The greatest athletes in the world today are not the Olympic champions or the stars of professional sports, but the marathon monks of Japan's sacred Mount Hiei. Over a seven-year training period, these running buddhas figuratively circle the globe on foot. During one incredible 100-day stretch, they cover 52.5 miles daily--twice the length of an Olympic marathon. And the prize they seek to capture is the greatest thing a human being can achieve: enlightenment in the here and now.

This book is about these amazing men, the magic mountain on which they train, and the philosophy of Tendai Buddhism, which inspires them in their quest for the supreme. The reader will learn about the monks' death-defying fasts, their vegetarian training diet, their handmade straw running shoes, and feats of endurance such as their ceremonial leap into a waterfall. Illustrated with superb photographs, the book also contains the first full-length study in English of Mount Hiei and Tendai Buddhism.

John Stevens lived in Japan for thirty-five years, where he was a professor of Buddhist studies at Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai. Stevens is a widely respected translator, an ordained Buddhist priest, a curator of several major exhibitions of Zen art, and an aikido instructor. He has authored more than thirty books and is one of the foremost Western experts on aikido, holding a ranking of 7th dan Aikikai. Stevens has also studied calligraphy for decades, authoring the classic Sacred Calligraphy of the East. Other John Stevens titles that are likely to be of interest include Extraordinary Zen Masters and The Philosophy of Aikido.

Readers interested in related titles from John Stevens will also want to see: Abundant Peace (ISBN: 1626543232), Aikido: The Way of Harmony (ISBN: 1626543275), Sacred Calligraphy of the East (ISBN: 162654994X), Secrets of Aikido (ISBN: 1626543259), The Philosophy of Aikido (ISBN: 1626549931), Extraordinary Zen Masters (ISBN: 1626549923).

The inspirational teachings in this collection show that the real way of the warrior is based on compassion, wisdom, fearlessness, and love of nature. The teachings are drawn from the talks and writings of Morihei Ueshiba, founder of the popular Japanese martial art of Aikido--a mind-body discipline he called the Art of Peace,--which offers a nonviolent way to victory in the face of conflict. Ueshiba believed that Aikido principles could be applied to all the challenges we face in life--in personal and business relationships and in our interactions with society.

This is an expanded version of the original miniature edition that appeared in the Shambhala Pocket Classics series. It features a new introduction by John Stevens, translated doka (didactic poems of the Way), and Ueshiba's own calligraphy.

Throughout the East, writing is held to be a gift from the gods, and the divinely inspired letters and characters are objects of the highest veneration. The religious significance of calligraphy has thus led to a unique development of the art of brush and ink in Japan, China, India, and Tibet. This beautifully illustrated book covers such topics as the history and spirit of Eastern calligraphy, the art of copying religious texts, the biographies of important Zen calligraphers, and practical instructions on materials and techniques for the contemporary student. No knowledge of the languages discussed is required for the reader to appreciate the study of this ancient practice.

John Stevens lived in Japan for thirty-five years, where he was a professor of Buddhist studies at Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai. Stevens is a widely respected translator, an ordained Buddhist priest, a curator of several major exhibitions of Zen art, and an aikido instructor. He has authored over thirty books and is one of the foremost Western experts on Aikido, holding a ranking of 7th dan Aikikai. Stevens has also studied calligraphy for decades, authoring this classic Sacred Calligraphy of the East. Other John Stevens titles that are likely to be of interest include The Philosophy of Aikido, Extraordinary Zen Masters, and The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei.

Readers interested in related titles from John Stevens will also want to see: Abundant Peace (ISBN: 1626543232), Aikido: The Way of Harmony (ISBN: 1626543275), Secrets of Aikido (ISBN: 1626543259), The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei (ISBN: 1626549958), The Philosophy of Aikido (ISBN: 1626549931), Extraordinary Zen Masters (ISBN: 1626549923).

At last, a clear and insightful look at the system of beliefs that is the basis for the practice of Aikido. The Philosophy of Aikido is an invaluable guide for practitioners-whether beginning or advanced-wishing to know more about the context in which Aikido was developed and Aikido's implications for the world today.

Some of the ideas discussed are:

-the relation of Aikido to such Asian traditions as Shinto, Shingon Buddhism, Omotokyo esotericism, Taoist mysticism, and Tantra

-points of correspondence between Aikido and Western philosophical and religious systems-Greek philosophy, Christianity, Kabbalah, alchemy, and modern scientific theories

-links between Aikido and art

-ways that Aikido thought can be used to advance the causes of such urgent issues as health and healing, conflict resolution and environmental responsibility

The Philosophy of Aikido will be of vital interest to all those who are drawn to a dynamic philosophy centered on harmony, peace, and spiritual strength. The book includes 70 black-and-white illustrations of woodblock prints, calligraphy, and photographs from the author's extensive collection.

John Stevens lived in Japan for thirty-five years, where he was a professor of Buddhist studies at Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai. Stevens is a widely respected translator, an ordained Buddhist priest, a curator of several major exhibitions of Zen art, and an aikido instructor. He has authored more than thirty books and is one of the foremost Western experts on aikido, holding a ranking of 7th dan Aikikai. Stevens has also studied calligraphy for decades, authoring the classic Sacred Calligraphy of the East. Other John Stevens titles that are likely to be of interest include Extraordinary Zen Masters and The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei.

Readers interested in related titles from John Stevens will also want to see: Abundant Peace (ISBN: 1626543232), Aikido: The Way of Harmony (ISBN: 1626543275), Sacred Calligraphy of the East (ISBN: 162654994X), Secrets of Aikido (ISBN: 1626543259), The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei (ISBN: 1626549958), Extraordinary Zen Masters (ISBN: 1626549923).

Aikido is the Way of Peace, a martial art aimed at harmonizing body and spirit with the natural forces of the universe. Developed in the late 1920s by martial artist and spiritual leader Morihei Ueshiba, Aikido is unique among martial arts for its emphasis on peace and philosophical and spiritual development. Though Aikido is a fighting system, its goal is not destruction and injury, but rather protection and harmony for all parties involved in the struggle. Those who seek to compete and better one another are making a terrible mistake, says Morihei, The real Way of a Warrior is to prevent such slaughter -- it is the Art of Peace, the power of love.

In Secrets of Aikido, John Stevens -- esteemed Aikido instructor and author of over 30 books on Aikido and its founder) -- delves into the hidden teachings and deep, multi-dimensional spiritual wisdom offered by this unique martial art. Divided into two broad sections on The Mysteries of Aikido and The Practice of Aikido, this book explores,

Practices for the purification of mind and body
The tantric dimensions of Aikido, unifying masculine and feminine
The Aikido science of sound and how it parallels the use of mantras and similar practices in other spiritual disciplines
Breathing techniques for calming the spirit and returning to the source of life
The six pillars of Aikido: physical techniques based on spiritual principles that link us to a higher realm of being

For beginners and seasoned practitioners alike, Secrets of Aikido presents honest and inspirational insight into a harmonious and peaceful way of life.

John Stevens lived in Japan for 35 years, where he was a professor of Buddhist studies at Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai. A widely respected translator, ordained Buddhist priest, curator of several major exhibitions of Zen art, and an aikido instructor, he has authored more than thirty books and is one of the foremost Western experts on aikido, holding a ranking of 7th dan Aikikai.

Readers interested in related titles from John Stevens will also want to see: Abundant Peace (ISBN: 1626543232), Aikido: The Way of Harmony (ISBN: 1626543275), Sacred Calligraphy of the East (ISBN: 162654994X), The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei (ISBN: 1626549958), The Philosophy of Aikido (ISBN: 1626549931), Extraordinary Zen Masters (ISBN: 1626549923).

Extraordinary Zen Masters: A Maverick, a Master of Masters, and a Wandering Poet tells the life stories of Ikkyu (1394-1481), Hakuin (1686-1768), and Ryokan (1758-1831). Each was an outstanding figure who manifested Zen in his own way. Ikkyu was unconventional and uncompromising, a relentless enemy of the sham and hypocrisy that pervaded the religious circles of his day. Hakuin under-went a lengthy and strenuous apprenticeship to become a Master Teacher of Zen, training hundreds of disciples and insisting that they endure the same trials and surmount the same massive barri-ers that he had. Ryokan, in contrast, was a gentle, self-effacing recluse who never became an abbot but lived in quiet hermitages, savor-ing nature and writing poetry. All three were artists of the highest order, employing brush, ink, and paper as a means of transmitting Zen teachings and creating unique works of art.

These are three of the greatest Zen mas-ters in history-each unique, each an outstanding artist, and each a teacher of future generations. The biographies of these three men, in one volume, constitute an enlivening reading experience, full of insight on leading a meaningful life.

John Stevens lived in Japan for thirty-five years, where he was a professor of Buddhist studies at Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai. Stevens is a widely respected translator, an ordained Buddhist priest, a curator of several major exhibitions of Zen art, and an aikido instructor. He has authored more than thirty books and is one of the foremost Western experts on aikido, holding a ranking of 7th dan Aikikai. Stevens has also studied calligraphy for decades, authoring the classic Sacred Calligraphy of the East. Other John Stevens titles that are likely to be of interest include The Philosophy of Aikido, and The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei.

Readers interested in related titles from John Stevens will also want to see: Abundant Peace (ISBN: 1626543232), Aikido: The Way of Harmony (ISBN: 1626543275), Sacred Calligraphy of the East (ISBN: 162654994X), Secrets of Aikido (ISBN: 1626543259), The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei (ISBN: 1626549958), The Philosophy of Aikido (ISBN: 1626549931 ).

The greatest athletes in the world today are not the Olympic champions or the stars of professional sports, but the marathon monks of Japan's sacred Mount Hiei. Over a seven-year training period, these running buddhas figuratively circle the globe on foot. During one incredible 100-day stretch, they cover 52.5 miles daily--twice the length of an Olympic marathon. And the prize they seek to capture is the greatest thing a human being can achieve: enlightenment in the here and now.

This book is about these amazing men, the magic mountain on which they train, and the philosophy of Tendai Buddhism, which inspires them in their quest for the supreme. The reader will learn about the monks' death-defying fasts, their vegetarian training diet, their handmade straw running shoes, and feats of endurance such as their ceremonial leap into a waterfall. Illustrated with superb photographs, the book also contains the first full-length study in English of Mount Hiei and Tendai Buddhism.

John Stevens lived in Japan for thirty-five years, where he was a professor of Buddhist studies at Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai. Stevens is a widely respected translator, an ordained Buddhist priest, a curator of several major exhibitions of Zen art, and an aikido instructor. He has authored more than thirty books and is one of the foremost Western experts on aikido, holding a ranking of 7th dan Aikikai. Stevens has also studied calligraphy for decades, authoring the classic Sacred Calligraphy of the East. Other John Stevens titles that are likely to be of interest include Extraordinary Zen Masters, and The Philosophy of Aikido.

Readers interested in related titles from John Stevens will also want to see: Abundant Peace (ISBN: 1626543232), Aikido: The Way of Harmony (ISBN: 1626543275), Sacred Calligraphy of the East (ISBN: 162654994X), Secrets of Aikido (ISBN: 1626543259), The Philosophy of Aikido (ISBN: 1626549931), Extraordinary Zen Masters (ISBN: 1626549923).

John Stevens has gathered an eclectic and historically rich collection of teachings that include principles and practice guidelines from training manuals and transmission scrolls, excerpts of texts on budo philosophy, and instructional tales gathered from a number of sources. Since many of the martial arts masters were also fine painters and calligraphers and used brush and ink as a teaching medium, Stevens has included their artwork throughout with explanation and commentary.

Exploring math with your kids can be fun. Really

Maybe you love math. Maybe you still remember anxiety you felt as a student in math class. Either way, your kids are learning from you and deciding whether or not they are good at math.

How can you help ensure that your children and teens learn to love math? Talk about it Make it fun and casual and interesting. (And please, make sure math conversations aren't just about grades.) Bring math into your everyday conversations. It's simple because...

Math is everywhere From cooking (and eating) to playing games to estimating how much toilet paper is left on a roll to creating elaborate patterns with LEGO bricks, you don't have to look far to find numbers to wonder about with your kids.

In Table Talk Math, John Stevens offers ideas for initiating authentic, math-based conversations that can benefit (and be fun for) everyone at the table--no matter how young or old. The more often you can get your kids to notice and be curious about all the numbers, patterns, and equations in the world around them, the more likely they are to start thinking about math as something that is fun, even if it isn't always easy. And that's when you'll really have something to talk about.

Aikido is the Way of Peace, a martial art aimed at harmonizing body and spirit with the natural forces of the universe. Developed in the late 1920s by martial artist and spiritual leader Morihei Ueshiba, Aikido is unique among martial arts for its emphasis on peace and philosophical and spiritual development. Though Aikido is a fighting system, its goal is not destruction and injury, but rather protection and harmony for all parties involved in the struggle. Those who seek to compete and better one another are making a terrible mistake, says Morihei, The real Way of a Warrior is to prevent such slaughter - it is the Art of Peace, the power of love.

In The Secrets of Aikido, John Stevens - esteemed Aikido instructor and author of over 30 books on Aikido - delves into the hidden teachings and deep, multi-dimensional spiritual wisdom offered by this unique martial art. Divided into two broad sections on The Mysterious of Aikido and The Practice of Aikido, this book explores

• Practices for the purification of mind and body
• The tantric dimensions of Aikido, unifying masculine and feminine
• The Aikido science of sound and how it parallels the use of mantras and similar practices in other spiritual disciplines
• Breathing techniques for calming the spirit and returning to the source of life
• The six pillars of Aikido: physical techniques based on spiritual principles that link us ot a higher realm of being

For beginners and seasoned practitioners alike, The Secrets of Aikido presents honest and inspirational insight into a harmonious and peaceful way of life.

John Stevens lived in Japan for 35 years, where he was a professor of Buddhist studies at Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai. A widely respected translator, ordained Buddhist priest, curator of several major exhibitions of Zen art, and an Aikido instructor, he has authored more than thirty books and is one of the foremost Western experts on Aikido, holding a ranking of 7th dan Aikikai.

Kodokan judo, one of the most well-known martial arts in the world today, was originated by Jigoro Kano (1860-1938), a martial artist and career educator who developed the art after studying several types of jujutsu, sumo, and Western wrestling. Openness and refinement were hallmarks of his personal and professional style, and he relentlessly searched for the best way to practice, teach, and perform techniques.

This biography shows how Kano saw judo as a vehicle not just for self-defense, but for physical, spiritual, and moral development as well. His teachings clearly emphasize his ideal of judo as a way of self-cultivation that leads to physical health, ethical behavior, and ultimately a better society. Kano was a tireless activist who promoted the practical application of judo's principles in all realms of life--in one's personal behavior, for education, in work, for economic benefit, and in both the local and international political arenas.

Kano's students were a colorful, sometimes notorious bunch, and this book reveals how several went on to become famous--or infamous--in their own right. They include a prime minister of Japan, the leader of the Communist party in China, a famous novelist, a spy, high-level military leaders, and a media mogul, among many others.

Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969), the founder of Aikido--whose name means abundant peace--was undoubtedly the greatest martial artist who ever lived. As John Stevens, the author of this penetrating biography puts it, even if we accept every exploit of all the legendary warriors, East and West, as being literally true, none of those accomplishments can be compared to Morihei's documented ability to disarm any attacker, throw a dozen men simultaneously, and down and pin opponents without touching them.

How did the diminutive master--barely five feet tall--attain this uncanny power? In Abundant Peace, John Stevens tells the real story behind Morihei's achievement, illuminating the man and his message in a way that will delight and stimulate the reader. Focusing on the how and why of Morihei's career, Stevens describes the people, events, and ideas that influenced his lifelong spiritual quest, which culminated in the unique teachings of Aikido. Illustrated with photographs of Morihei in action and filled with revealing anecdotes about his life and times, the book also offers a valuable discussion of the Founder's conception of Aikido as a path of harmony and love, unifying mind and body, self and others, man and the universe.

John Stevens lived in Japan for 35 years, where he was a professor of Buddhist studies at Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai. A widely respected translator, ordained Buddhist priest, curator of several major exhibitions of Zen art, and an aikido instructor, he has authored more than thirty books and is one of the foremost Western experts on aikido, holding a ranking of 7th dan Aikikai

This definitive, richly illustrated manual covers the essential elements of the philosophy and practice of Aikido, the Japanese martial art that has been embraced by psychologists, spiritual teachers, and even Western bodywork practitioners.

Full of insightful wisdom for beginners and experienced students alike, this book details the traditional methods and techniques of Shirata Rinjiro, of whom John Stevens is a principal student. Noted for the precise execution of a wide range of techniques and an emphasis on Aikido as a spiritual path, Shirata Sensei's teachings exemplify the Way of the Warrior: superior technical prowess combined with profound spiritual insight.

In addition to photographs and descriptions of all the important Aikido techniques, Stevens recounts interesting and lively anecdotes about the history of Aikido and its founder, Ueshiba Morihei, who developed it from a martial art into a spiritual discipline. A biography of Shirata Sensei, complete with his reflections on sixty years of Aikido practice, is also included.

John Stevens lived in Japan for 35 years, where he was a professor of Buddhist studies at Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai. A widely respected translator, ordained Buddhist priest, curator of several major exhibitions of Zen art, and an aikido instructor, he has authored more than thirty books and is one of the foremost Western experts on aikido, holding a ranking of 7th dan Aikikai.

Readers interested in related titles from John Stevens will also want to see: Abundant Peace (ISBN: 1626543232), Sacred Calligraphy of the East (ISBN: 162654994X), Secrets of Aikido (ISBN: 1626543259), The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei (ISBN: 1626549958), The Philosophy of Aikido (ISBN: 1626549931), Extraordinary Zen Masters (ISBN: 1626549923).

This definitive, richly illustrated manual covers the essential elements of the philosophy and practice of Aikido, the Japanese martial art that has been embraced by psychologists, spiritual teachers, and even Western bodywork practitioners.

Full of insightful wisdom for beginners and experienced students alike, this book details the traditional methods and techniques of Shirata Rinjiro, of whom John Stevens is a principal student. Noted for the precise execution of a wide range of techniques and an emphasis on Aikido as a spiritual path, Shirata Sensei's teachings exemplify the Way of the Warrior: superior technical prowess combined with profound spiritual insight.

In addition to photographs and descriptions of all the important Aikido techniques, Stevens recounts interesting and lively anecdotes about the history of Aikido and its founder, Ueshiba Morihei, who developed it from a martial art into a spiritual discipline. A biography of Shirata Sensei, complete with his reflections on sixty years of Aikido practice, is also included.

John Stevens lived in Japan for 35 years, where he was a professor of Buddhist studies at Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai. A widely respected translator, ordained Buddhist priest, curator of several major exhibitions of Zen art, and an aikido instructor, he has authored more than thirty books and is one of the foremost Western experts on aikido, holding a ranking of 7th dan Aikikai.

Many Christians experience times of doubt and uncertainty. At various times we can ask: Does God love me? Am I really a Christian? - and even: Is there a God at all?!

This short, readable book unpacks the difference between good and bad doubt, shows us where it comes from and how to deal with it in ourselves and others.

It explains clearly and simply the liberating reality of what the Bible tells us about doubt, assurance and the Christian life.