"Refined For Rebirth" is simply a mother's diary of the first few months after her daughter's miraculous survival from a deadly plane crash in Port Harcourt, the Southern part of Nigeria. Kechi Okwuchi, who suffered third degree burns over 70% of her body, may have been the least likely expected to survive since the majority of the less fortunate passengers incurred less burns than she did! That famous incident was the beginning of a series of less famous, less celebrated experiences that tried every aspect of the lives of mother, daughter and family. In an honest and almost innocent style, Ijeoma Okwuchi allows the world to take a glimpse at the suspense-filled, sometimes grueling, most times extreme, hopelessly diverse experiences that shot both daughter and herself from ordinary, normal existence to frontline spiritual leadership.
In this second edition of the best-selling Introduction to Buddhism, Peter Harvey provides a comprehensive introduction to the development of the Buddhist tradition in both Asia and the West. Extensively revised and fully updated, this edition draws on recent scholarship in the field, exploring the tensions and continuities between the different forms of Buddhism. Harvey critiques and corrects some common misconceptions and mistranslations, and discusses key concepts that have often been over-simplified and over-generalised. The volume includes detailed references to scriptures and secondary literature, an updated bibliography and a section on web resources. Key terms are given in Pali and Sanskrit, and Tibetan words are transliterated in the most easily pronounceable form, making this is a truly accessible account. This is an ideal coursebook for students of religion, Asian philosophy and Asian studies, and is also a useful reference for readers wanting an overview of Buddhism and its beliefs.
"What was the historical context for the Buddha's teachings on rebirth? What is reborn? Do all Buddhist traditions agree about what happens after death? Is it necessary to believe in rebirth to consider oneself a Buddhist? All these questions will be addressed in this short, reliable, and accessible introduction to Rebirth across Buddhist history and traditions. The book will also cover contemporary refutations of rebirth in secular Buddhist contexts as well as western scientific attempts to document reincarnation in conversation with Buddhist beliefs"--
For centuries Daoism (Taoism) has played a central role in the development of Chinese thought and civilization, yet to this day only a few of its sacred texts have been translated into English. Now Stephen R. Bokenkamp introduces the reader to ancient scriptures never before published in the West, providing a systematic and easily accessible introduction to early Daoism (c. 2nd-6th C.E.). Representative works from each of the principal Daoist traditions comprise the basic structure of the book, with each chapter accompanied by an introduction that places the material within a historical and cultural context. Included are translations of the earliest Daoist commentary to Laozi's Daode jing (Tao Te Ching); historical documents relating the history of the early Daoist church; a petitioning ritual used to free believers from complaints brought against them by the dead; and two complete scriptures, one on individual meditation practice and another designed to rescue humanity from the terrors of hell through recitation of its powerful charms. In addition, Bokenkamp elucidates the connections Daoism holds with other schools of thought, particularly Confucianism and Buddhism. This book provides a much-needed introduction to Daoism for students of religion and is a welcome addition for scholars wishing to explore Daoist sacred literature. It serves as an overview to every aspect of early Daoist tradition and all the seminal practices which have helped shape the religion as it exists today.
This book examines the concepts of cause and effect from two dimensions. The first concerns the macrocosm of the Universe and how each belief system views creation. The second dimension explores the ways in which beliefs about creation influence the microcosmic world in terms of the nature of the self, the proximate goals within each system, the answers each belief system offers to the presence of evil and suffering in existence, and ideas about the ultimate goal of release from them. All these ideas inform and are fundamental to the understanding of the present-day practices of different faiths, presenting challenges for scriptural testimony balanced with existential living. The final two chapters explore current research in physics concerning the beginnings of the cosmos and what implications such research might have for existence within it, with the final chapter examining scientific views of the nature of the self. Contents include: Judaic and Christian Traditions. Islam. Hinduism. Early Buddhism. Sikhism. Classical Taoism. Recycled Stardust. Ashes to Ashes and Dust to Atoms: The Life and Death of the Self.
Fang Shao Bai was betrayed by a slave and framed and dropped into the abyss. Everyone thought he was dead. He didn't except that he fell on a huge snowdrop.This is a magical snowdrop. Not only defeating two huge monsters easily for him, it but slao helped Fang Shaobai strengthen his physique, which greatly improved his cultivation. Thinking getting this snow lotus was lucky enough, he did not expect that there would be more amazing adventures waiting for him in the future ...☆About the Author☆On the eighth of May, a well-known online novelist, he has authored many novels, of which Almighty Conceited Sovereign has received more attention, and most readers have given this book a high score.
The explanation Dhammakaya meditation practice based on the Four Foudations of Mindfulness (satipatthana) to reach Lord Buddha's Dhammakayas and Nirvana.
The National Coordination Center of Provincial Meditation Institutes of Thailand was established with the commitment of Directors from 338 Meditation Centers (out of over 400) invited by the National Buddhism Organization to a conference at Wat Yannawa, Bangkok, April 23-25, B.E. 2551 (2008). There were fi ve objectives. Three were established at the conference and the last two were added later. 1. To support the Sangha Body’s Provincial Meditation Centers to administer Buddhist Education effectively, 2. To cooperate with Provincial Meditation Centers to teach meditation at the same high standard for all people at all levels, 3. To assist Provincial Meditation Centers with academic scholarship. 4. To cooperate with the Chiefs of the Sangha Regions and Directors of the Provincial Meditation Centers to raise academic training techniques to the same high standard. 5. To support the Sangha in stabilizing, protecting and developing Buddhism under the rules of the Discipline, the Law and the Sangha Rules. The committee members agreed to publish A Study Guide for Samatha-Vipassanā Meditation based on the Five Meditation Techniques, as a book. Those fi ve techniques are the Triple Gem Meditation (buddho), Mindfulness of Breathing (ānāpānasati), Rising-Falling (infl ating-contracting), Mind (nāma) and Body (rūpa), and Dhammakaya Meditation (sammā arahang). The purposes for this publication were for disseminating the Right Dhamma Practice to the directors and meditation masters of Meditation Centers across Thailand and Buddhists worldwide who study and practice the Right Practice of Lord Buddha, and, most importantly, for all meditators independently practicing any one of these based on one’s own temperament. The book has been translated by Phra Maha Natpakanan Gunanggaro, and edited by Phra Maha Wannapong Wannavanso, David Dale Holmes, Eunice E. Cerezo, Mr. Sakrapan Eamegdool, Mr. Watcharapol Daengsubha, and Ms. Jessica Dawn Ogden. Please address any questions or comments to www.dhammacenter.org. I would like to thank everyone for their strenuous efforts and to congratulate them on this successful contribution to the promulgation of the Dhamma. May these meritorious actions lead all to have prosperity of life and to achieve the Paths, Fruits and Nibbana. May Lord Buddha bless you all, as well as your meritorious work.
Contextualizing Eschatology in African Cultural and Religious Beliefs addresses the African consciousness and nuances of eschatological beliefs as part and parcel of the holistic African Indigenous worldviews within the context of the people's traditional heritage. The concept of eschatology is usually explained from the perspective of "endtimes" in relation to either the human individual or the cosmos. Within these contexts, the primary interests, particularly with regard to human eschatology, have centred on the questions of death, afterlife, immortality, destiny, judgment, reward and punishment, and the final destination or eternal "home" of humans. This book explores the characteristic nature, the modes, the process as well as the dynamics associated with the various features culminating the functional expression of the "reality" of eschatological beliefs demonstrated in varied but fundamentally the same subject matter of practices among different African ethnic groups. It also discusses the influences of other religious traditions, particularly Christianity and Islam, on contemporary African eschatological thoughts and their attendant consequences. This book will be of interest to students and scholars of African studies, eschatology, religious studies, and the philosophy of religion.
