Compass – serie

In "The Farther Reaches of Human Nature", an extension of "Toward a Psychology of Being", Maslow explores the complexities of human nature by using both the empirical methods of science and the aesthetics of philosophical inquiry. With essays on biology, synergy, creativity, cognition, self-actualization, and the hierarchy of needs, this posthumous work is a synthesis of Maslow's ideas.

Bioenergetics is a dynamic form of therapy based on the teachings of Wilhelm Reich. It links physical pain, muscle tension, and postural disorders with state of mind, demonstrating that suppressed emotions, unhappiness, and anger can block energy-flow and cause physical distress. Dr Alexander Lowen, founder and prime mover of this therapy, analyzes common complaints such as headaches and lower-back pain and shows how they can be overcome by releasing the muscular tension that creates them. Through bioenergetic exercise, physical pain can be dissolved and emotion released, leading to a new sense of confidence and well-being. The author also wrote "Depression and the Body".

First published in 1901, this work is an investigation of the development of man's mystic relation to the infinite. In reviewing the mental and spiritual activity of the human race, Dr Bucke postulates that at intervals, certain individuals have appeared who are gifted with the powers of transcendent realization, or illumination. He proposes that these experiences are on the increase and gives details of all the cases on record at the time of writing.

In this wide-ranging anthology of Sufi writings, Idries Shah, who was one of Sufism’s leading exponents, offers a broad selection of poetry, contemplations, letters, lectures, and teaching stories that together form an illuminating introduction to this unique body of thought. Sufism, the mystical aspect of Islam, has had a dynamic and lasting effect on the literature of that religion. Its teachings, often elusive and subtle, aim at the perfecting and completing of the human mind. In contrast to certain other beliefs and philosophies, Sufism is continually evolving and progressing and is consequently always relevant to the contemporary world. “His work is as exciting as a good novel”—The Times Literary Supplement

The 1964 publication of Sir Richard Burton's translation marked the first wide appearance in English of the Kama Sutra and was celebrated as a literary event of highest importance. As vital to an understanding of ancient Indian civilization as the works of Plato and Aristotle are to the West, the Kama Sutra has endured for 1,700 years as an indisputable classic of world literature.Written with frankness and unassuming candor, the Kama Sutra remains one of the most readable and enjoyable of all the classics of antiquity. A work of philosophy, psychology, sociology, Hindu dogma, scientific inquiry, and sexology, the Kama Sutra's importance is so great that it has at the same time both affected Indian civilization and remained an indispensable key to understanding it.

Dr. Alexander Lowen believes that the key to personal change is contact with the body. This book rests on the idea that joy is a natural state, a positive feeling of the body, possible only through surrender to the body by listening to its wisdom and what it communicates. The book reviews the essentials of bioenergetic therapy in the light of other therapeutic approaches, and teaches how to surrender to joy by using bioenergetic principles. It discusses aggression, disappointment, sexual abuse, the fear of dying and issues of spirituality as it attemps to make joy a more common experience.

Now made public for the first time—an ancient Hopi spiritual guide that may hold the key to our survival in the next millennium For nearly a century the Elders of Hotevilla—a tiny village on a remote Hopi reservation in Arizona—have been guarding the secrets and prophecies of a thousand-year-old covenant that was created to ensure the well-being of the earth and its creatures. But the elders are dying, and there is no one left to pass on its remarkable teachings. Renowned Native American expert Thomas Mails was chosen by the last surviving elders to reveal to the outside world the sacred Hopi prophecy and instructions at precisely the time in history when they are most urgently needed. The Hopi Survival Kit is the first full revelation of traditional Hopi prophecy. Many of its predictions have already been realized, but the most shattering apocalyptic events are still to occur. And though this may be a sobering realization, it is also our best defense. For the Hopi teachings give detailed instructions for survival—our actions can alter the pace and intensity of what will happen and help avoid a cataclysmic end.

If, as the I Ching says, thoughts are spirits, then this collection of highly distilled thoughts from history's greatest philosophers and religious figures will certainly put you in good spirits. Laurence Boldt has long made a practice of applying Zen principles to everyday life. Here he applies wisdom from all corners of the world to twenty-five aspects, or qualities, associated with the Zen tradition. The result is a soup of the most hearty and wholesome kind, well-seasoned with age, and filled with delicious surprises: "Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, thence lies your vocation." —Aristotle"A man with outward courage dares to die: A man with inward courage dares to live." —Lao TzuYou'll also find Flip Wilson on living in the moment; Will Rogers on the beginner's mind; Helen Keller on courage; Chekhov on self-confidence; Colette on joy. Each chapter includes an entertaining and informative essay that explains the principle and its application to Zen wisdom. The rest is up to you. Read it in one gulp or savor each morsel. Either way, Zen Soup is sure to whet your spiritual appetite as it nourishes your soul.

A world-reknowned teacher shows how Yoga can not only make you feel better - it can make you feel wellYoga offers a great, low-impact way to increase flexibility and reduce stress. It also provides an alternative or augmentation to mainstream medicine. This classic fully illustrated and easy-to-follow guide draws on both the physical and spiritual components of Yoga therapy to show how you can use Yoga to heal any number of afflictions. Some of the areas covered include:- Common Aches and Pains: neck and shoulders, upper and lower back, hips and knees- Chronic Disease: digestive and respiratory problems, cardiovascular, lymphatic, and endocrine systems- Emotional Health: stress and disease,mental illness, anger, anxiety, and depressionYoga for Wellness presents specific case studies and specific sequences, which can be adapted to your individual needs. And with photographs illustrating each step of every sequence, it the perfect book for beginners as well as experienced practioners including teachers. "I highly recommend this fascinating, practical guide to the ancient art of Yoga." - Mitchell L Gaynor, M.D., Director of the Strang Cancer Prevention Center and author of Sounds of Healing

“Provides the much needed ‘coming out of the closet’ that the psychedelic movement has lacked. These stories will captivate, inspire, caution, and educate. This courageous book exceeds expectations.” —Rich Doblin, President, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) A collection of transformational psychedelic experiences, and a guidebook for how to understand them  Flash back to a generation ago, when the world of psychedelics still coasted in the gritty, adventurous, do-it-yourself ethos of Sixties counterculture. Hang on for the bumpy thrill ride of the psychedelic experience before it was traded in for the white lab coat of pharmaceutical medicine. Read up on the early anecdotes and field reports that have made ketamine and MDMA the newest drugs in mental health treatment. In Tripping, journalist Charles Hayes compiles fifty narratives of psychedelic odysseys—from respectable Baby Boomers and young ravers to renowned Beat poet Anne Waldman and preeminent spokesperson Terence McKenna—to give readers a glimpse into this transgressive, experimental world of self-discovery. As he liberates psychedelics from their social stigma, Hayes explores ancient Greek rites and ecstasy-fueled raves, sacred indigenous plants and synthetic “smart drugs,” alien encounters and connections with nature, the terrifying and the sublime. A history, cultural timepiece, and resource guide all in one, Tripping is a compendium of forbidden memories whose otherworldly tales and expository advice will provide insight and inspiration to readers even—and especially—now, twenty years after its original publication.

Based on the Zen philosophy that we learn more from our failures than from our successes, One Continuous Mistake teaches a refreshing new method for writing as spiritual practice. In this unique guide for writers of all levels, Gail Sher—a poet who is also a widely respected teacher of creative writing—combines the inspirational value of Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way with the spiritual focus of Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. Here she introduces a method of discipline that applies specific Zen practices to enhance and clarify creative work. She also discusses bodily postures that support writing, how to set up the appropriate writing regimen, and how to discover one's own "learning personality."In the tradition of such classics as Writing Down the Bones and If You Want to Write, One Continuous Mistake will help beginning writers gain access to their creative capabilities while serving as a perennial reference that working writers can turn to again and again for inspiration and direction.

Through his intelligent, appealing integration of Eastern philosophy and practical advice, Laurence G. Boldt has helped thousands of readers find personal satisfaction in their work and personal lives. Now he applies these principles to the subject of abundance: How do we achieve material wealth without sacrificing our souls?In The Tao of Abundance, Boldt applies ancient wisdom to modern times, presenting eight guiding principles from Taoist philosophy geared to help readers make practical life changes that will bring them a truer and deeper sense of abundance. Boldt encourages readers to strike a balance between material and spiritual wealth--not to favor one over the other--and argues that increased material wealth comes as a natural byproduct of psychological fulfillment. With exercises designed to help readers find their own balance between societal demands and their own deepest desires, this helpful, inspiring book offers the chance to experience a new feeling of abundance in all aspects of life.

A centuries-old Chinese practice, feng shui has captured the Western imagination as a tool for design and well-being. In this classic book, complete with helpful drawings and photographs, Sarah Rossbach shows how anyone can apply its principles to enhance their careers, family life, health, and prosperity.Rossbach interprets the teachings of feng shui master Lin Yun for contemporary Westerners, offering practical methods for achieving harmony with one's environment. Focusing on common problems in business and residential settings, she discusses everything from the site of a building to furniture arrangement to wall decoration. In a chapter new to this edition, she explains how to choose colors that satisfy individual needs and preferences. Rossbach's easy-to-execute advice includes such simple steps as moving a microwave oven, repositioning a desk, and hanging mirrors to alleviate negative influences.

The first time Helen Curry walked a labyrinth she was moved to tears and then "was filled with peace and possibilities." Here, she shares her years of experience with labyrinth meditation and shows how others can find serenity and guidance by adopting this increasingly popular practice. Unlike mazes, which force choices and can create fear and confusion, labyrinths are designed to "embrace" and guide individuals through a calming, meditative walk on a single circular path. The Way of the Labyrinth includes meditations, prayers, questions for enhancing labyrinth walks, guidelines for ceremonies, instructions for finger meditations, and extensive resources. This enchanting, practical, and exquisitely packaged guide helps both novice and experienced readers enjoy the benefits of labyrinth meditation, from problem-solving to stress reduction to personal transformation. Includes a foreword by Jean Houston, the renowned author and leader in the field of humanistic psychology, who is considered the grandmother of the current labyrinth revival.

While there is no denying yoga's popularity as a form of physical exercise, the other life-enhancing aspects of this tradition remain obscure to many Westerners. This text introduces techniques that treat not only the physical body, but also the emotions, mind, heart and soul of the practitioner. There are breathing techniques to control energy levels, exercises to train and sharpen the intellect and meditative practices to help increase self-awareness.

From the day Paul Mariani arrives at Eastern Point Retreat House to take part in the five-hundred-year-old Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, he realizes that his expectations and assumptions about who he is, what he knows, and what he believes are about to change radically. In this profound memoir Mariani blends a brief life of St. Ignatius and meditations on the life of Jesus with the day-to-day unfolding of thirty days of silence at the retreat house. His journey of introspection, self-revelation, and spiritual renewal leads him to a new understanding of his relationship with God and of what it truly means to put others before oneself.

A complete, concise, fascinating, and thoroughly informative guide to Jewish life and traditionRabbi Alfred J. Kolatch clearly explains both the significance and the origin of nearly every symbol, custom, and practice known to Jewish culture—from Afikomon to Yarmulkes, and from Passover to Purim. Kolatch also dispels many of the prevalent misconceptions and misunderstandings that surround Jewish observance and provides a full and unfettered look at the biblical, historical, and sometimes superstitious reasons and rituals that helped develop Jewish law and custom and make Judaism not just a religion, but a way of life. L'chaim!• Why do Jews eat gefilte fish? • Why is a glass broken at the end of a Jewish wedding ceremony? • Why must the chapter of curses in the Torah be read quickly in a low voice? • Why are shrimp and lobster not kosher? • Why do Jews fast on Yom Kippur? • Why are some Matzot square while others are round? If you've ever asked or been asked any of these questions, The Jewish Book of Why has all the answers.