Earth is my Witness & Art of Adventure

At MandalaEarth, we believe in the connectivity of all things, and aim to explore everything related to the synthesis of the natural and spiritual worlds, including music, yoga, philosophy, ancient art, health, photography, environmental activism, and more. We strive to create books that emphasize the importance of seeking spiritual enlightenment, closeness with nature, and caring for ourselves and our planet. Two of our upcoming titles, Earth is my Witness and The Art of Adventure, capture this holistic approach and MandalaEarth's commitment to the marriage of environmentalism and the arts. 

Earth is my Witness is a stunning exercise in appreciation for the world in which we live. In our modern landscape, many of the ancient places, creatures, and cultures are fast disappearing. In this lavish book of photography and commentary, Art Wolfe, acclaimed photographer, and Wade Davis, award winning author, preserve these rare moments and places for generations to come. 

We live in a breathtakingly beautiful world, and while Earth is my Witness is a survey and appreciation of the world, The Art of Adventure is a call to action. The fastest growing form of recreation today, outdoor adventure sports bring us out of our homes, force us to challenge our limits, and allow us to become closer to the spirit of nature. Filled with wisdom and colored by both epic and quiet moments, The Art of Adventure is a gripping reminder of the vast playground awaiting those willing to live on the edge.

International New Age Trade Show Today! 30% off!

Are you near the Denver, CO area? Be sure to check out INATS, the only New Age & Metaphysical trade show around, happening now! MandalaEarth is offering 30% off all our titles, so be sure to stop by our Booth, #316, and get this awesome discount while it lasts. We will have all of our titles available, and talk to our representatives about our upcoming titles, a couple of which are featured below. 

Presentation of the International Edition of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism to the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee

(photo from indiaeducationdiary.in)

To celebrate decades of work done by thousands of scholars, historians, curators, professors, and various other experts, Mandala Publishing and The India Heritage Research Foundation presented the beautiful 11-volume international edition of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism to President Mukherjee today, June 23, 2014, with approximately 500 esteemed guests and dignitaries in attendance.

The guests included Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji; Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Pachauri; Raoul Goff, Mandala Publications CEO and Publisher; Vandana Shiva; Shri L.K. Advani, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha); Dr. Karan Singh, Chairman, Auroville Foundation; Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Director General, TERI; and Father Anil Jose Tomas Couto, Archbishop of Delhi, among many others. 

During his speech, the President focused on the search for truth prevalent in Hinduism. In the search for truth, the Encyclopedia of Hinduism, the most comprehensive collection to date on this most ancient of religions and cultures, is sure to take its place as the definitive resource for both scholars and the general population. Read more about the presentation at India Education Diary, linked here: India Education Diary: President of India receives a copy of Encyclopedia of Hinduism

Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, founder/chairman of the India Heritage Research Foundation and of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism project, explains:

"The wisdom, truths, teachings, and insights of Indian and Hindu culture are not limited to or applicable to only Hindus or Indians. Rather they belong to the world and can deeply benefit the world. It is, therefore, our aim that the richness of this ancient yet timeless culture and heritage should be made available to the entire world, in a way that is authentic, academic, comprehensive and illuminating. However, of course, the teachings, truths, tenets and insights of Sanatan Dharma took birth in India. Therefore, to have the religious leaders of India present the Encyclopedia to the Honourable President is a beautiful and most-fitting symbol of the 'Unity in Diversity' which is our Mother India."

To learn more about the Encyclopedia of Hinduism, please go to www.theencycloopediaofhinduism.com. 

Happy Earth Day!

Each year at this time, people all over the world celebrate the beauty of our planet and the need to protect that beauty for generations to come. Here at Mandala Earth we're celebrating with 30% off our ENTIRE catalog! Just enter the code EARTHDAY when you are ready to purchase on our website.

Seeds: Time Capsules of Life Wildlands Philanthropy: The Great American Tradition The National Parks: Our American Landscape Vedic Ecology: Practical Wisdom for Surviving the 21st Century Minding Your Business: Profits that Restore the Planet Yosemite National Park Hardcover Ruled Journal (Large): Art Wolfe Signature Edition Joshua Tree Hardcover Ruled Journal (Large): Art Wolfe Signature Edition Fruit: Edible, Inedible, Incredible Grand Canyon: River at Risk Antarctica: A Call to Action Blue Planet Run: The Race to Provide Safe Drinking Water to the World Plundering Appalachia Your Right to Know: Genetic Engineering and the Secret Changes in Your Food Yellowstone National Park Hardcover Ruled Journal (Large): Art Wolfe Signature Edition Sequoia Hardcover Ruled Journal (Large): Art Wolfe Signature Edition

New Year, New Digs

Update your address book: Mandala Publishing and Earth Aware Editions can now be found at 800 A Street, San Rafael, CA 94901. We’re still adjusting to our new office space, but there is one thing we can all agree on: Spring cleaning came early this year. We’re growing fast—fast enough that we’ve outgrown our offices at 10 Paul Drive. The move is a work in progress that requires constant adaptation, a process we’re all familiar with from the care and attention we lavish on each of our 
books.

If you take a jaunt through our new digs, you’ll overhear warehouse managers stoked about rolling shelves similar to those you’d find in a large library, voices excitedly pointing out skylights above, and most importantly, collaborations happening left and right as editorial, production, design, marketing, and sales settle into their new spaces. Excitement extends into every corner of our office. 

So, while we unpack the boxes we frantically taped shut, take advantage of our high spirits and snag 30% off ALL our titles at www.mandalaeartheditions.com from 2/8/14 to 2/14/14 with the Promo Code: 2014DIGS

2012 ForeWord Book of the Year Award Finalists Announced

ForeWord Reviews has announced the 2012 Book of the Year Awards list of finalists. Representing more than 700 publishers, the finalists were selected from 1,300 entries in 62 categories. These books are examples of independent publishing at its finest.

The following two titles from Earth Aware Editions and Mandala Publishing are finalists for the 2012 Book of the Year Awards:


By God's Grace (Mandala Publishing), Mind & Spirit category
By Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Preface: Rabbi David Rosen, 
Foreword: His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso The Dalai Lama
Hardcover, Price: $50.00

By God’s Grace is an absorbing portrait of the extraordinary life of a renowned Indian spiritual leader, Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati. Practical wisdom, a connection to the Divine, and global action have made him one of India's most renowned and beloved spiritual teachers. 

Elaborately illustrated, the book traces his journey from childhood in the jungles of India to the company of world leaders, from Himalayan villages to the podiums of the United Nations, the World Economic Forum, and other venues of global change. His projects are unprecedented, including a cleanup of the 1,560-mile-long Ganges River and a six-million-word encyclopedia of Hinduism. 

American-born author Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Ph.D., moved to India in 1996. She was officially ordained by Pujya Swamiji into the tradition of sanyas and lives at Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh, where she serves Pujya Swamiji's humanitarian projects, teaches meditation, gives discourses, and counsels individuals and families. She lives in Rishikesh, India.

A Day in the World (Earth Aware Editions), Photography category
By Jeppe Wikström, Foreword: Richard Branson, Introduction: Desmond Tutu
Hardcover, Price: $50.00

One day, millions of perspectives. On May 15, 2012, people from around the globe picked up their cameras to record their lives—A Day in the World is the result. 

Professionals and amateur shutterbugs alike are featured in this beautiful edition, the most comprehensive photographic documentation of daily life ever made.

Including tribal areas and urban sprawl, intimate portraits and riotous events, the book was the brainchild of the movement Aday.org (a branch of the foundation Expressions of Humankind), a unique project that celebrates
the power of photography to encourage cultural understanding. The foundation's council includes Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Sir Richard Branson, and a host of other luminaries and advocates. Author Jeppe Wikström
is one of Scandinavia's best-known and most-published photographers, with some 20 book titles to his credit.

Wikström is one of the founders of the nonprofit Expressions of Humankind, which works to promote human understanding through photography, and created the A Day in the World project.

ForeWord’s Book of the Year Awards program was created to highlight the year’s most distinguished books from independent publishers. Award winners are chosen by librarians and booksellers who are on the front lines, working every day with patrons and customers.

Help save the Yamuna River

About the Yamuna

The Yamuna flows through many of India’s most significant attractions, including the capital New Delhi, with a population of almost fourteen million; Vrindavan, an international pilgrimage site visited by tens of millions annually; and the Taj Mahal, a World Heritage site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Over fifty million people rely on the Yamuna for their daily needs, using the water for religious observances, agricultural needs, and bathing, washing, and cooking. In addition to benefiting the human population, the Yamuna has supported a vast ecosystem of wildlife, such as fish, turtles, crocodiles, river dolphins, and aquatic plants.

Aside from agricultural, ecological, and domestic uses, the Yamuna River has long been regarded as a cultural icon and defining symbol of India. Ancient scriptures, traditional and contemporary art, music, festivals, and even the Indian National Anthem, demonstrate the reverence in which the river is held.

Basic Facts

• The Yamuna River is the largest tributary of the Ganges River, with a catchment area (345,848 sq km / 133,533 sq m) that constitutes 40 percent of the total Ganga River Basin.
• The river is 1,376 km (855 miles) long and passes through seven Indian states.
• The Yamuna is water source for 57 million people.
• 97 percent of the river’s water is directed away from the riverbed not far from its source. The balance dries up within a few kilometers. None of the original river water flows beyond that point north of Delhi.
• Whatever little water reaches New Delhi does so through various canals entering the riverbed. A Central Pollution Control Board of India report in 2006 stated that there is “almost no fresh water in the river” beyond New Delhi. The report declared that for 580 km (360 m) south of Delhi, the river is “critically polluted.” A subsequent report in 2009 states that, “There is no doubt that the river is a cesspool for Delhi’s waste.”
• The levels of pollution in the water flowing through and out of Delhi are so high that even bathing in the water is dangerous. The water from the river is also replenishing groundwater in the area, resulting in highly polluted well water, which threatens the health of millions of people.
• Many accounts of severe illness and death have been attributed to the toxic state of the river’s water quality downstream of New Delhi.

You can help by joining the Yamuna Network's efforts. Follow them on Facebook and learn more at their website, www.yamunanetwork.com.

The Yamuna Network is a nonprofit coalition of like-minded organizations and individuals whose sole purpose is to stop Yamuna River's waters from being diverted and prevent industrial and municipal waste from entering her waters, restoring the river to her past glory.

Celebrate Children's Book Week

Established in 1919, Children's Book Week is the longest-running literacy initiative in the country. Each year, books for young people and the joy of reading are feted for a full week with author and illustrator appearances, storytelling, parties, and other book-related events at schools, libraries, bookstores, museums, and homes from coast to coast! 

Check out the official events happening around the country, or visit the Children's Book Week website for ideas on how to celebrate with your kids, at home or in the classroom.


Make sure you take a look at the list of the 2012 Children's Choice Award Winners, including our author and illustrator Scott Campbell for his book, Zombie in Love.


If you haven't already visited our new Facebook page for the Insight Kids titles, you should head over and take a peek. There are a lot of great books for young readers coming out in the coming months from each of our imprints, Mandala Publishing and Earth Aware Editions.