Later, the great sufi poet, Jalal Od-Din Rumi was to say: "Our death is our wedding with eternity."
Not so long ago Sri Ramana Maharishi, the wise man of Arunachala wrote the following in one of his rare books. Those who fear death intensely only take refuge at the feet of the Supreme Lord whom neither death nor birth can impress. Dead to themselves and to all possessions, how could the thought of death arise within them? They are immortal!
We will almost certainly never be as certain as these sublime beings. At best we will have hope and at worst we will experience the anguish of nothingness.
Death who are you? What do you have in store for us? Will you end with all encompassing darkness the fleeting moments of several decades of life? Will you open a window onto other worlds, other splendors and other hells for us? From the scientist for whom awareness and brain are irremediably linked to the sage who during this lifetime has realized immortality, there are many responses.
Buddhism asserts that beings live on eternally beyond the impermanent fluctuations of this life. Death is not a definitive end but just a passage to one of the three other states: - a rebirth in the world of human beings or in another world of the cycle of conditioned existence where a constant flow of joys and suffering goes on; - the entry into a "pure land", domain of luminous manifestation as we shall see as this book unfolds; - the flowering of the ultimate nature of being as a pure, non- dual, unlimited all-knowing and all-loving consciousness, which is called Buddhahood.
It takes an entire life of labor to prepare for these achievements. Nonetheless, when time comes, there is an "art of dying", an ars moriendi as it was said in the Middle Ages. Such will be the main thrust of this work even though a general description of death had to be provided and is contained in the first chapter. The real issue, the one from where it will be pointless to divert oneself with fine theories is as follows: how can we turn our death into a positive expansion? Such was the question we asked Bokar Rinpoche and which he answered in the precise frame of Buddhism and, more particularly, within the Tibetan tradition. Another essential issue is how can we accompany those who are leaving before us and what can we offer them by way of a pleasant journey? As curious it may seem when dealing with a subject like this, this book is intended to be more practical than philosophical. May this book ensure that our last moment is also the most beautiful.
Drawing on his own dreams to demonstrate that he possessed the magical authority that he felt to reside also in icons and relics, Keizan strove to use these "visions of power" to buttress his influence as a patriarch. To reveal the historical, institutional, ritual, and visionary elements in Keizan's life and thought and to compare these to Soto doctrine, Faure draws on largely neglected texts, particularly the Record of Tokoku (a chronicle that begins with Keizan's account of the origins of the first of the monasteries that he established) and the kirigami, or secret initiation documents.
This was one of the first books that I read about Hinduism and feel that after reading it I understand more about the religion. It's organized, simple to understand, and key ideas are mentioned over and over again. There's sections devoted to Hindu rituals in the temple and at home, the religious texts, India's history, etc. The only problem I have with it is that in some chapters Indian culture seems to be confused with Hinduism itself. For example in one chapter it says that Hindus accept abortion, yet later on it says that traditionally abortion was one of the biggest sins in Hinduism. I understand that in many religions culture gets confused with what's actually in the religious texts. I think that the author could have done a better job clarifying that. Overall I found this book to be a very good introduction.
I have been a practicioner of kundalini yoga for over 10 years, and a teacher since 2004. I love this book because it covers all the basics of kundalini and yet has some very creative sets. I especially love the way the book is organized. It clearly explains the order of a class and is beautifully organized by chakras--giving two to three sets of exercises that focus on each chakra. The only drawback I have found is that many of the sets are very, very challenging and are not easy to teach to beginners. . . most of them are not ideal for introducing someone to kundalini (although a few of them are quite fine). Beautifully layed out and photographed, lightweight and thin enough to travel with easily.
Kundalini yoga engages your unique sources of energy -- those that empower your spirit as well as your body. Drawing from the riches of ancient yogic tradition, The Kundalini Yoga Experience offers a system of physical poses, breathing techniques, and focused meditations that, when practiced together, will bring you
• Heightened sensory awareness • Enhanced intuition and creativity
• Greater peace and fulfillment in relationships • A deeper sense of your own spirituality
Unlike any other yoga guide, The Kundalini Yoga Experience encourages you to develop a practice that suits your needs. At the start, a simple numerological profile based on your birth date reveals your strengths and weaknesses. From there, you'll learn which exercises and meditations will be most effective in helping you balance each energy center (or chakra) in your body. Clear instructions and photographs guide you through each step, and as you move from one to another, you'll see how physical movement and spiritual reflection go hand in hand to heal and strengthen every part of you.
With regular practice, you'll be surprised at how strong, healthy, and fulfilled you feel. Experiencing the power of Kundalini is your birthright -- embrace it!
I have this book for a World Religion class I am taking online. I find it very clear and concise and easy to understand, however the quality of the writing is fabulous. He is a vibrant writer who gives lots of imagery in his descriptions of the Hindu religion.
