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The Luminous Landscape of the Afterlife: Jordan’s Message to the Living on What to Expect after Death
by Matthew McKay• Reveals the afterlife as a fluid realm of imagination and invention, a luminous landscape created entirely of consciousness • Explains how to navigate the early stages of the afterlife, how we learn and grow in the spirit world, and how to release anxiety about the end of life • Includes exercises and meditations to prepare you for navigating and communicating in spirit There is no better source of information on death and the afterlife than someone who has died and lives in spirit. Channeling his late son, Jordan, psychologist Matthew McKay offers a postdeath guide for the living, revealing in vivid detail what to expect when we die and how to prepare for the wonders of the afterlife. Specifically describing the transition experience and the early stages of the afterlife, including how to navigate each stage, Jordan shows how death is a fluid realm of imagination and invention, a luminous landscape created entirely of consciousness. He explains how a soul that has newly crossed over is an amnesiac, arriving without senses, a nervous system, and all that has anchored us to the world. Jordan details how to navigate without a body, how we learn and grow in the spirit world, and how to release anxiety about the end of life and instead view it as another stage of being. He shows that the inferno described by Dante is an optional nightmare caused by thought projections that overwhelm the newly transitioned soul, and he reveals that the bardos are where souls who are beset with fear and false beliefs spend time learning and recovering. Providing profound relief from the fear of death, as well as exercises to prepare you for navigating and communicating in spirit, Jordan&’s message reveals how love is the bonding element that holds all of consciousness--and the afterlife--together. McKay also documents the unbreakable bond between the living and the dead and teaches the skill of channeling, allowing you to connect to loved ones who have passed.
The Luminous Life of Our Prophet
by Resit HaylamazDespite hundreds of years that have passed by, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) remains fresh in the hearts and minds of millions of people. The Luminous Life of Our Prophet is a book which aims to keep fresh the noble personality of the last Prophet by giving insights into his family as a loving father and husband, and his social life as a leader and mediator, and his spiritual life as a devoted servant of Allah the Almighty.
Luminous Melodies: Essential Dohas of Indian Mahamudra
by Karl BrunnhölzlEssential poetic teachings from beloved Tibetan Buddhist masters in their first-ever English translation.Presented here for the first time in English is a collection of dohas, or songs of realization, carefully and thoughtfully selected and translated from the large compendium the Indian Texts of the Mahamudra of Definitive Meaning, which was compiled by the Seventh Karmapa and drawn primarily from the Tengyur. Beautiful, profound, and often outrageous, these verses were frequently composed spontaneously and thus have a moving sense of freedom, openness, and bliss. They range from summaries of the entire path of Mahamudra to pithy four-liners that point directly to the buddha within us. The authors include famous masters such as Saraha and Naropa, dakinis, kings, and also courtesans and cobblers—showing that realization is accessible to all of us, right here in our lives.
Luminous Mind: The Way of the Buddha
by His Holiness the Dalai Lama Kyabje Kalu RinpocheLuminous Mind is a remarkable compilation of the oral and written teachings of the late Kalu Rinpoche - who was called "a beacon of inspiration" by the Dalai Lama. A master of meditation and leader of the Shangpu Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, Kalu Rinpoche taught with an inviting, playful and lucid style that was just one natural manifestation of his own profound realization. The teachings presented in Luminous Mind are immediate and timeless. <P> As the Dalai Lama notes in his foreword, Luminous Mind covers "the full range of Buddhist practice from the basic analysis of the nature of the mind up to its ultimate refinement in the teachings of Mahamudra." This anthology of Kalu Rinpoche's writings and oral teachings resonates with his wisdom and compassion. <P> Comparing Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche with Milarepa, the greatest mediation master Tibet has ever known, His Holiness the Dalai Lama extols the author of Luminous Mind as a "beacon of inspiration" for spiritual practitioners of all traditions. Noting that "there have been few like him before or since," His Holiness urges us to delve into this remarkable anthology of the late Kalu Rinpoche's essential instructions so that we may encounter "the full range of Buddhist practice from the basic analysis of the nature of the mind up to its ultimate refinement in the teachings of Mahamudra." Drawn from both his lucid writings and his eloquent oral presentations, this unprecedented book lays bare the full grandeur of Kalu Rinpoche's legacy. At the same time, the gentle words and playful stories of this master of meditation are filled with a depth of clarity and warmth that could only arise from a profound realization of both wisdom and compassion.
Luminous Mind: Meditation and Mind Fitness (Relaxation, Stress, Depression And Phobias Ser.)
by Michelle Levey Joel LeveyThe definitive mental fitness manual, Luminous Mind offers a unique and uncomplicated process for engaging fully in life, feeding your soul, and releasing your mind and spirit from the bonds of stress and worry.Stressed out and self-medicating with stimulants and cable TV is the norm in today's society. The only solution, aside from retreating to a mountaintop, is to harness the power of your mind and breath through meditation.In this concise and clear guidebook, Joel and Michele Levey, the authors of The Fine Arts of Relaxation and A Moment to Relax, teach the same techniques for meditation, focus, and anxiety relief they have taught to Navy Seals, the United States Army, and countless business leaders around the world.In what is truly an introduction to personal mastery, the Leveys demystify this spiritual practice and provide a complete overview of every kind of meditation, condensing their lifetime of learning into this remarkably useful book.
Luminous Night's Journey: An Autobiographical Fragment
by A. H. AlmaasIn Luminous Night's Journey, Almaas shares excerpts from his personal journal, which describe a certain thread in his own journey of realization and the processes involved in integrating that realization. This publication marks a fortunate development in our knowledge of how Being is realized in and through the human soul: The process of realization and integration of true nature described in the voice of one who articulates precisely and vividly the psychological and epistemological barriers which confront the individual consciousness as realization is integrated in the context of personal life. Almaas describes how his participation in the unfolding manifestation of Being ushers him into realms that expose and transform increasingly deep ego structures and attachments. Luminous Night's Journey clarifies how the unveiling of Being and the exposure of ego structures constitute one process, leading to the soul's integrated realization of absolute nature and the manifestation of the human being as a personal embodiment of that nature.
The Luminous Self: Sacred Yogic Practices and Rituals to Remember Who You Are
by Tracee StanleyA guide to self-remembrance with practices, meditations, and self-inquiry questions inspired by yoga and Tantra to help you connect with your inner wisdom, remember your wholeness, and live with clarity and compassion—by the bestselling author of Radiant Rest.The Luminous Self shares teachings and practices that can help us connect with our true Self and reclaim our inherent power and wisdom—essential for living with purpose and grace in our turbulent world. In this book, Tracee Stanley shares teachings and practices in each chapter—including meditation, yoga nidra, breath work, dreaming rituals, community care practices, journaling, and more—that can help us remember and honor our deepest Self.The book is a journey of inner exploration for anyone who desires to know themselves more deeply. Chapters introduce different paths to personal discernment—including facing obstacles to liberation, forgiveness, the power of memory, transitions as portals to wisdom and devotion, and nature as a teacher—and include stories from Stanley's life, teachings, and practice. 6 audio practices accompany the book.
The Luminous Vision: Six Medieval Mystics and Their Teachings (Routledge Library Editions: Medieval Culture, Society, & Religion)
by Anne BancroftMystical understanding transfigured Christianity in the Middle Ages and led to some of its most sublime prose and poetry. Originally published in 1982, this was the first book of its kind to bring together some of the medieval mystics and to relate the depths of their understanding to modern life and to world views. The author, a writer and broadcaster on modern mystics and on the mystical aspects of eastern religions, particularly Zen, has interpreted each of these very different medieval mystics afresh.
Lump
by Robert T. Jeschonek Ben BaldwinA twisted modern fable from award-winner Robert T. Jeschonek, author of the Booklist Top Ten First Novel for Youth My Favorite Band Does Not Exist. Meet a kid so bad, he gets a lump of coal for Christmas every year...and likes it! Neighborhood bully Buzz Scanlan takes pride in his annual lump, which he sees as a black badge of badness. But this year, when the coal doesn't come, the ten-year-old holy terror becomes a bad boy on a mission. He roams from one victim of his wicked mischief to the next, digging for dirt on the one nice thing he must have done to deserve no coal. When everyone agrees he's been nothing but naughty, he nearly gives up the hunt...until he stumbles onto the shocking truth behind his lumps of coal, an incredible secret that just might change his life forever. Will Buzz get his lump after all, sealing his fate as the ultimate bully? Or will solving the mystery lead to a fate worse than death for the naughtiest boy, an unexpected good deed that breaks his not-nice record? Don't miss this fun and funny tale with a twist from award-winning author Robert T. Jeschonek.
Luna: Harness the Power of the Moon to Live Your Best Life
by Tamara DriessenFrom the author of The Crystal Code, comes Luna - the positive catalyst for change that we all need.Luna is your essential guide to harnessing the moon's healing potential and achieving a happier, more fulfilling life. Tamara Driessen is guaranteed to help you to realise your potential, turn challenges into transformative opportunities and become more connected with yourself. Luna empowers by grounding you in the moment, inspiring you to celebrate the positives in your life and helping you find a clear sense of purpose.Luna nourishes you with moon rituals for every occasion, from crystals to tarot and meditation, that you can use during the moon's cycles. Tamara guides you through New Moon Rituals to inspire new beginnings and positive life change, Waxing Moon Rituals to help you take action and achieve personal goals, Waning Moon Rituals to help you shed self-limiting beliefs, and Full Moon Rituals to promote abundance and help you thrive in life.By aligning yourself with the lunar phases and developing a deeper connection with the moon, you'll gain balance and clarity, master the art of self-care and develop a true sense of what you want. Set your intentions with Luna, awaken your intuition and discover the potential that comes with living by the moon's mystic cycles.What can you do today to change your life? Let Tamara Driessen show you.
Lunar Nodes: What They Mean and How They Affect Your Life
by Wendell C. PerryExplore Your Past Lives, Life's Purpose, and Beyond with a New Approach to Lunar NodesHarness the power of the Lunar Nodes with this book's groundbreaking system of archetypes and celestial interactions. The North and South Nodes of the moon represent a gateway, not just to your past lives, but also to the relationship between human consciousness and the universe. This book investigates how your life is affected when the planets aspect the Nodes and how you can use this knowledge to live with greater purpose and confidence. Wendell C. Perry shares the planet archetypes on a chapter-by-chapter basis, making it easy for you to look up each one and how it functions when aspecting the Nodes. You'll also learn about transiting aspects, archetype pairings, and Lunar Nodes in relation to the houses and sun signs. Featuring thorough research and hundreds of examples, this book shows you how to best utilize the cosmic connection between planets and Lunar Nodes.
The Lunar Tao
by Deng Ming-DaoWe all live our lives by the Sun and the Moon The lunar calendar is a main pillar of Chinese tradition and culture, encompassing many festivals and stories. Though most explorations of Taoism take place within the realm of scripture, exercises, and formal lectures, Deng Ming-Dao looks to the lunar calendar and highlights where these festivals and stories coincide with Taoism, giving readers a renewed and original way into this ancient philosophy. Each day of the lunar year is represented with a reading meditation, original translations, illustrations, and illuminating facts about festivals and traditions, providing readers with the context that gives Taoism such depth and resonance. Unlike any other book, and beautifully illustrated with more than 400 photo-graphs and drawings, The Lunar Tao offers a new way to explore Taoism and shows readers how to include the tenets of Taoism in daily life.
Lunes con mi viejo pastor
by José Navajo«¿Qué nombre dio el doctor a esto que a mí me ocurre... síndrome burnout?»Un joven pastor, profundamente abatido, piensa en abandonar el ministerio; un anciano de ochenta y tres años sirvió a Dios toda su vida; los dos están entrelazados durante sucesivos lunes que marcarán la vida del joven para siempre. Lunes con mi viejo pastor surge de una experiencia real del autor: «Este libro nació a lo largo de un proceso. En ocasiones logré empapar la pluma en el corazón de Dios, pero en otras, la tinta fue sangre que brotó de mis heridas». Te hará reír y tal vez llorar, pero avivará antorchas extinguidas e inflamará aquellas que nunca se encendieron. El desenlace sorprendente que no dejará indiferente a nadie.
El lunes empiezo de nuevo: Rompe el ciclo de los hábitos alimenticios poco saludables con satisfacción espiritual duradera
by Lysa TerKeurstBasado en su libro best seller Fui hecha para desear, pero ahora destilado para lectores ocupados, Lysa TerKeurst ofrece una nueva perspectiva para todas aquellas personas atrapadas en el ciclo de perder peso pero luego recuperarlo, equipando a los lectores con la motivación espiritual y emocional más profunda que necesitan, para hacer cambios duraderos.A menudo caracterizamos nuestros antojos de comida como malos o que provocan culpa. Pero el antojo no es algo malo. La realidad es que fuimos hechos para desear. Solo tenemos que darnos cuenta de que Dios nos creó para desear más de Él, en lugar de perder ese deseo por complacernos en placeres físicos y alimentos poco saludables que siempre decepcionarán. En medio de su lucha personal con esto, la autora best seller del New York Times, Lysa TerKerust, nos invita a encontrar el eslabón perdido entre el deseo de una mujer de estar sana y el empoderamiento espiritual necesario para que esto suceda. En este libro recientemente revisado y condensado, Lysa nos muestra cómo:romper el ciclo de «El lunes empiezo de nuevo» y sentirte bien contigo hoy;dejar de agonizar por los números en la báscula y hacer las paces con tu cuerpo;reemplazar las racionalizaciones que conducen al fracaso por la sabiduría que conduce a la victoria; yalcanzar tus metas saludables y acercarte más a Dios en el proceso.Este no es un libro de «instrucciones». Tampoco es el último y mejor plan de dieta. Es el recurso necesario a utilizar junto con cualquier plan de estilo de vida saludable que elijas, que te ayudará a encontrar tu «deseo» y te llevará a una satisfacción espiritual que va mucho más allá de lo físico.I&’ll Start Again MondayBased on her bestselling book Made to Crave, but now distilled down for busy readers, Lysa TerKeurst offers a new perspective to all those stuck in the cycle of losing weight but then gaining it back, equipping readers with the deeper spiritual and emotional motivation they need to make lasting changes. So often we characterize our food cravings as bad or guilt-inducing. But craving isn't a bad thing. The reality is we were made to crave. We just need to realize God created us to crave more of Him instead of misplacing that craving by overindulging in physical pleasures and unhealthy food that will always disappoint. In the midst of her own personal struggle with this, New York Times bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst invites us to find the missing link between a woman's desire to be healthy and the spiritual empowerment necessary to make that happen. In this newly revised and condensed book, Lysa shows us how tobreak the cycle of "I'll start again Monday" and feel good about yourself today;stop agonizing over numbers on the scale and make peace with your body;replace rationalizations that lead to failure with wisdom that leads to victory; andreach your healthy goals and grow closer to God through the process.This is not a "how-to" book. This is not the latest and greatest dieting plan. This is the necessary resource to use alongside whatever healthy lifestyle plan you choose that will help you find your "want to" and lead to a spiritual satisfaction that goes far beyond the physical.
L’Uomo Retto e il Rapporto con Yahweh
by Aldivan Teixeira Torres Alessia Erika CasellaQuesta storia dà consigli pratici sulla relazione con il padre ed incoraggia l'ottimismo e la perseveranza. Se ti trovi in un momento difficile, questo è il momento migliore per leggerla e ricominciare a sperare.
The Lure: Still More Stories of Families, Fishing, and Faith
by William J. Vande KoppleThey say that a fisherman never runs out of stories. Lucky for readers of this book, William J. Vande Kopple wants to do more than regale us with tales of the one that got away. In this winsome collection, Vande Kopple spins fifteen funny, poignant yarns out of his experience as a father, angler, and believer. From its haunting opening vignette to more expansive recollections of road trips, family reunions, and solitary forays into nature, Vande Kopple effortlessly perceives the connections between families, fishing, and faith. He is steadfast in his faith yet comfortable with doubt (see the starkly untidy ending of "Not a Hair Shall Fall," in which he and his son wrestle with both a big fish and the question of God's providence). He is contagiously exuberant yet mindful of the vicissitudes of aging (Have I waited too long? he wonders after a much-delayed fishing trip with his father in "Time Is Tapping on My Forehead"). He is an able raconteur whose spirits are never dampened for long (in "Longing," he promises never to drive up to Canada on a whim again to fish-until the locals tell him about a river he just has to try). Fishermen and their longsuffering friends and family members will relish Vande Kopple's latest book. So, too, will nature lovers of all stripes-particularly those who know the beauty of the pristine wildernesses of Michigan and Northwestern Ontario. In any case, whether or not readers share Vande Kopple's love for fishing, these stories are sure to catch those who are angling for a good story!
The Lure and Legacy of Music at Versailles
by John Hajdu HeyerLouis XIV and his court at Versailles had a profound influence on music in France and throughout Europe. In 1660 Louis visited Aix-en-Provence, a trip that resulted in political and cultural transformations throughout the region. Soon thereafter Aix became an important center of sacred music composition, eventually rivaling Paris for the quality of the composers it produced. John Hajdu Heyer documents the young king's visit and examines how he and his court deployed sacred music to enhance the royal image and secure the loyalty of the populace. Exploring the circle of composers at Aix, Heyer provides the most up-to-date and complete biographies in English of nine key figures, including Guillaume Poitevin, André Campra, Jean Gilles, François Estienne, and Antoine Blanchard. The book goes on to reveal how the history of political power in the region was reflected through church music, and how musicians were affected by contemporary events.
The Lure of Images: A history of religion and visual media in America (Media, Religion And Culture Ser.)
by David MorganThis is the history of the relationship between mass produced visual media and religion in the United States. It is a journey from the 1780s to the present - from early evangelical tracts to teenage witches and televangelists, and from illustrated books to contemporary cinema. David Morgan explores the cultural marketplace of public representation, showing how American religionists have made special use of visual media to instruct the public, to practice devotion and ritual, and to form children and converts. Examples include:studying Jesus as an American idolJewish kitchens and Christian ParlorsBilly Sunday and Buffy the Vampire SlayerUncle Tom’s Cabin and the anti-slavery movement. This unique perspective reveals the importance of visual media to the construction and practice of sectarian and national community in a nation of immigrants old and new, and the tensions between the assimilation and the preservation of ethnic and racial identities. As well as the contribution of visual media to the religious life of Christians and Jews, Morgan shows how images have informed the perceptions and practices of other religions in America, including New Age, Buddhist and Hindu spirituality, and Mormonism, Native American Religions and the Occult.
Lure of the Arcane: The Literature of Cult and Conspiracy
by Theodore ZiolkowskiA study of the depiction of cults, conspiracies, and secret societies in literature from ancient Greek and Roman mysteries to the 21st century thriller.Fascination with the arcane is a driving force in this comprehensive survey of conspiracy fiction. Theodore Ziolkowski traces the evolution of cults, orders, lodges, secret societies, and conspiracies through various literary manifestations—drama, romance, epic, novel, opera—down to the thrillers of the twenty-first century.Lure of the Arcane considers Euripides’s Bacchae, Andreae’s Chymical Wedding, Mozart’s The Magic Flute, and Eco’s Foucault’s Pendulum, among other seminal works. Mimicking the genre’s quest-driven narrative arc, the reader searches for the significance of conspiracy fiction and is rewarded with the author’s cogent reflections in the final chapter. After much investigation, Ziolkowski reinforces Umberto Eco’s notion that the most powerful secret, the magnetic center of conspiracy fiction, is in fact “a secret without content.”“Conspiracies, whether attributed to mystery cults, Freemasons, Socialists, or Rosicrucians, pervade literature from Euripides to Umberto Eco, as Theodore Ziolkowski shows in Lure of the Arcane. Ziolkowski has read everything, taking even a 3,000-page German novel in his stride, and summarizes and analyses his material fascinatingly for lesser mortals.” —Times Literary Supplement (UK)“Ziolkowski is excellently placed to attempt the construction of a genre history . . . As such, his treatment of the literature and the array of texts included is predictably masterful, moving with ease from Greek and Roman mysteries in antiquity to the Medieval representations of the Knights Templar, through the Rosicrucian manifestoes and the German Enlightenment lodge novels, to the literary depictions of secret societies of Romantic Socialism.” —Nova Religio
The Lure of the Dark Side: Satan and Western Demonology in Popular Culture
by Eric S. Christianson Christopher H. PartridgeDemons, devils, spirits and vampires are present throughout popular Western culture in film, music and literature. Their religious significance has only recently begun to be explored. 'The Lure of the Darkside' brings together the work of some of the most important and creative scholars in the field of Biblical and Religious Studies. The essays explore demonology in popular culture from a range of perspectives: Satanism within contemporary music; the relationship between hymn and horror film; the career of Hannibal Lecter; the portrayal of Satan in films about Christ; and spiritual perversion in the Harry Potter Stories. This fresh and ground-breaking volume will be of interest to students of religious studies and theology, as well as literary and popular culture.
The Lure of Their Graves: Book Two of The Cursed Crown series (The Cursed Crown Duology)
by Laura R. SamotinIn the heart-wrenching sequel to The Sins on Their Bones, The Lure of Their Graves forces Dimitri and Vasily to confront old ghosts and a new threat: political enemies-turned-suitors, all coveting Dimitri&’s throne and his hand in marriage.Dimitri Abramovich may have won back the throne of Novo-Svitsevo, but even after defeating his former husband, the usurper Alexey Balakin, he seems no closer to securing lasting peace for his people. Enemies are closing in on all sides, and pressure is mounting for Dimitri to play the one card he has left in a bid for stability—offering his hand in marriage for a second time.But Dimitri is still healing from the tragedies of the war, his return to the throne, and Alexey's years of torment. Vasily Sokolov is the only person with whom he feels safe, and giving up the comfort of their budding relationship feels unfathomable, even if it's the only way to sever the alliances being formed among the countries surrounding Novo-Svitsevo. So as Dimitri and Vasily reckon with political treachery, the lasting consequences of Dimitri's resurrection, and the sinister legacy of Alexey&’s use of the Holy Science, they must also work to understand what it means to love each other even as they prepare to let each other go—which might prove the most difficult of all.
Lust: A Seven Deadly Sins Novel (7 Deadly Sins #1)
by Victoria Christopher MurrayThe 7 Deadly Sins series that inspired four Lifetime original movies begins with this unputdownable novel about a woman caught between an entertainment mogul with a shady past and his childhood friend who is out for revenge—from the NAACP Image award winner and national bestselling author of The Personal Librarian.Is lust a sin? Tiffanie has lived a sheltered life in a very strict household with her pastor grandfather and her grandmother in Washington, D.C. But when she meets Damon, she falls for the successful entertainment businessman despite his history as a drug dealer. Everyone sees a bright future for the couple—yet when Tiffanie meets Trey, her lustful feelings leave her confused just days before her wedding. Trey is Damon&’s childhood best friend with whom he built a successful drug business. But when the game got hot and Damon decided to leave, Trey stayed and continued to sell drugs until he was arrested and spent seven years in prison. Now he&’s out and able to attend the wedding. While Damon is thrilled to have Trey back and hopes to bring his best friend into his business, Trey has other plans. And in the end, there will only be one man standing... Includes a reading group guide with an author Q&A and discussion questions for book clubs.
Lust, Commerce, and Corruption: An Account of What I Have Seen and Heard, by an Edo Samurai (Translations from the Asian Classics)
by Teeuwen Mark Kate Wildman Nakai Trans. Eds. Fumiko Umezawa Anne Walthall John BreenBy 1816, Japan had recovered from the famines of the 1780s and moved beyond the political reforms of the 1790s. Despite persistent economic and social stresses, the country seemed to be approaching a new period of growth. The idea that the shogunate would not last forever was far from anyone's mind.Yet, in that year, an anonymous samurai author completed one of the most detailed critiques of Edo society known today. Writing as Buyo Inshi, "a retired gentleman of Edo," he expresses a profound despair with the state of the realm and with people's behavior and attitudes. He sees decay wherever he turns and believes the world will soon descend into war.Buyo shows a familiarity with many corners of Edo life that one might not expect in a samurai. He describes the corruption of samurai officials; the suffering of the poor in villages and cities; the operation of brothels; the dealings of blind moneylenders; the selling and buying of temple abbotships; and the dubious strategies townspeople use in the law courts. Perhaps the frankness of his account, which contains a wealth of concrete information about Edo society, made him prefer to remain anonymous.This volume contains a full translation of Buyo's often-quoted but rarely studied work by a team of specialists on Edo society. Together with extensive annotation of the translation, the volume includes an introduction that situates the text culturally and historically.
Lust, Commerce, and Corruption: An Account of What I Have Seen and Heard, by an Edo Samurai, Abridged Edition (Translations from the Asian Classics)
by Mark Teeuwen Kate Wildman NakaiBy 1816, Japan had recovered from the famines of the 1780s and moved beyond the political reforms of the 1790s. Despite persistent economic and social stresses, the country seemed headed for a new period of growth. The idea that the shogunate would not last forever was far from anyone's mind.Yet, in that year, an anonymous samurai produced a scathing critique of Edo society. Writing as Buyo Inshi, "a retired gentleman of Edo," he expressed in An Account of What I Have Seen and Heard a profound despair with the state of the realm. Seeing decay wherever he turned, Buyo feared the world would soon descend into war.In his anecdotes, Buyo shows a sometimes surprising familiarity with the shadier aspects of Edo life. He speaks of the corruption of samurai officials; the suffering of the poor in villages and cities; the operation of brothels; the dealings of blind moneylenders; the selling and buying of temple abbotships; and the dubious strategies seen in law courts. Perhaps it was the frankness of his account that made him prefer to stay anonymous.A team of Edo specialists undertook the original translation of Buyo's work. This abridged edition streamlines this translation for classroom use, preserving the scope and emphasis of Buyo's argument while eliminating repetitions and diversions. It also retains the introductory essay that situates the work within Edo society and history.
Lust for Enlightenment: Buddhism and Sex
by John StevensOver the centuries, Buddhism has responded to sexuality in a variety of fascinating ways, sometimes suppressing the sexual urge, sometimes sublimating it, sometimes cultivating it, and, on the highest levels, transforming it. This book reveals how Buddhists, beginning with Shakyamuni Buddha himself, relate to the "inner fire" that drives humankind. Included are chapters on the Buddha's love life before his enlightenment and his later relationships with women; the tantric approach to sex among Buddhists of ancient India, Tibet, China, and Japan; Zen in the art of love; and a positive discussion of women and Buddhism.