Best Hindu History
From one of the world?s foremost scholars on Hinduism, a vivid reinterpretation of its history An engrossing and definitive narrative account of history and myth that offers a new way of understanding one of the world?s oldest major religions, The Hindus elucidates the relationship between recorded history and imaginary worlds. Note that Doniger is the Mircea Eliade Distinguished Service Professor of Religions at the University of Chicago and the author of many books. Learned, fluent, and entertaining in spite of the complexity of this ambitious undertaking, Doniger is also controversial, a role she embraces, confident that fresh viewpoints are essential to understanding the worlds that shaped the Hindu tradition, and the ways Hindus shaped society. "With her vast erudition, insight, and graceful writing laced with gentle wit, there is no one better than Wendy Doniger to convey the richness, depth, and diversity of Hindu texts and traditions to international audiences.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"She has been charged with being salacious and highlighting the sexual nature of some of the characters and dramatis personae of Hindu Myth and Legend… Maybe. She could have just as easily chosen any other of the world’s faiths (Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism) to promote and champion her personal value system. Instead she chose Hinduism; one because it is her chosen field of study, but more so, I believe, was that because Hinduism afforded her an easy target."
"She effectively argues that influences from women, the lower castes and local beliefs and practices were infused into the Hindu world view and that this eclectic tradition still goes on today."
"A well-written alternative history of anything, let alone Hinduism, generally has the effect of making the reader pause and think twice about what he may have held all along as the truth. From someone of Ms. Doniger’s stature, I was hoping to hear a serious insight or two that would make me go, "Gosh, I’ve known that story all my life, but why didn’t I look at things that way before?" It’s as if someone wrote a very detailed book about the Mississippi river and Southern cuisine and called it "The Americans: An Alternative History." I realize these are harsh accusations and the burden of proof lies on me, so please allow me to present enough examples to make my case (within the space limitations of an opinion piece). When Rama hears of the king’s predicament, he abdicates his claim to the throne and leaves the city. This is a defining moment for Rama—the young man respects the king’s word (i.e., the law) enough to renounce his own claim to the throne and loves his father so much that he spares him the pain of having to enact the banishment. Indeed, this point in Rama’s life even foretells the rest of the story—that the young man would, in the years to come, make even bigger personal sacrifices for the sake of his ideals. Ms. Doniger covers this topic in excellent detail (page 223 onwards), but it’s interesting that she doesn’t bring up the king’s longstanding promise. Ms. Doniger retells the story of the ogre Shurpanakha, who approaches Rama and professes her love for him. Ms. Doniger then contrasts this story with one from the Mahabharata, where an ogre named Hidimbi professes her love for Bheema and is accepted as his wife—again underscoring the author’s point about Rama’s cruelty. Rama even says, “That ogre almost killed Sita.” One would think these details are pertinent to the discussion, but strangely enough, Ms. Doniger doesn’t bring them up. To be fair to Ms. Doniger, there are many versions of the Ramayana (and sadly enough, some scholars have received a lot of undeserved flak for pointing this out). Normally, one would expect an alternative narrative to add nuance—as if to say, “There is more to the story than what you lay people know.” But Ms. Doniger manages to do the opposite—she takes a nuanced, compelling moment in the epic and reduces it to sexual blackmail or cruelty or sexual urges, whatever her current talking point is. But it can justifiably be called a veritable catalog of all the phalluses and vaginas that ever existed in ancient India, and there is no dearth of detail in Doniger’s book when it comes to private parts. In the Mahabharata, Arjuna burns up a large forest and many creatures die; the epic even describes the animals’ pain at some length. Then the professor brings up—and this is a recurring talking point under the cruelty section—the line from Mahabharata that says, “fish eat fish.” Ms. Doniger calls it “Manu’s terror of piscine anarchy.” Oh, the humanity! But the problem is, she then proceeds to turn off many lights in the house and use a microscope to detail the bits she cares to see. She is of course free to do what she likes, but can someone please explain to me why the end result from such an approach qualifies as an “alternative” map of my home? Still on the topic of animals, let’s discuss dogs, a subject Ms. Doniger covers in great detail. That’s a very interesting trend you’ve spotted there, Ms. Doniger, but what about all those big, ugly blots of truth that don’t fit your graph? For the benefit of any kind souls from the Western world who have been patiently reading through all this, let me throw in an example from relatively recent times that involves America. No doubt you've heard what the physicist Robert Oppenheimer said while reflecting on the first nuclear blast he had helped spawn. The simplest explanation I can think of is that Oppenheimer was a well-read man, and he felt the passage was appropriate when describing the unprecedented firepower he had just witnessed. Ms. Doniger’s take: “Perhaps Oppenheimer’s inability to face his own shock and guilt directly, the full realization and acknowledgment of what he had helped create, led him to distance the experience by viewing it in terms of someone else’s myth of doomsday, as if to say: ‘This is some weird Hindu sort of doomsday, nothing we Judeo-Christian types ever imagined.’ He switched to Hinduism when he saw how awful the bomb was and that it was going to be used on the Japanese, not on the Nazis, as had been intended. And yes, left uncontested, in all likelihood these are the “insights” a whole new generation of students and researchers might learn, internalize, and cite in future scholarly works. Really, there is more to writing history (particularly the alternative kind) than looking up the reference books and throwing in all the numbers one could find. It took me all of two hours to find a very detailed account (not on the Internet though), compiled in the 11th century, putting the total at 100,500—and I’m not a researcher, not by a long shot. Ms. Doniger states, very clearly, without any ambiguity, on page 11 (footnote): “Most of India… is in the Northern Hemisphere.”. I think I’ll stop here."
What the chakras are and how they work The locations of the chakras and their various uses Steps and strategies on how to awaken your chakras Balancing the chakras How to heal damaged chakras Applying these strategies to enhance your life And much, much more! Scroll up and Click the "Buy now with 1-Click" button to get Chakras for Beginners: How to Awaken And Balance Chakras, Radiate Positive Energy And Heal Yourself and begin your journey to a better life today! Through his journey towards enlightenment and peace of mind, Michael has developed clear and easy-to-follow guides to understanding the benefits of adopting Buddhist methods and ideas into one’s daily life. Michael has found the pursuit of mindfulness especially beneficial and employs the art of meditation every day in order to reap the benefits of a clear mind. His book Mindfulness for Beginners: How to Live in the Present, Stress, and Anxiety Free, explores these benefits and lays out a groundwork for employing mindfulness in everyday life.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"i llike this book alot it gives you a lot of information."
"Great beginners book."
"Loved this book,very informative."
"Love the book, quick easy read with plenty of knowledge."
"Great intro book for anyone wanting to learn more about the chakras."
"Very easy to read and understand."
"I have learned a lot from reading this and it has helped."
"Great book, so much information."
The Teachings of Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Arunachala, the Human Guru and Awareness as the Guru. Evil, Ignorance, Knowledge, Compassion, Kindness, Happiness, Love, Life and Death. Out of Body Experiences, Astral Projection, Dreams, Void and Deep Sleep. Meditation, Self-Inquiry, "I am" Sadhana, Raja and Mantra Yoga, Kundalini and Spiritual Practice Instructions in general. Know that the best Conversation with the Truth is staying in Silence.That Eternal Silence, You Are.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"After reading “Beyond Shiva” from the same author, I decided to read this book and I was surprised once again. The book is very well structured and the dialogues were very well chosen, they take me back home, or better said, they helped me recognize that I'm already home. As I kept reading Avahtara's responses, I felt they were directed precisely at me."
Best Hindu Rituals & Practice
It's an information packed, full color, complete training manual with 17 time tested exercises and 47 photos and illustrations to help you quickly be able to see Auras in vibrant color! It is the only full color book on auras available. "Auras: How to See, Feel & Know," goes in depth with thorough explanations and great pictures to show you all the common body language indicators used to confirm what someone's aura is showing you. See the 7 layers of the aura using Embrosewyn's pioneering technique Understand the meaning of the patterns and shadows observed in the layers Train your eyes to instantly switch back and forth from aura to normal vision Understand the meaning and nuances of every color of the rainbow in an aura Use your aura as a shield against negative energy or people Power up your aura to have greater achievement in any endeavor Interpret body language to confirm observations of the aura Cut negative energy cords to disharmonious people Understand health conditions and ailments through the aura The secret to aura sight is to retrain the focusing parts of your eyes to see things that have always been there, but you have never been able to see before. The author has been seeing brightly colored auras for over 60 years and teaching others to begin seeing auras within 5 minutes for the last 22 years. "Auras: How to See, Feel & Know," includes all the power techniques, tools and Full Color eye exercises from his popular workshops. The best value by far, packed full of fascinating, useful information, filled with dozens of original illustrations, eye exercise and pictures, all in Full Color , plus dynamic, interactive content is, "Auras: How to See, Feel & Know." "Mr. Tazkuvel does a wonderful job at making such a complicated and specific subject like auras easy to learn while entertaining the reader with his own experiences as an aura reader throughout his life. The guide is well-written, casual but informative, vivid with imagery (from pictures to illustrations), provides tips/tools for training the mind/eyes and ensures that the reader gets a comprehensive guide to auras in a real and tangible way." "Theauthor, a definitive authority on the subject, has provided the bestinsight on auras that I have found.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I freely admit that, in general, I am not a "new-agey" person and I have spent the biggest part of my adult life looking upon the various disciplines therein as little more than nonsense and "hooey". I began to read but, before my arrogant pessimism could fully kick in, the author made a bold claim right out of the starting gate: “Anyone with vision out of both eyes can begin seeing the radiating energy aura surrounding every person, usually within just 5-10 minutes of training…”. Okay, I thought. I eagerly flipped ahead to Chapter 10, "Retraining Your Eye Rods and Cones” to Exercise 7 which asked me to begin by focusing on a pencil. My mind ferried between the shock of "seeing" an aura for the first time, and the disgust of being keenly aware of the actions of a canine tongue that frequently licked my face."
"Ever since I was younger, I had always been curious about auras and the certain energies that people seem to give off. I found the color part very intriguing as it explained the meanings of colors you may see as well as the different stages of auras."
"This is an excellent book for people interested in really understanding auras and how they "work". It was awesome to have that nice storyline feeling to it going on in the background :). Overall it was a totally awesome book, for beginners or people really wanting to learn this or for those looking for an interesting way to spend the afternoon."
Best Buddhist History
Drawn directly from 24 Pali, Sanskrit, and Chinese sources, and retold by Thich Nhat Hanh in his inimitably beautiful style, this book traces the Buddha’s life slowly and gently over the course of 80 years, partly through the eyes of Svasti, the buffalo boy, and partly through the yes of the Buddha himself. The result is a beautiful and contemporary book that can offer an attractive introduction for those new to the subject as well as many bright moments for serious students of Buddhism. Seen partly through the eyes of the Buddha himself and partly through those of Svasti, the buffalo boy, Old Path White Clouds brings the Buddha closer to us as we journey with him on his path to enlightenment and nirvana.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book is a must read for the spiritual seeker, a devout practitioner, or anyone who simply wants to know more about the core elements of the Buddha and Buddhism."
"I bought this book to "get to know" the Buddha better and learn more about his life and teachings."
"All true but do read more than one book."
"quick service great book."
"As a Buddhist, I really appreciate this biography of the Buddha, though it will work as an introduction to those only getting interested in Buddhism."
"If you are looking for a biography of the Buddha without constant source references (they are provided in the back) or analysis, if you are just looking for the story of his life, you might really enjoy Old Path White Clouds like I did."
"The book is really a story of the Buddha's life, but it is told in such a "you are there" sort of direct simplicity, that audiences of many ages and different backgrounds will find it accessible."
Best Islamic History
Aslan explores what the popular demonstrations pushing for democracy in the Middle East mean for the future of Islam in the region, how the Internet and social media have affected Islam’s evolution, and how the war on terror has altered the geopolitical balance of power in the Middle East. He also provides an update on the contemporary Muslim women’s movement, a discussion of the controversy over veiling in Europe, an in-depth history of Jihadism, and a look at how Muslims living in North America and Europe are changing the face of Islam. Praise for No god but God “Grippingly narrated and thoughtfully examined . a literate, accessible introduction to Islam.” —The New York Times “[Reza] Aslan offers an invaluable introduction to the forces that have shaped Islam [in this] eloquent, erudite paean to Islam in all of its complicated glory.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review “Wise and passionate . a literate, accessible introduction to Islam.” —The New York Times “[Reza] Aslan offers an invaluable introduction to the forces that have shaped Islam [in this] eloquent, erudite paean to Islam in all of its complicated glory.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review “Wise and passionate . While [Aslan] might claim to be a mere scholar of the Islamic Reformation, he is also one of its most articulate advocates.” —The Oregonian. He is also the author of How to Win a Cosmic War: God, Globalization, and the End of the War on Terror (published in paperback as Beyond Fundamentalism ), as well as the editor of Tablet & Pen: Literary Landscapes from the Modern Middle East .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Every page is filled with notes... probably the reason all of Reza Aslan's books takes me a little more than a month to finish."
"One of the best book to understand the ISLAM> Thank U !"
"Book came quickly, was in great shape, and also is a phenomenal book for anyone interested in religious history or the genesis and development of Islam."
"The book tends to be somewhat academic so would not satisfy the a dual reader."
"Excellent as usual."
"Wonderful read - very informative and helpful in understanding the origins and progress of the the Muslim faith."
"Lacking in depth and knowledge."
Best Jewish History of Religion
She tells how German officials casually questioned the lineage of her parents; how during childbirth she refused all painkillers, afraid that in an altered state of mind she might reveal something of her past; and how, after her husband was captured by the Soviets, she was bombed out of her house and had to hide while drunken Russian soldiers raped women on the street. Now part of the permanent collection at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., these hundreds of documents, several of which are included in this volume, form the fabric of a gripping new chapter in the history of the Holocaust—complex, troubling, and ultimately triumphant. Submerging her Jewish identity at home and at work, Edith lived in constant fear, even refusing anesthetic in labor to avoid inadvertently revealing the truth about her past. Young Beer (ne Hahn) was a promising Viennese Jewish law student until the German Anschluss annexing Austria made her circle stop its laughing (``Hitler is a joke. She was a Christmas-tree Jew with a Gentile boyfriend (dreaming of a socialist paradise), but Zionist siblings (who escape to Palestine), and the deadly follow-ups to the Nuremberg Laws send Beer into an underground existence as a ``U-boat'' in Aryan Germany. Beer took on an Austrian friend's documents and identity, got employed with the Munich Red Cross, and dated soldiers for the meals and covermarrying one Nazi, Werner Vetter, with a good job and expertise in art. A returned Werner rejected the independent Edith who had replaced his servile Grete, so Beer divorced him in 1947, left the oppressive Russians, and emigrated to England, then, in 1987, to Israel.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Before this she had never worked physically in her life. She got papers from a catholic friend and moved to Munich where she worked as a nurse’s aide at a Red Cross Hospital. She had a daughter which made her a popular woman with the Nazis. The book is well written and the description of daily life under the Nazis was interesting."
"There is little I can say that previous reviewers have not covered about this incredible journey by Edith. I climbed a mountain near Oberammergau, home of the Passion Play and incredible religious wood carving, to find a huge cross of the crucifixion at the top and I could never relate the warm friendly people I met to the era of Hitler."
"But, this book put me THERE!"
"After reading this, it is truly hard to complain about little issues that affect our own lives."
"How this Jewish woman survived in Hitler's Germany and Austria is a very interesting story."
"It is terrifying to think how many normal citizens she encountered and how few showed her or any other Jew even a small amount of kindness or humanity."
"I appreciate this author's truthful telling of her eventful marriage during such a horrific time."
"Loved this book and the way she wrote, reminded me of sitting together & listening to a friend."
Best History eBooks of Christianity
In Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, now expanded with bonus content, Nabeel Qureshi describes his dramatic journey from Islam to Christianity, complete with friendships, investigations, and supernatural dreams along the way. -- Mark Gabriel, , Author and former lecturer, University of Cairo. Fresh, striking, highly illuminating, and sometimes heartbreaking, Qureshi’s story is worth a thousand textbooks. His quest brought together several exceptional features: a very bright mind, extraordinary sincerity, original research, and a willingness to follow the evidence trail wherever it took him. This book gives westerners a glimpse of the richness of family and love in a devout Muslim home; it is an enviable picture of respect, devotion, and society. But Christians and Muslims alike are told stories about their religions when they are young, while few have ever personally researched the writings of their founding fathers to assess the validity that undergirds their respective faiths. But it is also a deeply personal heart-wrenching and tear-evoking saga of the life of a young Muslim growing up in the West, a gripping biography that is impossible to put down. We are introduced to the depth of spirituality, the love and honor of family, and the way a person “sees” and “feels” in a devout Muslim home. It reaches both East and West, teaching Christians about Islam from an insider’s perspective and helping Muslims understand the love and truth of Jesus. Nabeel Qureshi masterfully argues for the Gospel while painting a beautiful portrait of Muslim families and heritage, avoiding the fear-mongering and finger-pointing that are all too pervasive in today’s sensationalist world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"For myself, I was reliving the search I had pursued forty five years ago, when my embrace of existentialism had left me so empty and purposeless that I had to reconsider the claims of Christ, just in case they might be true. I found myself anticipating each next step in Nabeel's intellectual journey, as each critical aspect of the truth of Christianity was substantiated by his investigations. I even experienced to a degree Nabeel's family conflicts, though for me it was my mother's amazement and bitter disappointment with my choice after college of seminary instead of medical school."
"The dedication at the beginning of the book, read by the author himself, had me bawling like a baby. I was unaware of how much disagreement about doctrine that there is within different Muslim beliefs and Qureshi walks through them carefully and respectfully."
"I have to say that as a Christian, before reading this book, I had very little knowledge of the Muslim faith and how Muslim children are raised."
"Nabeel’s testimony, the description of his journey in life as a young Muslim and the crisis of faith he experienced all impacted me strongly."
"He pursues the documented evidence with the commitment that whatever he finds he will believe in the God that is truth - even if he finds that the teaching that was a part of his life since birth may or may not be truth."