Spirituality

Growing into Wisdom explores important questions regarding midlife and discusses the many aspects of ageing from the physical to the psychological and spiritual. It provides guidance and direction for the challenges that midlife brings. Written by popular Auckland psychotherapist, writer and artist Juliet Batten, she outlines wide-ranging aspects of this part of life. Reprinted  in 2007. Clearly a book with a long life.

In Coming to Our Senses, Jon Kabat-Zinn provided the definitive book for our time on the connection between mindfulness and our physical and spiritual wellbeing. With ARRIVING AT YOUR OWN DOOR Jon??'s insightful teachings are compiled into verses, offering 100 gems of knowledge on simple, intuitive ways in which we can come to a deeper understanding, of our beauty, our genius, and our life path in a complicated, fear-driven, and rapidly changing world. Some of these wisdoms are: ??& nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & n... read more

Eckhart Tolle is one of today's most inspiring teachers. In The Power of Now the author describes his transition from despair to self-realisation soon after his twenty-ninth birthday. Tolle took another ten years to understand this transformation, during which time he evolved a philosophy that has parallels in Buddhism, relaxation techniques and meditation theory but is also eminently practical. In The Power of Now he shows readers how to recognise themselves as the creators of their own pain, and how to have a pain-free existence... read more

In this beautifully written book, Buddhist monk and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Thich Nhat Hanh explains how to acquire the skills of mindfulness. Once we have these skills, we can slow our lives down and discover how to live in the moment - even simple acts like washing the dishes or drinking a cup of tea may be transformed into acts of meditation. Thich Nhat Hanh's gentle anecdotes and practical exercises help us to arrive at greater self-understanding and peacefulness, whether we are beginners or advanced students. Irrespective of... read more

Imagine the world we would live in if we dared to see all of life as sacred - unconditionally. At a time when religion is increasingly seen as a cause of prejudice and division, or as irrelevant to our most pressing concerns, the eternal truths of a genuinely inclusive spiritual wisdom have never been more urgently needed or sought. In Seeking the Sacred, Stephanie Dowrick invites us to go beyond cultural divisions and religious cliches and to discover what makes our lives sacred, satisfying and meaningful. Weaving personal stories... read more

In Buddha’s Brain, Rick Hanson explained the neuroscience underlying meditation and helped readers maximize the benefits of mindfulness for greater happiness and peace of mind. Building on the success of Buddha’s Brain, Just One Thing presents over fifty simple practices readers can do that can have a dramatic positive impact on their lives. Just one simple practice can make big changes in readers’ lives by gradually increasing readers’ capacity for joy, relaxation, and gratitude.
 
Each pra... read more

In 1999 His Holiness The Dalai Lama published the bestselling "Ancient Wisdom: Modern World", which addressed the question of ethics for the new millennium. A decade later, His Holiness enters the contemporary debate about religion vs atheism, and returns to the theme of ethics with a major new work: "Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World". In this thought-provoking new book he argues that religion is not a necessity for pursuing a spiritual life. Rather, focusing on tolerance and understanding between religions, as well as tol... read more

The God Franchise dares to offer refreshing answers to the big questions of life and God and the universe in a friendly, down-to-earth, thought-provoking, stimulating, entertaining yet practical way. You will be astounded at the simplicity of the big picture, while recognising the profundity of this glimpse of the Truth. You will begin this journey of discovery in the timelessness before the universe began and will reach today, this moment in time, in a state of clarity about how to live your daily life with purpose and fulf... read more

Mindfulness is considered the heart of Buddhist meditation but its essence is universal and of deep practical benefit to all.& nbsp; In essence, mindfulness is about wakefulness.& nbsp; Our minds are such that we are often more asleep than awake to the unique beauty and possibilities of each present moment as it unfolds.& nbsp; In WHEREVER YOU GO THERE YOU ARE, Jon Kabat-Zinn maps out a simple path for cultivating mindfulness in one??'s own life.& nbsp; It speaks both to those coming to meditation for the first time and to longtime... read more

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Mindfulness is considered the heart of Buddhist meditation. But its essence is universal and of deep practical benefit to everyone. Wherever You Go, There You Are, Jon Kabat-Zinn maps out a simple path for cultivating mindfulness in our lives, and awakening us to the unique beauty and possibilities of each present moment. He shows us how this simple meditation technique can enable us to be truly in touch with where we already are, so that we can be fully aware at all times. Jon Kabat-Zinn explains: What 'mindfulness' is; Ho... read more

'We have fallen out of belonging. Consequently, when we stand before crucial thresholds in our lives, we have no rituals to protect, encourage and guide us as we cross over into the unknown. For such crossings, we need to find new words. What is nearest to the heart is often farthest from the word. This book is an attempt to reach into that tenuous territory of change that we must cross...' First published 2007.

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'"Women Who Run With The Wolves" isn't just another book. It is a gift of profound insight, wisdom and love. An oracle from one who knows.' - Alice Walker. In the classic "Women Who Run With The Wolves", Clarissa Pinkola Estes tells us about the 'wild woman', the wise and ageless presence in the female psyche that gives women their creativity, energy and power. For centuries, the 'wild woman' has been repressed by a male-orientated value system which trivialises women's emotions. Using a combinat... read more

In this powerful, evocative collection, master storyteller John O'Donohue explores themes of love and loss, beginnings and endings. Inspired by the ancient wisdom of the Celtic tradition and the rugged, majestic landscape of his birth, the west of Ireland, here he also creates a unique vision of a place and time, and the echo of a memory that will never fade.

John Crace, creator of the Guardian's 'Digested Read' column, hilariously summarises the great - and not so great - classics of modern literature.
John Crace's 'Digested Read' column in The Guardian has rightly acquired a cult following. Each week fans avidly devour his latest razor-sharp literary assassination, while authors turn tremblingly to the appropriate page of the review section, fearful that it may be their turn to be mercilessly sent up. Now he turns his critical eye on the classics of the last century, offering ... read more

The story of nine-year old Ayla and her elderly neighbour, Pearl. Through the teenage years, Pearl shares her wisdom and uses her cherished collection of cushions as metaphors to gently share poignant lessons on love, faith, hope, loss and other first encounters, as Ayla 'comes of age'.

'a call to women' is a beautifully presented 124 page hardback book combining Susan's philosophy with photographic images from her collection and from some other very talented photographers. A guide for the feminine soul. Sit quietly, open a page and read your daily message. Be reminded, encouraged and supported in your journey.

Drawing on a wide range of material - ranging from the spiritual character of the world religions to the findings of contemporary neuroscience - Karen Armstrong argues that compassion is hardwired into our brains, yet is constantly pushed back by our more primitive instincts for selfishness and survival. Since time immemorial religion has enhanced our altruistic tendencies: all faiths insist that the Golden Rule is the test of true spirituality - 'Always treat others as you wish to be treated yourself'. Taking as her starting point... read more

In THE POWER OF MODERN SPIRITUALITY, William Bloom identifies for the first time the core strategies found at the heart of all spiritual traditions and explains how everyone - regardless of background, beliefs or personality type - can develop them and immediately put them into practice. He structures his book around the key areas of connection, reflection and service, showing us how to recognise and develop these aspects of ourselves in the context of today's challenges and crises so that we gain greater meaning and purpose in our... read more