Mark W. Muesse

Good overall survey of the major 4 religions and the impact that their significant figures had on each religion. Muesse goes into great detail about each religion. Islam was the one religion that I knew the least about, so it was good to get an introduction to it. As a Christian, I particularly liked how Muesse went into the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Essenes and other gospels that were not included in the Bible.

This course would serve as a solid foundation from which to seek greater knowledge show more into any of these religious traditions. show less

Professor Muesse is highly knowledgeable about Hinduism academically, although he has has Western perspective. He was able to provide some insight into Hinduism in the lecture series. As he states, this is a subject with a vast amount of complexity. I recommend this as an entry into understanding Hinduism.

No understanding of human life could be complete without factoring in the role and contribution of four history-shaping teachers: Confucius, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad. These 36 lectures take you deep into the life stories and legacies of these four iconic figures, revealing the core, original teachings, and thoughts of each, and shedding light on the historical processes that underlie their enduring impact. First, in their presentation of the vital wisdom of each sage, these lectures offer show more you the chance to reflect in depth on the most essential values of spirituality and the art of living, seen from four archetypal perspectives. Second, these lectures provide far-reaching insight into the historical contexts and individual lives of the four sages, and how the religious and philosophical traditions we associate them with came into being. The lectures serve as a unique window on the origins of these traditions, through their focus on the teachings, actions, and historical roles of the sages who inspired them. In uncovering the original wisdom and practices of each sage, you'll grapple with these key questions: How did each man understand the nature of the universe and ultimate reality? How did each envision the human self and the matter of human fulfillment? What moral and ethical principles did each advocate, and why? What spiritual disciplines did each practice and teach as a means of self-realization? What do texts like the Confucian Analects, the Buddhist Pali Canon, the Gospels, and the Hadith of Islam reveal about the movements these individuals inspired? In words reflecting profound and compassionate insight, these lectures bring the teachings vividly to life as they speak to their essential purpose - as a guide to the realities, challenges, and possibilities of life - and as they shed light on the choices we all face in living deliberately and savoring life to the fullest. show less

Meditation - the technique of mental focusing for enhanced awareness and self-mastery - offers deep and lasting benefits for mental functioning and emotional health, as well as for physical health and well-being. This practice is closely related to "mindfulness," which Professor Muesse defines as "a deliberate way of paying attention to what is occurring within oneself as it is happening. It is the process of attentively observing your experience as it unfolds, without judgment or show more evaluation." "Meditation," he adds, "refers to certain exercises that can be used to enlarge and refine mindfulness." Meditation cultivates mindfulness by training you to develop deep attention to the present moment, allowing the mind to become settled and centered. These 24 detailed lectures teach you the principles and techniques of sitting meditation, the related practice of walking meditation, and the highly beneficial use of meditative awareness in many important activities, including eating and driving. You will also learn how to use the skills of meditation in working with thoughts and emotional states, in deepening sensory awareness of the body, and in becoming deeply attentive to the operation of your mind. You'll come away with a solid basis for your own meditation practice and for bringing meditation's remarkable and empowering benefits to every aspect of your life. show less