"Drawing on resources as diverse as Sufism, Benedictine Monasticism, the Gurdjieff Work, and the string theory of modern physics, Cynthia Bourgeault has crafted her own unique vision of the Wisdom way in this very accessible book, nicely balanced between concept and practice." —Gerald May, senior fellow, Shalem Institute, and author, Addiction and Grace and Will and Spirit "The spiritual wisdom and practical suggestions in this lively and beautiful book will be helpful to many who find themselves setting out on the interior journey." —Bruno Barnhart, a Camaldolese monk and author, Second Simplicity: The Inner Shape of Christianity "Cynthia Bourgeault's book is a valuable contribution to the much-needed reawakening of spiritual practice within a Christian context. Her sincerity, good sense, metaphysical depth, and broad experience make her a source to be trusted." —Kabir Helminski, Sufi Shaikh, the Threshold Society

Immense challenges now face the global community. How can educators train the next generation of students to deal with the vast array of issues awaiting them in every sector of society? Written as a testimony to three decades of experimentation with these challenges in mind, Hong Kong International School humanities teacher Dr. Marty Schmidt draws upon the universal Wisdom tradition to propose pedagogical frameworks that combine what he calls the yang of social conscience with the yin of inner awakening. This yin-yang approach forms the basis of the The Wisdom Way of Teaching, which describes in curricular detail how to cultivate the whole person development of students. ENDORSEMENTS: “The Wisdom Way of Teaching is both a manifesto and a manual of what transformative education needs to be in the years to come. I felt inspired to read about the impact of a holistic curriculum that integrates service-learning and spiritual practice. Brick by brilliant brick, Marty Schmidt builds that all-important bridge between the inner world and the outer world. The principles and practices that Marty lays out in generous detail can be applied to classrooms of all kinds and ages. I wish every teacher could read this book!” — Fran Grace, University of Redlands “For secondary teachers and other educators working at the intersection of social justice and spirituality, Marty’s book offers practical examples, creative activities, and cross-cultural teaching stories from a lifetime of impassioned teaching. Informed by his deep study of Eastern and Western spiritual traditions, this book comes from the heart of a teacher, infused with contemplative insight, and inspired by a love of the world — the broken world that is and the better world that could be.” — Vachel Miller, Appalachian State University

A new view of Jesus as a Buddha-like wisdom teacher who taught the transformation of consciousness—with traditional contemplative practices you can do yourself If you put aside what you think you know about Jesus and approach the Gospels as though for the first time, something remarkable happens: Jesus emerges as a teacher of the transformation of consciousness. The Wisdom Jesus provides a new perspective on Christ and an expansive interpretation of His message. Cynthia Bourgeault creates a masterful guide to Jesus's vision and the traditional contemplative practices you can use to experience the heart of his teachings for yourself.

Swami Aseshananda lived and taught in America for some forty years; he was Sri Sarada Devi’s last living monastic disciple up until his passing in 1996. He imbibed both the transcendent viewpoint of Advaita Vedanta and the practical teachings of Christianity in his life, combining them into a transformative message for the Western culture and the world at large — which he gave out untiringly and unstintingly for the many years of his blessed lifetime. His presence conferred galvanizing inspiration; his words from the podium conveyed powerful vibrations; his daily puja up through his ninetieth year transmitted countless blessings. His divine utterances and selfless actions during a life of complete commitment are still vibrating in the hearts and minds of the devotees. We offer here a selection of lectures the Swami delivered during his time at the Vedanta Society of Portland.

The Universal Story: Life has a way of catching us off guard, turning our world upside down or even shattering it in a second. We react ony to find ourselves in the same "old pit" again. Now what? Waking Up : Discover your hidden strategies and reveal your (W)holeness. A different WAY: You are the expert! All you need is the Wisdom Map. An invitation: Read this and experience surprising relief and potent aliveness. Alaya Chadwick is able to put hands and feet on extremely complex concepts in a way which connects them to the living reality of everyday life...An indispensable tool for assessing oneself in those volatile times. The brilliancy of this path is that once you learn to use the map, the way home is lovingly put into your own hands. - Martha Harrell, M.S.N. Ph.D., contributing author to Transforming Terror: Reclaiming the World Soul. Alaya confirms what we've long feared: it's a near impossible journey to complete with only a partial understanding of how one integrates psyche and soul. Here, in the hands of this storyteller, therapist-minister extraordinaire, we find what we've longed for. - Sunny Shulkin, LCSW, BCD, Master Trainer of Harville Hendrix's Imago Relationship Therapy, co-author with Pat Love of the book How to Ruin a Perfectly Good Relationship.

Alaya has the unique creative capacity to teach using the hands and feet of our ordinary human experience to understand and come closer to secrets of the universe. Martha Harrell, M.S.N., Ph.D., Licensed Training Jungian Psychoanalyst, Biodynamic Cranio-sacral Therapist, and contributing author in Transforming Terror: Reclaiming the World Soul Alayas Fables takes us into the world of make-believe to discover how problems are solved from the heart. Meredith Young-Sowers, D.Div., Founder & Director, Stillpoint Foundation and School of Integrative Life Healing, Author: of The Angelic Messenger Cards These unique fables engage both right and left hemispheres, and truly invite us to reach our potential. Thank you from an inspired heart! Joyce Buckner, Ph.D. Author of Making Real Love Happen, Master Imago Therapist, and guest on the Oprah Show Alayas Fables offers a welcoming trail into ones heart and soul. Enjoy and use these lovely fables as a way to explore, grow, and play with all that you are. Dee LaCrosse, Psy.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist ONE need not be the lonely number its name implies. Alaya Chadwick takes us to the land where dreams live to find intimacy with our inner selves. Mark W Shulkin MD, Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and Clinical Assistant Professor or of Psychiatry at Drexel University College of Medicine (retired) Sunny L Shulkin LCSW, BCD, Master Trainer of Imago Relationship Therapy

The Fortress Commentary on the Bible: Old Testament and Apocrypha presents a balanced synthesis of current scholarship, enabling readers to interpret Scripture for a complex and pluralistic world. The contributors bring a rich diversity of perspectives to the task of connecting solid historical critical analysis of the Scripture with sensitivity to theological, cultural, and interpretive issues arising in our encounter with the text. The contributors represent a broad array of theological commitmentProtestants, Catholics, Jews, and others. The introductory articles and section introductions in the volume discuss the dramatic challenges that have shaped contemporary interpretation of the Old Testament and Apocrypha. Individual book articles provide an introduction and commentary on key sense units that are explored through the lenses of three critical questions: The text in its ancient context. What did the text probably mean in its original historical and cultural context? The text in the interpretive tradition. How have centuries of reading and interpreting shaped our understanding of the text? The text in contemporary discussion. What are the unique challenges and interpretive questions that arise for readers and hearers of the text today? The result is a commentary that is comprehensive and useful for preaching, teaching, and research.

This concise commentary, excerpted from the Fortress Commentary on the Bible: The Old Testament and Apocrypha, engages readers in the work of biblical interpretation. Contributors connect historical-critical analysis with sensitivity to current theological, cultural, and interpretive issues. Introductory articles describe the challenges of reading the Old Testament in ancient and contemporary contexts, relating the biblical theme of “the people of God” to our complex, multicultural world, and reading the Old Testament as Christian Scripture, followed by a survey of “Introduction to Wisdom and Worship: Themes and Perspectives in the Poetic Writings.” Each chapter (Job through Song of Songs) includes an introduction and commentary on the text through the lenses of three critical questions: The Text in Its Ancient Context. What did the text probably mean in its original historical and cultural context? The Text in the Interpretive Tradition. How have centuries of reading and interpreting shaped our understanding of the text? The Text in Contemporary Discussion. What are the unique challenges and interpretive questions that arise for readers and hearers of the text today? Wisdom, Worship, and Poetry introduces fresh perspectives and draws students, as well as preachers and interested readers, into the challenging work of interpretation.

Presents a balanced synthesis of the scholarship, enabling readers to interpret Scripture for a complex and pluralistic world. This book discusses the dramatic challenges that have shaped contemporary interpretation of the Old Testament and Apocrypha.