Books published by Book Tree

This book is a detailed overview of The Vedas, the holy book of the Hindus. The most important Hymns are quoted in full; extracts are also included from the Brahmanas, the part of the Rig Veda that that guides the Brahmans, the highest class of priests, in Vedic ceremonies. This is one of the oldest and most important of the world's holy books. It is primarily composed of hymns, poems, incantations and rituals from ancient India. Not only is this the "bible" of the Hindu religion, it also offers a unique snapshot of normal, everyday life in India as it occurred over four thousand years ago.

This book is considered to be the oldest known Jewish mystical text and is now an important part of Cabalistic studies. It first appeared in historical records during the first century C.E., but its principles had been passed down for centuries before this, with Jewish scholars believing that the patriarch Abraham had received the teachings directly. It is written from the perspective of an observer who is relating the work of God's creation step by step, as it unfolds. It covers not only the creation of the universe, but the formation of the earth and humanity as well. It reveals how the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet work symbolically and interact with one another, through God, to bring about our physical world. Most cultures agree that God created the universe, our world and our bodies but many creation stories beyond this one are less complete. By looking deeply at this story and studying its message, one can come away with meaningful insights that will not be available elsewhere. This book is often considered to be a meditative text, focused upon more in the first translation by Kalisch, and also as a magical text, covered more clearly in the second version by Stenring. If something is not made clear in one version it can be likely be found in the other, which is what makes this book so interesting. It is a very powerful mystical work and having access to two separate translations in one volume is of immense importance.

After claiming visions of advanced entities known as the Brotherhood of Light, whose purpose was to guide human destiny, Burgoyne and others established The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor. In 'The Light of Egypt', vol.2, Burgoyne reveals how to attain the spiritual wisdom described in vol.1., with special reference to astrology.

In honor of this book’s 100-year anniversary in the English language, The Book Tree presents this special 2016 edition. It has become essential reading for serious writers and those involved in the dramatic arts by providing a more complete understanding of the story structures involved in books and dramatic performance. Writers and storytellers of all kinds have been able to expand creative boundaries, remove writer’s block, and increase their power to deliver a compelling story. These 36 dramatic situations are not plots, but the foundational building blocks for thousands of creative plots that one can produce. Many successful writers have thanked this book for helping them bypass writer’s block—to the point of releasing their genius within. It is also useful to actors and directors, providing a new perspective of the added dimensions found in a story or script. This increases an actor’s sense of the dramatic situation at hand and its relationship to the other features connected to the overall plot. Few instructional books have stood the test of time like this one has—because in this case there is nothing more timeless than the art of storytelling. To have clearly identified 36 dramatic situations with few other alternatives was pure genius and gave this book its credibility as being, arguably, the main reference work for the entire field of storytelling. In an effort to continue the work of Carlo Gozzi, who also found 36 dramatic situations, the author studied classical Greek texts and various works from China, India, Judea, and the modern and classic works available throughout Europe at the time. In so doing, he concluded that indeed, there are 36 dramatic situations, and no more. He presents them here, with details of their workings and the emotional context with which they should be displayed. This book should be in the library of every serious student or creative purveyor of the dramatic arts.

There is a divine part of mankind. It exists mostly as potential but it can be reached, according to the authors. A large body of surprising evidence is presented in this book, not only from Christian scriptures, but religious, scientific, and occult teachings from around the world. The authors meant this to serve as a guidebook for “godhood,” to help mankind take the final steps into spiritual freedom. A large part of this work reveals hidden wisdom found in the Christian scriptures. The authors claim that the recognition and experience of eternal unity, as taught in the scriptures, will one day save mankind rather than the belief in vicarious atonement. This fascinating book clearly explains the meanings of the fables, parables and allegories that are found in the ancient texts.

This book, written by philosopher and futurist Neil Freer, actually began thousands of years ago with the oldest recorded stories in the world. These records speak of the gods having been here on Earth and can be found in all major cultures worldwide. This includes the oldest known form of writing on Earth, the Sumerian cuneiform texts from the ancient Middle East. It is here where the original creation stories and the flood story were found, both of which appeared in the bible in shorter and less detailed versions. With mounting evidence, many have come to the conclusion that these stories, long considered myth, were in fact real events and that the “gods” themselves were here. This book brings much of that research together, largely through the work of Zecharia Sitchin. Sitchin based his work on these solid ancient documents, coupled by extensive first-hand research at archaeological sites. Neil Freer understood the modern-day implications of this research better than anyone. Both Freer and Sitchin were trying to go deeper—to bring the truth of who we are and where we came from out into the open. That is the purpose of this book. Throughout the ancient world are scattered important clues that can reveal who we really are and where we came from. If these clues can be pieced together, this great puzzle can be solved once and for all. As these pieces are assembled, found largely throughout this work, everything starts to make sense. Explore it and see for yourself. This important book should be in the library of anyone interested in the origins of mankind.

These six lectures, collected in one volume, may be the best overview ever written on what karma is and how it works. In the first lecture, Steiner presents the various universal laws that exist, so one may gain an understanding of how karma fits in and relates to them. Once the reader is prepared for an explanation of human destiny and our place in creation, lecture two moves forward and covers this nicely. The third lecture shows how our use of freedom works with karma, plus where we go between lives and what that is like. The fourth lecture reveals how karma appears and develops in one's life. It covers how we come into this world prepared to use it, including the fact that we have, hidden within us, a karmic impulse that may direct our future path. Talk five covers the inner influences we have that effect karma, both mental and physical in nature, and how people often fail to understand how cause and effect works on the inner levels. The final lecture outlines the essential nature of the human being in great detail. It presents a three-fold hierarchy using conscious and unconscious elements, which explains how karma is experienced, generated and used. This book is a must for anyone who wants to gain a complete understanding of karma and how it works.

What would happen if the same bureaucratic red tape and complexity existed in the U. S. government at the time of the Revolutionary War? This is the hilarious story of a patriotic blacksmith who, in 1776, just wants to help the cause and make cannons for the war-but encounters one frustration after another, based on today's new rules and regulations. This satiric tale shows how the U. S. colonies would have likely never won their freedom if things were as they are today. This is one story that should be required reading for all government employees.

This book may help manifest whatever one aims for, using its principles. The author knew, managed and published for a variety of positive thinkers that specialized in the Law of Attraction and manifesting one's dreams. A number of secrets are shared in this book on how to accomplish this, along with stories told of people who were successful. There are spiritual truths, or laws, that are used and carefully explained so that the reader can fully understand the path of success one takes as it unfolds. The author was one of the most important people in the New Thought movement, having been the founder and publisher for Nautilus Magazine, which promoted New Thought ideas for 55 years, from 1898 to 1953. The original title page for this book was shown during the opening of the 2006 movie The Secret, which presented many of her ideas, along with some of the writers that she promoted. The best of what she knew is brought together in this powerful book.

The title leads one to believe that this may be just another boring book about our religions-but the author presents us with an entirely new religion that will make more sense to many readers than any of the religions that we have today. Tagore was a man of great wisdom who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913 and was one of India's greatest poets. His personal mystical experiences, rather than any philosophical reasoning, led him to the Religion of Man, as he terms it. The God of this religion is an Eternal Spirit of unity that can be found within the heart of every person rather than in the sky. Each person is on a path to discover our unity with one another so that we may one day be released from the idea of division and separateness, which results in war and hatred. Ultimate truth can be realized by anyone who learns how to listen and tap into an inner source of divine wisdom. This power of realization can be enhanced through involvement with symbols, ceremonies, art, nature, literature, myths and legends. There is only one commandment in this religion, which is to spread this Divine Truth to others through words and deeds. This book has the power to open one's mind into a new and different level of meaningful consciousness, having been written by a gifted mystic who knew how to communicate on this level to others.

Sometime around 180 AD, a biblical canon became necessary for the survival of the Church. Serious Gnostic threats already had gospels of their own, including Marcion, Valentinus, and Basilides. Alfred Loisy shows how the Canon was put together and how it evolved from there. He was a respected Roman Catholic priest in France until the age of 51, so few can match his knowledge on this subject. He was, however, excommunicated in 1908, having been a leader of a movement known as "Catholic Modernism." They believed that truth could not be changed, but the representations of this truth could be changed, as done by the Church in some areas. They believed doctrine is not the same as history-which is why Loisy wrote this book. Some may claim it was written in response to his expulsion, but it more accurately freed him to share the research that he had found. The goal of the book is to map out the progressive evolution of the New Testament and, according to the author, show how the formation of the literature "was conditioned by the evolution of Christian propaganda." Loisy was foremost a Christian, who considered the New Testament to be a great achievement of humanity-but criticizes the chain of miracles it portrays. Because the New Testament is spiritual in essence, it has mistakenly caused us in the modern world to believe that certain supernatural "events" played a real part in history. He asserts that some later additions were required by "the needs of the moment," and closely examines the work of editors in each gospel. This scholarly work was written to complement his other book, The Birth of the Christian Religion, also brought back into print by The Book Tree.

This book is considered a classic in the field of religious philosophy. Its timeless message explores the idea of what we mean by what is holy and what is God. It was Otto who coined the term “numinous” in this book by attempting to define the first-hand experience of our deepest, non-rational moments of awe in the presence of God. When one has a direct confrontation with transcendent powers, it creates a starting point for the numinous experience. Otto presents all of the different ways in which one may experien ce the numinous. The book is primarily grounded in philosophy and Christian theology, but presents the same general framework in other religions, as well. Many consider this work to be challenging, primarily because it succeeds in defining something that is beyond words. For this, the world is grateful—and has therefore made Otto’s book accessible throughout the years to those who hunger for its powerful and mysterious message.

This is the story of Peter Rabbit and his adventures in the Green Forest. It includes the famous pictures by Harrison Cady, and large type to make it easy for children to read. Early in this story, Peter Rabbit changed his name to Peter Cottontail, but he soon decided to keep his real name after all. Peter helps to teach us how he and the forest animals live. We are introduced to many of his friends—and his enemies. Reddy Fox and Shadow the Weasel are always hungry for rabbits and try to eat Peter Rabbit, but Peter has learned how to outsmart the sly fox and trick the weasel. Peter’s friends include Jimmy Skunk, Happy Jack Squirrel, Prickly Porky the Porcupine, Billy Possum, Jerry Muskrat, and Johnny Chuck the Woodchuck. We are shown how the animals in the forest live, and how they help each other find food, stay safe, and get away from the animals that try to eat them. Many of the animals work together in different ways, just like we find in nature. This story lets children learn directly from the forest creatures, who are allowed to talk and tell us their stories. This is a wonderful, classic book that all children should experience.

This book is an enormous piece of scholarship. It is arguably the most thorough and masterful book on the formation of Christianity because it attempts to put all theological considerations aside. It presents historical facts without many of the standard, Christian preconceived notions or beliefs attached. The author, Alfred Loisy, was a Roman Catholic priest in France until the age of 51. He was excommunicated from the Church in 1908, having been an acknowledged leader of a movement within the Church known as "Catholic Modernism." They considered Christianity to be a living faith that changed with history and the growth in knowledge. They believed that truth could not be changed, but the representations of this truth could be changed, as done by the Church in some areas. They believed doctrine is not the same as history-which is why Loisy wrote this book. Some may claim it was written out of "sour grapes," or revenge, after being excommunicated, but the expulsion merely freed him to explain the truth accurately. Scholars outside the control of the Church generally share Loisy's opinion. His most famous quote was that "Jesus came preaching the Kingdom, and what arrived was the Church." He was so esteemed as a scholar, that he was appointed chair of history of religions in the Collège de France, where he served until 1931. He passed away in 1940, at the age of 83.

First published in French in 1843, this well-known classic is the first book that made the Kabbalah understandable and remains an essential reference today. The positive importance of the Kabbalah is explained, showing that no other doctrine in the history of philosophy or religion gives man a higher rank. It shows how we are not only in the image of God, but are the divine presence on Earth. It explains the origin of man, his future destiny, and his relation to the Divine Being. The author also presents information on the history of Kabbalah, covering similarities with the Alexandrians, Gnostics, Platonists, Neoplatonists, Philo, and Christianity, but traces the strongest philosophical concepts back to the ancient Zoroastrians. He includes chapters on the Sepher Yetzirah and the Zohar, the two most definitive works on the Kabbalah, and is able to trace their origins back many centuries before their first known publication in the thirteenth century CE. From examining the ancient Zoroastrian beliefs, the author concludes that the major doctrines of Kabbalah originated around 500 BC during the Hebrews' Babylonian exile, when Zoroastrianism was active in the same geographical region. This well-researched book should be in the library of every serious student or practitioner of the Kaballah.

First published in Latin in 1418, this Christian devotional book is considered to be the most widely read Christian text in the world, aside from the Bible. The translators of this version set out to create the most clear and readable version possible, which is updated into modern English. They also removed the original "statement" format, and placed relevant text into paragraphs that connect ideas together more fully, for easier reading. The reason for this book's popularity is due to its personal approach toward the reader. One can focus on self-improvement through inner work, based on Christ's teachings, via prayer and meditation. This process includes lessons that elevate one's spiritual nature toward a Christ-like way of being, rather than following outward rules that often fail. It has been popular throughout the ages with all devout Christians, as well as mystics and religious researchers. This Book Tree published version is highly recommended for those wishing to get the most out of their experience with this great Christian classic.

This is the complete edition, which includes the 40-page Editor's Introduction. This well-known study is essential reading for those interested in the importance of culture and how to nurture its positive growth. Creating a harmonious growth of all facets of culture has become much more of a challenge in modern times. Following the precepts of this book can help insure success. Arnold is a champion for what he called an "organic" society-one that evolves slowly, grows into maturity, and avoids making great leaps into new forms of change that could, as a result, create trouble. There have always been those who are unhappy and wish to stir up unrest. If society can remain strong from the foundation that it has built, then anarchy will develop no foothold. Arnold provides a clear contrast between culture and the unrest that was prevalent in Victorian England, when this book was written. We can learn much from this study. From time to time, deep divisions can emerge in society. These social divisions often come from those who hold more radical ideologies from the norm. They attempt to create mistrust of authority, stereotyping, and the growth of fear in an effort to incite others and bring down the system. From studying this book one can better see how we got where we are today, and what may be needed to keep us going in a relatively safe way into the future, despite the increasing complexities we now face in the world today.

The Mother Goddess has been a powerful figure throughout most of human history. This symbol is unquestionably the most persistent feature in the archaeological record throughout the entire ancient world. This makes the Mother Goddess a supremely important figure that is vastly overlooked today. All of the major female goddesses are covered, including Aphrodite, Rhea, Athena, Isis, Demeter, Astarte, Hathor, Serapis, Asherah, Artemis, Inanna/Ishtar, Kore/Persephone, Kybele, and the unnamed Venus figurine deity, as seen on the cover, that has been found in related forms in at least 17 different ancient cultures worldwide. Also covered is the worship of Mother Earth and other non-goddess mother figures such as Eve, the Madonna, and Mary the Virgin. This book provides a complete historical overview of the Mother Goddess and her influence.

Neville Goddard wrote his books mostly from the 1940s through the 1960’s, always using his first name only—Neville. His books remain popular to this day, due to their timely and powerful messages. In this case, with Awakened Imagination, Neville reveals how one can use their own power to reach goals, no matter how lofty, using a rather simple process. The inner world is the key to achieving outer results if one knows how to use it. Most struggle by battling everything “out there” in a physical way, trying to force things into existence, with very little mental finesse except for recognizing their desire. Neville reveals how one can use their limitless imagination to create an attractive force that will bring certain things to them, rather than them having to fight for it with less chance of success. Using the wisdom of the Bible and the works of the mystic William Blake to back up his system, one receives not only proof, but encouragement, to delve into one’s inner world to achieve the outer results one seeks. He details how happiness actually works, and thereby allows us to work to achieve happiness. This powerful little book is well worth your attention if things have not worked out perfectly in life, but you still know that whatever is missing can truly be achieved. This book is a great tool for finding a better way that actually works.

Nicholas of Cusa was a Christian mystic who lived during the 1400s. The Vision of God is known as a classic of Christian mysticism, putting many believers in touch with the divine.Many Christians have a desire to experience God, rather than just believe in Him. Nicholas of Cusa provides an excellent guidebook for Christians who sense something deeper to the Christian experience. He was a mystic. He experienced God on a number of levels and taught people to move beyond mere belief and have similar experiences.By bringing spiritual principles into the Christian religious setting, Nicholas was able to instruct and enrich thousands of people. This he did at a time when Christianity was beginning to cast a long shadow of strict dogma over the masses -- it was the dawning of the Inquisition -- yet Nicholas was able to keep his mystical teachings Safely within the boundaries of the Church.During this incredibly busy and volatile time, Nicholas engaged himself whenever he could in meditation and study. It is from these introspective journeys that he received his spiritual insights. He also spent much time with a group of Benedictine monks, who asked for spiritual guidance from Nicholas after recognizing his gifts. Nicholas responded with The Vision of God in December of 1453. A rare classic brought back into print.

This inspiring book has been recommended to others for decades and has become a classic in the field of magic, metaphysics and spirituality. The title is misleading because there is much more covered that goes far beyond magic. Subjects include Spiritual Law in the Natural World, Consciousness, The Spiritual Body, Karma, Transformations, Meditation, Alchemy, Magicians and Mediums, Theosophy, and Divine Wisdom: the Realization of Truth. This is the perfect book for those interested in the fundamental elements of Magic and its philosophy and purpose. Additional subjects include the philosophers stone, the true cross, forbidden knowledge, Rosicrucian wisdom, states after death and the inner world.

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

This is a guidebook on world control and management, a program that Wells believed should be orchestrated (and would be successful) through what he called the "Open Conspiracy." This conspiracy is fully outlined in this work and is designed to be run by many separate organizations working together, as opposed to being run by just one group. Is this required reading for the world's most powerful people? Maybe it is. Or maybe it should be. Wells was a visionary and genius whose work should be paid attention to. Chapters include The Idea of the Open Conspiracy, We Have to Clear and Clean Up Our Minds, The Revolution in Education, Religion in the New World, What Mankind Has to Do, Modern Forces Antagonistic to the Open Conspiracy, The Resistances of the Less Industrialized Peoples to the Drive of the Open Conspiracy, The Open Conspiracy Begins as a Movement of Discussion, Explanation and Propaganda, Development of the Activities of the Open Conspiracy, Human Life in the Coming World Community, and more.