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The Daily Light Journal: Evening Readings
by Anne Graham LotzSince 1998, when J.Countryman introduced the The Daily Light Journal, it has sold over 200,000 copies. This companion Daily Light Journal includes the evening readings from the devotional along with space for the reader's own thoughts. With a page for every day of the year; this leather-bound edition is available in burgundy, saddle brown, black, and green.
The Daily Tao: 365 Meditations on the Tao Te Ching (Day by Day Series #3)
by William MartinChoose peace over distraction and flexibility over fear with this accessible daily guide to the timeless wisdom of the Tao Te Ching. Whether you begin your morning with the Tao or snatch a spare moment of calm in the hurry of the day, The Daily Tao–with a reading from the Tae Te Ching for every day of the year–will create a practice of reflection that will echo through your life. Author William Martin's extensive work on the Tao has been embraced by countless readers and praised by the likes of Oprah and Alice Walker. Drawing on work first shared in his beloved book A Path and a Practice, this original translation of the Tao maintains the lyrical poeticism of the text while making its wisdom accessible for all. The Daily Tao is part of The Day by Day series, a collection of books designed to help readers infuse the rhythms of their lives with meaning and intention. Our lives are built by small choices, tiny moments, and quiet thoughts–The Day by Day series is a gentle way to choose those moments and begin to build a life you love.
The Dakota Series Trilogy: Three Spirited Novels (Dakota Series)
by Byler LindaThree Amish novels set during the Great Depression, by bestselling Amish romance author Linda Byler Follow feisty and independent Hannah as she grows from a fifteen-year-old girl in a covered wagon headed west with her family, all the way through marriage, tragedy, and her ongoing pursuit of home and belonging. In this unique and gripping trilogy, Hannah's struggles to reconcile her Amish faith with her fiery and rebellious spirit parallel the relentless hardships of life as a homesteader in North Dakota, including famine, blizzards, fires, and more.The Homestead: When Hannah's family, hit hard by the Great Depression, loses their farm, Hannah&’s father loads his family and what little they have left into their covered wagon, dreaming of a better future far west of Lancaster. They settle in North Dakota, hundreds of miles from any Amish community. But his visions of success are shattered by the reality that his knowledge of farming in Lancaster isn&’t of much use in Midwestern soil. With the fields barren and her family on the verge of starvation, independent and stubborn Hannah is forced to seek help from charismatic ranch hand Clay Jenkins and his family. Hope on the Plains: Hannah’s family is finally feeling settled. The cattle business is doing well, and other Amish families have moved into the area. Feeling betrayed by Clay Jenkins and unimpressed with her own father, Hannah is hesitant to trust the men around her. Jerry Riehl, intrigued by her intelligence and strong will, will try anything to earn Hannah’s respect.Home Is Where the Heart Is: Despite tragedy and almost unimaginable hardship, Hannah and her new husband are leading their Amish friends and family in their homesteading venture. But one final blow leaves Hannah grappling with her faith, struggling to understand who she is and how she fits in to the world around her. What will it take for her to feel like she’s home, like she finally belongs somewhere?
The Dalai Lama (Essential Wisdom)
by Carol KellyGangiHundreds of wise and inspiring quotations from the Tibetan spiritual leader.“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.”His Holiness the Dalai Lama has traveled the globe to spread his undying message of compassion, love, peace, and kindness for close to a half-century. The Dalai Lama: His Essential Wisdom is a collection of hundreds of inspiring quotations from His Holiness. The selections are drawn largely from his writings, teachings, interviews, speeches, and other statements made during the course of his more than forty-eight years as the exiled spiritual leader of the Tibetan people.He reflects with wisdom upon the search for happiness, the way to peace, the meaning of pain and suffering, the role of religion, the power of meditation, and the challenges of life in the modern world. In other selections, His Holiness recalls his singular childhood and the turmoil surrounding the Communist takeover of Tibet. Brimming with warmth, humor, and practical advice, the words gathered here powerfully illuminate why His Holiness the Dalai Lama is beloved the world over for his timeless wisdom for all humanity. “Everybody loves to talk about calm and peace whether in a family, national, or international context, but without inner peace how can we make real peace? World peace through hatred and force is impossible.”
The Dalai Lama Book of Quotes: A Collection of Speeches, Quotations, Essays and Advice from His Holiness
by Travis Hellstrom"The need for love lies at the very foundation of human existence." --XIV Dalai Lama The words of the Dalai Lama resonate within each of us, empowered as they are by centuries of experience and a passionate, enduring spirit for peace on Earth. Tenzin Gyatso, the current and XIV Dalai Lama, has continued this grand legacy, traveling the world while spreading his personal doctrine of compassion and true understanding. And with each year that passes, more and more people come to know the Lama, and seek his wisdom on a breadth of topics, from world peace to a life well-lived. Presented in an elegant, attractive format, The Dalai Lama Book of Quotes collects the very best of the Lama's sage wisdom, assembled from quotes, articles, speeches, and written works directly attributed to His Holiness. Organized into universal themes that everyone can relate to, The Dalai Lama Book of Quotes touches on themes ranging from love, to spirituality, to happiness and humanity. This inspirational book makes a wonderful gift for anyone seeking greater personal well-being and a life informed by compassion and faith. Each thought from the Lama is sure to inspire and invigorate you throughout your day, as your eyes are opened to a more beautiful way of looking at the world. Simple and accessible for all ages, this inspirational title makes a great gift for anyone seeking to incorporate the wisdom of the ages and a love that transcends lifetimes into their daily life.From the Hardcover edition.
The Dalai Lama and the Emperor of China
by Peter SchwiegerA major new work in modern Tibetan history, this book follows the evolution of Tibetan Buddhism's trülku (reincarnation) tradition from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries, along with the Emperor of China's efforts to control its development. By illuminating the political aspects of the trülku institution, Schwieger shapes a broader history of the relationship between the Dalai Lama and the Emperor of China, as well as a richer understanding of the Qing Dynasty as an inner Asian empire, the modern fate of the Mongol empire, and current Sino-Tibetan relations.Unlike other pre-twentieth century Tibetan histories, this volume rejects hagiographic texts in favor of diplomatic, legal, and social sources held in the private, monastic, and bureaucratic archives of old Tibet. This approach draws a unique portrait of Tibet's rule by reincarnation while shading in peripheral tensions in the Himalayas, eastern Tibet, and China. Its perspective fully captures the extent to which the emperors of China controlled the institution of the Dalai Lamas, making a groundbreaking contribution to the past and present history of East Asia.
The Dalai Lama and the Emperor of China: A Political History of the Tibetan Institution of Reincarnation
by Peter SchwiegerA major new work in modern Tibetan history, this book follows the evolution of Tibetan Buddhism's trülku (reincarnation) tradition from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries, along with the Emperor of China's efforts to control its development. By illuminating the political aspects of the trülku institution, Schwieger shapes a broader history of the relationship between the Dalai Lama and the Emperor of China, as well as a richer understanding of the Qing Dynasty as an Inner Asian empire, the modern fate of the Mongols, and current Sino-Tibetan relations. Unlike other pre-twentieth-century Tibetan histories, this volume rejects hagiographic texts in favor of diplomatic, legal, and social sources held in the private, monastic, and bureaucratic archives of old Tibet. This approach draws a unique portrait of Tibet's rule by reincarnation while shading in peripheral tensions in the Himalayas, eastern Tibet, and China. Its perspective fully captures the extent to which the emperors of China controlled the institution of the Dalai Lamas, making a groundbreaking contribution to the past and present history of East Asia.
The Dalai Lama and the King Demon: Tracking A Triple Murder Mystery Through The Mists Of Time
by Raimondo BultriniA triple homicide committed a few hundred yards away from the residence in exile of the Dalai Lama opens the doors to an unknown universe for Superintendent Rajeev Kumar Singh of the Indian police. He goes over every step of the crime and identifies its perpetrators as members of an exclusive cult dedicated to a demonic spirit with fearsome earthly powers. The chief suspects include the leading figures of a society devoted to the cult of Gyalpo Shugden, whose headquarters are to be found in the heart of Delhi’s Tibetan exile neighborhood.Raimondo Bultrini, an investigative journalist, decides to open a new trail by reconstructing the mystical aspect of the events. The Dalai Lama himself, determined to combat the sectarian outlook fostered in the name of the "king demon" by a group within the clergy of the Gelukpa school of Tibetan Buddhism, reveals to Bultrini hitherto secret religious and historical details regarding the impact of the cult. Recent events and developments seem to bear out his perspective, since many Gyalpo Shugden followers have found common ground with the Chinese authorities. The links between these renegade lamas and the Communist regime are becoming stronger, creating an alliance aimed at removing all traces of the Dalai Lama’s lineage from Tibet’s future. This is the first major exposé of this intriguing struggle at the heart of the mysticism and politics surrounding the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan quest for freedom.
The Dalai Lama at Harvard: Lectures on the Buddhist Path to Peace
by Dalai Lama Jeffrey HopkinsA comprehensive introduction to Buddhism.
The Dalai Lama at MIT
by Arthur Zajonc Anne HarringtonTheir meeting captured headlines; the waiting list for tickets was nearly 2000 names long. If you were unable to attend, this book will take you there. Including both the papers given at the conference, and the animated discussion and debate that followed, "The Dalai Lama at MIT" reveals scientists and monks reaching across a cultural divide, to share insights, studies, and enduring questions. Is there any substance to monks' claims that meditation can provide astonishing memories for words and images? Is there any neuroscientific evidence that meditation will help you pay attention, think better, control and even eliminate negative emotions? Are Buddhists right to make compassion a fundamental human emotion, and Western scientists wrong to have neglected it? "The Dalai Lama at MIT" shows scientists finding startling support for some Buddhist claims, Buddhists eager to participate in neuroscientific experiments, as well as misunderstandings and laughter. Those in white coats and those in orange robes agree that joining forces could bring new light to the study of human minds.
The Dalai Lama at MIT
by Anne Harrington and Arthur ZajoncTheir meeting captured headlines; the waiting list for tickets was nearly 2000 names long. If you were unable to attend, this book will take you there. Including both the papers given at the conference, and the animated discussion and debate that followed, The Dalai Lama at MIT reveals scientists and monks reaching across a cultural divide, to share insights, studies, and enduring questions. Is there any substance to monks’ claims that meditation can provide astonishing memories for words and images? Is there any neuroscientific evidence that meditation will help you pay attention, think better, control and even eliminate negative emotions? Are Buddhists right to make compassion a fundamental human emotion, and Western scientists wrong to have neglected it? The Dalai Lama at MIT shows scientists finding startling support for some Buddhist claims, Buddhists eager to participate in neuroscientific experiments, as well as misunderstandings and laughter. Those in white coats and those in orange robes agree that joining forces could bring new light to the study of human minds.
The Dalai Lama on What Matters Most
by The Dalai Lama Noriyuki UedaIn conversation with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In April of 2006, the prominent Japanese cultural anthropologist Noriyuki Ueda sat down with the Dalai Lama for a two day conversation. This book is based on that long and lively conversation in Dharamsala. In this little book, the two men explore whether there is a place in religious practice for anger against social injustice, the role of competition in spiritual life, conditional versus unconditional love, and the soullessness of materialism.One of the real pleasures of this book is the Dalai Lama's uncharacteristic candor. For example:'I am not only a socialist but also a bit of a leftist, a Communist.''I hold the position of a high monk, a big lama. Unless I exercise self restraint, there is every possibility for me to exploit others.'He also argues that rather than suppressing anger, Buddhism embraces using anger to precipitate social change. In other words anger can be an important spiritual practice. This book offers a unique perspective on the Dalai Lama's political and spiritual views. And it guides the reader through the complex reality of what it means to practice compassion in the here and now.
The Dalai Lama on What Matters Most: Conversations on Anger, Compassion, and Action
by The Dalai Lama Noriyuki UedaThe Dalai Lama as You've Never Heard Him BeforeA few years ago, prominent cultural anthropologist Noriyuki Ueda sat down with the Dalai Lama for a lively two-day conversation. This little book is the result. In it are some surprising truths and commonsense wisdom."The attachment that seeks what is good is worthwhile. Seeking enlightenment is a kind of attachment that we should keep, as is the desire for an unbiased heart.""Anger that is motivated by compassion or a desire to correct social injustice, and does not seek to harm anyone, is a good anger worth having.""I'm not only a socialist, but also a bit of a leftist, a Communist.""The type of competition that says, 'I am the winner, and you are the loser' must be overcome. But a positive competition allows us to lift each other up so that everybody ends up on top."Open the book to any page and find great wisdom on what matters most. And what matters most is not adherence to any one doctrine or political system but living with an open mind and heart.
The Dalai Lama's Book of Transformation
by Dalai LamaOur state of mind in terms of emotions plays a crucial role in the way we experience happiness and suffering. His Holiness the Dali Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, offers simple advice on how to work with negative emotions (such as anger) and strengthen positive emotions (such as altruism and compassion). He shows us practical ways to transform our hearts and minds and create the happiness we seek.
The Dalai Lama's Cat and the Claw of Attraction
by David MichieThe Dalai Lama regarded their flushed, animated faces, his forehead wrinkling. "The materialist approach," he nodded. "Seeking to change what you believe to be entirely outside you. It has many problems. For example, why must you constantly postpone your happiness?" India's Top Ten Social Influencers Under 30 were taken aback by this question. Staring at him, their eyes filled with consternation. Postponing happiness was something they most definitely wanted no part of."For example, if our happiness depends on having the new diamante sunglasses," he chuckled. "Or the perfect boyfriend," he beamed from the girl dressed in crimson to the one in emerald green. "Or having ten million followers," he nodded at the woman in the yellow sari. "What do we do until then? If we are constantly yearning for material things that we don't have yet, then our happiness is always around the corner. Or at the top of the next mountain. Why do you not wish to be happy here and now? Without needing anything else. Happy as I am?"In a chance encounter with India's Top Ten Social Influencers, the Dalai Lama is asked to how to use the 'law of attraction' to manifest abundance. He points out that material wellbeing was never the goal of such practices as he begins to explain their true purpose.It is a purpose that His Holiness's Cat goes on to explore with her usual warm-hearted and wonky-legged aplomb. Is the world much more a projection of our mind than we suspect? Can a few, precious insights transform our reality? In a drama of intimate revelations as well as panoramic visions, of encounters with much-loved friends along with intriguing newcomers, the Dalai Lama's Cat comes to discover that The Claw of Attraction holds the key to a more sublime transcendence than she ever believed possible. Stretch out your own talons, dear reader, and you may too!
The Dalai Lama's Cat: A Novel
by David Michie"In the months that followed I watched His Holiness working on a new book . . . I began to think that perhaps the time had come for me to turn my paws to a book of my own . . . one that tells my own tale . . . How I was rescued from a fate too grisly to contemplate, to become constant companion to a man who is not only one of the world’s greatest spiritual leaders and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, but who is also a dab hand with the can opener."Not so much fly-on-the-wall as cat-on-the-sill, this is the warmhearted tale of a small kitten rescued from the slums of New Delhi who finds herself in a beautiful sanctuary with sweeping views of the snow-capped Himalayas. In her exotic new home, the Dalai Lama’s cat encounters Hollywood stars, Buddhist masters, Ivy-league professors, famous philanthropists, and a host of other people who come visiting His Holiness. Each encounter offers a fresh insight into finding happiness and meaning in the midst of a life of busy-ness and challenge. Drawing us into her world with her adorable but all-too-flawed personality, the Dalai Lama’s cat discovers how instead of trying to change the world, changing the way we experience the world is the key to true contentment.Featuring a delightful cast of characters, timeless Buddhist wisdom, and His Holiness’s compassion pervading every chapter, The Dalai Lama’s Cat is simply enchanting.
The Dalai Lama's Cat: Awaken the Kitten Within
by David Michie"&‘Oh! How adorable! I didn&’t know you had a cat!&’ she exclaimed. I am always surprised how many people make this observation. Why should His Holiness not have a cat?&‘ If only she could speak,&’ continued the actress. &‘I&’m sure she&’d have such wisdom to share. &’And so the seed was planted . . .I began to think that perhaps the time had come for me to write a book of my own—a book that would convey some of the wisdom I&’ve learned sitting not at the feet of the Dalai Lama but even closer, on his lap. A book that would tell my own tale . . . how I was rescued from a fate too grisly to contemplate to become the constant companion of a man who is not only one of the world&’s greatest spiritual leaders and a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate but also a dab hand with a can opener."Starving and pitiful, a mud-smeared kitten is rescued from the slums of New Delhi and transported to a life she could have never imagined. In a beautiful sanctuary overlooking the snow-capped Himalayas, she begins her new life as the Dalai Lama&’s cat. Warmhearted, irreverent, and wise, this cat of many names opens a window to the inner sanctum of life in Dharamsala.A tiny spy observing the constant flow of private meetings between His Holiness and everyone from Hollywood celebrities to philanthropists to self-help authors, the Dalai Lama&’s cat provides us with insights on how to find happiness and meaning in a busy, materialistic world. Her story will put a smile on the face of anyone who has been blessed by the kneading paws and bountiful purring of a cat.
The Dalai Lama's Little Book of Inner Peace: The Essential Life and Teachings
by Dalai LamaPowerful, profound advice on how to live a peaceful and fulfilling life amidst all the conflicts of the modern world. <P><P>In this distillation of his life and teachings, the Dalai Lama paints a compelling portrait of his early life, reflecting on the personal and political struggles that have helped to shape his understanding of our world. Offering his wisdom and experience to interpret the timeless teachings of the Buddha, The Dalai Lama's Little Book of Inner Peace is fresh and relevant to our troubled times. He explains in a simple and accessible way how each of us can influence those around us by living with integrity. And he holds out hope that, through personal transformation, we can all contribute to a better world.
The Dalai Lama's Special Envoy: Memoirs of a Lifetime in Pursuit of a Reunited Tibet
by Lodi Gyaltsen GyariLodi Gyaltsen Gyari spent decades drawing attention to the plight of the Tibetan people and striving for resolution of the Tibetan-Chinese conflict. He was the Dalai Lama’s Special Envoy and chief negotiator with the People’s Republic of China in the formal negotiations over the status of Tibet. In this revealing memoir, Gyari chronicles his lifetime of service to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan cause.Gyari recounts his work conducting formal dialogue with the Chinese leadership from 2002 to 2012, as well as his efforts during the many years of quiet diplomacy preceding these historic negotiations. He details the fits and starts of the parties’ relationship, addressing successes as well as failures and highlighting misperceptions, missteps, and missed opportunities by both sides. Gyari grounds his recollections of his time as Special Envoy in his life experience, providing a powerful account of the personal side of Tibet’s struggles. He describes the Tibetan resistance to the Chinese invasion and the tumultuous early years of the Tibetan community in exile as well as his family’s history and spiritual lineage. A reincarnated Tibetan Buddhist lama forced to flee Tibet during the Chinese invasion, Gyari illuminates how his political efforts fulfilled his spiritual calling.Informed by his unparalleled experiences, Gyari offers realizable—but provocative—recommendations for restarting the Tibetan-Chinese dialogue to achieve a mutually beneficial resolution of the issue. For all readers interested in Tibet’s complex modern history, this book offers an incomparable look inside the decades-long effort to achieve the Dalai Lama’s vision of a reunited Tibet.
The Dalai Lama, a Policy of Kindness: An Anthology of Writings By and About the Dalai Lama
by Sidney PiburnThis is an introduction to Dalai Lama's life and teachings. It contains a number of interesting articles about the Dalai Lama including enlightening speeches and addresses by him.
The Dalai Lama: A Biography of the Tibetan Spiritual and Political Leader
by DemiIncluded is a foreword written by The Dalai Lama. When the thirteenth Dalai Lama died in 1933, the highest holy men in Tibet searched throughout the land for his successor. They were spiritually guided to the humble dwelling of a loving family high in the Himalayas. When the search party greeted the youngest son, the child told them, "Now I am going home!" At last the fourteenth Dalai Lama had been found, and at the age of two, the young boy was taken to the capital city, Lhasa, where he began his training to become the spiritual leader of Tibet. The work of the Dalai Lama and the fate of Tibet are topics of evergrowing international focus. In simple language, Demi pays tribute to the fourteenth Dalai Lama's remarkable life. She captures the beauty of Tibetan culture, as well as the charm, talent, and vision of one of the world's best-known spiritual figures.
The Dalai Lama: An Extraordinary Life
by Alexander NormanThe first definitive biography of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning spiritual leader—a story by turns inspiring, surprising—from an acclaimed Tibetan scholar.The Dalai Lama’s message of peace and compassion resonates with people of all faiths and none. Yet, for all his worldwide fame, he remains personally elusive. Now, Alexander Norman, acclaimed Oxford-trained scholar of the history of Tibet, delivers the definitive biography—unique, multilayered, and at times even shocking. The Dalai Lama illuminates an astonishing odyssey from isolated Tibetan village to worldwide standing as spiritual and political leader of one of the world’s most profound and complex cultural traditions. Norman reveals that, while the Dalai Lama has never been comfortable with his political position, he has been a canny player—at one time CIA-backed—who has maneuvered amidst pervasive violence, including placing himself at the center of a dangerous Buddhist schism. Yet even more surprising than the political, Norman convinces, is the Dalai Lama’s astonishing spiritual practice, rooted in magic, vision, and prophecy—details of which are illuminated in this book for the first time.A revelatory life story of one of today’s most radical, charismatic, and beloved world leaders.“Impressive in its clarity . . . this biography [is] the most detailed and accurate to date.” —The New York Times Book Review “His supple prose, often beautiful, is as adept at explaining Tibet’s theology as it is at describing its spiritual world.” —The Wall Street Journal “[Norman] brings well-grounded authority to his portrayal of a figure revered throughout the world for his joyfulness, generosity, and compassion.” —Kirkus Reviews
The Damascus Events: The 1860 Massacre and the Making of the Modern Middle East
by Eugene RoganAn award-winning scholar&’s account of an ancient city&’s descent into unprecedented communal violence—an event that would mark the end of the old Ottoman order and the beginning of the modern Middle East On July 9, 1860, a violent mob swept through the Christian quarters of Damascus. For eight days, violence raged, leaving five thousand Christians dead, thousands of shops looted, and churches, houses, and monasteries razed. The sudden and ferocious outbreak shocked the world, leaving Syrian Christians vulnerable and fearing renewed violence. Drawn from never-before-seen eyewitness accounts of the Damascus Events, eminent Middle East historian Eugene Rogan tells the story of how a peaceful multicultural city came to be engulfed in slaughter. He traces how rising tensions between Muslim and Christian communities led some to regard extermination as a reasonable solution. Rogan also narrates the wake of this disaster, and how the Ottoman government moved quickly to retake control of the city, end the violence, and reintegrate Christians into the community. These efforts to rebuild Damascus proved successful, preserving peace for the next 150 years until 2011. The Damascus Events offers a vivid history, one that masterfully uncovers the outbreak of violence that unmade a great city and examines the possibility, even after searing conflict and unimaginable tragedy, of repair.
The Damascus Road: A Novel of Saint Paul
by Jay PariniFrom the author of the international bestseller The Last Station, a superb historical novel of the Apostle Paul, whose tireless and epic preaching of the message of Jesus brought Christianity into existence and changed human history forever.In the years after Christ's crucifixion, Paul of Tarsus, a prosperous tentmaker and Jewish scholar, took it upon himself to persecute the small groups of his followers that sprung up. But on the road to Damascus, he had some sort of blinding vision, a profound conversion experience that transformed Paul into the most effective and influential messenger Christianity has ever had. In The Damascus Road novelist Jay Parini brings this fascinating and ever-controversial figure to full human life, capturing his visionary passions and vast contradictions. In relating Paul's epic journeys, both geographical and spiritual, he unfolds a vivid panorama of the ancient world on the verge of epochal change. And in the alternating voice of the Gospel writer Luke, Paul's travel companion, scribe, and ghostwriter, a cooler perspective on his actions and beliefs emerges -- ironic but still filled with wonder at Paul's unshakable commitment to the Christ and his divinity.
The Damiano Trilogy: Damiano, Damiano's Lute, and Raphael (The Damiano Trilogy #1)
by R. A. MacAvoySet against the turbulent backdrop of the Italian Renaissance, this alternate history takes place in a world where faith-based magic exists In Damiano, our hero is Damiano Dalstrego. He is a wizard's son, an alchemist, and the heir to dark magics. But he is also an innocent, a young scholar and musician befriended by the Archangel Raphael, who instructs him in the lute. To save his beloved city from war, Damiano leaves his cloistered life and sets out on a pilgrimage, seeking the aid of the powerful sorceress Saara as he walks the narrow path between light and shadow, accompanied only by his talking dog. But his road is filled with betrayal, disillusionment, and death, and Damiano is forced to confront his dark heritage, unleashing the hellish force of his awesome powers to protect those he loves. In Damiano's Lute, shattered by the demonic fury of his dark powers, Damiano Delstrego has forsaken his magical heritage to live as a mortal man. Accompanied only by the guidance of the Archangel Raphael, the chidings of a brash young rogue, and the memory of a beautiful pagan witch, Damiano journeys across a plague-ridden French countryside in search of peace. But the Father of Lies reaches out once again to grasp him. And to save himself from the hellish destiny that awaits, Damiano must challenge the greatest forces of darkness, armed only with the power of his love and the music of his lute. In Raphael, weakened by his contact with mortals, the Archangel Raphael falls prey to his brother Lucifer, who strips him of his angelic powers. Sold in the Moorish slave markets, confused and humbled by his sudden humanity, Raphael finds his only solace in the friendship of the dark-skinned Berber woman Djoura and the spiritual guardianship of his former pupil Damiano Delstrego. Accompanied by the rakish Gaspare and an ancient black dragon, Damiano's beloved Saara embarks on a quest to rescue Raphael. Their odyssey leads them to a shattering confrontation with the Father of Lies and a transcendent reckoning with destiny. Blending humor, pathos, adventure, and romance, R. A. MacAvoy's trilogy has evoked admiration and praise from writers and readers. Collected in one volume, this is a magnificent, moving saga you will never forget.