What I enjoyed about this book was how Mr. Freke & Mr. Gandy tied the world religions together. How spiritual ideas traveled across the world (there is a chronology of mysticism at the end of the book) and was blended into different cultures. Every culture gave their own distinct character to the basic idea of Oneness. That God is a inteligent force (my words) and how we must lose ourselves to find our true Self.

There is plenty of information on all the major religions plus at the end of the book mysticism outside religion. I feel that's important for people who are turned off by all religion. Read this book and find your own path or make your own.

It's written in an easy flowing style with tidbits of information that I was unfamiliar with. Anyone who desires to know God without dead dogmatic thoughts and lifeless creeds and allows them to be free to explore their inner life I recommend this book to read and own. Fascinating!

I enjoyed this book very much. What began as leisurely self-study did not culminate and actualize accordingly. An aspiring academic and truth-seeker, I found myself both compelled and sated by the authors' diligently unbiased presentation of the world's major religions.

As it is said, "less is more," and this cliche in particular rings quite true throughout the pages of this book. The authors did not have to cram down our throats the obvious truth that there are to be found numerous commonalities in most major religions...thereby making it apparent to even the most casual observer that there are absolute Truths to be found, in one form or another, in all worthy sects. (Though what truly makes a sect worthy? Not the point, and I digress.)

That we derived as a species in our various race-forms with consistent, unchanging and uncontested beliefs is compelling and convicting. This book will appeal to all those eager to study religion, as well as to those who wish to explore mysticism and the truths thereof on a higher, more academic (and experential) level.

"Each one of us is God playing a cosmic game of hide and seek with himself."--Timothy Freke

A Wise person once told me. "Religion is another group of people's way to God; Spirituality is your way to God." Ever since then, though I respect many religious traditions, and being Initiated and Ordained as a Santeria Priest of Orisha Ochun.

This book is really beautiful, full of bright pictures, meditations and the belief systems from every corner of the globe. This book has it all, Christianity, Hinduism, Paganism, African Spirituality, Zen and Shamanism. Various forms of Spiritual beliefs which really enforce the ancient saying. "All Roads lead to God." A beautiful book to be kept in your coffee table as it will defiantly spawn many interesting conversations with guests. Also a good book for those who are just starting out on their road in Spirituality, this book has excellent Meditation exercises, as well as so much basic information, that it will open your yearning for wanting to learn more. The book ends with an awesome "further reading section." that has an excellent resource on other really good books.

This is a beautiful book on spiritual traditions, practices and teachings. It's a great book for young people who are just beginning to find interest in world religions and spiritual beliefs. I think it is also a book for anyone who is awakening to their spiritual being and looking for more to life than materialism. Because of the size and beauty of the book it would make a great coffee table book. Mr. Freke made this book easy to read and simplifed different religions concepts. While doing this he has shown respect and honor for all spiritual and religious paths.

Particularly helfuly as an introduction to spirituality on a broad scale. This book is writen in four parts. Part one Spirtual traditions, Part two Spiritual practices, Part three Spiritual teaching and part four has a glossary, and further reading list, etc. The first part deals broadly with Shamanism, hinduism, christianity, Psychedelic drugs, Zen, Islam etc. The second part introduces you to the actual practices from prayer to communing with nature to Devotion to Ritual and so on.

Part three as the book says is a study of the timeless teachings to be found at the heart of all spiritual traditions, and how we can use them to enrich our lives, explaining concepts such as suffering, forgiveness, grace and effort, fear, love and mystical union and so on. This book realy helped me see the falsehood in the claim that only one religion, practice or belief is correct and the rest simple misguided, this book lets you see what feels right for you personaly. Another important book is prometheus rising by Robert Anton Wilson, it can help you break out of your reality tunel and start seeing that the map of New York is not New York.

This book has been specifically designed to give a daily dose of insight from some of the greatest explorers of consciousness that the world has seen. These quotes and stories are offered as objects of contemplation that may act as mind-bombs to explode the experience of separateness within which we are imprisoned - setting us free to delight in the wonderful miracle of life as it is. - Welcome to the world of Zen meditation, the central practice of Zen Buddhism. Through these brief thoughts, each day offers you the possibility of exploring your connection with consciousness of the unvierse and discovering your own true nature. But meditation is not Zen - it only a map for ytour journey. Use these daily thoguths, then as a means to an end, a direct encounter with what Zen masters describe as the truth that is staring you in the face.

This is a beautifully written and illustrated book. The art is truely inspiring. This book, which I read straight through; is meant to be read as a daily reader. Every month starts with an event in a famous zen story about a boy whose pet bull escapes into the forest. As you read the story you will find parallels to your own life.

In this daily reader, you will find daily quotations from which you will draw wisdom from. This book will not just sit on your shelf.

This gorgeous little book may look like a coffee table book because it is so beautiful and so fun to sit and thumb through, but the sayings are Zen and they are deep. The author chose a very interesting assortment of aphorisms and quotes but it is the pictures that make this book so fun.

Oh my, what a lovely book. Freke has pulled together a collection of spiritual writings and art organized into ten chapters. Each chapter includes, side by side, various religious writings dealing with such subjects as: The Supreme Being, The Self, and Fate and Free Will. If you are on a spiritual path uniquely your own, you will love this book. If you are a member a religion or tradition which believes that it alone is the path to 'salvation' or spiritual truth, then read this with an open heart and mind. It illustrates the fallacy and limitation of dogmatism and the beauty of the spiritual truth in all.

This is a great book for anyone exploring the ever-evolving wisdom of God, Lord, or a Higher Power. This book opens the mind, as well as the heart, to the syncretism of all major world religions. It reminds the reader that all truth is of the same origin; just different generations. This book should be required of anyone who thinks that they uniquely hold the secret to God's will.

This is the only translation I have read of the Tao Te Ching. I have enjoyed Mr. Freke's writing style in his other books. He didn't disappoint me with this book. I felt he captured the essence of the Tao Te Ching. His rendering was down-to-earth so the modern general reader could comprehend the substance of the teachings.

the best translation i've read. Freke does well at conveying the uncapturable. "It feels wonderful." -Ram Dass

. . . get this book and card set! The book is attractive, short, very clear and -- most importantly -- approachable. It includes a short history on Zen, a summary of its concepts, and possible interpretations and things to think about for each koan. The koan cards will help you expand your mind, and use it in ways other than cognitively.

And no peeking in the book until you've given each koan time to simmer in your mind :-)

Very highly recommended whether or not you're new to Zen.

this book and cards are very helpful and inlighting for the new buddist.they give many words of wisdom that are easy for the reader to understand.I feel this book and cards helps one to understand and guide the reader to a more inlightened life.it really helped me with every day problems and gave me a chance to look at things in another light.good for every day reading.

This is a gem of a book on learning about Shamanism in the modern world. One gets tired of reading about new age spirituality with a guru bent. This book is clear sighted. Shamanism at its most non-commercial. Shamans who talk the talk and walk the walk. Photographs to immerse one in the big blue marble earth. Gaia is the key to understanding the way of the Shamans. We are truely an ecosystem and it is not nice to fool mother nature. This book is to learn what it means to be a non-commercial shaman. Someone who wants to be a true loving healer on this planet earth for its own sake.

Guide book gives a brief uncluttered history of Islam and it's philosophy. Cards are great for spiritual exercise and discussion. A wonderful introduction for someone new to the concept of Islam (surrender) or a nice learning tool for someone seeking spiritual guidence. Learn about the REAL Jihad that everyone struggles with. This is the Islam of God, Compassion and Love, not 911.

What a wonderful book. Deeply moving and extremely enlightening. I am a big fan of Timothy Freke's books, I feel he makes difficult spriritual ideas very easy to undertand. In my opinion this is one of his best books.

I'm aboard a navy ship right now at the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom...and I have this book back at home but the memory of many of it's passages are still with me and still provokes my thought and inner peace. The pictures go great with it...it goes with wisdom that we must start with inner peace individually at first...and then it will go to the world. Because you can use these every day to make your life experience mean something more and to let go more and more as you enter a calm, gentle flow that surrounds you and is within.

I don't know how scholarly it is, but who cares? It doesn't matter whether Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu, Lieh Tzu, or Confucious lived or not does it? Not according to them...what matters is that we listen to the wisdom within and practice daily to gain compassion and live in peace.