An expert on the thought of medieval Islamic philosopher Suhrawardi argues that philosophers have romanticized this work as a revival of “oriental” wisdom.

You were born into one of the greatest mysteries of all time. Your soul was projected into a vital, living body, with a creative thinking brain that shares in the mystery called "Life." Did you ever stop to question the reason for your being in this world, sharing in these magnificent life experiences, enjoying the excitement of love, the adventure of discovery and the creation of the miracle of new life? Can the true purpose behind your life be one of mere sensual enjoyment, animal appetites, the search for money, power, fame and fortune? Or is there a deeper, more mystical reason why you were born? THE TAPESTRY OF TIMELESS WISDOM This tapestry of timeless wisdom that comes to us from the Far East and the Middle East, which tries to comprehend and chart the invisible forces of life, is called Mysticism. Some of the greatest revelations of all time have come to us from the mystical lands of ancient India, China, Tibet and Egypt. These deeper mysteries have spread throughout the world, laying the foundations upon which civilization was built. Some of these great truths spread to Greece and influenced the philosophers of that ancient land. They were to be found in ancient Japan and laid the foundations for Shintoism and Buddhism. They became a part of the wisdom of Jerusalem, which comprised the background of the ancient Jewish faith, and ushered in the Christian dispensation. Moses's laws of the Ten Commandments and Jesus's Golden Rule and Sermon on the Mount have permeated the laws and educational systems upon which our Western civilization has been built. MIRACLES PERFORMED BY GREAT MYSTICS OF THE PAST The great mystics like Moses, Abraham and Jesus used some of these revelations which caused them to perform miracles in their time. Turning a stick into a crawling serpent, or changing water into wine, walking on the water, healing the sick, all these miraculous forces showed the use of ancient white magic and transcendental spiritual forces that came directly from the mystical lands of India, China, Tibet and Egypt. In fact, the teachings of the Far East and Mid-East preceded the teachings of the Christian mystic, Jesus, by several hundred years! ASK FOR A MIRACLE TODAY You can become a part of this great cosmic scheme of mysticism and ask for your own personal miracle today. You can use the forces of occultism, white magic, invocations, rituals, chants and meditations to release the creative energy of your own higher nature and perform miracles in your own life.

Beginning in the late '60s, hundreds of thousands of Westerners descended upon India, disciples of a cultural revolution that proclaimed that the magic and mystery missing from their lives was to be found in the East. An Indian writer who has also lived in England and the United States, Gita Mehta was ideally placed to observe the spectacle of European and American "pilgrims" interacting with their hosts. When she finally recorded her razor sharp observations in Karma Cola, the book became an instant classic for describing, in merciless detail, what happens when the traditions of an ancient and longlived society are turned into commodities and sold to those who don't understand them. In the dazzling prose that has become her trademark, Mehta skewers the entire Spectrum of seekers: The Beatles, homeless students, Hollywood rich kids in detox, British guilt-trippers, and more. In doing so, she also reveals the devastating byproducts that the Westerners brought to the villages of rural lndia -- high anxiety and drug addiction among them. Brilliantly irreverent, Karma Cola displays Gita Mehta's gift for weaving old and new, common and bizarre, history and current events into a seamless and colorful narrative that is at once witty, shocking, and poignant.

Enjoy peaceful thoughts every day of the year with these 365 inspirational images and quotes. Meditation, inner peace, a respect for nature, a detachment from worldly goods: all these concepts from Eastern philosophy have become key elements of Western spirituality. This volume, rich in splendid photographs and thought-provoking quotations from eminent exponents of Eastern wisdom, will provide inspiration all year and promote inner growth. In addition to ancient proverbs, the wise words come from such spiritual masters as Confucius, Lao Tzu, and Buddha.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

A captivating study of translation, adaptation, and intellectual cross-pollination that situates the Castilian Hermes in the center of medieval Mediterranean cultural exchange Hermes Trismegistus, a Hellenistic conflation of the Greek Hermes (god of interpretative wisdom) and the Egyptian Thoth (god of wisdom) was considered by many in the medieval world as the father of culture. Between c. 300 BCE - c. 1200 CE various treatises were attributed to the legendary sage, becoming known as the Hermetica - a combination of diverse philosophical and spiritual systems, addressing subjects such as alchemy, magic, and astrology. The Hermetica circulated widely, with premodern translations in Latin, Hebrew, Syriac, Persian, Arabic, and other Eastern languages. Whilst these iterations have been thoroughly researched, little attention has been paid to the Castilian Hermes, the first rendition of the wisdom traditions of Hermes Trismegistus in a Romance language. This book follows the ways in which Hermetic knowledge was brought to the Iberian Peninsula, showing how Hermes became the philosophical and spiritual inspiration for Christian, Arabic, and Jewish scholars there. Udaondo Alegre unveils the pivotal role of King Alfonso X ("the Learned") of Castile (1252-84) in creating this Spanish Hermes. Through the meticulous tracing of source texts and literary influences, the author explores the myriad ways in which Hermes crossed religious and linguistic boundaries to embody a composite intellectual identity, emblematic of medieval Spain's multicultural ethos. Alfonso's court is revealed as the site for a unique convergence of translation and interpretation that shaped a distinctly "Hispanic" Hermes.

Through profound spiritual insights and his unique approach to the inner life, internationally acclaimed author Anthony de Mello points the way toward new levels of contemplation, happiness, love, wisdom, and enlightenment. In more than two hundred parables and lessons about living life fully yet simply, de Mello gives examples filled with wisdom that cannot be conveyed in regular direct discourse. Rooted in the spirit of the Gospel and spanning the mystical traditions of East and West, this invigorating volume -- like all the author's previous books -- is intended to enliven our faith and free us from whatever imprisons our mind, body, and soul. One Minute Wisdom will lead from sense to sensitivity, from mood to meaning, from thought to feeling. And as de Mello writes, "Wisdom can come without the slightest effort—in the time it takes to open your eyes." Wherever your spiritual belief may lie—or even if you have no beliefs at all—you will find in these pages needed and helpful direction on continuing the process of self-discovering and on finding the satisfying riches that lie deep within you.

This is a user-friendly and potentially life-changing introduction to the wisdom teachings of 108 of the greatest mystics in the Western tradition. McColman's premise is that we all need teachers and companions to assist us in developing rich interior lives. It celebrates the universal power and wisdom of the teachings of the mystics, highlighting the ways in which their words can help anyone find greater love, purpose and a deeper sense of God's presence. McColman organizes the mystics into nine categories: visionaries, confessors, lovers, poets, saints, heretics, wisdom keepers, soul-friends and unitives, and he covers a wide range of mystics including Martin Luther King, Hildegard of Bingen, Julian of Norwich, Dag Hammarskjold and C.S. Lewis, plus Evelyn Underhill, Simone Weil, Thomas Merton and Bede Griffiths.