In the last one hundred years, there has been a significant increase in the exchange of ideas between different cultures throughout the world. As those areas traditionally thought of as "the West" began to interact more with the cultures of "the East", certain conceptions on the nature and potential of humankind and its place in the universe became better known to everyone.
While the usefulness of some of these ideas may be limited to the times, places and societies in which they've traditionally circulated, others may be of more general use in the modern world. Additionally, in spite of the widespread diffusion of many of these concepts, some ideas continue to be misunderstood or under-represented. The Spirit of the East playlist explores some Eastern spiritual ideas in the context of their traditional cultures.
Recommended reading:
Shamanism - Mircea Eliade
The Collected Taoist Classics - Thomas Cleary, trans.
Classics of Buddhism and Zen - Thomas Cleary, trans.
Introduction to Zen Buddhism - D.T. Suzuki
The Fighting Spirit of Japan - E.J. Harrison
Magic and Mystery in Tibet - Alexandra David-Neel
The Tibetan Book of the Dead: First Complete Translation - Gyume Dorje, trans.
The Way to Shambhala - Edwin Bernbaum
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists - Ananda Coomaraswamy
Kalila and Dimna: Classic Fables from India - Ramsey Wood
The Upanishads - Ekniah Easwaran, trans.
The Bhagavad-Gita - Barbara Stoler Miller, trans.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Chip Hartranft, trans.
Occult Science in India and among the Ancients - Louis Jacolliot
The Spirit of the East - Sirdar Ikbal Ali Shah
The Book of Oriental Literature - Sirdar Ikbal Ali Shah
Lights of Asia - Sirdar Ikbal Ali Shah
Oriental Caravan - Sirdar Ikbal Ali Shah
Oriental Magic - Idries Shah
The Egyptian Book of the Dead - E.A. Wallis Budge
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
