Eastern Spirituality

Before it was a religion, a culture, or even a system of meditation, what was Buddhism? On Buddhism Without Beliefs, celebrated teacher, translator, and former Buddhist monk Stephen Batchelor takes us back to the first years after the Buddha's awakening to reveal the root insights of Buddhism hidden beneath centuries of history and interpretation.

Embark on a transformative journey with "Amitabha Sutra: A Beginner's Guide: Exploring Key Teachings." This meticulously crafted guide invites you into the serene and profound world of Pure Land Buddhism, making its timeless wisdom accessible to everyone. Imagine a place where peace reigns supreme, where golden trees and jeweled lakes reflect the boundless compassion of Amitabha Buddha. "Amitabha Sutra: A Beginner's Guide" opens the doors to this enchanting realm, the Pure Land, offering you the keys to spiritual fulfillment and enlightenment. Unlock the Teachings of Amitabha Buddha: Dive ...

In ten concise chapters, you'll learn powerful ways to meet life's challenges with wisdom, resilience, and ease.

Tantra Illuminated takes the listener on a fascinating journey to the very heart of original Tantra: its key teachings, foundational lineages, and transformative practices. Since the West's discovery of Tantra 100 years ago, there has been considerable fascination, speculation, and more than a little misinformation about this spiritual movement. Now, for the first time in the English language, Tantra Illuminated presents an accessible introduction to this sacred tradition that began 1,500 years ago in the far north of India.

One of the undisputed giants in the history of human thought, and the founder of one of the world's longest-lasting cultural traditions, Confucius (known as Kong Fuzi in his native China) is arguably the most enduring of all the world's great thinkers. The Analects, the slender volume thought to have been compiled by his followers, has the strongest claim to represent Confucius' actual words. The book contains memorable sayings about the moral health of the individual, the family and the body politic.

From His agony in Gethsemane to His death on the cross, the Savior’s selfless acts in His final days in mortal life afford us an unparalleled gift: the opportunity for an eternity spent with those we love, most especially our Heavenly Parents. In this moving exploration of the biblical account of Holy Week, Dr. Kerry Muhlestein illuminates the powerful theme of eternal unification achievable only through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. This Easter, find the hope, healing, and wholeness made available through the incomparable sacrifice and Resurrection of the Savior of the world.

The Resurrection accounts of Jesus in the Gospels are the most dramatic and impactful stories ever told. One similarity unites each testimony - that none of his most loyal and steadfast followers could "see" it was him, back from the dead. The reason for this is at the very foundation of the Christian faith.

The lessons taught by ancient Chinese philosophers surprisingly still apply, and they challenge our fundamental assumptions about how to lead a fulfilled, happy, and successful life. Self-discovery, it turns out, comes through looking outward, not inward. Power comes from holding back. Good relationships come from small gestures. Spontaneity comes from practice. And excellence comes from what you choose to do, not your "natural" abilities.

This series casts light on the essence of the Gayatri Sadhana—a primal and divine source of pure wisdom, practiced by ancient rishis. Om Swami’s experiential knowledge and life long practice of the Gayatri sadhana forms the basis of these talk. As each episode unfolds, the step-by-step practice of the purushcharana and the benefits of the sadhana become increasingly clear to the listener. Last but not least, here, you will find the perfect balance of scriptural injunctions and experiential wisdom, seasoned with Om Swami’s trademark humour and story-telling.

Of the many world religions, only one claims that its founder returned from the grave. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the very cornerstone of Christianity. But a dead man coming back to life? In our sophisticated age, when myth has given way to science, who can take such a claim seriously? Some argue that Jesus never died on the cross. Conflicting accounts make the empty tomb seem suspect. How credible is the evidence for—and against—the resurrection? Lee Strobel retraces the startling findings that led him from atheism to belief.

Everything about the gospel message leads to the cross, and proceeds from the cross. In fact, within the narrative of Scripture, the crucifixion of Jesus is literally the crux of the story—the axis upon which the biblical story turns. But it would be a mistake to think we could sum up the significance of the crucifixion in a tidy sentence or two. That kind of thinking only insulates us from the magnificence of what God has done. In our ongoing quest to make meaning of the cross, we need to recognize that this conversation will never conclude-that there is always something more to be said.

What would be the practical implications of caring more about others than about yourself? This is the radical theme of this extraordinary set of instructions, a training manual composed in the fourteenth century by the Buddhist hermit Ngulchu Thogme, here explained in detail by one of the great Tibetan Buddhist masters of the twentieth century, Dilgo Khyentse. In the Mahayana tradition, those who have the courage to undertake the profound change of attitude required to develop true compassion are called bodhisattvas.

Deep down, most people think that happiness comes from having or doing something. Here, in Alan Watts’s groundbreaking third book (originally published in 1940), he offers a more challenging thesis: authentic happiness comes from embracing life as a whole in all its contradictions and paradoxes, an attitude that Watts calls the “way of acceptance.” Drawing on Eastern philosophy, Western mysticism, and analytic psychology, Watts demonstrates that happiness comes from accepting both the outer world around us and the inner world inside us,

What if you could unlock the secrets of peace, clarity, and purpose, no matter how chaotic life feels? Rinzai Zen has guided seekers for centuries, offering profound wisdom wrapped in simplicity. Rinzai Zen for Beginners brings these transformative teachings to your fingertips in a practical, engaging way. Discover the power of koans. These ancient riddles have challenged and enlightened Zen practitioners for generations. With this book, you’ll not only learn what they are but how to apply their wisdom to break free from conventional thinking and uncover deeper truths. Bring mindfulness ...

In this short, accessible account of the Eastern Orthodox Church, John McGuckin begins by tackling the question "What is the Church?" His answer is a clear, historically and theologically rooted portrait of what the Church is for Orthodox Christianity and how it differs from Western Christians' expectations.

A sacred conversation between Lord Krishna and Prince Arjuna that teaches timeless lessons about duty, courage, selflessness, and the path to inner peace—simplified for young minds to understand and enjoy.

Eve Tibbs offers a comprehensive, yet very accessible, introduction to the beliefs and practices of the Eastern Orthodox Church for Western listeners. Tibbs has devoted her career to translating the Orthodox faith to an evangelical audience, and she has over 20 years of experience teaching this material to students. Assuming no prior knowledge of Orthodox theology, this survey covers the basic ideas of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, from its origins at Pentecost to the present day.

In this inspirational collection of stories, Swami Rama relates his experiences with the great teachers who guided his life, including Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, Sri Aurobindo, and Ramana Maharshi. It documents Swami Rama's spiritual quest, which showed him that direct experience is the source of real knowledge.

Who was the 20th-century Indian sage known as Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi? How did he attain enlightenment and become one of the most celebrated spiritual masters of his time? Why is his spiritual teaching presently revered by Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Taoists, and followers of other spiritual paths, transcending all religious differences? What is the essence of his revolutionary technique, popularly known as self-inquiry meditation? The Spiritual Teaching of Ramana Maharshi offers you the answers to these profound questions.

Paul was a Hebrew of the Hebrews, steeped in the learning of his people. But he was also a Roman citizen who widely traveled the Mediterranean basin, and was very knowledgeable of the dominant Greek and Roman culture of his day. These two mighty rivers of influence converge in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. With razor-sharp attention to the text, Kenneth Bailey examines the cultural milieu and rhetorical strategies that shaped this pivotal epistle. Familiar passages take on a new hue as they are stripped of Western interpretations and rendered back into their ancient setting.