Religion

Top scholars offer an up-to-date discussion of how to interpret Paul's writings and theology, especially the apostle's view of salvation.

This book is the first to explore and highlight the history of the plants mentioned in the Qur'?n, many of which are part of our everyday life, from pomegranates and grapes to ginger and garlic. Stunning botanical paintings bring the plants to life.

Clear and illuminating commentary on one of Bodhidharma's most important texts, designed to help Chan practitioners apply timeless and essential advice to their practice.Legend has it that more than a thousand years ago an Indian Buddhist monk named Bodhidharma arrived in China. His approach to teaching was unlike that of any of the Buddhist missionaries who had come to China before him. He confounded the emperor with cryptic dialogues, traveled the country, lived in a cave in the mountains, and eventually paved the way for a unique and illuminating approach to Buddhist teachings that would later spread across the whole of East Asia in the form of Chan--later to be known as Seon in Korean, Thien in Vietnamese, and Zen in Japanese.This book, a translation and commentary on one of Bodhidharma's most important texts, explores Bodhidharma's revolutionary teachings in English. Guo Gu weaves his commentary through modern and relatable contexts, showing that this centuries-old wisdom is just as crucial for life now as it was when it first came to be. Masterfully translated and accompanied by helpful insights to supplement daily practice, The Essence of Chan is the perfect guide for those new to Chan, those returning, or those who have been practicing for years.

Released in paperback for the first time, this new translation of the Tibetan master Longchenpa's famous work systematically presents the path of meditation according to the Tibetan Dzogchen tradition.Longchenpa's Finding Rest in Meditation is a classic Buddhist text outlining the main points of meditation, namely, where one should meditate, what qualities a practitioner should possess and develop, and what should be practiced. These instructions are a pithy distillation of the entirety of the Buddhist path designed to stabilize one's direct awareness of the nature of mind through meditative absorption. The Padmakara Translation Group has provided us with a clear and fluid translation to Finding Rest in Meditation, which will serve as a genuine aid to study and meditation. This text follows the first volume of Longchenpa's trilogy, Finding Rest in the Nature of the Mind, which focuses on establishing the view and precedes the final volume, Finding Rest in Illusion, which focuses on post-meditation yogic conduct.

Meet the fire-breathing beasts of mythology in this beautifully illustrated ebook brimming with scaled behemoths. Lurking in every corner of the earth, from the deepest depths of the oceans, to the tips of the tallest mountains, even tucked beneath the very ground that you tread on, dragons watch and wait. They take many forms - sea monsters, serpents, wild cats, eagles, and they represent many different things; Gods to be revered, evil kings to be feared, wise friends and fierce foes.Dragons have breathed fire into our minds since we could first imagine, but why do they exist in stories from every land in the world? Come in and explore Dragon World. Look into their lairs while they make shape-shifting mischief, playing with the weather and protecting earthly treasures. Soar across continents into tales as old as time. Prowl through the pages to discover rare dragon species. Find clues to track them and master how to draw them. Behold the earthly dragons of today!

The second volume in a prominent new series on Buddhism and science, directed by the Dalai Lama and previously covered by the BBC.Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics compiles classical Buddhist explorations of the nature of our material world, the human mind, logic, and phenomenology and puts them into context for the modern reader. This ambitious four-volume series-a major resource for the history of ideas and especially the history of science and philosophy-has been conceived by and compiled under the visionary supervision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself. It is his view that the exploratory thinking of great Indian masters in the first millennium CE still has much that is of interest to us today, whether we are Buddhist or not. These volumes make those insights accessible. This, the second volume in the series, focuses on the science of the mind. Readers are first introduced to Buddhist conceptions of mind and consciousness and then led through traditional presentations of mental phenomena to reveal a Buddhist vision of the inner world with fascinating implications for the contemporary disciplines of cognitive science, psychology, emotion research, and philosophy of mind. Major topics include: -The distinction between sensory and conceptual processes and the pan-Indian notion of mental consciousness -Mental factors-specific mental states such as attention, mindfulness, and compassion-and how they relate to one another -The unique tantric theory of subtle levels of consciousness, their connection to the subtle energies, or "winds," that flow through channels in the human body, and what happens to each when the body and mind dissolve at the time of death -The seven types of mental states and how they impact the process of perception -Styles of reasoning, which Buddhists understand as a valid avenue for acquiring sound knowledge In the final section, the volume offers what might be called Buddhist contemplative science, a presentation of the classical Buddhist understanding of the psychology behind meditation and other forms of mental training. To present these specific ideas and their rationale, the volume weaves together passages from the works of great Buddhist thinkers like Asanga, Vasubandhu, Nagarjuna, Dignaga, and Dharmakirti. His Holiness the Dalai Lama's introduction outlines scientific and philosophical thinking in the history of the Buddhist tradition. To provide additional context for Western readers, each of the six major topics is introduced with an essay by John D. Dunne, distinguished professor of Buddhist philosophy and contemplative practice at the University of Wisconsin. These essays connect the traditional material to contemporary debates and Western parallels, and provide helpful suggestions for further reading.

Intellect and emotion both fail in seeking God, who can only be encountered by rejecting of all common earthly means in a "cloud of forgetting" and the discovery of Godself in the dark "cloud of unknowing" which can be pierced only with a "lance of longing love."

Prophets serve as intermediaries between the human and divine worlds, granting them a special status in history across diverse religions and cultures. For Muslims, the Prophet Muhammad (570-632 CE) represents the culmination of the line of monotheistic prophets, including Abraham, Moses and Jesus. In his own lifetime, Muhammad overcame opposition and brought reforms, firmly establishing a thriving community of believers which would become a major world civilisation. Today, the Prophet's life and actions continue to inspire the Muslims worldwide.The Prophet Muhammad presents an illuminating portrait of Muhammad in his capacity as God's messenger and an exemplary figure to Muslims. Revealing the challenges and triumphs of prophecy, Stephen Burge examines how prophets have inspired faith communities' relationship with the Divine, and one another. In doing so, this engaging account elucidates the enduring influence of prophecy and the profound legacy of the Prophet Muhammad.

Born out of a decade of discussion and collaboration between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Laurens van den Muyzenberg, The Leader's Way represents the synthesis of East and West and provides an inspiring manifesto for business change.

Women in Islam is an attractive book of simple compilation of quotations from the Qur'an and Hadith collections that refer to or address women specifically. It engages the reader in a moment of reflection on the Islamic view of womanhood: her existence as a creation of Allah, her role as a positive stakeholder in building a God-conscious society and her capacity for attaining proximity with Allah.

A beautiful new devotional book from Sarah Bessey that captures the spirit of a prayer circle, inviting us to revitalise our relationship with prayer and celebrate who we are.

In churches and cathedrals across Britain, tucked away among ordinary items such as pews, screens and pulpits, sit a plethora of fascinating and unexpected objects. From dragon-slaying spears and the ribs of monstrous cows, to pagan altars, reindeer horns and mummified skulls, these curiosities have intrigued generations of visitors. In this captivating history, David Castleton explores this fascinating world of lepers' squints, pancake bells, virgin garlands and sanctuary knockers, and unravels the tales, legends and folkloric ceremonies that lay behind these charming and often deeply unusual artefacts.

Fusing the powerful trends of magic and mental health, this beautiful, interactive book from the author of Practical Magic conjures calm and creativity.

During the Orthodox celebration of Holy Week, the Church relives the arrest, trial, sufferings, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

How one woman's love for horses led her to a deeper love of GodWith edgy honesty and humor, Laurie Brock invites all who have longed for a deeper encounter with God to join her in the saddle (and occasionally on the ground) to discover how horses' ways of knowing can help humans discover God speaking to us. This book-from a powerful, vulnerable, clergy author-is for anyone who struggles with the experience of faith in the institutional church, or who feels they have connected with God on a deep level outside of church, in everyday pastimes, or in emotional moments. "e;A beautifully written meditation on belief, the holy, and the healing power of horses. Mertonian in its wisdom, this profound book not only helped me see the magic of animals in everyday life, but allowed me a better understanding of my own faith journey in the Episcopal Church."e;-SILAS HOUSE, novelist, author of Southernmost"e;Brock writes beautifully, with depth and passion. She gives us a sense of how horses-powerful, beautiful animals-might teach us about ourselves and God."e;-REV. CANON SCOTT GUNN, Executive Director, Forward Movement

Por primera vez en la historia, un n├║mero creciente de iglesias protestantes en Am├⌐rica Latina est├í cooperando en la formaci├│n de sociedades misioneras interdenominacionales y enviando misioneros a muchos lugares de ultramar, especialmente a Africa, Asia y Europa. Por otra parte, hay muy poca reflexi├│n  misionol├│gica. La mayor parte de la literatura que se usa en los cursos y encuentros sobre la misi├│n ha sido traducida del ingl├⌐s y generalmente se caracteriza por su pragmatismo. En lo que ata├▒e al estudio de la base b├¡blica de la misi├│n, existe un gran vac├¡o. Ni en castellano ni en portugu├⌐s hay nada comparable a Transforming Mission por David Bosch. La presente obra surgi├│ de la toma de conciencia de este vac├¡o a la vez que del considerable crecimiento, en estos ├║ltimos a├▒os, del n├║mero de estudiosos b├¡blicos que bien pod├¡an ser desafiados a estudiar y escribir un libro sobre el tema propuesto. El proyecto pudo concretarse gracias a la consecuci├│n de fondos, por parte de la Fundaci├│n Kair├│s de Buenos Aires, del Research Enablement Program (REP) del Overseas Ministries Study Center (OMSC) de New Haven, Connecticut, Estados Unidos, para realizar una serie de consultas con el prop├│sito de producir el libro. Las consultas se llevaron a cabo entre mayo de 1995 y marzo de 1996, convocadas por la Fraternidad Teol├│gica Latinoamericana, en  colaboraci├│n con tres centros de reflexi├│n teol├│gica: el Centro Kair├│s de Discipulado y Misi├│n (Buenos Aires), el Centro Evang├⌐lico de Misiolog├¡a Andino-Amaz├│nica (Lima) y la Comunidad Teol├│gica (M├⌐xico). La presente obra es una primicia en la producci├│n teol├│gica evang├⌐lica en Am├⌐rica Latina. Aunque con algunos vac├¡os en lo que respecta al canon b├¡blico, cubre pr├ícticamente toda la Biblia, de la cual hace una lectura misionol├│gica contextual.

"Transformative practices from the beloved bestseller. In 2001, Toni Bernhard got sick and, to her and her partner's bewilderment, stayed that way. As they faced the confusion, frustration, and despair of a life with sudden limitations-a life that was vastly different from the one they'd thought they'd have together-Toni had to learn how to be sick. In this book, Toni shares the practices she outlined to the reader in her bestselling classic How to Be Sick. Organized by challenge so that the reader can easily find a practice to address their situation and packaged in an easy-to-carry and easy-to-digest format, these are practices that have helped Toni live a life of equanimity, compassion, and joy, despite her many physical and energetic restrictions (and sometimes, because of them)"--