Amazon Sanctuary Publications, Inc. Category:  Religion Publisher: Sanctuary Publications, Inc. ISBN-10:  0978533496 Type: Non-Fiction Pages: 192 Copyright: September 30, 2007 ISBN-13: 9780978533496 The common teachings of four world religions. With introductions to each chapter / topic by the editor/author, Parallels presents hundred of pages of parallel columns of sayings attributed to these great spiritual teachers. The extensive sayings attributed to Jesus, the Buddha, Krishna and Lao Tzu have been researched for many years, and brought together from, literally, hundreds of ancient Christian (including Gnostic-Christian), Buddhist, Hindu and Taoist texts for the first time in history. The side by side columns of sayings document the commonality of these four mystical traditions. The sayings for each topic, such as "God, Tao and Universal Mind", are preceded by introductions by the author to help the reader put the sayings into proper context. of the four religions traditions in this book come fromRather than simply an ecumenical Excerpt "The Gnostic Christ (and the historical Jesus), like the Buddha, like Krishna, like Lao Tzu, taught that all material things are impermanent--whether they be riches, or one's own body. Attachment to that which is impermanent causes suffering. Give up attachment and suffering ceases. Like Lao Tzu, the Gnostic Jesus taught that the created order was manifested in pairs of opposites: yin and yang, light and darkness, good and evil, life and death, love and hate, male and female. This Jesus taught that in order to attain unity with God once more, it was necessary to unite the opposites--withing and without, above and below. A single, spiritual, eye must take the place of eyes. The masculine and feminine aspects of the individual must be united into a single, androgynous, Being. According to the Gnostic interpretation of the Genesis creation story, Eve's creation from Adam's rib was a metaphor for the split within human consciousness. The Gnostic Christ taught that gnosis and inner harmony--reentry to the Garden of Eden--could only be achieved by reintegrating our masculine and feminine natures.

Judy Martin, National Radio, WorkLifeMonitor.com
Rich Hooper shatters any preconceived notions that there is only "one way" to enlightenment. Instead, he blazes a path of collective understanding beyond dogma toward fining the divinity within ourselves.

Jeffery Cox, Snow Lion Publications
Richard Hooper sends a powerful message that will be welcomed by all who seek the truth within, and within their own traditions.

Larry Moffitt, Was;hington Times Foundation
Richard Hooper takes you beyond what the holy men said, and into the heart and mind that drove the likes of Gandhi, as he fell dead, blessing and forgiving the man who shot him, or Francis of Assisi tossing his clothes out the wind and strolling out the back door naked to begin his quest for God."