Nie-fiksie / Non-fiction - Geloof / Religion: Graffiti Boeke
'n Stil gemoed
Vertaler: Karel Schoeman
'n Stil gemoed verskyn oorspronklik in 1993 in Engels onder die titel Tranquil Mind. Die eerste Afrikaanse uitgawe verskyn in 1997, en die tyd is dus ryp vir 'n heruitgawe.
'n Stil gemoed is 'n eenvoudige inleiding tot die Boeddhisme en meditasie. Die Boeddhisme is wesenlik 'n aantal metodes om met die verstand en gemoed om te gaan. As ons hierdie metodes verstaan en op ons lewens toepas, sal hulle ons inherente vermoë om innerlike vrede, erbarming en wysheid te ervaar laat ontplooi deur die potensiaal van ons gees te ontwikkel.
Mediteerders in die Weste ervaar unieke probleme as gevolg van hul kulturele, sosiale en sielkundige agtergrond. Aan die hand van sy uitgebreide akademiese en praktiese ervaring stel die skrywer van hierdie inleiding die onderwerp bekend op 'n manier wat met dié invloede rekening hou.
Godsdiens is 'n vlot vir spiritualiteit. Tot nou was dit 'n heel nuttige vlot. Maar tye het verander. Ons het nou die oorkantste oewer bereik. Die landskappe het indringend verander.
In hierdie boek kyk Jean Oosthuizen krities na die NG Kerk se geskiedenis sedert Jan van Riebeeck se aankoms in die Kaap, tot waar die kerk vandag is. In sy bestaan van meer as 350 jaar het die NG Kerk en die Nasionale Party so verstrengel geraak dat die kerk as “die Nasionale Party in gebed” bekend gestaan het. Die teoloog Ferdinand Deist se voorspelling in die laat tagtigerjare dat die kerk sal ondergaan wanneer apartheid tot 'n einde kom, blyk vandag in die kol te wees.
As instelling wat apartheid uit die Bybel geregverdig en verdedig het, het die kerk se vernietigende invloed nie alleen gemeenskappe in Suid-Afrika van mekaar vervreem nie - ook lidmate wat kritiese vrae gestel het, is na die periferie geskuif. Talle individue se menswaardigheid is geskend en verskeie loopbane is onder die dekmantel van Christenskap vernietig, soos die skrywer self kan getuig.
Oosthuizen se blik strek egter wyer as sy ervaring toe hy in 2013 as nuusredakteur van Kerkbode geskors is ná die opspraakwekkende Woordfees-debakel. Sy reis vanuit die kerk se binnekring sluit die verhale in van gelowiges sowel as ongelowiges wie se paaie met die NG Kerk gekruis het. Die opkoms en ondergang van die NG Kerk bied 'n kontemporêre blik op die tragiese geskiedenis van 'n instelling wat deur die aandadigheid aan verontregting stelselmatig irrelevant geraak het.
There is no one more suited to introduce beginners—and remind seasoned practitioners—of the fundamentals of Tibetan Buddhism than His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Speaking to an audience of Western students, the Dalai Lama shows us how to apply basic Buddhist principles to our day-to-day lives. Starting with the very foundation of Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths, he provides the framework for understanding the Buddha's first teachings on suffering, happiness, and peace. He follows with commentary on two of Buddhism's most profound texts: The Eight Verses on Training the Mind and Atisha's Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, often referring to the former as one of his main sources of inspiration for the practice of compassion. With clear, accessible language and the familiar sense of humor that infuses nearly all of his work, the Dalai Lama invites us all to develop innermost awareness, a proper understanding of the nature of reality, and heartfelt compassion for all beings.
Jou kosbaarste bate
As jy wegkyk van dit wat materialisties is (waar geld as maatstaf gebruik word) en na God en jouself kyk, sal jy ontdek… Wie JY is maak jou ryker as 'n miljoenêr.
Dis 'n taal wat deur biljoene mense verstaan word, dit is die taal van die rykes en beroemdes, sowel as die armes en die wat berug is.
Dis baie selde dat jy sal lees van die geluk van hulle wat die bopunt van die suksesleer bereik het. Hulle het geleer dat geld nie alles is nie - dat geld stoflike dinge (goed) kan koop, maar die geluk nie. Geld en geluk gaan nie noodwendig hand aan hand nie.
Jou kosbaarste BATE sal jou help om jou eiewaarde te ontdek in 'n wêreld waar geld oorheers en selfs die waarde van mense bepaal. Jy het nodig om jouself te waardeer. As jy eers weet hoe om te bepaal wat jy regtig werd is, sal jy anders dink, praat en doen, want jy sal anders voel oor jouself
Shelamzion dreams of living for a cause. As a Maccabean descendant, her family had defeated the Greeks occupying Judea and had restored the nation's independence. But her uncle, the king, rules with greed and selfish ambition, isolating her family from the people.
An arranged marriage to her cousin shatters her dreams of purpose and her longing to marry Yaakov, her tutor. Shelamzion watches her husband, the newly crowned king, continue his father's reign of tyranny. Lines are drawn, civil war spills blood on to Jerusalem's streets and Shelamzion is faced with personal loss and the desire to rise up and protect her people.
The Fire In My Bones opens up a can of “holy” worms, taking an honest look at our beliefs about God and each other across colour, economic and gender lines. Nobuntu Webster uses poignant personal experiences as a child, as a teenager and as a Black African woman in the church to surface hard-hitting issues.
The book dares to pose questions on practices and beliefs in the Christian faith which have broken generations, segregated communities and alienated the modern believer.
Immersed in scripture and sprinkled with comical anecdotes, this book challenges religion, racism, patriarchy, and poverty within and outside the church; and is a stirring for restoration.
It is an insightful resource for those wanting to engage on long held and perhaps faulty beliefs; those who need inspiration for their faith journey and those who wish to seek out correct interpretation of the scriptures for an authentic relationship with God.
Nobuntu Webster is a speaker, author and media entrepreneur.
Nobuntu's first book, Perfect Mess Perfect Grace, has received raving reviews and has been named a bestseller at some of South Africa's established bookshops.
The book was published in 2016 as a first-of-its kind Christian novel by a Black South African author.
Following a successful six years running her own marketing firm, Nobuntu made her entry into the media industry as television presenter of Think Big on national broadcaster SABC 3 in 2014; and is today co-founder and an executive director of Avad Media, a media outfit which runs a publishing house and film production division.
She has held numerous leadership positions in business including chairperson of the Businesswomen's Association of SA and has been recognised with many accolades over the years such as the KZN Dept of Economic Development Umyezane Award.
Ms Webster has spoken on diverse platforms around South Africa and on the continent including business and developmental stages.
On church and faith podiums, Ms. Webster speaks on the role of the church in modern society and on the function of individual purpose and calling in bringing the Kingdom of God to believers' spaces of influence and ultimately, to the world.
Die NG Kerk was 'n belangrike en rigtinggewende rolspeler in die opheffing van die Afrikaner na die Britse vergrype tydens en na die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog. Toe die Afrikaner uiteindelik die politieke oorhand verkry het, het die Kerk, ten spyte van teenstrydige wetenskaplike bevindings en omvattende kritiek vanuit die internasionale geloofsgemeenskap, die Skrif steeds aangewend om die politieke oogmerke van die apartheidsbewind te regverdig.
Tans word die NG Kerk ervaar as 'n instansie wat ongevoelig teenoor die geestelike behoeftes van haar lidmate staan. Dit behoort die Kerk tot ernstige nadenke te stem, aangesien kerkverlaters nie die geloofslewe versaak nie, maar net 'n omgewing soek waar dit nog met vrug beoefen kan word.