Collection: Spirituality & Religion

This obscure and ancient religion is receiving more and more attention in modern times due to its claimed influence by scholars upon Christianity. This particular author, however, focuses upon the relationship between Zoroastrianism and Judaism, as he sets out to prove that Christianity did in fact receive influence from Zoroastrianism, but that it was transmitted through Judaism. This route of transmission allows the author to clearly show how Judaism itself was directly affected by Zoroastrainism during the Exilic Period, a time when these two faiths were existing in close proximity to one another. Chapters include Zoroaster Himself, The Mission and Ministry of the Prophet, The Scriptures of Zoroastrianism, Doctrine of God, Doctrine of Man, and Developments and Contacts.

Since the 1976 publication of his first version of The American Ephemeris, 1931-1980, Neil F. Michelsen's ground-breaking series of ephemerides have consistently set standards for accuracy in astrology, becoming indispensable to astrologers worldwide at every level from student to professional. The tradition continues with this Revised & Expanded Third Edition of The American Ephemeris for the 21st Century, 2000-2050 at Midnight. Revisions and additions are programmed by Rique Pottenger, who became head programmer for ACS Publications after Michelsen's passing. Additions and improvements include new Jet Propulsion Laboratory data and programming refinements that enable finding double ingresses in a single day plus more accurate station times. A new formula increases the accuracy of the Galactic Center. Phenomena in the Astro Data section are now sorted by time as well as by date, and R appears with Planetary Ingress Data if a planet is retrograde when it ingresses. The most notably obvious additions include the dwarf planet Ceres in daily longitude listings between Mars and Jupiter, and monthly positions are given for Eris, Chiron, Pallas, Juno and Vesta.

The Book of Miracles first surfaced only a few years ago and is one of the most spectacular discoveries in the field of Renaissance art. The near-complete illustrated manuscript, created in Augsburg around 1550, is composed of 169 pages of large-format illustrations in gouache and watercolor, depicting wondrous and often eerie phenomena.

The mesmerizing images deal with both biblical and folkloric tales, depicting stories from the Old Testament and Book of Revelation as well as events that took place in the immediate present of the manuscript's author. From shooting stars to swarms of locusts, terrifying monsters to fatal floods, page after page hypnotizes with visions alternately dreadful, spectacular, and even apocalyptic.

This volume presents the revelatory Book of Miracles in a new, compact format, making this extraordinary document accessible to everyone. It comes with a translation of the manuscript texts and two essays that give an introduction to the cultural and historical context of this unique Renaissance work.

The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Smith's first and in his own mind most important work, outlines his view of proper conduct and the institutions and sentiments that make men virtuous. Here he develops his doctrine of the impartial spectator, whose hypothetical disinterested judgment we must use to distinguish right from wrong in any given situation. We by nature pursue our self-interest, according to Smith. This makes independence or self-command an instinctive good, and neutral rules as difficult to craft as they are necessary. But society is not held together merely by neutral rules; it is held together by sympathy. Smith argues that we naturally share the emotions and to a certain extent the physical sensations we witness in others. Sharing the sensations of our fellows, we seek to maximize their pleasures and minimize their pains so that we may share in their joys and enjoy their expressions of affection and approval.

The epistles of St. Ignatius are presented here in their entirety, their historical insights imparted in an excellent translation to English.

Saint Ignatius of Antioch was one of the foremost early Christians, acceding to the role of Bishop of Antioch in circa 67 A.D. . During his tenure as bishop he wrote several Epistles - letters - to various figures of the time. These are treasured as some of the earliest surviving Christian texts. As a committed traveller, Ignatius made effort to spread Christianity's influence. He coined the term 'Catholic Church', popularly used to this day.

This edition contains letters generally agreed as authentic for their reference by the Roman historian Eusebius in the 4^th century. These are as follows:

Epistle to the Ephesians; Epistle to the Magnesians; Epistle to the Trallians; Epistle of the Romans; Epistle to the Philadelphians; Epistle to the Smyrnaeans; Epistle to Polycarp; Bishop of Smyrna.

For the sake of completeness, this edition also contains annotated epistles whose authenticity is disputed by historians and theologians:

Epistle to the Tarsians; Epistle to the Antiochians; Epistle to Hero, a Deacon of Antioch; Epistle to the Philippians; The Epistle of Maria the Proselyte to Ignatius; Epistle to Mary at Neapolis, Zarbus; First and Second Epistles to St. John; The Epistle of Ignatius to the Virgin Mary.

Biblical scholar and author J. B. Jackson offers here an A to Z list of names found in the Old and New Testament Bible scriptures, together with their meanings.

Inclusive of the etymology of the Bible's names, this superb book tells us straightforwardly what the various Hebrew names mean. Learning what these monikers mean sheds light on the truth and purpose of the Biblical books and stories. The alphabetical arrangement of this book makes it easy to look up a given name; each is rendered in bold, with the meaning following in plain text.

The beginning of the book features a brief explanation of Hebrew grammar and how the language's structures can be understood in English. The reader is given a useful primer on Hebrew linguistics, and the pronunciation of its words. Emphasis is placed on how all Bible scholars have to master their interpretation of not simply names, but the essence and spirit of the canon. Knowing what the names of Bible figures mean is an initial step toward knowing and - in the case of translation - preserving the literal meaning and gracefulness of scripture.

An author of several books concerning Biblical lore, J. B. Jackson was popular during the early 20^th century. While most of his writings are today out of print, this guide remains popular for its accuracy and accessibility.

"A quiet little stunner, written with the sure hand of an artist and the ear of a seasoned storyteller." --St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Jeannette Haien's award-winning first novel relates the seemingly simple tale of a parishioner confiding in her priest, but the tangled confession brings secrets to light that provoke a moral quandary for not only the clergyman, but the reader as well.

While fishing in an Irish salmon stream one rainy morning, Father Declan de Loughry ponders the recent deathbed confession of his parishioner Kevin Dennehy. It seems Dennehy and his wife, Enda, had been quietly living a lie for fifty years. Yet the gravity of their deception doesn't become clear to the good father until Enda shares the full tale of her suffering, finally confiding "the all of it."

Haien's intimate novel of conversations and dilemmas--perfect for readers of Paul Harding's Tinkers, Marilynne Robinson's Gilead, and Flannery O'Connor's Wise Blood--is "an elegantly written, compact and often subtle tale of morality and passion that gives voice to an age-old concern in a fresh way" hails the New York Times Book Review. This special edition includes an introduction by Ann Patchett.

Complete edition of the Dark Night of the Soul by Saint John of the Cross, translated by E. Allison Peers. This edition includes over 176 footnotes, creating a study edition for readers to better understand St. John's roadmap to deeper intimacy with God.

Read with an open heart, this book is helpful to refine and anchor the reader through various stages of life.

"On a dark night, Kindled in love with yearnings--oh, happy chance!--
I went forth without being observed, My house being now at rest."

No student of thought should be without this historic book. This edition is provided in a slim volume with full text at an affordable price.

La edición en español del exitoso libro de meditación para las personas en recuperación ofrece diariamente pensamientos, meditaciones y oraciones para tener una vida limpia y sobria.

Desde 1954, Twenty-Four Hours a Day (Venticuatro horas al día) se ha convertido en una fuerza estable en la recuperación de muchos alcohólicos en todo el mundo. Con más de 9 millones de copias impresas este "libro negro pequeño" ofrece diariamente pensamientos, meditaciones y oraciones para tener una vida limpia y sobria. Es un recurso espiritual con aplicaciones prácticas para incorporarlas a nuestra vida diaria. "Porque el ayer no es sino un sueño, y el mañana tan solo una visión" es parte de un proverbio en sánscrito que se encuentra al principio del libro y que se ha convertido en uno de los elementos básicos para tener una vida de sobriedad. Además del pensamiento y la oración para cada día del año, este libro tamaño de bolsillo, contiene la Oración de la Serenidad y los 12 Pasos y las 12 Tradiciones de Alcohólicos Anónimos. Es una forma sencilla pero eficaz de relacionar los Doce Pasos a la vida cotidiana y nos ayuda a encontrar la fortaleza para no tomar el primer trago de cada día.

The author Sri 'M' is an extraordinary individual. His uniqueness lies not only in the fact that at the young age of 19 and a half, he travelled to snow clad Himalayas from Kerala, and there he met and lived for several years with a 'real-time' yogi, Babaji, but also that he should undertake such an unusual and adventurous exploration, given his non-Hindu birth and antecedents.

The metamorphosis of Mumtaz Ali Khan into Sri 'M', a yogi with profound knowledge of the Upanishads and deep personal insights, born of first hand experiences with higher levels of consciousness is indeed a fascinating story.

Sri M was born in Tiruvananthapuram, Kerala. At the age of nineteen and a half, attracted by a strange and irresistible urge to go to the Himalayas, he left home.

At the Vyasa Cave, beyond the Himalayan shrine of Badrinath, he met his Master and lived with him for three and a half years, wandering freely, the length and breadth of the snow clad Himalayan region. What he learnt from his Master Maheshwarnath Babaji, transformed his consciousness totally.

Back in the plains, he, as instructed by his Master, lived a normal life, working for a living, fulfilling his social commitments and at the same time preparing himself to teach all that he had learnt and experienced. At a signal from his Master he entered the teaching phase of his life. Today, he travels all over the world to share his experiences and knowledge.

Equally at home in the religious teachings of most major religions, Sri M, born as Mumtaz Ali Khan, often says "Go to the core. Theories are of no use"

Sri M is married and has two children. He leads a simple life - teaching and heading the Satsang Foundation, a charitable concern promoting excellence in education. At present he lives in Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh, just three hours from Bangalore.

For more information about Sri M, please visit: http: //www.satsang-foundation.org

Marcus Aurelius' Stoic tome Meditations, written in Greek while on campaign between 170 and 180, is still revered as a literary monument to a philosophy of service and duty, describing how to find and preserve equanimity in the midst of conflict by following nature as a source of guidance and inspiration. Marcus Aurelius was a Roman Emperor from 161 to 180. He ruled with Lucius Verus as co-emperor from 161 until Verus' death in 169. He was the last of the Five Good Emperors, and is also considered one of the most important Stoic philosophers. During his reign, the Empire defeated a revitalized Parthian Empire in the East; Aurelius' general Avidius Cassius sacked the capital Ctesiphon in 164. In central Europe, Aurelius fought the Marcomanni, Quadi, and Sarmatians with success during the Marcomannic Wars, with the threat of the Germanic tribes beginning to represent a troubling reality for the Empire. A revolt in the East led by Avidius Cassius failed to gain momentum and was suppressed immediately.

A New Edition of the Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead, Perfect for History Buffs, Budding Archaeologists, or Mythology Enthusiasts!

The Egyptian Book of the Dead is unquestionably one of the most influential books in all history. Containing the ancient ritual to be performed for the dead with detailed instructions for the behavior of the soul in the afterlife, it served as the most important repository of religious authority for some three thousand years. Chapters were carved on the pyramids of the ancient 5th Dynasty, texts were written in papyrus, and selections were painted on mummy cases well into the Christian era. In a certain sense, it represented all history and research of Egyptian civilization.

In the year 1888, Dr. E. A. Wallis Budge, then purchasing agent for the British Museum, followed rumors he heard of a spectacular archaeological find in Upper Egypt, and found in an 18th Dynasty tomb near Luxor a perfectly preserved papyrus scroll. It was a copy of the Egyptian Book of the Dead, written around 1500 B.C. for Ani, Royal Scribe of Thebes, Overseer of the Granaries of the Lords of Abydos, and Scribe of the Offerings of the Lords of Thebes.

This Papyrus of Ani is presented here by Dr. Budge. Reproduced in full are a clear copy of the Egyptian hieroglyphs, an interlinear transliteration of their sounds (as reconstructed), a word-for-word translation, and separately a complete smooth translation. All this is preceded by an original introduction of more than 150 pages. This classic material combined with a brand-new foreword by Dr. Foy Scalf of Chicago University gives the reader has a unique opportunity to experience all the fascinating aspects of The Egyptian Book of the Dead.

The Greek myths are timeless classics, whose scenes and figures have captivated us since ancient times. The gods and heroes of these legends hold up a mirror to the human condition, embodying universal characteristics and truths - whether it be the courage of Perseus, the greed of Midas, the vaulting ambition of Icarus, the vengeance of Medea, or the hubris of Niobe. These traits are the basis for immortal dramas and rich narratives, as profound as they are entertaining, which form the bedrock of our culture and literature today and remain relevant and fascinating for all readers, young and old alike. This edition contains 47 tales based on the most famous episodes in Greek mythology, from Prometheus, the Argonauts, and Theseus to the Trojan War and Homer's Odyssey. The individual texts are selected from the seminal work Sagen des klassischen Altertums (Gods and Heroes: Myths and Epics of Ancient Greece) by Gustav Schwab (1792-1850), and strikingly illustrated by 29 artists, among them outstanding representatives of the Golden Age of Book Illustration and the Arts and Crafts Movement, including Walter Crane (1845-1915), Arthur Rackham (1867-1939), William Russell Flint (1880-1969), and Virginia Frances Sterrett (1900-1930). These illustrations are complemented by scene-setting vignettes for each story and a genealogical tree of Greek gods and goddesses by Clifford Harper, commissioned especially for this volume. Placing the tales in context, the book contains a historical introduction by Dr. Michael Siebler and is rounded off with biographies of all featured artists as well as an extensive glossary of ancient Greece's most famous protagonists. The heroism, tragedy, and theater of Greek mythology glimmer through each tale in this lavishly illustrated edition, awakening the gods and heroes to new life.

Cutting-edge science and spirituality tell us that what we believe, think, and feel actually determine the makeup of our body at the cellular level. In Zen and the Art of Happiness, you will learn how to think and feel so that what you think and feel creates happiness and vibrancy in your life rather than gloominess or depression.

You'll learn how to adapt to life's inevitable changes, how to deal with stress in a healthy way, and how to nurture a mindful happiness in your daily life. Most importantly, the gentle wisdom of Zen and the Art of Happiness will show you how to invite magnificent experiences into your life and create a personal philosophy that will sustain you through anything. A timeless work about the art of happiness, the way of happiness, the inner game of happiness. This popular work has been published in more than 20 countries around the world.

'All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well'

Julian of Norwich is one of the most celebrated figures of the English Middle Ages. She is esteemed as one of the subtlest writers and profoundest thinkers of the period for her account of the revelations that she experienced in 1373. Julian lived as an anchoress in Norwich, and after recovering from a serious illness she described the visions that had come to her during her suffering. She conceived of a loving and compassionate God, merciful and forgiving, and believed in our ability to reach self-knowledge through sin. She wrote of God as our mother, and embraced strikingly independent theological opinions.

This new translation conveys the poise and serenity of Julian's prose style to the modern reader. It includes both the short and long texts, written twenty years apart, through which Julian developed her ideas. In his introduction Barry Windeatt considers Julian's astonishingly positive vision of humanity and its potential for spiritual transformation.

ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Traditionally attributed to Lao Tzu, an older contemporary of Confucius (551 - 479 BC), it is now thought that the work was compiled in about the fourth century BC. An anthology of wise sayings, it offers a model by which the individual can live rather than explaining the human place in the universe. The moral code it encourages is based on modesty and self-restraint, and the rewards reaped for such a life are harmony and flow of life.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.