A sacred light grid surrounds Table Mountain -- a network of sacred springs, caves, stone giants and geometrically aligned marker-stones. Some have human faces with their eyes aligned to interact with the cardinal directions of the sun, the Solstices and Equinoxes. Who did this and why? What message do they hold for us? Following the pathways of the sun through the eyes of ancient peoples, we discover the antiquity of the human spirit and the interconnectedness of all things. The book takes one on a colourful journey of rediscovery. It has been designed so that readers (of all ages) can open it at any page and be drawn into the journey through the magical pathway and photographs that weave the book together.

Sixth graders will enjoy reading selections about many different kinds of animals, stories of patriotism from our country's past, American tall tales, and selections about Christians in foreign lands. Thought questions at the end of the stories aid in understanding the selections. -- from publisher.

With the growing popularity of Zen Buddhism in the West, virtually everyone knows, or thinks they know, what a koan is: a brief and baffling question or statement that cannot be solved by the logical mind and which, after sustained concentration, can lead to sudden enlightenment. But the truth about koans is both simpler--and more complicated--than this. In Opening a Mountain, Steven Heine shows that koans, and the questions we associate with them--such as "What is the sound of one hand clapping?"--are embedded in larger narratives and belong to an ancient Buddhist tradition of "encounter dialogues." These dialogues feature dramatic and often inscrutable contests between masters and disciples, or between masters and an array of natural and supernatural forces: rouge priests, "wild foxes," hermits, wizards, shapeshifters, magical animals, and dangerous women. To establish a new monastery, "to open a mountain," the Zen master had to tame these wild forces in regions most remote from civilization. In these extraordinary encounters, fingers and arms are cut off, pitchers are kicked over, masters appear in and interpret each other's dreams, and seemingly absurd statements are shown to reveal the deepest insights. Heine restores these koans to their original traditions, allowing readers to see both the complex elements of Chinese culture and religion that they reflect and the role they played in Zen's transformation of local superstitions into its own teachings. Offering a fresh approach to one of the most crucial elements of Zen Buddhism, Opening a Mountain is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the full story behind koans and the mysterious worlds they come from.

Here we are! We know this is a powerful time; we have successfully birthed ourselves to be present during the grand awakening. We can feel it -- the call to powerful living! What makes some solutions for powerful living easy to grasp whereas others seem slippery and elusive? Maybe the slippery and elusive solutions are so different that they feel like a foreign language, one we haven't yet learned to speak. Maybe the elusive solutions are poking at the conclusions we've spent our entire lives developing. This book is about practical solutions called pathways. Have you ever asked Pretty Flower a question only to have her answer begin with, "Once upon a time ... "? At the end of her parable, have you ever found yourself saying, "Huh?" and then, "Oh, yes"? It's easy, simple. That's what the parables are all about: a shift in consciousness and spiritual awakenings galore. But don't let me keep you a moment longer from these easy pathways, delightful parables, and simple solutions for your powerful living! -- Miriandra Rota Interwoven within your story, dear beloved ones, is the truth of who you are. Interwoven within the fabric of your being are encodings that contain all knowing and the capability to venture forth in the fulfillment of your heart's yearning. And within your heart's yearning resides your beloved innocence, which holds the wisdom you seek while creating your story. Blessed are you. -- Pretty Flower