A comprehensive practice guide to the great treatise of Theravadan Buddhism, the path to purification.

"Now repackaged, Matt Flickstein's universal meditator's guide should finally find the audience it deserves. Indeed, the book truly is an invaluable roadmap for anyone who meditates. It's based on an ancient and absolutely essential text. (The text is called the Path of Purification - but you don't need to know that, and neither do readers, to get the benefits of Flickstein's in-depth knowledge of its teachings!) All readers need to know is that Flickstein's is an up-to-the-minute approach to what the Buddha himself taught about meditation, put in the plainest of Plain-English terms (hence the enthusiastic foreword by Mindfulness in Plain English author, Bhante Henepola Gunaratana). Flickstein's words are encouraging; meditation's benefits are, after all, for everyone, and the author in turns writes for everyone. Matthew Flickstein is a psychotherapist, meditation teacher and the founder of The Forest Way Insight Meditation Center in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. In twenty years of leading personal development workshops, he has trained almost 15,000 people across the U.S., including other teachers."

India is killing the Ganges, and the Ganges in turn is killing India. Victor Mallet traces the holy river from source to mouth, and from ancient times to the present day, to find that the battle to rescue what is arguably the world's most important river is far from lost.

There is a plethora of information available on the river Ganga in the form of books, blogs, articles, websites, videos. Unfortunately, most of the information about this famous river is in a scattered form and reproduced from unverified sources. This contributed volume is the first multi-author volume publication on this subject. The River Ganga includes a vast array of topics written by several authors of distinction. Topics include; hydrology, tributaries, water uses, and environmental features such as river water quality, aquatic and terrestrial flora/fauna, natural resources, ecological characteristics, sensitive environmental components and more. Part I gives a basic introduction of the Ganga river. The existing data and available information from various sources has been compiled in a pictorial fashion in the form of cmaps. Its cultural importance with changing times is also discussed. Part II looks at the rich biodiversity of the Ganga Basin. It gives a detailed description of the major floral and faunal biodiversity with special emphasis on the national aquatic animal dolphin and Sunderbans, the largest mangrove wetland in the world. Part III examines ‘The Ganga Water as it flows’. It focuses on the water quality as well as its associated challenges. Part IV looks at the complexities of issues confronting the river ‘Ganga in changing times’ be it snowmelt runoff, river bank erosion hazards and hydropower assessments; how the factors of population, poverty and pollution contribute to the fate of the river. Part IV touches on economic aspects derived from the river such as business opportunities and tourism.

The very idea that the teachings can be mastered will arouse controversy within Buddhist circles. Even so, Ingram insists that enlightenment is an attainable goal, once our fanciful notions of it are stripped away, and we have learned to use meditation as a method for examining reality rather than an opportunity to wallow in self-absorbed mind-noise. Ingram sets out concisely the difference between concentration-based and insight (vipassana) meditation; he provides example practices; and most importantly he presents detailed maps of the states of mind we are likely to encounter, and the stages we must negotiate as we move through clearly-defined cycles of insight. Its easy to feel overawed, at first, by Ingram's assurance and ease in the higher levels of consciousness, but consistently he writes as a down-to-earth and compassionate guide, and to the practitioner willing to commit themselves this is a glittering gift of a book.In this new edition of the bestselling book, the author rearranges, revises and expands upon the original material, as well as adding new sections that bring further clarity to his ideas.

With the onset of sudden profound deafness at the age of 29, Barbara Brodsky set out on a quest to understand the nature of illness and healing, examining the interrelationship of mind and body and our capacity to transcend limitation. Asking the questions What is healing? Who and what heals? Why do some people heal while others do not? she discusses karma and free will, our habit of identifying with a limited sense of self, and our potential for greater healing. A longtime Buddhist practitioner who began meditation in the ’60s, Brodsky discovered a new path on her healing journey when she began channeling the spirit Aaron in 1989. Based on three decades of meticulously kept journals, Cosmic Healing weaves together Brodsky’s Buddhist teachings, channeled material from Aaron, exercises for the reader, and an account of her experiences with the healer known as John of God (João Teixeira de Faria) at his teaching center, Casa de Dom Inácio, in Brazil. While Cosmic Healing is channeled in part and has deep roots in traditional dharma, it is at heart a universal story of human growth and discovery. Old beliefs limit us every day. But as Brodsky discovered and teaches, we can learn to recognize such limiting beliefs, transcend them, and live a deeper truth. From the Trade Paperback edition.

Creating awareness of a multifaceted approach for achieving wellness and healing on a deeper level, The New World of Self-Healing demystifies the subtleties and patterning of energy to explain how health and illness are created. This wellness guide prescribes a holistic approach that emphasizes health on four levels: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Author Bente Hansen, drawing understanding gained from years of interest in the field and work undertaken from clients, explores many ways to promote wellness. She explains the function of the unique human energy field and tells how to support optimal health by maintaining its dynamic structure. She teaches how healing occurs on an energetic level, for it is at that level that both illness and wellness originate. Underlying the theme of energy is the fostering of individual empowerment. The New World of Self-Healing shares tools and techniques to help cultivate positive belief patterns, overcome fear, repair and heal your energy field, restore balance, and more. It offers a refreshing and informative perspective on self-help and is recommended for those starting out on the healing process.

Being Prayer offers timeless guidance, a clear, simple, yet personal and challenging path for living fully, in harmony and integrity, with things just as they are. It also provides rich resources for further study based on individual needs and interests.

From one of the world's most influential meditation teachers comes the engrossing story of his life and his journey along the path to mindfulness.