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A Dream Worth Fighting For: Never Let Obstacles Stop You from Being Your Best Self
by Tim HightowerMust adversity erase your purpose?The experience of Tim Hightower demonstrates that it is possible to recover when all that one has is pursued suddenly vanishes. Tim’s story, on and off the football field, encourages everyone who faces crippling challenges. A Dream Worth Fighting For conveys determination and resilience. Anyone who has suffered injury or loss will find their experience illuminated. A Dream Worth Fighting For helps readers regain hope and the confidence to dream again. Tim’s story is the building block to regaining strength physically and spiritually. In the midst of chaos, lasting purpose can be embraced.
A Essência de Todas as Religiões
by Dada BhagwanPujya Dadashri reconheceu as limitações dos seres humanos desta época, fornecendo-lhes uma resposta adequada que apelou para o uso de uma nova abordagem que emprega um método científico. Pujya Dadashri esclareceu o mistério por trás de tal confusão. Ele diz que toda conduta e comportamento é resultado de causas de vidas passadas. É um efeito. ’Bhaav’ é um termo que indica a intenção interior profunda, a qual não é facilmente evidente. Esta bhaav é uma causa. Ninguém pode provocar quaisquer alterações no resultado. Se a causa muda, o resultado será alterado. A fim de mudar causas, a pessoa deve fazer mudanças na bhaav. Para alterar essa bhaav, Dadashri nos ensinou as Nove Kalams (Invocações). Pujya Dadashri extraiu a essência de todas as escrituras e as apresentou para nós, sob a forma de Nove Kalams. Essas Nove Kalams são as chaves para provocar uma mudança na bhaav, em um nível fundamental. Nem mesmo o extenso estudo das escrituras trará tais mudanças na bhaav. Milhares de pessoas foram beneficiadas com a m nsagem simples dessas kalams. Ao recitar essas Nove Kalams, ovas causas internas são completamente mudadas e se alcança a paz interior nesta vida. A pessoa pára de ver defeitos nos outros, e seu principal objetivo, torna-se a busca da paz eterna.Para tornar-se preenchido com os poderes especiais que atualmente faltam interiormente, tudo que se tem a fazer é continuar a pedir a força do Deus interior. Os resultados virão naturalmente.
A Fairy Tale Wedding: Jubiläumsedition Zum 102. Todesjahr Von Karl May (Correct Times)
by Peggy D. MercerHe's popped the question. The ring is on your finger. Now comes the stressful part. You want to throw the wedding of your dreams, but you?re not Donald Trump's kid. What do you do? Statistics say the average wedding costs $20,000. Most young girls dream of the fairy tale wedding: long white gown, 8 bridesmaids, a sit-down dinner, the band everyone dances to. Many brides have been dreaming about their wedding day since childhood. These dreams come with an expensive price tag and the realisation of their fairytale day may be distant. Although weddings are very costly today, your dream day can happen. I am going to share some tips to cut corners and save money without making huge sacrifices. By taking the time to plan and investigate, you will be amazed at the amount of money that you save. Would you arrive at an interview for your dream job without prior preparation? No, you would not and that is why preparation and research will make your wedding a success without re-mortgaging the house! It's only natural to want the Cinderella fantasy wedding, complete with ice sculptures, a heavenly cake, and thousands of guests who've flown in from around the world to enjoy the accompanying dinner. It's only human to cry at the bill that this dream can rack up. Costs can add up quickly. Factor in the meal, the liquor, the music, the dress, the flowers, the photographer, the decorations and the dream wedding can seem way out of your league. But it doesn't have to be. How can the average person have a beautiful wedding with all the bells and whistles on a working person's salary? Perhaps the three letters/words that say it best are DIY (do it yourself!) Spending your life savings on your big day is crazy. You can have elegant, beautiful weddings without breaking the bank. Having a cheap wedding doesn't mean giving up style or sentimentality. It means using your imagination, using your own hands or the help of friends and family. Ask anyone you know to help out. Almost everyone will be happy to oblige. They'll be part of your special day which makes them special as well! This book will give you the best tips and tricks from the experts to cut costs without cutting class and sophistication. No one will know that your budget equals the grocery bill of a family of four. They'll be oblivious as they toast the new couple and enjoy a party to put all other party's to shame! We'll explore ways to save on all aspects of your wedding. Don't think you have to give up anything because it can all be covered. All it takes is the cooperation of your family and friends coupled with a little positive self-talk and perseverance. I have been married twice (don't worry, I got it right the second time!) For both of my weddings, I had amazing ceremonies and receptions for around $2,000. They were the talk of the town both now and then. Throughout this book, I will tell you what we did to save money and still have an amazing wedding / reception. Hopefully, you can gain some insight into a dream event for not a lot of money just like we had! Enjoy your ebook"A FAIRY TALE WEDDING (ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET)!"
A Faith for the Generations: How Collegiate Experience Impacts Faith
by Timothy W. Hermann Kirsten D. Tenhaken Hannah M. Adderley Morgan K. Morris"The reshaping of our cultural and social landscape continues, creating unprecedented opportunities. But one question remains: Is a life of faith worth embracing?A Faith for the Generations explains how a Christian campus, a classroom, or even a simple mentoring relationship can flourish and serve in passing on faith to today's emerging adults.The essays included in this monograph cover a variety of topics related to the theme originally addressed at the 2014 Taylor University Higher Education Symposium: ""A Faith for the Generations: How Collegiate Experience Impacts Faith."" After this brief introductory chapter, the monograph—as did the symposium—begins with an interview with Christian Smith, previously noted as a key voice in the current dialogue regarding emerging adult spirituality. This interview is not only insightful, but it also creates an excellent context for what follows in subsequent chapters."
A Faith of Our Own: Following Jesus Beyond the Culture Wars
by Jonathan MerrittEvery day, major headlines tell the story of how Christianity is attempting to influence American culture and politics. But statistics show that young Americans are disenchanted with a faith that has become culturally antagonistic and too closely aligned with partisan politics. In this personal yet practical work, Jonathan Merritt uncovers the changing face of American Christianity by uniquely examining the coming of age of a new generation of Christians.Jonathan Merritt illuminates the spiritual ethos of this new generation of believers who engage the world with Christ-centered faith but an un-polarized political perspective. Through personal stories and biblically rooted commentary this scion of a leading evangelical family takes a close, thoughtful look at the changing religious and political environment, addressing such divisive issues as abortion, gay marriage, environmental use and care, race, war, poverty, and the imbalance of world wealth. Through Scripture, the examples of Jesus, and personal defining faith experiences, he distills the essential truths at the core of a Christian faith that is now just coming of age.
A Faithful Farewell: Living Your Last Chapter with Love
by Marilyn McEntyreWhen the time comes for us to die, how do we say good-bye to our friends, our families, and the lives we have lived? How do we remain faithful -- to God, to ourselves, and to loved ones -- as we face our final journey? As Marilyn McEntyre acknowledges, these questions are especially challenging because we now live longer than previous generations did, and many of us die more slowly. Those who are dying have a lot of things to deal with -- fear, discouragement, boredom, pain, regret. The list is long. In this book McEntyre offers fifty-two short meditations on the very real issues faced by dying people. She addresses a wide and sensitively chosen range of subjects, including such things as anger, losing control, curiosity, doubt, loss of privacy, family conflict, sadness, gratitude, and even spiritual adventure. McEntyre’s insightful reflections -- offering what she calls “a different kind of hope” -- speak to the heart of the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of dying. Brief concluding prayers and lines from cherished hymns further lift up the reader as he or she seeks to faithfully navigate the great transition from this life to the next.
A Father's Legacy: Your Life Story in Your Own Words
by Thomas NelsonCreate a legacy you and your family will remember for a lifetime.A Father's Legacy is a padded hardcover journal that is sure to become a cherished keepsake for your family history, memories, and traditions. Jot down those special moments, invite the family to answer the journaling prompts together, and log the history that will be cherished over a lifetime. A Father's Legacy is a journal for dads that is:Designed in a 12-month format with intriguing questions and space to write your family's personal answersPacked with journaling prompts to help capture family history, childhood memories, and experiences encountered over a lifetime of livingAn ideal gift for Father's Day, Grandparents Day, anniversaries or celebrations of life--with a beautiful presentation page inside for easy gifting You'll enjoy completing and reminiscing with this personalized memoir of your father. Let his written words become windows into his heart for your entire family for generations to come.Check out other titles in this series: A Mother's Legacy and A Grandparent's Legacy.
A Fearless Heart
by Thupten JinpaThe Buddhist practice of mindfulness caught on in the west when we began to understand the everyday, personal benefits it brought us. Now, in this extraordinary book, the highly acclaimed thought leader and longtime English translator of His Holiness the Dalai Lama shows us that compassion can bring us even more. Based on the landmark course in compassion training Jinpa helped create at Stanford Medical School, A Fearless Heart shows us that we actually fear compassion. We worry that if we are too compassionate with others we will be taken advantage of, and if we are too compassionate with ourselves we will turn into slackers. Using science, insights from both classical Buddhist and western psychology, and stories both from others and from his own extraordinary life, Jinpa shows us how to train our compassion muscle to relieve stress, fight depression, improve our health, achieve our goals, and change our world. Practical, spiritual, and immediately relevant, A Fearless Heart will speak to readers of The Art of Happiness and Wherever You Go, There You Are.
A Fearless Heart: Why Compassion is the Key to Greater Wellbeing
by Thupten Jinpa'[A] timely book on compassion and its cultivation' The Dalai Lama'The bravest, cleverest and most engaging book I know on why we need to cultivate compassion' Jon Kabat-Zinn'A practical toolkit for becoming a better human being' Daniel Goleman Self-compassion is the overlooked key to achieving our goals. It can lead to increased happiness, stress reduction, a stronger sense of purpose, better health and a longer life. Yet many of us resist compassion, worrying that if we are too compassionate with others we will be taken advantage of and if we are too compassionate with ourselves we won't achieve our goals in life. Using the latest science, psychology (from contemporary Western and classical Buddhist sources) as well as stories from others and his own extraordinary life, Jinpa shows us how to train our compassion muscle. His powerful programme, derived from his remarkable course in Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT), is the perfect guide to achieving a greater sense of wellbeing.
A Feminist's Guide to ADHD: How women can thrive and find focus in a world built for men
by Janina MaschkeAn empowering, feminist guide to understanding and managing ADHD for women, written by a popular millennial doctor with ADHD.ADHD affects women in unique ways. Discover how to deal with it – and how to thrive – in this empowering guide.Whether you have received a late diagnosis, a misdiagnosis – or even no diagnosis at all but think this might apply to you – experienced coach Dr Janina Maschke offers guidance and support to all women and girls impacted by ADHD. As well as featuring the latest research, personal case-studies and practical exercises, this book gives you tips on thriving with ADHD and embracing neurodiversity.You will learn:the role of gender in understanding ADHDthe challenges of diagnosing womenthe differences between the subtypesthe role of hormones in treating symptomscommon co-existing conditionstools for thriving with ADHD.Whether you&’re seeking information pre-diagnosis or looking to manage your symptoms, this is a must-read for all women impacted by ADHD.
A Few Good Eggs: Two Chicks Dish on Overcoming the Insanity of Infertility
by Maureen Regan Julie VargoInsight and frank, friendly advice on overcoming infertility -- from two women who have lived through it all. We are bombarded by images of blissful older mothers, such as Madonna and Celine Dion. But 'Hollywood' articles about pregnancy and fertility at middle age gloss over the tremendous amount of financial, emotional, and physical effort faced by couples struggling to conceive. In this warm, funny, empathetic book, journalist Julie Vargo and literary agent Maureen Regan -- women who have experienced personally almost every aspect of infertility -- give readers a glimpse into what to expect when you're not expecting. Hormones, sperm counts -- nothing is too personal for these two outspoken women! Ranges from technical to humorous and everything in between. What are good, snappy comebacks to the question, 'Why aren't you pregnant?' What is the difference between gonadotrophin releasing hormone and progesterone? Should you freeze your eggs? These questions and many more are answered, and in the tone of a couple of good friends. Between them, the authors have gone through hormone treatments, miscarriages and multiple inseminations -- so they know firsthand the rollercoaster ride of trying to achieve pregnancy. With wise advice on how to communicate with doctors, husbands, friends, and mothers, this book is an invaluable guide for all women facing infertility.
A Few Minutes of Design: 52 Activities to Spark Your Creativity
by Emily Campbell&“A series of deceptively simple—and fun—exercises . . . A marvelous invitation to anyone with an interest in creativity, invention, and design.&” —Michael Bierut, Partner, Pentagram, New York Even concert pianists do warm-up exercises to limber up the fingers and clear the mind for the performance ahead. Designers are, or should be, no different. This delightful collection provides fifty-two exercises or activities to jump-start your creative juices, free you from creative block, start a new project, or finish an existing one. Each exercise offers insight into the innumerable small decisions involved in design. How to join this part to that, how to establish a pattern or continue the series, how to say it without words, what fits, and what doesn&’t? For established practicing designers or creatives in any field, these activities are sometimes playful, sometimes challenging—but always enlightening.
A Few Rules for Predicting the Future: An Essay
by Octavia E. ButlerThe wise words of science fiction icon Octavia E. Butler live on in this beautiful and giftable little volume."There’s no single answer that will solve all our future problems. There’s no magic bullet. Instead there are thousands of answers—at least. You can be one of them if you choose to be."Originally published in Essence magazine in the year 2000, Octavia E. Butler’s essay "A Few Rules for Predicting the Future" offers an honest look into the inspiration behind her science fiction novels and the importance of studying history and taking responsibility for our actions if we are to move forward. Organized into four main rules, this short essay reminds readers to learn from the past, respect the law of consequences, be aware of their perspectives, and count on the surprises. Citing the warning signs of fascism, the illusive effects of fear and wishful thinking, and the unpredictable nature of what is yet to come, Butler shares realistic but hopeful suggestions to shape our future into something good. An inspiring and motivational gift for students and recent graduates, fans of Butler's work, and anyone seeking a brighter day tomorrow, this exquisite gift book includes stunning Afrofuturist artwork by Manzel Bowman alongside the full text of the original essay.LITERARY ICON: Octavia E. Butler was a pioneering science fiction writer whose novels, written decades ago, remain eerily relevant, reflecting on themes of racial injustice, women’s rights, environmental collapse, and political corruption. In 1995, she became the first science fiction author to win a MacArthur Genius grant, and her books are taught in over 200 colleges and universities nationwide. This book shares Butler's timely but lesser-known essay and is a must-read for fans of her classic sci-fi works. CELEBRATE BLACK CREATORS: This book spotlights one of the greatest authors of Afrofuturism, a genre and philosophy that explores and reimagines Black culture, creativity, and liberation through fiction, art, music, film, and other media. Octavia E. Butler’s forward-thinking essay is paired with contemporary illustrations by Manzel Bowman, whose evocative images are also inspired by Afrofuturist visions. INSPIRING GIFT: A unique gift for students, recent graduates, and anyone celebrating life milestones or looking forward in life, this beautifully designed hardcover book is sure to inspire. Octavia E. Butler’s essay is also an important, evergreen reminder for writers, creatives, dreamers, and activists who want to envision and work toward a brighter future.Perfect for:Fans of Octavia Butler and her novels, including Kindred and Parable of the SowerPeople interested in nonfiction and essays by Black women writersAfrofuturism lovers and social justice-minded sci-fi readersLiterary bibliophiles looking for a stunning new addition to their bookshelfGift-giving to graduating high school and college studentsActivists and community leadersInspirational essay readersFans of Manzel Bowman and Afrofuturist art
A Field Guide for the Hero's Journey
by Jeff Sandefer Rev Robert A. SiricoDo you feel like something big is missing from your life? Do you feel trapped, bored, stuck in a meaningless routine? It may be you think you’re too ordinary to ever do something special. Perhaps you’re afraid that if you try, you’ll fail. <p><p>The startling truth is this: Just about anyone can do great things, can live a life that’s remarkable, purposeful, excellent, and yes, even heroic. If you want to be a hero, you can be. How?That’s what this book is all about. <p><p>Will you choose to do it? Will you decide to journey heroically, instead of spending your life merely marking time? If so, this is the book for you. Welcome to your heroic journey.
A Field Guide to Happiness: What I Learned In Bhutan About Living, Loving And Waking Up
by Linda LeamingIn the West, we have everything we could possibly need or want—except for peace of mind. So writes Linda Leaming, a harried American who traveled from Nashville, Tennessee, to the rugged Himalayan nation of Bhutan—sometimes called the happiest place on Earth—to teach English and unlearn her politicized and polarized, energetic and impatient way of life. In Bhutan, if I have three things to do in a week, it’s considered busy. In the U.S., I have at least three things to do between breakfast and lunch. After losing her luggage immediately upon arrival, Leaming realized that she also had emotional baggage—a tendency toward inaction, a touch of self-absorption, and a hundred other trite, stupid, embarrassing, and inconsequential things—that needed to get lost as well. Pack up ideas and feelings that tie you down and send you lead-footed down the wrong path. Put them in a metaphorical suitcase and sling it over a metaphorical bridge in your mind. Let the river take them away. Forced by circumstance and her rustic surroundings to embrace a simplified life, Leaming made room for more useful beliefs. The thin air and hard climbs of her mountainous commute put her deeply in touch with her breath, helping her find focus and appreciation. The archaic, glacially paced bureaucracy of a Bhutanese bank taught her to go with the flow—and take up knitting. The ancient ritual of drinking tea brought tranquility, friendship, and, eventually, a husband. Each day, and each adventure, in her adopted home brought new insights and understandings to take back to frantic America, where she now practices the art of "simulating Bhutan." This collection of stories, impressions, and suggestions is a little nudge, a push, a leg up into the rarefied air of paradise—of bright sunlight and beautiful views.
A Field Guide to Lucid Dreaming: Mastering the Art of Oneironautics
by Dylan Tuccillo Jared Zeizel Thomas PeiselImagine being able to fly. Walk through walls. Shape-shift. Breathe underwater. Conjure loved ones—or total strangers—out of thin air. Imagine experiencing your nighttime dreams with the same awareness you possess right now—fully functioning memory, imagination, and self-awareness. Imagine being able to use this power to be more creative, solve problems, and discover a deep sense of well-being.This is lucid dreaming—the ability to know you are dreaming while you are in a dream, and then consciously explore and change the elements of the dream. A Field Guide to Lucid Dreaming, with its evocative retro illustrations, shows exactly how to do it. Written by three avid, experienced lucid dreamers, this manual for the dream world takes the reader from step one—learning how to reconnect with his or her dreams— through the myriad possibilities of what can happen once the dreamer is lucid and an accomplished oneironaut (a word that comes from the Greek oneira, meaning dreams, and nautis, meaning sailor).Readers will learn about the powerful REM sleep stage—a window into lucid dreams. Improve dream recall by keeping a journal. The importance of reality checks, such as “The Finger”—during the day, try to pass your finger through your palm; then, when you actually do it successfully, you’ll know that you’re dreaming. And once you become lucid, how to make the most of it. Every time you dream, you are washing up on the shores of your own inner landscape. Learn to explore a strange and thrilling world with A Field Guide to Lucid Dreaming.
A Field Guide to a Happy Life: 53 Brief Lessons for Living
by Massimo PigliucciA brilliant philosopher reimagines Stoicism for our modern age in this thought-provoking guide to a better life.For more than two thousand years, Stoicism has offered a message of resilience in the face of hardship. Little wonder, then, that it is having such a revival in our own troubled times. But there is no denying how weird it can be: Is it really the case that we shouldn't care about our work, our loved ones, or our own lives? According to the old Stoics, yes.In A Field Guide to a Happy Life, philosopher Massimo Pigliucci offers a renewed Stoicism that reflects modern science and sensibilities. Pigliucci embraces the joyful bonds of affection, the satisfactions of a job well done, and the grief that attends loss. In his hands, Stoicism isn't about feats of indifference, but about enduring pain without being overwhelmed, while enjoying pleasures without losing our heads. In short, he makes Stoicism into a philosophy all of us -- whether committed Stoics or simply seekers -- can use to live better.
A Fierce Belief in Miracles: My Journey from Rape to Healing and Wholeness
by Anne Reeder HeckWhen faced with overwhelming hardship, what we believe makes all the difference. At age twenty-six, Anne Reeder Heck was attacked by a stranger and brutally raped. Years later, still seeking to heal the remnants of this trauma, Anne stands alone in her living room one winter day and claims her desired belief aloud: “This is my year of strength.” Her clear intention results in a phone call; her rapist has been identified—fourteen years after the crime.Offering all the gripping and uplifting details of a story that sparked national interest—Heck appeared on the front page of The Washington Post and was interviewed by Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America—A Fierce Belief in Miracles lights the way for those seeking to heal from life’s traumas by demonstrating the importance of clear intention and trusting inner guidance, and the transformative power of forgiveness.
A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Confidence, And Joy In Any Moment
by Spring WashamSpring Washam is a founder of the East Bay Meditation Center, one of the most diverse and accessible Dharma centers in the United States. In A Fierce Heart, Washam shares her contemporary, unique interpretation of the Buddha’s 2,500-year-old teachings, with short chapters that get to the heart of mindfulness, wisdom, loving kindness, and compassion. Woven throughout the book are stories from the author’s life, family, and ancestors, along with many soulful, heartfelt stories from all over the world. Washam’s teachings focus on social action, multiculturalism, and youth, making the Dharma welcoming to as large and wide a community as possible. Anyone who has suffered will benefit from the life-saving teachings of this charismatic teacher. Her humor, enthusiasm, and energy are a balm.From the Trade Paperback edition.
A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage, and Wisdom in Any Moment
by Spring WashamWith stories from south central LA to the jungles of Peru, A Fierce Heart offers deep and honest reflections on compassion and suffering by one of the country's most powerful mindfulness teachers."Washam brings considerable gifts for conveying her vision of personal change and offers vivid, inspiring testimony to the power of Buddhism (and other wisdom traditions) to help heal suffering."- Publishers Weekly"Amidst uncertain times we need strong and inspiring medicine. In A Fierce Heart, you will find this medicine: beautiful teachings and heartfelt stories that can transform your day and change your life."- from the Foreword by Jack KornfieldWith stories from south central LA to the jungles of Peru, these deep and honest reflections by one of the country's most powerful mindfulness teachers focus on compassion as the fiercest and most effective response to suffering.Spring Washam is a founder of the East Bay Meditation Center, the most diverse and accessible meditation center in the United States. In A Fierce Heart, she shares her contemporary, unique interpretation of the Buddha's 2,500-year-old teachings that get to the heart of mindfulness, wisdom, and compassion. Woven throughout the book are stories from her life, family, and community, along with soulful and unexpected stories of compassion in action from all over the world. The life-saving teachings of this charismatic teacher are universal; her honesty, enthusiasm, and energy are a balm.
A Fierce Love: One Woman’s Courageous Journey to Save Her Marriage
by Shauna ShanksLove is easy to give when you are getting it back. Are we still called to God’s plan of how to love when we are getting none in return? Shauna Shanks’s brave journey through obedience reveals the outcome of when we dare to follow God’s ludicrous outline for love as described in 1 Corinthians 13.Wrecked with news of her husband’s affair and his request for a divorce, Shauna finds herself urgently faced with a decision. Does she give up and divorce her husband and move on, or does she try to fight for her marriage? The former choice seems to contradict God’s plan for how to love, such as “love never gives up,” “love is patient,” and “love is kind.”Taking God at His word and assuming the love chapter was really meant to be followed literally word by word, she not only finds herself falling in love with her spouse again, but also falling in love with Jesus, which changes everything.First Corinthians 13 presents an audacious, illogical, and irrational context of how to love, meant to be applied to every marital context not just the fairytale marriage. If God’s instructions seem illogical and audacious, you might just expect the same kind of results in return!This book is not air-brushed. It was written in the midst of the author’s deepest trauma, and she purposefully did not edit out her mistakes and failures during that season. This book will resonate with women who do not feel like the picture-perfect Christian woman with the fairytale life and marriage. A Fierce Love is the story of a train wreck and reaching out to God not in the calm but in the chaos and finding hope for the future.
A Final Act of Caring: Ending the Life of an Animal Friend
by Herb Montgomery Mary Montgomery(back cover) Pets enrich our lives beyond measure. No wonder, then, that the decision to end the life of an animal friend is so difficult. No wonder we put it off as long as possible.
A Fire Burns in Kotsk: A Tale of Hasidism in the Kingdom of Poland
by Glenn Dynner Menashe Unger Jonathan BoyarinHalf a century after Hasidism blossomed in Eastern Europe, its members were making deep inroads into the institutional structure of Polish Jewish communities, but some devotees believed that the movement had drifted away from its revolutionary ideals. Menashe Unger's A Fire Burns in Kotsk dramatizes this moment of division among Polish Hasidim in a historical account that reads like a novel, though the book was never billed as such. Originally published in Buenos Aires in 1949 and translated for the first time from Yiddish by Jonathan Boyarin, this volume captures an important period in the evolution of the Hasidic movement, and is itself a missing link to Hasidic oral traditions. A non-observant journalist who had grown up as the son of a prominent Hasidic rabbi, Unger incorporates stories that were told by his family into his historical account. A Fire Burns in Kotsk begins with a threat to the new, rebellious movement within Hasidism known as "the school of Pshiskhe," led by the good-humored Reb Simkhe Bunim. When Bunim is succeeded by the fiery and forbidding Rebbe of Kotsk, Menachem Mendl Morgenstern, the new leader's disdain for the vast majority of his followers will lead to a crisis in his court. Around this core narrative of reform and crisis in Hasidic leadership, Unger offers a rich account of the everyday Hasidic court life--filled with plenty of alcohol, stolen geese, and wives pleading with their husbands to come back home. Unger's volume reflects a period when Eastern European Jewish immigrants enjoyed reading about Hasidic culture in Yiddish articles and books, even as they themselves were rapidly assimilating into American culture. Historians of literature, Polish culture, and Jewish studies will welcome this lively translation.
A Flash of Lightning in the Dark of Night: A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life
by Dalai LamaCompassion is the guiding principle of the bodhisattvas, those who vow to attain enlightenment in order to liberate all sentient beings from the suffering and confusion of imperfect existence. To this end, they must renounce all self-centered goals and consider only the well-being of others. The bodhisattvas' enemies are the ego, passion, and hatred; their weapons are generosity, patience, perseverance, and wisdom. In Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama is considered to be a living embodiment of this spiritual ideal. His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama presents here a detailed manual of practical philosophy, based on The Way of the Bodhisattva (Bodhicharyavatara), a well-known text of Mahayana Buddhism written by Shantideva. The Dalai Lama explains and amplifies the text, alluding throughout to the experience of daily life and showing how anyone can develop bodhichitta, the wish for perfect enlightenment for the sake of others. This book will surely become a standard manual for all those who wish to make the bodhisattva ideal a living experience.
A Flat Place: Moving Through Empty Landscapes, Naming Complex Trauma
by Noreen Masud&“...arresting and memorable….Masud both finds a way to comprehend her own story and establishes a strong voice that confirms her as a significant chronicler of personal and national experience.&” – Financial Times "Sharply, subtly, and very movingly, Masud thinks with places, seeking as she does to find a way back into, and then out of, the traumas of her early life." - Robert Macfarlane, author of Underland: A Deep Time Journey A surprising and lyrical journey—part memoir, part nature book—meditating on the meaning of "flatness" and its literary tradition to find ways to understand ourselves and our trauma in one of nature&’s most undervalued wonders. For readers of Robert Macfarlane, G. Sebald's Rings of Saturn, Amy Liptrot's The Outrun, and Richard Mabey's Nature CureDoes the concept of "flat" have an undeservedly bad rap? There are centuries&’ worth of adoration for rolling hills and dramatic, mountainous landscapes. In contrast, flat landscapes are forgettable and seemingly unworthy of poetic or artistic attention. Noreen Masud suffers from complex post-traumatic stress disorder: the product of a profoundly disrupted and unstable childhood. It flattens her emotions, blanks out parts of her memory, and colours her world with anxiety. Undertaking a pilgrimage around Britain's flatlands, seeking solace and belonging, she weaves her impressions of the natural world with poetry, folklore and history, and with recollections of her own early life.Masud's British-Pakistani heritage makes her a partial outsider in these landscapes: both coloniser and colonised, inheritor and dispossessed. Here violence lies beneath the fantasy of pastoral innocence, and histories of harm are interwoven with nature's power to heal. Here, as in her own family history, are many stories that resist the telling. She pursues these paradoxes fearlessly across the flat, haunted spaces she loves, offering a startlingly strange, vivid and intimate account of the land beneath her feet.Masud combines memoir, nature writing, and literary reflection to explore what can be drawn from these powerful places, and to understand her own experience of complex trauma and post-traumatic stress, as well as grief and loss. A Flat Place is a book that drives to the heart of what it means to experience place — bodily and psychologically — and the healing properties of literature and landscape.