Maṇḍalas – Their Nature and Development This book deals with the question of what exactly constitutes a ‘cell’ metaphysically. The cell is viewed as a unit of consciousness that interrelate with other cells to form maṇḍalas of expression. Each such cell can be considered a form of ‘self’ that has a limited, though valid, body of expression. It is born, sustains a form of activity, and consequently dies when it outlives its usefulness. This mode of analysis is extended to include the myriad forms manifest in the world of phenomena known as saṃsāra including the existence and functioning of chakras. A Treatise on Mind Outline Volume 1 The “Self” or “Non-self” in Buddhism Volume 2 Considerations of Mind—A Buddhist Enquiry Volume 3 The Buddha-Womb and the Way to Liberation Volume 4 Maṇḍalas: Their Nature and Development Volume 5 An Esoteric Exposition of the Bardo Thödol Volume 6 Meditation and the Initiation Process Volume 7 The Constitution of Shambhala Whilst the numbers of Buddhists are growing in the world, the techniques and discourses of Buddhism have not changed to meet the radically different conditions of the contemporary world. Thus Buddhism needs a true restorative flowering to rival that of the renaissance of debate and innovative thinking of the early post-Nāgārjunian era. In order to achieve this it must synthesise the present wealth of scientific knowledge, alongside the best of the Western world’s philosophical output – this is the primary task of this seven volume treatise. The treatise investigates Buddhist ideas concerning what mind is and how it relates to a concept of a ‘self’. It is principally a study of the complex interrelationship between mind and phenomena, from the gross to the subtle—the physical, psychic, supersensory and supernal. This entails an explanation of how mind incorporates all phenomena in its modus operandi, and how eventually that mind is liberated from it, thereby becoming awakened. Thus the treatise explores the manner in which the corporeally orientated, concretised, intellectual mind eventually becomes transformed into the Clear Light of the abstracted Mind; a Buddha-Mind.

This volume continues with a detailed explanation of the nature of the ageless wisdom and its codification via astrological and numerological means. It starts with happenings upon the higher mental plane, and then the process of the materialisation of phenomena right through to the dense physical plane. The subjective happenings underlying the formation of a world sphere are described, as well as the great Lives involved. The focus is upon the genesis of our earth and of the incarnation of humanity upon it. Much more information is given concerning the activities of the twelve Creative Hierarchies than previously, plus the mode of the manifestation of phenomena, as it condenses from the subtle planes of perception to appear as dense substance. Our empirical scientists begin their investigations here, hence omitting the vast subjective processes and associated laws causing objective phenomena. Blavatsky’s genius is revealed in her masterful incorporation of the vast esoteric philosophy via the most economic means, where each word chosen produces an astounding revelatory vision, once properly decoded. Those not familiar with this philosophy will be astounded by its overall completeness and breadth of detail. They will be led to an ocean of discovery as to what actually constitutes the nature of the content of an enlightened Mind. Hopefully this will lead many to seek the way to likewise become enlightened beings.

This book endeavours to integrate the concepts gleaned through modern physics with those of the esotericist, hence with the lore derived from meditative penetration of high dimensions of perception. This incorporates the nāḍī and chakra system, via which all phenomena is derived, and of the nature of the projection of thought-forms from the subjective domains to the phenomenal world. This book consequently endeavours to show how the laws discovered by physicists derive from those of the subjective universe. Many abstruse ideas therefore need to be discussed which the scientifically minded are unaware, as well as unfamiliar concepts for most religionists and philosophers. Hopefully this syncretic approach will evoke many revelations in all these schools of thought. Readers should not dismiss the ideas presented out of hand, but rather should rationalise what is logically correct as a valid basis for further research and enquiry into the origin and nature of things.

This book explores chapter 5 of the Bardo Thödol titled ‘The Spiritual Practice entitled Natural Liberation of Habitual Tendencies’. This text incorporates a detailed exposition of the transformation of saṃskāras (consciousness attributes developed through past activity) into enlightenment attributes. This book provides a solid foundation to understanding the force centres (chakras) and the way their powers (siddhis) awaken. The ten stages of the evolution of consciousness are illustrated in correspondence with the doctrine of the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities and how they contribute to the Initiation process.

This book presents basic postulates concerning many esoteric concepts. These include the concept of ‘God’, what constitutes evil, the nature and function of karma, the manifestation of energy from the subtle planes of perception, the nature of manifest Divinity, as veiled by the concept of the Christ in the Bible, and the mysteries of Being. The analysis moves from my earlier Buddhist writings to focus upon the information in the Bible, especially in relation to the nature of the reappearance of the Christ, which here is equated with the externalisation process of the Hierarchy of Enlightened Being. This doctrine concerns the mode of the evolution of transcendent perception by humanity. The awakening of higher spiritual perceptions via the enlightenment path, and the understanding of the psychic constitution of the nāḍīs and chakras are also explained. A syncretic approach is therefore espoused through the comparison between Eastern doctrines and the presented esoteric Christianity. In doing so many of the veiled, hidden mysteries in the Gospel story and the book of Genesis are revealed. The text shows how these religions are but aspects of one fundamental religious evolution, of the historical development of what is known in the East as the dharma, and in the Western tradition as the ‘Law of God’.

This book provides practical background information and teachings on meditation primarily for a Western audience. Through meditation, compassionately focused actions, and group sharing the Heart centre is awakened and Bodhicitta is manifested. For this to occur the development of wisdom is essential. The associated process concerning the path of Initiation into the Mysteries of being/non-being, and the planetary Head centre (Shambhala) shall be provided. The subtleties of the Initiation path will be revealed through an esoteric interpretation of passages from the Bible, as the New Testament constitutes a major text on this subject. This philosophy is complimentary to the Buddhist foundation presented in the previous volumes of this series.

The Constitution of Shambhala The subject of Shambhala (the planetary Head centre, or theistically, the kingdom of ‘God’) has been previously veiled in such texts as the Kālachakra Tantra, but the true esoteric lore has only been provided gradually, first tentatively through the works of Blavatsky, and then in greater detail via Alice Bailey’s writings. This volume continues along this vein, presenting far more detail concerning this kingdom, and also of the Hierarchy of enlightened being (the planetary Heart centre) than hitherto revealed. A considerable compendium of revelation and esoteric knowledge is presented for the world’s esotericists to digest and the enlightened to expand upon.

The Buddha-Womb and the way to Liberation This volume resolves the ontology from the two previous volumes concerning the concept of a ‘subtle self’. First a commentary of the Tantra Great Gates of Diamond Liberation, that presents detailed information concerning the nature of the Heart, Throat, Diaphragm, and Splenic centres I and II. This adds to what was earlier provided on the Solar Plexus, Sacral and Base of Spine centres. The focus of this book concerns the attributes of the Sambhogakāya Flower, utilising The Uttaratantra of Maitreya and the Buddha’s testimony, thus revealing an esoteric doctrine that has been veiled in Buddhist scriptures.

This volume provides teachers with pedagogical approaches and practical applications to implement Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), and with assessment strategies to evaluate the learning outcomes of ESD in primary and secondary education. In addition to appropriate pedagogical approaches for ESD, the book also presents practical examples that teachers can use as a guide in their classes. The pedagogical approaches related to ESD not only aim to facilitate sustainability knowledge, but also promote attitudes, new perspectives, values, skills and competencies related to sustainability. Thus, holistic and transformative approaches are embraced to develop a deeper understanding of sustainability, values, respect towards the environment, connection to nature, systems thinking to understand complex problems, exhibiting responsible behaviours for sustainability and promoting action competence for sustainable development. This book also provides examples of assessment strategies for ESD. The assessment of ESD learning outcomes and learning processes is usually challenging, but it is important to determine how to evaluate ESD learning outcomes to reveal whether we achieve our ESD goals or not. For this reason, the assessment section of the book includes theoretical concepts and measurement tools for evaluating sustainability competencies and learning outcomes. Through the close and active collaboration of 22 authors from Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey, and the UK, good models for ESD implementation in primary and secondary education are presented.

A detailed, beautifully illustrated presentation of the construction and symbolism of the famed Kalachakra mandala, the crown jewel of the Indo-Tibetan tantric traditions. This volume contains an extensive analysis of the construction and symbolism of the mandala of the Kalachakra tantric system, the most intricate and explicit of the Indian Buddhist unexcelled yoga tantras, the most advanced teachings within the Indo-Tibetan tradition. Indo-Tibetan tantric traditions, particularly the unexcelled category, depend on imagery and visualization for the processes of purifying cyclic existence, and Kalachakra is the most detailed. The late scholar-practitioner Edward Henning, one of the earliest Western specialists on this material, offers this labor of love as a testament to the genius of the Tibetan tradition in preserving and transmitting these teachings over a thousand years. Well known internationally now due to the Dalai Lama’s many public initiations, the Kalachakra mandala serves as a primary focal point for meditators both new and seasoned. Henning draws primarily from the Jonang tradition of Kalachakra practice, particularly the modern master Banda Gelek, to elucidate and clarify inconsistencies across traditions and literature, including the authoritative Indian commentary Stainless Light (Vimalaprabha), regarding the construction and visualization of the three-tiered mandala with its hundreds of deities. In addition to providing detailed information on the images to be visualized, Henning provides in the final chapter a clear and extensive explanation of the symbolism of the habitat and inhabitants that are to be animated during the meditation session. An excellent companion to the translations of the Kalachakra Tantra and Stainless Light chapters co-published by the American Institute of Buddhist Studies and Wisdom Publications, this beautifully illustrated volume is a must-have for scholars and practitioners alike.