Jainism originated in India and shares some features with Buddhism and Hinduism, but it is a distinct tradition with its own key texts, art, rituals, beliefs, and history. One important way it has often been distinguished from Buddhism and Hinduism is through the highly contested category of Tantra: Jainism, unlike the others, does not contain a tantric path to liberation. But in Making a Mantra, historian of religions Ellen Gough refines and challenges our understanding of Tantra by looking at the development over two millennia of a Jain incantation, or mantra, that evolved from an auspicious invocation in a second-century text into a key component of mendicant initiations and meditations that continue to this day. Typically, Jainism is characterized as a celibate, ascetic path to liberation in which one destroys karma through austerities, while the tantric path to liberation is characterized as embracing the pleasures of the material world, requiring the ritual use of mantras to destroy karma. Gough, however, argues that asceticism and Tantra should not be viewed in opposition to one another. She does so by showing that Jains perform “tantric” rituals of initiation and meditation on mantras and maṇḍalas. Jainism includes kinds of tantric practices, Gough provocatively argues, because tantric practices are a logical extension of the ascetic path to liberation.

Jainism originated in India and shares some features with Buddhism and Hinduism, but it is a distinct tradition with its own key texts, art, rituals, beliefs, and history. One important way it has often been distinguished from Buddhism and Hinduism is through the highly contested category of Tantra: Jainism, unlike the others, does not contain a tantric path to liberation. But in Making a Mantra, historian of religions Ellen Gough refines and challenges our understanding of Tantra by looking at the development over two millennia of a Jain incantation, or mantra, that evolved from an auspicious invocation in a second-century text into a key component of mendicant initiations and meditations that continue to this day. Typically, Jainism is characterized as a celibate, ascetic path to liberation in which one destroys karma through austerities, while the tantric path to liberation is characterized as embracing the pleasures of the material world, requiring the ritual use of mantras to destroy karma. Gough, however, argues that asceticism and Tantra should not be viewed in opposition to one another. She does so by showing that Jains perform “tantric” rituals of initiation and meditation on mantras and maṇḍalas. Jainism includes kinds of tantric practices, Gough provocatively argues, because tantric practices are a logical extension of the ascetic path to liberation.

Transform a life of anxiety, uncertainty and frustration into one of peace, strength, purpose and joy For the first time, find in a single book the principal means of changing your consciousness and reshaping your brain, for an increasingly better life experience. Discover the power of your mind. In The 3T Path you'll find hundreds of time-tested and scientifically proven suggestions, facts and techniques for your growth and self-improvement. The 3T Path is a comprehensive system that works in multiple fronts at the same time, bringing your noticeable results in a short time. The 3T Path will bring about enormous personal transformation to help you resolve and transcend the challenges of life, maximizing your potential. The strength of The 3T Path lies in its use of ancient and powerful tools from the yoga tradition: Mindfulness Dharma Inner peace Knowledge Devotion All these together with lifestyle suggestions to maximize your potential, and finally, The 3T Method to keep your progress steady. If self-realization seems like something from another world to you, out of your day-to-day reality, this book will change your views. The 3T Path shows how spirituality must be totally integrated into our daily activities and is nothing more than the perfection of the art of living well here and now. This book will give you a new vision of God, of your spiritual nature and of the process of enlightenment, in a practical and down to earth form. You'll see how spirituality will give you a clear advantage when dealing with everything in life, without you having to put aside your intelligence or common sense. This book is the result of decades of practice and research by the author, speaker and teacher of self-improvement and self-realization in yoga, Giridhari Das. He shows in this book how you can overcome your anxiety and frustration, how to find your purpose in life and guide your life day by day, the secrets of how to develop inner peace, how to use knowledge as an instrument of growth and enlightenment and the process of bhakti, the highest aspect of the path of yoga. This book will give you the tools to take control of your life experience.

“Through mantra practice, positive karma flows freely into our lives ... desires are fulfilled ... spiritual abilities manifest ... and we have moved another step forward toward moksha—complete spiritual freedom.” —Thomas Ashley-Farrand Karma: the consequence of all of your actions, decisions, thoughts, and emotions. According to Thomas Ashley-Farrand, karmic patterns from the past are always with you, affecting everything you do—for better or for worse. With Mantra Meditation, you will learn how to use genuine Sanskrit mantras to balance your chakras (your body's seven spinning energy-centers) to dissolve negative karma. “When you begin to chant these ancient formulas,” teaches Ashley-Farrand, “the petals on your chakras begin to resonate, and they pull in spiritual energy.” With Mantra Meditation—designed as a 40-day practice or a lifelong tool—your spiritual energy grows, your karma disperses, and your path clears to bring you everything you desire through the fusing of your own efforts and the infinite generosity of the universe. Includes 15 guided mantra meditations and instructions for Sanskrit pronunciation.

"Sound is more than simply a medium of artistic expression. Sound has practical and powerful applications in the real world." Mantras, or simple chants, are short phrases packed with energy and intention--specifically designed to generate powerful sound waves that promote healing, insight, creativity, and spiritual growth. Healing Mantras is the practical, how-to guide that makes the strengths and benefits of mantras available to everyone. The transformative power of sound has been passed down to the present from the sages of India, the classical scientists of ancient Greece, and the medieval monks of Europe. Mantras, sounds, and chants have inspired, comforted, and mended the lives of individuals, religious orders, and even entire cultures. Even though the science and discipline of chanting and formal prayer are practiced in every religion around the world, this is the first time that ancient Sanskrit mantras have been explained and adapted to Western needs. One of the few Western experts in Hindu and Buddhist mantras, Thomas Ashley-Farrand has practiced mantra-based spiritual disciplines for twenty-five years. In this illuminating book, he explains how and why mantras work and shows how to use them for everything from controlling habits to overcoming fear, from curing specific ailments to finding inner peace. In each of the more than fifty mantras, all translated from the original Sanskrit, Ashley-Farrand unlocks the power of every word, explains its appropriate application, and tells you how to pronounce it in easy-to-follow phonetic symbols. Inside, you'll find mantras for - Health - Worldly Success - Habit Control - Protection - Grief - Anger - Controlling Fear - Personal Attraction - Wisdom - Concentration and Mental Clarity - Healing Life Issues - and more! These mantras can be repeated aloud or in silence and can be used by people of any religion or spiritual practice, "as you wash dishes, as you drive on the freeway, as you meditate, or as you cook." Sound can help and sound can heal, and Healing Mantras now makes this sound medicine available to everyone.

The long awaited print version of the popular Buddhist mantra website: visiblemantra.org. This is a celebration of the visual forms of mantra and other varieties of sacred speech, drawing on Buddhist traditions from India, China, Japan, and Tibet. The book includes all the mantras from the website, plus a few more. Each is presented in four scripts: Siddhaṃ (Bonji 梵字), Lantsa (aka Rañjana), Devanāgarī, and Tibetan (dbu can). Plus seed-syllables, dhāraṇī and Pāli chants. All accompanied by Jayarava's meticulously researched notes and comments, and background reading drawn from Jayarava's blog. An invaluable resource for Buddhist artists, calligraphers and practitioners.

The use of sacred words for their transformative powers lies at the core of countless traditions, and transcends the barriers of geographic location and time. In this book, Pandit Tigunait draws from his comprehensive knowledge of ancient yogic scripture, and his personal experiences with great Himalayan sages, to make this esoteric science accessible to a 21st-century audience. The wisdom Pandit Tigunait shares in this book explains: What mantras are and the nature of their practice The various classes of mantras and their specific effects How to use the inherent power of mantra to awaken inner peace and fuel spiritual enfoldment Seekers in all times and from all traditions have made the journey from transitory pleasures to eternal joy with the science of mantra. Purchase your copy of The Power of Mantra and the Mystery of Initiation today and discover the profound change mantra meditation can make in your life.