This reader explores current interest in spirituality in the United States. It traces the concept and presence of spirituality in the nation's past and explains the strong attraction to spiritual themes in the present, with attention to questions of definition, historical usage, and connection to religion. Twenty-seven selections pursue the difference and diversity among Americans in terms of their spiritual styles, here understood as modes of experiential knowledge. Catherine L. Albanese has organized these selections to reflect four approaches to spirituality: knowing through the body, or ritual-based spiritualities; knowing through the heart, or evangelical and emotionally toned spiritualities; knowing through the will, or prophetic and social-action spiritualities; and knowing through the mind, or metaphysically oriented spiritualities. Taken together, these essays make the argument that the spiritual is human-made, essentially religious, and surely not the same at all American times and places. The anthology includes selections by Catherine L. Albanese, Janet and Robert Aldridge, Daniel Berrigan, Joseph Epes Brown, Charles W. Colson, Annie Dillard, Virgilio Elizondo, Tamar Frankiel, Emma Goldman, Charles E. Hambrick-Stowe, B. K. S. Iyengar, Curtis D. Johnson, Martin Luther King, Jr., Chen Kung, Jerena Lee, Shirley MacLaine, Aimee Semple McPherson, Thomas Merton, Carry A. Nation, E. Burke Rochford, Jr., Jerry Rubin, Molly Rush, Starhawk, Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Trine, Joachim Wach, B. Alan Wallace, Steven Wilhelm, and Dhyani Ywahoo. Catherine L. Albanese is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is the author of the widely used textbook America: Religions and Religion, now in its third edition, and of numerous other articles and books, including Nature Religion in America: From the Algonkian Indians to the New Age. Albanese is a former president of the American Academy of Religion. 552 pages, 6 1/8 x 9 1/4, bibl., index cloth0-253-33839-5$65.00 L / £50.00 paper0-253-21432-7$27.50 s / £21.00

This is a primer on practicing Yiquan, a reality-based Chinese martial art involving mind-body synthesis. This is not an instruction manual; you will not learn Yiquan by reading this book; you must seek hands-on instruction from a competent teacher. Here we have provided the theories and principles, laying the foundation for you to study and research the true essence of realistic martial arts.

In this book, Master Jan Silberstorff, a leading Chen practitioner, shares his expertise and insights into Chen style Taijiquan, explaining its background and key principles. He discusses the different Chen forms and the importance of each, as well as the place of competition and the effect on participants.

As a digital edition, this two-volume anthology offers not only a handy historical overview of taijiquan history, but most chapters focus on actual practice. Guidance is provided through Carol Derrickson’s discussions on taijiquan classic writings as well as from other highly experienced instructors in their own chapters. Dr. Linda Lehrhaupt’s chapter inspires one to practice by explaining how mental changes occur in a student during initial weeks of classes. Although most taiji classes are offered by individuals in their own schools, a number of classes are also offered in academic settings. Andrew Peck gives a fine example of how taiji is taught in a university setting. Other authors present subtle aspects of practice—be it eye movement, circles that exist even in movements that appear to be liner, benefits derived from solo and group practice, or the too often elusive element of relaxation. All these chapters will prove valuable to anyone wishing to improve their quality of practice and thus to reap more health benefits taiji has to offer. The same embodied principles can be utilized in martial applications. Peter Lim wrote two chapters. In one he details general taiji principles that are put into the practice, while in the other chapter he looks specifically at how the principles can be applied in combat. His chapters provide a solid foundation for better understanding tuishou, the two-person push-hands practice that Herman Kaus and Hal Mosher (with the help of Allen Pittman) discuss. Greg Wolfson (with the help of Scott Rodell) writes about push-hands and sanshou—a high-level two-person practice of combative training. Russ Mason’s short but pertinent chapter samples two favorite techniques: wardoff and diagonal flying. The chapters by Donald Mainfort and Joel Stein are relatively unique in that they look at the variety of taiji forms—contrasting the original Chen Style with the Yang Style, and the large and medium frames—helping us better understand how and why routines differ, and which may be better suited for particular individuals. As a result, we can also see why movements from different styles can blend into anyone’s practice. Comprised of articles previously published in the Journal of Asian Martial Arts—we are highly optimistic that you will find something on each page of this anthology to be of great use in your understanding and practice.

This book provided this beginning tai-chi student with a rich, methodical philosophical "grounding" on some concepts that that are at the core of Eastern martial arts. Ralston helps the reader develop an awareness, quite literally "from the ground up".

A compilation of Master T.T. Liang's teachings on T'ai-Chi, plus articles and stories about Master Liang.