Showing results by author "David Lane" in All Categories

This audiobook contains a series of essays on virtual reality and its future implications; how VR can usher in new tools for progressive meditational experiences; why science is a practical endeavor and should not be conflated with unnecessary metaphysics; why Darwinian evolution can best explain the Albert Camus dilemma; and finally, it touches upon the importance of Faqir Chand on understanding religious experiences.

Yoga, shorn of its theological overlays and spiritual ultimacies, is similar in many ways to the art of bodysurfing. At first glance, this may seem like a gross exaggeration, but on closer inspection, it is clear that a bodysurfer adept at riding waves actually employs yoga’s fourfold technique of body postures, hand positions, breath control, and mastery of concentration.

I am fortunate to be able to publish Baba Faqir Chand's satsangs as presented to Harjit Singh Sandhu and skillfully translated by Pulkit Bose. First as a series in Sach Khand: The Journal of Radhasoami Studies and now in book form. These talks that were given in London, England, in 1980 are genuinely remarkable for their utmost clarity and penetrating insights into the nature of spirituality. Baba Faqir Chand is unique amongst masters, since he was exceptionally honest about his experiences and what he learned from them over the course of his long life.

This book provides an introduction into the fascinating life and work of one of the great Indian mystics of the 19th century, who was a contemporary of Sri Ramakrishna. It is surprising that Rai Salig Ram, who is such a pivotal figure in the history of Radhasoami, is not better known among satsangis in the Beas related branches of the movement. In contrast, in the Agra connected satsangs - Soami Bagh, Dayal Bagh, and Peepal Mandi - Huzur Maharaj (as Salig Ram is honorifically called) is deeply revered since he is regarded as the chief successor and Gurumukh of Shiv Dayal Singh.

Using surfing as a key and guiding metaphor, this audiobook explores why being "psychic" has nothing to do with paranormal abilities. Rather, it is a person's focus and attention to subtle details that makes all the difference. Explores Mike Stewart's low pressure theory in connection to surfing and other related issues.

This book is an abbreviated selection from the original 1910 book, The Master as I Saw Him, written by Bhagini ("Sister") Nivedita. Although there are now a number of newer publications of this classic (due to the fact it is now in the public domain), I thought it might be helpful to come out with an abbreviated edition, which focuses on the first quarter of the book. It is my hope that this short volume may serve as but an introductory glimpse into the life and work of one of the truly outstanding exponents of Indian philosophy and spirituality.

Samuel Butler, although an evolutionist (but not of the Darwinian kind), postulated a radical theory about God as both known and unknown, suggesting a kind of creative energy throughout the universe. His ideas are somewhat gnostic, though they don't fall into any one camp. Here is Butler's book, God Known and God Unknown in a new format, with an astute review of Butler's God that was written after Butler's death and published in 1918.

August Weismann is regarded by many biologists, including Ernst Mayr from Harvard University, to be second only to Charles Darwin for progressing our understanding of evolution by natural selection. In this book, excerpted from the larger commemorative tome Darwin and Modern Science, edited by A. C. Seward and others, Weismann tackles many of the difficult questions confronting natural selection. In the process, Weismann offers a penetrating critique of Lamarck and provides the listener with rich and robust understanding of evolutionary theory.

I recently came upon an old book entitled Famous Men in Science by Sarah Knowles Bolton that was first published in 1889. In her enjoyable and easy to read text, Bolton provides a glimpse of 14 distinguished thinkers, ranging from such luminaries as Carl Linnaeus to Louis Agassiz. Since the book is not readily available, here at the MSAC Philosophy Group we thought it might be helpful to select four biographies from Famous Men in Science and republish them in a new and readable format.

In reading the fantastic tale of Prince Agib's adventures in the justly famous Arabian Nights, I was struck with how deeply insightful it was about the human condition. Although the story is so incredible that even one's imagination is stretched by its incredulity, the message it conveys is so universal and so human that one cannot help but be awed by its moral implications. Blaise Pascal brilliantly captures Prince Agib's and our own dilemma when he writes, “All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.”

This audiobook focuses on two of Samuel Butler's more intriguing writings concerning machine evolution and intelligence, including his most famous piece, "Darwin Among the Machines", and his chapter on Erewhon in "The Book of the Machines". Professor David Christopher Lane has written a brief introduction. Also included is a small biography of Samuel Butler.

Sri Ramakrishna is one of the most thoroughly studied saints in the last 150 years. He is by any measure one of the most extraordinary mystics to have emerged from India. Ramakrishna has impacted the lives of millions around the world and he continues to intrigue and puzzle spiritual seekers and scholars alike. After reading many of Sri Ramakrishna’s wonderful sayings, filled with such rich and earthly analogies, I thought it would be instructive to choose 88 of his insights and put them in a short, introductory book.

In the Fall of 1991 students enrolled in Introduction to Philosophy classes at Mount San Antonio College conducted interviews with some of the most prominent philosophers in California. Ten questions were asked of each philosopher, including queries about the existence of God, life after death, and the interface between human and artificial intelligence. The interviews ranged from personal one on one conversations, to telephone interviews, to mailed written responses.

This is a new edition of selected stories from Arabian Nights as chosen by Kate Douglas Wiggin and Nora A. Smith. Includes the following fantastic tales: "The Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden Water"; "The Story of the Fisherman and the Genie"; "The History of the Young King of the Black Isles"; "The Story of Gulnare of the Sea"; "The Story of Aladdin; or, the Wonderful Lamp"; "The Story of Prince Agib"; "The Story of the City of Brass"; "The Story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves"; "The History of Codadad and His Brothers"; and "The Story of Sinbad the Voyager".

According to Steven Pinker in his new book, Enlightenment Now, the best time is precisely now. The only thing holding us back is waking up to it. Lest we forget, we are the lucky 8 billion who have been favored to be born human. We are, in sum, winners in the Darwinian lottery of life. This audiobook provides an illustrated glimpse into Pinker's idea that things have gotten better on planet Earth. Also provides new insights into a concept called "The Meta-Person Project".

According to Littlewood's Law of Miracles (based on the theory of large numbers and probability), you should expect something truly unusual to happen every 35 days - so strange, in fact, that it will look like a miracle. This book explains how the improbable is probable by focusing on desultory decussation (where two random events from an interesting intersection - a synchronicity) and Littlewood's work in number theory at Cambridge University in the last century. Also explains such concepts as apohenia and patternicity.

This audiobook contains two interviews of Baba Faqir Chand, the great sage of the Punjab, which were originally published in India in 1978. They were conducted by Professor Mark Juergensmeyer and his research assistant at that time, David Lane. Also included is a new interview with Professor Bhagat Ram Kamal, who is now the spiritual leader at Faqir Chand's ashram, Manavta Mandir. This audiobook provides an insight into Faqir's radical philosophy on spirituality.

This book provides a critical overview of such subjects as mysticism, speaking in tongues, John-Roger Hinkins and MSIA, Sathya Sai Baba, astrology, near-death experiences, and UFOs. Previously published under the title The Mystical.

This audiobook explores the ancient Indian concept of Maya. Utilizing the latest research in neuroscience and physics, this work explains why Maya (or the notion of illusion) is an important concept and better understood today in light of science, even though ancient rishis had glimpsed its importance thousands of years ago.

There is no doubt in my mind that Faqir Chand is one of the most important shabd yoga masters in history and that his frank confessions of “unknowingness” are of vital importance for those interested in religion and spiritual masters. Faqir reveals what other gurus will not. Here in the MSAC Philosophy Group at Mt. San Antonio College, it is our wish to republish almost all of Faqir Chand's books and pamphlets in English and give them a wider audience.