True Enlightenment

Brought to you by Penguin. The Enlightenment is one of the formative periods of Western history, yet more than 300 years after it began, it remains controversial. It is often seen as the fountainhead of modern values such as human rights, religious toleration, freedom of thought, scientific...

Pissed and on the verge of ripping someone to shreds, I didn’t think before I ran off into the forest during a full moon. Not the smartest move.... I know. So of course, I was attacked by a thirsty vampire only to be saved by another.

Peace. Calm. Mindfulness. Enlightenment. These are appealing concepts, but they never seem like they're within grasp of the everyday person. With all our responsibilities in life, most of us are doing our best just to keep up, let alone have time to find that elusive 'inner calm'. Luke McLeod...

Andrew Cohen here redefines spirituality for our contemporary world - a world characterized by exponential change and an ever-expanding appreciation for the processes of evolution. Based on 25 years of groundbreaking work as a spiritual teacher and the editor-in-chief of the award-winning EnlightenNext magazine, Cohen has synthesized an original path, practice, and philosophy focused entirely on aligning yourself with what he calls "the evolutionary impulse". His message is simple, yet profound: Life is evolution....

Buddhism is often considered a religion by new practitioners. For many Buddhists it is more of a way of life than a religion. Buddhists believe meditation and other practices will lead to changes in oneself. These changes are aimed at creating awareness, wisdom, and kindness within in order to reach spiritual enlightenment. Buddhism represents the end of suffering for anyone able to attain enlightenment, because the person no longer dwells on what they lack but learns to live with the reality of what is, without needs, wants, or desires.

“When I took my first steps on the spiritual path,” says Tami Simon, “I was looking for answers to life’s greatest mysteries. Over time I learned that the best books and teachers pointed us inward—to our own experience—and that this is where we can find our greatest sense of...