The Fruitful Darkness

Author: Joan Halifax
Publisher: Grove Press
ISBN: 9780802140715
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 276

Book Description
Buddhist teacher and anthropologist Joan Halifax delves into "the fruitful darkness" -- the shadow side of being, found in the root truths of Native religions, the fecundity of nature, and the stillness of meditation. In The Fruitful Darkness, a highly personal and insightful odyssey of the heart and mind, she encounters Tibetan Buddhist mediators, Mexican shamans, and Native American elders, among others. In rapt prose, she recounts her explorations -- from Japanese Zen meditation to hallucinogenic plants, from the Dogon people of Mali to the Mayan rain forest. Grove Press is proud to reissue this important work by one of Buddhism's leading contemporary teachers.

The Fruitful Darkness

Author: Joan Halifax
Publisher: Open Road + Grove/Atlantic
ISBN: 0802199631
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 194

Book Description
“The wisdom of cultures that live harmoniously with nature spoken through the heart and mind of a true gnostic intermediary.” —Ram Dass In this “masterwork of an authentic spirit person,” Buddhist teacher and anthropologist Joan Halifax Roshi delves into “the fruitful darkness”—the shadow side of being, found in the root truths of Native religions, the fecundity of nature, and the stillness of meditation (Thomas Berry). In this highly personal and insightful odyssey of the heart and mind, she encounters Tibetan Buddhist meditators, Mexican shamans, and Native American elders, among others. In rapt prose, she recounts her explorations—from Japanese Zen meditation to hallucinogenic plants, from the Dogon people of Mali to the Mayan rain forest, all the while creating “an adventure of the spirit and a feast of wisdom old and new” Halifax believes that deep ecology (which attempts to fuse environmental awareness with spiritual values) works in tandem with Buddhism and shamanism to discover “the interconnectedness of all life,” and to regain life’s sacredness (Peter Matthiessen).

The Fruitful Darkness

Author: Joan Halifax
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN:
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 276

Book Description
Celebrated world traveler Joan Halifax's report from the spiritual frontier on how contemporary searchers can rediscover the interconnectedness of all life". . . . a warm and potent testament to the author's beliefs and to a life lived vigorously for the sake of the spirit".--Kirkus Reviews.

Being with Dying

Author: Joan Halifax
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
ISBN: 1645472876
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 233

Book Description
Inspiring teachings, personal stories, and meditations for those near death and their caregivers, by a respected Zen teacher who has worked with the dying for over 30 years. Everyone who lives must inevitably face death. Inspired by traditional Buddhist teachings and decades of work with the dying and their caregivers, this landmark work on death and dying by beloved Buddhist teacher Joan Halifax is a source of wisdom for all those who are charged with a dying person’s care, facing their own death, or wishing to explore and contemplate the transformative power of the dying process. Relevant and powerful for people of all backgrounds, her teachings affirm that all of us can open and contact our inner strength even in the face of death, and that we can help others who are suffering to do the same. Halifax observes that millions will have to deal with the loss of parents and loved ones and that we are largely unprepared emotionally for their deaths. She presents the notion that the process of dying is a rite of passage. Halifax offers stories from her personal experience as well as guided exercises and contemplations to help readers contemplate death without fear, develop a commitment to helping others, and transform suffering and resistance into courage. Topics and exercises include: Learning to see death as a rite of passage The guiding principles of bearing witness and how self-awareness can help us to relate more fully with others How to take care of ourselves when we’re taking care of others Contemplation on the universality of death How to transform pain and fear with lovingkindness And much more Coupled with a new foreword by Frank Ostaseski, a leader in the field of death and dying palliative care, the guidance and experiences represented in Being with Dying are invaluable in supporting and instilling peace as the journey of life unfolds and inevitably reaches not only an end, but also a new beginning.

Standing at the Edge

Author: Joan Halifax
Publisher:
ISBN: 1250101344
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 301

Book Description
"[This book is] an ... examination of how we can respond to suffering, live our fullest lives, and remain open to the full spectrum of our human experience"--Amazon.com.

A Hell of Mercy

Author: Tim Farrington
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0061972916
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 99

Book Description
n this unflinching look at depression and the human struggle to find hope in its midst, acclaimed author Tim Farrington writes with heartrending honesty of his lifelong struggle with the condition he calls "a hell of mercy." With both wry humor and poignancy, he unravels the profound connection between depression and the spiritual path, the infamous dark night of the soul made popular by mystic John of the Cross. While depression can be a heartbreaking time of isolation and lethargy, it can also provide powerful spiritual insights and healing times of surrender. When doctors prescribe medication, patients are often left feeling as if part of their very selves has been numbed in order to become what some might call "normal." Farrington wrestles with profound questions, such as: When is depression a part of your identity, and when does it hold you back from realizing your potential? In the tradition of Darkness Visible and An Unquiet Mind, A Hell of Mercy is both a much needed companion for those walking this difficult terrain as well as a guide for anyone who has watched a loved one grapple with this inner emotional darkness.

Luminous Darkness

Author: Deborah Eden Tull
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
ISBN: 0834844699
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 241

Book Description
A resonant call to explore the darkness in life, in nature, and in consciousness—including difficult emotions like uncertainty, grief, fear, and xenophobia—through teachings, embodied meditations, and mindful inquiry that provide us with a powerful path to healing. Darkness is deeply misunderstood in today’s world; yet it offers powerful medicine, serenity, strength, healing, and regeneration. All insight, vision, creativity, and revelation arise from darkness. It is through learning to stay present and meet the dark with curiosity rather than judgment that we connect to an unwavering light within. Welcoming darkness with curiosity, rather than fear or judgment, enables us to access our innate capacity for compassion and collective healing. Dharma teacher, shamanic practitioner, and deep ecologist Deborah Eden Tull addresses the spiritual, ecological, psychological, and interpersonal ramifications of our bias towards light. Tull explores the medicine of darkness for personal and collective healing, through topics such as: Befriending the Night: The Radiant Teachings of Darkness Honoring Our Pain for Our World Seeing in the Dark: The Quiet Power of Receptivity Dreams, Possibility, and Moral Imagination Releasing Fear—Embracing Emergence Tull shows us how the labeling of darkness as “negative” becomes a collective excuse to justify avoiding everything that makes us uncomfortable: racism, spiritual bypass, environmental destruction. We can only find the radical path to wholeness by learning to embrace the interplay of both darkness and light.

Exposing the Darkness

Author: Darryl Fitzwater
Publisher: Tate Publishing
ISBN: 1617391077
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 180

Book Description
Darryl Fitzwater and his family appeared to the outside world to be a good Christian family. But in truth, Darryl was not a good Christian. He was hard on his wife and children, expecting them to meet impossibly high standards and never showing love or encouragement. He believed himself to be better than the other Christians he knew and was critical and judgmental of everyone. And he had a dark secret. In 2007, on the day before Thanksgiving, his deep, dark secrets were finally exposed. Darryl's wife, RaeLynn, discovered him in the nude with their teenage daughter, Sierra. As it turned out, Darryl had been struggling with pornography for years, and his lust led him to live with a hidden heart of sin. When the truth was revealed, life as he knew it was completely destroyed. He turned himself in and spent time in jail and away from his family, and the most amazing thing happened—he learned what it means to have peace with God and to serve Him with all of his heart. Today, Darryl and his family have forgiven and reconciled, and this thought-provoking book chronicles Darryl's many discoveries as he dealt with his sin. He encourages readers to take a hard look at the hidden sin in their own lives and bring it to the light so they can begin to truly live a victorious and fruitful Christian life. All will be revealed in Exposing the Darkness: And Lighting the Way to Life in Christ.

Darkness Is My Only Companion

Author: Kathryn Greene-McCreight
Publisher: Brazos Press
ISBN: 1587431750
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 176

Book Description
A brave and compassionate look at mental illness that offers theological understanding and personal insights from author's experiences.

When Light Pierced the Darkness

Author: Richard E. Herskind
Publisher: Elim Publishing
ISBN: 9781935018421
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 140

Book Description
When Light Pierced the Darkness traces a hopeless near death encounter to an unexpected miracle of healing through faith in Jesus Christ. Having wasted his high school years, and following a serious hospitalization in the military the author subsequently overcame his academic handicap, obtained engineering degrees and took a research position with NASA. The author, Richard E. Herskind, saw many lives changed for the better as a result of his willingness to bring Christ into his workplace. This book is about the challenges and the victory that faith in Jesus Christ brought to him and others as well.