Western Spirituality
New Books

Blending history, sociology and spirituality, Armstrong offers a compelling and compassionate study of a radical form of religious expression that is critically shaping the course of world history. Says The New York Times, "One of the most penetrating, readable, and prescient accounts of the fundamentalist movements in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam."

A former nun, and a leading biblical and spiritual scholar, Armstrong in eight short chapters examines 2,000 years of biblical interpretation, exploring its conception, gestation and life of one of history's most powerful books.

One of the great works of spiritual literature, Attar's poem, a twelfth-century Persian masterpiece, here in prose translation, portrays in allegorical form the path that leads to the realization of the Truth. Says Coleman Barks, "Attar, along with Chaucer and Dante, is a great genius of community and how that involves the path toward enlightenment. We are these bird-beings searching for the source of what we are together."

One of the giants of the Alchemical Renaissance of the early 17th century, Maier (1568–1622), a physician by training and alchemist by nature, is most known for his Atalania Fugiens and Themis Aurea, and his work with Dr. Robert Fludd and others. This biography traces his pursuit of alchemy as both a science and a metaphor for spiritual attainment, while analyzing all of his works, and demystifying many of the alchemical symbols and allusions contained in the texts.

A detailed account of the history of the San Francisco Zen center, the first Buddhist monastery established outside of Asia, its incredible growth and melt-down in the wake of the sexual exploits and power games of Richard Baker, the charismatic, entrepreneurial and controversial dharma heir of the center's founder, the venerable Suzuki-roshi.

Contents of Volume Three:
Michael Schneider—"Harmony Made Visible"
Arthur Versluis—"The Alchemy of Art"
Pete Ramus—"A Note Against the Aristotelians"
Lee Irwin—"The Divine Sophia"
Shawn Eyer—"The Strange Case of the Secret Gospel According to Mark"
Michael Hornum—"Knowledge, Reason and Ethics: A Neoplatonic Perspective"
Dianne Skafte—"Delphi's Enduring Message"
Anthony Rooley—"The Invisible College"
Jane Leade—"The School of Wisdom"
Ignacio Gotz—"The Teaching Mission of Socrates"
Oliver Perrin—"Reflections on the Tarocchi of Mantegna"
Peter Lamborn Wilson—"Speaking in Hieroglyphics"
Karen-Claire Voss—"Three Exemplars of the Esoteric Tradition in the Renaissance"
David Fideler—"Astronomy, Contemplation, and the Objects of Celestial Desire"

Contents of Volume Five:
Joseph Meeker—"Dante and the Comic Way"
David Fideler—"Science's Missing Half"
Theodore Roszak—"Nature and Nature's God: Modern Cosmology and the Rebirth of Natural Philosophy"
F. David Peat—"Creativity: The Meeting of Apollo and Dionysus"
David Ulansey—"Mithras and the Hypercosmic Sun"
Jeffrey Raff—"Jung and the Alchemical Imagination"
Ralph Abraham—"Chaos and the Millennium"
Robert Apatow—"Socrates and the Art of Dialogue"
Amy Ione—"Science: Method, Myth, Metaphor?"

Focuses especially on the role that light, metaphysical and otherwise, played in the life of St. Augustine (354-430 A.D.), who endlessly explored the permutations of light imagery.

Diagnoses the fundamental "abnormality" of Western civilization compared to traditional societies of the East and offers avenues of reorientation toward fundamental principles largely abandoned.

Early articles by Guénon on Sufism or Islamic esoterism defining the fundamental elements of tasawwuf, shari'ah, tariquah, and haquqah. An essay also explores Taoism and Confucianism.

Given Guénon's lifelong preoccupation with initiatic spiritualty, the cosmological sciences, and the errors of modernity, there is no real incompatibility of outlook here between the Guénon of 1909 and the of 1950. Far from being a mere collection of fugitive writings, Miscellanea is an important work in its own right, worthy of its own unique place in the Guénonian corpus.

Provides indispensable points of reference for anyone attempting to distinguish between 'initiatic,' 'pseudo-initiatic,' and 'counter-initiatic' spiritualities. Makes a distinction between initiatic and mystical paths and the dangers and barrenness of syncretism and the often dire consequences of fostering 'psychic powers.'

Analysis of the relationship between royal and sacerdotal power in accordance with the Hindu doctrine of Manvantara and Plato's depiction of historical degeneration in the Republic, Guénon views history as a series of revolts of lower castes against the higher. When the nadir of lawful historical degeneration is reached, a new cycle begins, that of the dawning of the Heavenly Jerusalem—spiritual Knowledge.

The last book to appear during his lifetime (1886–1951), this is Guénon's most comprehensive exposition of the science of Alchemy. The 'Great Triad,' defined as Heaven-Man-Earth, is a cosmological and metaphysical doctrine which Guénon traces through Chinese Taoism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhist, Hermetic and Masonic teachings.

One of Guénon's most controversial books, it was written in response to Ferdinand Ossendowski's Men, Beasts and Gods, whose closing chapters concerning the "King of the World" and Agartha, his subterranean kingdom.

Mathematics, Guénon believes, must be rediscovered as the handmaiden of metaphysics. Agreeing with Plato that mathematics can furnish symbols for metaphysics, Guénon argues that if metaphysical principles in themselves are not understood—which they clearly aren't by the vast majority of modern mathematicians and scientists—it cannot fulfill this function. Leibnitz, discoverer of the infinitesimal calculus and major critic of Descartes, he sees as a significant modern philosopher of mathematics, whose insights are worth placing in a metaphysical context—something Leibnitz himself tried to do. Guénon helps make these efforts more metaphysically intelligible, and transposes them to a higher level.

Packed with arcane facts, Guénon reveals and interprets the phenomena of Spiritism, real or alleged. His accompanying doctrinal expositions offer prescient insight into the modern mind's many deviations and "psychological," particularly its many brands of New Age "therapy' to which he offers a much needed corrective.

A devastating and detailed critique of Mme Blavatsky's Theosophical Society and its antecedents. Included is Rudolf Steiner's breakaway Anthroposophy movement. An unusual feature is the extensive treatment of the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor and other occult systems.

Focuses on a study on cosmic cycles beginning with the Hindu doctrine of Manvantara and considering those of Egyptian Hermeticism, Greco-Roman antiquity, the Kabbal, Sufis, Ismailis, Hopi, Lakota and Maya nations. As earlier ages differed qualitatively from ours, this may explain why our historicism and archaeology have yet to truly access those of "Hyperborea" and "Atlantis." Guénon transmits the requisite sense of these earlier times which may awaken the intuition of higher levels of Being.

Porphyry (circa 233–305 B.C.E.), a disciple of Plotinus, was a brilliant philosopher in his own right. Given here is a summary of his teachings with an emphasis on the nature of incorporeal principles in the realm of Mind and Spirit. Also included are fragments of Porphyry and other Neoplatonic philosophers on the nature of the soul.

An esoteric masterpiece, Ibsen wrote and published it in 1867. It is his last work to use verse as a medium of dramatic expression but carries the marks of his later prose plays in terms of its spare, dramatically eloquent dialogue. Peer Gynt's literary antecedents include Faust and the stories of Hans Andersen.

Best available introduction to the study of the monochord and tuning theory in the Pythagorean tradition by an important second century philosopher. Flora Levin's commentary brings the ancient text to life and explains the meaning of harmony.

Pulitzer prize winning playwright David Mamet—author of such plays as Oleanna, Glengarry Glen Ross and American Buffalo—follows Marlowe and Goethe in exploring the legendary tale of Dr. Faustus, the philosopher in pursuit of "the secret engine of the world," and his wager with the devil. In the many layered and resplendent language for which he is famous, Mamet marries the metaphysical to the con man's patter to pose deep questions about the time in which we live.

Since Castaneda's first book, The Teachings of Don Juan, readers have wondered about his sources. Here, shown concept-by-concept, is the primary source of Castaneda's ideas—Gurdjieff's Fourth Way. Also explored are don Juan's true identity, the meaning of Castaneda's "jump into the abyss," the life of the Nagual and his witches. Also included in full is the first reference to Nagualism, anthropologist Daniel Brinton's essay "Nagualism: A Study in Native American Folklore and History" written in 1894.

"Although inclined to skepticism about Castaneda, I found myself reading The Life & Teachings of Carlos Castaneda with total fascination. As it tells just about everything, I imagine this will be the definitive book on Castaneda."
—Colin Wilson, author, The Outsider and The Occult

"Patterson brings original insight into the forces and influences that formed Castaneda's sorceric adventure. Particularly interesting are the role of Anaïs Nin and the revelation of the source of many of Castaneda's supposedly sorceric ideas."
—Mary Ellen Korman, author, A Woman's Work: The Life of Ethel Merston

"A must read for anyone who has followed Carlos on his extraordinary journey. The way William Patrick Patterson expounds on Carlos' teachings is astounding!"
—Margaret Runyan, author, A Magical Journey with Carlos Castaneda

"This is the most brilliant and insightful rendering to date of the 'Ultimate Impeccable Warrior,' Carlos Castaneda, my father."
—C.J. Castaneda

 

A neuroscientist whose research extends to behavior, memory and awareness, Zeman makes a difficult subject readily understandable. First giving a ground plan of consciousness and a detailed look at the brain, he then focuses on two key areas of neuroscience which illuminate the basis of awareness: sleep and waking, and sight. Final chapters survey current theories of awareness and pioneering attempts to explain how the brain gives rise to consciousness.