Spirituality Books

I wholeheartedly recommend this book for anyone looking for a little inspiration in their day to day dealings. I use this book everyday. I open it to the date to see the message and then I open it randomly to see what the angels are trying to tell me. I have given this book as a gift many times and have had wonderful reviews from the recipients.

I purchased this book for pretty much free--just had to pay shipping. I thought what the heck, if it stinks, at least it only cost me a few bucks. To my suprise, this book is awesome! Every morning, I start my day by reading the page corresponding with the day. It gives you a thought to begin with, explains it, then ends with an affirmation to reflect upon. The topics are thought provoking and truely meaningful! I hate it when my alarm goes off in the morning but I do love opening this book (it sits on my night stand) to see what insight awaits me:) If you like this, she also has a similiar book that I purchased at the same time called Angel Courage that is equally awesome!

I have owned this book for 9 years and have bought it for 6 people. It continues to be a wonderful source of reflection when I am looking for clarity or a way to bring life into a positive focus. No matter what the issue is at hand, I can reference Angel Wisdom and find a positive thought to adjust my sails in a new direction. It feeds the soul!

Great 365 day meditations, can also be used as a guide through troubles, or just a pick a page a day for positive inspiration from the Angels, helps calm your worries and fears.. Nicole (Angelx)
author Rainy Day Poems and more 1 and 2

My Mother passed 4/5/2002, and i stayed in her bedroom. I found this book (Angel Wisdom) in her book shelf, I took it home and i have read it every day since. I have shared it with my sister,my friends and so on goes the Angeles. This book saved my life.Thank you,Terry Taylor & Mary Crain. I will be sending copies as gifts...B.J.B.

A well written, easy to read, empowering text affirming the Christian's authority in prayer, stressing the believer's ability to utilize the power, which is indwelling through the Holy Spirit of God, in overcoming any adversity in life.

This book shares a concept in prayer that is badly needed in the body of Christ today. The average Christian does not realize the authority and power that is our's through Jesus' name. This information put into practice will turn prayer wimps into prayer warriors.

Learned a lot about praying with authority and the importance of daily praying for ourselves, our families and our country.

This is the best book on prayer I have ever read.

Scripturally based, Prophetically Decreed, of a God Ordained Ministry. Good for the Soul, the Mind, and the Heart. Learn from a teacher of a
"Five-Fold Ministry." - Believe and Receive -

A Good Read for one searching for more of Jesus Christ and a learning tool for one being raised into more knowledge in the Spirit of The Lord of Hosts.

There's a Supernatural element to be released by Praying in and with the Authority given by the Blood of Jesus. The Power of God can overcome all forces through the hands, feet, and mouth of the Believer, in The Name of Jesus. He has given us that Authority. Read how God directs His Apostles, Prophets, and all Priest-hood believer's in decrees with that Authority!

An Excellent Book for the Warrior of God, for the Gap-Stander, for the Mid-night Prayer Warrior. The Sword will come alive in you after you embrace this message.

In His Service

Told through the eyes of Anna, a thirty year old woman reflecting upon her life, Autumn Seclusion is a tale of coming to grips with one's hidden fears and blemishes. Anna's experience of rejection at home set her up for a succession of draining and abusive relationships. The one loving relationship she experienced was with a Native American from Upstate, New York; her family severed her ties at home, and she eventually left the United States entirely to reconstruct her life. A tale that encourages the reader to think long and hard about themselves and the ones they love, Autumn Seclusion is ultimately a tale of the meaning of forgiveness. Highly recommended.

A powerful book that can help women undergoing a crisis. Ferrell's writing is savory and deep. She paints a beautiful picture of the Carolina shores and Thailand. The work brings hope and healing to not just women but also men.

I read Ms. Ferrell's book, Autumn Seclusion, several months ago. The main character struggled with adolescence, failed romances and an abusive marraige. However, she found the strength to slow her life and really look at how she was living. Fortunately, she realized family's importance and her own self worth. She gave all of us hope that we too can overcome adversity.

I have a friend that went through a lot of the pressures that Ferrell's main character, Anna, went through. She had controlling parents that dictated how she was to live her life. This caused her to rebell just like Anna. She did not have a forbidden love like the character but she married an abusive spouse like Chad. I watched her go through fear and depression but unlike Anna, she did not escape. The novel may have given her hope and the strength to get out of the situation. The book touched me on so many levels because it does indeed bring hope and an interal healing. I have shared the book with my husband and he also loved the work because he saw how it brings peace to those with scares. I do highly recommend this novel. Pen name, Ann Thompson

A powerful work that searches deep inside a broken woman. Anna is a character that teaches lessons in inner forgiveness and personal responsiblity. She learns the importance of healing. Her story reaches out not just to woman but to people. The novel is about facing conflict. Whether Anna deals with the heatache of her parents conditional love or the fear of losing her true love, she finds the inner strength and courage inside herself. As well, she overcomes an abusive marriage and finds the true meaning of friendships and acceptance of others regardless of race, religion or any other factor.

I really enjoyed this book. The book started off a little slow for me, but after two chapters I found it very engaging. The second section was particularly practical. It helped me to reconsider how I look at spiritual growth. To often my Christian life has been more talk than walk. This book encouraged me to live a more compelling life.

An inspiring, challenging book that reminds us not to take our faith for granted. It offers new perspectives on some of the ruts we tend to fall into, yet keeps to the truth of the Word of God. It challenges us to be completely abandoned to the will of God and to fulfill his calling on our life. One of the best lines from the beginning of the book was that people don't remember you for what you don't do, they remember you for what you do. Christians we are called to action. Let this book encourage you on your journey of being used by God in the way that he created you for. See what God will do!

This is the greatest book I have ever read. I love all of Gary Thomas's book. I highly recommend it.

This newest book from one of Evangelicalism's finest authors on spiritual formation, Gary Thomas, is excellent - one of the best books I've read this year. Thomas takes a fresh look at living a God-empowered life that is grounded in the doctrine of Christ's bodily ascension. Drawing on insights from Evangelical, Reformed, Orthodox, and Catholic traditions, Thomas shows how God's presence can change the way we use our eyes and ears, hands and feet, minds and hearts. The Beautiful Fight is a beautiful book about a beautiful spirituality of "full-bodied faith." I could barely put this book down and walked away freshly convicted, challenged, and encouraged. Having now read several of Thomas's books, I think this is my favorite to date. Treat yourself to a banquet of spiritual delights and get this book!

"Beautiful" and "fight," they're two words you don't see together often. Yet in Gary Thomas' latest book The Beautiful Fight they are strung together most excellently. Thomas, adjunct professor at Western Seminary and award winning author, is drawing his title from the Orthodox Fathers' reading of 2nd Timothy 4:7-8. This text, more commonly translated as "the good fight," is aptly illustrated by Thomas as something of furious beauty.

The Christian spiritual life is the common denominator throughout the three sections and16 chapters. Thomas does this by fusing together the genius and wisdom of biblical passages, church fathers (such as Clement of Alexandria and Athanasius), medieval mystics (Julian of Norwich), Puritan divines (John Flavel), along with contemporary voices like J.I. Packer, N.T. Wright, and John Piper. One thing, that's evident even at a glance, is that Thomas' thoughts on the Christian spiritual life aren't monochrome. He doesn't confine himself to the contemporary--a common error in American evangelicalism--neither does he stick to a particular theological tradition, nor one aspect of the Christian spiritual life. Instead Thomas, with a discerning ecumenism, shows that the essential witness of Christian spirituality is one of harmony. With this in mind, he writes, "Christian Spirituality is all about [...] our Creator and Lord taking ordinary people and making them potent instruments of God."

In Beautiful Fight Thomas answers the call which many Christians are longing for. That is, what does it mean to have an embodied and active faith. He does this by weaving in life-stories from his time at Regent College to his life as a husband and father. Because of his integration of life and thought the reader feels that the book is at least in part an invitation into a dialogue on, about and over the Christian spiritual life. And it's a conversation that is of the utmost importance; every where we turn, it seems, there is another front page article on `spirituality' or another book on the `spirituality of (fill in the blank).' In a world where everyone from Oprah to your local barista is a `spirituality' expert it is refreshing to hear a voice which articulates a Holy Spirit-uality. But if The Beautiful Fight is a cultural critique, it's also a critique of a lifeless orthodoxy; that's one thing that permeates every page--and it's one of the many things that will stick with you.

This CD fills the very essence of my soul! As a Franciscan religious I appreciate the beauty and splendor of all of God's creation! John O'Donahue has captured the essence of the Franciscan Spirit! St. Francis called everything by the intimate name of "brother" and "sister"! As St. Francis says, "Put on new glasses" "adjust your focus" and you will see beauty all around you." With St. Francis we can all say "My God and My All"! Thank you and God bless you, Sister Rose Therese Di Gregorio OSF.

I adored this book from page one to the last. It is such an inspiration to me and I
felt like a found in this book my "bible" and guide to life as I have created it.

I discovered John O'Donohue this past year (see my review "Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom") and have been working ever since to bring him to San Francisco's East Bay to speak and conduct a retreat. Unfortunately, as I was putting pen to paper to write my review of "The Invisible Embrace - Beauty," I learned he died in his sleep, January 3, 2008, on vacation near Avignon. He was just 53. O'Donohue was an original thinker, a gifted writer, and a philosopher that fully understood the human condition and emphasized the triumphal power of divine love.

"Beauty" outlines another encounter with the divine. The majesty of beauty is its gracious wholesomeness. The Beautiful unifies feeling, thought, and dream. The book "endeavors to mirror this one-ment." This acquaintance coaxes the soul to the land of wonder where the journey becomes a bright path between source and horizon, awakening and surrender.

O'Donohue begins "Beauty" with the the call of beauty; where it dwells; its music; its color; and the joy of its shapes. He then explores imagination (beauty's entrance), attraction (the eros of beauty), and the beauty of the flaw. He concludes with beauty's relationship to death and God.

"When we lose sight of beauty our struggle becomes tired and functional. When we expect and engage the Beautiful, a new fluency is set free within us and between us. The heart becomes rekindled and our lives brighten with unexpected courage."

The "cry of our times" is to awaken beauty as we feel most alive in the presence of beauty for it meets the needs of our soul. And once awakened, there is a great sense of homecoming as beauty is God. Love of the beautiful is a secret and sacred passion of all as it is embedded in our search for God.

O'Donohue has written another "Beautiful" book that will serve as a reference guide for years to come.

For those who want to learn more about John O'Donohue and his literary contribution, I have included a number internet posts made on the event of his death:

* I too was touched so deeply by John O'Donohue - by his writings which my wife shared with me a few years ago.
* I'm very saddened by the passing of John O' Donohue. Though I never had the privilege of meeting him I felt I knew him through his work. He was truly a beacon of light and love. God bless him on his eternal journey.
* I am so saddened by John O'Donohue's passing. For over eleven years I have absorbed his books which have made me understand and appreciate my Celtic-Catholic roots. Slan agus beannacht leat.
* He was a breath of fresh air and sunshine enfolding wonderful wit and wisdom with a passion for the Eternal.
* When I read Anam Chara, I was stunned by how much I was moved by his words and ideas. It was at once comforting and thought provoking. I am so very grateful that John shared himself with the world.
* John constantly called us to awaken to the great mystery of which we are apart and to become more and more aware of the intimacy we share with all...I am deeply grateful to him for the way in which he affirmed the deep longing with the past, present and future. May we honour him by living our own individual lives as authentically as he lived his.
* I have often turned to his writing and recordings for solace and guidance through some difficult times in the last few years and had hoped to go on retreat with him in Connamara this May.
* When I heard the news of O'Donohue's death, I cried. His books, especially "Anam Cara" and "Eternal Echoes," were personal favorites. His knowledge of Gaelic and rural Ireland, combined with his philosophical training, gave his writings a special beauty. His poetic perception and spiritual wisdom made his writings a wonder of insightfulness.
* John O'Donohue's brilliant and beautiful wordcraft has touched my heart and helped bring about great peace and growth in my life over the last decade. May his legacy of beauty and courage reach far into the future and bless many generations to come.
* He brings, and will continue to spread through his writings, a timely, universally spiritual message of interconnectedness and common humanity to a troubled world.
* His Anam Cara Celtic Wisdom returned me to that world within that opens us to the universe.

John O'Donohue's beautiful voice brings alive the poetry of his words to open, soften, delight, inspire listeners to a deeper sence of the Mystery, God which is all around us expressed in everyday life through the infinate sources of Beauty. His book is equally wonderful, hearing his Irish voice is like adding music.

The very sad news is that there will be no more books by John O'Donohue because of his untimely death in January. The blessing is that we have a treasury of wisdom and elegance in his published writings and various recordings. We can still listen to his Irish lilt and laugh at his humor; we can still read his prose and poetry suffused with wisdom and caring. Beauty is a book which reminds us how we should look at the world around us, expectantly looking for signs of beauty to counter the other signs of neglect, pain, violence, dis-harmony. He takes us beneath the surface, urging us to troll the depths of our souls to find our beauty. Every sentence will call you to ponder more deeply and invite you to look anew at life.

I am a clinician very much interested in using meditation as an adjunct therapy for some of my patients. I read this book in detail, culling through for clinical evidence and potential clinical application. I was pleasantly surprised. The book is practical but with sufficient theoretical background to fufill my expectations. I strongly recommend, "Beyond the Breath".

"It's been said that we learn more from our mistakes than our successes - and I think that's true - but only if we eventually have success; otherwise we just keep making the same mistakes over and over." ~Marshall Glickman

Learning to take care of our bodies by eating correctly and exercising seems a true journey all on its own. When you decide to incorporate a style of meditation into your life then a whole-body Vipassana might bring you more peace of mind. It is a sensation-based style of meditation.

Marshall Glickman has a beautiful writing style and his ideas connect perfectly with the modern reader who may or may not be familiar with meditation. His ideas are presented in a way that makes meditation come alive. I used to think meditation was complete stillness and lack of thought, but there are ways to focus on sensation that bring you to a deeper understanding of yourself. Some of the intellectually intriguing aspects of this work include:

The Power and Pleasure Principle
The Biochemical Basics of Pleasure
The Neurochemistry of Karma

There are chapters filled with instructions on how to meditate, but the real highlights of this book are the insights into living life effectively and understanding how our bodies function on the chemical level.

"Focusing on sensations puts us more directly in touch with what's motivating us, while at the same time helping to free us from the storylines which tend to obscure our feelings. In this way, greater awareness to our sensations increases our emotional sensitivity." ~Marshall Glickman

If you have trouble settling into a meditation session, do yoga first. It helps your body to work out all the extra energy that might keep you from sitting still. You can also meditate while reclining in bed or while sitting in a chair. You don't have to meditate in a guru-style seated position. I normally meditate while laying flat on my back after an invigorating yoga practice. Some of the most blissful happy places I've ever been have been after doing a Chakra Yoga workout. I finally understood the place meditation could take you. I like imagining colors inside my body and working with sensations and the release of negative thoughts. I've noticed that when I do meditate I think more clearly and can solve problems more effectively. When I don't meditate, chaos creeps into my life.

After reading this work, you may also enjoy Tobin Blake's "The Power of Stillness: Learn Meditation in 30 Days."

~The Rebecca Review

I have read several books by S.N. Geonka and his followers, but none really gave me insights into the actual technique. It is explained in detail here. I understood it,applied it in my practice and it has definitely given me new insights into this particular style of Vipassanna meditation. It was intense, a lot of emotions materialized and my sensitivity to bodily sensations is makedly increased. I've have been practicing "noting" as well as "just sitting" for a while. Both techniques have been effective also, but this Vipassana technique is more refined.

The book stated a strong case for practicing the precepts of Buddhism in addition to just meditation. The explanation and tie in to the laws of attraction and Kharma were very clear and well thought out.

Any one interested in Vipassana should try this book. Anyone interested in integrating meditation and Buddhism into their lives, but have yet to make the jump, should also try it.

"Beyond the Breath" is written by a fellow baby-boomer in a style and vernacular completely comprehensible to those of us in the West. As such, Marshall Glickman fills a modern Buddhism explanation niche.

For example, the First Noble Truth of Buddhism is, "LIFE IS SUFFERING" I'm sure sounds completely dismal and off-putting to the average Westerner - a real hindrance to investigating Buddhism further. Most people I know would probably respond with, "Well, isn't life basically good? Isn't life what you make it?" This is hardly something that Tony Robbins or Dale Carnegie would say. So I suspect that to the average Westerner, "Life is SUFFERING" is an exceedingly negative premise.

The author, however, puts a subtle spin on the First Noble Truth which, in my opinion makes Buddhism a lot more appealing. The author suggests, "Something is always a bit off," or "Things are never just right." I prefer, "Life is good and we can make it better." This is positive marketing and is good for Buddhism.

Marshall supports traditional Buddhist notions on materialism by citing a study that found that the pleasure we get from owning things hinges on one-upmanship - hardly a source of lastly fulfillment or happiness. There is also an interesting section on the experiences of organ transplant recipients that dramatically demonstrates the body-mind connection.

Another powerful distinction I learned from the book is that true detachment is accepting what is not dissociating from or ignoring what is. So paradoxically, acceptance leads to detachment.

Like the author, I too have completed several 10-Day Vipassana courses as taught by S.N. Goenka. As a result, I can truly say that "Beyond the Breath" is especially helpful in that it points the reader towards a powerful and personal experience of transformation, which is the essence of Buddha's message. You can read a book about swimming while sitting comfortably in a deckchair and then making up a story about it, or you can read a book swimming and then jump into the pool.

"Beyond the Breath" is an excellent resource for anyone interested in improving the quality of their life using the proven, non-sectarian, and ancient technique of Vipassana meditation. The information in this book will undoubtedly result in many more people "jumping into the pool". Highly recommended!

This is a practical and insightful guide to meditation as a practice
and mindfulness as a way of being. There is also abundant theory in the form of a spritual and psychological approach to life.
This is a very clear, personable and well written book which offers a diverse array of insightful quotes from many interesting sources.
My only complaint is the picture of buddha on the cover because I believe that this image limits the very universal and secular insights that are presented so well in this book.

This volume which comprises Gandhi's wisely succinct Gujarati translation of and commentary on the Gita, the central statement of his religious faith, introduced by the 134 page thickly detailed commentary of his intimate associate and English translator, Mahadev Desai, deserves a wider audience. There are a number of important reasons for my claim.

1) As we stand facing the distinct possibility of nuclear holocaust, we need to carefully examine and marshal all forces for peace in the coming days. Gandhi was the most powerful and influential voice for peace in the previous century. The Gandhian model of non-violent resistance has become the archetype of the most advanced impulse to the creation of world-wide peace and justice, a new era of peace and justice, to which we all, no matter how desperately, must adhere. To this point, Jack Kennedy, with characteristic prescience, once mused: "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable". Any directives which might be garnered from Gandhiji's personal reflections on the very source of his inspiration would sensibly be viewed in light of their potential value regarding our present situation. The immediate value of the manuscript, then, lies far beyond its interest as a mere historical artifact.

2) The book brings together, in examination by both translators, the two streams of Gandhi's yogic practice: bhakti (devotion) yoga and karma (action) yoga. Not surprisingly, these are the two forms of yoga most accessible and relevant to our contemporary lives. Although I feel that, in living, we tend to engage, in some way, all four basic yogic approaches (bhakti, karma, jnana, and raja), however unconsciously or falteringly, one cannot deny the strength of the observation that bhakti is for us, who seemingly are here to bear witness at the end of the kalpa, the most appropriate yoga, if for no other reason than that our individual and collective memory of the holy name is the precious possession that no amount of pain, suffering, corruption, disease, or misguided government policies can ever take away. If, as is commonly claimed, "Love is the answer", then the path of devotion to the highest idea, or ideal, is the one that's going to get us there. The Gita is the seminal testament of bhakti. In these pages, we find that Gandhiji, regarded as one of history's great karma-yogins, a figure who intricately wrought high ideals of ascetic or religious morality and universal love within rigorous perimeters of a determined agenda of social action, considered himself primarily a bhakti - a devotee of Krishna. The point is crucial. This powerfully direct articulation of the slokas penned in the deep isolation of a prison cell has its impetus in devotion.
Again, the Gita is the prerequisite manual for action. The text is often famously read as an explanation of the divine maxim found at II:47: "Action alone is thy province, never the fruits thereof; let not thy motive be the fruit of action, nor shouldst thou desire to avoid action". The commentary here shows us how Gandhi construed this injunction in shaping his campaign for freedom: "There should be no selfish purpose behind our actions. And to be detached from the fruits of actions is not to be ignorant of them or disown them. To be detached is never to abandon action, because the contemplated result may not follow. On the contrary, it is proof of the immovable faith in the certainty of the contemplated result following in due course." (Young India, 15/3/28) What concept could be more signal for the Gandhian project or, in its larger manifestation, the impulse for world peace?

3) As is well known, the influx of bhakti into the West over the past half-century has been notable. Although his impact has not been nearly as immediate or far ranging as that of Gandhi, the facts force the most skeptical critic of ISKCON to admit that, whatever else he may or may not have been, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was one of the most spectacularly successful missionaries of any era. The story of the unlikely and sudden emergence of "Krishna consciousness" in late 20th century America into an endowed, enduring, and truly international movement of recognizable effect within the span of less than a decade - really less than half a decade - from radically inauspicious and indigent beginnings (Prabhupada arrived alone, unknown, and virtually penniless in New York in 1968) is mind-boggling. As Prabhupada's translation of the Gita, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, is far and away the most widely read version, with at the least many millions of copies in print in hundreds of translations, it is incumbent to compare Gandhi's reading in some small way to what has become, by vox populi, if by credence of no other, the standard.
As a matter of fairness, one ought first note that, while the initial goal of the two interpreters was at core identical, to bring the message of the Gita to a much wider readership as soon as possible, the two versions diverge in the larger intention. According to Desai, ". . . the Anasaktiyoga was written mainly for the Gujarati reading public, and especially the unsophisticated and even unlettered section of that public. Secondly, he wanted the book to be made available to the poorest in the country and, therefore, as small in size and as cheap as possible. These two ends necessarily limited the scope both of Gandhiji's introduction and notes. He studiously avoided all things that would make the little book in any way difficult for the unlettered reader, and deliberately
Kept out of his regard the studious or the curious who would need help on certain points in which the readers he had in view would not be interested". I find his approach refreshing. As compared with other translators, Gandhi renders the slokas with a spare elegance and simplicity, a reserve, which, to my sense, enhances their innate power.
Prabhupada indicates a much grander scheme: "I have tried to present the Bhagavad-gita as it is, without any adulteration. Before my presentation ... almost all English editions were introduced to fulfill someone's personal ambition. But our attempt, in presenting the Bhagava-gita As It Is, is to present the mission of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. Our business is to present the will of Krsna, not that of any mundane speculator like the politician, philosopher, or scientist, for they have very little knowledge of Krsna, despite all their other knowledge ... The Krsna consciousness movement is essential in human society, for it offers the highest perfection of life. How this is so is explained fully in the Bhagavad-gita".
Let's examine the difference in light of one sloka, 10:36. Prabhupada's translation: "I am also the gambling of cheats, and of the splendid I am the splendor. I am victory, I am adventure, and I am the strength of the strong". Now Desai's English version of Gandhi's translation goes: "Of deceivers I am the dice-play; of the splendid, the splendor; I am victory, I am resolution, I am the goodness of the good".
Now, each translation has apparent virtues. The comprehensive nature of Prabhupada's project is as categorical as his devotion. What is of concern is the comparison to Gandhi's intent to give a bare-bones rendering of the text. In the commentary, Desai observes: "Bhide Shastri translates: `I am the gamble of the deceivers'". If we reflect on this idea which Gandhi preserves in his demotic allusion to `dice-play', we see the sloka develop in three stages: First, the Supreme manifests as "the gamble of deceivers or frauds"; then, as "the splendor of the splendid, victory, resolution" or, according to Prabhupada "ad - venture" or "venture to - ward"; finally, as "the goodness of the good". Now, for the last line of the sloka Prabhupad transliterates the original Sanskrit thusly: sattvam sattvavatam aham. While I'm certain there are devotees who could justify Prabhupad's translation, I personally have never read elsewhere a translation of sattva as `strong'. `Pure', yes, and `good', as Gandhiji has it - but "strong"? The commentary, which Prabupada then gives, is an attempt to justify what appears to be an interpretation of the text rather than a literal translation. One could translate the verse as "the purity of the pure", but Gandhi's minimalist version seems sufficient.
What occurs to me is that the three successive images correspond precisely to the progression of the three gunas of prakriti (manifestation of the Divine as nature) in the Samkhya philosophy with which we well know from the text the writers of the Gita were extensively involved: tamas, rajas, and sattvic. The allusion here seems evident, when the literal, rather than interpretive translation is presented.

I hope I have made clear the strengths of Gandhi's Anasakti-yoga, as the text is known, for the benefits of reading it are innumerable. Please do. My advice is to read the text of the Gita first, and then turn to Desai's erudite, very educated, and lengthy commentary which precedes the text. Desai's education was a product of the colonialism of the Raj, and he manages to make best use of his wide reading, despite the impress of the peculiar admiration of mimicry which that venerable system for better or worse produced.

Albert Einstein said: "I am convinced that He (God) does not play dice." He also said: "When I read the Bhagavad-Gita and reflect about how God created this universe everything else seems so superfluous."

If this short scripture grabs you, not only you will agree with Einstein, it may also answer many of your lifelong questions about god, life, death, conscience, etc. It will also become a part of your daily life going forward. And if it does not, you will still find it to be a true masterpiece.

For those who may not be aware, a translation of the Bhagavad Gita is freely available on The International Gita Society's website. The translation in this book, however, is far superior and endorsed by a universally trusted source, Gandhi. I found this translation to be more pleasant to read and believe it conveys the message more effectively.

About Gandhi's commentary, although he has done an unparalleled job, the verses of the Gita are so profound and complex that, in my mind, any commentary would fall short of the actual message. That said, Gandhi's work in this book can easily be ranked as one of the best spiritual writings.

Lastly, I believe the impact of the Gita can be substantially optimized by having a bit of prior knowledge about Gandhi's life and his ideals.

READ, ENJOY & MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL.

Ghandi's translation of the Bhagavad-Gita is fantastic. Unlike other translations, where you find yourself constantly flipping to a notes section, Ghandi inserts his commentary throughout the passages of this ancient poem. His comments are always direct and to the point, not so much offering an opinion on the meaning of the text, but fleshing out the message, often relating it to his own experiences. As for the Bhagavad-Gita itself, it's a wonderful insight into life, love, death and God. It is not a manual of dos and don'ts; rather it is a guide to the challenges we all face in our lives. Anyone can benefit from Krishna's words of wisdom, regardless of their religion, beliefs or background. Highly recommended.

I think Gandhi's translation and commentary of the Gita is really good. His explanations are clear and insightful and he speaks from experience. There is also an essay he wrote to accompany the Gita as an introduction. It explains his path to the Gita, gives an overview of the Gita, and explains how he came to render a translation of it (Gita) with the help of others.

The commentary is not excessive, but there is plenty there for those looking for commentary. He gives a somewhat metaphorical interpretation of the Gita. I like this book as it is easy to read and the commentary is based on experience. For example, in verse 40 of chapter 11 he states how a lady worshipped the lord with her back to the idol and then a learned man rebuked her. She was said to have cited this verse in her defense showing that one need not worship God in one direction. Such is the practicality of Gandhi's work.

This is a great exposition of the Gita. A very good translation of each verse from Sanskrit. He also explains each verse as he understands it - sometimes giving personal examples. One can see how he tried to live his life according to the principles of Gita.

This book touched me on an intellectual and emotional level. Such a basic principle and yet it contins a meaningful message in an easy to read format.

Biokind speaks with a passion that should be felt by every human being. It reminds us of where we've come from and our oneness with every living creature in the pyramid of life. As a former science teacher, I taught my students to learn through reading and exploring nature on field trips. Only by using all the senses can the true meaning of life be understood and appreciated. Biokind will awaken a reality deep within your heart and soul. A reality that all life is sacred and deserves the same respect, honor and dignity we wish for ourselves.

Captain W. K. Miller created the concept of "biokind" and draws upon her more than twenty-five years of experience to present the reading public with Biokind: Rhetoric For A New Paradigm. This exceptionally well crafted affirmation that human beings are one with the ecosystem we inhabit, and coins a the word "biokind" reflects how we should best live in harmony with the natural world that sustains us. Faith, kindness, conservation and ecosystem-friendly behavior bring physical and spiritual renewal. Highly recommended reading for students of metaphysics, environmental concerns, and Gaia compatible lifestyles, Biokind speaks from the heart and soil of the Earth itself.

This book is a must read in todays changing times. Especially in the wake of Sept l1/01 and all its leading events.We have come to
the threshold of the Biokind Path experience Biokind in all levels
of our existence, inwardly and outwardly.
Take this knowledge gleamed from this book and apply it to your life in todays ever changing world . Take our children by the hand of knowledge and
lead them into Biokind.

Biokind is a word that houses a concept that is central to the continuation of life on this planet.Captain Miller has encapsulated the thoughts and visions of naturalists, mystics and people of good will in a short, accessible form. "The wilderness holds answers to questions man has not yet learned to ask." Nancy Newhall, Biokind p45 and Biokind creates a terminology and a context that man needs to recognize the inter-relation of all life. In this time of fear, confusion and violence, Captain Miller's book provides a blueprint to shift our cultural conditioning from one of exclusion to one of inclusion. Study this book and begin to manifest true harmony.

Too often we lack the humility to let God be God. Our thinking about God becomes a projection of our own limited beliefs and prejudices. This short book puts the issue into perspective.

Anne Robertson, a United Methodist minister in New England, writes, 'There are few things more upsetting than a God who refuses to stay put...'

Anne Robertson gives a wonderful, personal development of the idea of God being bigger and broader than one can possibly imagine. I've often used the example in my preaching that God is more than any idea we could ever have of God; this is rather difficult for many people to grasp, but Robertson has a wonderful way of exploring this aspect of God. It can be challenging and disconcerting, because it is far from the norm in our everyday, quantifiable and measurable world. The modern world is uncomfortable with ambiguity, and often terrified of the unknown. Speaking of the women who went to the tomb on the first Easter morning, Robertson writes, 'The very thing that frightened the women - the unknown and the unexpected - is that same thing that frightens us today when we consider that God might be larger and more complex than our particular experience of God.'

Robertson does her writing in confessional style (this is a literary/theological designation, rather than a penitential or 'just-the-facts, maam' kind of admission of guilt); she goes through her experiences both conservative and liberal, both within and outside the church, and casts her ideas for God's reality and God's presence with us in terms that many readers will find very familiar and easy to relate to.

Her central cipher is that of the God-box. A box is a container (even when it is empty). Most of us (if not all of us) have a container of sorts, into which we pour our ideas of what and who God is. Even professional theologians (or perhaps most especially professional systematic theologians) do not escape the trap of trying to define God so precisely as to render God less than who God truly is, and can be. One crucial element Robertson identifies for the God-box is keeping it open in the context of community - what is in the box needs to be valuable and recognised as such by members of the community, and what other community members have in their God-boxes can be shared and used to enrich one's own. Careful not to make community a panacea for all ills, she nonetheless highlights the advantages, and shows the disadvantages of the 'go-it-alone' approach.

The book continues with a look at common and uncommon images of God, the way in which we think about God both in scripture and tradition, the use and misuse of institutional religion and community, and finishes with a chapter that develops her device of the God-box in context of creedal statements familiar to many Christians through the centuries.

This is a wonderful book to use for private and group study. Well-written and engaging both personally and spiritually, it is uplifting and thought-provoking in many ways.

United Methodist minister, Anne Robertson, has contributed a challenging work, inspiring Christians to examine their beliefs and prejudices. Using a humble approach, she describes her opinion that believers, young or old, new to the faith or "old timers," risk the danger of isolating God by reducing Him to
stereotypes and defining Him through holding to the expected, the norm, the safe. She points out the ways in which we limit God and ourselves by confining ourselves to traditional and habitual responses and practices, and suggests we examine our individual and collective "boxes" in which we place a God too large to be contained. Whether you fall into the category of liberal or conservative, Republican or Democrat, Baptist or Episcopalian, this book will stretch your mind and heart. An easy read, it is a profound work.

Theologians and writers like Leslie Weatherhead, J.B. Phillips, Marcus Borg, Jon Dominic Crossan, Elaine Pagels, and Barbara Brown Taylor have long been helping us to expand our experiencing of God to counteract what seems to be human nature to pin God down to be within our capacity to understand. Anne Robertson throws her hat in the ring with this wonderful little book and encourages us to not only be open to our experience of God but to the experience others have of God as well. She reminds us, through both her personal sharing as well as her teaching and preaching, that our challenge is to keep our minds open as we live, breathe, walk and talk our life in the spirit, allowing God to light our path. As the motto for our denomination has been this past year, "Don't put a period where God has put a comma," our faith journey can be much more vital and life-giving when we don't assume we know all there is to know about God. Thank you, Anne, for sharing your thinking with such clarity and grace.

In her beautifully flowing and extraordinarily insightful first publication, Anne Robertson brings her expansive and Jesus-centered Belief to her readers, challenging us not to allow Faith to become a mere reflection of our own, privatized and sometimes very convenient religious beliefs..or to cut it out if we already have. In beautiful, short chapters, she calls on each of us to allow God to be the One doing the defining. Calling on Scripture, as well as personal and professional experience, she is at once serious and light-hearted, many times using her wonderful gift of "getting to the point" in unique, thought-provoking and often humorous ways. She tackles difficult moral dilemmas and human frailties, and gives us a new, more open way to look at them. She throws the gauntlet down to those who co-op God for their own private advancement, for the "my way or the highway" type of sectioning that modern religions can break down into..leading to personal and sometimes national wars: if both sides fervently believe God is on their side, one side (or both) has placed God in a box. This book will help each person of Faith blow off the lid to see the bigger picture, and help prevent one from closing off to many of God's Creation's wondrous aspects. As she says in discussing the tensions caused by different types of services (organ music; drums and guitars; skits, etc.), "Recognize that your way of worship isn't the sum total of worship itself." The Prelude alone will make your realize you are dealing with a writer and thinker of the first order in Anne Roberston..a fresh, new and most welcome voice in Christian letters. You'll be wanting to continue on immediately! As you proceed, you'll think you can hear God saying, "Finally, someone gets it!" Blowing the Lid off the God-box is a delightful read, and Anne's fervent belief in Love as the basic building block of all existence wafts across the pages like the scents of blossoms in the spring winds. When you finish this book, you'll realize that by offering it, she is telling you she loves the reflection of God in you, too.

I bought this book without having read much of it first. I know practicaly nothing about Native American studies or shamanism, it's not my calling or interest. Anyways, I bought this one anyway and am sorta confused. Like I said, I know hardly anything at all about Native American culture but I would assume they didnt go out have get pink, blue, yellow, purple, red, oarnge and indigo candles for their work. Almost every working in the book calls for all these rainbow things. I wonder if this is authentic? I am going to borrow from another reviewer I saw a while ago and say This book is probably good for the "bookstore shaman" . Thats about all I can say.

Native American shaman Moondance's visions form the foundation of a guide which considers how to use shaman wisdom for spiritual enlightenment. How to make and work with medicine blankets and bundles and how to create magic tools and perform sacred ceremonies are only a few of the topics covered in this guide.

I have heard peopel speak of the author not bing an indian. She is now and she is Native mixed. I know cause I have been a student for many years of hers. If you read the writings youwill see the power in the truth she tells. In bone medicine you will learn the ways of a hollow bone and these ways are sacred. Good work, Great book. I understand the human more.

I have read a lot of these kind of books and this is good work. I have read them all and like the way the books read. The truth is clear that the author is stating her own vision and the vision has touched her life. I support these books by Wolf Moondance 100%. Thank you. Jim Jackson-Okla

When I read Bone Medicine I was looking for something to guide the loss in my spiritual life. I did not ever in 35 years understand the purpose of my life or the reason for the human body. After the work I have done through the ceremonies in this book I understand and respect my physical life. I would love for anyone to read this book because it is Great. I am a mixed blood and can say I have found a true Elder! Thanks... Jerri Storm-K.C