A thought-provoking and accessible guide to how an ancient spiritual practice known as Raja Yoga meditation--Yoga of the mind--can help us develop attitudes that will dramatically improve the quality of our inner lives. Using the author’s own story as a starting point, this illuminating work provides a whole new perspective on matters of the spirit, including rediscovering the nature of the self, understanding and exploring the different levels of consciousness, learning about the natural law that governs the universe, and how to support your spiritual development with the right lifestyle. Previously published by the Brahma Kumaris Organization--a group that seeks to help everyone rediscover his or her potential for greatness by facilitating a process of spiritual awakening that is both non-denominational and respectful of all traditions--Pathways to Higher Consciousness is an enlightening entry on the very first Sterling Ethos list.

What is consciousness? Why and when do we have it? Where does it come from, and how does it relate to the lump of squishy grey matter in our heads, or to our material and social worlds? While neuroscientists, philosophers, psychologists, historians, and cultural theorists offer widely different perspectives on these fundamental questions concerning what it is like to be human, most agree that consciousness represents a 'hard problem'.The emergence of consciousness studies as a multidisciplinary discourse addressing these issues has often been associated with rapid advances in neuroscience-perhaps giving the impression that the arts and humanities have arrived late at the debating table. The longer historical view suggests otherwise, but it is probably true that music has been under-represented in accounts of consciousness. Music and Consciousness aims to redress the balance: its twenty essays offer a timely andmulti-faceted contribution to consciousness studies, critically examining some of the existing debates and raising new questions.The collection makes it clear that to understand consciousness we need to do much more than just look at brains: studying music demonstrates that consciousness is as much to do with minds, bodies, culture, and history. Incorporating several chapters that move outside Western philosophical traditions, Music and Consciousness corrects any perception that the study of consciousness is a purely occidental preoccupation. And in addition to what it says about consciousness the volume also presents adistinctive and thought-provoking configuration of new writings about music.

Now ordinary meditators (and non-meditators) can understand how to attain non-ordinary states with relative ease. Blended with contemporary examples, pragmatic exercises, and ''how to'' instructions that anyone can try, Focused and Fearless provides a wealth of tools to cultivate non-distracted attention in daily life and on retreat. Shaila Catherine has a friendly, wise approach to the meditative states (jhanas) that lead to liberating insight. Focused and Fearless is about much more than merely meditation or concentration. It offers a complete path towards bliss, fearlessness, and true awakening.

Christianity is in crisis. Many sincere Christians feel their traditional Christian practices are in danger of becoming irrelevant, empty rituals. In his previous book A New Kind of Christianity, Brian D. McLaren offered new biblical models for how we understand the central ideas of a faith that provides hope for restoring and reinvigorating the power of the gospels to transform us and our communities. In Naked Spirituality, McLaren takes his prophetic work a step further by confronting how the lack of a simple, doable, durable spirituality undermines the very transformation God is calling us to undergo. As a result, our religious structures become tools to maintain the status quo and not catalysts for personal and social change. McLaren presents a four-stage framework for understanding the spiritual life, and he unfolds spiritual practices appropriate to each stage. Each practice is rooted in a simple word: here, thanks, O, sorry, help, please, when, no, why, behold, yes, and silence. Naked Spirituality offers accessible, practical wisdom for living a truly spiritual life. Staying true to Jesus's core message while engaging faithfully with our postmodern world, McLaren presents a proven spiritual program for engaging in and sustaining a meaningful relationship with God.

This is a different type of meditation book. Its purpose is personal illumination. Its goal is a fundamental shift in your ground of being, from three- dimensional, everyday consciousness, to Five-Dimensional, Soul Consciousness. A fun read, it's lighthearted in its approach. While the book is written in easy to follow language for beginners to meditation, it will also have great appeal to experienced meditators because it's not about taming the mind. Instead, it shows how to use meditation to illumine the mind-a much easier task. The book also has a number of tools, tips, triggers and reminders to keep the momentum going throughout the day.The means to accomplish the purpose is a powerful new form of meditation called Higher Consciousness Meditation (HCM), developed by author Blair Abee after 45 years of meditation experimentation with a number of traditions. The Book Covers These Compelling Topics:?Who Are We? Why Are We Here? Where Are We Going? Short answer: We are eternal beings who inhabit a biomechanical vehicle, have existed since the beginning and will continue into infinity.?The difference between the everyday 3-dimensional world of ego/mind and the 5-Dimensional World of Spirit/Mind. How to get in touch with the latter.?What is Meditation? What is Higher Consciousness Meditation? This unique meditation and its practice is explained in detail.?The Higher Consciousness Meditation Process-the meditation guides you step by step and is easy to remember.?It includes mindfulness meditation exercises, as well. Specifically, using your Sacred Senses to interact with the world in a more mindful way.?Other Ways to Tap into Higher Consciousness such as creating a higher vibration in your home.?Fun meditation stories from Blair's experience to illustrate key points.

The Cambridge Handbook of Consciousness is the first of its kind in the field, and its appearance marks a unique time in the history of intellectual inquiry on the topic. After decades during which consciousness was considered beyond the scope of legitimate scientific investigation, consciousness re-emerged as a popular focus of research towards the end of the last century, and it has remained so for nearly 20 years. There are now so many different lines of investigation on consciousness that the time has come when the field may finally benefit from a book that pulls them together and, by juxtaposing them, provides a comprehensive survey of this exciting field. An authoritative desk reference, which will also be suitable as an advanced textbook.