The Ayurveda Encyclopedia is an important reference volume for all students of Ayurveda and Yoga, almost a complete course in Ayurveda in itself. Swami Sada Shiva Tirtha has done a monumental work in putting together so much material in such a concise and clear manner for the modern reader. This book covers approximately two years worth of study at Indian government-recognized Ayurveda colleges and universities.
Modern Western culture and technology is inextricably tied to the belief in the existence of a self as a separate ego, separated from and in conflict with the rest of the world. In this classic book, Watts provides a lucid and simple presentation of an alternative view based on Hindi and Vedantic philosophy.
From the author’s Preface: This book is meant to motivate the reader to pause and ponder the incredible complexity in which we are involved and, hopefully, to find the simple Ariadne thread that shows the way out of the labyrinth of ignorance. I believe, as intelligent human beings, we all want to bask in the bright light of comprehending the world we inhabit, including the wondrous world of our own mind. The so-called “knowledge explosion” has left us with factoids, fragments of intelligence. We generally fail to grasp the meaning and relevance behind all the details flooding our consciousness. As many psychologists and critics of our civilization have noted, we have become fragmented ourselves.
Krishnamurti shows how people can free themselves radically and immediately from the tyranny of the expected, no matter what their age--opening the door to transforming society and their relationships.
Modrost negotovosti je knjiga o našem iskanju psihološke varnosti in naših prizadevanjih, da bi v religiji in filozofiji našli duhovno in intelektualno gotovost. Avtor jo je napisal v prepričanju, da v času, ko se zdi človeško življenje tako negotovo in nezanesljivo, nobena tema ne bi mogla biti primernejša. V knjigi zagovarja mnenje, da je naša negotovost posledica iskanja varnosti in da je, nasprotno, odrešenje in duševno zdravje mogoče najti samo v radikalnem spoznanju, da se ne moremo rešiti na noben način.
The Joyous Cosmology is a brilliant arrangement of words describing experiences for which our language has no vocabulary. Alan Watts spells out in eloquent detail his drug-induced visionary moments. He is, of course, attempting the impossible—to describe in words (which always lie) that which is beyond words. But how well he can do it! Here he has given us perhaps the best statement on the subject of space-age mysticism, more daring than the two classic works of Aldous Huxley because Watts follows Mr. Huxley's lead and pushes beyond. The recognition of the love aspects of the mystical experience and the implications for new forms of social communication are especially important. You are holding in your hand a great human document. But unless you are one of the few Westerners who have (accidentally or through chemical good fortune) experienced a mystical minute of expanded awareness, you will probably not understand what the author is saying. Too bad, but still not a cause for surprise. The history of ideas reminds us that new concepts and new visions have always been non-understood. We cannot understand that for which we have no words. But Alan Watts is playing the book game, the word game, and the reader is his contracted partner.
A clear and authoritative introduction to the different traditions of meditation by an authority in the field. Meditation is an extraordinarily powerful tool for physical and mental relaxation as well as for personal and spiritual growth. It has been practiced for thousands of years and today it continues to have serious relevance for an ever-increasing number of people. This handbook is for novice and advanced practitioners alike. It describes the theory and practice of all the major Eastern and Western approaches to meditation. With examples and clear and practical guidelines, the book shows how meditation can be used for: relaxation and dealing with stress; attaining greater concentration and awareness; achieving self-discovery and self-acceptance; and spiritual development.
The psychological benefits of mindfulness are well established. Yet for people who struggle with difficult emotions like anxiety, guilt, anger, loneliness, sadness, or low self-esteem, mindfulness practices can be enhanced by adding a simple yet powerful ingredient: self-compassion. Without it, we all too often respond to emotional suffering with self-criticism, shame, or defensiveness—tough-to-break habits that only make suffering worse. This wise, eloquent, and practical book illuminates the nature of self-compassion and offers easy-to-follow, scientifically grounded steps for incorporating it into daily life. Practical examples and innovative exercises and techniques make this an ideal resource for readers who are new to mindfulness or want to bring an important new dimension to their meditation practice.
Stephen Wingate has a wonderful gift of sharing his insights, which are based on his own clear and solid experience. His words carry the fragrance of peace and clarity to which they point. The writings and dialogues in this book will undermine any residual doubts, questions and caveats raised by the mind and leave you in your natural state of joyful awareness.
The Philosophies of Asia combines transcripts of eight talks that Watts gave between 1965 and 1972. Because the collection retains the character of oral presentation, it is a lively place to encounter both Watts and the philosophies he discusses. And because the combination of encounter and re-creation is appropriate to both speaker and subject matter, the collection serves as a fine introduction to Watts as much as to the philosophies of Asia.
John Horgan, author of the best-selling The End of Science, chronicles the most advanced research into the mechanics—and meaning—of mystical experiences. How do trances, visions, prayer, satori, and other mystical experiences "work"? What induces and defines them? Is there a scientific explanation for religious mysteries and transcendent meditation? John Horgan investigates a wide range of fields — chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, anthropology, theology, and more — to narrow the gap between reason and mystical phenomena. Horgan explores the striking similarities between "mystical technologies" like sensory deprivation, prayer, fasting, trance, dancing, meditation, and drug trips. He participates in experiments that seek the neurological underpinnings of mystical experiences. And, finally, he recounts his own search for enlightenment — adventurous, poignant, and sometimes surprisingly comic. Horgan"s conclusions resonate with the controversial climax of The End of Science, because, as he argues, the most enlightened mystics and the most enlightened scientists end up in the same place — confronting the imponderable depth of the universe.
An exploration into the subject of the problem of personal identity, man's relationship to the universe, and all the things that are connected with that. It is, for our culture at this time in history an extremely urgent problem, because of our technological power. In known history, nobody has had such capacity for altering the universe than the people of the United States of America. And nobody has gone about it in such an aggressive way.