The universality of world religions is certainly a subject of interest in these engaging and pivotal times, and one that is treated multi-dimensionally in this issue of Nectar. Nectar of Nondual Truth has, for three years, attempted to present this principle by offering articles from writers and practitioners who are deeply ensconced in and in love with their chosen path and ideal, and can therefore express the one indivisible Truth via their own deeply cherished stream of Wisdom. This is crucial — the practice of one tradition until realization through that single pathway has been achieved — in order to avoid confusion, contradiction, misperception and the surface understanding that usually accompanies a mere eclectic point of view devoid of penetrating and longevitous spiritual practice. The well-guided expansion of the limited human mind is likened to raising a family, wherein different children must each be given special attention based upon comprehension of their differing needs, capacities, and temperaments. But before all this is attempted, the first-born must be attended to, and then all the resultant growth in terms of challenges, mistakes, successes and valuable insights into child-rearing can thus be applied to the raising of those who come after. Wherever the first-born is neglected, or followed too soon by other siblings, thus falling into the background of the overburdened parent’s full attention, malnutrition on several levels occurs, and the valuable developmental stages of early growth are stripped of their power and purpose, resulting in a stunted condition — a life shorn of its fullest possibilities and potentials. This unfortunate outcome in the individual family unit is mirrored by the undernourished spiritual life of contemporary living beings in general, due not only to their own debilitating complacency around purificatory practices, but also due to their lack of appreciation, their ambivalence, and even their hostility towards the sacred traditions of the world — religions adhered to by the same-selfed brothers and sisters of the multifarious but inseparable family of mankind. On the other hand, after sincere and one-pointed commitment to Truth is attained, followed up by a firm dedication to one’s path, a sedulous practice, and an unswerving devotion to God and Guru — all constantly cultivated — the onset of spiritual maturation will occur as a matter of course.

When migrating birds and other creatures move along a path of plant communities in bloom, they follow what has come to be known as a nectar trail. Should any of these plants be eliminated from the sequence—whether through habitat destruction, pests, or even aberrant weather—the movement of these pollinators may be interrupted and their very survival threatened. In recent efforts by ecologists and activists to envision a continental-scale network of protected areas connected by wildlife corridors, the peculiar roles of migratory pollinators which travel the entire length of this network cannot be underestimated in shaping the ultimate conservation design. This book, a unique work of comparative zoogeography and conservation biology, is the first to bring together studies of these important migratory pollinators and of what we must do to conserve them. It considers the similarities and differences among the behavior and habitat requirements of several species of migratory pollinators and seed dispersers in the West—primarily rufous hummingbirds, white-winged doves, lesser long-nosed bats, and monarch butterflies. It examines the population dynamics of these four species in flyways that extend from the Pacific Ocean to the continental backbone of the Sierra Madre Oriental and Rocky Mountains, and it investigates their foraging and roosting behaviors as they journey from the Tropic of Cancer in western Mexico into the deserts, grasslands, and thornscrub of the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. The four pollinators whose journeys are traced here differ dramatically from one another in foraging strategies and stopover fidelities, but all challenge many of the truisms that have emerged regarding the status of migratory species in general. The rufous hummingbird makes the longest known avian migration in relation to body size and is a key to identifying nectar corridors running through northwestern Mexico to the United States. And there is new evidence to challenge the long-supposed separation of eastern and western monarch butterfly populations by the Rocky Mountains as these insects migrate. Conserving Migratory Pollinators and Nectar Corridors in Western North America demonstrates new efforts to understand migratory species and to determine whether their densities, survival rates, and health are changing in response to changes in the distribution and abundance of nectar plants found within their ranges. Representing collaborative efforts that bridge field ecology and conservation biology in both theory and practice, it is dedicated to safeguarding dynamic interactions among plants and pollinators that are only now being identified.

This book offers a detailed study of the oral narrative of Shri Devnarayan along with the first English translation of this popular Rajasthani folk narrative. The narrative extolling the deeds of Lord Devnarayan is performed by itinerant singers during all night vigils in front of a 9-meter long, elaborately painted cloth scroll that depicts scenes and characters from the story. Aditya Malik uses the narrative to explore and ask a range of innovative questions relevant to the study of Indian folk culture and Hinduism as a whole: How is orality conceptualized and practiced? What is the relationship between spoken and visual signs? How do Devnarayan's devotees create multiple discourses concerning religion, community, and history within and though the medium of the narrative? Malik's analysis suggests that the narrative provides a framework for establishing linkages between different communities, past and present, spoken word and visual image, as well as contending religious ideologies. His interpretation is interspersed with excerpts from interviews with devotees and singers, other tales and texts, and observations from his field research that together invoke the worlds created by the narrative.

A full translation of an important Mahāyāna Buddhist treatise with a commentary by the famous Tibetan luminary Jamgön Mipham. A monumental work and Indian Buddhist classic, the Ornament of the Mahāyāna Sūtras (Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkāra) is a precious resource for students wishing to study in-depth the philosophy and path of Mahāyāna Buddhism. This full translation and commentary outlines the importance of Mahāyāna, the centrality of bodhicitta or the mind of awakening, the path of becoming a bodhisattva, and how one can save beings from suffering through skillful means. This definitive composition of Mahāyāna teachings was imparted in the fourth century by Maitreya to the famous adept Asaṅga, one of the most prolific writers of Buddhist treatises in history. Asaṅga’s work, which is among the famous Five Treatises of Maitreya, has been studied, commented upon, and taught by Buddhists throughout Asia ever since it was composed. In the early twentieth century, one of Tibet’s greatest scholars and saints, Jamgön Mipham, wrote A Feast of the Nectar of the Supreme Vehicle, which is a detailed explanation of every verse. This commentary has since been used as the primary blueprint for Tibetan Buddhists to illuminate the depth and brilliance of Maitreya’s pith teachings. The Padmakara Translation Group has provided yet another accessible and eloquent translation, ensuring that English-speaking students of Mahāyāna will be able to study this foundational Buddhist text for generations to come.

A full translation of an important Mahāyāna Buddhist treatise with a commentary by the famous Tibetan luminary Jamgön Mipham. A monumental work and Indian Buddhist classic, the Ornament of the Mahāyāna Sūtras (Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkāra) is a precious resource for students wishing to study in-depth the philosophy and path of Mahāyāna Buddhism. This full translation and commentary outlines the importance of Mahāyāna, the centrality of bodhicitta or the mind of awakening, the path of becoming a bodhisattva, and how one can save beings from suffering through skillful means. This definitive composition of Mahāyāna teachings was imparted in the fourth century by Maitreya to the famous adept Asaṅga, one of the most prolific writers of Buddhist treatises in history. Asaṅga’s work, which is among the famous Five Treatises of Maitreya, has been studied, commented upon, and taught by Buddhists throughout Asia ever since it was composed. In the early twentieth century, one of Tibet’s greatest scholars and saints, Jamgön Mipham, wrote A Feast of the Nectar of the Supreme Vehicle, which is a detailed explanation of every verse. This commentary has since been used as the primary blueprint for Tibetan Buddhists to illuminate the depth and brilliance of Maitreya’s pith teachings. The Padmakara Translation Group has provided yet another accessible and eloquent translation, ensuring that English-speaking students of Mahāyāna will be able to study this foundational Buddhist text for generations to come.

"This is a book like no other--the only truly comprehensive, one-volume illustrated guide to all of the world's birds, covering the complete International Ornithological Congress World Bird List. Featuring more than 300 stunning large-format, full-color plates, this accessible and authoritative encyclopedic reference presents incredibly detailed, accurate, and beautiful paintings of more than 10,700 species by some of the world's best bird artists, led by the legendary Norman Arlott and Ber van Perlo. In addition, The Complete Birds of the World provides detailed but concise identification information about each species on facing pages--including facts about voice, habitat, and geographic distribution. The result is a visual and verbal feast that captures the astonishing variety of bird life around the planet--and that will be cherished by any birder." -- Amazon.

The first cookbook from best-selling author Jonny Bowden! Jonny Bowden's The Healthiest Meals on Earth contains recipes for more than sixty dishes and drinks that use nutritious and healthy cooking methods. Forty of these dishes will combine to create ten different "poly-meals", specially crafted meals that contain key nutrients found to promote long-term health. They include Sweet and Thai Spicy Shrimp and Fruits, Persian Chicken with Autumnal Accompaniments, and the "iron booster" of Tender Calf's Liver and Sweet Beets. A "Healthiest Holiday Meal" features Citrus Stuffed Turkey, Zippy Fruit Salsa, and Sweet Potato Pie. The poly-meals are designed to be eaten three-to-five times a week. Another ten recipes are not part of the poly-meal structure; instead they are one-pot meals that include Slow-Cooker Chicken Curry, Miso Bean Soup, and Venison Stew. A chapter on drinks will include nutritious smoothies, so-called "green drinks", and others. Jonny will provide healthy cooking tips throughout the book, as well as an analysis of the foods in each recipe. Side dishes, such as Cold Strawberry Soup and Veggie Slaw with Flax Oil, and desserts, such as Raw Chocolate Fondue, are also featured. This book pairs well with Bowden's successful 150 Healthiest Foods, and can even be used as a companion cookbook.

The passion and urgency that inspired WWI and WWII Victory Gardens is needed today to meet another threat to our food supply and our environment—the steep decline of pollinators. The Pollinator Victory Garden offers practical solutions for winning the war against the demise of these essential animals. Pollinators are critical to our food supply and responsible for the pollination of the vast majority of all flowering plants on our planet. Pollinators include not just bees, but many different types of animals, including insects and mammals. Beetles, bats, birds, butterflies, moths, flies, and wasps can be pollinators. But, many pollinators are in trouble, and the reality is that most of our landscapes have little to offer them. Our residential and commercial landscapes are filled with vast green pollinator deserts, better known as lawns. These monotonous green expanses are ecological wastelands for bees and other pollinators. With The Pollinator Victory Garden, you can give pollinators a fighting chance. Learn how to transition your landscape into a pollinator haven by creating a habitat that includes pollinator nutrition, larval host plants for butterflies and moths, and areas for egg laying, nesting, sheltering, overwintering, resting, and warming. Find a wealth of information to support pollinators while improving the environment around you: • The importance of pollinators and the specific threats to their survival• How to provide food for pollinators using native perennials, trees, and shrubs that bloom in succession• Detailed profiles of the major pollinator types and how to attract and support each one• Tips for creating and growing a Pollinator Victory Garden, including site assessment, planning, and planting goals• Project ideas like pollinator islands, enriched landscape edges, revamped foundation plantings, meadowscapes, and other pollinator-friendly lawn alternatives The time is right for a new gardening movement. Every yard, community garden, rooftop, porch, patio, commercial, and municipal landscape can help to win the war against pollinator decline with The Pollinator Victory Garden.