Gregory has lost interest in being alive. He’s been doing it for far too long. But dying is too much trouble, so he simply continues to exist in all his jaded, apathetic, eternal glory. In a hopeless attempt to find a diversion, he takes a night class at the local community college where he meets Nikki Christian. She seems to be everything he is not—young, open, honest, hopeful, charitable... the nauseating list goes on. However, Nikki is also overtly intuitive. She can see through lies and secrets in ways no human should, and Gregory has lots of secrets. Obviously, he should just eliminate her and be done with it. But there is something beguiling about a woman whose countenance shines like the sun in a world that’s gone dark.

Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought provides the reader with a thorough and valuable overview of the historical development of the major Eastern religious and philosophical traditions, primarily in India, China, and Japan. The book is written in an engaging style that contains a variety of anecdotes, analogies, definitions, and supporting quotes from primary and secondary sources. Awakening helps the reader to recognize the interrelationships that exist among the various traditions, to appreciate the relevance of these traditions to the concerns of modern times, and to understand the major issues of interpretation regarding these traditions. The primary focus of Awakening is Hinduism and Buddhism, and they serve as the broad umbrellas that include a number of specific schools, each of which is treated individually. Other schools–such as Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto–are included at the appropriate place. Awakening is for all students and interested readers, whether new to the study of Eastern thought or not. New to the Seventh Edition: - A new Introduction - A clearer definition and explanation of "Yoga" (throughout Part 1) - A rewrite of the Aryan Migration section in Chapter 1, bringing it in line with current research - An added sub-chapter to Chapter 6, dealing with Kundalini Yoga - Further clarification of the meaning of Anatman in Chapter 10 - Emphasis on the contribution of Daoism to Chan Buddhism - Clearer presentation of the Life of Buddha (Legend vs. Reality) - Updated Study Questions - Two new videos added to the companion website Key Features: - An historical overview that attempts to show the development of Eastern philosophies, both within the individual traditions as well as within a broad but loosely unified system of thought - Abundantly uses stories in chapter overviews to engage student readers and to better explain Eastern thought - No background in Asian studies, philosophy, or religious studies is presumed, allowing any student to greatly benefit from reading this book - A functional, visually attractive web site www.patrickbresnan.com with author-produced videos on the content of the book, scores of pictures, and a comprehensive section on meditation

Traces of a Daoist Immortal is a Daoist-infused tour de force on the Daoist mountain hermit Chén Tuán 陳摶 (Xīyí 希夷 [Infinitesimal Subtlety]; d. 989) and his fellow “hidden immortals.” Breaking various academic taboos, including hyper-historicism, social constructivism, and conformist mentalities, here Komjathy, in an aspirational gesture towards unbridled inquiry, offers annotated translations and scholarly introductions to ten major works associated with the Daoist immortal. The book also contains a cutting-edge, mythopoetic introduction that addresses the life and legend of Chén Tuán, his connection to the Western Marchmount of Huàshān 華山 (Mount Hua; Huàyīn, Shǎnxī), Daoist views about sleeping, dreaming, waking, as well as Daoist time-being.

A used phone bought when you were down and out, with a powerful app store inside. Tianting WeChat, merit financial management, beauty camera, future news, a variety of powerful software functions against the sky. The protagonist by virtue of the fairy app store, east into the island, west to destroy junrong, north to strike Dixie, south plain savage, American Sam President shiver, "where is my black box?" "Mr. President, a nuclear bomb will not solve the problem. Life is like rape.

When Lillie Preston and her best friend, Colin, took their band on the road, they knew things would be challenging, but Lillie's newfound thirst for blood came as a bit of a surprise. After an attack leaves Lillie with more questions than answers, she and Colin scour vampire clubs, goth raves, and fetish parties only to realize real vampires would never set foot in such places. With a change in strategy, they make the fortunate acquaintance of Baron McCaffrey, Vampire Lord of the Underworld, who's more than happy to oblige Lillie's curiosity, but in the end, she finds the truth does anything but set her free. Are you willing to taste immortality? Come with us and let our vampires glamour you into a world full of dangerous magic, toe-curling heat, and a love to last forever. The Vampire Mates series by the Midnight Coven contains thirteen tales penned by your favorite best-selling paranormal romance authors. Each novella can be read as a complete standalone, but of course, we hope you'll bite into them all. With our Vampire Mates at your side, immortality is sexy AF.

Kale, the youngest of the elite Light Fae Warriors chosen to protect the Human World from the dark creatures that lurk in the shadows, has had a life that’s been hard fought and racked with betrayal, loss and heartache. Finding comfort in the physical manifestation of pain, Kale has discarded what is expected of Rowan’s Warriors, and now lives for the harder side of human life with his trusty bottle of Patron, hiding from the scars of his past. Katarina knew the day Darion imprisoned her that the life she’d once longed for was gone. The illusion that a Light Fae could ever love a woman of the Dark was over. Yet, while building a new life among the humans, Katarina’s past is thrust upon her when the Warriors call on her to help in finding an elusive Fae, who is leaving a trail of bodies in its wake. Katarina is then forced to follow the orders of the very Fae who betrayed her. As secrets and lies unravel around them, Kat and Kale find that their past was never what it seemed, and that discovering what is true will be the most difficult battle of their lives. “The truth, Kale… The truth would be the best place to start.” “You and I must have a differing view of the truth in this situation, because in no way would the truth as I know it make you any less guilty.”

In a world with a collapsed economy and vampires on the prowl, one can never be too careful. For Ali, an unregistered human member of her town, being careful is the only thing keeping her alive.When she risks it all to save two vampires from execution, she's pushed towards a very dangerous path when she agrees to do the vampires a favour; not knowing they have hidden motives of their own. With vampires being abducted before their very eyes and their numbers dwindling rapidly, Ali knows she must do something. Wanting equality for both humans and vampires, Ali decides she must do what rights, no matter what the risk may be.As she ventures deeper into a world she's never seen before, more truths are unraveled than she ever imagined to bare. With a war brewing, vampire hunters out for blood and a long forgotten king arising, Ali will finally discover how deep the scars from the past really run.As the lines blur between right and wrong Ali can do the only thing she's ever known how to. Survive.