Bøker av Jason McDonald

In "Drawings on Water," embark on a transformative journey guided by the wisdom of Buddha's teachings, designed to illuminate the path to bliss and happiness in the present moment. Author Jason McDonald invites readers to explore the profound insights that unravel the mysteries of our disturbing emotions, born from unskillful responses to life's challenges. Key Points 1. The Desire Dilemma: Unravel the intricate relationship between desire and unhappiness as the book delves into the impact of wanting specific outcomes. Discover how desires, when unmet, lead to suffering, fear, and an endless cycle of discontent. 2. The Illusion of Control: Explore the consequences of attempting to control every aspect of our lives, driven by the relentless pursuit of certainty. Learn how uncertainty and impermanence make control an illusion, leading to inevitable moments of loss and disappointment. 3. Embracing Impermanence: Delve into the profound truth that everything is uncertain and impermanent. Recognize the futility of trying to foresee the future and the freedom that comes from understanding that control is but a fleeting mirage. 4. Breaking the Resistance: Uncover the roots of immense suffering in a resistant mind state fueled by the need for control. Learn how releasing the grip on external circumstances leads to internal liberation and a profound sense of peace. 5. The Power of Letting Go: Discover the transformative practice of knowing and letting go, seeing and letting be. By relinquishing the impulse to control, readers can experience happiness in the present moment, free from the shackles of disturbing mind states. 6. Meditation as a Path: Dive into the practical teachings of simple mindfulness meditation and mental noting techniques. Understand how these practices become powerful tools to effectively let go and cultivate a harmonious mind. 7. Compassion and Patience: Explore the profound virtues of compassion and patience as essential cornerstones of the journey. Uncover the beauty and timeless benefits of compassion, a wellspring that nurtures both self and others without causing harm. In "Drawings on Water," Jason McDonald provides not just a guide but an invitation to embrace impermanence, dissolve the illusion of control, and find profound joy in the ever-changing canvas of life. Through compassion, patience, and the art of letting go, discover the keys to unlock happiness right now. Understanding that we don't have to wait to be happy is the biggest gift we can give ourselves, and that's what this book is all about! Enjoy.

Embark on a Transformative Journey with "Solid Like a Mountain - A commentary on The Bodhisattva's Garland of Jewels": A Profound Commentary on Atisha's (sometimes spelled as Atiśa) renowned Mahayana text. Welcome to a timeless exploration of wisdom, compassion, and the path to enlightenment. In the rich tapestry of Tibetan Buddhism, "The Bodhisattva Jewel Garland of Jewels" stands as a radiant gem, offering profound insights into the art of virtuous living. In this transformative commentary, Lama Gyurmey, a seasoned practitioner and scholar from the Himalayan Mountains of Manang, Nepal, guides you through the intricacies of Atisha's masterpiece, revealing its profound relevance for contemporary seekers. Unveiling the Jewel: Atisha's Bodhisattva Jewel GarlandAt the heart of this journey lies Atisha's Bodhisattva's Garland of Jewels, a revered text known for its concise yet potent verses. These teachings echo through the corridors of time, resonating with seekers across cultures. Lama Gyurmey pays homage to the essence of compassion, devotion, wisdom, and Bodhichitta. Starting with a soul-stirring homage to Great Compassion, Lama Gyurmey's commentary illuminates the path: Navigating the Bodhisattva Path: A Compassionate Guide. Dive deep into the transformative guidance of Atisha's verses as Lama provides a comprehensive commentary on each aspect of the Bodhisattva path. From shaking off lethargy to cultivating love and compassion, the commentary serves as a compassionate guide, translating ancient wisdom into actionable steps for contemporary practitioners.Strive always with enthusiasm and joy: Discover how to infuse joy into your spiritual journey, turning each step into a dance of awakeningGive up the urge for profit and fame: Explore the profound teachings on detachment and the cultivation of a selfless mindset, free from the shackles of worldly desiresRegard them as Buddha: Uncover the transformative power of perceiving both enlightened beings and beginners on the path as manifestations of the divineSeven Riches: A Treasury of Virtues: At the core of Atisha's teachings lies the concept of the seven riches-sacred forms of wealth that transcend material possessions. Lama Gyurmey unravels the depth of these riches, exploring the wealth of faith, discipline, decency, self-control, learning, generosity, and wisdom. Discover how these treasures, once cultivated, become an everlasting source of abundance on the spiritual journeyEmbracing Solitude: The Power of Isolation: In the hustle and bustle of modern life, Lama Gyurmey emphasizes the importance of solitude and isolation for true spiritual progress. Drawing from Atisha's guidance, the commentary offers practical advice on detaching from busyness, refraining from meaningless chatter, and residing in the serenity of natureTransformative Practices: From Aspiration to Liberation: The commentary doesn't merely expound on theoretical concepts; it serves as a manual for transformative practices. From meditating on emptiness to viewing attachment and aversion as illusions, each chapter provides practical tools for integrating ancient wisdom into the fabric of daily lifeAlways meditate on Emptiness: Explore the transformative power of emptiness meditation, a key practice for unraveling the illusions of the egoStay free from craving and desire: Learn how to break free from the chains of attachment, embracing a life of contentment and inner peaceDedication and Aspiration: Seeding the Future: As you journey through the commentary, Lama Gyurmey continually emphasizes the importance of dedication and aspiration. Learn how to dedicate the virtues you accumulate toward the awakening of all beings and weave the fabric of your aspirations into the tapestry of a meaningful human life

Infiltrating a band of suspected smugglers is no easy task. It's even more difficult when you're a half-orc among humans.Life as a slave in J'Bel's gladiatorial arena taught Grendel the harsh rules of battle. Winning his freedom opened his eyes to the possibility of something more from life than a painful, blood-soaked death. In the land of Trakya, Markus Marchenko, second in command of the Kral's Ochi i Ushi, approaches the half-orc with a job proposition: spy for the Kral and infiltrate a band of smugglers who may have ties to the renegade Baron Krakov.Aleksandra Madasgorski-Krakova has a score to settle. The Kral's men killed her husband and destroyed her home, forcing her to go into hiding and putting her on dangerous ground with her family. With her husband's allies, she will finish the work that would have put her husband on Trakya's throne.As Grendel settles uneasily into his position as bodyguard to the man holding the purse strings on Dragahn's venture, sickness erupts in Trakya's capital city. No one can pinpoint the plague's source, only that it is spreading through the wealthiest parts of Pazard'zhik. Even as he, himself, falls ill, Markus grows more certain that the caravan and its cargo is somehow to blame. He can only hope that Grendel and his team can find the answer in time.This Second Edition of Son of Cayn is newly re-edited and reformatted for greater readability and verbal clarity.

With their immortal souls threatened, a small town's only hope lies in trusting bounty hunters with a reputation almost as dark as the evil stalking the night.In the countries east of the White River, some call Damage, Inc. heroes. Others call them criminals. The truth lies somewhere in between. Hector de los Santos, the team's leader, has only two rules about bounties: finish every job, no matter what it takes, and no charity cases.Aislinn Yves, the team's half-elven tracker, thought she'd never see the tiny village of Ruthaer again. That is, until a plea for help from her father's old friend, Tallinn, arrives. The job sounds simple: track down a few missing people, perhaps a killer. The trick is convincing Hector to put their current job on hold.Unfortunately, things are worse than Tallinn implied. Unnatural weather, restless dead, and gruesome murders are just the beginning, for the town harbors a terrible secret that could spell the end of Damage, Inc. and drag Ruthaer straight to Hell.**********Phantoms of Ruthaer is a paranormal thriller set in the near-Earth fantasy world of the Cayn Trilogy. If you enjoy tales of gritty heroes willing to do whatever it takes to get a job done, then this is the story for you!

This pioneering study sheds new light on racial dynamics in the urban Southwest at a critical juncture in the history of the region and the nation. It focuses upon the experiences of ethnoracial minorities, particularly African Americans and Mexican immigrants in Austin, Texas from the dawn of the Progressive Era to the onset of the Great Depression. Through this lens, McDonald explores the issues of migration, proletarianization, marginalization, adaptation, identity, and community. He reveals how, in response to the exponential growth of the local ethnic-Mexican population, the white elite of the Lone Star State's capital adapted the city's bipartite system of segregation, which had traditionally separated blacks from whites, to incorporate Mexicans as a third and separate element, neither black nor white. As well as examining how African Americans and Mexican Americans responded to life in a racially-stratified society, McDonald examines the often fraught relationship between these groups.