Customer Reviews:
Nothing Like The Sun.......2001-01-06
Anthony Burgess's "Nothing Like The Sun" is a linguistic marvel. It is a philosophically oppressive look at William Shakespeare's foray into literature and the world. Starting in the small 'borough' of Stratford, WS (as he is called) is an apprentice leather craftsman. He spends his days and nights dreaming of plays, gentility, and idealistic love.
Most of the novel shows WS trying to figure out what kind of love he is after. His notions of love come from Plato's "Symposium" - will it be common, physical lust, or contemplation of absolute beauty leading to his best poetic and dramatic works? The relationships that the novel explores these questions with are with the youthful noble Henry Wriothesly and the exotic, colonial Fatima.
Burgess delights in wordplay throughout the novel, using for the most part, the language of Shakespeare's plays and sonnets in the narration and dialogue. Unlike "Shakespeare in Love" Burgess's novel does not build around any specific text, instead making his works almost marginal to the drama of Shakespeare's fictional biography. Burgess presents Shakespeare's works as the results and expressions of a desperate life.
Burgess augments Shakespeare's story with an almost post-colonial historical setting. With Fatima allegedly from the Indies, and a backdrop of English oppression of the Irish, "Nothing Like The Sun" complicates Shakespeare's historical moment. Class struggles, plagues, and political sterility also mark the temporal setting as the novel moves from the country (Stratford) to the coast (Bristol) to the capital (London).
Reading "Nothing Like The Sun" was a welcome experience for me, having only ever read Burgess's "A Clockwork Orange" before. The writing style takes a little getting used to, but that is the price you pay for art. I highly recommend it.
A dark alternative to "Shakespeare in Love".......1999-03-24
Lacks the tragic inevitability of "Dead Man in Deptford", but still a good read. Brilliant language, Elizabethan England nicely evoked, well-drawn characters, clever speculation to fill in the gaps in what we know of Shakespeare's life. A bit crazy, especially at first, but that's what you pay for with Burgess, right?
Fascinating fictional story of Shakespeare's life and times.......1998-11-20
This fictional account strings together those facts we know about Shakespeare and uses complete and admitted fancy to flesh out the rest of his life. In this way, Burgess creates a fascinating and engaging lifestory of the young provincial man who became the greatest playwright of our language. While clearly a novel, it manages to make real, palpable people from those faceless names of the Elizabethean time, and helps makes sense (or nonsense) of so many of the theories surrounding Shakespeare's genius. It's vividness shows Burgess as a master of both academia and imagination. A thoroughly good read, and a must for anyone remotely interested in Shakespeare.
A novel approach to the life of the Bard........1997-06-02
By Tom Crawford
Burgess has taken the few facts we have about the life of Shakespeare and spun them into a most engaging story, centered around his relationship with the "dark lady" of the sonnets. Here we have a Shakespeare who lives and loves and always aspires to a higher social standing that he, the son of a modest glover from Stratford, will never achieve. But no matter -- as Burgess makes clear, he is the genius whose work will outlive all of the mere nobility of his time.
Among other things, Burgess speculates that Shakespeare bequeathed his "second best" bed to his wife because he caught her there with his younger brother. Burgess also elaborates on a theory put forth by other Shakespearean experts -- that Will contracted syphillis and spent the last years of his life disease-ridden as a result. Did it all happen exactly this way? Who knows? But you'll enjoy speculating along with the author.
Burgess, who was always a clever man with words himself, writes in the conversational tone and flow that one most likely would have heard in Elizabethan England. This might seem tiresome to the casual reader, but it helps establish an atmosphere that feels right. Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in the biographical background to Shakespeare's plays (or anyone with an interest in the Bard at all).
Book Description
According to a Latin American proverb, in order for a woman to discover her power over men, she must learn to be a lady in the living room, a chef in the kitchen, and a courtesan in the bedroom. After perfecting the grace and elegance of each, a woman will ultimately understand her own potential in life, and the command she has over everyone around her, including herself.
When Pilar is left her grandmother's legacy books, she not only discovers what she is missing in her own life but also discovers the secret life her grandmother carried with her to her grave.
Bound in black silk, the three books teach the sacred beauty rituals that South American women have followed for centuries, the rules of social etiquette every young woman must master, and delicious recipes to seduce men -- recipes that can teach the strong-willed Pilar how to be the perfect lady, wife, and lover.
As Pilar reads through the diaries, she slowly begins to discover the importance of tradition and how to incorporate the secrets into her life as an independent, professional woman. And finally, perhaps -- with her grandmother's wise words floating in her mind -- she will find the courage to follow her heart, wherever it may lead.
Weaving together the story of a modern woman with that of a grandmother's time-honored traditions, The Lady, the Chef, and the Courtesan is a compelling novel of history, seduction, love -- and what it truly means to be a woman.
Customer Reviews:
The book has some valid points although it is archaic.......2005-08-15
Pilar Castillo, living in Chicago as a journalist, learns of her grandmother's death and leaves for her native country Venezuela to attend her funeral. Arriving there she sees a mysterious man who tosses a wreath of flowers and a charm into the ground where the coffin lays. Pilar wonders who the man is.
Coming home to the neighborhood where her grandmother lived and died is reminiscent of the days where things were slow-paced and simple. Time never let the city fade. The flora of the city Los Rosales has never been touched by ecological disasters. It remains filled with eucalyptus, orange blossoms, birds of paradise, and wine-red bougainvillea. The scents draw her into a time period.
Going between the past and the present, Marisol reflects on a time period where women were expected to be married and have children. They were to remain virtuous for marriage. Pilar is given a set of diaries that Gabriela Grenales de Knowles has left. As she reads them on her trip back to Chicago, she discovers who the real Gabriela is.
Gabriela was groomed to be a lady by her mother and a servant of native Indian/Spanish descent as a child. It would carry with her throughout her adult life. She had to learn to entertain her audience, prepare meals, and sexually gratify her partner. Upkeeping tradition was important to her but at what cost? The cost of a real love. She was in love with Jorge Armando. But she couldn't marry him because his family was mixed. As much money as Jorge's family had, her family forbid it. They were full-blooded European tracing their ancestry to the Spanish.
Gabriela married an Englishman and had a daughter with him. But it wasn't enough for her. Her true love was Jorge and rebelling against tradition would have cost her her reputation and her family. The diaries are a layout for her granddaughter to follwo but to do it on her own terms.
The Lady, the Chef, and the Courtesan, based on a South American proverb was good to read because it does layout some grooming techniques, reminiscent of what it is to be feminine. However I was disturbed by the racial makeupShe focused too much on the indigenous Indians, mixed Indian/Spanish and Spanish. She did not mention that there are people of African descent living in Venezuela nor did she present any of their traditions that could have helped the novel a bit.
It is a good book to read when you are going to work and coming home from work on the train.
Reader, beware.......2004-12-09
It is possible to have an interesting book club discussion about this novel, the issues it raises of how women view themselves and how their society views them. However, readers should be aware that this book contains several extended and very explicit scenes of men engaging in oral sex with the two protaganists, Pilar and Gabriella. Supposedly these experiences were pivotal moments in these women's personal lives. Perhaps. But not only are these scenes jarring, they are clumsily written - much closer to my idea of pornography than Latin American sensual literary tradition. A disappointing read, for me.
All I can say is Wow!.......2004-10-28
Got this at the library yesterday; finished it today. Roughly 240 pages. That's the sign of a good book. When was the last time you've had a 5-star read?
It's so eerie...almost as if this book found me. I am sure many women will be able to relate to it if they have ever been in a love they cannot forget, a love impossible to explain, yet lingers in the depth of your being. In this book, it is purported to happen only "once" in a lifetime; i.e. your "orchard of truth". The grandmother's advice in this book? "When you find your orchard of truth, you must find a way to enter it..." There is so much wisdom in this book. The beauty rituals alone are worth the price. I will compile notes to incorporate many of them into my life as well as with my daughters. I learned so much about culture and traditions; about the importance of being a woman and living life true to self -- not for others. About knowing yourself before sharing yourself with others; about saving yourself for true love. It's all about following your heart to minimize a life of regrets.
Some portions of the book delve into true intimacy and will be a little risque for some I suspect, but truth prevails in its entirety for those who are honest with love.
This will definitely be purchased to add to my library. It's been a long time since I have been brought to tears with a book, but Marisol hit the nail on the head. She is so eloquent a writer, she says things precisely the way I feel. How does she do that?
For any woman in her 30's (and above) who has contemplated life, where she is, where she is going and choices that she has made at the sacrifice of self, this book is for you. I guarantee it will give you a new lease on life. I am most grateful to Marisol and this gem of a novel. Bravo!
the lady, the chef, the courtesean.......2004-06-18
I chose this book for our book club because of a review I read in the Denver Post and information about the author. I truly enjoyed this book because I have had such a special relationship with my grandmother, and this book captured a real essence of our special times together. I know that this will "insult" a lot of women, but it is so important to truly love and honor the man that you chose to spend your life with. This novel put this into perspective for me. No matter what our cultures are, it is important to keep "those secrets" within the confines of our homes. I loved this book!
Not sure what to think..........2004-03-26
I'm not entirely sure what to think about this book; some of it seems to be shallow and objectify women, but I think it slightly redeems itself towards the end. The beginning few chapters really put me off to the book, since I disagree with many of the social views about women that were put forward. However, I understand the historical reference and how women existed in those days, yet it still didn't sit too well.
I was surprised by the graphic and explicit sexual detail. I expected some, but some of this here seemed out of place - almost added in un-necessarily.
In spite of all this, I think I began to enjoy it toward the end. Gabriela's story of love and loss is amazing, and one I think can learn from. You need to be true to your heart, and live your life according to your wishes, not the wishes friends and family impose on you. In addition to being eloquently told, it flows quickly; due to the way it's told, you don't feel too bogged down with extraneous words and it's tone is conversational - all words from a grandmother to her niece. This book also makes it easy to feel with the characters. You mourn for Gabriela and you yearn for Pilar to find what she wants and make the right decisions. So in all, I think it's a great story, but bits of it are wrapped in shallow fluff.
Average customer rating:
- For fans of the anime or gamers...
- Fun, but not serious
- Excellent book for roleplayers and Dominion fans both!
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Dominion Tank Police RPG and Resource Book
David L. Pulver
Manufacturer: Guardians of Order
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0968243126 |
Book Description
Based on the classic 1989 four-part Japanese anime series, from the mind of Japan`s prominent storyteller artist, Masamune Shirow! In the year 2010 A.D., the Earth is a very unfriendly place -- the atmosphere is a poisonous bacterial soup, vicious underworld organizations have run of the cities, and the governments are virtually helpless. Leading the attack on society are the sexy and ruthless cat sisters, Annapuna and Unipuma, and the grotesque half-cyborg, Buaku. The last line of defense against utter chaos is Newport City`s Tank Police: a team of trigger-happy officers with an affinity for demolition and disaster. The book offers a complete role-playing game (featuring Guardians Of Order`s Tri-Stat System), an extensive resource and reference section about the popular series, and a full-colour gallery of spectacular animation art. For role-players and Shirow fans alike!
Customer Reviews:
For fans of the anime or gamers..........2004-03-03
the Guardians of Order always deliver. This book, all 165 pages, could be used to make a game with the Tri Stat System, or used as a resource for making your own game, or just as a fan book based on the classic 1989 four-part anime, Dominion: Tank Police. You can be a cop, a villain, or something in-between. That's the best part of the system, it can be used for almost anything. With the core rules, in 'Big Eyes, Small Mouth', you can role play almost anything.
Has chapters on how to make characters, the world in question, character files, mecha, weapons, two small sample games and information for the Game Master. All you have to do is buy some dice and you have a complete game.
Add supplement books like 'Big Robots, Cool Starships' or 'Hot rods & Gun Bunnies' and you can't lose.
Lots of photos, some color photos and a nice cover showing the Puma sisters! If you love gaming, or are a fan of Masamune Shirow, or just love the Tank Police anime and/or manga, THIS is the book for you!
Fun, but not serious.......2000-05-09
Alot of your opinion of this game rests on how realistic you want it to be. The game is fast and simple, but alot of people may think it is too simplistic. The game does accomplish it's purpose: It's an excellent roleplaying game with lots of information on the world of 'Dominion.' It's rules for mecha are great, as anything you can imagine can be constructed; tanks, jets, robots, battleships, space ships - you name it, you can build it. While the rules are comprehensive, they have very little depth and this is surprising. As anyone who has read his comics knows, Masamune Shirow puts incredible amounts of time and energy into designing his robots to be as plausible as possible. This system has very little detail and nothing is compulsory, so your players may come up with some very unrealistic vehicles. Combat works the same way. It's closer to Final Fantasy than to Rainbow Six. If you want detail and realism, go play GURPS. You won't find it here. On the other hand, this lack of realism is fairly well suited to a comedy like 'Dominion.' It lets your players enter firefights with good chances of survival and inflict incredible amounts of collateral damage. They'll probably get a kick out of the sheer amount of destruction they wreak, which is a very important part of 'Dominion's sense of humor. The only other problem with this book is the art. All of the pictures, except for the front and back cover, are images from the TV series. And while a few of these are nice, there is no original art AT ALL in this book. Of course, the TV images are a bit fuzzy, and one can only imagine all the cool diagrams and schematics they could have crammed in here. On the plus side, this book is compatible with all the other anime games Guardians of Order prints, so if you ever wanted to have a Sailor Scout at the buisiness end of a 150mm tank cannon, here's your chance. :-) So there you have it. Like I said before, if you want detail and realism, go play Gurps: Mecha. If you want it quick, simple and fun, check this one out.
Excellent book for roleplayers and Dominion fans both!.......2000-02-29
Guardians of Order have been putting out some truly excelling media tie-in games of late... and their 'Dominion Tank Police RPG and Resource Book' is probably the best so far.
The Tri-Stat System is easily learned and perfectly suited for the fast-moving slap-stick action present in the original 'Dominion' animated series (upon which this game and sourcebook is based) as well as Masamune Shirow's 'Dominion Take Police' graphic novel.
Gamers, anime fans, and fans of Masamune Shirow will all enjoy this book a great deal. I'd be giving it a Five Star rating if not for the fact that I wish the book had contained a map of Newport City that put all the locations mentioned in relation to one another. Even if the map had just been of 'downtown' Newport City, i would have been content.
Book Description
Dark Horse hits the ground running with a newly expanded and redesigned edition of master storyteller Masamune Shirow`s Dominion. A wild sci-fi police comedy set in a future where the norms are vast, bio-constructed cities, air so foul that citizens must wear masks outside, and a police department that includes a squad of crack tank police! Join Leona, her pet tank Bonaparte, and her lovesick partner Al as they confront the villainous Buaku and his felinoid accessories-to-crime. Leona`s goal: to rescue Crolis, a mysterious green-skinned girl with the power to cleanse the air around her, and the potential to renew the poisoned earth. Added to this edition are Phantom of the Audience, a 1994 Dominion one-shot never before collected in the U.S., and an all-new cover!
Customer Reviews:
Don't confuse the two books..........2004-05-05
Dominion: Conflict 1 (No More Noise) is not Dominion : Tank Police. In Conflict all the tanks are mini, the bad guy flies a plane (because the air is nice and clean) and the Puma sisters are now COPS! Jealous meter maids, corrupt officials and a tank design competition. Will mini-tanks be replaced?
The fact is this book is set in a universe totally different from the DVDs and the other manga. Extras include the fact files in the back, plus lots of scenes with the Puma sisters. They're easy to make happy, just give them candy or food, and they can sleep anywhere. Anna can even change her size (but I prefer her in her adult, shapely, size). Uni, on the other hand, seems more serious about the job.
Welcome to the future..........2004-02-21
From the creator of Ghost in the shell, Massamune Shirow, comes a story about the future in which mankind has to wear oxygen masks outside, lives in bio-created cities and fears crime levels so high that the police use tanks! The main character is a tank-loving Leona Ozaki,a police mini-tank commander, who seems to be fighting a one-woman war against crime, which in most cases means she is dealing with Buaku, a master criminal, and his two catgirl thugs, the Puma sisters (who make an appearance in Ghost in the Shell).
The fact is, that Buaku has more than just gold coins on his mind. In fact, the future of planet Earth, and the human race, hangs in the balance. Can the tank police stop him or will he get away with more than just cash?
Great book. Has extras, like character files and even a small chapter on min-tanks. Also includes an extra story - Phantom of the Audience. Like most of Shirow's books there is great artwork and lots of humor as well as important themes about mankind and his changing world. Not as solid as Ghost in the Shell, but frankly, what manga is?
If you loved the Anime then Read the Manga.......2004-01-15
This book was illustrated by Masamune Shirow , one of Japans finest artists so if your a fan of it , read it!
This is the wrong book!.......2004-01-08
All of the editorial and customer reviews refer to Dominion: Tank Police; This is not that book. Do not buy this book unless you want to be seriously dissapointed when a paperback novel about Canadians shows up. Search for "dominion tank" and it will show up with a photo of the cover.
Tank Police: Episode 2 1/2.......2002-04-16
From Masumune Shirow(creator of APPLESEED)comes this special "filler" story to the original DOMINION: TANK POLICE video series. This manga happens inbetween the two parts of the OVA, namely eps. 2 & 3. Here, it is the not too far off future where Earth is covered by a bacteria cloud that forces everyone to wear gas masks while outdoors. In this hostile enviroment, crimes are commonplace, and to fight this is the Tank Police. They're your average special forces task squad that patrol the streets in large tanks. Except one tank in particular is custom-made and compact, Bonaparte. This is piloted by the tomboy Leona and her would be boyfriend Al. They usually have their hands full with the criminal/activist cyborg Buaka and his catgirl playmates: Annapuma and Unapuma. Their capturing of the synthetic lifeform, Greenpeace, may be the only hope humanity has of lifting the bacteria cloud. But Buaka plans on heading for outer space to live life on a new colony. Can Leona and her squad stop them? Will the chief ever stop yelling "BRENTEN"? See Shirow's masterwork in action to find out.
P.S. This little baby is actually a prelude into the GHOST IN THE SHELL manga. No kidding!
Book Description
"Trustworthy and delightful guide Kim Boykin will demystify and deepen your understanding of both the traditions she practices. Animated and illuminative Zen for Christians beckons toward a practicing and practical faith at the intersection of two great traditions. A gem!"
— James W. Fowler, author, Stages of Faith
In Zen for Christians, author Kim Boykin— who has personally experienced the gifts of Buddhism in her own Christian faith and has taught this subject in a variety of settings— offers Christians a way to incorporate Zen practices into their lives without compromising their beliefs and faith.
Zen for Christians assumes curiosity but no knowledge as it walks readers through specific concepts of Zen philosophy— such as suffering, attachment, and enlightenment— and explains each in a simple, lively way. Sections between chapters gently guide readers through Zen mediation practices, explaining the basics in a clear, engaging way. One key chapter places Christian and Zen teachings side by side to help Christian readers not only understand Zen but appreciate what it has to offer them.
Zen for Christians illustrates how Zen practice can be particularly useful for Christians who want to enrich their faith by incorporating contemplative practices.
Customer Reviews:
A Practical Guide.......2007-01-09
I was plesantly surprised by the easy that this book explains the zen buddists beliefs. I was able to understand nearly everything the first time through.
It gets the job done.... sort of.......2005-09-12
If you are interested in zen meditation, and have no experience ,this is a good start, but there are many nonchristian meditation books out there that do a better job. If you want an analysis of christian and zen beliefs this does a decent job, but is very redundant at times and is mostly an account of the author's personal experiences. All in all the book is just OK, not good and not bad.
A partial reconciliation.......2004-07-27
While it is true that one could practice, say, yoga, and practice it well and fairly near completeness and still be a Christian, it is a bit of a stretch to fully immerse oneself in Zen Buddhism and remain a Christian. Or vice-versa.
This is not and cannot be immediately apparent to casual and beginning practitioners of either Christianity or Zen. Certainly however it should be clear to Kim Boykin. And, after a fashion, I think it is. What she has done is reduce Zen to something close to a non-spiritual practice, a "Zen for health," if you will, in particular Zen for mental and emotional health, and in that way make Zen compatible with Christianity.
As Boykin points out, the central tenet of Christianity, that of salvation, is similar to the Buddhist tenet of right behavior. In Christianity all have sinned, but if we accept Christ, who died for our sins, as our savior we will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. In Buddhism we are not "unsaved" or in a state of mortal sin, rather we are in a state of pain and suffering, some of it psychological. We overcome that state through Right Living, Right Behavior--the famous Eightfold Path. (See especially page 91.)
Boykin goes into the differences and similarities in her third chapter, "Zen Teachings and Christian Teachings." Basically she resolves all apparent conflicts by stating that "Zen teachings are not doctrines." This is precisely, exactly correct. Indeed, the central spirit in Zen is to laugh at all doctrines, to find enlightenment through "killing the Buddha" and "no thought," which are ways to get away from the limitations of the so-called rational mind. Typically a Zen koan presents the student with a logical paradox and demands an answer, an answer that can only be found by transcending the rational mind and all doctrines. So, by this method Boykin can accept any facet of Christianity including the most literal and fundamental and find no conflict with Zen.
So be it.
However, there is no "God" in Buddhism. Consequently for God to have a "son" can only be understood in a symbolic sense. The acceptance of Christ as a personal savior, again can only be done in a symbolic sense. To go even deeper into Buddhist "theology," if you will, or "psychology" (which I think is the best way to understand these things, at least in the beginning) it is necessary to realize that for the Buddhist we do not even exist in the same way we do in Christianity. In Buddhism the self is an illusion. In Christianity the self is very real and transcends death. Furthermore, there is no concept of karma or reincarnation in Christian theology. Boykin does not discuss either idea, possibly because neither idea is logically compatible with Christianity.
What Boykin does well here is to show how Zen meditation can enrich one's life, how "being here now" and other Zen practices can lead to a fuller spiritual experience, as they have for her. From a Christian point of view, prayer is the most powerful meditation. From another point of view, prayer is simply one type of meditation. Prayer and meditation are both practices, or techniques, if you will, for finding God or nirvana--which to some people amounts to the same thing. Zazen ("just sitting," i.e., sitting meditation) is certainly a practice that would be compatible with any religion.
So what Zen for Christians is about is using Zen techniques to further one's Christianity. This is fine, but theological speaking, Zen and Christianity are different ways to God and cannot be held as truths simultaneously without some strenuous mental gymnastics. (Or actually in the impish spirit of Zen, they can be held simultaneously in the mind with the greatest of ease!) A striking example of this discordance can be seen on page 40 where Boykin recites a prayer learned from Karl Rahner. It ends with the words, "I am powerless, blind, dead, but you are mighty, light, and life and have conquered me long ago with the deadly impotence of your Son." Prayer is surrender to a power greater than oneself. But words like "the deadly impotence of your Son" have no meaning in Zen.
More in concert with the spirit of Zen would be the 46th Psalm as quoted on the next page: "Be still, and know that I am God." However, the use of the word "God" and the sense that "God" would actually demand something of someone is foreign to Zen. In Zen one does not speak of God partly because traditionally the Buddha turned aside all such questions. (It takes some study to understand why he did.) But theologically speaking, to mention God would be to immediately identify God in some manner, and that would be meaningless since what stands for God in Buddhism is beyond any human designation--indeed beyond human comprehension. On the other hand, in Christianity God is made personal. Moreover, in fundamentalist Christianity, humans are said to be made in the image of God.
Boykin's style is engaging and her recollection of her Zen training and how she came to the Catholic Church make for interesting reading. I had the sense that one of the commonalities shared by Zen and Christianity that Boykin discovered, perhaps in a subconscious way, is in the practices of Zen and the rituals of the Catholic Church. Although they are very different in structure and event, they serve some of the same purposes, that of helping the aspirant find spirituality. And of course the monastic tradition in Zen has some similarities with that of the Catholic Church.
Bottom line: While this is a good introduction to Zen, if you want to read about how Zen and Christianity can and cannot be reconciled, I recommend Thomas Merton or Alan Watts.
Great Book.......2004-04-29
Zen for Christians is a fantastic book for those wishing to learn more on the basics of zen meditation. This is a step by step guide to getting the most out of your meditation. I would recommend this book to any christian who is hesitant about the merger of another religion. It really is simply a christians guide to better meditation and not a guide to merge any religions.
Concise.......2004-03-08
I'm glad these sorts of work are becoming more and more popular in the literary world, because we have them coming from both the Christian and Buddhist community. Kim Bokyin is a teacher of contemplative prayer (a subject Merton always wrote extensively about) to both Christians and non Christians. This books' more like a beginners guide for people who don't have any idea what Zen Buddhism is actually about. Like a nice lure giving the fish just enough that, with any luck, they will come begging for more.
She's a very concise instructor in here, pouring over the fundamentals with a sort of ease and conviction. She explains meditation, koan work, non duality, The Four Noble Truths here; and what's more, Christians don't need to feel they need to give up Christianity to practice Zen. It may be true on a deeper level that in order to truly devote yourself, this might be so. But you can enhance your current religious traditions and spiritual practice with zazen (Zen meditation) at any time. Even contemplating scripture as though they are koans, is a beneficial practice. Christianity has a lot to benefit from Zen, allowing people to place aside desires for achievements (I dare say even heaven) and simply realize your life as this moment. There is no "goal." Only this.
This was an excellent book, and for those with interest in further reading on the matter I recommend Ruben Habito's book "Living Zen, Loving God." He has studied Zen and Christianity for decades, and provides further illuminating insights for Christians on reconciling Zen with Christianity. Anyway, get this book. It's an invaluable tool on the spiritual path.
Books:
- Our Kind: A Novel in Stories
- Patience and Sarah
- Peel My Love Like an Onion: A Novel
- Quicksilver & Shadow
- Ravishing of Lol Stein
- Remind Me Again Why I Married You
- Searching for Caleb
- Sleeping Arrangements
- Soñar en cubano
- Soldados De Salamina/Soldiers of Salamis (Coleccion Andanzas, 433) (Coleccion Andanzas, 433)
Books Index
Books Home
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A Dead Man in Deptford (Burgess, Anthony)
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Entered From The Sun: The Murder Of Marlowe
The Wanting Seed (Norton Paperback Fiction)
