Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought engages students with lively anecdotes, essential primary and secondary sources, an accessible writing style, and a clear historical approach. The text focuses primarily on India, China, and Japan, while showing the relationships that exist between Eastern and Western traditions. Patrick Bresnan consistently links the past to the present, so students may see that Eastern traditions, however ancient their origins, are living traditions and relevant to modern times. Updates to the Sixth Edition include a new introduction as well as new approaches to problem areas throughout the text, but with special emphasis in Chapter 5 (Ashtanga Yoga), Chapter 10 (Basic Teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha), Chapter 12(Mahayana Buddhism: Madhyamaka section) and Chapter 18 (Chan Buddhism: regarding the relationship of Chan Buddhism to Zen Buddhism). In addition, all references and source material have been brought up to date. The companion website includes two new videos and many new photos, produced by the author. New to this Sixth Edition: • A new introduction that provides a helpful overview of each of the nineteen chapters and important connections between them; • An improved explanation of the nature of Vedanta philosophy, and a more logical organization of the Key Elements of the Upanishads in Chapter 3; • An extensive rewrite of Chapter 5, which deals with the subject of Ashtanga Yoga as expressed in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali; • A greatly improved presentation of Buddha’s “Four Noble Truths” in Chapter 10; • A total recasting of the teaching of Nagarjuna in the Madhyamaka section of Chapter 12; • A clearer and easier to understand presentation of the teaching of the Dao De Jing in Chapter 14; • A major revision of Chapter 18 so as to clearly distinguish Chinese Chan from Japanese Zen; • Greater emphasis throughout, where pertinent, on the role of meditation practice in all Eastern traditions; • Revised and updated Questions for Discussion at the end of each chapter; • New photos and two newly produced videos prepared by the author for the book’s companion website: http://patrickbresnan.com/.

In 1740, Benjamin Franklin published the first American edition of Gospel Sonnets, by the eminent Scottish Presbyterian minister Ralph Erskine. The work, already in its fifth British edition, quickly became an American bestseller and remained so throughout the eighteenth century. Franklin was aware of what most scholars of American religion and literature have forgotten -that poetry played a central role in the "surprising works of God" that birthed evangelicalism. The far-reaching social transformations precipitated by the transatlantic evangelical revivals of the eighteenth century depended upon the development of a major literary form, that of revival poetry. Literary scholars and historians of religion have prioritized sermons, conversion narratives, periodicals, and hymnody. Wendy Roberts here argues that poetry offered a unique capacity to "diffuse celestial Fervor through the World," in the words of the cleric Samuel Davies. Awakening Verse is the first monograph to address this large corpus of evangelical poetry in the American colonies, shedding light on important dimensions of eighteenth-century religious and literary culture. Roberts deftly assembles a large, previously unknown archive of immensely popular poems, examines how literary history has rendered this poetic tradition invisible, and demonstrates how a vibrant popular poetics exercised a substantial effect on the landscape of early American religion, literature, and culture.

Bring in the energy of wild places and work in harmony with the land to grow your own food and live sustainably. In this beautifully illustrated book, award-winning garden designer Mary Reynolds encourages us to create a bond with the land to restore its health and feel its energy. Drawing inspiration from permaculture traditions as well as the ancient multi-tiered approach of forest gardening, Mary demonstrates how to create a magical garden that is an expanding, living, interconnected ecosystem. The Garden Awakening is both art and inspiration for any garden lover seeking to create a positive and natural space while incorporating sustainable living such as growing your own food. It combines practical step-by-step instructions with spiritual, ancient Celtic stories to help you awaken any garden space, nurturing it to benefit both the land and the people in it. This design approach allows ecosystems to be whole and in balance while providing a place for human beings to live happy and productive lives. Transform your garden into a vibrant, wild area that embraces the spiritual side of nature with this wonderful read.

The resource is designed to help spiritual directors and others use expressive arts in the context of spiritual direction. It is the latest book in the unique SDI series, designed for professional spiritual directors, but also useful for clergy, therapists, and Christian formation specialists. The Spiritual Directors International Series – This book is part of a special series produced by Morehouse Publishing in cooperation with Spiritual Directors International (SDI), a global network of some 6,000 spiritual directors and members.

Many paths can lead to the Divine—these inspiring stories may help you clarify yours. These original spiritual mini-autobiographies showcase the varied ways that people come to faith—and what that means—in today's multi-religious world. Examining their own journeys from belief to disillusionment and from searching to discovery, contributors from many faiths, ages, and backgrounds tell how they learned to integrate the spirit into their daily lives, and the remarkable transformations that followed. From South Africa to India, Chicago to San Francisco, and many places in between, Awakening the Spirit, Inspiring the Soul is the first international collection of its kind. It takes you on a trip through the spiritual lives of Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Jews, and others who are continually searching to find their spiritual identity. Many of these brief, inspiring memoirs portray the spirit of interspirituality that is growing in the world today, showing you how to build the foundation for religion and spirituality that can serve to unite, rather than divide, humanity. "There is a thirst for authentic connection in our scattered, busy, speedy culture. Sharing deeply from the soul and being received with an open heart satisfies that thirst. Being seen and acknowledged cultivates the soil of our good hearts. That is what this beautiful book, and the integral spirituality it addresses so elegantly, is all about." —from the Foreword by Joan Borysenko, PhD

Embark on an extraordinary adventure with "Awakening Wholeness," designed for trailblazers aged 15-35, and the young at heart. More than a book, "Awakening Wholeness" is a living invitation to join others in reclaiming a world brimming with compassion and love. Within its transformative pages lies a roadmap that illuminates how listening to your inner guidance, caring for yourself, others, and Mother Earth are potent tools for transformative change that serves all beings. As you navigate through the anxieties and challenges of everyday life, this book is your silent guide and compass to recognize your role as a Wholesome Leader. One who has the potential to co-create a sustainable future, explore new ways of caring, and is in sync with what LIFE (Love in Full Expression) is calling you to do. Through resources, real life stories, journaling exercises and more in the book, you're not just a reader, but an active participant in reclaiming a world already resonating with peace, joy, and boundless abundance. A world that is calling you to Awaken to Wholeness.

Awakening the Power Within: Unleash Your True Potential and Transform Your Life I have previously written about the importance of inner strength in our lives. When I started writing this book a year ago, my intention was to share exactly that – finding strength within oneself, especially in difficult moments, is crucial. When a person discovers it and becomes aware of it, it greatly helps them. Equally important is to show others that it is possible, using one's own example of going through various challenges and life truths to expand one's strength. This means that others can improve their lives, ease situations, etc., using certain methods. A year later, when it was completed, it helped me a lot in dealing with much more serious life obstacles. It is written from personal experience as a way of struggle, reflection, life experience, and collaboration with different mentors from various areas of life. The book consists of three sections. The first identifies obstacles to our personal development, the second deals with overcoming them, and the third is the place where we want to be, for the well-being of ourselves and those around us. The journal complements the book, providing practical examples, self-reflection, introspection, and space for you to answer what concerns you. The text in the book not only provides solutions but also the mindset of overcoming challenges, self-improvement, thinking, working on oneself, seeing things from different perspectives. It gives guidelines on what to work on, overcome, where to focus and work, what to pay attention to, and the possibility of finding that strength. The sources from which you find them are within you, and it all comes down to merging within you. By awakening strength within oneself, each of us connects with our source, whether it's God, the Universe, divine force, energy, nature, or oneself... Ebook is now only available online. The printed version may come later.