Over the course of its history the Christian monastic tradition has developed a desert spirituality" of solitude, silence, and self-knowledge that fosters openness to the divine presence and its transformative power. Today the divine presence is manifesting itself anew in the "desert of otherness," that sacred space in which we encounter the other as one whose difference, even of religion and spirituality, can enrich us, rather than as one who must be drawn to and converted to our own "tru...

A new edition of the classic that helped launch the Centering Prayer movement.Centering Prayer is a precious part of the ancient spiritual traditions of the West. When Finding Grace at the Center was first published in 1978, people all over the world welcomed this practical guide to a simple and beautiful form of meditative prayer. Reflections and advice on Centering Prayers possibilitiesand its pitfallsare presented with clarity and simplicity, with a vision of the deeper life...

In this landmark book of interfaith dialogue, the Dalai Lama provides an extraordinary Buddhist perspective on the teachings of Jesus, commenting on well-known passages from the four Christian Gospels including the Sermon on the Mount, the parable of the mustard seed, the Resurrection, and others. Drawing parallels between Jesus and the Buddha--and the rich traditions from which they hail--His Holiness delivers a profound affirmation of the sacred in all religions. Readers will be inspired...

As Matthew Fox notes when an aging Albert Einstein was asked if he had any regrets he replied I wish I had read more of the mystics earlier in my life. The 365 writings in Christian Mystics represent a wide-ranging sampling of these readings for modern-day seekers of all faiths or no faith. Fox is uniquely qualified to comment on these profound sometimes startling often denounced insights. In 1998 this longtime member of the Dominican Order was silenced by Cardinal Ratzinger now Pope Bened...

Some twenty-five centuries after the Buddha started teaching, his message continues to inspire people across the globe, including those living in predominantly secular societies. What does it mean to adapt religious practices to secular contexts?   Stephen Batchelor, an internationally known author and teacher, is committed to a secularized version of the Buddha’s teachings. The time has come, he feels, to articulate a coherent ethical, contemplative, and philosophical vision of ...

The spiritualist author of The Seven Storey Mountain explores various religions and theologies and examines their similarities.Thomas Merton's devotion to the Roman Catholic Church never impeded his ability to appreciate the world's varieties of religious thought—if anything, the contemplative nature of his monasticism encouraged it. In Mystics and Zen Masters, Merton discusses diverse religious and theologies—f...

Michael Carrithers guides us through the complex and sometimes conflicting information that Buddhist texts give about the life and teaching of the Buddha. He discusses the social and political background of India in the Buddha's time, and traces the development of his thought. He also assesses the rapid and widespread assimilation of Buddhism and its contemporary relevance. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in alm...

One of today's foremost mystics introduces readers to the thought of one of the most important spiritual teachers of the past century.Bede Griffiths—English Benedictine monk and lifelong friend of C.S. Lewis, who was his tutor at Oxford—wrote in 1955 to a friend: "I'm going out to India to seek the other half of my soul." There, he explored the intersection of Hinduism and Christianity and was a driving force behind the growth of interspiritual awareness so common ...

This broad-ranging and authoritative illustrated dictionary provides over 2000 clear and concise definitions of every aspect of Buddhism; including coverage of not only historical but also contemporary issues such as human rights and the role of women. From religious ceremonies to iconography this dictionary will provide an invaluable reference source for anyone seeking information on Buddhism. - ;This new dictionary written by Dr Damien Keown covers both historical and contemporary issues...

Gnosticism developed alongside Judeo-Christianity over two thousand years ago, but with an important difference: It emphasizes, not faith, but direct perception of God--Gnosticism being derived from the Greek word gnosis, meaning "knowledge." Given the controversial premise that one can know God directly, the history of Gnosticism is an unfolding drama of passion, political intrigue, martyrdom, and mystery. Dr. Hoeller traces this fascinating story throughout time and shows how Gnosticism ...

A profound reflection on how complementary themes in Buddhism and Christianity could serve as the basis for a truly ecumenical faith• Compares Zen meditation with the Greek Orthodox practice of Hesychasm (prayer of the heart)• Shows how Buddha and Jesus represent the distinct yet complementary values of meditation and compassionIn Asian spiritual traditions the mountain traditionally symbolizes meditation while the ocean signifies compassion. Jean-Yves Leloup uses t...

The New York Times calls him "America's number one Buddhist." He is the co-founder of Tibet House New York, was the first American Tibetan Buddhist monk, and has shared a thirty-five-year friendship with the Dalai Lama. Now, Robert Thurman presents his first completely original book, an introduction to Buddhism and "an inspiring guide to incorporating Buddhist wisdom into daily life" (USA Today). Written with insight, enthusiasm, and impeccable scholarship, Inner R...