Dumas constructs the plot around the notion that the Man in the Iron Mask is the twin brother of Louis XIV, Philippe, who had been concealed and imprisoned from birth by his father, Louis XIII, and his mother, Anne of Austria, ”for the good of France”. Only a very few people living at the start of the novel know of Philippe’s existence; these include his mother, Anne, and her former confidante, the Duchesse de Chevreuse. Chevreuse has let the secret slip to Aramis, the Bishop of Vanne and her former lover. Aramis plots to replace Louis with Philippe as a puppet ruler for himself and Fouquet, and recruits Porthos to assist, although Porthos is unaware of the true nature of the plot. Aramis’s ambitions now know no bounds and he intends to become nothing less than the next Pope. Through an elaborate subterfuge mounted by Aramis, Philippe replaces a prisoner due for release from the Bastille and escapes to Vaux. Meanwhile, Fouquet is throwing a lavish party for Louis at Vaux. Colbert poisons the king further against Fouquet. While the king is still visiting Fouquet at Vaux, Aramis initiates the second half of his plan and kidnaps Louis with the assistance of Porthos, imprisoning Louis in the Bastille in Philippe’s place. He then substitutes Philippe for the King. Aramis conspiratorially informs Fouquet of his acts, but Fouquet wants no part in such treachery and rushes to the Bastille, rescues Louis, and brings him back to Vaux to confront Philippe. Realizing that his plot has unravelled, Aramis flees for Belle Île to escape the king’s impending wrath, taking Porthos with him. Louis regains the throne with d’Artagnan’s help, ending Philippe’s brief reign. Louis banishes Philippe, ordering that ”he will cover his face with an iron visor” which he ”cannot raise without peril of his life.”

Product Description: Vipassanā-meditation (or practice) has become popular in South East Asia and the West. However, these practices aiming at reaching insight are taught in many varieties. The focus of this book is on the doctrinal sources of a number of vipassanā-practices...read more

The four Musketeers plot to replace King Louis XIV of France with the mysterious, masked prisoner in the Bastille believed to be Louis's falsely imprisoned twin brother and the true king.

The best-selling author of A Path with Heart presents a delightful collection of his most popular teachings, offering an introduction to the vipassana practice of meditation, Buddhism's most essential teachings, the path to forgiveness, and the Four Noble Truths.

A best selling author and clinical psychologist shares his direct experience in mindfulness training, gained from over three decades of study and practice, to invite listeners to awaken to a richer spiritual life in this classic study course on vipassana meditation.

The most concise and comprehensible introduction to muhamudra ever written outlines the essentials of this important Tibetan Buddhist meditation technique, offering clear instructions for mastering technique at each level of the discipline, using humor and warmth to teach. Original. 10,000 first printing.

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Presents the fundamentals of meditating in the Buddhist tradition, with a gift-boxed set that includes two CDs with guided meditations, as well as a 229-page workbook and 12 study cards.

Introduces the central teachings of Buddhism and the practice of insight meditation, covering such topics as proper meditation practice, developing compassion and wisdom, and understanding the laws of karma. Reprint. printing. (view table of contents)

A collection of wisdom from the ground-breaking Insight Meditation Society (IMS), founded in 1975, shares the insights of seventeen IMS teachers into mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation, among other aspects of Theravada Buddhism. Reprint. 15,000 first printing. (view table of contents)

Product Description: Contains 11 discourses that provide an overview of the teachings of Buddha to help meditators understand what to do and why, so they work in the proper way and achieve the proper results.

Product Description: Calm Abiding and Special Insight presents an intimate and detailed picture of the intricacies of meditation so vividly that the reader is drawn into a Tibetan worldview of spiritual development. Geshe Gedün Lodrö, one of the foremost scholars of Tibet, reveals methods for overcoming afflictive states and disorders to create a mind which is stable, calm, and alertly clear...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Product Description: This excellent guide provides basic instruction for the development of mindfulness -- the development of beneficial qualities, such as Compassion, Lovingkindness, and Wisdom. These authors are wonderful teachers, and this book will be the best present you can buy for yourself or for someone you care for...read more

A comprehensive meditation manual.