Based upon the works of some of the worlds greatest thinkers, Lessons from Sedona: A Spiritual Pathway to Serenity and Contentment by author Lewis Tagliaferre, builds on the success of his first volume, Voices of Sedona. This new, comprehensive collection of essays is designed to teach the fundamental principles of Theofatalismthe belief that God runs everything in the universe from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest interstellar galaxy. The essays link the five principles developed in Voices of Sedona to contemporary issues in society and personal living including politics, science, religion, aging, history, and economics. Useful for both self-study and as lesson guides to be used in organized discussion groups, the essays show the world as it really is from many different perspectives. A comprehensive and formidable source on metaphysics and spirituality, Lessons from Sedona: A Spiritual Pathway to Serenity and Contentment provides a plethora of information for those interested in growing, changing, and transcending the limiting constrictions of consensus beliefs. It communicates humankinds unique place in time and space and their special role in the giant jigsaw puzzle of life.

This single-volume work covers many traditions, customs, and activities Westerners may find unusual or shocking, covering everything from the Ashanti people's funeral celebrations to wife-carrying competitions in Finland. In Maharashtra, India, a tradition exists to throw newborn babies off the tops of buildings. At the Vegetarian Festival in Phuket, Thailand, some people ritualistically pierce their cheeks and faces with swords and knives. How did these surprising customs come to be? From camel wrestling to cheese-rolling competitions to a tomato-throwing festival, this fascinating single-volume encyclopedia examines more than 100 customs, traditions, and rituals that may be considered strange and exotic to U.S. readers. This work provides high school and undergraduate students with a compelling and fascinating exploration of world customs and traditions. Comprising entries by anthropologists, religious leaders, scholars, dancers, musicians, historians, and artists from almost every continent in the world, this encyclopedia provides readers a truly global and multidisciplinary perspective. The entries explore the origins of the custom, explain how it was established as a tradition, and describe how and where it is practiced. A thematic guide enables readers to look up entries by the type of tradition or custom, such as birth, coming of age, courtship and wedding, funeral, daily customs, holidays, and festivals.

"You see, although we make decisions all the time, freedom of choice is an illusion of belief. To understand illusion, illusion must exist. It is the ultimate hubris for Homo sapiens to think they alone, above all the life forms on Earth, have the power of choice when it seems that all other life forms do what they must instant by instant..." Health, wealth, and happiness are transient phases of life. When life makes no sense and the beliefs we live by fail to explain reality, traditional supports may no longer be of comfort. If you are scared and confused about the uncertainties and suffering in life, you may find solace in Voices of Sedona. In addition to inspired dialogues with his spiritual teachers in Sedona, Arizona, author Lewis Tagliaferre blends elements of religion, psychology, philosophy, history, and current events into five incredible principles of universal awareness. When a personal crisis strikes-whether it arises from occupational, family, social, physical, or financial changes-it's normal to feel a loss of control. If traditional beliefs fail to bring comfort at those times, there may seem to be nowhere to turn for inner peace and contentment. But, you can feel good inside no matter what happens outside.

In this uplifting and transformational book, spiritual teacher Mary Davis shares daily reflections, inspiring quotes, practices, prayers and meditations that fill your heart with encouragement, joy and inner peace. With a page for each day of the year, this gentle book will become a companion and a wise teacher that takes you on a spiritual journey of finding joy and gratitude in simple things, peace and comfort even in the midst of chaos, and a deeper love for others through kindness, compassion and service. Written during a year of solitude in the isolation of a cabin, Mary's poetic gift with words, loving guidance, humor and heart will feed your soul and have you looking forward to each day's reading. Every Day Spirit is packed with spiritual wisdom, making it a road map to a more meaningful and fulfilling life – and a reminder to slow down and notice the blessings. It's the perfect gift for yourself...and anyone in need of inspiration, hope, comfort and wisdom.

The Buddhist, Taoist, Yoga and Hindu traditions are usually taken as the primary guides to enlightenment training and theory, yet all genuine religions share cultivation theory and practices which will take practitioners to the same spiritual body attainments that constitute spiritual enlightenment. This is the only book of its kind that explains this spiritual path completely. Much of the contents will seem revolutionary, including: a comprehensive description of "interdependent origination" including the creation of the universe and sentient life that incorporates the Hua Yen view; the Diamond Sutra enlightenment view of what we are and our origins; an explanation of the spiritual goal of sat, chit, ananda and how this necessitates a dualistic mind-body cultivation system that entails physical exercise and inner energy work to achieve physical health and bliss, and meditation practice to achieve the flow state of pristine awareness; how we must cultivate our minds and behavior towards virtuous ways and improving society in order to merit the Twelve Year kundalini transformation period required for enlightenment; revelation of the five spiritual body attainments within the sambhogakaya along with their properties; the five stages scheme of spiritual progress; and the principles of Yin and Yang Qi cultivation inherent in yoga, martial arts and all spiritual cultivation practices. This will be a perennial guide to the spiritual cultivation efforts you undertake in your life.

With all the books available about the Bible, why another one? Well, it must be necessary, or it would not exist. Why you found this book and whether you read it or not can only be explained as the will of God. That is the conclusion offered in this review and commentary which combines bible history and content without interpretation that, although possibly not unique or even original, are easily read to help disclose the danger in proof texting scriptures. It presents the story of the Bible through scriptures and commentary not likely to be discussed in churches or Sunday School classes. What this book does is give you a concise, but fairly complete, summary of the evidence presented in the scriptures themselves, unvarnished, with no proof texting or cherry picking, without any specific church dogma that may be distorting or hiding the truth. The appendices include commandments by Jesus and instructions of Apostle Paul, scriptures very few churches feel comfortable discussing. However, you're not left dangling in space with no firm ground underneath your feet. Scripture says the truth will make you free. Since the Bible obviously contains contradictions and needs a better editor, there must be inferred some omnipotent power in the universe sustaining its interest and church expansion through two millennia. If you are skeptical or critical about church teachings, you may have found the solution to your concerns here in the discussion of Theofatalism, i.e., the GOD above gods, the prime force in the universe. With this belief, you can feel good inside no matter what happens outside if you work it. The conclusion may be quite a shock, but it definitely is a soft landing.

Journey to the Heart by New York Times bestselling author of Codependent No More, Beyond Codependency, and Lessons of Love, contains 365 insightful daily meditations that inspire readers to unlock their personal creativity and discover their divine purposes in life. “Melody Beattie gives you the tools to discover the magnificence and splendor of your being.” –Deepak Chopra, author of Jesus and Buddha

Bestselling author and renowned Buddhist teacher Noah Levine adapts the Buddha's Four Noble Truths and Eight Fold Path into a proven and systematic approach to recovery from alcohol and drug addiction—an indispensable alternative to the 12-step program. While many desperately need the help of the 12-step recovery program, the traditional AA model's focus on an external higher power can alienate people who don't connect with its religious tenets. Refuge Recovery is a systematic method based on Buddhist principles, which integrates scientific, non-theistic, and psychological insight. Viewing addiction as cravings in the mind and body, Levine shows how a path of meditative awareness can alleviate those desires and ease suffering. Refuge Recovery includes daily meditation practices, written investigations that explore the causes and conditions of our addictions, and advice and inspiration for finding or creating a community to help you heal and awaken. Practical yet compassionate, Levine's successful Refuge Recovery system is designed for anyone interested in a non-theistic approach to recovery and requires no previous experience or knowledge of Buddhism or meditation.