A Beginner's Guide to Meditation


Book Description

As countless meditators have learned firsthand, meditation practice can positively transform the way we see and experience our lives. This practical, accessible guide to the fundamentals of Buddhist meditation introduces you to the practice, explains how it is approached in the main schools of Buddhism, and offers advice and inspiration from Buddhism’s most renowned and effective meditation teachers, including Pema Chödrön, Thich Nhat Hanh, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Sharon Salzberg, Norman Fischer, Ajahn Chah, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, Sylvia Boorstein, Noah Levine, Judy Lief, and many others. Topics include how to build excitement and energy to start a meditation routine and keep it going, setting up a meditation space, working with and through boredom, what to look for when seeking others to meditate with, how to know when it’s time to try doing a formal meditation retreat, how to bring the practice "off the cushion" with walking meditation and other practices, and much more.




Tranquility


Book Description

Tranquility: A Prayer and Reflection Coloring Journal invites you to mix creative journaling and coloring into your personal time with God. Prayers that focus on topics such as being thankful, dealing with stress and heartache, caring for yourself and others, listening for God's leading, and waiting patiently on Him will guide your thoughts and calm your spirit. Filled with more than 100 designs to color, plenty of space for journaling, and 40 needs-based prayers, Tranquility will help you express your devotion to God with your whole heart.




His Last Words


Book Description

Imagine knowing you only have several more hours to live. Picture the faces of your loved ones gathered around you. Allow the emotions to rise up in your heart. What would you say? John 13–17 records Jesus’ last words to the disciples before His death, revealing what was most important to Him. When we study those words and prayers today, we enter deep into the heart of Jesus and come away changed: overwhelmed by the love of God, inspired to follow Him, and empowered to spread the gospel. His Last Words is an 7-week Bible study that plumbs the depths of Jesus’ final teachings to the disciples. It features: A verse-by-verse study of John 13–17 and portions of John 18–21 Five lessons each week, one set aside for reflection and prayer Discussion questions for small groups Two weeks for review, reflection, and application and more Jesus’ last words are words of eternal life—powerful and full of love. If you’ve been longing for more intimacy in your relationship with God, more meaning in your life, and more boldness in your witness, His Last Words will draw you into just what you need: the Word of God.




Breath as Prayer


Book Description

Find hope amid anxiety through the spiritual practice of breath prayer in this beautifully illustrated and practical guide to connecting body, mind, and spirit during times of stress. Breath as Prayer will lead you through the practice and the proven health benefits of Christian breath prayer: intentional prayers centered around Scripture that focus our minds on Christ as we calm our bodies through breathing. Breath as Prayer offers: More than 80 breath prayers focused on Scripture, along with brief meditations Gorgeous original full-color illustrations A quick-start how-to guide to refer to as needed Guidance on how to implement a breath prayer practice The science behind breath work and prayer and why it works An invitation to reflect on the effect of breath prayers on your body With a beautiful foil-accented cover, Breath as Prayer is an ideal gift for: Anyone experiencing stress, anxiety, or fear Grief and anxiety support groups Prayer groups and prayer ministries Men and women looking for new avenues for connecting with God Teens and young adults dealing with stress and anxiety Adult baptism and confirmation God created our bodies, minds, and spirits to be intimately connected with one another. Purpose-filled breathing is one of the most effective, calming ways to integrate all aspects of who we are, especially during times of intense stress. Breath as Prayer invites you to the crossroads of Christian contemplative practice, Scripture, psychology, and science to deepen your faith, bring peace to your body, and discover a new reliance on Christ. Breathe deeply, lean into God's Word, and discover why every breath can be an invitation to pray.




Meditation for Daily Stress


Book Description

Declutter your mind and break the cycle of stress addiction with this simple, innovative meditation method. Drawing on his experience living at the Kopan Monastery in Nepal, meditation teacher Michel Pascal shares his easy new method of meditating in the moment to calm the mind and break the cycle of stress addiction. Meditation for Daily Stress is a guide to a revolutionary technique for finding peace, quiet, mindfulness, and centeredness in our daily lives and fending off anxiety and depression. Pascal prescribes a series of visualization and breathing practices that can be used throughout the day to unplug in the moment, before stress takes hold. Learn ten simple practices you can do even for just a minute at a time, including: - Meditate Like the Horizon to unplug your brain when it is running all the time. - Meditate Like a Dolphin to discover your inner peace in high-stress moments. - Meditate Like a Mountain to feel more grounded when your mood is up and down. - Meditate Like a Wave to help you deal with difficult people and difficult interactions. - Meditate Like a Kiss to feel less stress in a romantic relationship. Exploring both spirituality and physicality, mind and body, this is an essential read for busy people who want to start a daily practice right away for a healthier, happier life.




The Joy of the Gospel


Book Description

The perfect gift! A specially priced, beautifully designed hardcover edition of The Joy of the Gospel with a foreword by Robert Barron and an afterword by James Martin, SJ. “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus… In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come.” – Pope Francis This special edition of Pope Francis's popular message of hope explores themes that are important for believers in the 21st century. Examining the many obstacles to faith and what can be done to overcome those hurdles, he emphasizes the importance of service to God and all his creation. Advocating for “the homeless, the addicted, refugees, indigenous peoples, the elderly who are increasingly isolated and abandoned,” the Holy Father shows us how to respond to poverty and current economic challenges that affect us locally and globally. Ultimately, Pope Francis demonstrates how to develop a more personal relationship with Jesus Christ, “to recognize the traces of God’s Spirit in events great and small.” Profound in its insight, yet warm and accessible in its tone, The Joy of the Gospel is a call to action to live a life motivated by divine love and, in turn, to experience heaven on earth. Includes a foreword by Robert Barron, author of Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith and James Martin, SJ, author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage




The Heartfulness Way


Book Description

“A must-read for anyone interested in incorporating meditation into their lifestyle.” ––Sanjay Gupta, MD, chief medical correspondent for CNN Heartfulness is an ideal, a spiritual way of living by and from the heart that is inclusive of all ideologies, beliefs, and religions. In this heart-centered book, a student in conversation with his teacher, Kamlesh D. Patel—affectionately known as Daaji, the fourth and current spiritual guide of the century-old Heartfulness tradition—present a unique method of meditation with the power to facilitate an immediate, tangible spiritual experience, irrespective of a person’s faith. Our modern, fast-paced world can be an overwhelming place. Every day, we’re bombarded with messages telling us that in order to be happy, fulfilled, and worthy, we must be better, do more, and accumulate as much material wealth as possible. Most of us move through our busy lives with our minds full of these ideas, multitasking as we strive to navigate the responsibilities and expectations we must meet just to make it through the day. But what if there is another way? What if, rather than letting the busyness of life overtake our minds, we learn to be heartful instead? Based on Daaji’s own combination of approaches and practices for the modern seeker—which draws from the teachings of Sahaj Marg, meaning “Natural Path”—Heartfulness is a contemporized version of the ancient Indian practice of Raja Yoga, a tradition that enables the practitioner to realize the higher Self within. While many books describe refined states of being, The Heartfulness Way goes further, providing a pragmatic course to experience those states for oneself, which, per the book’s guiding principle, is “greater than knowledge.” Heartfulness meditation consists of four elements—relaxation, meditation, cleaning, and prayer—and illuminates the ancient, defining feature of yogic transmission (or pranahuti), the utilization of divine energy for spiritual growth and transformation. Using the method, detailed practices, tips, and practical philosophy offered in this book, you’ll reach new levels of attainment and learn to live a life more deeply connected to the values of the Heartfulness way—with acceptance, humility, compassion, empathy, and love.




Telling Secrets


Book Description

Unabashedly Christian....a meditation on the connection between knowing and sharing secrets and discovering the reality of a loving and merciful God. --Chicago Tribune Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.




Real Love


Book Description

"He rocked my foundation! Greg Baer touched me deeply. He's got the answer to finding happiness in life."—Tony Trupiano, Talk America Why do most of us search our entire lives for loving and happy relationships but rarely find them? What is the "secret something" that all relationships need in order to thrive? Dr. Greg Baer found the answers to these questions while working with thousands of individuals and couples. In Real Love, he shares his enlightening and practical blueprint for creating successful relationships and reveals the secret to finding and keeping what he calls "Real Love." In Real Love, you'll discover: · The difference between Imitation Love and Real Love · How to eliminate conflicts with spouses, children, parents, friends and colleagues · How to put an end to destructive “Getting” and “Protecting” behaviors · How Real Love can eliminate anger, resentment, and fear · The four steps to finding Real Love With Real Love as your guide you can begin to heal the wounds of your past and create rewarding and fulfilling relationships in every area of your life.




The Pathwork of Self-Transformation


Book Description

“The gift of Eva Pierrakos’s Pathwork has been with me for twenty years. It is the deepest and most effective spiritual work I have found, and it has helped me realize my dreams. Each time I read it, I am amazed at the depth and breadth of wisdom and love it teaches. It is a practical way of truth that will change your life.”—Barbara Ann Brennan, author of Hands of Light For more than twenty years, Eva Pierrakos was the channel for a spirit entity known only as the Guide. Combining rare psychological insight with an inspiring ision of human possibility, the Guide's teachings, known as the Pathwork, have influenced many key New Age thinkers who have studied at Pathwork centers in the United States and abroad. Now, the core teachings of the guide have been collected in one volume synthesizing the essential wisdom of the Pathwork. Under such headings as “The Idealized Self-Image,” “The Forces of Love, Eros, and Sex,” “Emotional Growth and Its Function,” “Real and False Needs,” and “The Spiritual Meaning of Crisis,” the Pathwork outlines the entire process of personal spiritual development. Unlike many over-idealized philosophies, the Pathwork confronts our devils as well as our anges, our all-too-human failings and petty ego concerns as well as our divine strengths. It shows us how to accept ourselves fully as we are now, and then ot move beyond the negativity, or “lower self,” that blocks our personal and spiritual evolution. It offers a practical, rational, and honest way to reach our deepest creative identity. “I would advise that this book be read with a willingness to take time to digest what the Guide says. This is not ‘light’ reading, thought it is Light reading, I assure you. I find an enormous compatibility between these lectures and Emmanuel's teachings. What a wonderful gift to a wonderful world.”—Pat Rodegast, author of Emmanuel’s Book