You’re no idiot, of course. You know Eastern philosophy encompasses many countries and concepts, but when it comes to breaking down the basics—to discuss with others or for your own enlightenment—you can’t tell Confucius from Krishna. Don’t nix nirvana just yet! The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Eastern Philosophy is an extensive, reader-friendly guide that maps out the terrain along the various paths of knowledge. In this Complete Idiot’s Guide®, you get: • A wealth of information about the history and core beliefs of each philosophical system. • Outlines and in-depth explorations of each school of thought. • Reading and study guides to enhance your understanding. • The “big picture” of Eastern philosophy and how its components relate to Western ideas.

A revised edition to a solid performing book, with expanded content on various philosophers and ideas. -- The current edition has sold over 61,000 since its release in November of 1997. -- Existing content is great, but needs to be added to in order to more effectively compete with Philosophy for Dummies, which, at 360 pages, is 100 pages over our current edition. -- By its very nature, philosophy is not subject to a great deal of change over time, and therefore can be expected to continue to perform at or above current levels. Philosophy is all about being, knowing, and acting. It poses daring questions such as what exists, what counts as knowledge, and how do we know things? And, as life becomes more and more complicated, people turn to philosophy to help themselves better understand the world around them-politics, religion, family, the environment, and more. The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Philosophy, Second Edition will continue the first edition's success in exposing beginners to the world of philosophy, its ideas, and its philosophers. It will contain expanded content on existing ideas and philosophers covered in the first edition, but it will also introduce new philosophers whose ideas were not included in the first edition, but whose contributions to the world of philosophy are perhaps now less obscure.

Socrates admonition that 'the unexamined life is not worth living' still resonates with many people, and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Philosophy, Third Edition, is a great introduction to that mental exercise. The author skilfully covers the subject both historically and topically and brings the reader all the way up to the present, with insights into 21st-century philosophical thought. In this third edition of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Philosophy, readers will find- Essential philosophers and philosophies, from ancient times right up to today. Eastern as well as Western philosophy. More content, including the relationship of systems theory to philosophy today. Explanations of the latest thinking in 20th- and 21st-century philosophical thought.

You're no idiot, of course. You know Eastern philosophy encompasses many countries and concepts, but when it comes to breaking down the basics to discuss with others or for your own enlightenment you can't tell Confucius from Krishna. Don't nix nirvana just yet! 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Eastern Philosophy' is an extensive, reader-friendly guide that maps out the terrain along the various paths of knowledge. A wealth of information about the history and core beliefs of each philosophical system. Outlines and in-depth explorations of each school of thought. Reading and study guides to enhance your understanding. The big picture of Eastern Philosophy and how its components relate to Western ideas.

You're no idiot, of courser. You know Taoism is one of the world's oldest religions, based on simplicity and balance. However, you may not know it has important parallels with modern Western faith; health, ecology, even in pop culture icons as Luke Skywalker and The Beatles. But you don't have to sit at the feet of a Taoist master to learn how the Taoist tradition has enlightened seekers throughout the centuries! 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Taoism' will show you exactly why Taoist principles appeal to people from every walk of life! in this 'Complete Idiot's Guide', you get: -The history of the Daode Jing, the world's shortest core religious text, and Laozi, it's mysterious author. -The teachings of Zhuangzi, the often-overlooked master sage of Taoism. -An explanation of ying-yang and what it represents. -Taoism's relationship to Zen Buddhism.

The Best Guide to Eastern Philosophy & Religion provides a thorough discussion of the most widely practiced belief systems of the East. Author Diane Morgan understands how to direct the materialistic, linear way of Western thinking toward a comprehension of the cyclical, metaphysical essence of Eastern philosophy. With an emphasis on the tenets and customs that Western seekers find most compelling, this text is accessible to the novice yet sophisticated enough for the experienced reader. Inside, you'll find complete coverage of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, as well as the less-widely practiced faiths of Shintoism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism. Learn the fundamentals of the tantric path to liberation and the relationship between sex and seeking. Discover the true meaning of Feng Shui, the philosophical underpinnings of Hatha Yoga and Taoist connection to the martial art of Tai chi chuan. And if you've ever wondered: what is the sound of one hand clapping?, this book will get you started on finding that answer. The Eastern traditions, with their emphasis on harmony and oneness, have much to offer us in our hectic, demanding lives. For a comprehensive, entertaining exploration of the beliefs of Asia, The Best Guide to Eastern Philosophy & Religion is the essential manual for the seeker in all of us.

Read between the lines--and get more information on the greatest works in the English canon; political criticism; the history of drama; character and plot in drama and fiction; Shakespeare and his contemporaries; Renaissance literature; the Romantic and Victorian periods; the basics of poetry; magical realism and other highlights of the postmodern period; the greatest words ever written by Wordsworth, Byron, and other notable poets.

Eastern Philosophy: The Basics is an essential introduction to major Indian and Chinese philosophies, both past and present. Exploring familiar metaphysical and ethical questions from the perspectives offered by a range of eastern philosophies, including Confucianism, Daoism, the main Buddhist and Hindu philosophical schools, as well as Jainism, this book covers key figures, issues, methods and concepts. Questions discussed include: What is the ‘self’? Is human nature inherently good or bad? How is the mind related to the world? How can you live an authentic life? What is the fundamental nature of reality? With timelines highlighting key figures and their contributions, a list of useful websites, pronunciation guides and further reading suggestions, Eastern Philosophy: The Basics provides an engaging overview of fundamental ideas in eastern philosophy. The second edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to take account of the most recent scholarship. It includes study questions for each chapter, an updated bibliography, a new section on the Yijing and expanded discussion of Indian philosophies and their basis in experience. Eastern Philosophy: The Basics is valuable reading for all students of philosophy and religion, especially those seeking to understand eastern thought.

This book deals neither with the historical and cultural setting of oriental viewpoints, nor even with the religious beliefs and ritual practices that characteristically provide a context for these viewpoints, but rather with a systematic and critical analysis of oriental perspectives as alternative philosophical positions. At the same time, Hackett provides a succinct historical framework, so that the student may place these systems in perspective.

You're no idiot, of course. You want to embrace the peaceful state of mind inspired by the Eastern practice of Zen. But your day-to-day responsibilities at work, at home, and for your family make your life feel too complicated and stressful for you to ever realize enlightenment. You can achieve your own nirvana. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Zen Living, Second Edition, shows you how to illuminate your path to bliss. Book jacket.