This tour-de-force debut novel represents not only one family's journey from India to South Africa, but also a valuable source of information about the experiences, struggles, feelings and thoughts of the South African Indian community.

Explore a fresh telling of the inspiring, mysterious, and magical life of the great master Padmasambhava—the Lotus-Born—who planted the seed of Buddhism in Tibet that is still blossoming today, beautifully illustrated for kids ages 8–12. The Lotus-Born is one of the most iconic and important figures in Tibetan history. Here, his magical life story is outlined in colorful and captivating detail, offering young readers a rare glimpse into his adventures that transformed Tibet, a land of malevolent spirits and wild folk, into a fertile ground for Buddhism. The rich and vibrant spiritual tradition that resulted in Tibet has thrived for over one thousand years. This timeless tale is sure to capture the imagination of future generations, just as the oral, theatrical, and written accounts of it have in the Himalayas for centuries.

In 1949 Mao Tse-tung first sent his People's Liberation Army into the eastern Tibetan province of Amdo; he followed with an invasion of the province of Kham in 1950. Ill-prepared, disorganized and badly outnumbered, the small Tibetan armed forces were no match for the invaders. At first the Chinese persuaded many Tibetans that their intent was merely to help them share in the future greatness and wealth that Mao had promised all. In a short time the Tibetan tribesmen realized, however, that the true purpose of the invasion was otherwise. Their religion and their freedom were at stake. Despite the repeated efforts by the Dalai Lama and others in Lhasa to dissuade them, the people resisted the Chinese--at great cost: over one million dead in the 1950s. This work includes accounts of the role of Tibetans who collaborated with the Chinese invaders, the resistance movement, the Dalai Lama's lack of support for the movement, and how even so the resistance made it possible for the Dalai Lama to escape from Lhasa in 1959.

" Don't mistake mere words to be the meaning of the teachings. Mingle the practice with your own being and attain liberation from samsara right now." Padmasambhava Padmasambhava is the primary master of Vajrayana, the teachings for our time. Out of his great compassion and wisdom, he instructed his main disciple Yeshe Tsogyal to conceal terma treasures to be revealed at the destined time for future practitioners. The profundity of this advice is meant to be personally applied by all individuals in all circumstances. It is a classic work, which contains valid truth for anyone who sincerely wants to follow a spiritual path. "The chief compiler of Padmasambhava's teachings was Yeshe Tsogyal, an emanation of a female Buddha. There may be some people who believe that only men can attain enlightenment, but her life is proof to the opposite. The awakened state of mind is neither male or female." Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, from Introductory Teachings

The Lotus Sutra clearly and definitively reveals the buddha nature that is an integral part of the lives of all people. And it makesclear that the Buddha desires and acts so that all people, by opening up this buddhanature inherent within themselves, mayattain the state of buddhahood forthemselves. The sutra further stresses that the continued observance of such action is the true mission of the bodhisattva, and never ceases to praise the observance of this practice.

The Lotus Sūtra is one of the most important sūtras in Mahāyāna Buddhism. Translated by Kumārajīva in the 5th century, its teachings have inspired many Buddhist scholars such as Chih-i and Saichō from the Tiantai (Tendai) tradition, Dōgen from the Zen tradition and Nichiren the 13th century Kamakura founder and reformer. There is a relative lack of scholarly works that are devoted to an examination of how its philosophical ideas were received and developed throughout history. This book remedies that lack by tracing the origin and development of Lotus Sūtra thought, and interprets the text from the perspective of the doctrine of Buddha-nature in Mahāyāna Buddhism.

To many Buddhists, The Lotus Sutra is one of the most important, if not the most important, sutras in the Buddhist canon. To the beginning student of Buddhism, however, The Lotus Sutra often presents a difficult challenge. For this reason, the authors have developed "An Introduction" to The Lotus Sutra, making it easy to understand this central scripture of Mahayana Buddhism.

A simple young man, native of a Province, Vietnam. William was born from a farming family with nine children. Filled with love and support from his loving parents in their beautiful homeland, William Dang spent most of his childhood life in the field. Though life was tough for him, with his nature of being Independent and having strong desire to succeed in life, he was able to climb up the ladder and build his own family of four children with the love of his life – his wife, without the influence of her wife’s family wealth. William Dang began his journey to discover the depths of his inner self and soul from returning to his childhood memories, about his family home where he was born and grown-up, the journey of craving for knowledge, developing a career, and in building a loving family. In this journey, you will encounter interesting stories that had happen in real life. You will experience visual images of South Vietnamese people in the '60s as well as following years of journey towards passion for knowledge seeking and overcoming some life’s obstacles until reaching the self-awakening part of life. Awakening and self-actualization from negative experiences of his life, which he would like to share heartily to everyone to bring about positive energy to motivate and to inspire. As a Buddhist religious follower, you will be surprised that the colours of his own life and his inner awakening all originated from the study of Buddhism. This awakening stage started from prostrating The Lotus Sutra. Thereafter, miracles had happened to his life wholly felt in every second, every breath, and every moment. He felt and experienced the great Love, Compassion, and Sympathy which will be nourished in each one of us every day. William Dang believes that these miracles he experienced through the Lotus Sutra which teaches the way for enlightenment of all humanity, and the enlightenment of the individual in the current life circumstances, will also be experienced by the readers. Whoever or wherever you are, in any country or any religion, he believes that there is an apparent and intimate link not only between people but between us and the universe. Join William Dang in this life’s journey. Surely, you will be inspired by his success story, especially during this pandemic period. You might see for yourself in each challenging step, a great life lesson to ponder and find meaning in your own life from rediscovering your inner self as well. Share the colours of your life as well that will become like a stepping stone towards finding one’s self to experience great Love and Peace.

In 1989 I had started to write a book about the art of conscious dying but every time I sat down to write, information that had nothing to do with that concept kept coming through. I decided to meditate to try to figure out what was going on. I started seeing strange faces arising out of the darkness and messages, like a moving LED sign displaying a continuous series of symbols that made no sense to me. Then I would stop meditating and start writing information that didn't seem to be coming from my mind. It seemed as though I was stepping down this other information from these unknown beings and translating it into written words. They wouldn't leave me alone to write my book until finally I agreed to write their book first then they would help me with the book I wanted to write. "Sitting in the Lotus Blossom" is the information they asked me to translate into written language and share with the world. It is about the meaning of life, this life and the life beyond, the evolution of consciousness and who we truly are.I asked them who they were and what they looked like, and using my cartoon drawing talent I drew them as I saw them. I know it's a little weird (and this was during the New Age revolution) but every time I go back and read what I transcribed, I'm amazed at the insight they imparted.

Foreword by Bridget Moore. Text by Robert G. O'Meally.