Maras Awakening

As the leader of the Star Corps, the galaxy's elite peacekeeping force, Mara Keres was respected throughout the stars. But now, betrayed by her oldest friend, Kottura, she finds herself rotting in a prison cell, surrounded by the criminals she put away. When all seems lost, her new cellmates offer her a chance at escape. She'll take anything she can get her hands on, but is it a trap? Before she can make her move, Kottura reveals her long-held plans. The galaxy is in shambles, and it needs a new leader. Kottura is convinced the crown belongs to her. And Mara is the key to making it happen. With the galaxy on the brink of destruction, will Mara be the key to saving it or causing its downfall? Buy now and find out!

Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought engages students with lively anecdotes, essential primary and secondary sources, an accessible writing style, and a clear historical approach. The text focuses primarily on India, China, and Japan, while showing the relationships that exist between Eastern and Western traditions. Patrick Bresnan consistently links the past to the present, so students may see that Eastern traditions, however ancient their origins, are living traditions and relevant to modern times. Updates to the Sixth Edition include a new introduction as well as new approaches to problem areas throughout the text, but with special emphasis in Chapter 5 (Ashtanga Yoga), Chapter 10 (Basic Teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha), Chapter 12(Mahayana Buddhism: Madhyamaka section) and Chapter 18 (Chan Buddhism: regarding the relationship of Chan Buddhism to Zen Buddhism). In addition, all references and source material have been brought up to date. The companion website includes two new videos and many new photos, produced by the author. New to this Sixth Edition: • A new introduction that provides a helpful overview of each of the nineteen chapters and important connections between them; • An improved explanation of the nature of Vedanta philosophy, and a more logical organization of the Key Elements of the Upanishads in Chapter 3; • An extensive rewrite of Chapter 5, which deals with the subject of Ashtanga Yoga as expressed in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali; • A greatly improved presentation of Buddha’s “Four Noble Truths” in Chapter 10; • A total recasting of the teaching of Nagarjuna in the Madhyamaka section of Chapter 12; • A clearer and easier to understand presentation of the teaching of the Dao De Jing in Chapter 14; • A major revision of Chapter 18 so as to clearly distinguish Chinese Chan from Japanese Zen; • Greater emphasis throughout, where pertinent, on the role of meditation practice in all Eastern traditions; • Revised and updated Questions for Discussion at the end of each chapter; • New photos and two newly produced videos prepared by the author for the book’s companion website: http://patrickbresnan.com/.

Mindfulness for a Happy Life is a beautiful guide to what insight meditation really is. Robert’s personable, funny, sweet, sad, and ultimately human and humane teachings are told in simple terms so that anybody, from the skeptic to the monk, can access the heart and truth of mindfulness practice. If you have never meditated and can’t understand why anyone would spend time on a cushion doing nothing, this is the book for you. You will find down-to-earth instructions that give you a direct experience of mindfulness as well as ways to measure the impact of your mindfulness practice. This book will inspire you to love life and to face everything that comes your way with grace, compassion, and wisdom. If you have meditated all your life, but not found awakening, this book is for you. This book will demystify and clarify the teachings of Buddhism so that you can better understand your own process. You will find instructions and stories that will change your practice. Instructions, exercises, and stories are used to give you an experience that can shift your perspective and transform your practice so that you access happiness through insight.

Journeying into the depths of Brazil's Amazon rainforest, distilling meaning from dreams, and drawing deeply from transpersonal studies, ritual entheogen use, non-ordinary states of consciousness, and scientific research are the foundations for Ayahuasca Awakening: A Guide to Self-Discovery, Self-Mastery and Self-Care. In this two-part guidebook for personal and spiritual development, Reverend Jessica Rochester, D.Div draws from her life experiences as well as the expertise of a wide variety of transpersonal and scientific professionals. Volume One: Self-Discovery and Self-Mastery explores the mystery of incarnation, the "maps" of the self, emerging paradigms of consciousness, the role of the Light and shadow in spiritual development, cycles of change, mediumship, the power of the will and restoring authenticity.

Mara Brandine is a young woman who moves between theworlds of Academia and Pentecostalia almost breathlessly,until a professor charges her with exploring her "shadowsubordinate", a side of herself that is darker than thepoliteness that pervades her life. This is a charge that goesagainst Mara's religious upbringing, but plays into heranger at the church's rampant hypocrisy. Armed withnothing but a sharp wit, imagination and a few closefriends, Mara must navigate the now-murky waters of self-realizationwithout embodying the meaning of her name.This task becomes all the more difficult when oneespecially greasy 'lady' takes interest in one of the churchbachelors.

This is the most comprehensive and authoritative introduction to Tibetan Buddhism available to date, covering a wide range of topics, including history, doctrines, meditation, practices, schools, religious festivals, and major figures. The revised edition contains expanded discussions of recent Tibetan history and tantra and incorporates important new publications in the field. Beginning with a summary of the Indian origins of Tibetan Buddhism and how it eventually was brought to Tibet, it explores Tibetan Mahayana philosophy and tantric methods for personal transformation. The four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism, as well as Bön, are explored in depth from a nonsectarian point of view. This new and expanded edition is a systematic and wonderfully clear presentation of Tibetan Buddhist views and practices.

When a girl must kill to survive, why not do it in style? When Ryan Blair realized she must consume souls to remain alive, she figured it might not be such a bad idea to get paid for it. Equipped with a special skill set and wit, her chosen career path came easy to herwell, before she met them. Suddenly thrust into a world she never imagined existed, complete with beings of myth and legends, Ryan must remember who she is before its too late. Running from one past to another, will she be able to overcome the obstacles that await? Or is she doomed to repeat the cycle that began the seemingly endless nightmare she finds herself trapped in?

The sensational trial over which Tad O'Kelly presided as Senchus is now over. Mara Meathe tackles a multitude of foreign assignments, battling pirates, gun runners, kidnappers, and a host of plots against the realm. Elbon, the Builder of Meta, returns from a meeting of the elders to Tirdia and the orphanage at Berea, unaware his daughter Eider has followed him. She encounters Lucas and the two have a narrow brush with gangster Al Marcotti's thugs. In the aftermath, Lucas eavesdrops on Eider's conversation with her father and hears of their relationship and of the other earths. His loyalties now torn, Lucas leaves that afternoon's creation debate to strike out on his own. But Eider follows, and the two are caught up in both a world-dividing nexus and a Marcotti kidnapping. Royal Army officer Maeve Derry sends one of her Centralia cadets out on a training mission only to have to pull his body from the bottom of a river several hours later. What she then learns necessitates the reappointment of Tad as Senchus. Another sensational hearing at Tara ensues and is punctuated by a shocking and cowardly attack. After Maeve's return to Centralia, she finds herself lured to the St. Charles Islands, where she disappears. Clan MacCarthy forces mount an all-out attack only to come under pressure themselves from the Friends at other locations.

What comes to mind when you hear the word “koan”? You probably know koans as paradoxes, and you may believe that they are therefore illogical or intellectually inscrutable—and therefore not useful to the average person. Zen Koans: Paradoxical Awakenings is the tool you need to correct your perceptions of koans and become aware of the benefits of koan practice. Embracing the paradox of the koan can give deeper meaning to life, as well as leading to the Buddhist awakening to your real, non-dual nature. With an experienced Zen teacher as your guide, you can enter more deeply into the three essentials of Zen: great faith, great doubt, and great determination.