Bøger udgivet af Rupa Publications

The Way of the World gives a commentary on the absurd nature of the lives of the privileged classes through a satirical and comedic lens. The play is about two lovers, Mirabell and Millamant, who wish to marry each other but not at the cost of losing their inheritance. They need blessings from Millamant's aunt, Lady Wishfort, to inherit the fortune. Lady Wishfort disapproves of Mirabell and instead wants Millamant to marry her nephew, Sir Wilful. It is play full of characters interweaving through each other's lives with Fainall having a secret affair with Mrs Marwood, who is not only Mrs Fainall's friend but also once had an affair with Mirabell. W. Congreve depicts themes such as deception, materialism, greed, different natures of love and so on through various other characters in the main and the sub plot. Largely, through this play Congreve has expressed the tendency of material gain overtaking one's love for their partner. The play, which was not successful when it was first published, gained positive reception over the years for its complexities and true depiction of society at the time. Written in the late seventeenth century, it is considered one of the best Restoration comedies to this day.

'When you step beyond thought and intellect and all reasoning, then you have made the first step towards God; and that is the beginning of life.' -Swami Vivekananda Through utter concentration of the mind and relaxation of the body, one can attain an Ultimate form of peace-the superconscious state. This embodiment of the spiritual quest that many, like Vivekananda, aim to walk towards, has been found in the ancient texts of India that explore the art of Yoga. This book encapsulates the four paths of yoga through the eyes of Swami Vivekananda in the nineteenth century. These include the three Yogas from the Bhagvad Gita, namely Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga, as well as Raja Yoga, inspired by the Yoga Sutras woven by the Father of Modern Yoga, Maharshi Patanjali. The book aims to go beyond the physical postulations (asanas) of Yoga and touches upon its effects on the mind as well as the body; it takes up a holistic and philosophical approach leading to the attainment of moksha.

'Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life; dream of it; think of it; live on that idea...This is the way to success...' Swami Vivekananda is well known for not just his spiritual wisdom and reformatory ventures, but also for his ground-breaking speech to the 1893 World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago, in which he introduced Hinduism to America and advocated for religious tolerance as well as an end to religious extremism. Such was the effect of his iconic message, that he was given a two-minute standing ovation after his speech ended! His words are remembered by everyone in the modern world, for their wisdom, kindness, inclusivity, eloquence as well as simplicity. His words continue to teach not just India, but the entire globe, about spirituality, personal growth, acceptance and harmony. This book contains 25 of Vivekananda's most eloquent and illuminating speeches, such as 'Paper on Hinduism', 'Bhakti', 'Krishna', 'The Soul and God', 'The Sages of India', 'Practical Religion: Breathing and Meditation' and several others, which have not only taught us the true meaning of worship and life, but have also evoked in us, a desire to explore and enhance our bodies, minds and spirits as well as our love for God and one another.