The original Guru, the Self, is present in everybody's heart as Silence. This Silence can be recognized in the gap between two thoughts, two actions, two breaths, two moments. This Silence may also just appear spontaneously, when one is simply at rest, at peace. Chup Sadhana is an effortless no-practice practice, which reveals this ever-present, underlying Silence in which all the events of life are experienced. This is the missing link, which connects different spiritual traditions.

All events of life, all experiences, all teachings, all paths appear in Awareness and are in fact nothing but Awareness.Awareness is the seeker, Awareness is the seeking and finally Awareness is That, which is discovered by Awareness. This is Self-realization. No methods, no philosophies, no practices, just a direct pointing to what is never absent.This is the stunning purity of Astavakra Gita, an ancient yet little known scripture of Advaita Vedanta.Astavakra Gita can be considered a truly universal text, for it does not date itself to any period of time, nor does it attach itself to any religion, culture, or ethnic group.This new commentary and translation of the Astavakra Gita by Mansoor brings out the simplicity and majesty of these verses of pure Non-duality, making them accessible to everyone on the spiritual path.

This is a new translation and commentary by Clarissa on Drg Drsya Viveka, a short, but powerful scripture, attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, who is said to have lived in the ninth century.The focus of this scripture is Awareness itself. In only 31 verses, the attention is taken from normal every day experiences, all the way to the very Source of attention, to Awareness, in which the experiences are happening.As the subject matter is extremely abstract, this book will be of interest to people who have been practising Yoga or related disciplines, and in whom some opening and preparation has already happened.

Stephen Sturgess draws on decades of study and practice to present a comprehensive and engaging account of Raja and Kriya Yoga. These authentic forms represent true Yoga, and their practice provides spiritual seekers with the ultimate pathway towards self-realisation, inner freedom and ineffable peace and joy. The book begins by providing a complete view of Yoga and its spiritual dimensions, including an account of the history and philosophy of all Yoga traditions. It then covers Raja and Kriya Yoga in depth, with instruction on the asanas, breathing techniques and meditations of each tradition. With a glossary and an introduction to Sanskrit, this book provides everything a truth-seeker needs to embark on the journey to spiritual awakening. A complete guide to Raja and Kriya Yoga, this book is an incomparable resource that will be a valued addition to the shelves of yoga practitioners and yoga teachers as well as anyone with an interest in yogic or Vedic traditions.

Vol. no. 1 covers the Indian film industry from 1896-2001.

The first volume of the 15th-century spiritual classic that condenses Buddhist teachings into one easy-to-follow meditation manual The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Tib. Lam rim chen mo) is one of the brightest jewels in the world’s treasury of sacred literature. The author, Tsong-kha-pa, completed it in 1402, and it soon became one of the most renowned works of spiritual practice and philosophy in the world of Tibetan Buddhism. Because it condenses all the exoteric sūtra scriptures into a meditation manual that is easy to understand, scholars and practitioners rely on its authoritative presentation as a gateway that leads to a full understanding of the Buddha’s teachings. Tsong-kha-pa took great pains to base his insights on classical Indian Buddhist literature, illustrating his points with classical citations as well as with sayings of the masters of the earlier Kadampa tradition. In this way the text demonstrates clearly how Tibetan Buddhism carefully preserved and developed the Indian Buddhist traditions. This first of three volumes covers all the practices that are prerequisite for developing the spirit of enlightenment (bodhicitta).

A collection of articles and memoirs from those who loved the legendary Hindi playback singer Mohammed Rafi

This Indian film music book is a collection of eighty essays about the people who made remarkable music in Bollywood cinema, especially during the great era, and the ideas such people brought to the recording studios. When songs had to go without rhythms or when melodies had plenty of Q n A in them. In this music book, we flirt with Rock n Roll and scan songs that speed up at the end, we peep behind the screen to see what the idea was behind chorus songs in our films – even if there was no one to sing that chorus on the screen; it’s a huge list. These pages are a reflection of the time when everyone was fired up in their art, and when no one wanted to finish last in the race. It is about artists who every now and then dreamt ideas, and only after crystallizing things perfectly in their mind’s eye, went out to translate and transform their dreams into unforgettable melodies in Indian movies. Jukebox will interest the layman as well as the academician.

This book presents a feminist mapping of the articulation and suppression of female desire in Hindi films, which comprise one of modern India’s most popular cultural narratives. It explores the lineament of evil and the corresponding closure of chastisement or domesticity that appear as necessary conditions for the representation of subversive female desire. The term ‘bad’ is used heuristically, and not as a moral or essential category, to examine some of the iconic disruptive women of Hindi cinema and to uncover the nexus between patriarchy and other hierarchies, such as class, caste and religion in these representations. The twenty-one essays examine the politics of female desire/s from the 1930s to the present day - both through in-depth analyses of single films and by tracing the typologies in multiple films. The essays are divided into five sections indicating the various gendered desires and rebellions that patriarchal society seeks to police, silence and domesticate.

And The Music Lives On is an authoritative compilation of articles focusing on the Hindi film music of the Golden Era. It emphatically highlights the exceptional composers, singers, and lyricists of that time. It provides in-depth explanations of musical concepts such as Scherzando and Doo-wop, supported by numerous examples. Additionally, it includes a diverse range of topics, from songs sung on bullock carts to a comprehensive chapter on qawwalis. Moreover, it vividly portrays the dedication of actor Balraj Sahni, who would shoot during the day and spend his nights in prison. This book is an invaluable treasure trove of information.