Welcome
to the Ancient Wisdom Bookstore 3
Ancient
Civilizations
Here we
explore the ancient civilizations of Sumeria, Assyria, Babylonia,
China. Ancient Egypt, Nubia, Ancient Greece and Rome.
There
are entire libraries devoted to each and every one of these ancient
civilizations..I have simply created a bookstore of "introduction"
only. It will be up to you to continue to study that which you
find compelling, of interest, or that you may remember from a
past life.
-LionHeart-
Why
did great civilization's fall?
The history of humankind has been marked by patterns of growth
and decline. Some declines have been gradual, occurring over centuries.
Others have been rapid, occurring over the course of a few years.
War, drought, natural disaster, disease, overpopulation, economic
disruption: any of these can bring about the collapse of a civilization.
Internal causes (such as political struggles or overfarming) can
combine with external causes (such as war or natural disaster)
to bring about a collapse.
Ozymandias
Percy Bysshe Shelley
I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed:
And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
"We
must not judge God from the world. It's just a study that didn't
come off.
It's
only a master who could make such a blunder."
-Vincent
Van Gogh-
Sumeria
Inanna:
From the Myths of Ancient Sumer
by Enheduanna, Kim Echlin, Linda Wolfsgruber (Illustrator)
Long before the Bible, the Koran, and Greek and Roman mythology,
the people of Sumer recorded stories of their gods and kings on
cuneiform tablets. The world’s oldest epic poem, the 4,000-year-old
Epic of Gilgamesh, tells of a hero who was part god, part man.
But a recent discovery uncovered another, equally intriguing hero
— Gilgamesh’s powerful sister, the goddess Inanna. Inanna
embodies the quest for growth. Her stories describe her growth
from childish inexperience and youthful exuberance into maturity
as she gains the power to create, to destroy, and to name. She
is a goddess of spirit and wisdom who outwits and defies the powerful,
falls in love with the shepherd Dumuzi, and, like Gilgamesh, dares
to seek immortality. The people of Sumer associated her with the
planet Venus — radiant, strong, mysterious. Using Sumerian
scholarship as a guide, Kim Echlin offers a sensitive and knowledgeable
translation of the Inanna stories. Accompanied by the exquisite
illustrations of Linda Wolfsgruber, these tales will interest
both students of history and myth and anyone who appreciates art
and poetry.
Inanna,
Lady of Largest Heart : Poems of the Sumerian High Priestess
by Judy Grahn (Foreword), Betty De Shong Meador
The earliest known author of written literature was a woman named
Enheduanna, who lived in ancient Mesopotamia around 2300 BCE.
High Priestess to the moon god Nanna, Enheduanna came to venerate
the goddess Inanna above all gods in the Sumerian pantheon. The
hymns she wrote to Inanna constitute the earliest written portrayal
of an ancient goddess. In their celebration of Enheduanna's relationship
with Inanna, they also represent the first existing account of
an individual's consciousness of her inner life.
This book provides the complete texts of Enheduanna's hymns to
Inanna, skillfully and beautifully rendered by Betty De Shong
Meador, who also discusses how the poems reflect Enheduanna's
own spiritual and psychological liberation from being an obedient
daughter in the shadow of her ruler father. Meador frames the
poems with background information on the religious and cultural
systems of ancient Mesopotamia and the known facts of Enheduanna's
life. With this information, she explores the role of Inanna as
the archetypal feminine, the first goddess who encompasses both
the celestial and the earthly and shows forth the full scope of
women's potential.
In
Search of Zarathustra : The First Prophet and the Ideas That Changed
the World
by Paul Kriwaczek
Hidden by the looming shadows of Christianity, Judaism and Islam,
Zoroastrianism seems a largely forgotten religion today. Yet this
ancient tradition so powerfully influenced these other three faith
groups that they would not exist in their present state if not
for the teachings of Zarathustra, the prophet of Zoroastrianism.
Kriwaczek's lively and fast-paced study offers a unique view of
Zarathustra's impact on Western religious history. Beginning in
present-day Iran (the Persia where Zarathustra first began his
teaching around 1200 B.C.), he participates in New Year festivities
that demonstrate that pre-Islamic Iranian mythology and religious
customs exist in uneasy alliance with contemporary Islamic practices.
Kriwaczek then sets off on a backward travelogue, examining the
significance of Zarathustra for Nietzsche in the 19th century,
the Cathars of the Middle Ages and Hellenistic and Jewish thought
from the third through the first centuries B.C. The prophet's
teachings, recorded in the Avesta, offer a dualistic view of the
world, a dualism that can be seen in the apocalyptic visions of
the Book of Daniel and in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Zoroastrianism
also featured divisions of heavenly beings, each lined up on one
side or the other, supporting either darkness or light. In both
Christianity and Islam, the influence of Zoroastrianism can be
clearly seen in the pantheon of heavenly beings arranged in hierarchical
fashion according to degrees of goodness or evil. This is the
best and most thorough survey of Zoroastrianism, and its prophet
Zarathustra, to date.
Zend
Avesta of Zarathustra
by E.B. Szekely (Author)
The general name for the sacred books of the Parsis, fire or sun
worshippers, as they are ignorantly called.
So little is understood of the grand doctrines which are still
found in the various fragments that compose all that is now left
of that collection of religious works, that Zoroastrianism is
called indifferently Fire-worship, Mazdaism, or Magism, Dualism,
Sun-worship, and what not.
The Avesta has two parts as now collected together, the first
portion containing the Vendidad, the Visperad and the Yasna; and
the second portion, called the Khorda Avesta (Small Avesta), being
composed of short prayers called Gah, Nyayish, etc. Zend means
"a commentary or explanation", and Avesta (from the
old Persian abashta, "the law"
The
Sumerians : Their History, Culture, and Character by Samuel Noah
Kramer
The Sumerians, the pragmatic and gifted people who preceded the
Semites in the land first known as Sumer and later as Babylonia,
created what was probably the first high civilization in the history
of man, spanning the fifth to the second millenniums B.C. This
book is an unparalleled compendium of what is known about them.
Professor Kramer communicates his enthusiasm for his subject as
he outlines the history of the Sumerian civilization and describes
their cities, religion, literature, education, scientific achievements,
social structure, and psychology. Finally, he considers the legacy
of Sumer to the ancient and modern world.
"There are few scholars in the world qualified to write such
a book, and certainly Kramer is one of them. . . . One of the
most valuable features of this book is the quantity of texts and
fragments which are published for the first time in a form available
to the general reader. For the layman the book provides a readable
and up-to-date introduction to a most fascinating culture.
Sumerian
Mythology: A Study of Spiritual and Literary Achievement in the
Third Millennium B.C.
by Samuel Noah Kramer
The book excellently gives a rundown of the pantheon of Sumerian
Gods, the acculturation of Sumerian mythology into Semitic and
translates a goodly portion of the tablets.
Whilst any serious Sumerian scholar must move on to latter translations
and works, this is a good starting point, particularly for those
wanting to see a 'decipherment' in progress.
Assyria
and Babylonia
A
History of Babylonia and Assyria
by Robert William Rogers
Babylonia and Assyria were two of the greatest nations the history
of mankind has brought forth. These two great Mesopotamian civilizations
were best known for their massive armies and instruments of war.
This is not surprising, since they were rarely at peace with one
another. They were, however, heavily influenced by each other,
as well as their predecessors, the Sumerians. Much of what we
taken for granted today, the arts and science of industry and
invention, were bequeathed to us from these ancient cultures.
This two-volume series is remarkable in that it offers an exceedingly
comprehensive and detailed looked at ancient Babylonia and Assyria.
Myths
and Legends of Babylonia and Assyria
by Lewis Spence
The purpose of this book is to provide not only a popular account
of the religion and mythology of ancient Babylonia and Assyria,
but to extract and present to the reader the treasures of romance
latent in the subject, the peculiar richness of which has been
recognized since the early days of archaeological effort in Chaldea.
Contents: Babylonia and Assyria in History and Legend; Babylonian
Cosmogony; Early Babylonian Religion; Gilgamesh Epic; Later Pantheon
of Babylonia; Great God Merodach and His Cult; Pantheon of Assyria;
Babylonia Star-Worship; Priesthood, Cult, and Temples; Magic and
Demonology of Babylonia and Assyria; Mythological Monsters and
Animals of Chaldea; Tales of the Babylonian and Assyrian Kings;
Comparative Value of the Babylonian and Assyrian Religions; Modern
Excavation in Babylonia and Assyria; Twilight of the Gods; Glossary
and Index.
The
Civilization of Babylonia and Assyria: Its Remains, Language,
History, Religion, Commerce, Law, Art and Literature
by Morris, Jr. Jastrow
What we understand about ancient cultures of Mesopotamia we know
mostly from the Babylonians and Assyrians. These ancient peoples
had developed a manner of writing, known as cuneiform, that were
well preserved onto clay tablets, and survive to this day. As
a result of the combined efforts of explorers, decipherers, archaeologists,
and many others, the fantastic histories of these lost civilizations
have been raised from beneath the mounds, which hid their secrets
for countless centuries. These early city-states are credited
with developing some of civilization's firsts, from the first
experiments in agriculture, the domestication of animals, and
the establishment of a marketplace, to the origin of mathematics,
our concept of time reckoning and a fundamental understanding
of our code of laws . The Babylonians and Assyrians, along with
their predecessors, the Sumerians, provided subsequent civilizations,
including our own, the basis for civilized living.
Ancient
Greece and Rome
The
Ancient Mysteries: A Sourcebook : Sacred Texts of the Mystery
Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean World
by Marvin W. Meyer (Editor)
The Mysteries (the term comes from the Greek word for "initiation")
were a group of Pagan religions, dating from roughly 600 BC, that
were distinct from the more familiar Pagan temple worship. The
Gods of the Mystery religions had differing names and myths, but
the faiths themselves had features in common: their Gods died
and came back to life; they were personal religions entered into
voluntarily via initiation ceremonies that reenacted the God's
death and rebirth and were often described as giving salvation
and even eternal life; they had ritual celebrations including
food and drink that reenacted a holy meal established by the God;
their teachings brought the faithful closer to an understanding
of God.
This book, complied by a mainstream scholar, is made up of a concise
introduction to the Mysteries, followed by extended excerpts from
ancient sources. You'll read about: the pagan god "incognito,
disguised as a man"; pagan Gods dying and being reborn with
the meaning that "the God is saved, and we shall have salvation.";
initiation ceremonies described as "a voluntary death";
sacred meals; ceremonial washing; pagan miracles; the pagan god
who changed water into wine; the pagan version of the great flood.
And much more.
Ancient
Mystery Cults
by Walter Burkert
The foremost historian of Greek religion providers the first comprehensive,
comparative study of a little-known aspect of ancient religious
beliefs and practices. Secret mystery cults flourished within
the larger culture of the public religion of Greece and Rome for
roughly a thousand years. This book is neither a history nor a
survey but a comparative phenomenology. Concentrating on five
major cults. In defining the mysteries and describing their rituals,
membership, organization, and dissemination, Walter Burkert displays
the remarkable erudition we have come to expect of him; he also
shows sensitivity and sympathy in interpreting the experiences
and motivations of the devotees.
The
Cults of the Roman Empire
by Robert Turcan, Antonia Nevill (Translator)
This book is about the multiplicity of gods and religions that
characterized the Roman world before Constantine. It was not the
noble gods such as Jove, Apollo and Diana, who were crucial to
the lives of the common people in the empire, but gods of an altogether
more earthly, earthy level, whose rituals and observances may
now seem bizarre. The book opens with an account of the nature
of popular religion and the way in which the gods and myths of
subject peoples were taken up by the Roman colonizers and spread
throughout the empire. Successive chapters are devoted to the
Great Mother, Isis, the cults of Syria, Mithras, The Horsemen,
Dionysus, and to practices related to the performance of magic.
It was above all with these popular religions that the early Christians
fought for supremacy. In the concluding part of the book Professor
Turcan describes this contest and its eventual outcome in the
triumph of Christianity throughout the Roman world.
Marcus
Aurelius
Marcus
Aurelius Meditations
by Marcus Aurelius, Gregory Hays (Translator);
Let facts and common sense be your guide:
1. View yourself as a part, and only a part,
of nature.
2. Accept your fate without complaining. Don't waste time judging.
3. Don't be surprised that there are offensive people.
4. Accept that things change, including your body. So accept that
you will die.
5. Things repeat: a life of 40 years may see as much as one of
1000 years.
6. While you're worrying about death, your mind may go. Make the
best of it while it's intact.
7. Some stress is normal. You may be surprised how much you can
endure, especially if you realize its for the best that you do
so.
8. We weren't born to feel great, we were born to help others.
9. Why value that which can't offer you security?
That's a little of what I understood Marcus Aurelius to be advising.
A sober naturalism, without the comfort of gods or the tease of
enlightenment. Between Aurelius and the translator, Gregory Hays,
it comes across clear enough that at time I was surprised that
this ancient Roman could be speaking so intimately to me.
The
Spiritual Wisdom of Marcus Aurelius
by Alan Jacobs
It is said that the collected sayings of Marcus Aurelius are the
best treatise on practical philosophy ever written. Living in
Rome at a time when Stoicism and the legacy of Socrates' wisdom
were resounding through the marketplace and Senate, Emperor Marcus
Aurelius composed a series of meditations, designed to help people
get through the stresses and strains of daily life.
Previous translations of Aurelius' aphorisms have often been somewhat
archaic however Alan Jacobs' new `transcreation' is an easily
accessible and yet deeply profound interpretation of Aurelius'
work. Using free verse in modern-day language, Jacobs has skilfully
translated Aurelius' insights into a smooth and exquisite exposition
on the Truth and the meaning of life. And in the manner of the
Stoics, Jacobs has successfully woven into
his text the immortal strands of reason and mysticism:
So what will guide us?
I answer unequivocally -
Philosophy!
So keep your `will' free
from violence,
superior to pain and pleasure.
Never drift aimlessly
nor hypocritically,
but accepting all that
happens wholeheartedly
with a big yea-say!
Await death cheerfully
so the elements may be dissolved
and consciousness
return to its source.
Nothing is ever wrong if it follows
the `Nature of Things'.
To read regularly one or two verses from `The Spiritual Wisdom
of Marcus Aurelius' is to remove oneself from the transitory nature
of the day-to-day and be immersed in a transcendent wisdom, one
which is as true for the Romans as it is for us today.
Plato
& Socrates
Plato
Complete Works
by Plato, John M. Cooper (Editor), D. S. Hutchinson (Editor)
One might be tempted to ask whether another collection of Plato's
works is really necessary, given that they have been translated
many times. But several factors set this particular volume apart,
making it a worthy addition to most libraries. The translations
are all relatively recent and thus reflect contemporary language
use and terminology. The collection includes works such as the
Minos, Epinomis, Demodocus, Eryxias, and Axiochus, which, though
generally considered not to have been written by Plato, are "Socratic"
in form or style. The text itself is clearly printed and laid
out, with useful notes, and Cooper's introduction and notes about
the translations are helpful in setting the dialogs in context.
Republic
by Plato, Robin Waterfield
Must we not acknowledge...that in each of us there are the same
principles and habits which there are in the State; and that from
the individual they pass into the State?"
What does it mean to be good? What enables us to distinguish right
from wrong? And how should human virtues be translated into a
just society? These are the questions that Plato sought to answer
in this monumental work of moral and political philosophy, a book
surpassed only by the Bible in its formative influence on two
thousand years of Western thought.
In the course of its tautly reasoned Socratic dialogues, The Republic
accomplishes nothing less than an anatomy of the soul and an exhaustive
description of a State that both mirrors and enforces the soul's
ideal harmony. The resulting text is at once mystical and elegantly
logical and may be read as a template for the societies in which
most of us live today.
Socrates
Cafe: A Fresh Taste of Philosophy
by Christopher Phillips
For Christopher Phillips, philosophy is a passion: it is not so
much a discipline to be learned as an experience to be lived.
Taking his cue from Socrates, the inaugurator of the Western philosophical
tradition, Phillips embarks on a search for truth and meaning
through a series of conversations that is at once refreshing,
humorous, troubling, confusing, encouraging, depressing, and provocative.
What makes Plato's Socratic dialogues so enduring--and Phillips's
book so intriguing--is that for both Plato and Phillips, philosophy
is not something you read or study. It is something you do. Plato
wrote in Parmenides that "without wandering around and examining
everything in detail one is unable to secure understanding."
Phillips takes this approach--the Socratic approach--to heart.
In the course of Socrates Café, he travels around asking
questions of everyone who's interested. Just like the real Socrates,
who did not confine himself to the Athenian ivory tower, Phillips
searches out public conversations--what he calls Socrates cafés--with
children, seniors, psychiatrists, prisoners, ex-academics, students,
lawyers, and everyday people. In a sense, the book is a series
of short, modern-day Socratic dialogues interspersed with meditations
on the nature of philosophical inquiry.
Phillips seizes upon what the Greeks called "elenchus,"
a method of inquiry that helps people see their own beliefs and
opinions more clearly. In the course of the numerous Socrates
cafés highlighted in this book, Phillips persistently reminds
us that we ought to ask questions simply because the process is
good for us. In each of the cafés, the participants vary
as widely as the questions, and the dialogues are by turns candid,
insightful, muddled, intelligent, bland, and piquant. The real
meaning of Socrates Café lies in the contentious and wonderful
space of human interaction. --Eric de Place
Ancient
China
The
Art of War
by Sun Tzu
The Art of War is the Swiss army knife of military theory--pop
out a different tool for any situation. Folded into this small
package are compact views on resourcefulness, momentum, cunning,
the profit motive, flexibility, integrity, secrecy, speed, positioning,
surprise, deception, manipulation, responsibility, and practicality.
Thomas Cleary's translation keeps the package tight, with crisp
language and short sections. Commentaries from the Chinese tradition
trail Sun-tzu's words, elaborating and picking up on puzzling
lines. Take the solitary passage: "Do not eat food for their
soldiers." Elsewhere, Sun-tzu has told us to plunder the
enemy's stores, but now we're not supposed to eat the food? The
Tang dynasty commentator Du Mu solves the puzzle nicely, "If
the enemy suddenly abandons their food supplies, they should be
tested first before eating, lest they be poisoned." Most
passages, however, are the pinnacle of succinct clarity: "Lure
them in with the prospect of gain, take them by confusion"
or "Invincibility is in oneself, vulnerability is in the
opponent." Sun-tzu's maxims are widely applicable beyond
the military because they speak directly to the exigencies of
survival. Your new tools will serve you well, but don't flaunt
them. Remember Sun-tzu's advice: "Though effective, appear
to be ineffective."
Tao
Te Ching: An Illustrated Journey
by Lao Tzu, Stephen Mitchell
Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching (The Book of the Way) has long been referenced
by those who seek to understand the Eastern philosophy of the
harmony of the universe. In simple, eloquent verse this collection
of poems (though there are those who would object to the 'poem'
label) the secrets to shedding the self with its attendant judgment,
desire, and critique provide the guide for finding oneness with
the cosmos.
Steven Mitchell is the translator of these ancient texts and his
sensitivity to the poetic flow of the concepts and instructions
enhance this version of the TAO TE CHING. And as if that weren't
sufficient reason to make this your access to these ageless meditations,
this book is an 'illustrated version', tastefully combined with
old Chinese drawings and paintings that allow the eye to roam
while digesting the moments of beauty of the words.
The
Complete Works of Lao Tzu: Tao Teh Ching & Hua Hu Ching
by Laozi, Hua Ching Ni
The teachings of Lao Tzu present the core of Taoist philosophy
and provide practical guidelines for a natural, harmonious life.
Hua-Ching Ni's translation and elucidation help make this cherished
work spiritually relevant to modern readers who are seeking to
apply its truth in their daily lives.
The I
Ching Book of Changes
I
Ching Workbook
The Book of Change represents a profound effort on the part of
its authors to observe the relationship between the behavior of
humans and the constantly changing structure of the universe.
by
R.L. Wing
The 5,000-year-old Chinese book of wisdom, presented in a unique
work-book format designed to help truth-seekers find new meaning
and enlightenment in its ancient lore.
This book is indeed a Workbook for using the I Ching. There are
so many books about the hexagrams, but not many go into enough
detail as to how to really USE them from a practical perspective,
and leave the reader to figure it out for him or herself. R.L.
Wing's interpretations of each hexagram are more detailed than
one usually finds. As the other reviews indicate, Wing keeps a
impartial distance, however, and that requires the user to read
between the lines to apply them to their own circumstances.
The
Illustrated I Ching
by R.L. Wing
This companion to The I Ching Workbook offers an easily accessible
yet powerfully enlightening tool that will help readers understand
the I Ching's way of knowledge and grasp the principles behind
the world's most ancient book.
I
Ching
by Edward L. Shaughnessy (Translator)
What are the most widely read and commented upon works in history?
The Bible? The Vedas? The Quran? How about the I Ching? Every
major thinker in Chinese history has had something to say about
it. Passed down from generation to generation, it has been admired,
studied, and put into practice. In 1973, archaeologists unearthed
a number of silk manuscripts dating back to 168 B.C. Included
in the find was a version of the I Ching and four commentaries
previously lost. The text itself differed in places from the accepted
version, especially in the arrangement of the hexagrams. Scholar
Edward Shaughnessy has translated the entire text, along with
the four commentaries and an additional commentary (the Appended
Statements) that traditionally accompanies the text. The newly
discovered commentaries offer a variety of interesting opinions,
one of which appears to be Taoist, while another has Confucius
explaining what the I Ching means to him. Shaughnessy includes
the Chinese text of both the received version and the excavated
version, although, unfortunately, the notes are buried in the
back, making it difficult to follow the subtle differences. --Brian
Bruya
Ancient
India & Tibet
In
Search of the Cradle of Civilization
by Georg Feuerstein
With this work, the authors, all three renowned Yoga and Vedic
scholars with multiple publications to their names, set out to
challenge the generally held theory that advanced culture began
in Sumer in southern Mesopotamia. Relying on a reexamination of
redated Vedic literature and denying that an "Aryan invasion"
from the north ever took place, which allegedly would have introduced
advanced culture into India at a relatively late date, they claim
instead that advanced culture already existed in the Indus valley?before
the flourishing of Sumer. The work is broad in scope, well documented,
and extensively illustrated.
Early
India : From the Origins to AD 1300
by Romila Thapar
Early India represents a complete rewriting by Romila Thapar of
her classic work, A History of India (the first volume in the
Penguin History of India series), thirty-five years after it was
first published. Thapar has incorporated the vast changes in scholarly
understanding and interpretation of Indian history that have occurred
during her lifetime to revise the book for a new generation of
readers. This new work brings to life thousands of years of history,
tracing India's evolution before contact with modern Europe was
established: its prehistoric beginnings; the great cities of the
Indus civilization; the emergence of mighty dynasties such as
the Mauryas, Guptas, and Cholas; the teachings of the Buddha;
the creation of heroic epics such as the Mahabharata and the Ramayana;
and the creation of regional cultures. Thapar introduces figures
from the remarkable visionary ruler Ashoka to other less exemplary
figures. In exploring subjects as diverse as marriage, class,
art, erotica, and astronomy, Thapar provides an incomparably vivid
and nuanced picture of India. Above all, she shows the rich mosaic
of diverse kingdoms, landscapes, languages, and beliefs.
The
Rig Veda
by Anonymous, Wendy Doniger (Translator)
The earliest of the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the
Vedas, and the first extensive composition to survive in any Indo-European
language, The Rig Veda (c. 1200–900 bc) is a collection of
more than 1,000 individual Sanskrit hymns. A work of intricate
beauty, it provides unique insight into early Indian mythology
and culture. Fraught with paradox, the hymns are meant "to
puzzle, to surprise, to trouble the mind," writes translator
Wendy Doniger, who has selected 108 hymns for this volume. Chosen
for their eloquence and wisdom, they focus on the enduring themes
of creation, sacrifice, death, women, and the gods. Doniger’s
The Rig Veda provides a fascinating introduction to a timeless
masterpiece of Hindu ritual and spirituality.
The
Secret Teachings of the Vedas: The Eastern Answers to the Mysteries
of Life
by Stephen Knapp
Stephen Knapp's book focus on eastern answers to the mysterious
horizons explaining the theories about the universe, the souls,
life after death and the ideas of the Absolute Lord. It's an indepth
introduction to vedic teachings. The easter philosophy is well
explained with Chapters one to four giving clear insights into
who and what is your real identity and vedas give an understand
as to what life really is. Chapters Two and three explain how
vedas influence great men of the decade and the vedic background
info of its compilation. Fifth chapter focus on Law of Karma and
reincarnation. The sixth chapter is on reincarnation of different
lives in different bodies. Chapter seven describes a little about
universe structure and heaven n hell. Chapter eight reveals the
evolution theory and vedic spiritual growth with a cycle of repeated
birth and death. Chapter nine gives an insight of human existence.
Tenth and eleventh chapter explain how God is Supreme Power whose
influence should be recognized in our everyday Life.Chapter Twelve
speaks of spiritual world which is found only in vedic literature.-Blossomsmile-
The
Upanishads
by Eknath Easwaran (Translator)
Eknath Easwaran discovered the treasures of wisdom in his own
native India and began to pursue them with a passion. He has since
studied them, practiced them, and moved to America to share them
with the Western world. In his translation of The Upanishads,
the font of Indian spirituality, Easwaran delights us with a readable
rendition of one of the most difficult texts of all religious
traditions. Each Upanishad is a lyrical statement about the deeper
truths of mysticism, from the different levels of awareness to
cultivations of love for God. There's one twist, though, for ultimately
a devoted meditator realizes that God and the world are not separate
from oneself. Then the ultimate goal becomes to reunite with the
universal Self, achieving the infinite joy that accompanies such
union. Easwaran recruited Michael Nagler to contribute notes to
the translation and a lengthy afterword, which together with introductions
to each Upanishad, guide us expertly through this strange and
fruitful landscape. --Brian Bruya
The
Bhagavad Gita
by Eknath Easwaran (Editor)
Prince Arjuna faced a dilemma that many face sooner or later--whether
to take action that is necessary yet morally ambiguous. The difference
is that Arjuna's action was to wage war against his own family.
With the armies arrayed, Arjuna loses his nerve. Krishna, his
charioteer and incarnation of divine consciousness, begins to
teach him the nature of God and of himself, that Arjuna can attain
liberation through union with God, and that there are several
available paths. And so the most famous and revered of all Hindu
Scriptures goes on to teach the paths of knowledge, devotion,
action, and meditation, becoming the seed for all the Hindu systems
of philosophy and religion that followed. For all of its profundity,
Eknath Easwaran manages to translate the Gita in easy prose that
neither panders nor obscures. Coupled with his thorough introduction,
Easwaran's version comes off on all the levels it should: as a
guide to action, devotional Scripture, a philosophical text, and
inspirational reading. So what does Arjuna finally do? He follows
his dharma, of course, as we all must. --Brian Bruya
God
Talks with Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita
by Paramahansa Yogananda
Just as Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi has established itself
as peerless and eternal among the masses of spiritual biographies
and surveys published each century, God Talks to Arjuna is becoming
recognized as that singular presentation of the Bhagavad Gita
which will be studied and restudied by sincere seekers and scholars
for ages to come. The handsome and lavishly illustrated 1200-page,
two-volume set is available in both a finely bound slipcased hardcover
edition ... and a surprisingly inexpensive paperback printing
... For a volume that will likely be reconsulted, Bible-like,
many times over the years, the hardcover edition is to be recommended
if your budget can possibly permit.
Each of the 700 Bhagavad Gita verses is presented in both Sanskrit
and English. More importantly, each verse is followed by commentary
and expansion that integrates your study of the Gita with the
entire spiritual science of Raja (meditative) Yoga.
Autobiography
of a Yogi
by Paramahansa Yogananda
The original text of Yogananda's classic introduction to Eastern
mysticism.
Any person interested in religious thought will find much of value
here. Many precepts of the Hindu religion are explored throughout
this autobiography, and some of them shed light from a different
perception upon the Christian and Judaic faiths. If a person is
open to looking at one's own beliefs through another person's
eyes, understanding of all beliefs may be increased. A person
who does not wish to understand beliefs of another person's religion
should, however, stay away from this book.
Along with the personal, spiritual autobiography and the open
sharing of belief and faith are stories of many swamis and saints,
and also of two of current culture and times. One chapter is devoted
to noted horticulturist Luther Burbank, and his friendship with
Yogananda, giving a different view of the man and of his accomplishments
than that generally learned in our schooling. Another chapter
is given to Mahatma Ghandi as Yogonanda briefly knew him.
For
more books by Yogananda please visit our Spiritual
Teacher Bookstore..and our Tribute
to Yogananda
Third
Eye
by T. Lobsang Rampa
T. Lobsang Rampa was preordained to be a Tibetan priest, a sign
from the stars that could not be ignored. When he left his wealthy
home to enter the monastery, his heart was filled with trepidation,
with only a slight knowledge of the rigorous spiritual training
and physical ordeal that awaited him . . . .
This is his story, a hauntingly beautiful and deeply inspiring
journey of awakening within Chakpori Lamasery, the temple of Tibetan
medicine. It is a moving tale of passage through the mystic arts
of astral projection, crystal gazing, aura deciphering, meditation,
and more, a spiritual guide of enlightenment and discovery through
the opening of the all-powerful, the all-knowing . . . .
Wisdom
of the Ancients
by T. Lobsang Rampa
This book is a guide to help you clear away the mystery of enlightenment
that is very difficult to come by. Have you ever wondered what
'prana' is? Well Dr. Rampa will explain it in Supplement A which
consists of valuable breathing exercises that will help clear
your mind. He elucidates on what the Kundalini is, the subconscious
mind, the devil, Zen, love and so much more; all in easy to understand
plain english. Reading Dr. Rampa's books is the first step to
understanding the sutras and treatises on enlightenment and well
worth reading over and over again to finally 'see the light'.
The
Tibetan Book of the Dead
by Robert Thurman (Translator), Huston Smith (Introduction)
The Dalai Lama's blessing attends Thurman's translation of the
Book of Natural Liberation Through Understanding in the Between.
Composed by Padma Sambhava in the late eighth century, this text
minutely describes the "betweens" ( Bardos ) or after-death
transition states. Thurman, who opens this work with a new section
of preliminary prayers, gives a helpful commentary in terms Westerners
can understand and boldface portions to be read aloud in the presence
of the dead. He closes by appending Nyingma tradition works to
the main text. This text has already been translated in 1927 and
1975, and some of Thurman's new translation choices are questionable.
For instance, the West has adopted the term karma , which expresses
the original meaning better than evolution --an alternative that
obscures the personal responsibility emphasized in Buddhism. In
addition, since Tibetan pronouns are sexually neutral, alternating
his with her from verse to verse confuses.
For
books by the Dalai Lama please visit our
Spiritual Teacher Bookstore
The
Heart of the Buddha's Teaching
by Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat Hanh's introduction begins with the Turning the Dharma
Wheel Sutra, the classic tale of Buddha's announcement in the
Deer Park of his awakening. Nhat Hanh then proceeds through a
series of laundry-list definitions of core Buddhist terminology:
Four Noble Truths, The Noble Eightfold Path, The Three Dharma
Seals, The Three Doors of Liberation, The Twelve Links of Causation,
The Three Jewels, The Six Harmonies, The Five Powers, The Five
Wonderful Precepts and The Four Immeasurable Minds. Despite the
tedium of the list, Nhat Hanh does present Buddhism as way of
thinking and a well-traveled path toward enlightenment. Buddhism,
he teaches, is not only about the individual's attainment of enlightenment
but also about the community, past and present, which has fostered
the possibility of an individual's enlightenment. As an introduction
to Buddhism, this is a masterful inventory of the basic accouterments
of a well-furnished Buddhist life.
For
more books by Thich Nhat Hanh please visit our Spiritual
Teacher Bookstore
Siddhartha
by Hermann Hesse
The novel tells with simple prose which is different from any
of Hesse's other work in its simplicity. It tells of the human
frailty and failings of a being that leads to the discovery of
the Buddhist philosophy. The story pushes for you to think about
what Siddhartha discovers, especially in the scene by the river,
and to understand how this revelation relates to your world view.
I found this book at a time in my life when I needed to, and I
hope it finds you at the right point in your life as well. The
fewer expectations you have the better.
Ancient
Egypt
The
Soul in Egyptian Metaphysics
by Manly P. Hall
An illustrated and concise description of The Book of the Dead
and Egyptian metaphysics during the Osirian period.
The
Egyptian Book of the Dead : The Book of Coming Forth by Day
by Mnata A. Ashbi
I Know myself, I know myself, I am One With
God!
From the Pert Em Heru
The Ru Pert em Heru or Ancient Egyptian Book of The Dead, or Book
of Coming Forth By Day as it is more popularly known, has fascinated
the world since the successful translation of Ancient Egyptian
hieroglyphic scripture over 150 years ago. The astonishing writings
in it reveal that the Ancient Egyptians believed in life after
death and in an ultimate destiny to discover the Divine. The elegance
and aesthetic beauty of the hieroglyphic text itself has inspired
many see it as an art form in and of itself.
But
is there more to it than that? Did the Ancient Egyptian wisdom
contain more than just aphorisms and hopes of eternal life beyond
death?
In this volume Dr. Muata Ashby, the author of over 25 books on
Ancient Egyptian Yoga Philosophy has produced a new translation
of the original texts which uncovers a mystical teaching underlying
the sayings and rituals instituted by the Ancient Egyptian Sages
and Saints.
Once the philosophy of Ancient Egypt is understood as a mystical
tradition instead of as a religion or primitive mythology, it
reveals its secrets which if practiced today will lead anyone
to discover the glory of spiritual self-discovery. The Pert em
Heru is in every way comparable to the Indian Upanishads or the
Tibetan Book of the Dead.
The
Passion of Isis and Osiris : A Gateway to Transcendent Love
by Jean Houston
Well-known psychologist and author Houston begins this highly
adventurous book with a poetic retelling of the Egyptian myth
of nature goddess Isis and her brother and husband, Osiris, the
legendary ruler and god of the underworld. She then chronicles
the cult of worship of Isis and Osiris, a chief religion of the
Roman Empire until around A.D. 400. Mining archetypal spirituality
in the manner of Joseph Campbell, Houston sifts ancient Egyptian
myths for their contemporary relevance as keys to personal transformation.
Finding love amid sorrow, accepting loss and death, reconciling
body and soul are among the lessons she gleans from the Isis/Osiris
legend, to be achieved by "entering an Egyptian state of
mind, allowing for the simultaneous existence and experience of
all things in motion." To that end, she sets forth self-help
exercises, including journal-keeping, dreamwork, creating sentences
in hieroglyphics, body movement, meditation and sailing with Osiris
into the underworld.
The
Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt
by Richard H. Wilkinson
Egyptologist Wilkinson presents a clear, comprehensive and beautifully
illustrated (in color and b&w) guide to the bewildering array
of Egyptian deities-a complete catalogue of gods and goddesses
supplemented by examinations of the history of Egyptian religion,
the rise and fall of the gods, and the ways in which they were
worshipped. Ancient Egypt was, Wilkinson writes, the most theocratic
of any ancient culture; religion pervaded daily life for comoners
as well as the pharaohs. This volume underscores the richness
of ancient Egyptian beliefs: literally scores of deities are discussed,
grouped by appearance: male anthropomorphic, female anthropomorphic,
mammalian, avian, etc. For each god or goddess, the author discusses
its mythology, iconography and forms of worship. Amun, or Amun-Re,
for instance, one of the major male anthropomorphic gods, is discussed
as creator god, solar god and fertility god, among other roles;
he was originally portrayed with the color red; and he was honored
with temples at Karnak and Luxor. This is an excellent reference
work for budding Egyptologists and anyone fascinated by the culture
of ancient Egypt.
Sacred
Sexuality-Ancient Egyptian Tantric Yoga
by Muata Ashby
Tantrism and Mysticism of Ancient Egypt The Neterian Guide To
Love, Sexuality, Marriage, Relationships and the Secrets of Sexual
Energy Cultivation, Sublimation, and Spiritual Enlightenment This
Volume will expand on the male and female principles within the
human body and in the universe and further detail the sublimation
of sexual energy into spiritual energy. The student will study
the deities Min and Hathor, Asar and Aset, Geb and Nut and discover
the mystical implications for a practical spiritual discipline.
This Volume will also focus on the Tantric aspects of Ancient
Egyptian and Indian mysticism, the purpose of sex and the mystical
teachings of sexual sublimation which lead to self-knowledge and
Enlightenment.
Ancient
Nubia
Kush
- The Jewel of Nubia: Reconnecting the Root System of African
Civilization
by Miriam Ma'At-Ka-Re Monges
The Great Cheikh Anta Diop identified the roots of African culture
from which one can trace the branches. No African researcher since,
however, has provided a comprehensive analysis connecting the
ancient Nile Valley civilizations with the African universe. From
the pyramids of Egypt to the great walls of Zimbabwe, Western
scholars have attributed the achievements of these prodigious
indigenous African civilizations to people culturally and geographically
alien to Africa. However, in the case of the ancient Nubian Empire
of Kush, which occupied the southern part of Kemet (ancient Egypt)
and all of present-day Sudan, one expects reasonable scholars
to attribute this African culture to an African people. The present
much-needed work traces Diop's great "African cultural commonalities"
of matriarchy, totemism, divine kinship, and cosmology to the
very core of Kushite culture. This book is on the cutting edge
of a new generation of Afrocentric scholarship whose mandate it
is to provide a clearer picture of Africa's true nature, it s
genius and its genuine contribution to World Civilizations.
The
Black Pharaohs: Egypt's Nubian Rulers
by Robert G. Morkot
A comprehensive investigation of the Kushite kingdom, present
day northern Sudan, which briefly controlled Egypt during the
8th century BC and influenced Egyptian affairs for hundreds of
years. Morkot examines ancient and antiquarian perceptions of
the exotic lands of Nubia and Ethiopia and attempts to tie the
towns of Kush to archaeological remains. A large part of the book
concentrates on the role of the Nubians during Egypt's conflicts
with Libya and the Assyrians.
The
African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality
by Cheikh Anta Diop
This book by Diop is very critical and convincing in its arguments.
I personally still cannot understand how people can be confused
as to the identity of many of the pharaohs: by simply looking
at their statues, I see blacks, even without colour. When I first
analyzed the identity of the ancient Kemets (Egyptians), I started
by looking at their statutes and busts, and I can see mostly black
features in them. I am just being honest with myself and everyone!
In fact some of them look like my African friends! Diop argues
that the Egyptian civilization was initiated by a Black race and
sustained by it. This race, was probably from the land of Kush,
as he argues. He deals with everything, starting from the identity
of the mummies, the "red" complexion, the relationship
of Egypt with its neighbours, etc. And als, if they were Black,
what happened to them. He does not only present his argument,
but also deals with other people's counterarguments, and trust
me, there are so many unbelievable self-contradictions in many
of these so-called Egyptologists or historians propositions/arguments:
they argue that Egypt was anything but black. There are just certain
things in life you cannot hide forever. -O B MAKHUBELA-
Ancient
Christianity
The
Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English
by Geza Vermes (Translator)
Geza Vermes provides a concise introduction to the topic of the
Dead Sea Scrolls and provides English translations of many of
the scrolls and fragments found in the 11 caves of Qumran. This
book was originally published in 1965 and was last updated in
1997. Much has happened in those 32 years and this book contains
updates on the key items.
Among the many key manuscripts translated in this book are the
Community Rule, the Damascus Document, the Messianic Rule, the
War Scroll, the Thanksgiving Hymns, the Apocryphal Psalms, the
calendrical documents, the Blessings and Benedictions, the Peshers
(commentaries) on numerous books of the Old Testament, Biblical
Apocryphal Works, and the Copper Scroll (the Copper Scroll is
a description of the locations of hidden treasures).
The book is quite complete, but new discoveries and revisions
to existing hypotheses will always make future revisions a necessity.
I have used this book to teach a 4-week mini-course on the Dead
Sea Scrolls at my Church with much success. I highly recommend
this book. The topic is fascinating and this book is a must for
anyone serious about learning what is in the Dead Sea Scrolls
and what life was like from 150 B.C to 70 A.D.
The
Gospel of the Essenes
by Edmond Bordeaux Szekely, Purcell Weaver
It was written in the time of Jesus and there is no doubt with
the unearthing of the Dead Sea Scrolls that Jesus visited the
Brotherhood of the Essenes, an early Jewish sect and was heavily
influenced by their deep reverence for spirituality and God. There
is no doubt that this book will take anyone spiritually inclined-Jew,
Christian, Muslim, etc. much, much closer to God. Highly recommended.
A deeper understanding of early religions and how ancient peoples
may have been closer to the truth of God than anything in modern
religions.
Essene
Gospel of Peace: Book 1
by Edmond Bordeaux Szekely
It is truly amazing that this could have been written 1700 years
ago and even if this Edmond Bordeaux Szekely, Ph.D. added some
twist of his for some reason upon interpretation, it still is
pretty profound in the 1930's. It has only been in the last 70
years that science has been coming to the same conclusions about
raw foods, enzymes, nutrition and foods being heated above 118
F. Once you try raw foodism for a year you'll see why this book
in particular is so important.
Another
profound things the Dead Sea Scrolls teach is order the law. First
law is raw food, once that law is broken, you have the 10 commandments,
once these laws have been broken you have the law of 5000. Then
you have the mess we have today. Believe it or not, the food you
eat effects you more than any other outside influence and if you
want proof of it start looking at nature and see how the foods
of wild animals influences them. Grass grassing animals always
have a calm about them, flesh eating animals are aggressive and
sugar loving animals like apes are neurotic. Are you or your friend
so different? Our domestic pets and we are the only species that
do not eat raw food. Why do our domestic pets have the same physical
aliments we do, but these problems really do not occur in true
wild nature? Simple, when you get away from man made toxins and
eat true organic wild raw foods & drink fresh water, disease
does not exist.
Last it gives us a clue about what foods are most important to
us and it states that God sleeps in stone, breathes in plants,
dreams in animals, and awakens in man.
The
Way of the Essenes : Christ's Hidden Life Remembered
by Anne Meurois-Givaudan, Daniel Meurois-Givaudan
Not the easiest book to read. Lots of heavy reading that required
many re-reads in various parts of the book, which is an inspiring
account into the mystical nature of events surrounding the life
of Jesus, the Essene and Jewish communities, the Romans, and the
Christ. From the exerpts, one sees new and different insights
into strange and supernatural occurrences that religions have
interpreted and tailored into what they want us to believe. Be
ready to see a different take on the Star of Bethlehem, the moment
of when Jesus became the Christ, and the commotion surrounding
the crucifixion and its aftermath.
The book reflects the Akashic Records journeys (in 1st person
form of each) of the two Essenes who befriended Jesus at an early
age, then followed the Master during his teachings and eventual
physical death. The book is not all about Jesus, but is also about
the people (and their lives) who were influenced by his teachings
of Love and Kindness. Its a great book but be prepared to be surprised,
amused, and knocked off your conventions. -billiusmax-
The
Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ: The Philosophic and Practical
Basis of the Religion of the Aquarian Age of the World
by Levi H. Dowling
Reported to be taken from the Akashic Records, Levi's The Aquarian
Gospel Of Jesus The Christ the story of Jesus of Nazareth, and
how he attained the Christ consciousness that is open to all men.
The Aquarian Gospel Of Jesus The Christ is a complete record of
the "lost" eighteen years passed over in the New Testament
gospels between the appearance of Jesus as a child in the Jerusalem
temple and the commencement of his selection of apostles and the
launching of his mission to the people of Palestine. The Aquarian
Gospel Of Jesus The Christ is a record of Jesus' encounters with
the masters, seers and wise men he visited while traveling in
Tibet, Egypt, India, Persia, and Greece. A classic of metaphysical
studies, this edition from DeVorss Publications will once again
make this timeless testament available to a whole new generation
of students and truth seekers.
Having lived in India for a substantial period of time, an interesting
point that stood out for me was that an American priest properly
captured the very essence of Indian caste-culture. Assuming that
the author did not live in India at all, it is entirely incredible
for him to have captured it to such detail 100 years ago.
On traveling to India, Jesus learns the art of healing, and studies
the Vedic texts. He travels to Nepal and the Himalayas where he
learns the Buddhist doctrine. In Tibet, the ancient manuscripts
are revealed to him. In Persia, he explains the concept of good
and evil, and how evil is man's own creation. In Egypt, Jesus
is taken in as a student of Heliopolis and goes through the seven
tests and receives the seven degrees.
The
New Jerusalem Bible : Leather Edition
by Henry Wansbrough
In 1956, scholars from L'Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem set their
minds to translating the Scriptures from the original Hebrew,
Aramaic, and Greek texts, hoping they could preserve the most
sacred Christian traditions and stories. By 1966, the first English-language
Jerusalem Bible was published. Since then it has become a favored
text for lay readers and scholars alike. The accessible language
and richly recounted stories, poetry, and letters in this edition
is consistent with previous versions. However, this latest version
stands out because of its clear format--clean double columns with
easy-to-read type and quick reference headings.
The
Urantia Book
by Urantia Foundation
Comprehending wisdom, experiencing universal truths, realizing
greater cosmic insights and living expanded spiritual values.
"It's not Truth until it's Your Truth."
"The Urantia Book" is a replete work, incredibly consistent.
It's four parts begin with the total or superuniverse, looks at
the "local universe" or creation of Jesus, then goes
to the history of Earth which it designates as "Urantia,"
and finishes with the most amazing, detailed and thrilling account
of the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. The book appeals
to readers from all faiths, discusses the major world religions,
and develops a sense of cosmology and sense of belonging to a
friendly universe greater than we are. I love this book because
it has made God more clear to me, more certain. It diverges from
Christianity in three doctrines: atonement, virgin birth and Adam
& Eve as the first humans. The story and history of the Lucifer
Rebellion are chilling. For me, the 3rd part of the book that
discusses our planetary history was the authenticator. Things
I can see in the world are discussed with The Urantia Book stating
the causes. Like the Pharisees of old, many are threatened by
new religious writings as if they would invalidate the old. The
Urantia Book expands that which we have today gracefully and lovingly.
For the spiritually hungry, it is a MUST READ.
The Celts
and Vikings
The
Encyclopedia of Celtic Wisdom: The Celtic Shaman's Sourcebook
by Caitlin Matthews, John Matthews
In this stunning gift edition, Celtic experts Caitlin and John
Matthews present inspirational primary material, rich in ancient
wisdom, lore, and mythology. For readers who are fascinated by
Celtic traditions, and spiritual heritage, this unique reference
introduces several new translations of powerful Celtic literature,
including stories, poems, and visionary writing-many dating from
the 7th century.
Brimming with invaluable ancestral knowledge and previously unavailable
texts, this invaluable sourcebook offers readers a rare insight
into shamanic memory, druidic divination and prophecy, shape-shifting
myths, stories about soul loss and restoration, legendary magic,
and healing traditions.
A
History of the Vikings
by Gwyn Jones
From tribal origins in Scandinavia to their voyages of conquest
and trade as far afield as Constantinople and Newfoundland. When
historical information is scant or doubtful, Jones fleshes out
the book with rewarding studies on Viking culture, language, and
society; including a refreshingly understated examination of Norse
mythology. We learn that sometimes the Vikings really did deserve
their reputation as bloodthirsty marauders, but at the core they
were very pragmatic empire builders who were usually able to blend
into the societies they conquered, especially in Russia and Britain,
thus disappearing as a distinct group and enriching the cultures
of those other lands. The most fascinating portion of the book
concerns the Viking exploration of the new world (including the
harsh Iceland and Greenland) a good 500 years before Columbus.
Jones also pulls out a surprise at the end of the saga with the
indirect Norwegian influence on the Norman conquest of England
in 1066, while the Normans had once been Vikings themselves.
The Black
Plague
The
Great Mortality : An Intimate History of the Black Death, the
Most Devastating Plague of All Time
by John Kelly
A book chronicling one of the worst human disasters in recorded
history really has no business being entertaining. But John Kelly's
The Great Mortality is a page-turner despite its grim subject
matter and graphic detail. Credit Kelly's animated prose and uncanny
ability to drop his reader smack in the middle of the 14th century,
as a hereto
