David Lane

The Radhasoami Tradition is an important contribution to several scholarly literatures: on Southeast Asian studies; the sociology of religion, and the sociology of politics. Dr. Lane has gathered a truly impressive array of data on the process of choosing a new guru in the Radhasoami tradition. No serious scholar of Indian religion can ignore Lane's work. The data he has collected will be the building blocks for all future research on this area. To this data, David has applied a very insightful, original conceptual framework combining elements of Weberian theory on the transmission of charisma, of phenomenological theory on the sociology of experience, and the theories of "ideological work" developed by Bennett Berger. The result is the kind of scholarship that deeply respects the authenticity of the religious experience of the Radhasoami community while at the same time making it possible to understand that experience in the context of cultural processes and organizational dynamics common to many different religious communities. --Professor Madsen, Co-author of Habits of the Heart The Radhasoami Tradition is one of the best works I have read in many years in the field of modern religion and society. Its great strength, I feel, is its understanding of the concept of authority in the Radhasoami tradition and in religious communities in India in general. At no greater time is this concept tested and honed than in the process of succession from one spiritual master to another. These are often difficult moments for the Radhasoami communities, and for this reason inside knowledge about guru succession is very difficult to obtain. Dr. Lane not only has this information, he has it in abundance. He is able to work with this vast knowledge of Radhasoami history and make useful sociological observations on the basis of it. --Professor Juergensmeyer, Author of Radhasoami Reality The Radhasoami Tradition is a masterful work. Dr. Lane demonstrates the dynamics and history of Indian religious movements in the Hindu tradition and provides a basis for comparative analysis. Building on the classics in the sociology of religion and new studies of religious movements, Dr. Lane skillfully show how religious traditions are maintained in the midst of change, conflict, and negotiation. --Professor Jules-Rosette, Author of The New Religions of Africa

The true story of how famed K2 mountain climber Paul Petzoldt killed his friend and mentor, Dr. Julian P. Johnson at a spiritual ashram in India. Explores the controversy surrounding what happened on that fateful night on January 25, 1939, and the spiritual scandal that ensued in the Punjab. The tragedy haunted Paul Petzoldt for the rest of his life since there were dark rumors about him being a murderer and not being allowed back to India. However, this book unravels the mystery behind Dr. Johnson's death and corrects many misconceptions that have evolved over the years. It also touches upon how Paul Petzoldt, using an ancient yogic technique, had the most profound, mystical experience of his life - something he regarded as greater than any drug or mountain climbing experience. It is a complicated story with a Rashomon character, with each side seeing something different in what transpired.

This is a new edition of two small, fully illustrated books: The Yoga of Bodysurfing and The Psychic Surfer

It is not a question of whether artificial intelligence is really conscious or truly intelligent. Rather, it centers on whether we have crossed a major threshold where large numbers of people around the world believe that A. I. applications are conscious and intelligent and may even have developed their own agendas, hidden or otherwise. The danger is in human perception, not in A. I. per se, and this in itself can lead to all sorts of unforeseen problems, not the least of which is prematurely shutting down machine learning and/or progressive funding of A. I. because of irrational fears of a doomsday scenario. On the other end of the spectrum, we run the risk of over-humanizing A. I. and treating it much more special than it actually is, imputing it with rights, ethics, and freedoms that ultimately do a disservice to the greater good of humanity. In this essay, we focus on the theory of other minds, intentional stances, the neural basis of consciousness, and the future of education and how best to incorporate the latest iterations of synthetic intelligence, such as ChatGPT, Midjourney, ElevenLabs, and more into the curriculum. The argument is simple: the A. I. cyborg has already entered the classroom and we need to co-adapt to what it has to offer.

The long-awaited sequel to The Making of a Spiritual Movement: The Untold Story of Paul Twitchell and Eckankar, this work goes into further detail about Paul Twitchell's extensive plagiarism, his cover-ups, his neo-mythology, and the acrimonious break-up of Darwin Gross and Harold Klemp. Includes documents, photographs, and a plethora of intriguing materials on the evolution of Eckankar as a New Age religion.

Tom Blake changed the face of surfing and has long been lauded as one of the true pioneers and innovators in the sport. Although much has been written about him and his contributions (culminating in Gary Lynch's magisterial biography of him, Tom Blake: The Uncommon Journey of a Pioneer Waterman, published in 2001), very little work has been done on Tom Blake's Einsteinian philosophy. This is a shame, since though Blake was not formally educated (he never graduated high school due to the devastating influenza epidemic that swept the world in 1918 and 1919), he was an astute observer of nature and had a deep understanding of science and its implications on such perennial questions concerning ethics, God, and the goal of human life. The essence of Tom Blake's philosophical outlook is best captured in his book, Voice of the Atom, an engaging narrative that centers on his conversations with a young nomadic wanderer named Anthony. Yet, there are also other scattered writings, particularly letters that he wrote to friends over the years, that provide a wider glimpse into Blake's thinking that are invaluable.

This graphic novel with over 100 tantalizing pictures describes a futuristic company that has developed a new virtual reality application called the Prajna Project. There are ten distinct libraries, each with 10,000 books, that the user can read or listen to in an ever-changing meditative environment. Moreover, there are A. I. curators that can guide the reader and respond to almost any query in hundreds of languages. But what makes this app unique is that the reader can actually live out the narrative as a character and become an integral part of the story. Yet, there is a glitch in the system that forces the company to confront a strange mystery, what has become known as the Mystery of the Eleventh Portal.

The wisest course for schools (at all levels) is to wake-up to Artificial Intelligence and see it for what it is: a revolutionary and magnifying tool for increasing our knowledge of how things work. Yes, there will be hiccups, yes, there will be mistakes, and yes, we should be vigilant in how we utilize this most remarkable of breakthroughs. But censoring it in the classroom as if it somehow doesn't or shouldn't exist is pure folly.

In each Manvantara, there appear Seven Sages who help guide humanity. Each resides at a different geographic region across the globe, but their exact location is a closely guarded secret. There is a disputed Hindu legend that exists which claims that if anyone can discover the real names of these Rishis and where they presently reside, then the seeker will be immediately enlightened. In early September 1659, Princess Jahanara at the bequest of her brother Dara Shikoh, before he was beheaded, instructed a group of devout Sadhus then living near her palace in Agra to search for clues concerning these all-powerful Rishis. Nothing came of it. However, a fanatical clan grew out of this search that still survives to this day. They are known as "The Cult of the Seven Sages." Its current leader and founder is Jasbir Kashani, a Hindu-Muslim mystic, who after 7 months of continuous meditation has just emerged from his solitary cave in the Himalayan mountains. This is his story about the quest to find the name and location of the first of the Saptarishi.

The following essays focus on consciousness, neuroscience, evolutionary biology, artificial intelligence, computer science, virtual and augmented reality, and more. Each chapter stands on its own and doesn't require prior knowledge about the subject, though having a background in philosophical and scientific thinking is a plus. These essays, with a few exceptions, were originally published in Europe on the Integral World website during the past decade. I have added a postscript to several essays to bring them up to date and add the latest insights culled from the latest research in all things related to A. I. and V. R.

This fully illustrated book with over 95 unique pictures describes the journey of consciousness through the inner regions of light and sound by the ancient practice of surat shabd yoga. Based on the work of Shiv Dayal Singh, Julian Johnson, and others, the book provides the reader with a rare visual treat of realms beyond imagination.

I don't understand a lot of things - I guess that's why I ask so many questions. But one thing I do know: Santa Claus is real How do I know? Because one year, I almost ruined Christmas. My curiosity is always getting me in trouble. You know what they say - curiosity killed the cat, and this one Christmas...

I have always wanted to teach a philosophy course utilizing virtual reality technologies. I first introduced the Oculus Quest headset just prior to the onset of the Covid 19 epidemic and it was a huge hit with my students. However, because of the lockdown and mask requirements, we were unfortunately delayed in offering a class that fully integrated VR. Now, thankfully, the time has arrived that makes it possible to incorporate the full potential of virtual reality into the classroom. The following workbook contains twelve distinct assignments that are based on various virtual reality applications and games currently available on the Oculus Quest 2 headset (now rebranded as Meta). Each module focuses on a different aspect of philosophical inquiry, ranging from existentialism to idealism to political science to consciousness studies to the latest developments in artificial intelligence, etc. The structure of each assignment is as follows: 1. Instruction. 2. Reading. 3. VR engagement. 4. Completion. While several of the modules include writing essays, usually in an autobiographical or experimental format, many are concerned with creating new and distinctive content within virtual reality. This includes composing a short soundtrack to accompany a particularly ponderous and deep insight, constructing a new version of Plato's famous "Allegory of the Cave," and building a unique city from the ground up to better understand the necessary checks and balances necessary to manage a thriving and industrious community. This workbook is just one of three required for the "Virtual Reality Philosophy Course" being offered here at Mt. San Antonio College. The second one is entitled, Digital Teleportation: A Philosophic Journey in Virtuality, which at over three hundred pages long contains twenty-five original articles on neuroscience, machine learning, evolutionary biology, and the future of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality. The third required text, and the guiding philosophical overview for the class, is David Chalmers' book, Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy. Each student will also be required to create their own website which will house all the work--written or otherwise--that they produce during the course of the semester and which they can share with their fellow cohorts to exchange ideas.

The Detailed Kalorik Maxx Air Fryer Oven Cookbook for Beginners：Great Guide to Cook Low-Fat and Oil-Free Crispy Meals with 500 Fast & Fresh RecipesDo you want to cook with your Kalorik Maxx Air Fryer Oven but don't know where to start? Quit worrying In this cookbook, you'll learn how to not only start, but love, your Kalorik Maxx Air Fryer Oven, which will guide you to amazing meals in the most affordable, quick & easy way possible. Along the way, you'll learn to cook 500+ of the highest quality super tasty Kalorik Maxx Air Fryer Oven recipes, offering tons of scientifically proven health benefits, such as improving your appetite, cholesterol, blood pressure and reversing diabetes. Rest assured, you, the Air Fryer beginner, will learn how to master your Kalorik Maxx Air Fryer Oven in no time Pick up your copy today and start cooking amazing Kalorik Maxx Air Fryer Oven recipes that cater for the diverse needs of you and your family, allowing you, the Air Fryer Oven beginner, to cook super tasty budget friendly Air Fryer Oven recipes and save time, money and stress in the kitchen Click the BUY NOW button to start your new Air Fryer Oven lifestyle

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