Philosophy - Philosophy

Bob Marley began writing lyrics in the Early 1960's, and he continued to produce them until his passing in 1981. Critics have called these songs the best of the millennium. Yet, few readers have ever read Marley's magic on the page. For the first time, his eldest daughter Cedella has made a selection of her father's most prophetic and personal poems, insights and conversational messages.
Here are meditations to soothe the soul and thoughts to penetrate the mind. Here too, is an encapsulated life of Bob Marley, the man. In his spare writings we can see the ebb and flow of his journey as an artist and a humanitarian. Packaged for purse and pocket, this collection is sure to find a place in everyone's heart.

We cannot escape from philosophy because we philosophise when we reflect critically on how we are living. The eleven philosophies in this book embody ideas of considerable force and fascination, which can change lives by penetrating the illusions of appearance and the delusions of common sense by which life misleads us. Because philosophy is thinking about thinking, it is a subversive and liberating activity. It is subversive because philosophers are never satisfied with final answers. It is liberating because philosophers confront us with our prejudices. There is a huge shift towards philosophy. Professor Spillane believes we can greatly benefit from being challenged, confronted and changed by the teachings of luminaries such as Homer, Plato, Machiavelli, Nietzsche, Sartre and others and he shows us how these teachings are as completely relevant to today as they ever were. There are, also, huge benefits for those in business. In a busy life, we often don't have time to reflect all that much, we just do things, but when we are making decisions we are drawing on a certain background knowledge and a knowledge of philosophy can be of great help.

CONSCIOUSNESS IS ALL is a book on Absolute Reality, sometimes called Infinite Reality. It shows clearly why only Consciousness Itself - also known as the One Self, I Am, Love, Life, the Divine, God and other terms - is being conscious right here, now.
Consciousness is absolutely all there is of all there is. Simply nothing exists outside of, or beyond, Consciousness.
As Consciousness is All or One - It thus is not a higher Self, but the only Self. It precludes there being another, lesser consciousness that has to or can become anything. No transformation is necessary or even possible. This shatters the myth of a would-be secondary self struggling to get at one with a vague "god."

That Self being conscious here, now, is the only You there is. After You read this book, You will see that now Life is completely new.

If you have woken up to the fact that there is something seriously amiss with the perception of reality subscribed to by the preponderance of humanity and consequently are searching for a rational (albeit unorthodox) interpretation of our current existence, then this book was written for you.

It begins with our planetary past, present and probable future and then continues with humanity's hidden history, the cyclical nature of consciousness and the illusions inherent in our physical reality. This is followed by a brief synopsis of the structures which exert inordinate control over the human race and an investigation into the motives and insidious methods employed in the manipulation of our species consciousness. The cynical exploitation of the divisions within humanity is then brought into focus. Some of the largely unrecognised perils and potentials we face are, also, appraised and our influence on the coalescing future we are moving into, is considered. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of pursuing spiritual enlightenment, unencumbered by either common delusions or religious dogma.

Lastly, the reader is introduced to aspects of science which have, to humanity's detriment, generally been suppressed or ignored.

The diminutive size of this book belies the extreme depth of its contents: the practical and urgent nature of the teachings provided here are as potentially transformative as a lightning strike. The serious spiritual investigator will find essential steps leading to the direct experience of the mysteries of life, death, karma, suffering, and the root of existence: the Emptiness or Void. This is not merely a recitation of theories or doctrines: it is the practical experience of the author, as acquired through the awakening of the consciousness, and is in accordance with the universal wisdom taught by all the great spiritual messengers throughout time and space.

Frithjof Schuon (1907-1998) is the foremost representative of the “Perennialist” or “Traditionalist” school of comparative religious thought. Michael Fitzgerald's book is the most comprehensive biographical study of Schuon to date—one which shows how Schuon expressed his message not only in his majestic metaphysical works but in poetry, in painting and in the disciplines of daily life. Appropriate and concise quotations from Schuon's articles, books, memoirs and correspondence are combined with a wealth of reliable information from people who knew Schuon well. Readers are thus given valuable tools to help clarify and deepen their understanding of Frithjof Schuon's life and works. With more than a dozen colour illustrations and over 40 sepia photographs, this biography should become a standard reference work for all future studies of Schuon.

This is the first comprehensive study of the intellectual and spiritual message of world-renowned philosopher Frithjof Schuon (1907-1998), the foremost spokesman of the “Perennialist” or “Traditionalist” school of comparative religious thought. Intended primarily as an introductory guide to Schuon's writings, Harry Oldmeadow's book focuses on Schuon's exposition of metaphysics and the “transcendent unity of religions”, his presentation of the religious traditions of East and West (including the spiritual heritage of the American Indians), his criticism of the modern world, and his views on sacred art and beauty. Also included is an overview of Schuon's paintings and poetry, as well as his insights on prayer and virtue in the spiritual life. This ground-breaking work provides the general reader with a coherent and systematic account of the Perennial Philosophy and covers all aspects of Schuon's work. Foreword by William Stoddart

THE FUTURE OF THE ANCIENT WORLD sheds new light on the evolution of consciousness from antiquity to modern times. The twelve essays in this book examine developments in human consciousness over the past five thousand years that most history books do not touch. In ancient times, human beings were finely attuned to the invisible world of the gods, spirits and ancestors. Today, by contrast, our modern scientific consciousness regards what is physically imperceptible as unreal. Our experience of the natural world has shifted from an awareness of the divine presence animating all things to the mere scientific analyses of physical attributes, a deadened mode of awareness that relies on our ability to believe only in what we can see. In these richly illustrated and wide-ranging essays that span the cultures of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome and the early Christian period, Jeremy Naydler shows how the consciousness that prevailed in ancient times may inspire us toward a future in which we once again reconnect with invisible realms. If the history of consciousness bears witness to the loss of visionary and participatory awareness, it also shows a new possibility - the possibility of developing a free and objective relationship to the spirit world. Naydler urges us not only to draw inspiration from the wisdom of the ancients but to carry this wisdom forward into the future in a renewed relationship to the spiritual that is based on human freedom and responsibility. · Shows how scientific consciousness, which gives primacy to the sense of sight, estranged us from the participatory spiritual consciousness of antiquity · Explores the vital importance of the imagination in reconnecting us to the spirit world

In 1769, James Bruce, returning from Upper Egypt, brought The Codex Brucianus to England and bequeathed it to the Bodleian Library. It contained several Gnostic works, written in Coptic, dating from about the 6th century ad, but the original Greek texts from which they came are probably much older. Part of this collection?"The Untitled Apocalypse"?is translated in this book and has been dated around the 2nd century ad, the time of Basilides and Valentinus. It lays out the early Gnostic teachings in esoteric symbolism designed to work upon the initiate?s inner experience rather than being worked upon with the rational mind. Its imagery fosters contemplation intended to prepare a candidate for the Baptism of the Light in which union with the indwelling spark of the divine occurs. F. Lamplugh includes notes that clarify the text and his introduction gives an overview of the Gnostic beliefs. R.A. Gilbert?s preface examines the history of this work and its relevance for us today.