Monday, December 31, 2012

Meditation : The Art and Ecstasy By Baghwan Shree Rajneesh (OSHO)


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In this book, Baghwan Shree Rajneesh (OSHO) gave us a complete guide to start to meditate. He starts by teaching us the oriental concept of meditation, much different from that the occidental people have in mind (i.e. to reflect on something). The real meditation, according to Rajneesh, is the lack of thoughts.

The book is divided in three different parts : In the first one, he establishes the principles of meditation, explains the main techniques and explains why the need of a master as the easiest way to reach the illumination. The second part is dedicated to answer questions related to meditation made by his disciples during his discourses. The last part of the book is dedicated to explain the main techniques of meditation, both the traditional ones and that created by Rajneesh specially for the ocidental people.

Sunday, December 30, 2012

When the Shoe Fits: Stories of the Taoist Mystic Chuang Tzu By Osho


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“Only that which is attained through effortlessness will never be a burden to you.” That is the message of the renowned Indian philosopher Osho, one of the 10 people (others include Gandhi, Nehru, and Buddha) said to have changed the very destiny of his nation. This previously little-known study—a true classic of interpretation—presents his distinctive and highly illuminating exploration of Taoism.

Osho offers penetrating commentary on the stories of Chinese philosopher Chuang Tzu, the tradition's founder, as well as inspirational anecdotes on the quest for love, spiritual understanding, and true happiness. The powerful combination of Taoist wisdom and Osho's insightful interpretation make this a true gem, appropriate for the growing audience interested in Eastern thought.

Tao : The Pathless Path By Osho


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Truth cannot be expressed: that inexpressibility is intrinsic to truth. Thousands and thousands of people have tried to express it – very few have succeeded even in giving a reflection of it.

In his commentaries on five parables from the Leih Tzu, Osho brings a fresh and contemporary interpretation to the ancient wisdom of Tao. Leih Tzu was a well-known Taoist master in the fourth century B.C., and his sly critiques of a Confucius provide abundant opportunities for the reader to explore the contrasts between the rational and irrational, the male and female, the structured and the spontaneous.

"Who Is Really Happy" uses the discovery of a human skull on the roadside to probe into the question of immortality and how misery arises out of the existence of the ego.

"A Man Who Knows How to Console Himself" looks beneath the apparent cheerfulness of a wandering monk and asks if there is really a happiness that endures through life's ups and downs.

"No Regrets" is a parable about the difference between the knowledge that is gathered from the outside and the "knowing" that arises from within.

"No Rest for the Living" uses a dialogue between a despondent seeker and his master to reveal the limits of philosophy and the crippling consequences of living for the sake of some future goal.

"Best Be Still, Best Be Empty" discusses the difference between the path of the will, the via affirmitiva of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, versus the path of the mystic, the via negativa of Buddha and Lao Tzu.

Friday, December 28, 2012

Tao Shiatsu: Revolution in Oriental Medicine By Ryokyu Endo


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Human beings in the modern age are increasingly wired into a global computer network that surrounds and interconnects the whole earth. Yet ironically, the distortions and stresses of urban living cut people off from the direct experience of the earth as one single living entity. The healing that Tao Shiatsu brings is for all who suffer and wish to be healed. It is for everyone.

A holistic understanding of the interconnected nature of all life underlies the philosophy of Taoism and Tao Shiatsu. Just as a drop of rain becomes a stream, then flows into a river and finally fills an ocean, a new way of approaching tsubo and shiatsu treatment began with just one idea. This, then, is the story of the journey from that one idea.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Guide to the Sanctuary of Dao : Daoist Traditions of Restoration, Transformation, and Immortality By Dao Yuan & Valley Spirit Arts Phoenix, Arizona


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Mission Statement :

Dedicated to the preservation and propagation of Daoist meditation,
health, and spiritual teachings for the betterment of Western
society, the Sanctuary of Dao holds five primary goals:

• To produce and distribute Daoist literary and media
materials for the educational and spiritual benefit of
the general public.

• To establish an educational and practice center
for presenting Daoist teachings.

• To maintain a website that provide educational,
cultural, and spiritual services and materials for
the Daoist community.

• To develop strong ties with active Daoist temples
in China.

The Sanctuary of Dao welcomes all Daoist adherents of any sect,
organization, or group to join us in promoting Daoist teachings....

Everyday Tao: Living with Balance and Harmony By Ming-Dao Deng


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The Taoist spirit comes to life, made vibrant and contemporary through the Chinese ideograms whose images and stories speak of living in harmony with the Tao. Everyday Tao revives an ancient approach to meditation and reflection by using these stories as sources of insight for spiritual growth.

Tao is a person running along a path A companion volume to the bestselling 365 Tao, Everyday Tao offers clear, specific directions on bringing the Taoist spirit into our work, our relationships, and other aspects of our everyday lives. Each ideogram provides the starting point for a Taoist lesson. The narrative that follows shows how we can achieve an intimate relationship with nature, others, and our natural selves.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Dhyana Vahini By Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba


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There are three stages of spiritual development : first, the hazy uncertain stage; then, the active stage of striving; and last, the highest stage. These are the stages of passivity (thamas), activity (rajas), and purity (sathwa). When growing out of the first stage into the second, it is unnatural for a person not to improve step by step.

The wayward mind wanders hither and thither, but it is possible to fasten it on one fixed point by means of steady discipline and persistent training in spiritual discipline. This condition is called onepointedness (ekagratha). It is also referred to as singlemindedness (dharana). The uninterrupted flow of oil from one vessel to another is a fine symbol of the mental process called single-mindedness.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Slowing Down to the Speed of Life: How To Create A More Peaceful, Simpler Life From the Inside Out By Richard Carlson & Joseph Bailey


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Not knowing, that is, being willing to admit that we don’t know, is one of the keys that opens the door to creative intelligence. It takes humility to open that door. Our ego doesn’t like not knowing and would prefer to go over and over what we already think and believe rather than trust in a subtle, unknown process like creative intelligence. 

But opening ourselves to the unknown is a peaceful, productive alternative to our business-as-usual processing mode where we pretend (or hope) that we know what’s going on. By clearing the mind and admitting to ourselves that we don’t know, we receive answers that are often brilliant, unexpected, and just right for the situation.

I like this ebook, this is my gift to you... :)

---jebalkober



Wednesday, December 5, 2012

A Handbook of Ancient Religions By John R. Hinnells


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Ancient civilisations exercise an intense fascination for people the world over. This Handbook provides a vivid, scholarly, and eminently readable account of ancient cultures around the world, from China to India, the Middle East, Egypt, Europe, and the Americas. It examines the development of religious belief from the time of the Palaeolithic cave paintings to the Aztecs and Incas. 

Covering the whole of society not just the elite, the Handbook outlines the history of the different societies so that their religion and culture can be understood in context. Each chapter includes discussion of the broad field of relevant studies alerting the reader to wider debates on each subject. An international team of scholars convey their own deep enthusiasm for their subject and provide a unique study of both popular and 'official' religion in the ancient world.

Living in the Light By Shakti Gawain


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In the first edition of Living in the Light, Shakti Gawain introduced to millions of readers a powerful new way of life - one where we listen to our intuition and rely on it as a guiding force. In this new revision of her classic bestseller, Shakti addresses the importance of acknowledging and embracing our disowned energies - our shadow side. 

This new and exciting material has given the phrase living in the light a deeper and richer meaning. It shows us how to have far more power and balance in our lives by focusing the light of our awareness on of the many aspects of who we are, including what we have feared and rejected. Both first-time readers and long-time fans will be inspired on their journey of self-discovery by this new edition of Living in the Light. Personal fulfillment, aliveness, and creativity await those who open themselves to the ideas of this remarkable book.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

The Book of Talismans, Amulets and Zodiacal Gem By William Thomas (Author), Kate Pavitt (Author)


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The subject of Talismans and Gems of the Zodiac covers a wide area, and the difficulty of arriving at a definite conclusion is increase became of the varying opinions between writers on these subjects as to the stones referred to, or in-tended by the Ancients, complicated still further by the different languages from which these records have been translated, and where Month or Zodiacal gems are referred to many of the writers arc obviously unacquainted with Astrology or Astronomy. 

The present volume, being the result of many years of study and research, it is not easy in all cases to specify the original source of our information, which has been collected, not only from ancient and modern writings, but also from personal experience and experiments, noted at the time they occurred, long before this book was contemplated. 

Again, we find that many, and more especially modern authors, quote from one another in places, and the original source of the information is obscure; we have, therefore, endeavoured to give as far as possible our authorities, although, owing to the antiquity of the subject, much is necessarily left to deduction and conjecture; and it than probable dace, may be unintentional omissions, to remedy which we give a list of books that we have at different times consulted and studied with advantage.

The Awakening: A Conscious Shift to a Higher Realm By Vicky Anderson


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This is the true story of one person's spiritual awakening. The various progressions and levels of awareness that are achieved from the initiations in this process are similar to those achieved in the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous. You can think of this process as giving up the addiction to the physical form and adopting a new way of perceiving reality - one of light, love, prosperity, unity and the consciousness of Christ. This book bridges Christianity and Eastern Mysticism with Western Science to provide a crystal clear picture of what is really happening to mankind today.

The Voodoo Hoodoo Spellbook By Denise Alvarado


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The term "voodoo hoodoo" is used by Louisiana locals to describe the unique variety of Creole Voodoo found in New Orleans. In this book, you will find a plethora of authentic Voodoo and hoodoo rituals for love, justice, gambling luck, luck in court, prosperity, health, crossing, hexes, curse removal, and much more. The author has stripped the shroud of secrecy that has always surrounded Voodoo, and provides detailed instructions on everything from making gris-gris, magickal oils, talismans, and powders, to casting hexes.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

The Art of Peace By Morihei Ueshiba


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The real way of the warrior is based on compassion, wisdom, fearlessness, and love of nature—as the inspirational teachings in this collection show. The selections are drawn from the talks and writings of Morihei Ueshiba, founder of the popular Japanese martial art of aikido, a mind-body discipline that offers a nonviolent way to victory in the face of conflict.

These inspirational teachings show that the real way of the warrior is based on compassion, wisdom, fearlessness, and love of nature. Drawn from the talks and writings of Morihei Ueshiba, founder of the popular Japanese martial art known as Aikido, The Art of Peace offers a nonviolent way to victory and convincing counterpoint to such classics as Musashi's Book of Five Rings and Sun Tzu's Art of War.

The Art of Peace begins with you. Work on yourself and your appointed task in the Art of Peace. Everyone has a spirit that can be refined, a body that can be trained in some manner, a suitable path to follow. You are here for no other purpose than to realize your inner divinity and manifest your inner enlightenment. Foster peace in your life and then apply the Art to all that you encounter.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Empty Cloud: The Autobiography of the Chinese Zen Master Xu Yun By Charles Luk


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Long before the time of his death in 1959 at the venerable age of 120 on Mount Yun-ju, Jiangxi Province, Master Xu-yun’s name was known and revered in every Chinese Buddhist temple and household, having become something of a living legend in his own time. His life and example has aroused the same mixture of awe and inspiration in the minds of Chinese Buddhists as does as does a Milarepa for the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, remarkable in view of the fact that Xu-yun lived well into our own era, tangibly displaying those spiritual powers that we must otherwise divine by looking back through the mists of time to the great Chan adepts of the Tang, Song and Ming Dynasties. They were great men whose example still inspires many today, but in many cases, we have scant details as to their lives as individuals, outside their recorded dialogues or talks of instruction. 

Sunday, November 11, 2012

You Are Psychic By Pete A. Sanders


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Use a scientifically proven method to harness your inborn psychic abilities and achieve breakthroughs in everyday life! 

Everyone has occasional psychic experiences, but few people realize that it is possible to access E.S.P. on command. Using his extensive study of biomedical chemistry and brain science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Pete A. Sanders, Jr., has developed a method to show how we can tap into our psychic abilities at will to expand our knowledge and gain control of our destiny. 

By sharing the techniques that he and his instructors have taught to more than half a million people, You Are Psychic! offers a program of simple exercises to teach you how to: 

 * Experience nine senses, instead of only five. 
 * Locate the body's four Psychic Reception Areas and find out whether you are strongest in psychic vision, hearing, intuition, or feeling. 
 * Tap your extrasensory awareness whenever you wish. 
 * Use your psychic abilities to improve your professional success, your relationships, and your creativity, and to heal your body. 
 * Apply your sharpened perceptual powers to solve complex problems and handle difficult people.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Thought Power: Its Control and Culture By Annie Besant


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The human mind has a hidden power that can do amazing things. The key is for one to learn how to activate this power and control it. That is what this book is about. Subjects include training the mind, improving concentration, strengthening thought power, meditation, improving memory, thought transference, building the mental body, combining thoughts with others and achieving peace of mind. This is an easy to read instruction manual for the mind that includes practical exercises.

How to control your brain at will By Dr.Roger vittoz and Christian H. godefroy


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Concentration is the faculty of being able to fix thoughts on a given point, to develop an idea without getting distracted, to be able to lose oneself in a book, in some kind of work, etc. the faculty is completely lacking in neurasthetic patients. 

We can define willpower as a separate force, a special energy existing in each individual, independent of any thought or idea, which manifests itself under certain conditions which we will specify in a moment.

The Nature of Personal Reality By Jane Roberts


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Specific, practical tecniques for solving everyday problems and enriching the life you know. In this perennial bestseller, Seth challenges our assumptions about the nature of reality. He explains how the conscious mind directs unconscious activity and has at its command all the powers of the inner self. Included are excellent exercises for applying these theories to any life situation.

Ninja Mind Control By Ashida Kim


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NINJA MIND CONTROL is, without doubt, one of the best selling and most widely read books on Ninja Meditation ever written. It has been translated into six languages and distributed worldwide with excellent result. 

Achieve mastery over your own mind and possess the key that unlocks the secrets of the cosmos. The true Mystic-Warrior prevails without unsheathing his weapon. He is master of the bloodless coup. With his mental and physical abilities he evades, confuses, and “clouds the mind” of any opponent. Revealed here are the Breathing Exercises and Kuji-Kiri hand positions that enable you to collect, cultivate, and circulate Qi, the vital lifeforce that surrounds, permeates, and flows within the body. 

Through these methods, mind reading, hypnosis and suggestion, the Ninja controls himself, and, in so doing, the outcome of every encounter as well. Includes the Five Element Exercises and Mi Lu Kata, the Lost Track Form, of self defense that can turn even the most humble into a fighting champion. 

Ninja Mind Control was first published in 1984 and is still sold and distributed domestically and abroad by unscrupulous editors and literary agents who reverted all publishing rights back to the Author in 1996. This DOJO PRESS Electronic Book Edition is the ONLY publication authorized by Ashida Kim and has been reproduced from original manuscript and photos to preclude ANY claim of copyright infringement by the former publishers.

Mudras : Yoga in Your Hands By Gertrud Hirschi


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Mudras also playfully called the "finger power points" are yoga positions for your hands and fingers. They can be practiced sitting, lying down, standing, or walking. They can be done at any time and place while stuck in traffic, at the office, watching TV, or whenever you have to twiddle your thumbs waiting for something. Hirschi shows you how these techniques can prevent illness, relieve stress, and heal emotional problems. 82 illustrations. Index. Bibliography.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

The Writings of Chuang Tzu By Chuang Tzu


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Here it is the classic spiritual ebook, my gift to you... (visitor & reader of this blog)       --jebalkober 

Zhuangzi was an influential Chinese philosopher who lived around the 4th century BCE during the Warring States Period, a period corresponding to the philosophical summit of Chinese thought — the Hundred Schools of Thought, and is credited with writing—in part or in whole—a work known by his name, the Zhuangzi. His name Zhuangzi (English "Master Zhuang", with Zi being an honorific) is sometimes spelled Zhuang Tze, Zhuang Zhou, Chuang Tsu, Chuang Tzu, Chouang-Dsi, Chuang Tse, or Chuangtze.

In general, Zhuangz i's philosophy is skeptical, arguing that life is limited and knowledge to be gained is unlimited. To use the limited to pursue the unlimited, he said, was foolish. Our language and cognition in general presuppose a dao to which each of us is committed by our separate past—our paths. Consequently, we should be aware that our most carefully considered conclusions might seem misguided had we experienced a different past. Zhuangz i argues that in addition to experience, our natural dispositions are combined with acquired ones—including dispositions to use names of things, to approve/disapprove based on those names and to act in accordance to the embodied standards. Thinking about and choosing our next step down our dao or path is conditioned by this unique set of natural acquisitions.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

The Early Greek Concept of the Soul By Jan Bremmer


Buy at Amazon OR free download, link below :

Title and context 
Chapter 1 
Chapter 2 
Chapter 3 
Appendices 
Selected bibliography 
Indexes 
Complete book 

Jan Bremmer presents a provocative picture of the historical development of beliefs regarding the soul in ancient Greece. He argues that before Homer the Greeks distinguished between two types of soul, both identified with the individual: the free soul, which possessed no psychological attributes and was active only outside the body, as in dreams, swoons, and the afterlife; and the body soul, which endowed a person with life and consciousness. Gradually this concept of two kinds of souls was replaced by the idea of a single soul. In exploring Greek ideas of human souls as well as those of plants and animals, Bremmer illuminates an important stage in the genesis of the Greek mind.

Although the publication date given for the paperback edition is 1987, that represents the rather plain-looking "Limited Paperback Edition" reissue of this 1983 Princeton publication, not the later (1993) MYTHOS series paperback, with its beautiful cover. If you happen to order a used copy, you may get something a lot less attractive than you expected, but the contents are identical.

And the contents are worth having, if you are interested in the problems of early Greek thought about human personality, consciousness, and survival after death. Since later developments of these are still influential in Western Civilization (Jewish as well as Christian) -- and help distinguish it, and its Islamic cousin, from say, Taoism, Hinduism, or Buddhism -- this is not exactly a trivial topic, of interest only to academics who love to quarrel over texts in dead languages. 

Bremmer's short book picks up a long-running argument -- apparently going back before Plato -- about just what Homer was talking about when he describes the thoughts, emotions, vital organs, and deaths of his characters, and how the poetic vocabulary of the epics influenced -- or didn't influence -- Greek popular and elite thought through the classical period. (If "breath" and "spirit" are the same word, are lungs "spiritual" organs? What about the heart, which Odysseus admonishes for its unruly emotions? Is losing consciousness a form of death?) Plato raises objections to Homer, and Aristotle splits up Homeric ideas between his treatises on animals, on physiological issues, and on "The Soul," but the philosophers still wind up quoting the same familiar lines. 

There have been a number of late-nineteenth and twentieth century landmark studies -- those familiar with this field of classical studies will think at once of, among others, Erwin Rohde's "Psyche: The Cult of Souls and Belief in Immorality Among the Greeks," Bruno Snell's "Discovery of the Mind," and Richard Onians' "Origins of European Thought about the Body, the Mind, the Soul, the World, Time, and Fate" to mention two prominent German scholars and one English. Rohde and Onians in particular produced encyclopedic surveys; the latter also covering non-Classical cultures (as well as a wider range of subjects). 

Bremmer masterfully condenses a lot of complicated evidence and its interpretations, and advances several new arguments, which I found plausible and intriguing, if not always absolutely convincing. Since his book is short (mercifully short, some might say), he does not try to evaluate all of his predecessors, or refute every argument. This makes his writing a lot easier to follow than it might otherwise be; it also has the potential to mislead the novice reader who fails to follow up on Bremmer's short, but well-chosen, Selected Bibliography, or ignores the footnotes citing the major literature of the preceding century (or so). 

Since I came to Bremmer *after* reading the above-mentioned books, and several others, I can only suspect that "The Early Greek Concept of the Soul" would serve as a good introduction to this complex, and still controversial, subject, but it is a very strong suspicion.

The author has since returned to the subject, covering later developments in another brief work, "The Rise and Fall of the Afterlife: The 1995 Read-Tuckwell Lectures" (2001). 

 --by Ian M. Slater (Customer Reviews)

Friday, September 28, 2012

Pranic Healing By Choa Kok Sui


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"Pranic Healing® is a highly evolved and tested system of energy medicine developed by GrandMaster Choa Kok Sui that utilizes prana to balance, harmonize and transform the body's energy processes. Prana is a Sanskrit word that means life-force. This invisible bio-energy or vital energy keeps the body alive and maintains a state of good health. In acupuncture, the Chinese refer to this subtle energy as Chi. It is also called Ruach or the Breath of Life in Hebrew. 

Pranic Healing® is a simple yet powerful & effective system of no-touch energy healing. It is based on the fundamental principles that the body is a self-repairing living entity that possesses the ability to heal itself and that the healing process is accelerated by increasing this life force that is readily available from the sun, air and ground to address physical & emotional imbalances. Master Choa Kok Sui says "Life Energy or prana is all around us. It is pervasive; we are actually in an ocean of Life Energy. Based on this principle, a healer can draw in Pranic Energy or Life Energy from the surroundings."

Pranic Healing® requires no drugs, gadgets, not even physical contact with the subject. Physical contact is not required because the practitioner is working on the bioplasmic or energy body and not directly on the physical body. This energy body, or aura, is the mold or blueprint that surrounds and interpenetrates the physical body. It is the energy body that absorbs life energy and distributes it throughout the physical body, to the muscles, organs, glands, etc. The reason Pranic Healing® works on the energy body is that physical ailments first appear as energetic disruptions in the aura before manifesting as problems in the physical body. 

This pervasive energy that surrounds, interpenetrates and sustains the physical body, also affects our emotions, our ability to handle stress, relationships and even finances. 

"In Ancient times, Pranic Healing could only be practiced by an elite few. My job was to develop a very effective healing system, which ordinary people could learn in just a short period. Anybody can practice pranic healing now. The knowledge of being able to deal with simple ailments is quite empowering." 

--Master Choa Kok Sui 

Master Choa Kok Sui developed Pranic Healing® as a comprehensive System of energy medicine to improve the quality of our every day lives. The courses offered are designed to give a person a well-rounded education in Energy Healing and other Esoteric Sciences. These courses are offered across the United States and throughout the World. 

We welcome you to the Exciting World of Energy and the Pranic Healing® System!

Thursday, September 27, 2012

The Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic (VOL I-X) By Israel Regardie


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Dr. Regardie's classic, final testament to the Golden Dawn includes extensive instruction on astrology, tarot, alchemy, kabbalah, Enochiana, and much, much more.

Beautifully illustrated throughout, with many color plates, The Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic is the easiest edition to study. An essential text in any library of magical works.

This edition includes over 150 pages of new material including several new articles, a Master Table of Contents and an extensive Index!

Hardbound, 8 1/2" x 11" (The Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic is also available as a fully searchable and indexed eBook in pdf format.) Individually hand numbered.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Enlightenment Through Orbs By Diana Cooper & Kathy Crosswell


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Intended as an introduction and initiation to a worldwide fascination, this experiential tool draws its conclusions from the careful scrutiny of thousands of digital photographs containing orbs—visible proof of the presence of angels in the form of ghostly spheres. The book answers technical questions and offers practical guidance, such as who the orbs are, what purpose they serve, and how they can help. The dozens of full-color photos included within allow the orbs to enlighten and transform lives with their specific energies as well as provide tools for confidence, love, empowerment, hope, and spiritual expansion. Seekers will find the orbs especially enlightening, whether they are looking to make simple connections to angels and other spirit guides or ultimately to accelerate their own spiritual ascension. 

Friday, September 7, 2012

The Zen Teachings of Rinzai By Irmgard Schloegl And Lin-chi Lu


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"One of my favourite books.. i really like it.. very inspiring" --jebalkober

The Record of Rinzai is one of the main texts in the School of Rinzai Zen.

Rinzai Gigen, father of the line or school of Rinzai Zen, died January 10th, 866 A.D. His date of birth is unknown, but it is generally taken that his teaching career was not much longer than a decade. The Rinzai Line is one of the Five Houses of Zen, best thought of as teaching styles that developed within the Zen school, following a great master. It was brought to Japan in the 13th century.

The historical development of the Zen School is well documented. A bibliography is appended. Rinzai's "Record" was written by his disciples. It contains his teachings, episodes from his training, and from his teaching career. As all the great Zen masters, he was firmly based on the Buddhist teachings, conversant with the scriptures, and freely quoting them. But rather than lip-service and routine learning, he demands genuine insight into the scriptures, and a life lived out of this insight. If at times he seems to deride, it is not the scriptures, but his students, who were apt to piously and tenaciously cling to the words rather than attempt to understand them.

Rinzai has the reputation of being extremely fierce and direct. When he really lashes out, it is to break down attachments to any ideal, and he is addressing seasoned monks. His seeming contradictions are another teaching device to rout his students from any complacency. In his Record, he speaks for himself, clearly and decisively. There are, however, some passages which may seem obscure. These are worked on in meditation only, and insight into them is tested by the Zen master. They are training subjects rather than teaching material. But this does not mean that they are in any way special, or "esoteric", or available only for a few. Zen is refreshingly direct and down to earth, entirely commonsensical.

As a training it has been and is open to anybody, monk or layman. But it has always demanded a good deal of hard training without which the sight will not become clear. 

The Record may give the impression that monks were a good 
deal on the road, wandering about. In fact, this was the practice only for senior and well settled monks, who went from master to master -- either to test their own understanding or, in case they felt "something still lacking," to find a master under whom they could complete their training. Young monks stayed put to
undergo their basic training.

In general, as well as in Rinzai's own 
life, three phases can be distinguished in the life of a master: The training under a master, wandering about to settle and test his insight, and his teaching career.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the Parallels between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism By Fritjof Capra


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Here is the book that brought the mystical implications of subatomic physics to popular consciousness for the very first time—way back in 1975. This special edition celebrates the thirty-fifth anniversary of this early Shambhala best seller that has gone on to become a classic. It includes a new preface by the author, in which he reflects on the further discoveries and developments that have occurred in the years since the book’s original publication. “Physicists do not need mysticism,” Dr. Capra says, “and mystics do not need physics, but humanity needs both.” It’s a message of timeless importance.

Prometheus Rising By Robert Anton Wilson


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Imagine trying to make sense of an amalgam of Timothy Leary's eight neurological circuits, G.I. Gurdjieff's self-observation exercises, Alfred Korzybski's general semantics, Aleister Crowley's magical theorems, and the several disciplines of Yoga; not to mention Christian Science, relativity, quantum mechanics, and many other approaches to understanding the world around us. That is exactly what Robert Anton Wilson does in Prometheus Rising. In short, this is a book about how the human mind works and what you can do to make the most of yours.

Quantum Psychology: How Brain Software Programs You and Your World By Robert Anton Wilson


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Throughout human history, thoughts, values and behaviors have been colored by language and the prevailing view of the universe. With the advent of Quantum Mechanics, relativity, non-Euclidean geometries, non-Aristotelian logic and General Semantics, the scientific view of the world has changed dramatically from just a few decades ago. Nonetheless, human thinking is still deeply rooted in the cosmology of the middle ages. Quantum Psychology is the book to change your way of perceiving yourself--and the universe for the 21st Century. Some say it's materialistic, others call it scientific and still others insist it's mystical. It is all of these--and none.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: The Book of the Spiritual Man By Charles Johnston


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The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are in themselves exceedingly brief, less than ten pages of large type in the original. Yet they contain the essence of practical wisdom, set forth in admirable order and detail. The theme, if the present interpreter be right, is the great regeneration, the birth of the spiritual from the psychical man: the same theme which Paul so wisely and eloquently set forth in writing to his disciples in Corinth, the theme of all mystics in all lands.

The Book of Ceremonial Magic By Arthur Edward Waite


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The Secret Tradition in Goƫtia, including the rites and mysteries of Goƫtic theurgy, sorcery and infernal necromancy. The Book of Ceremonial Magic by Arthur Edward Waite was originally called The Book of Black Magic and of Pacts. It is an attempt to document various famous grimoires, explain the history behind them (refuting many of the legends surrounding them), discuss the theology contained therein (e.g. raising the question why good angels would be summoned to kill an enemy), and to synthesize many famous grimoires into one system.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

The Book of Five Rings By Miyamoto Musashi


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Here is one of the most influential texts on the subtle arts of confrontation and victory ever to emerge from Asia. Composed in 1643 by the famed duelist and undefeated samurai Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings analyzes the process of struggle and mastery over conflict that underlies every level of human interaction. It is written not only for martial artists but for anyone who wants to apply the timeless principles of this text to their life. Thomas Cleary’s translation is immediately accessible, with an introduction that presents the spiritual background of the warrior tradition.

Fuchiyado Meditation By Shri Krishan Puri


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FUCHIYADO is practiced with a deep breathing technique which activates the Chi power, the life power, also known as "Prana" in yoga and meditation. Most martial arts practitioners have some idea about the concept of Chi energy. 


Chi refers to the natural energy of the Universe, which permeates everything. All matter, from the smallest atoms and molecules to the largest planets and stars, is made up of this energy. It is the vital force of life. It is the source of every existing thing. 

Chi has many manifestations. To the Kung Fu and Tai-chi practitioners of China it is known as "Chi", but different philosophies and cultures call it by different names. Japanese martial arts call it "Ki". Metaphysical science calls it "vital force". Friedrich Mesmer called it "animal magnetism". The Indian and Hindu yogis call it "Prana". Western science defines it as "biorhythm", and New Age thinkers simply call it "cosmic energy". 

Naturally, in each manifestation the Chi is viewed and defined differently, but basically it is the same thing. It is the power which enables us to think, move, breathe, and live - the power that makes gravity act like gravity. It is what makes electricity electric. It is the link between our perception of the inner and outer worlds. It is our connection to the very flow of the universe and the prime moving force within the human body. Chi is not breath; it is the power that makes it possible for us to breathe. Chi is not simply "energy, it is what gives energy the power to be energy. 

Chi is the power behind movement and thought. . .and it is everywhere. It is in the oxygen we breathe and the blood that flows through us. It is difficult to define Chi concretely. It cannot be seen or measured; it cannot be touched or captured. It is everywhere, yet we have no way to touch it, make it tangible, or even prove its existence. Therefore Chi is a difficult concept to accept.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

The Gateless Gate By Mumon Ekai


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The Gateless Gate is a collection of 48 Chan (Zen) koans compiled in the early 13th century by the Chinese Zen master Wumen Hui-k'ai (1183–1260) (Japanese: Mumon Ekai). 

Wumen's preface indicates that the volume was published in 1228. Each koan is accompanied by a commentary and verse by Wumen. A classic edition includes a 49th case composed by Anwan (pen name for Cheng Ch'ing-Chih) in 1246. 

Wu-liang Tsung-shou also supplemented the volume with a verse of four stanzas composed in 1230 about the three checkpoints of Zen master Huanglong. These three checkpoints of Huanglong should not be confused with Doushuai's Three Checkpoints found in Case 47. 

Along with the Blue Cliff Record and the oral tradition of Hakuin Ekaku, The Gateless Gate is a central work much used in Rinzai School practice. Five of the koans in the work concern the sayings and doings of Zhaozhou; four concern Ummon. The common theme of the koans of the Wumen Guan and of Wumen's comments is the inquiry and introspection of dualistic conceptualization. Each koan epitomizes one or more of the polarities of consciousness that act like an obstacle or wall to the insight. The student is challenged to transcend the polarity that the koan represents and demonstrate or show that transcendence to the Zen teacher.

The Ending of Time By Jiddu Krishnamurti


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Jiddu Krishnamurti : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiddu_Krishnamurti

This very important work offers penetrating dialogues between the great spiritual leader and the renowned physicist that shed light on the fundamental nature of existence. Krishnamurti and David Bohm probe such questions as ‘why has humanity made thought so important in every aspect of life? How does one cleanse the mind of the ‘accumulation of time’ and break the ‘pattern of ego -centered activity’? The Ending of Time concludes by referring to the wrong turn humanity has taken, but does not see this as something from which there is no escape. There is an insistence that mankind can change fundamentally; but this requires going from one’s narrow and particular interests toward the general, and ultimately moving still deeper into that purity of compassion, love and intelligence that originates beyond thought, time, or even emptiness.

Meditations By Jiddu Krishnamurti


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Jiddu Krishnamurti : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiddu_Krishnamurti

Krishnamurti (1895–1986) went from his origins in a small south Indian village to become one of the great spiritual teachers of the twentieth century. He taught that the only way to peace on earth is the transformation of the human psyche—and that there is no path to this transformation, no method for achieving it, no gurus or spiritual authorities who can help. The transformation is a truth each of us must discover within ourselves. 


This classic collection of brief excerpts from Krishnamurti's books and talks presents the essence of his teaching on meditation—a state of attention, beyond thought, which brings total freedom from authority and ambition, fears and separateness. This doubly expanded edition features even more of the great teacher's wisdom than the original version, and also includes some never-before-published material.

Life Ahead: On Learning and the Search for Meaning By Jiddu Krishnamurti


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Jiddu Krishnamurti : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiddu_Krishnamurti

Life Ahead presents lessons that move far beyond the traditional forms of education taught in most schools and colleges. Drawn from transcripts of talks given to Indian students, the book covers a wide range of universal topics. In short, accessible chapters, Krishnamurti explores the danger of competition, the value of solitude, the need to understand both the conscious and the unconscious mind, and the critical difference between concentration and attention, and between knowledge and learning. Krishnamurti exposes the roots of fear and eradicates deeply entrenched habits of tradition, limitation, and prejudice. The life he holds forth requires a complete change of thought, even a revolution, one that begins “not with theory and ideation,” he writes, “but with a radical transformation in the mind itself.” He explains how such transformation occurs only through an education that concentrates on the total development of the human being, an education carefully described in this simple yet powerful book.

Commentaries on Living: Third Series By Jiddu Krishnamurti


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Jiddu Krishnamurti : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiddu_Krishnamurti

Krishnamurti's essential message is that to find truth, we must go beyond the limits of ordinary thought. In public talks worldwide, he strove to free listeners from conventional beliefs and psychological mind-sets in order to understand what is. The essential message of J. Krishnamurti, revered philosopher and spiritual teacher to millions, challenges the limits of ordinary thought. In talks and teachings to audiences worldwide, he extricated his listeners from the tangled net of ideas, organizational beliefs and psychological mind-sets and pointed them to the bliss of truth. In the final volume of this series, conversations with individual seekers explore many topics, including the cultivation of sensitivity, the problem of search, the importance of change, and "What is life all about?"

Education and the Significance of Life By Jiddu Krishnamurti


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Jiddu Krishnamurti : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiddu_Krishnamurti

The teacher probes the Western problems of conformity and loss of personal values while offering a fresh approach to self-understanding and the meaning of personal freedom and mature love.

Krishnamurti to Himself: His Last Journal By Jiddu Krishnamurti


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Jiddu Krishnamurti : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiddu_Krishnamurti

Krishnamurti's last journal, spoken into a tape recorder at his home, Pine Cottage, in the Ojai Valley, brings the reader close to this renowned spiritual teacher. Dictated in the mornings, from his bed, undisturbed, Krishnamurti's observations are captured here in all their immediacy and candor, from personal reflections to poetic musings on nature and a serene meditation on death. Reflecting the culmination of a life of spiritual exploration, these remarkable final teachings engage and enlighten.

Krishnamurti's Notebook By Jiddu Krishnamurti


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Jiddu Krishnamurti : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiddu_Krishnamurti

When Krishnamurtiƕs Notebook first became available in 1976, it was soon realized that it was a spiritually unique document giving his perceptions and experiences and describing his states of consciousness. It is a kind of diary but one that is little concerned with the day to day process of living, though very much aware of the natural world.

The Awakening of Intelligence By Jiddu Krishnamurti


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Jiddu Krishnamurti : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiddu_Krishnamurti

This comprehensive record of Krishnamurti’s teachings is an excellent, wide-ranging introduction to the great philosopher’s thought. With among others, Jacob Needleman, Alain Naude, and Swami Venkatasananda, Krishnamurti examines such issues as the role of the teacher and tradition; the need for awareness of ‘cosmic consciousness; the problem of good and evil; and traditional Vedanta methods of help for different levels of seekers.

The First and Last Freedom By Jiddu Krishnamurti


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Jiddu Krishnamurti : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiddu_Krishnamurti

Krishnamurti is a leading spiritual teacher of our century. In The First and Last Freedom he cuts away symbols and false associations in the search for pure truth and perfect freedom. Through discussions on suffering, fear, gossip, sex and other topics, Krishnamurti’s quest becomes the readers, an undertaking of tremendous significance.

The Book of Life By Jiddu Krishnamurti


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Jiddu Krishnamurti : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiddu_Krishnamurti

Krishnamurti is a leading spiritual teacher of our century. In The First and Last Freedom he cuts away symbols and false associations in the search for pure truth and perfect freedom. Through discussions on suffering, fear, gossip, sex and other topics, Krishnamurti's quest becomes the readers, an undertaking of tremendous significance.
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