Inspired Writings

This section contains books that guide us into a deeper level of knowledge.
Akshara Tattva: Sacred Syllables. by Prajñanananda Giri, Swami. Cuttack, India: Prajñanana Mission. 2001.	Each Sanskrit letter represents a mantra, a word with a multiplicity of meanings, useful not only for studying the scriptures but also for contemplation in deep meditation. In Akshara Tattva, Paramahamsa Prajñanananda teaches how in practical spiritual life, one should weigh every word as well as every thought very carefully to gain inner peace, love and wisdom, ultimately leading to the experience of Akshara, the Eternal.
Bhagavad Gita in the Light of Kriya Yoga, the. by Hariharananda, Paramahamsa. Three volumes. Miami, FL: Kriya Yoga Institute. 1997-2000.	The Bhagavad Gita is a true spiritual handbook and is essential for quick spiritual progress and God-Realization. This rare metaphorical interpretation of the first 6 chapters from the mouth of the Realized Master reveals its inner meaning and its application in practical life. The Gita, along with daily practice of meditation as taught by the Master, enables one to quickly perceive Reality and eventually get God-Realization.
Bible, The Torah and Kriya Yoga: Metaphorical Explanation of the Torah and the New Testament in the Light of Kriya Yoga, the. by Prajñanananda Giri, Swami. Cuttack, India: Prajñana Mission. 1996.	"The essence of all religious practices, all scriptures and the teachings of all the Prophets, Saints and Sages and Realized Masters is to get calmness and love through proper understanding and meditation. The religions bring understanding, unity and universal love. This work is a sincere effort to bring the common spiritual understanding, experience and unity of all faiths. It is a synthesis of the spiritual books of many religions realized through deep meditation. Swami Prajñanananda, my loving disciple, has tried his utmost to bring this work to the hands of spiritual aspirants. Surely the readers of his book will get extreme spiritual impetus for meditation and God-realization."
*Business Of Heaven, the.* by Lewis, C. S. New York, NY: Harvest Book, Harcourt Brace & Co. 1984.	"Joy," C. S. Lewis once wrote, "is the serious business of Heaven," and spiritual joy, together with faith and morality, is the subject of these eloquent, commonsensical readings. Drawn from a wide range of Lewis's writing, they offer meditations appropriate for every day of the Christian year. Each entry, other than those for saints' days and holy days, is given a title to set the theme. Readings for movable fasts and feasts are found in a separate section, supplemented by a fifteen-year calendar to chart their occurrence.
*Christ the Yogi: A Hindu Reflection on the Gospel of John.* by Ravindra, Ravi. Rochester, VA: Inner Traditions International. 1990.	The Gospel According to St. John differs from the other gospels of the New Testament in its mystical nature. This book presents an unusual and rewarding exploration of this gospel from a Hindu perspective as Ravi Ravindra takes us into the heart of St. John's Gospel, eloquently and convincingly revealing the interconnectedness of all faiths and the growing need in today's world for interfaith dialogue. For those concerned with the emergence of a universal spirituality, Christ the Yogi is a source of light, a translucent pool of wisdom that offers from its depths an immense and lasting spiritual vision.
*Conquest of Mind* by Eknath Easwaran. Tomales, CA: Nilgiri Press. 1988.	Expanding on his Eight Point Program, Easwaran shows us how to overcome self-imposed limitations and the conditioning of our own likes and dislikes. An important book for people who know there are no quick fixes and who are looking for an approach that is both practical and spiritual.
*Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism.* by Trungpa, Chogyam. Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications, Inc. 1973.	This is the record of two series of lectures given by Trumgpa Rinpoche in 1970-71. First discussed are the various ways in which people involve themselves in spiritual materialism, the many forms of self-deception into which aspirants may fall. The approach presented is a classical Buddhist one-not in a formal sense, but in the sense of presenting the heart of the Buddhist approach to spirituality. Although the Buddhist way is not theistic, it does not contradict the theistic disciplines. Rather the differences between the ways are a matter of emphasis and method. The basic problem of spiritual materialism are common to all spiritual disciplines.
Discourses on the Bhagavad Gita. by Prajñanananda Giri, Swami. Two volumes. Cuttack, India: Prajñanana Mission. 1998-2000..	A luminous collection of speeches highlighting Paramahamsa Prajñananandaji's unique metaphorical interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita. Using Kriya Yoga as a reference point and interpretative tool, Swamiji manages to reveal the hidden truth contained in the most complex passages of this sacred text in ways which make the meaning relevant and helpful to us in our everyday lives. An illuminating collection of discourses given by Paramahamsa Prajñananandaji, illustrating both the practical and metaphorical interpretations of the Bhagavad Gita. This volume provides the reader with wonderful insights into the universal, and timeless wisdom contained in this sacred text. Undoubtedly this book emphasizes the nature of the Bhagavad Gita, as an invaluable and essential guide for spiritual seekers of all traditions.
*Discourses on Taittiriya Upanishad* by Swami Chinmayananda. Mumbai, India: Central Chinmayananda Trust.	In his commentary on this Upanishad, a profound manifesto upon the Divine Way of Life, the spiritual preceptor, the logician, the scholar, and the master of English Literature Swami Chinmayananda is at his best.
Eight Hundred and One Questions Kids Ask About God. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers. 2000.	Each question—on subjects as varied as God, the Bible, Prayer, Heaven and Angels, Right and Wrong, Money, Friends and School, Our World—is given a clear answer, followed by a key verse from the Bible, and a special note for parents.
Essence of Self-Realization, the. by Yogananda, Paramahansa. Compiled by Swami Kriyananda. Nevada City, CA: Crystal Clarity Publishers. 1990.	Great teachers work through their students, and Yogananda was no exception. Swami Kriyananda writes in the introduction to the present volume, "After I'd been with him a year and a half, he began urging me to write down the things he was saying during informal conversations." The Essence of Self-Realization, nearly 300 sayings rich with spiritual wisdom, is the fruit of that labor of love. The scope of this book is vast-it offers a complete explanation of life's true purpose, and the way to achieve that purpose as may be found anywhere. Filled with lessons and stories that Yogananda shared only with his closest disciples, this volume offers one of the most insightful and engaging glimpses into the life and lessons of a great sage. Much of the material presented here is not available anywhere else.
Essential Unity of All Religions. by Das, Bhagavan. Bombay, India: Bharatiya Bidya Bhavan. 1990.	Contents: Religious Science and Scientific Religion; The Way of Knowledge; The Intellectual Constituent of Religion; The Way of Devotion, or the Emotional Constituent of Religion; The Way of Works, or the Volitional Constituent of Religion; The One Way to Peace on Earth and Good-Will Among Men; Education and the Educationist.
God Makes the Rivers to Flow: Selections from the Sacred Literature of the World Chosen for Daily Meditation. by Easwaran, Eknath. Petaluma, CA: Nilgiri Press. 1991.	Short, positive, practical selections from the world's great scriptures and mystics—Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Native American--chosen by one of the most respected teachers of meditation in the world today. Brief instructions in how to use these powerful selections in meditation are included. The slow, sustained concentration on these passages, Eknath Easwarans writes, drives them deep into our minds. And whatever we drive deep into consciousness, that we become.
*Hindu Primer: Yaksha Prashna.* by Srinivasan, A.V., Trans. Glastonbury: IND-US Inc. 1984.	"The ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata, like the Bible, the Greek & Roman epics and the chronicles of many many cultures, is a compendium of history, myth, folk tales, song and prayer, and discourses on "life, the universe and everything." The author (...) has chosen to translate an episode from the "Book of the Forest", in which a prince is tested rigorously on his understanding of dharma, the Hindu code of conduct. " . ..he has chosen a story at the center of which is a series of 122 riddles posed by a powerful being, a Yaksha, to the eldest brother. The Yaksha has already killed the other four brothers, so the answers Yudhishthira gives are a matter of life and death, as, indeed, is dharma..." - Professor Dennis Hudson, Department of Religion, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts.
*Holy Science, the.* by Yukteswar, Sri Swami. Los Angeles, CA: Self-Realization Fellowship. 1984.	This book demonstrates, by explanation of parallel passages from the Hindu and Christian scriptures, the essential unity of the great religious teaching of East and West. Sri Yukteswar provides an authoritative foundation for a purely holistic view of man and the universe--and shows how that view supports the principles of natural living in body, mind, and soul. Rooted in the deepest truths of religion, it yet offers practical advice for fulfillment in everyday living, by delineating the physical, mental, moral, and spiritual principles that govern the expansion of human consciousness.
Isha Upanishad: The Ever New Metaphorical Interpretation for Soul Culture. by Hariharananda, Paramahamsa. Kriya Yoga Ashram. 1985.	The Isha Upanishad is a rare book of the highest standard in practical spirituality and God-realization. It is prominent among the ten major Upanishads. Its commentary by Paramahamsa Hariharananda is a rare interpretation by a God-realized Master who is always engrossed in God consciousness. This book tells about God and His relationship with human beings and the relationship of human beings with God, and how to realize and perceive it. It is a must for sincere and serious students of spirituality.
*Jesus and the Metaphors of God: The Christs of the New Testament.* by Lee, Bernard J. Paulist Press. Mahwah, NJ. 1993.	Two of the most creative elements in present-day Christian theological scholarship: the study of metaphor's role in religious understanding and the re-creation of the cultural context of Jesus' life, are brought together by Bernard Lee in this second volume of his christological trilogy. This book is a ground-breaking study of these multiple layers of God-meanings and an important contribution to understanding how culturally conditioned metaphors function throughout the Christian scriptures. This truly significant work makes a well-argued and distinctive contribution to the theology of the New Testament and the Jewish-Christian dialogue.
*Kriya Yoga: The Scientific Process of Soul Culture and Essence of All Religions.* by Hariharananda, Paramahamsa. 5th revised edition. Calcutta, India: Sm. Bani Chatterjee. 1998.	No equivalent book on Kriya Yoga has yet been written. It is an in-depth study and exposition of the Authentic and Original Kriya Yoga by a Master who has in his lifetime practiced it, mastered all of its highest techniques, and achieved the highest spirituality of nirvikalpa samadhi -- the pulseless and breathless state -- a real jivanmukta still abiding in his physical body. He learned Kriya Yoga from the great masters and authorities like Shri Yukteshwar, Bhupendranath Sanyal, Paramahamsa Yogananda, and Swami Satyananda. Paramahamsa Hariharananda writes on various aspects of the Original Kriya Yoga and its multiple uses and benefits. He provides ample references to spiritual truths in the Vedas, Upanishads, Brahmasutras, Patanjali, Holy Bible, Koran and Torah. It is an indispensable source of knowledge and guidance for sincere spiritual seekers of all faiths. Published in India.
Le Très-Bas. by Bobin, Christian. Paris, France: Gallimard. 1992.	In French. Avec "Le Très Bas" Christian Bobin a reçu le Prix des Deux-Magots. Cet écrivain "bourguignon" caracole en tête Des ventes pour chacun de ses livres. "Le Très Bas" n'est pas une biographie comme les autres. C'est une promenade, telle que Bobin les affectionne, au coeur de l'âme, celle de ce beau jeune homme qu'était François d'Assise. Il en visite les images les moins connues : celle de l'enfance, celle du jouisseur de la vie et de ses plaisirs, rêvant de chevalerie et de belles princesses. IL cueille au passage les couleurs et les étoiles que contient chacun de ses livres : la beauté Des mères, l'amour, l'éternel, l'ange et le sourire de Dieu. Si François d'Assise est un saint, c'est parce qu'il EST UN"merveilleux conducteur de joie" et parce qu'il a compris que "la vérité n'est pas dans la connaissance qu'on en prend mais dans la jouissance qu'elle donne". Christian Bobin a semble-t-il trouvé en la vie de François d'Assise une très fidèle illustration de CE chemin qui parcourt l'ensemble de son oeuvre celui qui conduit au dépouillement et à l'amour. Ses livres sont Des ouvrages de chevets à lire, à oublier et à relire. Chaque mot EST choisi et suffit. Au lecteur avertit de prendre le temps avec chacun. « Peut être n’ouvre-t-on UN livre que pour enfin commencer à entendre » C.B.
*Le Yoga et Saint Jean de la Croix.* by Siddheswarananda, Swami. Paris, France: Albin Michel. 1996.	In French
Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patañjali. by Iyengar, B.K.S. San Francisco, CA: Harper Collins Publishers.	A fresh translation of the writings of Patanjali, the first man to record the ancient practice of yoga, by B. K. S. Iyengar, the man who introduced yoga to the West.
*Living Buddha, Living Christ* by Thich Nhat Hanh. New York, NY: Riverhead Books. 1995.	"When you are a truly happy Christian, you are also a Buddhist. And vice versa." -- Thich Nhat Hanh Buddha and Christ, perhaps the two most pivotal figures in the history of humankind, each left behind a legacy of teachings and practices that have shaped the lives of billions of people over the course of two millenia. If they were to meet on the road today, what would each think of the other's spiritual views and practices? The bestselling author of Peace is Every Step, and one of the most beloved Buddhist teachers in the West, Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh has been part of a decades-long dialogue between the two greatest living contemplative traditions, and brings to Christianity an appreciation of its beauty that could be conveyed only by an outsider. In a lucid, meditative prose, he explores the crossroads of compassion and holiness at which the two traditions meet, and reawakens our understanding of both.
Love Never Faileth: On St. Francis, St. Paul, St. Augustine, and Mother Teresa. by Easwaran, Eknath. Tomales, CA: Nilgiri Press. 1984.	Drawing on Saint Francis, Saint Augustine, Saint Paul, and Mother Teresa, the author describes specific methods of meditation and prayer which we can use to tap our inner strength at any time, even when we are frustrated, angry, or sapped by doubt. Introductions to each section give glimpses into the lives and teachings of these saints.
*Mary Magdalen: Myth and Metaphor.* by Haskins, Susan. Harcourt Brace & Co. New York, NY: 1993.	This book is packed with delights. It takes us on a journey through the four Gospels, the way that the early Fathers of the Church developed views of Jesus's teaching, the history of iconography, the narratives of medieval and Renaissance poems and plays, the recently discovered and newly translated Gnostic gospels of Nag Hammadi. The figure of Mary Magdalen becomes a lens through which to try to glimpse the prejudices of each century.
Monastic Journey To India. by Pennington, M. Basil. Junction City, OR: Beacon Point Press. 1999.	Throughout this highly readable journal from Fr. Basil's journey we experience first hand the teeming, pulsating life of India. We look into her eyes, perceive something of her soul, and sense the richness of her unparalleled contribution to the emerging world culture. Fr. Basil's astute observations shed light on urgent issues of the modern world; poverty and wealth, ethics, spiritual hunger, cross-cultural fertilization and the quest for a meaningful life. In the process we are powerfully challenged to look to the integrity of our own lives.
*Mysticism of the Mahabharata.* by Jyotirmayananda, Swami. Miami, FL: Yoga Research Foundation. 1993.	The Mahabharata is one of the greatest epic poems ever written, and its teachings have been a source of delight and spiritual illumination for aspirants since ancient times. The fascinating stories that weave the plot of the Mahabharata have been well-known to Eastern readers for centuries and are now becoming known in the West. However, very few readers are aware of the profound mystic subtleties behind these stories. Through the unique insights of His Holiness, this subtle wisdom is revealed in a way that will spur the sensitive aspirant to ascent the heights of spiritual transformation. Emboldened by his penetrating vision, the aspirant will surely emerge as a hero in the battle field of life and attain the victory of Self-realization!
*Mysticism of the Ramayana.* by Jyotirmayananda, Swami. Miami, FL: Yoga Research Foundation. 1994.	From ancient times, the devotional beauty of the epic story of Rama has given untold inspiration and delight to countless aspirants. Now, as the subtle philosophical implications of this colorful epic are illumined by Sri Swami Jyotirmayanandas spiritual insight, the infinite grandeur of the Ramayana truly shines forth. In the gracious light of his vision, all spiritual seekers will soar on the wings of devotion and wisdom to the highest summits of spiritual bliss!
Nava Durga: Multiple Forms of the Mother. by Prajñanananda Giri, Swami. Cuttack, India: Prajñanana Mission. 2000.	The Divine Mother is very significant in many traditions. This concise booklet reveals the inner significance of The Divine Mother, and explains how she is manifested in our own body. The nine names of mother Durga are explained, and some beautiful, very rare ancient prayers dedicated to Divine Mother are also included.
Nectar Drops: Sayings of Paramahamsa Hariharananda. by Prajñanananda Giri, Swami. Cuttack, India: Prajñanana Mission. 1996.	Each and every word flowing from the mouth of the Realized Master contains not only high Spiritual Truth, but also inspires practical, moral and spiritual life. These words of the Great Master, our beloved Guru Paramahamsa Hariharanandaji have been compiled from memory and presented in the form of sayings - Nectar Drops.
**Open Mind, Open Heart: The Contemplative Dimension of the Gospel.** by Keating, Thomas. New York, NY: Continuum. 1986.	This book is designed to initiate the reader into a deep, living relationship with God. Written by an acknowledged modern spiritual master, the book moves beyond "discursive meditation and particular acts to the intuitive level of contemplation." Keating gives an overview of the history of contemplative prayer in the Christian tradition, and step-by-step guidance in the method of centering prayer.
Original Goodness: On the Beatitudes of the Sermon of the Mount. by Easwaran, Eknath. Tomales, CA: Nilgiri Press. 1989.	Eknath Easwaran shows how the spark of divinity hidden in every one of us--our "original goodness"--can energize our lives. Each chapter takes its theme from the Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount and draws on examples from great Christian saints and mystics.
*Path of Love*. by Prajñanananda Giri, Swami. Cuttack, India: Prajñanana Mission. 2001.	If you want to progress in the Path of Love, establish yourself in Truth and Love, do not go below to the emotions of anger, jealousy, fear and greed. Above all, watch the type of thoughts that enter your mind, since these very thoughts determine your personality. With deep compassion for humanity, reflected in his Love for God, Paramahamsa Prajñanananda teaches us that once you integrate your thoughts, words and deeds and manifest love in every action, your life will be complete. The Path of Love shows us a step by step approach on how to transform our life and reach the supreme stage of union with God.
*Philosophies of India.* by Zimmer, Heinrich. Campbell, Joseph ed. Princeton, NJ: Princeton / Bollingen Paperbacks. 1989.	Indian philosophy was at the heart of Zimmer's interest in oriental studies, and this volume therefore represents his major contribution to our understanding of Asia. It is both the most complete and most intelligent account of this extraordinarily rich and complex philosophical tradition yet written.
Portable Dragon: The Western Man’s Guide to the I Ching, the. by Siu, R. G. H. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press. 1974.	To the texts of the I Ching Dr. Siu has appended illustrative quotations from the whole range of world literature...all together they make up an extraordinary treasury for lovers of good quotations. Included are poets and scientists, tyrants and saints, hermits and adventurers, anonymous storytellers and classic men of letters--in short, the full circle of the human condition, reflecting perfectly the all-encompassing range of the hexagrams.
Puranic Encyclopedia. by Mani, Vettau. New Delhi, India: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. 1993.	This volume, a storehouse of information about the Epics, Puranas and allied literature, constitutes the result of the author's devoted study and research extending over fourteen years. This stupendous work, in the form of an exhaustive descriptive index, covers the vast and varied field of ancient Indian culture in all aspects - history, geography, religion, philosophy, myths, beliefs and practices as depicted in the Epics (the Mahabharata and the Ramayana) and the Puranas.
*Return of the Prodigal Son, the* by Henri J.M. Nouwen. New York, NY: Doubleday. 1994.	The beloved spiritual writer meditates on the parable of the prodigal son's return — a powerful drama of fatherhood, filial duty, rivalry, and anger between brothers — and its enduring lessons for Christianity.
*Science of Religion, the.* by Yogananda, Paramahansa. Los Angeles, CA: Self-Realization Fellowship. 1973.	The Science of Religion strips away the cloaks of dogmatic doctrine and formality, showing that the answers to the ultimate questions of both science and religion do not lie in scholarly research or blind belief, but may only be found in an expansion of consciousness. The pragmatic approach taken by Paramahansa Yogananda redefines religion on a basis at once universal and intensely personal. He outlines the methods by which such a state of expanded perception may be achieved, and examines the relative effectiveness of various approaches -- from traditional intellectual and religious disciplines through metaphysical principles and practices that lead beyond the conscious and subconscious minds to a superconscious awareness.
Second Coming of Christ, the. by Yogananda, Paramahansa. Three volumes. Dallas, TX: Amrita Foundation Inc. 1979-1986.	In his interpretations of the words of Christ, Paramhansa Yogananda has written: "True scriptures are like wells of Divine Waters, which can quench the three-fold material, mental and spiritual thirsts of man. All true scriptures have been so written that they serve to be beneficial to the body, mind and soul. I give the spiritual interpretations with the psychological and material interpretations interwoven."
Seeing with the Eyes of Love: On the Imitation of Christ. by Easwaran, Eknath. Tomales, CA: Nilgiri Press. 1991.	Reflections on a celebrated passage from The Imitation of Christ - one of the most enduring Christian documents of all time - Eknath Easwaran offers insights into the practical means to make Jesus' love come alive in everyday life.
Sermon on the Mount, the. by Yogananda, Paramahansa. Dallas, Texas: Amrita Foundation, Inc. 1980.	In his interpretation of the words of Christ, Paramahamsa Yogananda has written: "True Scriptures are like wells of Divine Waters, which can quench the three-fold material, mental and spiritual thirsts of man. All true scriptures have been so written that they serve to be beneficial to the body, mind and soul. I give the spiritual interpretations with the psychological and material interpretations interwoven."
Songlines by Bruce Chatwin. New York, NY: Penguin Books. 1987.	A fascinating book on the Aborigines 40,000 year-old tradition of walking along mystical "songlines" crisscrossing Australia. to connect with the Dreamtime, written by the mystic-explorer Bruce Chatwin.
Thompson Chain-Reference Bible: 5^th Improved Edition. by Thompson, Frank Charles, ed. Indianapolis, IN: B.B. Kirkbride Bible Co. Inc. 1988.	Truly this is a Bible plus a Biblical Library--all in one volume. It incorporates 78 features to give you in-depth Scriptural appreciation and true understanding. Brings out the spiritual meaning of deep truths in Bible passages--and concentrates the light of God's word on them.
Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneersohn. by Jacobson, Simon. 1995.	A road map to living for Jews and non-Jews is culled from the wisdom of the Rebbe and addresses contemporary issues under the belief that humankind is responsible for its fellow members. This book is an adaptation of his teachings that convey his strong message of love, productivity, education, and virtue, all with the grace of a good and loving God. This is the type of spiritual wisdom that can be turned to again and again.
Universe Within, the. by Prajñanananda Giri, Swami. Cuttack, India: Prajñanana Mission. 2000.	The chakras are the medium of human evolution and liberation. Each chakra is responsible for certain human qualities. This unique text reveals to the reader a knowledge of the function of each of the chakras', and how to take control them. The immediate benefits to be gained from such wisdom are immeasurable peace and happiness.
Why Religion Matters. by Smith, Huston. San Francisco, CA: Harper San Franciso. 2001.	The author delivers a passionate, timely message: The human spirit is being suffocated by the dominant materialistic worldview of our times. Smith champions a society in which religion is once again treasured and authentically practiced as the vital source of human wisdom.
Wisdom Stories: Meditations on Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends. by Hoffstein, Robert M. Sandgate, VT: Tsimtsum House. 1992.	These stories are really a form of food, and just to read them is to be nourished. To see connections between them is to add to the nourishment, and to relate them to your own spiritual transformation is beneficial in an immeasurable way. Anything but arbitrary, they are actually teaching devices to help you understand your own predicament, the crisis you face in your development. To the extent that you become conscious of this crisis, to that extent can you begin the process of transformation.
Words of Wisdom: Stories and Parables of Paramahamsa Hariharananda. by Prajñanananda Giri, Swami. Cuttack, India: Prajñanana Mission. 1996.	Great Masters use every aspect of life at every moment to teach the Eternal Truth. This new compilation by Swami Prajñanananda is a treasure trove of short stories, parables and incidents taken from the everyday interaction of Gurudev Baba Hariharanandaji with his disciples - Words of Wisdom - which carry great meaning and practical applications.
*World's Last Night, the.* by Lewis, C. S. New York, NY: Harvest Book, Harcourt Brace & Co. 1988.	In seven witty, lucid, tough-minded essays C. S. Lewis considers questions that challenge the faith of modern Christians. He discusses the efficacy of prayer, the various usages of the phrase "I believe," the meaning of words like "culture," and "religion," the interplay of "good work" and "good works," the religious implications of life on other planets, and the doctrine of the Second Coming. This collection is also notable for a Screwtape dialogues in which that "very experienced devil" makes a brilliant speech on the opportunities for exploiting evil in the world, concluding, "Nowhere do we tempt so successfully as on the very steps of the altar.
World's Religions, the. by Smith, Huston. San Francisco, CA: Harper Collins Publishers. 1991.	Widely considered the best, most accessible introduction to the world's religions, this all-new version has been deepened and enhanced by an additional thirty years of teaching and study, the use of inclusive language, and vital new dimensions. In addition to detailed, absorbing, and highly readable chapters on Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, this new edition features expanded sections on the inner dimensions of these great religions, with fresh emphasis on Tibetan Buddhism, Sufism, and the teachings of Jesus. Included here also is a new chapter on the primal religions--the native traditions of the Americas, Australia, Africa, and Oceania.
*Yoga Darshan: Vision of the Yoga Upanishads* by Paramahamsa Niranjanananda. Deoghar, India: Sri Panchdashnam Paramahamsa Alakh Bara. 1993.	Clear and enlightening manual encompassing all aspects of Yoga--its history, scriptures, specializations, and practice.
*Yoga Vasistha.* by Jyotirmayananda, Swami. (4 volumes) Miami, FL: Yoga Research Foundation. 1977.	This unique book can bring a complete transformation in human personality; even like the beggar of old fairy tales who turned into a King when a charmed golden ring fell into his hand; just so, whosoever holds this book, turning the pages with an inquisitive mind and a heart searching for truth, will discover the infinite beauty of his inner self. The Yoga Vasistha nourishes the soul and awakens a yearning for freedom and an exquisite peace unknown before.
*Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit: The Place of Zen in Christian Life.* by Kennedy, Robert E. New York, NY: The Continuum Publishing Company. 1995.	This book deals with basic questions about Zen: What is it? How is it practiced? Is it compatible with Christianity? Robert Kennedy has plumbed the depths of the Zen teaching tradition without deviating from the Jesuit path to which he committed himself as a young man...And he has written this book to help readers undergo the process of spiritual alchemy that he so lucidly describes in these pages.