Rational Mysticism: Dispatches from the Border Between Science and Spirituality

Rational Mysticism: Dispatches from the Border Between Science and Spirituality
John Horgan, author of the best-selling The End of Science, chronicles the most advanced research into the mechanics—and meaning—of mystical experiences. How do trances, visions, prayer, satori, and other mystical experiences "work"? What induces and defines them? Is there a scientific explanation for religious mysteries and transcendent meditation?

John Horgan investigates a wide range of fields — chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, anthropology, theology, and more — to narrow the gap between reason and mystical phenomena. As both a seeker and an award-winning journalist, Horgan consulted a wide range of experts, including theologian Huston Smith, spiritual heir to Joseph Campbell; Andrew Newberg, the scientist whose quest for the "God module" was the focus of a Newsweek cover story; Ken Wilber, prominent transpersonal psychologist; Alexander Shulgin, legendary psychedelic drug chemist; and Susan Blackmore, Oxford-educated psychologist, parapsychology debunker, and Zen practitioner. Horgan explores the striking similarities between "mystical technologies" like sensory deprivation, prayer, fasting, trance, dancing, meditation, and drug trips.

He participates in experiments that seek the neurological underpinnings of mystical experiences. And, finally, he recounts his own search for enlightenment — adventurous, poignant, and sometimes surprisingly comic. Horgan"s conclusions resonate with the controversial climax of The End of Science, because, as he argues, the most enlightened mystics and the most enlightened scientists end up in the same place — confronting the imponderable depth of the universe.

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Encyclopedia Of Buddhism

Encyclopedia Of Buddhism
This is a general introduction and reference primarily to Buddhism, but also to Daoism, Shinto, Confucianism, and other major religious traditions of East Asia that are not covered in other volumes of the series. Articles by scholars of religion, all but one American, consider important figures, both Asian and Western; deities and other supernatural beings; rules and concepts; schools; practices; and other aspects.

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Indian Philosophy - Richard King

Indian Philosophy - Richard King
This text provides an introduction to the main schools of Indian philosophy within both the Hindu and Buddhist traditions. It analyzes the schools' different doctrines and compares their approaches to specific philosophical topics - ontology, epistemology, perception, consciousness, and creation and causality. It also looks at contributions by individual thinkers, such as Bhartrhari who helped introduce linguistic analysis into Indian philosophy; and Asanga the believed founder of the Yogacara or "Practice of Yoga" school.

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The Long Search: The Land of the Disappearing Buddha-Japan

The Long Search

Ronald Eyre takes the viewer on a pilgrimage beginning in London and spanning 150,000 miles including India, Japan, Israel, Rumania, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, The United States, Egypt, and South Africa. Series of 13 programs, Producer: BBC/Time Life.

This sound and picture enhanced series has served as the basis of successful religious philosophy courses around the world. An American Film Festival Red Ribbon winner, the series gives a balanced treatment of a force that is sadly neglected in most educations, the basic beliefs of the major religions in the world today.
Ronald Eyre takes the viewer on a pilgrimage beginning in London and spanning 150,000 miles including India, Japan, Israel, Rumania, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, The United States, Egypt, and South Africa.

Series of 13 programs on 5 DVD's. Around 25 Gb total [DVDs 1 and 2 are single layer, DVDs 3, 4 and 5 are double layer] # Disk 1 Protestant Spirit USA (Vol. 1) Hinduism: 330 Million Gods (Vol. 2) # Disk 2 Buddhism: Footprint of the Buddha-India(Vol. 3) Catholicism: Rome, Leeds and the Desert(Vol. 4) # Disk 3 Islam: There is no God but God(Vol. 5) Orthodox Christianity: The Rumanian Solution(Volume. 6) Judaism: The Chosen People(Vol. 7) # Disk 4 Religion In Indonesia: The Way of the Ancestors(Vol. 8) Buddhism: The Buddhism: The Land of the Disappearing Buddha-Japan (Vol. 9) African Religions: Zulu Zion(Vol. 10) # Disk 5 Taoism: A Question of Balance-China(Vol. 11) Alternative Lifestyles in California: West Meets East (Vol. 12) Reflections on the Long Search (Vol. 13)


http://rapidshare.com/users/BHC6OO (Disks 1,2 and 3)
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http://rapidshare.com/users/419LG3 (Disks 4 and 5 plus avi of episode vol.9 - Zen in Japan)

Buddhism: The Land of the Disappearing Buddha-Japan (Vol. 9)

If the Buddha of India met the Buddha of Japan, would they recognize each other? To find out, this program talks to the staff in a Tokyo restaurant who keep regular Zen meditation schedules as part of their job, then on to the classical Zen calligraphy, swordfighting, archery and tea ceremony.

Three great Rinzai Zen Masters of XX century appear in this video: Mumon Yamada (1900—1988), Omori Sogen (1904—1994) and Kobori Roshi Nanrei Sohaku (1918—1992)

Mumon Yamada has authorized for the first and the only time in history, that camera can film the sanzen ( stritly private encounter of Master and student where student gives his answer to a koan )

-this episode of "The Long Search" also shows others religions and practices in Japan, like Pure Land Buddhism, Shinto, Soka-Gakkai, Tea ceremony, Archery, Caligraphy etc.

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Nothing Special: Living Zen

Nothing Special: Living Zen
A Zen Center weekend in a book! The delightfully contemporary teacher and bestselling author of Everyday Zen shows how to make living itself a spiritual practice and how to discover that the extraordinary is really "nothing special."

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The Meditator's Handbook

The Meditator's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Eastern and Western Meditation Techniques
A clear and authoritative introduction to the different traditions of meditation by an authority in the field. Meditation is an extraordinarily powerful tool for physical and mental relaxation as well as for personal and spiritual growth. It has been practiced for thousands of years and today it continues to have serious relevance for an ever-increasing number of people. This handbook is for novice and advanced practitioners alike. It describes the theory and practice of all the major Eastern and Western approaches to meditation. With examples and clear and practical guidelines, the book shows how meditation can be used for: relaxation and dealing with stress; attaining greater concentration and awareness; achieving self-discovery and self-acceptance; and spiritual development.

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Introduction to Meditation: How To Meditate - Yuttadhammo

How To Meditate - Yuttadhammo
Join with millions of people around the world in the practice of peace, happiness and freedom from suffering. In these videos you will find clear, simple instructions on an ancient meditation practice free from religious dogma or spiritual mumbu-jumbo; a practice that helped generation after generation of ordinary people free themselves from all forms of mental and physical suffering.

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