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Spirituality and Religion January 2018
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| The Last Arrow: Save Nothing for the Next Life by Erwin Raphael McManusWhat it is: Author Erwin McManus, the founder of Mosaic, a Los Angeles Christian community, exhorts the faithful to give their best efforts to serving God and the needs of others. This spiritual autobiography builds on the story of Elijah and Elisha from the Hebrew scriptures, as McManus provides examples of where a leap of faith can take you.
Is it for you? For Christians, the book's real-life illustrations and scriptural basis are thought-provoking and inspirational. |
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7 Lessons from Heaven : How Dying Taught Me to Live a Joy-filled Life
by Mary C. Neal
In this inspired follow-up to her million-copy bestseller, To Heaven and Back, Dr. Mary Neal shares untold stories about her encounters with Jesus and powerful insights about how the reality of heaven can make each day magnificent. Dr. Mary Neal's unforgettable account of a 1999 kayaking accident that took her life, and what happened next, has riveted more than a million readers. But something happened as she shared her story in the years since. Not only did Neal realize she had more to tell, she discovered she had yet to answer the biggest question of all: How does knowing heaven is real change our lives on Earth?
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Einstein and the rabbi : searching for the soul
by Naomi Levy
When Rabbi Naomi Levy came across this poignant letter by Einstein it shook her to her core. His words perfectly captured what she has come to believe about the human condition: That we are intimately connected, and that we are blind to this truth. Levy wondered what had elicited such spiritual wisdom from a man of science? Thus began a three-year search into the mystery of Einstein’s letter, and into the mystery of the human soul. What emerges is an inspiring, deeply affecting book for people of all faiths filled with universal truths that will help us reclaim our own souls and glimpse the unity that has been evading us. We all long to see more expansively, to live up to our gifts, to understand why we are here. Levy leads us on a breathtaking journey full of wisdom, empathy and humor, challenging us to wake up and heed the voice calling from within―a voice beckoning us to become who we were born be.
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The Great Shift: Encountering God in Biblical Times
by James L. Kugel
In The Great Shift, acclaimed Orthodox Jewish scholar James Kugel considers how the people of ancient times encountered God and, examining the Hebrew scriptures, traces a gradual change in human perceptions of the divine presence. These perceptions progress from literal, intimate encounters with God, through conversations mediated by heavenly messengers, to an understanding of God as distant and hard to reach. Drawing on his deep understanding of Hebrew scriptures and literature, theology, and human psychology, Kugel provides an intriguing window into ancient texts for modern readers.
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| The Dude and the Zen Master by Jeff Bridges and Bernie GlassmanWhat it is: a dialogue about many aspects of Zen between film star Jeff Bridges and his Buddhist teacher, Bernie Glassman. Using accessible examples from American popular culture, they lightheartedly consider how to deal with change, promote peace, end hunger, and other serious issues.
Follow up: Watch The Big Lebowski (or see it again). For a more traditional introduction to practical Zen Buddhism, try Jack Kornfeld's The Art of Forgiveness. |
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| A Force for Good by Daniel GolemanWhat it's about: Psychologist Daniel Goleman applies his research on emotional intelligence to the Dalai Lama's philosophy of compassion and action. Starring: the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, who is the leader of Tibetan Buddhists and exiled head of the Tibetan people. He discusses how his monastic training guides his views of the world and the choices he makes. What you might like: The Dalai Lama's sense of humor shines, along with his wisdom, in this practical interpretation of Buddhist precepts. |
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| Silence: The Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise by Thich Nhat HanhWhat it is: an inspirational discussion of the importance of silence as an antidote to psychological and environmental noise.
Key insight: Buddhist meditation promotes mindfulness and deep listening, helping you follow the Bodhisattva path to enlightenment.
About the author: The internationally acclaimed Vietnamese Buddhist monk writes straightforward and accessible books on meditation practice and its benefits. |
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The Art of Living: Peace and Freedom in the Here and Now
by Thích Nhất Hạnh
In The Art of Living, acclaimed Vietnamese Buddhist teacher Thích Nhất Hạnh offers techniques for living happily in a challenging world. His lectures about these techniques develop the practice of mindfulness to show how it applies pragmatically to ordinary life. As he often does, Nhất Hạnh focuses on the importance of breathing and the interconnectedness of everything. The talks collected in this book can be read in any order and are accessible to those who are new to Buddhism and informative to people already familiar with Nhất Hạnh's teachings.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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San Mateo Public Library 55 West 3rd Avenue San Mateo, California 94402 (650) 522-7802www.smplibrary.org |
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