L'auteur s'est profondément immergé dans l'étude et la pratique de diverses traditions spirituelles, notamment le Vedanta, le bouddhisme Zen et le soufisme, y consacrant plus d'une décennie à chacune. Un intérêt de longue date pour l'École Traditionaliste, telle que formulée par René Guénon et Ananda Coomaraswamy, constitue un fil conducteur dans ses écrits. Son approche unique synthétise ces divers chemins spirituels, offrant aux lecteurs des aperçus profonds sur les vérités partagées à travers les cultures. Son œuvre explore la quête humaine fondamentale d'accomplissement spirituel, offrant des perspectives intemporelles sur la nature de l'existence.
This extraordinary compendium gives access to what the greatest minds of all time and the various faith and philosophical traditions say on every aspect of the spiritual life, be it faith, patience, suffering, or mercy. Relevant passages are included, such as Eckhart, Philo, Rumi, the Talmud, Shakespeare, Rama Krishna, Black Elk, The Psalms, the Tao Te Ching, and Milarepa, among countless others.
"Here is a unique study of all the world's great religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity. This book is neither a history or a critique. Instead it explains, simply and sympathetically, the basic tenants of each religion and the reasons why it attracts millions of devout followers. ...The Religions of Man is a thoroughly researched, informative, fascinating presentation of both the differences and the similarities in the major religious traditions. It is essential reading for anyone who would understand peoples of other lands, other cultures, other religions." --P. [4] of cover.
An essential addition to the HarperCollins Spiritual Classics series, The Way of a Pilgrim is combined in one volume with its companion work, The Pilgrim Continues His Way . Translated from the original Russian by Reginald M. French and with an introduction by Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions, The Way of a Pilgrim is the chronicle of an anonymous nineteenth century Russian Christian’s travels and spiritual inquiries. Eye-opening and extraordinary, The Way of a Pilgrim offers a one-of-a-kind portrait of the traditions and interior life of Russian Orthodox spirituality and practice.
Featuring a foreword by Huston Smith--the bestselling author of The World's Religions-- this highly compatible collection offers the authentic, poetic translations of key texts from Buddhist, Hindu, Confucian, Taoist, Jewish, Christian, and other great traditions coupled with insightful introductions and "grace notes" showing how each tradition is best expressed in daily life. .
The narrative explores Smith's extraordinary journey through significant historical events, highlighting his presence at pivotal moments like the establishment of the United Nations and the Tiananmen Square protests. Throughout his travels, he interacts with influential figures of the twentieth century, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr., and Thomas Merton, showcasing a life intertwined with the major cultural and political shifts of the era.
“One could live a complete life based on the wondrous words of Rumi. But add images and story, and you have more than enough for a lifetime, an overabundance…an excess of wisdom, beauty, and pleasure. This book will be one of the few I take wherever I go.” —Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul and Original Self This richly illustrated collection delivers a fresh and inspiring way to read Rumi’s most intimate poems of love, rage, sadness, joy, and longing. No other edition of Rumi’s poetry combines his singularly passionate words with authentic, rare, and wonderful Sufi and Islamic art. Readers moved by Sappho, Hafiz, Rilke, or by Coleman Barks’ translations of Rumi will relish the beautiful imagery and new translations in this unique volume of some of the finest works by “the most popular poet in America” ( Time magazine).
Psychoactive Sacramentals and Human Transformation
This work reveals entheogens as catalysts for spiritual growth and direct encounters with the sacred. Contributions from notable figures such as Albert Hofmann, Huston Smith, Stanislav Grof, and Alexander “Sasha” Shulgin provide insights into how psychedelics can facilitate primary spiritual experiences that underpin all religions. The text discusses protocols for the ceremonial use of psychedelics and the challenges of integrating entheogenic insights into lasting change. It questions the reliance on secondary religious experiences, suggesting that powerful sacraments could enable direct experiences of the divine. The book examines psychoactive sacraments in the Bible, myths surrounding LSD, and transformative ayahuasca rituals of Santo Daime. Personal accounts, including Walter Pahnke’s Good Friday Experiment and a 25-year follow-up with participants, illustrate the potential of entheogens to foster spiritual development. By dispelling fears of inauthentic spirituality and ill-prepared encounters with the sacred, it posits that entheogens can lead to genuine encounters with God’s power, marking the dawn of a new religious era rooted in personal spiritual experience.
This guide reveals how to reinvent the way we travel. It goes beyond guidebook commentary and observations to show there is something sacred to be discovered in virtually every journey, leave self-imposed limits and find a deeper understanding of ourselves and life.
Huston Smith in Conversation with Native Americans on Religious Freedom
Focusing on the often-overlooked rights of Native American communities, this book emphasizes the importance of honoring and protecting their sacred sites and practices. It seeks to raise awareness and inspire a shift in both policy and public consciousness regarding these crucial issues. Through insightful discussions, it advocates for the recognition and respect that Native American people deserve, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of their cultural heritage.
Retaining all the beloved qualities of Huston Smith's classic The Religions of Man and the current fully revised and updated The World's Religions, this stunning pictorial presentation refines the text to its wonderful essentials. In detailed, absorbing, richly illustrated, and highly readable chapters on Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity and primal religions, we find refreshing and fascinating presentations of both the differences and the similarities among the worldwide religious traditions. The approach is at once classic and contemporary, retaining all the empathy, eloquence and erudition that millions of readers love about the earlier editions, while being edited and designed for a contemporary general readership. This delightful marriage of winsome text and remarkable pictures vividly brings to life the scope and vision of Huston Smith's expertise and insight.
The secretive Mysteries conducted at Eleusis in Greece for nearly two millennia have long puzzled scholars with strange accounts of initiates experiencing otherworldly journeys. In this groundbreaking work, three experts—a mycologist, a chemist and a historian—argue persuasively that the sacred potion given to participants in the course of the ritual contained a psychoactive entheogen. The authors then expand the discussion to show that natural psychedelic agents have been used in spiritual rituals across history and cultures. Although controversial when first published in 1978, the book’s hypothesis has become more widely accepted in recent years, as knowledge of ethnobotany has deepened. The authors have played critical roles in the modern rediscovery of entheogens, and The Road to Eleusis presents an authoritative exposition of their views. The book’s themes of the universality of experiential religion, the suppression of that knowledge by exploitative forces, and the use of psychedelics to reconcile the human and natural worlds make it a fascinating and timely read. This 30th anniversary edition includes an appreciative preface by religious scholar Huston Smith and an updated exploration of the chemical evidence by Peter Webster.
This classic companion to The World's Religions articulates the remarkable unity that underlies the world's religious traditions
De-confusing and Re-constructing the Postmodern World
Includes essays and excerpts from the works of prominent modern thinkers such as Umberto Eco, Jacques Derrida, and Isaiah Berlin among others.
“In this delightful autobiography, Smith tells us how he became the dean of world religion experts. Along the way we meet the people who shaped him and shared his journey—a Who’s Who of 20th century spiritual the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the Dalai Lama, Aldous Huxley, Timothy Leary, T.S. Eliot, Thomas Merton and Pete Seeger.... A valuable master class on faith and life.”— San Francisco Chronicle Book Review As Stephen Hawking is to science; as Peter Drucker is to economics; and as Joseph Campbell is to mythology; so Huston Smith is to religion. Tales of Wonder is the personal story of the author of the classic The World’s Religions , the man who taught a nation about the great faiths of the world, and his fascinating encounters with the people who helped shape the 20th century.
Huston Smith, a respected authority on religion, presents a manifesto emphasizing the need to restore religion as a vital humanizing force for individuals and society. Drawing on insights from comparative religions, theology, philosophy, science, and history, along with personal experiences, Smith critiques the current social landscape while offering hope for humanity's spiritual condition. Contrary to the belief that we are in a golden age of spirituality, he argues that our worldview is dominated by scientism, materialism, and consumerism, which marginalize morality, meaning, and truth. Much of contemporary religion, he asserts, is a privatized and diluted version of true spirituality. In the first part, Smith explores three historical periods: traditional, modern, and postmodern, analyzing their achievements and shortcomings. He advocates for reclaiming the spiritual and ethical wisdom of traditional religions while acknowledging the advancements of modernity, such as equal rights and scientific progress. In the final section, he envisions a future where consciousness, rather than materialism, is recognized as the foundation of existence. Smith's expertise in history, spirituality, and science culminates in a comprehensive examination of the current state of authentic religion. His insights challenge the prevailing technological worldview, aiming to spark a dialogue about the rightful place of religion in human experience
A concise and up-to-date guide to the history, teachings, and practice of Buddhism by two luminaries in the field of world religions.
Kniha Světová náboženství patří k nejzdařilejším a zároveň k nejprodávanějším dílům ve svém žánru - jen v USA bylo prodáno přes 2 miliony výtisků.
ذهن ذن، ذهن آغازگر مقدمهای کلاسیک برای تمرین دادن و به تعبیری محبوبترین کتاب ذن در آمریکاست. این کتاب از روی گفتارهای شونریو سوزوکی، یکی از اثرگذارترین معلمان معنوی قرن بیستم، گردآوری و ثبت شده است. سوزوکی دو دههی آخر زندگیاش را در مراکز اقماری تمرین ذن در غرب امریکا به تدریس پرداخت.سوزوکی در این کتاب بیپیرایه و صریح حرف میزند. او از بودیسم در مقام مذهب یا فاسفه راززدایی میکند و مدام توجه ما را به سمت تمیرن ساده و کاملِ نشستن سوق می دهد تا بلکه ذهن خود را از راه مراقبه تصفیه کنیم. گرچه همهی ما بسته به خصائل فرهنگی و شخصیمان مسیرهای متفاوتی را برای زندگی برمیگزینیم، اما میل غاییمان یکی است: اینکه آزادانه خود را ابراز کنیم و از توهم رها باشیم. فارغ از اینکه مراقبهگر باشیم یا نه، سوزوکی با این کتاب حقایقی در اختیارمان میگذارد که برای زیستن ذهن آگاهانه در این جهان پرهیاهو، مفید و روشنیبخشاند: «وقتی چیزی را تمام و کمال درک کنی، همهچیز را درک میکنی. اگر سعی کنی همهچیز را بفهمی، هیچچیز را نخواهی فهمید. بهترین راه درکِ خودت است، آنگاه همهچیز را خواه یفهمید. پس اگر سخت بکوشی روش خودت را پدید آوری، به دیگران کمک خواهی کرد و دیگران نیز تورا یاری خواهند داد.»
Originally titled The Religions of Man, this completely revised and updated edition of Smith′s masterpiece, now with an engaging new foreword, explores the essential elements and teachings of the world′s predominant faiths, including: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity and the native traditions of the Americas, Australia, Africa, and Oceania. Emphasising the inner -- rather than institutional -- dimensions of these religions, Smith devotes special attention to Zen and Tibetan Buddhism, Sufism, and the teachings of Jesus. He convincingly conveys the unique appeal and gifts of each of the traditions and reveals their hold on the human heart and imagination.
