History is written by the victors. But that is no comfort to those crossed out by the editor's pen. For years, science textbooks equated electricity and light with one man, Thomas Edison, while the genius whose pioneering electrical technologies truly power the modern world languished as a minor note in scientific history.

Before the turn of the 20th century, electricity remained a mere scientific curiosity. Nikola Tesla, arguably more than anyone else, changed that. But Nikola's pioneering research in electricity represents only a portion of the scientific and technical innovations...

Ramakrishna (1833-86), was a Bengali Hindu sage. Although theoretically a high-caste Brahamin by birth, he came from a poor, low-caste village and had little or no education. He did not know a word of Sanskrit and his knowledge of the Vedas, Puranas, and Hindu Epics was obtained orally (in the Bengali language). In spite of this, he managed to convey in his aphorisms the essence of the Hindu religion. Ramakrishna worshipped with Muslims and Christians, and propounded a simple approach to religious tolerance: "Creeds and sects matter nothing. Let every one perform with faith the devotions...

Chinese Step-by-Step, Level Two follows the story of an overseas student, Emily, through the course of her life in China. Her story is told through a series of 17 dialogues that become progressively sophisticated and challenging from one lesson to the next. The dialogues show scenarios anyone is likely to encounter when coming to China for the first time, whether to study, to work, or to visit.

Each dialogue is accompanied by detailed instructional notes on grammar and usage. Additional informational notes also make each lesson a beginner's guide to a single topic, like banking,...

Chinese Step-by-Step, Level Three follows the story of an overseas student, Emily, through the course of her life in China. Her story is told through a series of 16 dialogues that become progressively sophisticated and challenging from one lesson to the next. The dialogues show scenarios anyone is likely to encounter when coming to China for the first time, whether to study, to work, or to visit.

Each dialogue is accompanied by detailed instructional notes on grammar and usage. Additional informational notes also make each lesson a beginner's guide to a single topic, like banking,...

Bhakti Yoga, or the path of devotion, is based on the doctrine "Love is God and God is Love." The Bhakti yogi experiences separation and longs to meet or even just glimpse his beloved, God. Nothing else attracts him, nothing else holds his attention, all else is meaningless.

Bhakti Yoga appeals particularly to those of an emotional nature. The Bhakti yogi is motivated chiefly by the power of love and sees God as the embodiment of love. Through prayer, worship and ritual he surrenders himself to God, channelling and transmuting his emotions into unconditional love or devotion. Chanting...

Jnana Yoga is the yoga of knowledge-not knowledge in the intellectual sense-but the knowledge of Brahman and Atman and the realization of their unity. Where the devotee of God follows the promptings of the heart, the jnani uses the powers of the mind to discriminate between the real and the unreal, the permanent and the transitory.

Jnanis, followers of nondualistic or advaita Vedanta, can also be called monists for they affirm the sole reality of Brahman. Of course, all followers of Vedanta are monists: all Vedantins affirm the sole reality of Brahman. The distinction here is in...

For thousands of years extraordinary phenomena have been studied, investigated, and generalised; the whole ground of the religious faculties of man has been analysed, and the practical result is the science of Raja Yoga. Raja Yoga does not, after the unpardonable manner of some modern scientists, deny the existence of facts which are difficult to explain. On the other hand, it gently yet in no uncertain terms tells the superstitious that miracles, and answers to prayers, and powers of faith, though true as facts, are not rendered comprehensible through the superstitious explanation of...

Before the turn of the 20th century, electricity remained a mere scientific curiosity. Nikola Tesla, arguably more than anyone else, changed that. But Tesla's pioneering research in electricity represents only a portion of the scientific and technical innovations that elevated him to science godhood.

Prodigal Genius, The Extraordinary Life of Nikola Tesla covers, among other topics, the story of Tesla's inspiration for his career in engineering, shows his theories of electricity that went against the scientific establishment, explores his friendships, investigates the story of the lost...