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"No words can explain enlightenment," says the seventh-century Zen classic Xin Ming, or "Song of Mind," yet, paradoxically, this poem is a masterpiece of expressing the inexpressible. In his commentary on it, Chan Master Sheng Yen takes a practical approach, opening up the language of the Xin Ming to show students how to approach meditation, how to deal with problems that arise in their spiritual practice, and how to accomplish the imperative task of integrating this practice into every aspect of one's life. "True understanding comes only with direct experience," according to Master Sheng Yen. "These lectures, the Buddhist sutras, songs, poems, and commentaries are useful only insofar as they encourage you to practice and incorporate the Dharma [teachings] into your daily life." The book takes the form of a week-long retreat with Master Sheng Yen, with each chapter in the form of an evening talk given on a particular section of the "Song of Mind" text-giving this book a far more intimate and accessible feel than most commentaries on Zen texts and creating a feeling of being right there with the master as he brings the text to life.

Here is a classic study of the feminine principle in myths, dreams, and religious symbolism. In presenting the archetypal foundations of feminine psychology, the author shows how the ancient religious initiations of the moon goddess symbolized the development of the emotions. Understanding the psychological meaning of these initiations, she believes, can help to heal the troubled relations between men and women today.

Being awake. Why is something that sounds so simple the primary goal of so many of the world's great wisdom traditions? In this workshop-in-a-book, Charles T. Tart shows why: the seeming simplicity of the awakened state belies its transformative effect on the lives of those who strive for it. His easy-to-use exercises put within everyone's reach the elusive art of "waking up" to life in the glorious present moment.

The benefits of sexual bliss were not lost on the ancients, who knew well its powers to enhance health, concentration, and peace of mind. These ancient Chinese Taoist texts explain the transformative effects sex can have when properly and wisely practiced, demonstrating Taoism's emphasis on cultivating life's "three treasures"--vitality, energy, and spirit--in all the activities of daily life. The texts are part of the famous Mawangdui finds, Han Dynasty tombs that yielded the richest cache of ancient medical manuscripts ever found in China. The first three texts, Ten Questions, Joining Yin and Yang, and Talk on Supreme Guidance for the World, deal with physical health and sex lore, including diet, exercise, sleep, and techniques of lovemaking. The last two, A Course in Effectiveness and A Course in Guidance, concentrate on the psychological factors of good health and well-being, especially the reduction of stress and cultivation of wholesome social relations.

     The chief disciple of C. G. Jung, analyst Marie-Louise von Franz uses her vast knowledge of the world of myths, fairy tales, visions, and dreams to examine expressions of the universal symbol of the Anthropos, or Cosmic Man—a universal archetype that embodies humanity''s personal as well as collective identity. She shows that the meaning of life—the realization of our fullest human potential, which Jung called individuation—can only be found through a greater differentiation of consciousness by virtue of archetypes, and that ultimately our future depends on relationships, whether between the sexes or among nations, races, religions, and political factions.

These collected essays by the distinguished psychoanalyst Marie-Louise von Franz offer fascinating insights into the study of dreams, not only psychologically, but also from historical, religious, and philosophical points of view. In the first two chapters, the author offers general explanations of the nature of dreams and their use in analysis. She examines how dreams can be used in the development of self-knowledge and describes how C. G. Jung worked with his own dreams, and the fateful ways in which they were entwined with the course of his life. The rest of the book records and interprets dreams of historical personages: Socrates, Descartes, Themistocles and Hannibal, and the mothers of Saint Augustine, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, and Saint Dominic. Connections are revealed between the personal and family histories of the dreamers and individual and collective mores of their times. Dreams includes writings long out of print or never before available in English translation.

In the history of Tibetan Buddhism, the eleventh-century Indian mystic Nâropa occupies an unusual position, for his life and teachings mark both the end of a long tradition and the beginning of a new and rich era in Buddhist thought. Nâropa's biography, translated by the world-renowned Buddhist scholar Herbert V. Guenther from hitherto unknown sources, describes with great psychological insight the spiritual development of this scholar-saint. It is unique in that it also contains a detailed analysis of his teaching that has been authoritative for the whole of Tantric Buddhism. This modern translation is accompanied by a commentary that relates Buddhist concepts to Western analytic philosophy, psychiatry, and depth psychology, thereby illuminating the significance of Tantra and Tantrism for our own time. Yet above all, it is the story of an individual whose years of endless toil and perseverance on the Buddhist path will serve as an inspiration to anyone who aspires to spiritual practice.

This Rumi collection features selections from one of the world's great spiritual masterpieces, the Mathnawi. The Mathnawi consists of six volumes of poetry in rhyme-over fifty-one thousand verses-inspired by folklore, the Qur'an, stories of saints and teachers, and sayings of Muhammed. Rendered by Rumi's premier English translators, these excerpts from the Mathnawi are presented in American free-verse style.

The words of Saint Teresa of Ávila speak to the heart so directly that even four hundred years after her death she seems like our contemporary. Few people have ever written of the spiritual path with such immediacy, down-to-earth wisdom, and humor. Mother Tessa Bielecki has brought together here short selections from Teresa''s collected works—including The Way of Perfection, The Interior Castle, her autobiography, poetry, meditations, and letters—to create a living portrait of Teresa and her exuberant spirituality. Teresa''s striving for divine union was inseparable from her passionate involvement in the hardships and joys of the everyday—which makes her an eminently worthy model for modern people who seek to integrate spirituality and the rest of life.

The Kabbalah is Judaism's intriguing mystical tradition, thousands of years old. In recent years, a growing number of people—both Jews and non-Jews—are finding the Kabbalah to be a fascinating treasure house of wisdom about the human mind. Men and women are discovering and applying Jewish mystical insights in daily life, and professionals in such fields as psychology, psychotherapy, and medicine are actively using Kabbalah in their work. Opening the Inner Gates is an anthology concerning these new explorations. In sixteen chapters, thirteen contributors present both theoretical considerations and applied methods of Kabbalah in such areas as healing, the mind-body relationship, dreamwork, intuition and creativity, storytelling, women's spirituality, parenting, working with the elderly, and "repairing the world" (tikkun olam). Contributors:LaVera Draisin, MD • Gerald Epstein, MD • Sheldon Kramer, PhD • Rabbi Steven Rosman, PhD • Edward Hoffman, PhD • Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi • Steven Joseph, MD • Howard Schwartz • Rabbi Chaim Richter • Alyce R. Tresenfeld • Mark Malachi • Rabbi Rami Shapiro • Laya Firestone Seghi

Vampires are not just imaginary creatures of fiction or legend-they really exist. They are the people who, having never received love, settle for power instead, and become experts at robbing others of their vital energy. We've all known them. In her fascinating study of this dark psychological archetype, Barbara Hort looks to traditional myths as well as to their modern equivalents in literature, theater, and film, following a blood-soaked trail to such unexpected destinations as The Silence of the Lambs, "Snow White," and the Broadway musical Gypsy. She offers insight into how psychic vampires originate, how we allow ourselves to be caught in their clutches, and how we can protect ourselves from their seductive influence.

An award-winning translator finds surprisingly modern themes in a selection of erotic and religious stanzas from one of classical India's most celebrated poets.Although few facts are known about his life, the Indian poet Bhartrihari leaps from the page as a remarkably recognizable individual. Amidst a career as a linguist, courtier, and hermit, he used poetry to explore themes of love, desire, impermanence, despair, anger, and fear. "A thousand emotions, ideas, words, and rhythmic syllables stormed through him," writes translator Andrew Schelling in an evocative introduction. "In particular he shows himself torn between sexual desire and a hunger to be free of failed love affairs and turbulent karma." Schelling's translation represents a rare opportunity for English-language readers to become acquainted with this fascinating poet. Attuned to Bhartrihari's unique poetic sensibility, Schelling has produced a compelling, personally curated set of translations.

The legendary exploits of a spiritual superhero, and Tibetan Buddhism's most renowned saint--in a full-color graphic novel.From avenging evil sorcerer to devoted Buddhist ascetic to enlightened being-the story of Milarepa's spectacular life is a powerful testimony to self-knowledge, transformation, and liberation. It is the year 1050, and Milarepa is seeking vengeance on unscrupulous relatives for mistreating his mother and sister. Trained in dark magic, he commands a rain of scorpions, snakes, and lizards to attack the villains. But when his teacher rebukes him for his odious deeds, Milarepa renounces witchcraft to seek mystical truth. He retreats to a cave where, after years of intense meditation, he acquires the power to shape-shift. But most importantly he achieves the greatest victory of all-mastery over himself.

Renowned meditation master Chögyam Trungpa challenges popular misconceptions of the Buddhist doctrines of karma and rebirth, in the process showing how to step beyond karma on the path to awakening.Karma has become a popular term in the West, often connected with somewhat naive or deterministic ideas of rebirth and reincarnation or equated with views of morality and guilt. Chögyam Trungpa unpacks this intriguing but misunderstood topic. He viewed an understanding of karma as good news, showing us that liberation is possible and that the future is never predetermined. His unique approach to presenting the Buddhist teachings lends itself to an insightful and profound view of karma, its cause and effects, and how to cut the root of karma itself.

In the days of extremism and severely divisive belief systems, learning patience and compassion practices (from the modern master of patience and compassion) is more valuable than ever.All of the world's major religions emphasize the importance of love, compassion, and tolerance. This is particularly true in the Buddhist traditions, which unanimously state that compassion and love are the foundation of all paths of practice. To cultivate the potential for compassion and love inherent within us, it is crucial to counteract their opposing forces of anger and hatred. In Perfecting Patience, the Dalai Lama shows how, through the practice of patience and tolerance, we can overcome the obstacles of anger and hatred. He bases his discussion on A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life, the classic work on the activities of bodhisattvas-those who aspire to attain full enlightenment in order to benefit all beings. This book was previously published under the title Healing Anger.

A full translation of an important Mahayana Buddhist treatise with a commentary by the famous Tibetan luminary Jamgön Mipham.A monumental work and Indian Buddhist classic, the Ornament of the Mahayana Sutras (Mahayanasutralaṃkara) is a precious resource for students wishing to study in-depth the philosophy and path of Mahayana Buddhism. This full translation and commentary outlines the importance of Mahayana, the centrality of bodhicitta or the mind of awakening, the path of becoming a bodhisattva, and how one can save beings from suffering through skillful means. This definitive composition of Mahayana teachings was imparted in the fourth century by Maitreya to the famous adept Asaṅga, one of the most prolific writers of Buddhist treatises in history. Asaṅga's work, which is among the famous Five Treatises of Maitreya, has been studied, commented upon, and taught by Buddhists throughout Asia ever since it was composed. In the early twentieth century, one of Tibet's greatest scholars and saints, Jamgön Mipham, wrote A Feast of the Nectar of the Supreme Vehicle, which is a detailed explanation of every verse. This commentary has since been used as the primary blueprint for Tibetan Buddhists to illuminate the depth and brilliance of Maitreya's pith teachings. The Padmakara Translation Group has provided yet another accessible and eloquent translation, ensuring that English-speaking students of Mahayana will be able to study this foundational Buddhist text for generations to come.

Unraveling the web of ancient traditions hidden in such texts as the Sefer Yetzirah and the Zohar, this book traces history and offers an accessible introduction to understanding Kabbalah and its practices.Jewish mysticism has flourished-sometimes brilliantly, sometimes darkly-over five thousand years. This pioneering, popular text on Jewish mysticism was the first written for a general audience, and in it, Perle Besserman offers a lively and accessible introduction to the methods, schools, and practitioners of this intriguing world. She traces the history of Kabbalah through the lives of its illustrious scholars and saints and unravels the web of ancient traditions hidden in such texts as Sefer Yetzirah and the Zohar. Running through these pages are the words of the outstanding Kabbalists and mystics-including Simeon bar Yohai, Isaac Luria, Abraham Abulafia, and the Baal Shem Tov-giving instructions on practices ranging from contemplation of the Bible's secret teachings to ritual, ecstatic prayer, and intensive meditation.

25 kid-tested lessons in drawing and painting-perfect for children ages 5 to 10 Encourage and empower kids to make art! The 25 art lessons in this book present step-by-step drawing instructions paired with a range of painting techniques and styles for endless creative exploration. Designed by an elementary art teacher, each creative exploration offers tips on using the best art materials (that won't break the bank), shares art-making techniques that add variety and ease to the projects, and provides insights on engaging kids in the process. The lessons include: · Beginner projects. Discover easy ways to get started making art. Through flexible instructions, you'll create big and bold paintings. · Art lessons inspired by the masters. With projects based on celebrated painters like Van Gogh and Monet to contemporary artists like James Rizzi and Jackson Pollock, you'll explore a range of painting techniques and styles. · Paintings inspired by nature. Draw and paint familiar and imagined landscapes and animals as a fun way to engage with art. More than just a simple how-to draw and paint book, Draw, Paint, Sparkle is an invitation for kids to unleash their creativity through color and paint.