However, nothing in life comes easy and that includes love… especially with so many threatening, dangerous, and deadly obstacles in their paths to protect their family and their women. As soon as City and Akira had a taste of their happily ever after, it was snuffed away by her very own father. How will City avoid the charges that her father is threatening his entire family with in order to be with his woman? He doesn’t even have time to figure it out because he has to focus on clearing the Savage family million-dollar debt to the Columbians. Money finally matured enough to realize that staying with Zoe because of loyalty, was only hurting them both. Yet, now that their relationship is finally over, their drama isn’t. Zoe desperately tries any and everything to get her man back. She can’t stand the thought of him being with Bliss, but little does she know, Bliss wants nothing to do with him. Shamar was ready to stake his claim of the beautiful, Taraji. However, her obsessed, ex, Reggie, has kidnapped her. Shamar has gone from finding love to trying to find out if his woman is dead or alive. Suddenly, a pretty, established young lady falls into Shon’s lap right in the midst of him cleaning the streets of those that were disloyal to the Savage organization. He has never fallen for a woman, and when he finds out that she isn’t who she has portrayed herself to be, he probably never will. In part 2 of Every Love Story Is Beautiful, But Ours Is Hood, these brothers are forced to turn their savage ways up, as they fight to protect their brand and family. Will their relationships survive the constant threats of the streets? Hell, will their family survive?

    Integrating the ancient teachings of Tibetan Buddhism into the everyday grind, A Spiritual Renegade’s Guide to the Good Life presents a fresh take on our quest for a joyful existence. Each chapter includes an action plan designed to elicit true happiness and forge a clear path toward fulfillment. You’ll learn how to: • transform problems into opportunities; • set yourself free from fear and anxiety; • unburden yourself of past resentment; • create an action plan for true happiness. Further explore the concepts of a spiritual renegade lifestyle through Microsoft Tags within this book, which link to online videos of Lama Marut discussing each of his concepts firsthand. This book is bound to disrupt your suffering, disturb your dissatisfaction, and elicit a deep-seated contentment. Happiness is in your hands.

    Van de Wetering gives them his own distinctive touch of humor, down to earth reality, and tough spirituality in the context of meeting and adventures with personalities "collaged from bits and pieces of teachers and fellow students who kindly came my way."In this third book of the trilogy, van de Wetering is at his accessible, honest, funny, and genuinely spiritual best.

    Reb Anderson first introduces us to the fundamental ideas of Zen Buddhist practice. Who was Shakyamuni Buddha and what was his central teaching? What does it mean to be a bodhisattva and take the bodhisattva vow? Why should we confess and acknowledge our ancient twisted karma? What is the significance of taking refuge in Buddha, dharma, and sangha? The author explores the ten basic precepts, including not killing, not stealing, not lying, not misusing sexuality, and not using intoxicants. A gifted storyteller, Anderson takes us to the heart of situations, where moral judgments are not easy and we do not have all the answers. With wisdom and compassion, he teaches us how to confront the emotional and ethical turmoil of our lives.

    For centuries practitioners have turned to her for protection from both external and internal dangers, from fire to arrogance. This well-written book presented in conversational style is an authoritative guide to the practice of Tara. It includes very helpful chapters on the whys and hows of various Tara practices as well as a commentary on the "Homage to the Twenty-one Taras."

    Western scholars and interpreters of the dakini, influenced by Jungian psychology and feminist goddess theology, have shaped a contemporary critique of Tibetan Buddhism in which the dakini is seen as a psychological "shadow," a feminine savior, or an objectified product of patriarchal fantasy. According to Judith Simmer-Brown—who writes from the point of view of an experienced practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism—such interpretations are inadequate. In the spiritual journey of the meditator, Simmer-Brown demonstrates, the dakini symbolizes levels of personal realization: the sacredness of the body, both female and male; the profound meeting point of body and mind in meditation; the visionary realm of ritual practice; and the empty, spacious qualities of mind itself. When the meditator encounters the dakini, living spiritual experience is activated in a nonconceptual manner by her direct gaze, her radiant body, and her compassionate revelation of reality. Grounded in the author's personal encounter with the dakini, this unique study will appeal to both male and female spiritual seekers interested in goddess worship, women's spirituality, and the tantric tradition.

    In the West, Marpa is best known through his teacher, the Indian yogin Nâropa, and through his closest disciple, Milarepa. This lucid and moving translation of a text composed by the author of The Life of Milarepa and The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa documents the fascinating life of Marpa, who, unlike many other Tibetan masters, was a layman, a skillful businessman who raised a family while training his disciples. As a youth, Marpa was inspired to travel to India to study the Buddhist teachings, for at that time in Tibet, Buddhism has waned considerably through ruthless suppression by an evil king. The author paints a vivid picture of Marpa's three journeys to India: precarious mountain passes, desolate plains teeming with bandits, greedy customs-tax collectors. Marpa endured many hardships, but nothing to compare with the trials that ensued with his guru Nâropa and other teachers. Yet Marpa succeeded in mastering the tantric teachings, translating and bringing them to Tibet, and establishing the Practice Lineage of the Kagyüs, which continues to this day.

    John Blofeld’s classic study traces the history of this most famous of all the bodhisattvas from her origins in India (as the male figure Avalokiteshvara) to Tibet, China, and beyond, along the way highlighting her close connection to other figures such as Tara and Amitabha. The account is full of charming stories of Blofeld’s encounters with Kuan Yin’s devotees during his journeys in China. The book also contains meditation and visualization techniques associated with the Bodhisattva of Compassion, and translations of poems and yogic texts devoted to her.

    When various complications arise during the journey, Nate finds himself focusing closely on the characters around him for a bit of entertainment, but ends up getting more than he bargained for. The focal point of the story is Nate's seat-mate, a young man named Bud, whose extremely odd behavior catches the attention of everyone on the bus.

    Known to constantly better the processes he has spoken of in previous transformation stories, internationally renowned body builder, transformation expert and author, Kris Gethin, explains how to develop superhero characteristics in order to control our environment and to face up to our fat-related fears. Indians from all walks of life around the world, who have successfully followed Gethin’s plans to achieve transformation, share with us their inspirational stories. Gethin also talks of Bollywood stars Hrithik Roshan, John Abraham, and Ranveer Singh, amongst others, who have been his clients and experienced transformation under his guidance, coupled with their own steely determination. With customised 10-week workout programmes and a diet plan of close to 30 Indian recipes, Bollywood Body By Design is by far the most motivational, educational and inspirational reference book on transformational success written to date. Kris Gethin is the directer of trainers for Physique Elite, who transformed Bollywood stars such as Hrithik Roshan, John Abraham, Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, Imran Khan, Karan Johar, etc. He is CEO of both Nutrition by Design and Gethin Gyms. He is the founder of the most followed training principle in the world — DTP — and is the author of the bestselling book, The Bodybuilding.com Guide to Your Best Body (previously Body by Design). He is also the main male spokeperson for Bodybuilding.com and has amassed over 64 million followers for his Daily Trainer Video Series on Bodybuilding.com, making him the most watched transformation expert on the web. Talking Points Foreword by John Abraham Written by transformational trainer to Hrithik Roshan, John Abraham, Ranveer Singh Diet plan with over 30 recipes Detailed 10-week workout programme for an effective transformation Worldwide readership/market Health and fitness experts, gyms, fitness centres, health clubs, fitness buffs, libraries, general-trade readers.

    Exploring eight of Zen's most essential and universal liturgical texts, Living by Vow is a handbook to walking the Zen path, and Shohaku Okumura guides us like an old friend, speaking clearly and directly of the personal meaning and implications of these chants, generously using his experiences to illustrate their practical significance. A scholar of Buddhist literature, he masterfully uncovers the subtle, intricate web of culture and history that permeate these great texts. Esoteric or challenging terms take on vivid, personal meaning, and old familiar phrases gain new poetic resonance.

    His first book, Returning to Silence, emphasized the need to return to our original, enlightened state of being, and became one of the classics of Zen in America. In You Have to Say Something, selections from his talks have been collected to address another key theme of Katagiri's teaching: that of bringing Zen insight to bear on our everyday experience. "To live life fully," Katagiri says, "means to take care of your life day by day, moment to moment, right here, right now." To do this, he teaches, we must plunge into our life completely, bringing to it the same wholeheartedness that is required in Zen meditation. When we approach life in this way, every activity—everything we do, everything we say—becomes an opportunity for manifesting our own innate wisdom. With extraordinary freshness and immediacy, Katagiri shows the reader how this wisdom not only enlivens our spiritual practice but can help make our life a rich, seamless whole.

    Christ said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." "The kingdom of God is within." "Be ye perfect...." Theologians are apt to explain away these teachings, but we believe Christ meant exactly what he said. Read in this book how Vedanta goes to the heart of Christ's teachings.

    This collection of translations of the classical Zen poets of China, Japan, and Korea includes the work of Zen practitioners and monks as well as scholars, artists, travelers, and recluses, ranging from Wang Wei, Hanshan, and Yang Wanli, to Shinkei, Basho, and Ryokan.

    The “haiku moment,” as it is called, refers to a heightened awareness of the world around us and how, in that small, transient period, the greater essence of our lives is reflected. As our culture speeds up and our personal lives feel overbooked and busy, haiku can offer an easy way to slow down, appreciate the simple things around us, and give us a moment to reflect on our lives. In Haiku Mind, Patricia Donegan presents 108 haiku that offer a larger lesson on how we can approach our lives. With themes such as honesty, transience, and compassion, Donegan offers haiku and commentary as a form of meditation—a moment where we can slowly and naturally discover what is simply here.