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Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World
by Dalai LamaIn 1999 His Holiness The Dalai Lama published the bestselling Ancient Wisdom: Modern World, which addressed the question of ethics for the new millennium. A decade later, His Holiness enters the contemporary debate about religion vs atheism, and returns to the theme of ethics with a major new work: Beyond Religion: ethics for a whole world.In this thought-provoking new book he argues that religion is not a necessity for pursuing a spiritual life. Rather, focusing on tolerance and understanding between religions, as well as tolerance and understanding between believers (of any faith) and non-believers is the way forward. The way to achieve such an approach, he proposes, is through a system of secular ethics grounded in a deep appreciation of our common humanity. Aimed particularly at the general reader, Beyond Religion: ethics for a whole world is a modern-day polemic which outlines those ethics he believes should be central to our lives.
Quiet Your Mind: How to Quieten Upsetting Thoughts and Regain Inner Harmony
by John SelbyPsychologist, teacher and therapist, John Selby, shows how the non-stop chatter of our minds and our own fear-based thoughts so easily catch us up in negative, destructive mindsets such as irritation, worry, impatience, guilt, inadequacy, hostility, shame and despair. Quiet Your Mind provides an easily-accessible toolbox for rising above harmful thoughts and regaining inner peace, by shifting at will into a special 'quiet mind' state of awareness where reflective thinking stops and true, spontaneous enjoyment of life begins.
Taming The Tiger: Tibetan Teaching For Improving Daily Life
by Akong Tulku RinpocheTAMING THE TIGER offers a simple approach to finding happiness for oneself that also brings happiness to others. Based on twenty years of Buddhist teaching in the West, Taming the Tiger aims to help anyone seeking the truth about suffering and happiness. The first part of the book deals with topics such as Impermanence, The Right Motivation, Facing the Situation, Body, Speech and Mind, Compassion, and Mindfulness. The second part is devoted to exercises, meditations and relaxation techniques for body and mind, including Feeling, Openness, Taking Suffering, Bringing the Buddha to Life and Universal Compassion. The exercises, designed to provide a base of self-knowledge, mind-therapy and self-healing have also been found beneficial in therapy workshops and in the treatment of psychological problems.This practical programme has been tested and refined first at therapy workshops of Samye Ling in Scotland - the oldest Tibetan Buddhist centre in the West - and has since confirmed its success in cities throughout Europe, North America and Africa, bringing definitive solutions to long-term problems weighing heavily on the mind.
Her Last Assassin (Shakespeare’s Mistress)
by Victoria LambA gripping historical thriller set in Tudor England during the reign of Elizabeth I.Lady-in-waiting Lucy Morgan is once again torn between her dangerous attraction to William Shakespeare and her fierce loyalty to Queen Elizabeth I.But England is facing its gravest threat yet. The Spanish have declared war, and Elizabeth finds herself attacked by sea – and by Catholic conspiracy from within her own court. Master Goodluck goes undercover, tasked with discovering the identity of this secret assassin, leaving his ward Lucy not knowing if the spy is alive or dead. Meanwhile Queen Elizabeth is growing old in a court of troublesome young noblemen, while Lucy is struggling to love a man whose duties lie elsewhere.When the final challenge comes, these two women must be ready to face it. But there is one last surprise in store for both of them …
The Road Home: My Journey
by Stanislaus KennedySister Stanislaus Kennedy, or Sister Stan as she is affectionately known, has been described as a visionary and social innovator. Now, in The Road Home she looks back on her life - from her early years growing up on the family farm in the Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry, to the day when, at the age of eighteen, she made the life-changing decision to become a nun. Inspired by the work of Mother Mary Aikenhead, who founded the Sisters of Charity in 1815, Stan went on to dedicate her life to the service of the poor and to fighting for a fairer, more equal society.Here, as she reflects on the many challenges she has met, both personal and political, she recalls how she was also inspired by her mentor, Bishop Peter Birch and how, under his guidance she helped to set up an innovative model of community care in Kilkenny - a model that was to become a blueprint for the rest of Ireland.Over the years Stan also developed into a formidable campaigner and worked tirelessly - sometimes against severe opposition - to establish other immensely influential human rights and social justice agencies, includingFocus Ireland, now the biggest national voluntary organisation for the homeless, Young Social Innovators, a national social justice education programme for young people, and The Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI), which supports the rights of migrants and their families and is a catalyst for public debate. In 2000, Stan also founded The Sanctuary - a meditation and spirituality centre in Dublin where, amidst the bustle of city life, people can experience peace, quiet, and the space to explore and develop their inner world.Inspiring and thought-provoking, this fascinating memoir provides a unique insight into the life and work of one of the most influential social activists of our day, the many political battles she has fought and won, and how, with dogged determination and courage, she has shaped the lives and the fortunes of thousands of people. Quite simply, The Road Home is the remarkable story of a remarkable woman.
Seven Spiritual Laws of Superheroes: Harnessing Our Power to Change the World
by Dr Deepak ChopraGiven the state of our planet, it is no coincidence that superheroes have captured our imagination like never before. Superheroes are imbued with magical powers that challenge the laws of space and time, and offer us a vision of a world that can change. By exploring the boundaries of energy and awareness, superheroes can help us save the planet in a very real way. From Buddha's search for truth, to Batman's struggle with his dark side, from Wolverine exposing his greatest fears, to Hanuman's divine gifts of inspiration, bestselling author Deepak Chopra and his son Gotham, author and co-founder of Liquid Comics, decode the essential laws that govern the realm of superheroes. As they explain the importance of these seven transformative laws and how they can help us all to achieve greater happiness and courage, balance and creativity, they also reveal how each law has the potential to awaken us to our own superpowers.Together, they offer the potential to change our lives and the world around us.
Letter To A Christian Nation
by Sam Harris"A hard-hitting polemic against religious fundamentalism" - Foreword by Richard Dawkins'Thousands of people have written to tell me that I am wrong not to believe in God. The most hostile of these communications have come from Christians. This is ironic, as Christians generally imagine that no faith imparts the virtues of love and forgiveness more effectively than their own. The truth is that many who claim to be transformed by Christ's love are deeply, even murderously, intolerant of criticism. While we may want to ascribe this to human nature, it is clear that such hatred draws considerable support from the Bible. How do I know this? The most disturbed of my correspondents always cite chapter and verse.'So begins Letter to a Christian Nation, Sam Harris's hard-hitting rebuttal of religious fundamentalism and blind belief. With deceptively simple arguments, he demolishes the myths on which Christianity was built, challenges believers to open their eyes to the contradictions of their faith and warns us of the dangers of America's ever increasing unification of Church and State.Sam Harris is the author of the New York Times bestseller The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason and winner of the 2005 PEN/Martha Albrand Award for First Non-fiction. He is a graduate in philosophy from Stanford University and is now completing a doctorate in neuroscience. He lives in New York.www.samharris.org
To a Mountain in Tibet (P. S. Series)
by Colin ThubronTOP TEN BESTSELLERMount Kailas is the most sacred of the world's mountains - holy to one fifth of humanity. Isolated beyond the central Himalayas, its summit has never been scaled, but for centuries the mountain has been ritually circled by Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims. Colin Thubron joins these pilgrims, after an arduous trek from Nepal, through the high passes of Tibet, to the magical lakes beneath the slopes of Kailas itself. He talks to secluded villagers and to monks in their decaying monasteries; he tells the stories of exiles and of eccentric explorers from the West. Yet he is also walking on a pilgrimage of his own. Having recently witnessed the death of the last of his family, his trek around the great mountain awakes an inner landscape of love and grief, restoring precious fragments of his own past.'I would rather read Colin Thubron than any other travel writer alive' - John Simpson
Rathcormick: A Childhood Recalled
by Homan PottertonSet in 1950s rural Ireland, Rathcormick is an engaging tale of a large and happy family: a stern and domineering Papa, a warm and practical Mama, their two daughters and six sons. For Homan, the youngest, life is a free-spirited awakening in a world of old-fashioned virtue and frugality. But no boyhood lasts forever, and an abrupt turn of events signals an end to the idyll. Rathcormick is an unforgettable memoir: funny, compelling and original.With an introduction by William Trevor and drawings by Jeremy Wiliams.
Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence
by Karen ArmstrongIt is the most persistent myth of our time: religion is the cause of all violence. But history suggests otherwise. Karen Armstrong, former Roman Catholic nun and one of our foremost scholars of religion, speaks out to disprove the link between religion and bloodshed.* Religion is as old as humanity: Fields of Blood goes back to the Stone Age hunter-gatherers and traces religion through the centuries, from medieval crusaders to modern-day jihadists.* The West today has a warped concept of religion: we regard faith as a personal and private matter, but for most of history faith has informed people’s entire outlook on life, and often been inseparable from politics.* Humans undoubtedly have a natural propensity for aggression: the founders of the largest religions – Jesus, Buddha, the rabbis of early Judaism, the prophet Muhammad – aimed to curb violence and build a more peaceful and just society, but with our growing greed for money and wealth came collective violence and warfare.* With the arrival of the modern all-powerful, secular state humanity’s destructive potential has begun to spiral out of control. Is humanity on the brink of destroying itself?Fields of Blood is a celebration of the ancient religious ideas and movements that have promoted peace and reconciliation across millennia of civilization.
A History Of God: The 4,000-year Quest Of Judaism, Christianity And Islam
by Karen ArmstrongThe idea of a single devine being - God, Yahweh, Allah - has existed for over 4,000 years. But the history of God is also the history of human struggle. While Judaism, Islam and Christianity proclaim the goodness of God, organised religion has too often been the catalyst for violence and ineradicable prejudice. In this fascinating, extensive and original account of the evolution of belief, Karen Armstrong examines Western society's unerring fidelity to this idea of One God and the many conflicting convictions it engenders. A controversial, extraordinary story of worship and war, A History of God confronts the most fundamental fact - or fiction - of our lives.
The Romans And Their Gods
by R M OgilvieTo undestand the success of the Romans you must understand their piety. Dionysius of Halicarnassus. For over a thousand years, Roman religion satisfied the spiritual needs of a wide range of peoples throughout the empire, because is offered an intelligent and dignified interpretation of how the world functions. It was a firm, yet tolerant, religion whose adherents committed very few crimes in its name and who were healthily free of neuroses. In this short, perceptive study of Roman religious life between 80 BC and AD 69, Professor Ogilvie shows how intimately involved were the Roman gods with human activities. Drawing widely on original material (all of it quoted in translation), he tells us how the Romans prayed, what happened at a sacrifice, what sort of gods they believed in, and how seriously they took their religion - a religion in which actions, , not dogma, was paramount.
My Guru and His Disciple
by Christopher IsherwoodWITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY SIMON CALLOWIn 1939, as Europe approaches war, Isherwood, an instinctive pacifist, travels west to California, seeking a new set of beliefs to replace the failed Leftism of the thirties. There he meets Swami Prabhavananda, a Hindu monk, who will become his spiritual guide for the next thirty-seven years. Late-night drinking sessions, free love, and the glamour of writing for the Hollywood studios alternate with meditation, abstinence and the study of religious texts in a compelling tug of war between worldliness and holiness.
Relations: Sisters Brothers And Others (Women and Gender in the Early Modern World)
by Jane MillerIn this remarkable book, Jane Miller writes about the experience of being a daughter and a sister, about the intensities of family life and the illuminations that come from the last days of parents. Relations describes a record-keeping kinship and offers portraits of her parents' long marriage, its mysteries and incompatibilities, of her grandfather, the scientist Redcliffe Salaman, and of her great-aunt Clara Collet, one of the first women civil servants. It is a story in which Karl Marx and George Gissing have parts to play.Here are the tensions of belonging and yet not belonging to an English middle-class at once hospitable to difference and internally divided. More than two hundred years of English history are present in these portraits, which show the dawning emancipation of women and the effects of empire on family life. It is the story of an evolution, of a move out of trade towards public service and the professions, and towards the dramas and family romance of recent times.
WJEC GCSE Religious Studies: Unit 2 Religion and Ethical Themes
by Joy White Chris Owens Ed Pawson Amanda Ridley Steve ClarkeFor the new Welsh specification for first teaching 2017Trust the experts; let the market-leading publisher and subject specialists with examiningexperience provide accessible content that draws out the key ethical theories, helping to ensureyour students have a thorough understanding- Teach the Unit 2 content confidently with comprehensive coverage of Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Buddhist beliefs and practices.- Enable students to build a strong core of knowledge with engaging activities throughout the textbook.- Boost students' confidence approaching assessment with guidance on tackling different question types.- Equip students' with the detailed knowledge they need to succeed with clear, lively explanations that make key concepts accessible to all ability levels.Covers:- Christianity: Beliefs and teachings- Islam: Beliefs and teachings- Judaism: Beliefs and teachings- Buddhism: Beliefs and teachings- Relationships- Human Rights
Octavia, Daughter of God: The Story Of A Female Messiah And Her Followers
by Jane ShawIn 1919, in the wake of the upheaval of World War I, a remarkable group of English women came up with their own solution to the world's grief:a new religion. At the heart of the Panacea Society was a charismatic and autocratic leader, a vicar's widow named Mabel Barltrop. Her followers called her Octavia, and believed that she was the daughter of God, sent to build the New Jerusalem in Bedford. Proclaiming the female aspects of God, Octavia attracted former suffragettes, middle-class Christian women and passionate spiritual seekers to Bedford, where they followed her in rigorous religious practices. She appointed twelve women as her apostles, and put the rest to work to spread her Word: that human beings, through Panacea, could achieve immortal life on earth.Acclaimed historian Jane Shaw found the last living members of the Panacea Society, who revealed to her their immense, painstakingly-preserved archives. She discovered a utopian community that once had seventy residents, thousands of followers, and an international healing ministry that reached 130,000 people around the globe.Octavia, Daughter of God is a fascinating group biography and a revelatory work of cultural and narrative history. Vividly told, by turns funny and tragic, it reveals in intimate detail the complex, out-sized personality of Octavia; the faith of her devoted followers, who believed they would never die; and the intricacies and intrigues of her close-knit community.But Octavia, Daughter of God is also about a moment at the advent of modernity, when a generation of newly empowered women tried to re-make Christianity in their own image. Startlingly modern in their resolve and curiously reactionary in their social views and politics, their story is a portrait of an age. It offers a window into the anxieties and hopes of the interwar years through the lives of ordinary people who believed extraordinary things about God, this world and the next.
My Revision Notes AQA A-level Religious Studies: Paper 2 Study of Christianity and Dialogues
by Sheila ButlerExam board: AQALevel: A-levelSubject: Religious StudiesFirst teaching: September 2016First exams: Summer 2018Target success in AQA A-level Religious Studies with this proven formula for effective, structured revision; key content coverage is combined with exam-style tasks and practical tips to create a revision guide you can rely on to review, strengthen and test their knowledge.With My Revision Notes you can:- Plan and manage a successful revision programme using the topic-by-topic planner- Consolidate subject knowledge by working through clear and focused content coverage- Test understanding and identify areas for improvement with regular 'Now Test Yourself' tasks and answers- Improve exam technique through practice questions, expert tips and examples of typical mistakes to avoid
Strange Beauty: Murray Gell-mann And The Revolution In Twentieth-century Physics
by George JohnsonNo scientist has done more to shape our understanding of the universe than Murray Gell-Mann, the Nobel Prize-winner considered by many colleagues to be the most brilliant physicist of his generation. His discovery of the quark and the Eightfold Way were cornerstones for all that followed in particle physics, the effort to understand the very stuff of creation, In this, the first biography of Gell-Mann, George Johnson tells the story of a remarkable life.
Rocks Of Ages: Science And Religion In The Fullness Of Life (Library Of Contemporary Thought)
by Sj Gould Stephen Jay GouldWriting with characteristic bracing intelligence and clarity, Gould sheds new light on a dilemma that has plagued thinking people since the Renaissance. Instead of having to choose between science and religion, Gould asks, why not opt for the golden resolution that accords dignity and distinction to both? In elaborating and exploring his thought-provoking concept, Gould delves into the history of science with stories of figures as Galileo and Darwin, and concludes that science defines the natural world, and religion our moral world.
Hitchens vs Blair: Is Religion A Force For Good In The World? (The\munk Debates Ser.)
by Christopher HitchensOn November 26, 2010, intellectual juggernaut and staunch atheist Christopher Hitchens went head-to-head with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, one of the Western worlds most openly devout political leaders, on the highly charged topic of religion. Few world leaders have had a greater hand in shaping current events than Blair; few writers have been more outspoken and polarizing than Hitchens. Hitchens and Blair squared off on the contentious questions that continue to dog the topic of religion in our globalized world: How does faith influence our actions? What is the role of people of faith in the public sphere? Is religious doctrine rigid, or should we allow for flexibility in our interpretations? For the first time ever, this exclusive debate, which played out to a sold-out audience, is now available in print, along with candid interviews with Hitchens and Blair. Sharp, provocative, and thoroughly engrossing, Hitchens vs. Blair is an electrifying intellectual sparring match on the oldest question: Is religion a force for good in the world?
The Buddha In Daily Life: An Introduction to the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin
by Richard Causton CaustonNichiren Daishonin Buddhism encourages the belief that, through its faith and practices, spiritual and material blessings and benefits can be available to everyone in this life. Needs can be met, and success achieved, not merely for oneself but for others (and the world) through dedication to the Lotus Sutra, a central teaching of Buddhism. It combines these personal objectives with the commitment to world peace, ecology and the easing of suffering, especially, AIDS. Attracting such well known followers as Jeff Banks, Sandie Shaw, Tina Turner and Roberto Baggio, Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism is rooted in a Buddhist tradition going back to the teachings of Nichiren in the 13th century, and is part of an international movement based in Japan.
Earth Medicine: Explore Your Individuality Through the Native American Medicine Wheel (Earth Quest Ser.)
by Kenneth MeadowsNative Americans had a close affinity with the earth and an understanding of the natural forces which shaped their environment. They recognised that not only were our physical bodies composed of the elements of the earth but our core personalities also were influenced by seasonal characteristics and by the tides of time governed by the Sun and the Moon.The time of birth was no chance happening of fate, but an indication of personality traits and inherent potentials we were each born with to meet the challenges of life. The key to exploring your individuality is a Birth Totem - an animal representation which indicates the characteristics and attributes which combined together comprise your 'medicine' - your inner power and resources.Learn how to:- Identify your own Birth Totem- Connect yourself to your true potential- Discover your life purpose and learn how to fulfil it- Explore all aspects of your life including health and relationships.
Becoming The Enchanter: A Journey To The Heart Of The Celtic Mysteries
by Lyn Webster WildeAfter the death of her fianc-, Lyn Webster Wilde sought refuge in alcohol, meaningless affairs and her high-powered job as a film-maker. But a chance encounter changed her life and, after fulfilling a series of tests, she was cautiously welcomed into a secret fraternity. She discovered that her new companions were the guardians of an ancient tradition of knowledge every bit as potent and life-transforming as that of the Native Americans or Siberian Shamans. It is a tradition that reaches back through the wisdom of the Celts to the megalith-builders of the Neolithic age and which continues to this day in the British isles. This is Lyn's extraordinary true account of her experiences and adventures on her way to unlocking life-altering magical secrets and ultimately 'becoming the enchanter'.
Communicating with Animals: How to tune into them intuitively
by Margrit CoatesMargrit Coates's new book is essential reading for anyone who loves animals and who wishes to improve their understanding of animal behaviour. One of the world's leading animal communicators and healers, Margrit has many years' experience working closely with species of all kinds - from horses, dogs and cats, to wild life, rare breeds and rescue animals. In Communicating with Animals, she draws upon her very special gift and amazing experiences to help us connect with animals too. Using intuition, insight and common sense, she shows how to tune into what they are really thinking and feeling, helping us bond with them at an incredibly deep level. Her powerful techniques range from communicating with the furry, feathered and scaly friends who share our homes, to larger animals such as horses and even Anne the Elephant, as well as other non-domestic creatures. Ultimately, Margrit's wish is for each one of us to be able to tune into all life around us. Besides practical exercises and handy tips, Communicating with Animals is brimming with heart-warming stories - making it a great read and a truly inspirational guide.
The Buddhist Handbook: A Complete Guide to Buddhist Teaching and Practice
by John SnellingBuddhism is one of the fastest growing religions in the world today -and THE BUDDHIST HANDBOOK is the best introduction to the teachings of Buddhism, the main schools, the Buddhist world-view, leading Buddhist teachers, Buddhist festivals and meditation. 'There is a great need to come to terms with Buddhism AS A WHOLE. John Snelling's book is an admirable attempt to do just that. ' GOLDEN DRUM 'A clear, up-to-date survey. ' CATHOLIC HERALD