paths we are taking to answer them today. A bold polemical response to a generation of misguided scholarship, God Is Not One creates a new context for understanding religion in the twenty-first century and disproves the assumptions most of us make about the way the world's religions work.
Introduction to Emptiness: As Taught in Tsong-Kha-Pa's Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path
Guy Newland - 2008
In clear language, Introduction to Emptiness explains that emptiness is not a mystical sort of nothingness, but a specific truth that can and must be understood through calm and careful reflection. Newland's contemporary examples and vivid anecdotes will be helpful to students trying to understand one of the great classic texts of the Tibetan tradition, Tsong-kha-pa's Great Treatise.
When the Lion Roars: Understanding the Implications of Ancient Prophecies for Our Time
Carl Gallups - 2016
Increased turmoil in the Middle East. China and Russia’s presence in the Fertile Crescent. The exponentially increasing technological explosion. The rise of the Sodom and Gomorrah spirit. These are just a few prophetic fulfillments occurring in our day that point to significant biblical times to come. The Bible is 100 percent accurate in regards to the ancient prophecies—and ours is the first generation to see them converging. Meticulously documented with reliable sources and sound contextual biblical study, When the Lion Roars equips you to understand the gravity of the days in which we are living. In When the Lion Roars, discover what the Bible really says about… The unprecedented demonic outpouring of the Last Days, The spirit of the days of Noah, The connection of technology and prophecy fulfillment, The spirit of Sodom and Gomorrah, Apostasy in the Last Days' Church, Why Turkey is central to last days’ prophecy, Why Israel is the centerpiece of end time prophecy, The historical truth about Islam and ISIS, The Shemitah, The mystery of 666, How should Christians and the Church should respond to these prophetic times, And much more. We are living in intense but exciting times. We are living in prophetically unprecedented times. Be on guard; prepare your heart and mind. Make certain you have a biblically balanced understanding of our generation. Be ready with wisdom and perspective. We have been raised up “For such a time as this!” The Lion of God’s prophetic Word is roaring. Do you hear its call?
You Have a Soul: It Weighs Nothing but Means Everything
Anonymous - 2014
The soul is the key to our lives, binding our heart, our mind, and our spirit together. Shouldn't you get pretty clear on exactly what the soul is? And how to care for it? Taken from John Ortberg's book Soul Keeping, this booklet reveals what the soul's greatest need is, now and for eternity.Have you ever thought about why your soul is hurting and if that could be standing in the way of your spiritual growth? Ortberg writes that once your soul has been properly cared for, you will find your way back to God from hopelessness, depression, relationship struggles, and lack of fulfillment. Jesus said we could find rest for our souls. Ortberg points us in that direction.
Zen Heart: Simple Advice for Living with Mindfulness and Compassion
Ezra Bayda - 2008
Do that, and the whole world becomes your teacher, you wake up to the sacredness of every aspect of existence, and compassion for others arises without even thinking about it. It's indeed just that simple, says Zen teacher Ezra Bayda, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's easy—especially when being present brings us up against the painful parts of life. Bayda provides a wealth of practical advice for making difficult experiences a valued part of the path and for making mindulness a daily habit. He breaks practice down into three phases: • The Me Phase, in which we uncover our most basic and tightly-clung-to beliefs about ourselves, observe our emotions, and become intimate with our fears • Being Awareness, in which we cultivate a larger sense of what life is, transforming our limited experience into a more spacious sense of being • Being Kindness, in which we learn to connect with the love that is our true nature, and learn to live from that place of kindness and compassion