100 Best Jainism Books of All Time

We've researched and ranked the best jainism books in the world, based on recommendations from world experts, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. Learn more

Featuring recommendations from Nir Eyal, Ben Horowitz, Sheryl Sandberg, and 87 other experts.
1
Most startups fail. But many of those failures are preventable. The Lean Startup is a new approach being adopted across the globe, changing the way companies are built and new products are launched.

Eric Ries defines a startup as an organization dedicated to creating something new under conditions of extreme uncertainty. This is just as true for one person in a garage or a group of seasoned professionals in a Fortune 500 boardroom. What they have in common is a mission to penetrate that fog of uncertainty to discover a successful path to a sustainable business.
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Sheryl SandbergProvides a great inside look at how the tech industry approaches building products and businesses. (Source)

Dustin MoskovitzAt Asana, we've been lucky to benefit from [the author]'s advice firsthand; this book will enable him to help many more entrepreneurs answer the tough questions about their business. (Source)

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2

Jaina Sutras

Part I & II (Forgotten Books)

A translation of the sacred Jaina Sutras. The first volume contains The Akaranga Sutra and The Kalpa Sutra, and the second volume contains The Uttaradhyayana Sutra and The Sutrakritanga Sutra. less

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3
Achieve "Massive Action" results and accomplish your business dreams! While most people operate with only three degrees of action-no action, retreat, or normal action-if you're after big goals, you don't want to settle for the ordinary. To reach the next level, you must understand the coveted 4th degree of action. This 4th degree, also known as the 10 X Rule, is that level of action that guarantees companies and individuals realize their goals and dreams.

The 10 X Rule unveils the principle of "Massive Action," allowing you to blast through business clichZs and...
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Recommended by Mark Struczewski, Haris Siddique, and 2 others.

Mark StruczewskiI love what Grant Cardone writes in The 10X Rule, "wouldn't coming up short on a 10X target accomplish more than coming up short on one-tenth of that goal?" In other words, he says it's better to fall short of a one million dollar goal than a $100,000 goal. (Source)

Haris SiddiqueI would say because it influenced me and created an imperial impact on my career path. An amazing book to read as it teaches you How to reprogram your mind in minutes to eliminate fears and phobia. Being a sales and marketing professional. I adopted many great changes in me and used some of the best techniques which are explained very well in this book by Grant Cardone. I would definitely... (Source)

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4

The Jains

The Indian religion of Jainism, whose central tenet involves non-violence to all creatures, is one of the world's oldest and least-understood faiths. Dundas looks at Jainism in its social and doctrinal context, explaining its history, sects, scriptures and ritual, and describing how the Jains have, over 2500 years, defined themselves as a unique religious community. This revised and expanded edition takes account of new research into Jainism. less

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5

Jainism

An Introduction

Jainism evokes images of monks wearing face-masks to protect insects and mico-organisms from being inhaled. Or of Jains sweeping the ground in front of them to ensure that living creatures are not inadvertently crushed: a practice of non-violence so radical as to defy easy comprehension. Yet for all its apparent exoticism, Jainism is still little understood in the West. What is this mysterious philosophy which originated in the 6th century BCE, whose absolute requirement is vegetarianism, and which now commands a following of four million adherents both in its native India and diaspora... more

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6
That Which Is, known as the Tattvartha Sutra to Jains, is recognized by all four Jaina traditions as the earliest, most authoritative and comprehensive summary of their religion. Unique in bringing together classical commentaries from each tradition, this translation of the Tattvartha Sutra provides in one volume a detailed explanation of the universe, the place of humanity within it, and the path through it to liberation. Spiritual leaders and scholars of all Jaina sects have overseen the selections and translation of this extraordinary book. Included is the classical commentary of the... more

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7

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

This valuable book provides a complete manual for the study and practice of Raja Yoga, the path of concentration and meditation. This new edition of these timeless teachings is a treasure to be read and referred to again and again by seekers treading the spiritual path. The classic Sutras (thought-threads), at least four thousand years old, cover the yogic teachings on ethics, meditation, and physical postures, and provide directions for dealing with situations in daily life. The Sutras are presented here in the purest form, with the original Sanskrit and with translation, transliteration,... more

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8
In response to The End of Faith, Sam Harris received thousands of letters from Christians excoriating him for not believing in God. Letter to A Christian Nation is his reply. Using rational argument, Harris offers a measured refutation of the beliefs that form the core of fundamentalist Christianity. In the course of his argument, he addresses current topics ranging from intelligent design and stem-cell research to the connections between religion and violence. In Letter to a Christian Nation, Sam Harris boldly challenges the influence that faith has on public life in our... more

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9

Shri Tattvagyaan Bodh Part - 1

Detailed explanation of Chhkaayna bol, pachchis bol and Nav tattva less

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10
Lively tales of asceticism, wickedness, and virtue from one of India's great religious traditions

Beautifully translated from the Sanskrit, the stories in this volume reflect the vital tradition of Jain storytelling between the seventh and fifteenth centuries. Some of their characters find bliss by renouncing the world, others by living within it in peace and moderation. There are stories depicting the painful consequences of a loved one's becoming a monk and the triumph of Jain women who win their husbands over to their religion. The climactic story follows an unsuspecting...
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11

Essays on the Gita

A masterly exposition of the pre-eminent Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita. It was after reading these essays, in particular, that in the 1930's President Wilson's daughter went to Sri Aurobindo and devoted her life - receiving the name Nishtha via his vision in the Sri Aurobindo Ashram at Pondicherry. Index. less

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12
Alan Watts asks what is the cause of the illusion that the self is a separate ego, housed in a bag of skin, and which confronts a universe of physical objects that are alien to it. Rather a person's identity (their ego) binds them to the physical universe, creating a relationship with their environment and other people. The separation of the self and the physical world leads to the misuse of technology and the attempt to violently subjugate man's natural environment, leading to its destruction.

Explaining man's role in the universe as a unique expression of the total universe, and...
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Recommended by Kyle Russell, Kevin Lamping, and 2 others.

Kyle RussellBook 20 Lesson: Distinction is not separation. To understand something, you must also understand its relationships with other parts of the environment or context around it. https://t.co/DB453aY565 (Source)

Kevin LampingNot a business book, but *The Book* is one that I can say shines out among the other stars. It's hard to pick a book that's had the most impact on me, because they always have some effect. But there was something so calming, so reassuring about *The Book* that really helped me in a time of lots of self-doubt. I know this is supposed to focus on less "spiritual" books, and I'm not a religious guy,... (Source)

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13
A Nobel Laureate offers a dazzling new book about his native country
India is a country with many distinct traditions, widely divergent customs, vastly different convictions, and a veritable feast of viewpoints. In The Argumentative Indian," Amartya Sen draws on a lifetime study of his country's history and culture to suggest the ways we must understand India today in the light of its rich, long argumentative tradition.
The millenia-old texts and interpretations of Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Muslim, agnostic, and atheistic Indian thought demonstrate, Sen reminds us, ancient and...
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William DalrympleIt’s definitely not the first book you should read on India, it’s for someone who knows the country well, but it’s a wonderfully erudite, discursive, witty, clever book. (Source)

Kaushik BasuDepending how you count, almost any nation could be portrayed as argumentative. But he uses this central theme to range over an amazing breadth of scholarship (Source)

Pankaj MishraThe book does a tremendous job of giving you a sense of the many, many layers of history, of identities, that constitute this society. (Source)

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15
The text of the Torah includes not only its words, but also various atypical scribal features. Prime among these are the dots over certain letters, various letters written either large or small, and the exceedingly odd placement of two inverted Hebrew letters surrounding one passage. What are these features doing there? How old are they? Do they carry meaning? How have they been interpreted over the years? James Diamond brings the reader on the journey through the Torah text in search of a response to these questions. less

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16

Cosmology

Old and New

A modern commentary on the fifth chapter of Tattvarthadhigama-Sutra of Acharya Umasvati less

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18
���¬These two volumes provide an intimate vantage view of what the author calls ���«the world of conquerors���­ ���± a world of inner and outer space waiting to be conquered not by warlike weapons unleashed by greed, malice, domination, violence and exploitation but by peaceful conquerors following principles and practice of Right Knowledge, Right Faith, and Right Austerities, based on reverence for life, compassion, non-violence, equanimity and a sense of mutual interdependence.���® From the Foreword by His Excellency Dr L. M. Singhvi, formerly High Commissioner for India less

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19

Jainism in 13 Chapters

This book is an easy way for a layman to understand the philosophies and beliefs of Jainism in 13 chapters. less

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20

Ahimsa, Anekanta And Jainism

Essays in this volume offer fresh insights into Jain principles of Ahimsa and Anekanta by examining their meaning and historical significance, and demonstrating their relevance and role in addressing contemporary issues of intolerance, conflict, violence, and war. Contributors to this book bring perspectives from the disciplines of philosophy, religious studies, history and art history. less

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21

Narrating Karma and Rebirth

Buddhism and Jainism share the concepts of karma, rebirth, and the desirability of escaping from rebirth. The literature of both traditions contains many stories about past, and sometimes future, lives which reveal much about these foundational doctrines. Naomi Appleton carefully explores how multi-life stories served to construct, communicate, and challenge ideas about karma and rebirth within early South Asia, examining portrayals of the different realms of rebirth, the potential paths and goals of human beings, and the biographies of ideal religious figures. Appleton also deftly surveys... more

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22
The last ten years have seen interest in Jainism increasing, with this previously little-known Indian religion assuming a significant place in religious studies.

Studies in Jaina History and Culture breaks new ground by investigating the doctrinal differences and debates amongst the Jains rather than presenting Jainism as a seamless whole whose doctrinal core has remained virtually unchanged throughout its long history. The focus of the book is the discourse concerning orthodoxy and heresy in the Jaina tradition, the question of omniscience and Jaina logic, role models for...
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23

Awaken!

A Handbook for the Truth Seeker

Living Enlightened Master, Acharya Shree Yogeesh, helps to awaken the truth seeker by shedding light on various topics including spirituality, philosophy, religion, health, meditation, chakras, karma and practical ways to improve our lives in this modern world. Awaken! A Handbook for the Truth Seeker is a compilation of questions and answers asked to the spiritual master by his students. To meet Acharya Shree Yogeesh, visit http: //siddhayatan.org to receive free monthly training. less

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24
Enlarges our understanding of Jainism, one of the oldest yet least-studied of the world's living religions, by challenging the standard scholarly portraits of both Jains and South Asian religion and culture. less

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26
Book by Mookerjee, Satkari less

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32
The Jains have exerted an influence on Indian society and religion out of proportion with their relatively small numbers. The Assembly of Listeners: The Jains in Society is the first book to address the sociology of the Jains and to discuss the notion of the "community" based on religious affiliation in India. Topics covered include Jain ideals and identity; women in the Jains community; popular Jainism; Jain reform and Jain identity in the UK. This collection is an important theoretical addition to the studies of Indian society, which has previously focused mainly on caste and class politics... more

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34
Illuminates the core ideas of Jainism and its founding figures, the Jinas, Conquerors or Tirthankaras, and the various spaces they sanctify. This title offers Jainism practitioners liberation from various suffering, preaching a doctrine of non-violence. It shows several sacred spaces, as well as illustrated manuscripts of sacred text of Jains. less

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35
John Cort explores the narratives by which the Jains have explained the presence of icons of Jinas (their enlightened and liberated teachers) that are worshiped and venerated in the hundreds of thousands of Jain temples throughout India. Most of these narratives portray icons favorably, and so justify their existence; but there are also narratives originating among iconoclastic Jain communities that see the existence of temple icons as a sign of decay and corruption. The veneration of Jina icons is one of the most widespread of all Jain ritual practices. Nearly every Jain community in India... more

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38

Nine Lives

From the author of The Last Mughal and In Xanadu, comes a mesmerizing book that explores how traditional religions are observed in today’s India, revealing ways of life that we might otherwise never have known.

A middle-class woman from Calcutta finds unexpected fulfillment living as a Tantric in an isolated, skull-filled cremation ground . . . A prison warder from Kerala is worshipped as an incarnate deity for two months of every year . . . A Jain nun tests her powers of detachment watching her closest friend ritually starve herself to death . . . The twenty-third in a...
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39

The A to Z of Jainism

Jain is the term used for a person who has faith in the teachings of the Jinas ("Spiritual Victors"). Jinas are human beings who have overcome all passions (kasayas) and have attained enlightenment or omniscience (kevala-jnana), who teach the truths they realized to others, and who attain liberation (moksa) from the cycle of rebirth (samsara). At the core of these teachings is nonviolence (ahimsa), which has remained the guiding principle of Jain ethics and practices to this day. In comparison with other religious traditions of South Asia, Jains are few in number, comprising less than one... more

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40
What does it mean to worship beings that one believes are completely indifferent to, and entirely beyond the reach of, any form of worship whatsoever? How would such a relationship with sacred beings affect the religious life of a community? Using these questions as his point of departure, Lawrence A. Babb explores the ritual culture of image-worshipping Svetambar Jains of the western Indian states of Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Jainism traces its lineages back to the ninth century B.C.E. and is, along with Buddhism, the only surviving example of India's ancient non-Vedic religious...
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41

Creation

Once again the incomparable Gore Vidal interprets and animates history -- this time in a panoramic tour of the 5th century B.C. -- and embellishes it with his own ironic humor, brilliant insights, and piercing observations. We meet a vast array of historical figures in a staggering novel of love, war, philosophy, and adventure . . .
"There isn't a page of CREATION that doesn't inform and very few pages that do not delight."
-- John Leonard, The New York Times
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42

Philosophies of India

The volume is divided into four sections: The introduction places the position of the Buddhist Tantras within Mahayana Buddhism and recalls their early literary history, especially the Guhyasamahatantra; the section also covers Buddhist Genesis and the Tantric tradition. The foundations of the Buddhist Tantras are discussed and the Tantric presentation of divinity; the preparation of disciples and the meaning of initiation; symbolism of the mandala-palace Tantric ritual and the twilight language. This section explores the Tantric teachings of the inner Zodiac and the fivefold ritual symbolism... more

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43

Christianity and Jainism

an Interfaith Dialogue

Professor Padmanabh S. Jaini in coversation with Sir Mark Tully about Christianity and Jainism. less

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44
4th Grade Common Core Math: Practice Workbook - Practice Questions, Answers & Explanations - Recommended by Teachers - Ace Academic Publishing-Based on Common Core State Standards: Similar to a standardized exam, you can find questions of all types, including multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, true or false, match the correct answer and free-response questions.-High Standards of Questions: Each of these questions are divided into Chapters and Sub-Topics. The contents of this Math workbook include multiple chapters and units covering all the required Common Core Standards for this grade... more

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45

Life Force

The World of Jainism

Outside India, little is known of Jainism, one of the oldest religions in the world; a gentle faith whose ancient precepts have always nurtured an ecological way of life, and which numbers today nearly ten million adherents. At the root of Jainism's compassionate philosophy is the practice of ahimsa, meaning non-violence, an approach to the world that greatly influenced Mahatma Gandhi. Today, with the earth's environment and everyone of its species under constant siege, Jainism has more of a role to play than ever before. In this accessible and thought-provoking portrait of a religion, the... more

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47

The Heart of Jainism

Excerpt from The Heart of Jainism Amongst the many friends, Indian and English, whose help has made the production of this little book possible, the writer owes a special debt of gratitude to the Rev. G. P. Taylor, M.A., D.D., who years ago first directed her attention to Jainism as an almost untrodden field for research, and who ever since has allowed her to make the fullest use of his unrivalled stores of oriental scholarship; to Mr. J. N. Farquhar, M.A., from whom she has received constant help and suggestion, especially in the compilation of the Historical Summary and the paragraphs on... more

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48
The stories in this collection span almost one thousand years of story-telling in India. Most originate in North India and all were written by Jain monks for the education and amusement of the faithful. Jain literature is both righ and varied. Stories were told in verse and prose, in Sanskrit and in vernacular languages. Some resemble simple folk tales while others are as sophisticated as courtly romances. The stories in Jain literature are about holy men and holy places, famous kings and courtiers and those not often heard in ancient and medieval India--women and toiling villagers. The... more

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49
Although in Hinduism it is mainly used to refer to widow immolation, the term 'sati' means 'true woman' - a female hero. Whitney Kelting has learned that in Jainism satis appear as subjects of devotional hymns. This seems paradoxical, given that Jain spirituality is to disengage oneself from worldly existence and Jain devotionalism is usually directed toward those souls who have reached perfect detachment. In fact, however, there is a vast corpus of popular texts, many of them written by prominent scholar-monks between the 16th and 18th centuries, illustrating the distinctly worldly virtues... more

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50

Outlines of Jainism

First published in 1940, as the second edition of a 1916 original, this book was written to provide an accessible English introduction to Jainism, incorporating discussion of its underlying philosophy and terminology. Written by a member of the Jain community, the text gives an insider's perspective on the religion, allowing for an intimate treatment of its various aspects, whilst also maintaining a non-doctrinaire approach. The author wrote the book in collaboration with the Jain Literature Society, who took responsibility for additional editorial work. A bibliography is also included. This... more

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51

A Source Book in Indian Philosophy

Here are the chief riches of more than 3,000 years of Indian philosophical thought-the ancient Vedas, the Upanisads, the epics, the treatises of the heterodox and orthodox systems, the commentaries of the scholastic period, and the contemporary writings. Introductions and interpretive commentaries are provided.

-- "The New York Times"
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54

Navpad Prakash

55

Tattvārthsūtra

Acharya Umasvami’s Tattvārthsūtra is the first Jaina scripture written in the Sanskrit language. The work is of great value for the beginner as well as for the learned. Its composition has great charm. Each Sutra is composed in least possible words and can easily be memorized. Many Jains recite these Sutras.

Tattvārthsūtra is invaluable for understanding life, and pursuit of happiness. The hardships and afflictions that we have to endure are of our own making. Our deeds, driven by passions, lead to sufferings and reproach in this world and in the next. Virtuous activity alone,...
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56
Surveying the world's religions, from Buddhism to Zoroastrianism, and providing succinct yet thought-provoking insight into the philosophy and practices of each, The Religions Book is ideal for anyone seeking to gain a better understanding of the world's religions. With intriguing artwork, flow charts, and diagrams, complex world religions are made accessible in this comprehensive guide. The Religions Book is also perfect for religion and philosophy students. less

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57
A major new history of the century-long debate over what a Jewish state should be

Many Zionists who advocated the creation of a Jewish state envisioned a nation like any other. Yet for Israel's founders, the state that emerged against all odds in 1948 was anything but ordinary. Born from the ashes of genocide and a long history of suffering, Israel was conceived to be unique, a model society and the heart of a prosperous new Middle East. It is this paradox, says historian Michael Brenner--the Jewish people's wish for a homeland both normal and exceptional--that shapes...
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58
Itinerant white-robed ascetics represent the highest ethical ideal among the Jains of rural Rajasthan. They renounce family, belongings, and desires in order to lead lives of complete non-violence. In their communities, Jain ascetics play key roles as teachers and exemplars of the truth; they are embodiments of the lokottar - the realm of the transcendent.

Based on thirteen months of fieldwork in the town of Ladnun, Rajasthan, India, among a community of Terapanthi Svetambar Jains, this book explores the many facets of what constitutes a moral life within the Terapanthi...
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59
The Jains of India are a flourishing and prosperous community, but their religion is focused on the teaching and example of ascetic renouncers, whose austere regime is actually dedicated to ending worldly life and often culminates in a fast to death. This book, which draws upon a detailed study of Jainism in the city of Jaipur, shows how renunciation and ascetism play a central part in the life of a thriving business community, and how world-renunciation combines for Jain families with the pursuit of worldly happiness.
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60

The Lost Art of Scripture

In our increasingly secular world, holy texts are at best seen as irrelevant, and at worst as an excuse to incite violence, hatred and division. So what value, if any, can scripture hold for us today? And if our world no longer seems compatible with scripture, is it perhaps because its original purpose has become lost?

Today we see the Quran being used by some to justify war and terrorism, the Torah to deny Palestinians the right to live in the Land of Israel, and the Bible to condemn homosexuality and contraception. The holy texts at the centre of all religious traditions are...
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62
The popular names of many yogic asanas - from Virbhadra-asana and Hanuman-asana to Matsyendra-asana, Kurma-asana and Ananta-asana - are based on characters and personages from Indian mythology. Who were these mythological characters, what were their stories, and how are they connected to yogic postures? Devdutt Pattanaik's newest book Yoga Mythology (co-written with international yoga practitioner Matt Rulli) retells the fascinating tales from Hindu, Buddhist and Jain lore that lie behind the yogic asanas the world knows so well; in the process he draws attention to an Indic worldview based... more

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63
Trade fear for courage on the journey toward stillness and your true self.

The Hidden Unknown Truth is intended to show you how to live your life connected to your own inner power. It is a spiritual how-to guide designed to lead you to awareness and acceptance of thoughts and actions that create fear and anxiety, which cuts you off from your true inner voice.

Learn exactly how to forgive others and cultivate a grateful perspective to awaken your spirit. The meditation practice will calm your body and mind, allowing a deeper inspiration and guiding power to flow through...
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64
A journey through the Book of Certitude The Kit�b-i-�q�n is one of the most important Writings of Bah�'u'll�h, the Founder of the Bah�'� Faith. Bah�'u'll�h revealed this book within the space of two days and two nights, in the last years of His stay in Baghd�d (AH 1278-AD 1862). According to Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bah�'� Faith, The Kit�b-i-�q�n sets "forth in outline the Grand Redemptive Scheme of God" and it "occupies a position unparalleled by any work in the entire range of the Bah�'� literature, except The Kit�b-i-Aqdas Bah�'u'll�h's Most Holy Book." This current book is a... more

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66

That Which Is

Tattvartha Sutra

This classic Jain manual for understanding the true nature of reality is now published for the first time in an English translation outside of India. Regarded by the Jains as the earliest, most authoritative and comprehensive summary of their religion, this book is sponsored by the Institute of Jainology. less

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67
Jainism is India's oldest spiritual tradition, and one of the world's oldest religions. Understanding of Jain principles can point us towards the elusive 'paradigm shift', giving spiritual and intellectual strength to a global ethic of compassion and interdependence. This book outlines the key principles. less

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70
Building on a life of careful Biblical scholarship and insights into the practices of Jesus and the early Church, launched on the day of Pentecost, Amos Yong shows (1) that the religious "other" is not a mere object for conversion but a neighbor to whom hospitality must be extended and from whom Christians should be open to receiving hospitality; and (2) that the practices of the Christian community must reflect this insight if they are to be faithful to the trinitarian God of Jesus Christ. This book is pivotal in the shift to a new paradigm of theology of religion, interreligious... more

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72
Do you wonder about the future and the destiny of humanity? Do you want to know the true purpose of your existence on Earth and in the Universe? A long-hidden ancient text holds the answers you seek!

Zinovia Dushkova, Ph.D., is one of the few living people who has gained access to the million-year-old manuscript widely known as the Book of Dzyan. Written in the language of the Gods, called Senzar, it is secretly hidden in the heart of the Himalayas, accessible to only a chosen few over the course of human history, including Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ,...
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73
A groundbreaking examination of Abraham, one of the most beloved and significant religious figures in history. Author Frances Worthington researches the three wives/concubines (Sarah, Hagar, and Keturah) of Abraham, and traces their lineage to five different religions - Christianity, Judaism, Islam, the Babi Faith, and the Baha'i Faith. Examining the scripture and traditions of these five "Abrahamic" faiths, this complex story also draws heavily from a rich variety of historical sources that provide a fascinating backdrop. less

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75

A History of the World's Religions

A History of the World's Religions bridges the interval between the founding of religions and their present state, and gives students an accurate look at the religions of the world by including descriptive and interpretive details from original source materials. Refined by over forty years of dialogue and correspondence with religious experts and practitioners around the world, A History of the World's Religions is widely regarded as the hallmark of scholarship, fairness, and accuracy in its field. It is also the most thorough yet manageable history of world religion available... more

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76

India

A History

John Keay's India: A History is a probing and provocative chronicle of five thousand years of South Asian history, from the first Harrapan settlements on the banks of the Indus River to the recent nuclear-arms race. In a tour de force of narrative history, Keay blends together insights from a variety of scholarly fields and weaves them together to chart the evolution of the rich tapestry of cultures, religions, and peoples that makes up the modern nations of Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. Authoritative and eminently readable, India: A History is a compelling epic portrait of one of the... more

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Living Jainism

An Ethical Science

Living Jainism explores a system of thought that unites ethics with rational thought, in which each individual is his or her own guru and social conscience extends beyond human society to animals, plants and the whole of the natural world. The Jain Dharma is a humane and scientific spiritual pathway that has universal significance. With the re-emergence of India as a world power, Jain wisdom deserves to be better known so that it can play a creative role in global affairs. Living Jainism reveals the relevance of Jain teachings to scientific research and human society, as well as our journey... more

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Jainism is arguably the most non-violent and austere religion in the world. While lay Jains attempt to never harm humans or animals, the strict non-violence followed by the highly revered monks and nuns also proscribes harm to any living being, even a microscopic organism. And while laywomen (and a few laymen) undergo long and difficult fasts, the longest being for one month, renouncers' austerities also include pulling their hair out by the roots two to five times a year, walking bare-foot throughout India most of the year, and, in the case of some monks, not wearing any clothing at all. more

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83
In our modern, materialistic world it is easy to separate spirituality from everyday life, but this book encourages spirituality to be a part of our ordinary, everyday existence. It needs to be implicitly present in business, in politics, in farming, in cooking, and in relationships. To illustrate this, Satish Kumar draws on the Indian Ayurvedic tradition which characterizes the mind as having three gunas, or primary qualities: sattva (characterized by calmness, clarity and purity), rajas (energy and passion), and tamas (dullness and ignorance). These qualities can be applied to work and the... more

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Kicking Over Sacred Cows

Kicking Over Sacred Cows--Rightly dividing God's Word brings refreshing truth and balance into the believer's life. less

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Understanding Jainism

Jainism is Buddhism’s often overlooked cousin. As the only surviving examples of ancient India’s non-Vedic religious traditions, the two religions are often grouped together as ‘heterodoxies’, but this is to ignore deep differences between Jain and Buddhist beliefs and practices. Unlike Buddhism, Jainism has hardly spread beyond the Indian subcontinent but Jainism survives in India where it is a prominent element in the mix of Indian religions today.
As an introduction to Jainism as a religious tradition and way of life, this book pays due attention to Jainism’s history and doctrinal...
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Handbook of Today's Religions

Don't rely on news stories or a one-sided defense of cults, the occult, or secular and non-Christian religions. This handbook provides authoritative, evangelical perspectives on alternative religions. It includes thorough, accurate information for analyzing and measuring these groups' claims and beliefs against God's Word. less

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88

Sources of Indian Tradition

From the Beginning to 1800

Since 1958 Sources of Indian Tradition has been one of the most important and widely used texts on civilization in South Asia (now the nation-sates of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal). It has helped generations of students and lay readers understand how leading thinkers there have looked at life, the traditions of their ancestors, and the world they live in.

This second edition has been extensively revised, with much new material added. Introductory essays explain the particular settings in which these thinkers have expressed their ideas about religious,...
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89
The Yogasastra and its voluminous auto-commentary, the Svopajnavrtti, is the most comprehensive treatise on Svetambara Jainism. Written in the twelfth century by the polymath Hemacandra, it was instrumental in the survival and growth of Jainism in India as well as in the spreading of Sanskrit culture within Jaina circles. Its influence extended far beyond confessional and geographical borders and it came to serve as a handbook for the Jain community in Gujarat and overseas. It is a systematic presentation of a set of ideas and practices originally belonging to the Svetambara... more

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90
God Speaks Again is a comprehensive introduction to the Baha'i Faith. Members of the Baha'i religion believe that periodically throughout history, God has revealed Himself to humanity through Divine Messengers-among them Abraham, Zoroaster, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad-each offering fresh spiritual teachings suited for the age in which they appear. Bowers quotes extensively from Baha'u'llah 's own writings, which Baha'is regard as the most recent Divine Revelation for humankind, providing a welcome glimpse into its power and majesty. In placing the life of Baha'u'llah at... more

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91

Ahimsa

A Brief Guide to Jainism

Jainism arose as a systematic response to human and animal violence by positing a radical alternative-the path of ahimsa or non-violence. Their argument is a simple but profound one. If we can lessen the pain and suffering of those around us why not choose that option instead of needlessly perpetuating the never-ending cycle of violent retribution. Jainism raises a most pregnant question for all of us: how big is our circle of compassion? Can we extend its circumference beyond our selves and ken to include other human beings not of our tribe and even further to include animals and other... more

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92

COALFIELD JEWS

An Appalachian History

The stories of vibrant eastern European Jewish communities in the Appalachian coalfields

Coalfield Jews explores the intersection of two simultaneous historic events: central Appalachia’s transformative coal boom (1880s-1920), and the mass migration of eastern European Jews to America. Traveling to southern West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, and southwestern Virginia to investigate the coal boom’s opportunities, some Jewish immigrants found success as retailers and established numerous small but flourishing Jewish communities.



Deborah R. Weiner’s...
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Jain Dharmasaar

The writer has covered various basic aspects of Jainism in this book. This includes few basic concepts of Jainism, stories of tirthankaras and other eminent Jain personalities. less

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"I've tasted their souls... Every piece of them. They are part of me now. -Then why are you alone?" Dear reader,

You know what it's like to be in pain, to be alone. All those emotions and feelings can be so overwhelming and exhausting. You may often be prone to insecurity, self-pity, feel tired and confused. Like you are falling in a state of chaos and fear.

You feel and absorb not only other people's emotions but their physical symptoms, their pain. While talking to others or in a...
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In Andal's House

As a young boy in Gujarat, India, Kumar sometimes feels like he lives in two worlds. First there is the old world where people and their choices are determined by prejudice and bigotry. But then there is the second, modern world: in this world Kumar can be friends with whomever he chooses and his future looks bright. As part of the annual Diwali celebration, Kumar is invited to the house of his classmate Andal to watch fireworks. Andal is from a high-caste Brahmin family so Kumar is especially pleased to be included. But there in Andal's house, Kumar's two worlds collide in a very unpleasant... more

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98

The Lives of Animals

The idea of human cruelty to animals so consumes novelist Elizabeth Costello in her later years that she can no longer look another person in the eye: humans, especially meat-eating ones, seem to her to be conspirators in a crime of stupefying magnitude taking place on farms and in slaughterhouses, factories, and laboratories across the world.

Costello's son, a physics professor, admires her literary achievements, but dreads his mother's lecturing on animal rights at the college where he teaches. His colleagues resist her argument that human reason is overrated and that the...
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A fascinating journey into the many mysterious realms of our existence, including what happens to a person after death, reincarnation, the esoteric roots of religious experience, and the dimension of time. There is also an account of the Tibetan practice of bardo. The beauty of this book is that it explains metaphysical concepts in a simple and comprehensive way, at the same time presenting some challenging new perspectives on the universe and what makes it tick. Osho also talks intimately about his own past life in Tibet 700 years ago, and the significance of his taking birth in the 20th... more

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100

Esther's Children

This magnificent volume makes available for the first time a comprehensive history of the Jews of Iran--from their earliest documented settlement in that land in 722 B.C.E. through the end of the twentieth century. Lavishly illustrated in full color with more than 500 images of monuments, manuscripts, objects, ketubbot, and individual and family portraits collected from private and public archives the world over, this unique book includes 25 articles by distinguished authors and scholars in the field of Judeo-Iranian studies. Distributed by JPS for The Center for Iranian Jewish Oral History. less

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