Dharma and Puṇya explores the centrality of ritual practices and the agency of people in creating and amplifying the efficacy of Buddhist art. It presents paintings, illuminated texts, statues, and ritual implements from the Newar tradition in the Kathmandu Valley.

To walk in the footsteps of the Buddha we need a clear and thorough guide to the essential principles of Buddhism. Whether we have just begun our journey or are a practitioner with more experience, What is the Dharma? is an indispensable exploration of the Buddha's teachings as found in the main Buddhist traditions.

Retellings of the Buddha's life story have animated and sustained Buddhist thought and practice through some 2,500 years of history. To this day, Buddhist holidays and rituals are pinned to the arc of his biography, celebrating his birth, awakening, teaching, and final nirvana. His story is the model that exemplary Buddhists follow. Often, there is a moment of insight akin to the Buddha's experience with the Four Sights, followed by a great departure from home, and a period of searching that it is hoped will lead to final awakening. The Buddha's story is not just the Buddha's story; it is the story of Buddhism. In this book, twelve leading scholars of South Asian texts and traditions articulate the Buddha-life blueprint--the underlying and foundational pattern that holds the life story of a buddha together. They retell the episodes of Buddha Gautama's extended life story, while keeping in mind the cosmic, paradigmatic arc of his narrative. The contributors have dedicated their careers to exploring hagiographical materials, each applying their own methodological and theoretical interests to shed new light on the enduring story of Buddhism. Using multiple perspectives, voices, and sources, this volume underscores the multivalent centrality of this story. The book will be an invaluable resource to practicing Buddhists and students of Buddhist Studies to help them engage in the most foundational story of the tradition.

Camille Gardner is trapped in the middle when a unique Southern town collides with the 'outside world' and big oil.A talented negotiator, Camille Gardner agrees to take on one last field assignment for her uncle before she settles down to pursue her real passion---working at an art gallery. But she'd rather be anywhere than Samford, Louisiana, the small southern town where she once spent the worst weeks of her life.To fulfill the obligation she feels to her uncle, Camille needs to entice a group of rural landowners to sell their mineral rights---and allow use of their precious water for the drilling of natural gas. Instead, she finds herself drawn to the local folk art created by those same landowners and attracted to Marsh Cameron, the attorney representing the landowners.The charming residents and the traditions of this small community leave Camille conflicted about her family obligations---and her own plans for the future. Perhaps she needs to give Samford a second chance.'Christie populates her story with a varied cast of Southern small-town characters. Her tendency for unresolved suspense is occasionally unsettling, but, overall, her stories have enough warmth and humor to keep her readers coming back for more.' --- CBA Retailers + Resources

The spiritual journey begins when one turns away from the external acquisition to inner exploration. Men and women are equal in the world. The Vedas mention how female sages studied and composed mantras alongside the sages. God alone exists. The world is the play of His divine power or maya, and is not perfect. Perfection lies only in the divine.

DHARMA and RELIGION are altogether different conceptions. Even as per the Oxford dictionary, ‘DHARMA’ means “eternal law of Universe” whereas ‘RELIGION’ means “a particular way of worship and faith.”All of these rules, laws etc. [pertaining to Dharma] have been observed, understood and realised by the people known as Hindu and hence Dharma is known as Hindu Dharma. However, these rules-laws etc. are applicable to every human being (Manav) all over the world (Vishwa), not confined only to Hindus. Hence, Hindu Dharma is Manav Dharma or Vishwa Dharma – the global ethics applicable to the entire humankind.If we look at the things which are considered as very sacred/pious in Hindu Dharma, it can be seen that each one of them possesses special qualities which are quite unique and useful for humankind.The Hindu Sanskriti has a special feature of wishing the well-being of ALL human beings (not just Hindus).

As our soul travels through the four stations of hell, tiryancha, human and heaven, it is accompanied by the two messengers of goodness and badness. The messenger of good thoughts and actions brings happiness; and the messenger of bad thoughts and actions brings sadness, thus Good=Happiness and Bad=Sadness. Hence, we continue to sway constantly from a state of happiness to the other state of sadness. This book brings to light the reasons that lead to happiness and the ones that lead to sadness, thus helping a being in making a conscious choice of correcting one's deeds to attain perennial happiness.