Eastern Philosophy

Lecture de La Crise du monde moderne, de René Guénon (1927).

The concept of nonduality lies at the very heart of Mahayana Buddhism. In the West, it's usually associated with various kinds of absolute idealism in the West, or mystical traditions in the East-and as a result, many modern philosophers are poorly informed on the topic. Increasingly, however, nonduality is finding its way into Western philosophical debates. In this analysis of the philosophies of nondualism of (Hindu) Vedanta, Mahayana Buddhism, and Taoism, renowned thinker David R. Loy extracts what he calls "a core doctrine" of nonduality.

Born over 2,400 years ago, warrior, thinker, and leader Sun Tzu lived during a time of great internecine conflict in China. A classic of Chinese literature, Art of War reveals the strategies, tactics, and insights that lead to success. Mastery of warfare and the maintenance of power are the most important values in Sun's philosophy, without which there can be no peace or life.

Polarity work allows us to balance, evolve, and integrate the masculine and feminine energies within our personality to create an inner union that supports the release and transformation of trauma on the cellular and soul level. It is a holistic practice that leads to the embodiment of both what we choose and who we really are.

El Tao Te King del sabio chino Lao-Tse, con 2500 años de antigüedad, se considera una joya de la sabiduría oriental. Es uno de los libros más profundos de la literatura universal. Escrito en un lenguaje dotado de incomparable fuerza visual, el Tao Te King habla del Tao, el origen divino de todo ser, y su influencia sobre los hombres. Busca acompañar a las personas de vuelta a la unidad original con el Tao y por lo tanto a la armonía con la inmensidad que todo lo abarca del Ser.

Legendary 17th century swordsman Miyamoto Musashi’s exposition of sword fighting, strategy and Zen philosophy. Required reading for any martial artist, business person or student of strategy. Includes the one hour Zen inspired soundtrack The Mysterious Sound of Wind in the Bamboo. Performed on authentic Japanese instruments.

Condensed from more than three million words, these conversations involve housewives and cabinet ministers, professors and assembly-line workers, on the subject of how traditional psychology can illuminate current human, social, and spiritual problems. More than 100 tales and extracts from Sufi lore, ranging from the eighth century (Hasan of Basra) to the modern Afghan poet Khalilullah Khalili, are woven into Shah’s narratives of how and why the Sufis learn what they learn and how spiritual understanding develops and deteriorates in all societies.

The Narrow Road to the Interior and Hojoki are two of the best-loved works of their kind; famous for their beautiful, delicate verse and subtle insight into the human condition. It has been said of The Narrow Road that 'it was as if the very soul of Japan had itself written it'. It takes the form of a travel diary, and traces the poet's journey from Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to the northern interior.

The Abhidharma, one of the three major text collections of the original Buddhist canon, frames the psychological system of Buddhism, explaining the workings of reality and the nature of the human mind. Because of its complexity, the Abhidharma has traditionally been reserved only for academic or monastic study; now, for the first time, clinical psychologist Beth Jacobs brings this dynamic body of work to general listeners, using practical explanation, personal stories, and vivid examples to gently untangle the technical aspects of the Abhidharma.

The Mengzi is one of the very greatest works of world literature and philosophy, and it is perhaps the single most influential Confucian text of all time. Of all the Confucian classics, it is also the one most likely to speak to a contemporary audience. The Mengzi contains the dialogues, debates and sayings of Mengzi, a Confucian sage of the fourth century BCE. (He is also known by the Latinization of his name, 'Mencius'.)

In Being Different: An Indian Challenge to Western Universalism, thinker and philosopher Rajiv Malhotra addresses the challenge of a direct and honest engagement on differences by reversing the gaze, repositioning India from being the observed to the observer and looking at the West from the dharmic point of view. In doing so, he challenges many hitherto unexamined beliefs that both sides hold about themselves and each other.

Awaken Your Spirit: Master Kriya Yoga and Journey into Turiya for Ultimate Consciousness. Explore the science behind Kriya Yoga and how it can benefit your health.

The classic spiritual travelogue by one of Tibet’s best-known explorers, The Way of the White Clouds is the remarkable narrative of a pilgrimage which could not be made today. In 1948, Lama Anagarika Govinda made an unforgettable journey into Tibet before its invasion by the Chinese. His unique account is not only a spectacular and gloriously poetic story of exploration and discovery; it is also invaluable for its sensitivity and clearly presented interpretation of the Tibetan tradition.

One of the most profound studies of warfare ever written, The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China presents us with an Eastern tradition of strategic thought that emphasizes outwitting one's opponent through speed, stealth, flexibility, and a minimum of force - an approach very different from that stressed in the West, where the advantages of brute strength have overshadowed more subtle methods.

Therapists do not and cannot give answers. Explore the true nature of the therapeutic relationship, and realize that the guru is no Buddha. Sheldon Kopp has a realistic approach to altering one's destiny and accepting the responsibility that grows with freedom.

In this excellent English translation of The Analects, or Sayings, of Confucius, listeners will find a rich distillation of the timeless precepts of one of history's most influential teachers and social theorists. A Chinese philosopher who lived c. 551 to c. 479 B.C., Confucius originated and taught an ethical, socially oriented philosophy that stressed proper behavior and a sympathetic, mutually supportive attitude among individuals, their families and society.

"L'art de la guerre" est un traité militaire chinois rédigé au Ve siècle avant J.-C. À travers treize chapitres, il montre comment l'analyse de l'ennemi, et la réflexion peuvent mener à une victoire à moindre coût. Mais il est aussi - et surtout - considéré comme le meilleur livre de stratégie militaire du monde. Il a inspiré des grandes figures historiques, tels que Napoléon, Machiavel, ou Mao Tse Tung.

Beautifully simple age-old rituals for modern-day living that will enhance your well-being and give you back your zest for life. Prajña is the Sanskrit word for wisdom. Ayurveda is one of the world's oldest healing systems, rooted in the principle of a mind-body-spirit connection. Ayurveda comes from the Sanskrit words 'ayur' and 'veda', respectively 'life' and 'knowledge', meaning 'knowledge of life'. This book dips into this ancient knowledge base, extracts the essence of this Indian philosophy and revives a wealth of timeless rituals.

We spend so much time in pursuit of happiness—trying to purchase it, experience it, meditate our way toward it—but happiness is elusive and doesn’t last. According to the teachings of the Buddha, Cuong Lu writes, “Suffering is not a problem to be solved. It is a truth to be recognized.” Happiness Is Overrated invites us to look deeply at the truths in our lives—not glossing over or denying our suffering—and to focus on the meaning and value already within us.

The question-and-answer format makes this introduction to Zen especially easy to understand - and also to use as a reference, as you can easily look up just the question you had in mind. The esteemed Zen teacher Norman Fischer and his old friend and teaching colleague Susan Moon (both of them in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki, author of Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind) give this collaborative effort a playful tone: Susan asks a question on our behalf, Norman answers it, and then Sue challenges him.