SkyLight Illuminations
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Selections from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
Translated by
by Swami Nikhilananda
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
Ramakrishna experienced the truth of all religions, inspiring seekers of
every creed. Now his "gospel" is made accessible to all readers.
Ramakrishna is India's greatest example of God-consciousness and mystical ecstasy in recent history. He became known to the world not merely as a saint but as a divine incarnation and a "supremely realized self." His message has inspired millions of devotees for more than a century-and now his teachings are made accessible to many more.
Introduces the fascinating world of the Indian mystic and the universal appeal of his message. Now, readers can explore this classic text without any prior knowledge of Hinduism. Selections from the original text and insightful yet unobtrusive facing-page commentary highlight the most important and inspirational teachings, including:
• How to see God and how to live in the world.
• Religious harmony.
• The dynamics of spiritual awakening.
• The spiritual power of the Feminine.
• Prayer and meditation.
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The Gospel of Thomas
A Guidebook for Spiritual Practice
by Ron Miller
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The Gospel of Thomas-a book of sayings and wisdom of Jesus compiled as early or earlier than the New Testament gospels-can transform your spiritual life.
There are many academic commentaries on the Gospel of Thomas, but this book has a different aim. It is meant to be a guidebook, that is, a translation of the sayings into daily practice. The goal of such practice is to become Jesus's twin. This does not, of course, mean becoming an olive-skinned, bearded Mediterranean peasant wearing sandals. It is more about manifesting in our lives the same Christ consciousness revealed in the person we know as Jesus of Nazareth.
-from the Introduction
In the decades since its discovery, the Gospel of Thomas has intrigued people of all faiths around the world. Shedding new light on the origins of Christianity, the Gospel of Thomas raises questions about whether the New Testament's version of Jesus's teachings is entirely accurate and complete. In the Gospel of Thomas we see Jesus as a wisdom-loving sage, sharing aphorisms about the value of the present and each person's role in the creation of the Kingdom of God here on earth. But these inspiring sayings can leave you wondering, "What next?"
Now you can learn how to start applying Jesus's wisdom to your own life-and, in turn, to the world around you. This unique guidebook leads you through Thomas, offering practices that help you translate Jesus's wisdom into a more fulfilling, enriching daily life, including:
• Becoming a Spiritual Adult
• Sorting Out the Old and the New
• Being a Healing Presence
• Daring to Be a City on a Hill
• God's Reign Calls for Ready Hands
• Spirituality Is Not Skygazing
• • And much more ...
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Philokalia-The Eastern Christian Spiritual Texts
Selections Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The Eastern Christian "Love of the Beautiful" can be a companion on your own spiritual journey.
A collection of writings by monks from the fourth to fifteenth centuries, the Philokalia more than any other text reflects the Eastern Church's interpretation of the Bible's meaning. Simply translated, the title means "love of the beautiful," which reflects the text's emphasis on mystical and contemplative practices to engage all of our senses in the acts of worship and prayer.
This introduction to the wisdom of the Philokalia illuminates a text that until now has intimidated the general reader in its scholarly translations from Greek and Russian. Allyne Smith focuses his thoughtful selection on seven themes that recur throughout the five-volume work-repentance, the heart, prayer, the Jesus Prayer, the passions, stillness, and theosis. Smith's enlightening, accessible facing-page commentary fills in the historical and spiritual context, clarifies core teachings, including the Eastern understanding of salvation, and draws connections to modern-day practices, such as contemplative prayer.
Now you can experience the spiritual wisdom of the Philokalia even if you have no previous knowledge of Eastern Christianity. This SkyLight Illuminations edition takes you on a journey through this beloved text, showing you how the teachings of Eastern monks can help you become by grace what God is by nature.
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Tao Te Ching
Annotated & Explained
by Lao Tzu
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The enduring wisdom of the Tao Te Ching can become a companion for your own spiritual journey.
Reportedly written by a sage named Lao Tzu over 2,500 years ago, the Tao Te Ching is one of the most succinct-and yet among the most profound-spiritual texts ever written. Short enough to read in an afternoon, subtle enough to study for a lifetime, the Tao Te Ching distills into razor-sharp poetry centuries of spiritual inquiry into the Tao-the "Way" of the natural world around us that reveals the ultimate organizing principle of the universe.
Derek Lin's insightful commentary, along with his new translation from the original Chinese-a translation that sets a whole new standard for accuracy-will inspire your spiritual journey and enrich your everyday life. It highlights the Tao Te Ching's insights on simplicity, balance, and learning from the paradoxical truths you can see all around you: finding strength through flexibility (because bamboo bends, it is tough to break); achieving goals by transcending obstacles (water simply flows around rocks on its way to the sea); believing that small changes bring powerful results (a sapling, in time, grows into a towering tree).
Now you can experience the wisdom and power of Lao Tzu's words even if you have no previous knowledge of the Tao Te Ching. SkyLight Illuminations provides insightful yet unobtrusive commentary that describes helpful historical background, explains the Tao Te Ching's poetic imagery, and elucidates the ancient Taoist wisdom that will speak to your life today and energize your spiritual quest.
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Maimonides-Essential Teachings on Jewish Faith & Ethics
The Book of Knowledge & the Thirteen Principles of Faith-Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The teachings of Judaism's greatest medieval philosopher can be a companion on your own spiritual journey.
No Jewish thinker has had a more significant impact on Jewish religious thought than Moses Maimonides (1138—1204). A medieval philosopher whose vision covered an extensive range, he created a method of mediating between revelation and reason that laid the groundwork for a rational, philosophically sophisticated Judaism. He also provided an approach to biblical interpretation and philosophy that remains relevant for people of all faiths who follow a religion based on sacred text and oral interpretation.
In this accessible examination of Maimonides's theological and philosophical teachings, Rabbi Marc D. Angel opens up for us Maimonides's views on the nature of God, providence, prophecy, free will, human nature, repentance and more. He explores basic concepts of faith that Maimonides posits must serve as the basis for proper religious life. He also examines Maimonides's insights on reward and punishment, messianic days, the world to come and other tenets of Jewish faith.
Now you can experience the wisdom of Maimonides even if you have no previous knowledge of Judaism or Jewish philosophy. SkyLight Illuminations provides insightful yet unobtrusive commentary that reveals why Maimonides's teachings continue to have profound relevance to those seeking an intellectually vibrant understanding of Judaism.
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The Divine Feminine in Biblical Wisdom Literature
Selections Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The pure and penetrating message of the Divine Feminine-Wisdom-can become a companion for your own spiritual journey.
The first of God's creations and God's endless delight, Wisdom (also known as Chochma and Sophia) is the Mother of all life, the guide to right living-She is God manifest in the world you encounter moment to moment. Her teachings, embedded in the Holy Scriptures of Jews and Christians, are passionate, powerful calls to live in harmony, love with integrity and act joyously.
Through the Hebrew books of Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes and Job, and the Wisdom literature books of Sirach and the Wisdom of Solomon, the Divine Femininespeaks to you directly, and Her only desire is to teach you to become wise. Rami Shapiro's contemporary translations and powerful commentaries clarify who Wisdom is, what She teaches, and how Her words can help you live justly, wisely and with compassion. This is not a book about Wisdom but the voice of Wisdom Herself, liberating, uplifting and compelling.
Now you can experience the Divine Feminine and understand Her teachings with no previous knowledge of Wisdom literature. This SkyLight Illuminations edition presents insightful commentary that explains Sophia's way of wisdom and illustrates the countless opportunities to experience Her creative energy through which God fashions all things.
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The Book of Job
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The poetical masterpiece that confronts the inexplicable mystery of good and evil can be a companion on your own spiritual journey.
The book of Job, celebrated as a classic of world literature and one of the glories of the Bible, can often be puzzling and frustrating: puzzling for its dialogue form and off-putting because of the many questions it leaves unanswered. The book was written in a world very different from our own, and yet the fundamental questions it raises are still ones we grapple with today: Is it worthwhile to act for the best? Does life have a meaning beyond itself? Why do the righteous suffer and the guilty prosper?
In this accessible guide to a spiritual masterpiece, Donald Kraus, the editor of the Oxford University Press Study Bible program, clarifies what Job is, helps overcome difficulties in the text, and suggests what Job may mean for us today. Kraus's fresh translation captures some of the finest poetry in the Hebrew Bible and uncovers the original author's intent in a way that is accessible for modern readers and spiritual seekers.
This inviting SkyLight Illuminations edition, with probing facing-page commentary, explores Job's daring challenges to God's goodness, asks questions about the basic fairness of existence, and offers compelling descriptions of the glories of the created world and the bitter sorrows of human life.
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The Rule of Benedict
Christian Monastic Wisdom for Daily Living--Selections Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
This practical resource for finding peace, meaning and God, from the pen of a sixth-century monk, can help guide your own spiritual journey.
Many people today are realizing that the cultural focus on competition, success, acquisition and constant busyness is ultimately not satisfying. They hunger for a way of life that has more lasting value and deeper meaning. For centuries, people within and outside Christianity have turned to the writings of Benedict of Nursia, a sixth-century monk committed to shaping a life of humility and compassion, to guide their spiritual lives. His Rule speaks profoundly to our contemporary search for spiritual grounding. Anglican laywoman and writer Esther de Waal says that Benedict's Rule helps her know "how to be human now today, tomorrow and for the rest of my life."This accessible introduction to the Rule of Benedict, intended for readers unfamiliar with Benedictine monasticism, presents the Rule as a guide to a God-centered, balanced approach to life. It shows us how to use Benedict's wisdom to build relationships and communities formed by love and respect. It offers historical background and personal reflections on Benedictine topics such as living in the present moment, balance, finding God in everyday life, individual and community prayer, hospitality, and healthy approaches to work and service.
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The Lost Sayings of Jesus
Teachings from Ancient Christian, Jewish, Gnostic and Islamic Sources
by Andrew Phillip Smith
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
Jesus's words of wisdom can become a companion on your own spiritual journey.
The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are not the only record we have of the words spoken by Jesus. Designed to challenge, enlighten and inspire, they are also quoted in a wide variety of other ancient sources-including the Qur'an, writings by early Christian church fathers, and fragments of lost gospels only recently discovered. Some of these sayings are familiar; many are surprising; all expand our conventional understanding of the scope and essence of Jesus's original teachings.
More than a "Christian" compilation, this collection of more than three hundred sayings reveals a Jesus whose words encapsulate spiritual truths that resonate across religious boundaries. From the encouraging "I am hope for the hopeless," to the wise and practical "Love those who hate you and you will not have an enemy," to the candid "Give no opportunity to the evil one," these pointed sayings not only reveal how Jesus was understood and portrayed across a wide variety of cultures long ago-they will also penetrate to your heart, challenge your assumptions, and energize your own spiritual quest. Now you can experience the wisdom and power of Jesus's sayings even if you have no previous knowledge of these little-known texts.
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The Qur'an and Sayings of Prophet Muhammad
Selections Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The timeless insight of Islam's sacred writings can enrich your own spiritual journey.
For many in the West, the teachings of the Qur'an often are enshrouded in mystery and fear. Yet Islam's holy book gave birth to one of the most powerful and enlightened civilizations the world has ever seen. By the sixteenth century, Muslim culture stretched from India to Africa to Europe, preserving with it the ancient learning that helped spawn the Renaissance. With its interwoven ideas of faith and reason, justice and mercy, the path of Islam-which literally means "surrendering to God's will"-offers a uniquely focused and balanced approach to living life with a profound awareness of God.
With gentleness and insight, Sohaib N. Sultan leads you through the central themes of both the Qur'an and the collected sayings of Prophet Muhammad, known as hadith. These teachings dispel common misconceptions about Muslim beliefs and offer practical guidance for your own spiritual journey, from understanding the merciful nature of God; to cultivating peace and justice in the self, family, and society; to answering questions about the afterlife and how to attain it.
Now you can experience the wisdom of Qur'anic teachings even if you have no previous knowledge of Islam or Muslim writings. Insightful yet unobtrusive facing-page commentary explains the texts for you, allowing you to enter into the path of surrender to God.
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Chuang-tzu
The Tao of Perfect Happiness-Selections Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The timeless wisdom of this classic Taoist text can become a companion on your own spiritual journey.
The Chuang-tzu is the second major text of the Taoist tradition. It was compiled in the third century BCE and follows the lead of the best-known and oldest of all Taoist texts, the Tao-te-ching (Book of the Tao and Its Potency). Representing the philosophy of its main author, Chuang Chou, along with several other early Taoist strands, the text has inspired spiritual seekers for over two thousand years.
Using parable, anecdote, allegory and paradox, the Chuang-tzu presents the central message of what was to become the Taoist school: a reverence for the Tao-the "Way" of the natural world-and the belief that you are not truly virtuous until you are free from the burden of circumstance, personal attachments, tradition and the desire to reform the world. In this special SkyLight Illuminations edition, leading Taoist scholar Livia Kohn, PhD, provides a fresh, modern translation of key selections from this timeless text to open up classic Taoist beliefs and practices. She provides insightful, accessible commentary that highlights the Chuang-tzu's call to reject artificially imposed boundaries and distinctions, and illustrates how you can live a more balanced, authentic and joyful life-at ease in perfect happiness-by following Taoist principles.
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Spiritual Writings on Mary
by Mary Ford-Grabowsky
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The world's great writings about Mary-her faith, strength and love-
can become a companion for your own spiritual journey
Mary, the mother of Jesus, has been revered for centuries by people from all over the world. She is a paragon of humility, righteousness and dedication, and her life as mother and prophet can serve as an example to us all.
In over two hundred selections, Spiritual Writings on Mary examines the essential aspects of Mary's role in history and in life today. Selections from influential writers, thinkers and theologians-both ancient and modern, from a wide range of Western and Eastern backgrounds-explore what life may have been like for Mary, Joseph and Jesus, and celebrate the many ways in which Mary serves as a model of holiness for all women and men; as the archetype of motherhood; and as a source of tenderness, comfort, protection and peace.
Dante Alighieri • Hildegard of Bingen • Jalal-ud-Din Rumi • Bernard of Clairvaux • Birgitta of Sweden • Bonaventure • Sue Monk Kidd • Gerard Manley Hopkins
Now you can experience the power and grace of Mary even if you have no previous knowledge of Mariology. This SkyLight Illuminations edition presents the most stirring and evocative writings on Mary, conveying the ineffable love, awe, reverence and gratitude in the hearts of people all over the world for the holy mother of Jesus.
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Dhammapada
Annotated & Explained
by Max Muller
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
Ancient words of the Buddha ("awakened one") that can become a companion for your own spiritual journey.
The Dhammapada ("Path of the Buddha's Teachings") is a daily inspiration for millions of Buddhists all over the world and for people of all spiritual traditions who have been impressed by its beauty and power. These words-believed to have been spoken by the Buddha himself over 2,500 years ago-contain most of Buddhism's central teachings.
Originally composed in the ancient language of Pali, this timeless text concisely and inspirationally portrays the route a person travels as he or she advances toward enlightenment. With poetic sequence and rhythm, the Dhammapadadescribes the fundamental role of mental conditioning in making us who we are. It paints contrasting portraits of three levels of our human existence-the fool, the wise one, and the enlightened one-and addresses specific aspects of experience, conduct, and belief that characterize our transformation from one of these modes of being to another.
Now you can experience the Dhammapada with understanding even if you have no previous knowledge of Buddhism. This SkyLight Illuminations edition offers insightful yet unobtrusive commentary that explains references and philosophical terms, shares the inspiring interpretations of famous spiritual teachers, and gives you deeper insight into the text.
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Saint Ignatius Loyola-The Spiritual Writings
Selections Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
This sixteenth-century mystic, whose mission was to ignite a love of Jesus in the hearts of all, can be a companion for your own spiritual journey.
Ignatius of Loyola, sixteenth-century mystic, spiritual director, and founder of the Society of Jesus, is considered to be among the greatest educators in the history of western civilization. While the Jesuits went on to establish one of the largest educational networks in the world, Ignatius's initial vision was simply "the help of souls." Even today, his writings continue to inspire Christians in their quest for a meaningful holy life. The Spiritual Exercises alone-Ignatius's most well-known work-has guided the retreat experience of over a million Christians over nearly five centuries.
This fascinating introduction to Ignatian spirituality draws from contemporary translations of original texts focusing on the practical mysticism of Ignatius of Loyola. Excerpts from The Spiritual Exercises, his autobiography, and his collected letters and instructions provide direct insights from Ignatius about the role of humility, obedience, discernment, sin and selfawareness in spiritual life. Substantive facing-page commentary illuminates Ignatius's perspectives on many key aspects of Christian spirituality, including trusting in God, imitating Jesus and the saints, love and the common good, and much more.
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Hasidic Tales
Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The Tales of the Hasidic Masters Can Become a Companion for Your Own Spiritual Journey.
"The wisdom of the Hasidim is earthy, realistic, rooted in the simplicity of the heart. It is alive with the awareness of the holiness of Creation and the boundlessness of God's mercy, and is utterly honest about the necessity of living such awareness in loving service to all beings. It is a wisdom that fuses the highest mystical initiations with the most down-home celebration of life and a rugged commitment to social and political justice in all its forms. In other words, it is a wisdom that is never, as my old prep school headmaster would put it, "too divine to be of any earthly use."
-from the Foreword by Andrew Harvey
Martin Buber, author of Tales of Hasidim, was the first to bring the Hasidic tales to life for modern readers in the middle of the twentieth century. His groundbreaking work was the first time that most readers had ever encountered the lives and teachings of these profound and enigmatic spiritual masters from Eastern Europe.
In Hasidic Tales: Annotated & Explained, Rabbi Rami Shapiro breathes new life into these classic stories of people who so marvelously combined the mystical and the ordinary. Each demonstrates the spiritual power of unabashed joy, offers lessons for leading a holy life, and reminds you that the Divine can be found in the everyday. Without an expert guide, the allegorical quality of Hasidic Tales can be perplexing. But Shapiro presents them as stories rather than parables, making them accessible and meaningful. Now you can experience the wisdom of Hasidism firsthand even if you have no previous knowledge of Jewish spirituality. This SkyLight Illuminations edition offers insightful yet unobtrusive commentary that explains theological concepts, introduces major characters, offers clarifying references unfamiliar to most readers, and reveals how you can use the Hasidic tales to further your own spiritual awakening.
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Rumi and Islam
Selections from His Stories, Poems and Discourses-Annotated & Explained
by Dr. Ibrahim Gamard
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
Discover the richness of Rumi's spiritual tradition-through
facing-page commentary that brings his writings to life for you.
"This book you are now holding is a selection of what I believe are the best of Rumi's accounts of the compassionate actions, sayings, and qualities of the Prophet, which include Rumi's own inspired comments and explanations. It is my hope that you will be surprised and uplifted by the profound wisdom that Jalaluddin Rumi conveys through these stories and sayings."
-from the Preface
This great Sufi poet and teacher can become a companion for your own spiritual journey.
The lyric and wisdom poetry of Mawlana Jalaluddin Rumi has been an inspiration throughout the Middle East and Asia for over seven hundred years. Recently, it has also become popular in Western countries through translations and interpretive poetic versions in English. But while popular renderings have created the appreciation of Rumi the mystic, there is little understanding today of the religious and spiritual traditions from which the great mystic came. Rumi and Islam-Selections from His Stories, Poems, and Discourses examines not the popularized Rumi of universal love but the Sufi disciple whose works express deep reverence for the Prophet Muhammad. Ibrahim Gamard focuses on Rumi's place within the Sufi tradition of Islam, as one of the greatest Muslim followers of the Prophet Muhammed, and on the Islamic foundations of his lover-Beloved mystical poetry. By probing verse by verse Rumi's spiritual teachings, Gamard provides insight into the mystical side of the Qur'an and Islam, a religion that holds a deep love of God at its core.
Now you can experience the profound and uplifting wisdom of Rumi even if you have no previous knowledge of Sufism or Islam. This SkyLight Illuminations edition presents the most important of Rumi's writings, mainly from the Mathnawi, with insightful yet unobtrusive commentary that conveys how his teachings about the nature of love for God and God's love for us can increase our understanding of Islamic wisdom in the West.
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Perennial Wisdom for the Spiritually Independent
Sacred Teachings-Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The spiritual teachings of many faith traditions can help you step beyond the limits of any one tradition to the reality that can't be named.
The fastest growing spiritual movement in the United States today is that of the religiously unaffiliated. These spiritual seekers make up 20 percent of the adult American population; they are the spiritual equivalent of political independents. Refusing to limit themselves to one religion or another, these seekers without borders are open to wisdom wherever it can be found.
This is a "bible" for this vast and growing social movement. It weaves sacred texts and teachings from the world's major religions-Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and more-into a coherent exploration of the five core questions at the heart of every religion's search:
• Who am I? • Where did I come from? • Where am I going? • How shall I live? • Why?
It couples these sacred teachings with modern commentary designed to help readers use these texts in their daily lives. It also provides the basics of spiritual mentor Eknath Easwaran's Passage Meditation to help you internalize the texts that articulate your deepest insights and values.
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The Hidden Gospel of Matthew
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The previously untold story of Matthew's Gospel-brought to life for today's readers.
Matthew's Gospel stands as the first book of the Christian Testament, visible to all the world for almost two thousand years. But there is something hidden in Matthew's Gospel. The document was not written at one time by one person-it is an edited document, bringing together different sources of tradition.
The Hidden Gospel of Matthew: Annotated and Explained takes readers deep into the text to find the words and events that have the strongest connection to the historical Jesus. Ron Miller reveals the underlying story of Matthew to readers, giving them a full appreciation of the book's message, uncovering a portrait of Jesus that at times resembles the gnostic Christ and sage teacher of the Gospel of Thomas more than it does traditional Christianity.
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Celtic Christian Spirituality
Essential Writings Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The forgotten truths of Celtic Christianity provide a portal into a spiritual way of experiencing the world.
The Celtic Christians beheld the world around them and perceived the divine life of God as upholding every aspect of the material universe. Their prayers and poems, their liturgies and theological interpretations give Christians a sense of faith that is confident in a merciful and infinitely creative, healing God.
In this introduction to Celtic Christian spirituality, Mary Earle presents primary texts from the Celtic Christian tradition-selections from the works of Pelagius, Eriugena and St. Patrick, as well as prayers and poems from Wales, the Outer Hebrides and Ireland. These essential writings direct humanity to read the "book of creation" as well as the Bible, and call us to remember that "matter matters." Earle's engaging facing-page commentary explores how faithful Christians and spiritual seekers can take inspiration from this lively tradition's ways of embodying and living the gospel. Topics include:
• Creation
• Daily life and work
• Incarnation
• Pilgrimage
• Blessing
• Social justice
• Prayer
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Ecclesiastes
Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
Koheleth's powerful guidebook for living without certainty and security in a world of constant change can become a companion for your own spiritual journey.
Twenty-three hundred years ago, an unnamed Hebrew sage known only as Koheleth, the Assembler of Wisdom, rocked the ancient Jewish world with a critique of society that shattered conventional notions of God, piety, politics, and power. Koheleth lived in a world of change and challenge not unlike our own. His teachings, known as the Book of Ecclesiastes, sought to empower people not unlike ourselves, which is why this book of the Hebrew Bible still speaks to us-people of all faiths-today.
In this contemporary and accurate translation, Rami Shapiro presents the Book of Ecclesiastes as neither revelation nor prophecy but as a rational and inspirational guide to living well in the midst of uncertainty. Beginning with its opening broadside, "Havel havalim!"-not "futility" or "vanity" as most translations would have it, but "breath," "vapor," and "impermanence"-Shapiro opens up Koheleth's approach to living in a world where nothing lasts and justice is illusory; a world devoted to accumulating power, wealth, pleasure, and even knowledge that leaves you drowning in anxiety and needless suffering. He shows how Koheleth's God demands neither sacrifice nor adherence to commandments, offering instead a practical lifestyle rooted in moderation, meaningful work, and friendship.
Now you can experience the Book of Ecclesiastes and understand Koheleth's teachings with no previous knowledge of the Hebrew Bible. This SkyLight Illuminations edition presents insightful commentary that restores this ancient text to its timeless place as a guide to living sanely in an often insane world.
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Ghazali on the Principles of Islamic Sprituality
Selections from The Forty Foundations of Religion-Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The wisdom of one of the greatest scholars of Islam can be a companion on your own spiritual journey.
Considered by many to be the all-time greatest scholar of Islam, Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (1058—1111) was also one of the foremost sages of theology, philosophy and Sufism. His writings on the interrelation of law, theology and mysticism were central in establishing Sufism as a core dimension of orthodox Islamic practice. Muslim communities all across the world today still base much of their practice of Islam on Ghazali's writings.
The Forty Foundations of Religion, Ghazali's own summary of his magnum opus, The Revival of the Religious Sciences, serves as a brief and powerful summary of Islamic faith, worship, law and spirituality. It outlines the basis of Islamic belief, the foundational matters of ritual and practice, and the character traits a person must cultivate and avoid in the perfection of faith.
Now you can experience the wisdom of Ghazali even if you have no previous knowledge of The Forty Foundations of Religion or Islam. This SkyLight Illuminations edition-the first publication of significant portions of The Forty Foundations of Religion in English-provides original translations of selected highlights accompanied by insightful commentary that makes the core message of this great spiritual master relevant to anyone seeking a balanced understanding of Islam.
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The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius
Selections Annotated & Explained
by Russell McNeil
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The timeless wisdom of an ancient Stoic can become a companion for your own spiritual journey.
Stoicism is often portrayed as a cheerless, stiff-upper-lip philosophy of suffering and doom. Yet as experienced through the thoughtful and penetrating writings of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (121—180 CE), the Stoic approach to life is surprisingly rich, nuanced, clear-eyed and friendly.
With facing-page commentary that explains the texts for you, Russell McNeil, PhD, guides you through key passages from Aurelius's Meditations, comprised of the emperor's collected personal journal entries, to uncover the startlingly modern relevance his words have today. From devotion to family and duty to country, to a near-prophetic view of the natural world that aligns with modern physics, Aurelius's words speak as potently today as they did two millennia ago.
Now you can discover the tenderness, intelligence and honesty of Aurelius's writings with no previous background in philosophy or the classics. This SkyLight Illuminations edition offers insightful and engaging commentary that explains the historical background of Stoicism, as well as the ways this ancient philosophical system can offer psychological and spiritual insight into your contemporary life. You will be encouraged to explore and challenge Aurelius's ideas of what makes a fulfilling life-and in so doing you may discover new ways of perceiving happiness.
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The Sacred Writings of Paul
Selections Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
Fresh insight into Christianity's earliest teachings can be a guide for your own spiritual journey.
The Apostle Paul, who wrote many of the books in the New Testament, was a fearless and revolutionary religious innovator. In a society where slaveholding was commonplace and women were little more than servants, he preached a groundbreaking equality founded on a new spiritual identity. In an imperial political system that demanded unquestioning allegiance, Paul told his readers they were citizens of heaven. Yet Paul diverged from many of Jesus's own teachings about the world and God's kingdom, and his writings have been used to justify slavery, defend violence toward women, and vilify followers of other religious paths.
With fresh translations from the original Greek and insightful yet unobtrusive commentary, Ron Miller guides you through the complexities of Paul's writings. He explores Paul's limitations and sometimes harmful legacy, but also highlights Paul's deep connection with God's Spirit. This connection led to Paul's penetrating insights on how to live a life filled with spiritual vigor, experience profound joy even in the face of trouble, and understand the fundamental power of love to overcome any obstacle.
Whether you are familiar with Paul's writings or have no previous knowledge of them, this SkyLight Illuminations volume will open a door to let you experience the power of Paul's words for yourself.
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Saint Augustine of Hippo
Selections from Confessions and Other Essential Writings-Annotated & Explained
by Saint Augustine
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The restless heart and searching mind of this influential early church father can offer spiritual and intellectual companionship for your spiritual journey.
Augustine of Hippo (354—430), theologian, priest, and bishop, is one of the most important figures in the development of Western Christianity. He is known as much for his long interior struggle that ended with conversion and baptism at age thirty-two as for his influential teachings on human will, original sin and the theology of just war. Cherished as a model for the pursuit of a life of spiritual grace and criticized for his theory of predestination, Augustine is recognized as a living expression of the passion to understand and communicate the deeper meanings of human experience.
With fresh translations drawn from Augustine's voluminous writings and probing facing-page commentary, Augustinian scholar Joseph T. Kelley, PhD, provides insight into the mind and heart of this foundational Christian figure. Kelley illustrates how Augustine's keen intellect, rhetorical skill and passionate faith reshaped the theological language and dogmatic debates of early Christianity. He explores the stormy religious arguments and political upheavals of the fifth century, Augustine's controversial teachings on predestination, sexuality and marriage, and the deep undercurrents of Augustine's spiritual quest that still inspire Christians today.
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Hildegard of Bingen
Essential Writings and Chants of a Christian Mystic-Annotated & Explained
by Sheryl A. Kujawa-Holbrook
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
Enter the vibrant world of this medieval mystic and open yourself to the music of creation and the living light of God. This unique introduction to one of the most accomplished women in Christian history presents a wide range of Hildegard's rich and varied writings, grouped by theme, with insightful annotations and historical background.
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The Art of War-Spirituality for Conflict
Annotated & Explained
by Sun Tzu
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
Discover the spiritually incisive strategies for peacefully resolving conflict in this masterpiece of military strategy.
Written 2,500 years ago by Chinese general Sun Tzu, The Art of War is a poetic and potent treatise on military strategy still in use in war colleges around the world. Yet its principles transcend warfare and have practical applications to all the conflicts and crises we face in our lives-in our workplaces, our families, even within ourselves.
Thomas Huynh guides you through Sun Tzu's masterwork, highlighting principles that encourage a perceptive and spiritual approach to conflict, enabling you to:
• Prevent conflicts before they arise
• Peacefully and quickly resolve conflicts when they do arise
• Act with courage, intelligence and benevolence in adversarial situations
• Convert potential enemies into friends
• Control your emotions before they control you
Now you can experience the effectiveness of Sun Tzu's teachings even if you have no previous knowledge of The Art of War. Insightful yet unobtrusive facing-page commentary explains the subtleties of the text, allowing you to unlock the power of its teachings and help prevent and resolve the conflicts in your own life.
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The Book of Mormon
Selections Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
An inside look at the foundational sacred text of one of the world's youngest and fastest growing religions
The Book of Mormon stands alongside the Bible as the keystone of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church/Mormonism). Translated by the prophet Joseph Smith from ancient writings inscribed on golden plates, the Book of Mormon is an account of people living in the Western Hemisphere in a timeline that parallels that of the Bible. It covers a thousand years of loss, discovery, war, peace, and spiritual principles that focus on the teachings of Jesus Christ, outlining a plan for salvation and the responsibilities we must assume to attain it.
The Book of Mormon: Selections Annotated & Explained explores this sacred epic that is cherished by more than twelve million members of the LDS church as the keystone of their faith. Probing the principal themes and historical foundation of this controversial and provocative narrative, Jana Riess focuses on key selections that offer insight into contemporary Mormon beliefs and scriptural emphases, such as the atonement of Christ, the nature of human freedom, the purpose of baptism, and the need for repentance from sin. She clarifies the religious, political, and historical events that take place in the ancient communities of the Book of Mormon and their underlying contemporary teachings that serve as the framework for spiritual practices that lie at the core of Mormon life.
Now you can experience this foundational sacred text even if you have no previous knowledge of Mormonism. This SkyLight Illuminations edition presents the key teachings and essential concepts of the Mormon faith tradition with insightful yet unobtrusive commentary that helps to dispel many of the misconceptions that have surrounded the Book of Mormon since its publication in 1830.
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The Infancy Gospels of Jesus
Apocryphal Tales from the Childhoods of Mary and Jesus-Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
Early Christian legends of divine power, miraculous events, fear and admiration can inform your own spiritual journey.
The three principal infancy gospelsthe Infancy Gospel of James, the Gospel of the Infancy, and the Infancy Gospel of Thomasare accounts of the births and early lives of Mary the Virgin Mother, and Jesus. Originating in the second through fifth centuries, these apocryphal stories are fictions but nevertheless of great historical interest in terms of the beliefs and storytelling of early Christians, for they are the sources of well-known Christian legends as well as of some of Christianitys beloved heroes and heroines.
This fascinating and accessible exploration of formative influential narratives takes you deep into the early Christian religious thinking that provides the basis for Marys biography, ideas about her purity, as well as the prayers, feasts, and iconic representations that celebrate her life. These extraordinary folktales also provide some shocking imagery of the young Jesus, the incarnation of Godequally human and divineas he learns to control his supernatural powers and apply them for good.
Now you can experience the mystery and amusement of these charming folktales without any previous knowledge of early Christian history or thought. This SkyLight Illuminations edition offers insightful yet unobtrusive commentary that explains references and philosophical terms, shares inspiring interpretations, and gives you a deeper understanding of the sources of devotion Christians feel for Mary and the holy infant Jesus.
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The Way of a Pilgrim
The Jesus Prayer Journey-Annotated & Explained
by Gleb Pokrovsky
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The classic of Russian spirituality-now with facing-page commentary that illuminates and explains the text.
The Way of a Pilgrim is the timeless account of an anonymous wanderer who set out on a journey across nineteenth-century Russia with nothing but a backpack, some bread, and a Bible, with a burning desire to learn the true meaning of the words of St. Paul: "Pray without ceasing." In this completely accessible new abridgment, all the terms and references are explained for you--with intriguing insights into aspects of the text that are often not available to the general reader.
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Ethics of the Sages
Pirke Avot-Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The clear and compelling wisdom of the rabbinic sages can become a companion for your own spiritual journey.
At the heart of Judaism is an ethical imperative to live life from your true self, as the image and likeness of God. To do this, you must see the greatness of God manifest in all things, and therefore engage each moment with grace, humility, and justice. This imperative flowers in the words of the early Rabbis (250 BCE—250 CE), who captured God's call to be holy in Pirke Avot, a collection of pithy sayings on how best to live an ethical life.
This engaging introduction to the wisdom sayings of the rabbinic sages puts you in direct conversation with them, allowing the sages to speak directly to you about what matters in life and how to live it with dignity. With fresh, contemporary translation and provocative commentary, Rabbi Rami Shapiro focuses on the central themes in this Jewish wisdom compendium-study, kindness, compassion. He clarifies the rabbinic proverbs and parables in order to expose the ethical principles at their root. By recalling the ancient voices of the rabbinic sages, he shows us the contemporary significance of their timeless wisdom and distills Pirke Avot not as a book about ethics but as a practical guide to living ethically today.
Now you can experience the wisdom of the early Rabbis even if you have no previous knowledge of Judaism or rabbinic literature. This SkyLight Illuminations edition presents the ethical teachings of the rabbinic sages, with insightful yet unobtrusive commentary that conveys Pirke Avot's core challenge of God to the Jewish people, and through them all humanity: We are to be holy as God is holy. We are to be, in a human way, what God is in a divine way.
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Embracing the Divine Feminine
Finding God through God the Ecstasy of Physical Love-The Song of Songs Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
More than ancient erotic love poetry, this celebration of the human relationship with Wisdom can be a companion for your own spiritual journey.
The Song of Songs is the Hebrew Bible's deeply erotic poem of love, sexual yearning and consummation. Holding it sacred yet troubled by its thinly veiled eroticism, Jews and Christians for millennia have read the Song of Songs as an allegory of God's love for Israel-the classic Jewish understanding-or Jesus's love for his Church-the classic Christian understanding. This fresh translation restores the Song's eroticism and interprets it as a celebration of the love between the Divine Feminine and the contemporary spiritual seeker.
Scholar and award-winning teacher Rami Shapiro renders this ancient love song as Lady Wisdom offering seekers physical and spiritual intimacy with her so that they might awaken to and participate wisely in the unity of God, woman, man and nature. His intriguing facing-page commentary provides historical, religious and spiritual insights from Christian and Jewish wisdom traditions as well as clear comparisons to other translations.
Now you can understand the poetry, beauty, genius and mystery of the Song of Songs with no previous knowledge of the Hebrew Bible or wisdom literature. Compelling in its novelty and accessible in its presentation, this version of the Song of Songs will beckon you more deeply into Jewish-Christian sacred texts while offering you wisdom teachings and practices rooted in but not limited to religion.
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The Book of Common Prayer
A Spiritual Treasure Chest-Selections Annotated & Explained
by C. K. Robertson
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
This source of strength and solace for millions of Christian clergy and laypeople throughout the world can be a companion for your own spiritual journey.
For centuries, Christians of different traditions and seekers from various backgrounds have found strength for their spiritual journey in the Book of Common Prayer (BCP). First composed in 1549 by Thomas Cranmer, Henry VIII's Archbishop of Canterbury, the BCP, alongside Shakespeare's works and the King James Bible, helped shape the English language. Today almost eighty million Anglican Christians throughout the world use the BCP in public worship, and countless people-Anglican and otherwise-use it in their private devotional life.
In this unique presentation of selections-organized by themes such as "Blessings in Times of Joy and Pain," "Called to Serve" and "Praise and Petition"-with facing-page commentary, C. K. Robertson offers fascinating insights into the history and heritage of the BCP. He also makes available the riches of this spiritual treasure chest for all who are interested in deepening their life of prayer, building stronger relationships and making a difference in the world.
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Zohar
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The best-selling author of The Essential Kabbalah now offers readers the best introduction to the Zohar.
The splendor and enigmatic appeal of the Zohar, the major text of the Jewish mystical tradition, has never intrigued readers of all faiths more than it does today. But how can we truly understand it?
Daniel C. Matt brings together in one place the most important teachings from the Zohar, the cornerstone of Kabbalah-described as a mixture of theology, mystical psychology, anthropology, myth, and poetry-alongside facing-page stories, notes, and historical background that illuminate and explain the text. Ideal for the first-time reader with no prior knowledge of Jewish mysticism.
Guides readers step-by-step through the texts that make up the Zohar-midrash, mystical fantasy, commentary, and Hebrew scripture-and explains the inner meanings of this sacred text, recognized by kabbalists as the most important work of mystical teaching, in a way that is both spiritually enlightening and intellectually fascinating.
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Tanya the Masterpiece of Hasidic Wisdom
Selections Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The wisdom of Jewish spirituality and mysticism can be a companion for your own spiritual journey.
Tanya, "It Was Taught," is one of the most powerful and potentially transformative books of Jewish wisdom. Written in 1797 by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad Hasidism, Tanya sets forth the fundamentals of Jewish spirituality and mysticism. While a focus of daily study by tens of thousands of Hasidic Jews, Tanya is little known outside the world of Jewish mysticism. Until now, its kabbalistic terms and esoteric language have made this essential text of Jewish spirituality inaccessible to most readers.
In this engaging volume, Rabbi Rami Shapiro offers a contemporary English translation of key selections of Tanya coupled with commentary designed to clarify and amplify the wisdom it contains. He also outlines the philosophical and spiritual framework on which Tanya is based-God's nonduality; the five dimensions of reality and their corresponding intelligences (body, heart, mind, soul, and spirit); the purpose of mitzvot, the practices of Jewish life, as catalysts to God realization and the hallowing of all life through godliness-to help you understand the selected Tanya translations in a way that enhances your own spiritual development.
Now you can benefit from the wisdom of Tanya even if you have no previous knowledge of Judaism or Hebrew terminology. This SkyLight Illuminations edition presents the core teachings of Tanya, with insightful yet unobtrusive commentary that will deepen your understanding of the soul and how it relates to and manifests the Divine Source from which all life comes, in which all life lives and to which all life returns.
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The Secret Book of John
The Gnostic Gospels-Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
This ancient Gnostic text can be a companion for your own spiritual quest
The Secret Book of John is the most significant and influential text of the ancient Gnostic religion. Part of the library of books found in Nag Hammadi, Egypt, in 1945, this central myth of Gnosticism tells the story of how God fell from perfect Oneness to imprisonment in the material world, and how by knowing our divine nature and our divine origins-that we are one with God-we reverse God's descent and find our salvation.
The Secret Book of John: The Gnostic Gospel-Annotated & Explained decodes the principal themes, historical foundation, and spiritual contexts of this challenging yet fundamental Gnostic teaching. Drawing connections to Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, kabbalistic Judaism, and Sufism, Davies focuses on the mythology and psychology of the Gnostic religious quest. He illuminates the Gnostics' ardent call for self-awareness and introspection, and the empowering message that divine wholeness will be restored not by worshiping false gods in an illusory material world but by our recognition of the inherent divinity within ourselves.
Now you can experience and understand this foundational teaching even if you have no previous knowledge of Gnosticism. This SkyLight Illuminations edition presents the most important and valued book in Gnostic religion with insightful yet unobtrusive commentary. It provides deeper insight into the understanding that in Gnosticism the distinction between savior and saved ceases to exist-you must save yourself and in doing so save God.
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Sex Texts from the Bible
Selections Annotated & Explained
by Teresa J. Hornsby
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
A fresh look at the Bible reveals a richness of insight about sex and sexuality
For some people, the Bible's perspectives on sex may seem too one-dimensional or antiquated to apply to modern-day life. Others may hold up the Bible as the ultimate moral guideline when it comes to sex and human sexuality. A close reading of the Bible reveals that while its rules and lessons about sex and sexuality may not be applicable to all people at all times, this sacred scripture does offer surprising insight into our modern sexual lives.
This intriguing guide demystifies the Bible, synthesizing basic historical, theological, literary and linguistic ideas about the Bible's texts with our modern attitudes about sex. Thoughtful new translation and provocative commentary bridge the divide between biblical authority and our present-day views on gender roles, marriage, sexual orientation, virginity, lust and sexual pleasure. Drawing from Hebrew and Christian scripture, it examines the ways that the language of religion and the language of sex intersect.
Now you can discover what the Bible says about sex with no previous background in theology or religious history. This SkyLight Illuminations edition offers insightful and engaging commentary that explains the historical context and religious worldviews of those who wrote the Bible as well as the role their perspectives play in current social debates. You will be encouraged to form your own opinion about what the Bible has to say about sex and gain a deeper understanding of your own sexuality.
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The Hebrew Prophets
Selections Annotated & Explained
by Rami M. Shapiro
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
Fresh translation and facing-page annotations bring the compelling wisdom of the Hebrew prophets to life.
Hundreds of commentaries and dozens of Bible translations make the Hebrew prophets available to modern-day readers, but most often these sources focus on history or apologetics, losing the reader who is searching for spiritual insight.
The Hebrew Prophets: Selections Annotated & Explained makes the wisdom of these timeless teachers available to readers with no previous knowledge of the prophets. With fresh, contemporary commentary, Rami Shapiro reveals the central themes covered by all the prophets: moving from ignorance to wisdom, injustice to justice, cruelty to compassion, and despair to joy.
This unique look at the Hebrew Prophets sharpens the personal nature of their message and highlights their critique of the spiritual errors we all face in life, challenging readers to correct those errors and experience a life of awakening and joy.
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John & Charles Wesley
Selections from Their Writings and Hymns-Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
John and Charles Wesley provide a vision of God that beckons to anyone interested in a spiritual life.
John Wesley (1703—1791), Anglican priest, theologian and church reformer, and his brother Charles Wesley (1707—1788), one of the greatest hymn writers of all time, co-founded Methodism, a major movement of Christian renewal. Their vision of Christian discipleship included important spiritual practices that fueled the revival of the eighteenth-century Church of England. Their holistic theology/spirituality affords guidance for the contemporary spiritual seeker who yearns for greater meaning and purpose in life.
This unique presentation of the writings of these two inspiring brothers brings together some of the most essential material from their large corpus of work. While John articulated his vision of Christianity through many sermons, journals and theological treatises, Charles expressed his theology in lyrical form through some nine thousand hymns and devotional poems.
These excerpts from Charles and John Wesley, with probing facing-page commentary, will provide insight not only into the renewal of dynamic and vital Christianity, but into the struggles and concerns of all who seek to be faithful participants in God's vision of love in every age.
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The Gospel of Philip
Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
This ancient Gnostic text can be a companion for your own spiritual quest.
The Gospel of Philip is one of the most exciting and accessible of the Gnostic texts found at Nag Hammadi in Egypt in 1945. The source of Dan Brown's intriguing speculations about Mary Magdalene in his best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code, the Gospel of Philip draws on ancient imagery-the natural world, the relationships between women, men and family, the ancient distinctions between lord and servants, free people and slaves, and pagans, Jews and Christians-to offer us insight into the spiritual interpretation of scripture that is at the foundation of Christianity.
The Gospel of Philip: Annotated and Explained unravels the discourses, parables and sayings of this second-century text to explore a spiritual, non-literal interpretation of the Bible. Along with his elegant and accurate new translation from the original Coptic, Andrew Phillip Smith probes the symbolism and metaphors at the heart of the Gospel of Philip to reveal otherwise unrecorded sayings of Jesus, fragments of Gnostic mythology and parallels to the teachings of Jesus and Paul. He also examines the joyful imagery of rebirth, salvation and mystical union in the bridal chamber that was the pursuit of Christian Gnosticism.
Now you can experience this ancient Gospel even if you have no previous knowledge of early Christianity or Gnostic thought. This SkyLight Illuminations edition provides important insights into the historical context and major themes of the Gospel of Philip, and gives you a deeper understanding of the Gospel's overarching message: deciphering our own meaning behind the symbols of this world increases and enriches our understanding of God.
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Julian of Norwich
Selections from Revelations of Divine Love-Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
Teachings from this fourteenth-century mystic provide spiritual direction and call for you to open yourself, body and soul, to divine love.
Many people are familiar with the phrase "All shall be well" but do not know much, if anything, about Julian of Norwich, the fourteenth-century English mystic who wrote those words. Thomas Merton declared her to be "without a doubt one of the most wonderful of all Christian voices," and former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams says that her writings "may well be the most important work of Christian reflection in the English language."
This accessible introduction to Julian's Revelations of Divine Love, an extended reflection on a series of her mystical visions, includes an informative introduction that addresses the historical, cultural and sociological context of Julian's life and writings. Mary Earle's facing-page commentary focuses on Julian's profoundly hopeful vision of humanity and God, her creative imagery and her rigorous honesty about the spiritual life. Drawing directly from Julian's text, Earle addresses a variety of topics essential to understanding Julian's mysticism, including the infinite nature of God, the life of prayer, God's suffering with us, the eternal and undying life of the soul, the motherhood of Jesus and the motherhood of God, "all shall be well" and more.
Drawing directly from Julian's text, the commentary addresses a variety of topics including the infinite nature of God, the life of prayer, God's suffering with us, the eternal and undying life of the soul, the motherhood of Jesus and the motherhood of God, "all shall be well" and more.
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Proverbs
Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
Wise and practical prescriptions for how to live with an honest perception of reality
can become a companion for your own spiritual journey.
More than commonplace truisms, the biblical Book of Proverbs is an anthology of teachings designed to help you live with a sense of self-responsibility. Its wisdom, compiled in the seventh century BCE and credited to King Solomon, transcends nationality and politics, addressing instead the individual seeking the true satisfaction and tranquility that comes from living with an honest perception of reality.
In this fresh translation of an ancient "how-to," Rami Shapiro unpacks the proverbs, demonstrating how these complex poetic forms are actually straightforward instructions to live simply, without rationalizations and excuses. He shows how unlike almost anything else in the Hebrew Bible, the truths claimed in the Book of Proverbs are testable and verifiable. They force us to examine our lives and how we are living them without the benefit of psychological sophistry and New Age babble: We are either doing good or doing bad; we are either disciplined or lazy; we are either students of wisdom or puppets of desire.
Now you can experience the Book of Proverbs and understand Solomon's teachings with no previous knowledge of the Hebrew Bible. This SkyLight Illuminations edition presents insightful commentary that shares these timeless principles and encourages us to put them into practice in ways that are uniquely our own.
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Confucius, the Analects
The Path of the Sage-Selections Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The wisdom of Confucius, China's greatest teacher and sage, can guide each of us in our own time.
Twenty-six centuries after their origination, the principles laid down in the Analects of Confucius still act as the foundation of Chinese philosophy, ethics, society and government, and play a formative role in the development of many Eastern philosophies. In this intriguing look at the ethical and spiritual meaning of the Analects, Rodney L. Taylor, the foremost American researcher of Confucius as a religious and spiritual figure, explains their profound and universal wisdom for our own time. He shows how Confucius advocates learning and self-cultivation to follow the "path of the sage" or "Way of Heaven"-a journey that promises to promote reason, peace and understanding.
Alongside an updated version of the classic translation by Sinologist James Legge, Taylor provides informative and accessible commentary that illuminates the meaning behind selected passages from the Analects and their insights on character development, respect and reverence, and the nature of learning, goodness, truthfulness and righteousness.
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The Gospel of Thomas
Annotated & Explained
by Various Authors
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The recently discovered mystical sayings of Jesus, with facing-page commentary that brings the text to life for you.
"The Gospel of Thomas really is, I believe, the clearest guide we have to the vision of the world's supreme mystical revolutionary, the teacher known as Jesus. To those who learn to unpack its sometimes cryptic sayings, the Gospel of Thomas offers a naked and dazzlingly subversive representation of Jesus' defining and most radical discovery: that the living Kingdom of God burns in us and surrounds us at all moments."
—from the Foreword by Andrew Harvey
This ancient text can become a companion for your own spiritual journey. In 1945, twelve ancient books were found inside a sealed jar at the base of an Egyptian cliff. One of those texts was the Gospel of Thomas, one of the most important religious archaeological discoveries of the twentieth century. While illuminating the origins of Christianity, it raises the question whether the New Testament's version of Jesus' teachings is entirely accurate and complete.
Written at the same time as the canonical Gospels, the Gospel of Thomas portrays Jesus as a wisdom-loving sage. The aphoristic sayings emphasize the value of the present, teaching that the Kingdom of God is here and now, rather than a future promise or future threat. It presents a new way of looking at the challenging and intriguing figure of Jesus, and reminds us that the Divine can be found right here on earth.
Now you can experience the Gospel of Thomas with understanding even if you have no previous knowledge of early Christian history or thought. This SkyLight Illuminations edition offers insightful yet unobtrusive commentary that explains references and philosophical terms, shares the inspiring interpretations of famous spiritual teachers, and gives you deeper understanding of Thomas's innovative message: that self-knowledge and contemplation of the nature of this world are the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.
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Bhagavad Gita
by Kendra Crossen Burroughs
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
An ancient classic that can become a companion for your own spiritual journey.
Millions of people turn daily to India's most beloved holy book, the Bhagavad Gita ("Song of the Lord"), to instruct their spiritual practice. A Hindu classic, it has universal appeal for people of all faith traditions who turn to its inspirational support in the struggles of life, its consolation in times of grief, and its deeply moving promise of God's love and guidance.
Composed in Sanskrit verse thousands of years ago, this timeless text tells the story of a distraught warrior on the verge of battle and the compassionate counsel he receives from Krishna-God in human form. In just seven hundred lines, the Gita presents concise teachings on such topics as the immortality of the soul, meditation and yoga, worship and sacrifice, the ideal of selfless action, and the oneness of all life in the Divine.
Now you can read and understand the Gita with no previous knowledge of Hinduism required.
This SkyLight Illuminations edition offers insightful yet unobtrusive commentary that explains references and philosophical terms; shares the inspiring interpretations of famous spiritual teachers; and addresses questions such as the inner meaning of India's caste system and why this sublime discourse on inner peace is set against the background of a violent civil war.
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Psalms
A Spiritual Commentary
by M. Basil Pennington
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
Let the Psalms help you forge a deeper connection to the Divine.
Showing how the Psalms give profound and candid expression to both our highest aspirations and our deepest pain, the late, highly respected Cistercian Abbot M. Basil Pennington shares his reflections on some of the most beloved passages from the Bible's most widely read book. In this companion volume to The Song of Songs: A Spiritual Commentary, Pennington is once again joined by Jewish artist Phillip Ratner, whose evocative works will lead you into more meaningful contemplation of the inner spirit of the Psalms.
Pennington describes how the monastic tradition of regular reflection on the Psalms-a technique St. Benedict called the "work of God," or Opus Dei-can help you transform your everyday life into a powerful life of prayer. Enriched by Jewish and Christian faith, the drawings and meditations speak to every person wanting both to connect with their most human longings and to forge a vital connection with the Divine.
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Desert Fathers and Mothers
Early Christian Wisdom Sayings-Annotated & Explained
by Christine Valters Paintner
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
Timeless and contemplative sayings from the earliest Christian sages of desert spirituality can be a companion on your own spiritual journey.
The desert fathers and mothers were ordinary Christians living in solitude in the deserts of Egypt, Palestine, Syria and Arabia who chose to renounce the world in order to deliberately and individually follow God's call. They embraced lives of celibacy, labor, fasting, prayer and poverty, believing that denouncing material goods and practicing stoic self-discipline would lead to unity with the Divine. Their spiritual practice formed the basis of Western monasticism and greatly influenced both Western and Eastern Christianity.
Their writings, first recorded in the fourth century, consist of spiritual advice, parables and anecdotes emphasizing the primacy of love and the purity of heart. Focusing on key themes of charity, fortitude, lust, patience, prayer and self-control, the Sayings influenced the rule of St. Benedict and have inspired centuries of opera, poetry and art.
This probing and personal SkyLight Illuminations edition opens up their wisdom for readers with no previous knowledge of Western monasticism and early Christianity. It provides insightful yet unobtrusive commentary that describes historical background, explains the practice of asceticism and illustrates how you can use their wisdom to energize your spiritual quest.
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Gnostic Writings on the Soul
Annotated & Explained
by Andrew Phillip Smith
Part of the SkyLight Illuminations series
The inspiration and insight of these Gnostic writings can become a companion on your own spiritual journey.
Just what is a soul, exactly? Where did the idea come from? How do we experience our souls? Two ancient Gnostic texts-The Exegesis on the Soul and The Hymn of the Pearl, both presented here in all-new translations-hold important clues to the development of the soul as a concept and reveal inspiring ways your own soul can remember and return to its unique, divine purpose.
The Exegesis on the Soul depicts the soul as a feminine figure who has fallen into the corrupted world and must find her way back to the Divine. It is the story of the soul's struggle and redemption that will embolden your own spiritual pilgrimage. The Hymn of the Pearl is an allegorical story about a prince sent to retrieve a precious pearl but who soon forgets his purpose and falls asleep. It is a moving tale of the importance of remembering your soul's identity and calling-and knowing that only you can fulfill your destiny.
Accessible facing-page commentary explains the Gnostic writings for you even if you have no previous knowledge of Gnosticism or early Christianity. Additional material draws on ancient religions, Platonism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam and modern philosophical and psychological notions of the soul to place the Gnostic teachings in a clear historical context. By following the development of this concept through time, you will more clearly perceive-and respond to-the divine spark found in your own soul.
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