Sri Saundarya Lahari/The Descent

Product Description

This masterful commentary on Saundarya Lahari reveals Shakta Tantra for every level of aspirant.The original Sanskrit text by Adi Sankaracharya has been translated and explained in a lucid and eloquent style,which brings the reader into the living presence of the Goddess.The 103 mantras of the text are presented here as meditations and visualisations of Sri Devi,the root matrix of creation,depicting her divine from as a path of highest sadhana and realization.The text deals with the essence of tantric philosophy and sadhana,elucidating the esoteric traditions of Sri Vidya,the Dasa Mahavidya,kulakundalini,chakras and tattwas,and their usage to bridge the gap between the outer and inner experience. Sri Soundarya Lahari,the Descent,an exposition of the feminine divine,is substantiated and enhanced by the personal experience and in-depth study of the author.Also included are a comprehensive introduction,prayoga (uses of the mantras,yantras and especially the mandalas contained in the text,transliteration and index.

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The Vision of the Buddha: Buddhismi-The Path to Spiritual Enlightenment

From Publishers Weekly

This full-color introduction to Buddhism offers some delightfully informative moments, but suffers from its superficial coffee-table format. Lowenstein, a onetime Guggenheim Fellow who has studied Buddhism in many cultural contexts, traces the development of Buddhism in early India, then explores its penetration into Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Tibet and finally the West. It is to Lowenstein's great credit that he ably discusses Theravada as well as Mahayana; the sections on South Asian Theravada are some of the most educational in the book. This editorial commitment is reflected not just in the text but in the accompanying art; alongside the typical Japanese paintings and Tibetan sculptures are photos of Cambodian monks, facsimiles of Burmese manuscripts and reproductions of Thai frescoes. However, just when Lowenstein's text becomes deeply interesting, he changes the subject, sacrificing depth in favor of breadth. He asserts, for example, that although Buddhist monasticism appears ascetic, such discipline "is a source of happiness, not deprivation." Only much later does he explain a bit about monastic practices, and even then he is frustratingly closemouthed. While those with a firm grasp of Buddhism may quibble with such sparse explanations of complex subjects, novices will greatly appreciate the well-organized text and accessible format. The final chapter on Buddhism in 20th-century Europe and North America speedily chronicles the rise of various forms of Buddhism in the West. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Bulgaria: A Travel Guide (Pelican International Guide Series)

Product Description

A personal yet fully comprehensive and up-to-date view of a country still relatively unknown in the West, Bulgaria: A Travel Guide introduces the reader to this destination that has been previously ignored by Western tourists, but is now becoming a new travel hot spot deemed the Eastern European country most ready for tourists. Perhaps Europe's most underrated travel destination, Bulgaria is traditionally famed for hot summers on the sunny beaches and golden sands of the Black Sea coast, and skiing winters in mountain resorts such as Pamporovo, Borovets, and Bansko. The author also recommends springtime in museum towns such as Melnik and Koprivshtitsa, monasteries great and small, the art schools in Tryavna and Bansko, and antiquities in Plovdiv and Kazanluk, as well as walks in the Pirin and Rhodope mountains, museums, galleries, opera houses, and theatres. From Sofia, the booming capital, to quaint mountain villages, this guide is a thought-provoking study of the Bulgarian people, as well as a complete travel handbook for visitors. It offers intriguing insight into the culture of Bulgaria, while providing all of the information available in a more standard guidebook.

About the Author

Philip Ward has explored over fifty countries in three decades, and is the author of twenty-six other travel guides. Ward is a native of England, but has spent most of his adult life in foreign countries, including Libya, Egypt, and Indonesia.

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