Chinese history stretches back more than 3,5oo years & during that time only one woman has ruled supreme. Wu Ze Tian reigned during the Tang Dynasty & taking the Imperial throne made her ruthless, uncontrollable & deadly.Winner of a childhood beauty pageant, she became a palace concubine as a young teenager & then tore thru the royal heights via intelligence & political ambition, revenge, murder & black magic.The kingdom she ruled was the world's largest – 4 to 5 times the ...

A simple & clear collection of reflections on basic Buddhist philosophy.The Path to Self includes: a reflection on how all things rise & fade; the nature & permanence of change; breath vs. thought; larger mental phenomenon; the path from awareness, thru freedom to self & more.The book is divided into seven sections with 34 concise pieces. Individual pieces include: all things rise & fade; everyday change; on breath vs. thought; on owning rising states; on fading larger thin...

A collection of classic rhymes & verse of personification; giving life, form, voice & breath to philosophical concepts & virtues.Individual pieces include: untouched fertile Uncertainty … & how it can run you down … the barren wastelands of Frustration … & survival in the deadly valley of Fear … the landfall of Faith triggered by Love 's bravest leap … nipping & sipping the strong liquor of Hope … Worry as a merry go round … & a dinner guest who contributes nothing … the seemingly ...

A guide to every Buddhist Temple in Bangkok's Chinatown.Equal parts academic history, walking guide & architectural photo essay, it covers 22 temples & one shrine in three itineraries (with maps) for Yaowarat — one of the world's largest Chinatowns.Featured temples include:. the 400-year old Wat Phlapplah Chai, built by Ayutthaya's great King Narai. Wat Traimit & the world's largest solid gold Buddha. the Dragon Lotus Temple, Wat Mangkorn Kamal...

A simple & clear collection of reflections on basic Buddhist philosophy.Major principles covered include: Prince Siddharta's earliest days; the three Ignoble Truths; the roots of suffering; the power of detachment; developing awareness & mindfulness; & the peace that follows.The book is divided into 8 sections with 59 concise pieces — all written simply & clearly, in a way that is thoughtful & explanatory & built around analogy & rhyme.Individual pieces include: Old...

His name was Washington. His name was Lee … & he was definitely a general. This is the story of Raymond Lee Washington, founder of the Crips street gang & a theatrical re-creation of events which took place in Southern California in the late 1960s & early 197os.The saga follows the demise of the Black Panthers & simultaneous rise of a 15-year-old street fighter into his early twenties – a short span which changed Los Angeles & America forever.Washington then ended ...

A collection of classic rhyming verse built around the concept of Personification — giving life & form & voice & breath to philosophical concepts & virtues.Individual pieces include: Outlaw Time & his love of beautiful Nature … flourishing, lavish Superstition, Idolatry & Hypocrisy … the fierce collision of Time & Truth … Justice's blind eyes, eager ears & tepid aid … tobogganing down treacherous Ignorance … collecting & gathering Strength in odd places … lifting & carrying backbre...

A simple collection of reflections on basic Buddhist philosophy.The Path of Meditation includes an overview of the path & basic methodology of meditation; what & who you will meet as you go; body & mind, past, beliefs & emotions; the permanent guests of the mind, the 11 eternal fires of Burmese Buddhism & more.The book is divided into eight sections with 48 concise pieces — all written simply & clearly, in a way that is thoughtful & explanatory & built around analogy & rhym...

A biography of America's premier Black monk, aka Milwaukee's Ghetto Friar Tuck. Brother Booker Ashe was many things to many people: a famous clergyman, a civil rights leader, an urban icon, a national black celebrity, a civic cornerstone, a chef, a theatre aficionado & a brother to all. Talented, charismatic & dynamic – everyone who met the man has a different story to tell.An inner city institution.…the Black Friar Tuck.…Milwaukee's greatest humanitarian.…a beggar & a provider.…a ...

The life & triumphs of King Fa Ngum, told in six acts. Cursed & orphaned as a baby, he was set adrift on the Mekong – only to be adopted by the Khmer Royal Court & raised as royalty in the mighty Kingdom of Angkor. He mastered the art of war, married a Khmer princess & marched back to the land of his birth, leading 1o,ooo soldiers. The kingdom he founded – Lan Xang, 'the Land of a Million Elephants' – would survive for 6oo years & become the foundation for modern Laos.

A guide to the major historic royal Hindu & Buddhist sites of central Vientiane, Laos.Includes 17 large temples, located near the Mekong River in the heart of the city — as well as the world-famous golden temple That Luang & several famous royal structures.The histories of Vientiane (aka Vieng Chan) & the temples are interwoven with several famous Lao legends – including a mythical dragon, an ill-fated brutal invasion, and a short play (12 scenes) that brings life to the ci...

An introduction to all the first things you will encounter in the world's most amazing place … barefoot monks out on dawn alms rounds … brilliantly-colored ancient spirit house shrines … the art of (bad) Thai massage ... spicy saum tum papaya salad & alluring rice whiskey … Thai women vs. Thai rainstorms ... what goes on in Thai Men's rooms … plus his H.M. King Rama IX … & of course, the 711.