Eastern Philosophy

The Japanese believe everyone has an ikigai—a reason for being that fills each day with meaning. And in a small village in Japan known as Okinawa, where people live longer than anywhere else in the world, finding your ikigai is the key to a happier, healthier life. But what is ikigai, exactly? It's where your passions, your talents, your values, and your livelihood all align. It's the sweet spot that fuels your days with purpose and joy, the reason you leap out of bed each morning eager to embrace the world.

Ganbaru Spirit takes you deep into the heart of Japan’s enduring philosophy of perseverance—not as a burst of effort, but as a lifelong mindset. Whether you're facing burnout, rebuilding after a setback, or seeking to live with deeper meaning, this audiobook offers the tools, stories, and strategies to help you endure with wisdom and power.

In this accessible and beautiful book, Yen Ooi explains the various facets of Rén and explores how this philosophy applies to everything from our relationship with ourselves and the people in our lives, to how we relate to society and the wider world. She shows us how, using the basic principles of Rén and through simple changes to our lives, we can connect better with friends, family, and colleagues, become helpful members of society, and find fulfillment in ideas of community, justice, morality, and compassion.

Oriental Magic is recognized as a brilliant study of how, what and why people think, in territories extending from North Africa to Japan. The book is the product of years of research and fieldwork in a dozen different cultural regions. Its scholarly accuracy and genuine contribution to cultural understanding have made it a key text for anyone interested in informal beliefs and esoteric practices.

كانت ليلة باردة من شهر ديسمبر في كيوتو؛ عاصمة اليابان القديمة. سرت بالدراجة عبر الظلام الدامس إلى شورين-إن؛ وهو معْلم روحي صغير بعيد عن المسار السياحي المعروف، يقع عند سفح جبال هيجاشياما.كانت حدائق المبنى في تلك الليلة تضيئها إضاءة خافتة تلقي خيوطًا غامضة على أشجار الصنوبر التي تبدو كالظلال وبساتين الخيزران الخرافية. خلعت حذائي وخطوت على أرضية تلمع بقوة عمرها يتجاوز ثمانمائة عام، داستها ملايين الأقدام، ومسحتها العديد من الأردية الطويلة. كانت ألواح الأرضية العريضة، المرقطة والداكنة من تتابع السنين، قد استخدمت من قبل في...

What if true strength had nothing to do with power—and everything to do with patience? In a world that moves faster each day, where anger spreads easily and silence feels rare, the ancient Japanese virtue of Gaman (我慢) offers a timeless antidote. Gaman is the art of enduring hardship with dignity—of meeting life’s challenges with calm courage and quiet grace. It is not about suppressing pain, but transforming it into strength. It is how one remains steady when everything around them begins to shake.

Lost princesses, a queen who dethroned her own husband, the country that defeated Napoleon, and a dog who went to space—these are just a few of the fascinating aspects of Russian history.

In this second canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, we hear the great sage Shukadeva Goswami answering the questions of King Parikit, who has been cursed to die in seven days. After briefly delineating man’s highest duty and the best way to conquer suffering and death, Shukadeva explains the path of mystic yoga and meditation.

Living each day fully and serenely is the ideal we aspire to, without really believing in it. Reaching our goals can seem impossible, and even pursuing them feels challenging. The personal development advice and methods we have tried repeatedly haven’t proven convincing, to the point where leading a harmonious, meaningful, and fulfilled life may feel like an unreachable utopia.

Beginning students in Japanese martial arts, such as karate, judo, aikido, iaido, kyudo, and kendo, learn that when they are in the dojo (the practice space), they must don their practice garb with ritual precision, address their teacher and senior students in a specific way, and follow certain unwritten but deeply held codes of behavior. But very soon they begin to wonder about the meaning behind the traditions, gear, and relationships in the dojo.

A leading Christian intellectual and a global citizen, Thomas Merton was known for his mission to understand and learn from other cultures’ worldviews and philosophies. Now, as you listen to these nine captivating talks on Chinese and Greek philosophy, your own interest in these ancient schools of thought, Eastern and Western, will be ignited.

Musings of a Chinese Mystic is a classic selection from the philosophical writings of Chuang Tzu, a disciple of the great Taoist philosopher Lao Tzu. An important figure in Chinese philosophy, Chuang Tzu helped to bring prominence to the philosophy of Taoism in ancient China. Drawn from the translations of Professor H. A. Giles with an introduction by Lionel Giles, "Musings of a Chinese Mystic" is an excellent introduction to the important Taoist philosophical writings of Chuang Tzu.

What do Aristotle, Buddha, Seneca, Nietzsche, Kabbalah, and Plato, have in common? They worked tirelessly toward understanding and enlightenment. Walk the path of the great thinkers of the past with History of Philosophy: Overview of Eastern Philosophy, Western Philosophy, and the Most Important Thinkers through the Ages. War, innovation, courage, and revolution shaped the world as it is today, but the great philosophers of the past shaped our thoughts, religions, and minds. They worked as teachers, spiritual leaders, and scholars to harness the power of logic and critical thinking, creating a foundation of thought that led to humankind's understanding of the unity of life and the universe.

Welcome to The Science Behind Yoga—a book which bridges the gap between Eastern philosophy and Western medicine to explain this practice. Learn the philosophies and techniques behind yogic practices so you can achieve greater balance in your mind, body, and spirit. Unlock the secrets of this ancient tradition as we explore the power of yoga through both ancient Eastern wisdom and modern scientific understanding.

Initial awakening is the most important shift that can occur within our lifetime, but even that key development is no more than an invitation to the larger dance. Ultimately, if we do not clear up after we wake up, then awakening will have been of little consequence. In the absence of that critical clearing process, our awakening is reduced to becoming a pleasant memory of an important event that happened long ago and which we presently cannot quite remember or explain.

Pantajali's Yoga Sutras have long been recognized as infallible guides to discovering the eternal joy and ultimate freedom that the great masters declare to be the birthright of every human being. In The Practice of the Yoga Sutra: Sadhana Pada, Pandit Tigunait elaborates on Patanjali's succinct and straightforward plan to transcend pain and embrace lasting happiness.

The wisdom goddesses of yoga who embody shakti, or sacred energy, continue to gain popularity as we become familiar with the ways they help us break through negativity, trauma, and dysfunction to attain self-love, peace, and abundance. Yet, we rarely hear about Sri Radha and her unique position as the primal Shakti because she is hidden deep within the Upanishads, Tantras, and Puranas as their most confidential spiritual subject.

The goals of the budo - the martial arts and ways of Japan - lie in refining the body and spirit. These goals are not always the obvious ones - and are learned only through the guidance and direction of great teachers. The techniques, methods, and rituals of the sensei can serve as guides to a well-lived life - and provide invaluable lessons for today's martial artists.

The Book of Five Rings (五輪書, Go Rin no Sho) is a text on kenjutsu (sword fighting), and combat in general, written by the Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi around 1645.

Can unity and polarity coexist? They not only can; they must in a dynamic, love-filled life. To stay centered in the face of conflict, to relate effectively with all types of people, to master both healthy assertiveness and attuned responsiveness, and to keep passion alive no matter what can be challenging. In The Dance of Love, Aikido teacher and well-respected spiritual guide Ann O’Brien shares both the bodily felt knowledge she has learned about relational dynamics from her Aikido practice and her unique wisdom gleaned from decades of coaching clients.