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Reviews (3)

One of the Best Philosophers/Theologists/Thinker of our time
I feel in my opinion to find A. Watts as 'one of' the greatest philosophers of our time to be just as plausible to say Quine, Kripke, Russell, or even Ren? Descartes and Goethe to be 'one' of the greatest philosophers of our time (and I assure you I'm not a minority of one to think so).
Basically this is my "bible"
I don't mean to be irreligious with this title, obviously Alan Watts' CD's are not to be put on the same level as "The Bible" but as someone who has sought answers for most of my life, the set of CD's came as something of a godsend.
WHAT A TREASURE!!
I don't think I could begin too put into words how wonderful these cd's are! If you are a fan of Alan Watts this collection is a must! His books are great, but to hear him speak puts his discourses on a whole new level. ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    2. Body, Mind & Spirit    3. Eastern - General    4. Meditation    5. Spirituality - General    6. Unabridged Audio - Inspirational/Philosophy    7. Taoism   

Subjects:  1. Buddhism    2. Eastern - Taoism    3. Exercise    4. General    5. Health aspects    6. Medicine, Chinese    7. Philosophy    8. Qi gong    9. Reference    10. Religion - Socialissues    11. Sports & Recreation / Martial Arts & Self-Defense    12. Taoism    13. Chi kung    14. Martial Arts    15. Martial Arts & Self-Defense    16. Sports    17. Sports & Recreation   

Reviews (14)

This very positive attitude towards Divine life help is good.
The most prominent idea I came away with from reading this version of the I Ching is 'not to give up on anyone'; remain open minded and accepting.One never knows when, but that the good will happen is reassuring.

An easier I Ching
This is a great version of the I Ching!Carol Anthony takes the sometimes difficult to understand messages of the I Ching and turns them into plain english.Very good for beginners, or for anyone who wishes to get the full message of the I Ching without doing all the interpretation.

I-Ching is KING
I have been consulting the sage, through this book for 7 years and have sporatically used other texts in addition. This text wipes them all out. It is well written and makes sense.
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Subjects:  1. China    2. Divination    3. I Ching    4. New Age / Parapsychology    5. Religion    6. Religion / Eastern    7. Religion / I Ching    8. Spirituality - General    9. Taoism    10. Yi jing    11. Asian And Oriental Religions    12. Chinese Philosophy    13. Confucianism    14. Fortune-telling & divination    15. Philosophy    16. Religion - Eastern   

Reviews (60)

Don't buy
It is impossible to know what was happening in Hoff's life when he sat down to write this book. That is a personal issue for Hoff to work out by himself.
Wonderful book
Very entertaining and very enlightening.I highly recommend this book as a good read.

On Second Thought
I read this book shortly after reading the Tao of Pooh 3+ years ago, which I absolutely loved and continue to loan to friends and family when I see them struggling. I have always discouraged the reading of the Te of Piglet to these same people. After searching for a new copy of the Tao of Pooh, I decided to see what other's thought of this book. To keep it short, here's my opinion...
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Subjects:  1. Eastern - Taoism    2. General    3. Philosophy    4. Piglet (Fictitious character)    5. Size perception in literature    6. Taoism in literature    7. Philosophy / Taoism   

Editorial Review

Gary Gach is like that teacher you always wanted--easygoing, full of information, able to communicate in humorous and meaningful ways, and a little bit wacky. So he's the perfect author for Read more

Reviews (29)

Not so hot...sorry
Very confusing book, and shy on details. Also contains to much personal interjection (opinions). A better book I would recommend is 'A Buddhism Primer - And Introduction to Buddhism'.

A great place to start.
I am young. I am unknowing. And I am in search of the truth.
Good, broad introduction... Lacking depth in some key areas
I've read a number of books on Buddhism, and I can easily say this is one of the best I've encountered for providing a solid background and overview of this religion-slash-philosophy. However, the book suffers from something of an identity crisis, and lacks some critical information.
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Subjects:  1. Buddhism    2. Buddhism - General    3. Religion    4. Religion - World Religions    5. Religion / Eastern   

Reviews (15)

A guide to understanding Japanese Culture, Business, and History
"Bushido: The Way of the Samurai" is an easy to read text based on Hagakure. Hagakure privides the ideal Samurai's code of conduct, according to the original author Tunetomo Yamamoto (1659).
There are better translations, but
I loved ths book. I've read the art of war, but this is more of a life style book. I beleive this should be required reading for all teenage children in the US. really I think the entire country could benefit from it. In my opinion anyway.

Good
The author does a very nice job explaining many of the priciples of Bushido, and applying it to today's circumstances. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bushido    2. Early works to 1800    3. Eastern - General    4. Ethics & Moral Philosophy    5. Japanese Philosophy    6. Martial Arts & Self-Defense    7. Mind & Body    8. Philosophy    9. Asian / Middle Eastern history    10. Japan    11. Special & elite forces   

Reviews (7)

To much terminology
To my opinion the second part of the book it goes too deep into Buddhist terminology and into theories beyond the apprehension of a western reader.
Excellent
Snow Lion Publications is a landmark when it comes to Buddhist literature, up there with Wisdom Books and Shambhala Publications. The Dalai Lama faces the issues of our times in this book; for we live in times of so much violence and anger in various situations, not just "global." We encounter them in our family life, in our work life, et cetera. Everywhere we go, this matter seems to pop right up! As you might expect, the practice out of this the Dalai Lama prescribes is the cultivation of compassion; cultivating patience. Patience, His Holiness points out, permits us to mindfully and calmly accept hardship, thus enabling us to see things as they are unclouded. Logical and needed in today's world
This book is essential reading for those like myself who have difficulty restraining their anger. Reading this book has allowed me to understand the causes that lead to anger and ultimately, to suffering. At it's deepest level, Healing Anger is about how to get oneself on the road to the cessation from suffering by changing one's outlook on the world and on oneself. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 7th cent    2. 7th cent.    3. Bodhicaryavatara    4. Bodhicaryåavatåara    5. Buddhism    6. Buddhism - General    7. Doctrines    8. Eastern - General    9. Patience    10. Religion    11. Religion - World Religions    12. Religious aspects    13. Santideva,    14. âSåantideva,    15. Religion / General    16. Santideva   

Reviews (1)

A small book with big wisdom
I'm admittedly a huge fan of Judith Hanson Lasater's other works, so naturally I was anticipating her latest offering:"A Year Of Living Your Yoga".Borrowing the theme of her other popular publication, "Living Your Yoga", Lasater has created a daily meditation style book that gives bite sized wisdom that you can use daily.Each day, there is a proverb along with a suggestion of how to apply it to your day to day life. For those who want live their yoga and not just "do" yoga, this is a nice little way to do it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit    2. Eastern - General    3. Inspiration & Personal Growth    4. Lasater, Judith    5. New Age    6. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    7. Quotations    8. Quotations, maxims, etc    9. Yoga    10. Body, Mind & Spirit / Personal Transformation    11. Yoga for exercise   

Reviews (7)

excellent coffee table book
Offerings is a beautiful book with a captivating photo and thoughtful Buddhist insight for each day of the year.

a gem
This is such a great, beautiful, book. Turning a page each day is a joy. Treat yourself or a friend.

simply touching
amazing photography matched with buddhist quotes both modern and ancient.This book guides you through 365 days - taking seasons into account -- each quote seems to build on the one before. An rewarding journey.It sits on my alter like it's own art gallery, and has made my morning medition an absolute delight. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit    2. Buddhism    3. Buddhism - General    4. China    5. Eastern - General    6. General    7. Himalaya Mountains Region    8. Inspirational - General    9. New Age    10. Pictorial works    11. Quotations, maxims, etc    12. Religion - World Religions    13. Tibet    14. Religion / Inspirational   

Reviews (26)

Good
The author does a good job translating the text into modern day principles.Definitely a good read for those interested in Bushido and it's ideas.

Interesting
I found this book educational, comical, and well worth reading. In less than a hundred pages it taught me a lot about medieval Japan. What I enjoyed more is the way its original author's voice comes shining through in the text. His condescension, his bluntness, his matter-of-fact all make for a hilarious introduction to the mind of the samurai. Some of the statements that come out of Shigesuke's mouth are a world apart from what we hear in textbooks today. He has no problem telling the student that he is a "lazy" "moron" "coward" unless he is exactly what a warrior should be. But beneath all this there is wisdom here. A very interesting book.

informative and delightful
Wonderful read, and unlike such weightier classics as THE ART OF WAR or THE BOOK OF FIVE RINGS, this one is readily accessible to the western mind.
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Subjects:  1. Bushido    2. Conduct of life    3. Eastern - General    4. Japanese Philosophy    5. Martial Arts    6. Martial Arts & Self-Defense    7. Philosophy    8. Samurai    9. Sports    10. Sports & Recreation    11. Customs    12. Japan    13. Oriental & Indian philosophy   

Reviews (7)

Fantastic
I have given this book to more than 10 friends.It is the most subtle yet profoundly moving book of wisdom I have ever encountered.Since reading Living Wabi Sabi, I feel more relaxed, more optimistic, and more happy then I have ever felt in my life. I can finally face the imperfections in my life and the challenges and hardships with confidence and composure.I read from this book every week, sometimes a bit every single day.

Pleasant But Hollow
For those already aware of Buddhist or New Age principles, this book might serve as a pleasant reinforcement. If you seek a deeper truth, you'll be disappointed by the cooing stories of the author's grandmother. The ideas, like accepting what is and living in the moment, are sound in my experience, but the presentation strikes me as infantile. A luxurious use of ink and space make for an attractive book, suitable for a coffee table or waiting room.

A Must Have Book to Keep Close By...
This book really focuses on the true meaning of a happy life, and how simple it can be once we decide to cut out all of the excess stuff society tends to throw in our view. Taro Gold's style of writing is easy to follow and digest, reminding us that what is essential to the soul is all that really matters.
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Subjects:  1. Conduct of life    2. Eastern - General    3. National characteristics, Japa    4. National characteristics, Japanese    5. Philosophy    6. Religion    7. Religion - World Religions    8. Oriental religions    9. Religion & Beliefs    10. Religion / Eastern   

Reviews (8)

AFormat For Life
This book was a pleasure to read. It was informative without
Buddha Banishes the Monkey Mind
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche tackles what Asian philiosphers called Monkey Mind, when we chatter inside with all the illusions of the world. This is distilled and precise wisdom in action on how to conquer Mara (illusion) just like the Buddha did under the Bodhi tree and access a paradigm of enlightenment. Buddhist consciousness is a real treat to a Western world devoured by its own materialism. People in the richest countries are often lost in the lap of luxury. Why? Without a spiritual foundation there is no joy for the heart must be light to be at peace. A heavy heart comes from chasing the illusion that rampant materialism invokes and provokes.

Selfless self-help
Mipham, the worldwide leader of Shambhala and the son of the late Tibetan teacher Chogyam Trungpa (who wouldn't love to be a fly on the wall in that house?) argues that people need to examine the me-centered spirituality of their lives:
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Subjects:  1. Buddhism    2. Buddhism - General    3. Eastern - General    4. Oriental Philosophy    5. Personal Growth - General    6. Philosophy    7. Religious life    8. Self-Help    9. Philosophy / Eastern   

Reviews (5)

easily the best of its kind
the book is invaluable for the student of indian philosophy. but please note that it is not an exposition of indian philosophy by the authors. it is a "source book" ie the book presents original translated tracts and abstracts from various original works.
Ian Myles Slater on: A Classic Anthology
Originally published in 1957, and reissued in paperback in the 1960s, this is basically a textbook (or supplementary reading source) for the serious study of the philosophical schools of India -- very much including the religious traditions.
Most concise and precise book on Indian Philosophy
1) The best feature of this book is: it has the actual texts of so many great works like Vedas, Upanishads, Gita etc. For this one reason itself, it is a must have book, where else will you get such a concise and precise translations of all the major Indian texts all in one place.Read more

Subjects:  1. Eastern - General    2. Hinduism    3. Philosophy    4. Philosophy, Hindu    5. Asian and Asian American Studies    6. Mind, Body, Spirit    7. Non-Western philosophy    8. Philosophy / Eastern    9. Reference    10. Religion   

Reviews (5)

Wisdom
A beautiful book that is inspirational in both its pictures and pearls of wisdom.

as wise as it is beautiful

sheer wisdom
absolutely breathtaking pictures which capture the very essence of india and convey incredible peace. the thoughts are just what we need everyday to remind us of the "big picture" and look around, above and beyond ourselves to get a little wiser... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Eastern - General    2. Gurus    3. India    4. Quotations    5. Quotations, maxims, etc    6. Religion    7. Religion - World Religions    8. Religious aspects    9. Spiritual life    10. Spirituality - General    11. Wisdom    12. Religion / Spirituality   

Editorial Review

Modern Western culture and technology is inextricably tied to thebelief in the existence of a self as a separate ego, separated from and in conflict with the rest of the world. In this classic book, Watts provides a lucid and simple presentation of an alternative view based on Hindi and Vedantic philosophy. ... Read more

Reviews (70)

A unique adventure into the ground of an individual's identity
The Book by Alan Watts is a unique adventure into the ground of an individual's identity.I do not think that there is another book quite like it in Western literature.Written in everyday language, Alan Watts takes us on a ride that is sure to surprise and maybe even shock some people.The author starts out by explaining the Hindu Vedanta philosophy in thoroughly modern terminology.This philosophy says in short that the world is God's play, and that we are all God playing at being the world.God has lost himself in the world, and now it is his great fun to find himself.Another theme that Watts explores is that all opposites are connected.He then shows the amazing implications of this.For example, if you are a person who is passionate about a cause, this is ok, as long as you realize that your passion depends upon the very situation you are trying to set right.This allows the person of passion to also be a person of com-passion, even for a person or situation that may be on the opposite side.
Most Certainly Not THE Book
I first read this book when I wore the cloths of a younger man and thought it was the worst book I had ever read.At the time I thought it was 176 pages of Alan Watts repeating the phrase "I'm right and you're wrong" ad nauseam.Many years later I decided to give The Book a second chance but couldn't get past reading a few pages before getting sick to my stomach.I can't say I know what exactly The Book is about, except trying to depress people.None of the author's arguments are carried out to any conclusions.For example Watts argues that since you can't know anything except being alive when you die you'll experience being alive again.What does this mean?Is he suggesting time is a loop and you're forced to live the same life forever, or is there some sort of reincarnation, or is this a case of solipsism and when you die the universe disappears along with everyone in it?His arguments are clouded with an infinitely thick veil of ambiguity so he seems right no matter what interpretation is used.Watts expects you to impose your own interpretations onto his skeleton of linguistic gymnastics, reaffirming your own beliefs.I couldn't get passed interpreting part of The Book as meaning though you die other people will live and if you pretend they're you before you die you'll feel better about it, though the author doesn't personally believe in an afterlife of any kind.Excuse me, Mr. Watts, but you're not making any sense and you're ignoring the facts of survival of consciousness.I fear giving this book away as it might contaminate someone else.

The Book is The Book to Buy
One of the best books I ever owned; I have to make my kid read it when he is older.Everyone should read this at least one time.It's like the Alan Watts bible! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Buddhism - General    2. Eastern - General    3. Metaphysics    4. Movements - Humanism    5. Philosophy    6. Self    7. Self-knowledge, Theory of    8. Mind, body, spirit: thought & practice    9. Popular psychology    10. Religion / Eastern   

Editorial Review

In the era of self-empowerment and the relentless glorification of self-esteem, Mark Epstein is questioning whether we have it all backward. As a psychiatrist and practicing Buddhist for 25 years, Epstein has come to believe that the self-help movement has encouraged us to spend enormous amounts of time, money, and mental energy on patching up our egos, rather than pursuing true self-awareness. Instead, Epstein suggests we carefully shatter the ego, as if it were a fat piggy bank, to see what's inside--a scary prospect for those who spend their lives in fear of falling apart. But fear not. Epstein artfully shows readers how to patch the pieces together again into a far richer and more meaningful mosaic. Read more

Reviews (38)

What was that? Did "I" just read something?
Mark Epstein is much smarter than me, better educated, and knows a lot more than me about Buddhism and psychology.
Aloneness and death
Here's the quick summary of this book: there are issues, like existential aloneness and death as the end of consciousness that most of us like to dress up in opposition to their Ultimate Truth.We prefer to believe, for example, that we aren't alone, after all, there are all of those people at work that report to us that naturally think we are messianic.As for death, well, probably it's a Big Picnic and Elvis, JFK, and our favorite comedian will be there (see Echo Bodine's books for details). These are issues, which if confronted honestly, aren't going away with 100 mg of Zoloft or a nice walk in the park.Nor are they classic phobias in which putting a bottle of spiders on your bed stand for a week willfreak you out so badly via the somewhat euphemistically entitledtechnique of "flooding" that soon you willthink of spiders as your Little Helpers, catching and eating all those nasty flies that are in your house. Epstein has a different answer: meditate and get right into the issues; they aren't going anywhere and you can't resolve them by doodling in the external world.Stand right in the middle of the fire of the fear of death and the depression upon the conclusion that you are ultimately alone; meditate on the issues and pursue them by looking within...and therein is the only chance of peaceful acceptance, which Epstein asserts is lots better than denial.I would have given the book five stars, but I took one star off for the author's picture on the back of the book. The photographer was apparently fond of the "look at me pull my own finger" look for his subjects.

Taking the sting out of emptiness
Having spent years suffering high levels of emotional pain, Buddhism was naturally a possible solution. But the typical Western summary of its path as `giving up desire' put me off: to give up desire struck me as to give up being human. A couple of years ago, I bought at a country newsagent Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart: A Buddhist Perspective on Wholeness by psychiatrist Mark Epstein. The book is simply about buddhism-as-psychology - as far as I can see, what it has to say is compatible with any religious tradition. I read it, and then re-read it. Thinking about what it had to say changed my perspective and effectively banished my pain. I was suffering an emptiness that I did not see as emptiness but as lack - in my case, a lack of intimate love and the deeper fear that lack was just. This book enabled me to see what I was suffering was emptiness, to embrace that emptiness and to have it no longer cause me pain. I came to feel whole; I feel more human not less.
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Subjects:  1. Buddhism    2. Buddhism - General    3. Eastern - General    4. Meditations    5. Psychological aspects    6. Psychology    7. Religion    8. Religion - World Religions    9. Spiritual life    10. Religion / Eastern   

Editorial Review

Sharon Salzberg, a meditation teacher and the founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts, focuses on a kind of Buddhist practice that emphasizes feelings of love, happiness, and compassion. Read more

Reviews (14)

Highly recommended
This is one of the best books that I have read in the area of Buddhism. Salzberg's writing style is warm and friendly but is nonetheless clear and to the point. While a teacher of meditation and Buddhism, she expresses great psychological understanding of emotion and writes with the acumen of a trained therapist.
Good introduction, but some shortcomings
Basically, I liked this book and found that it covered all the essential points anyone would want to know.However, in places I thought it was redundant and could have gone deeper.
Gentle, powerful change
A very well written and easy to follow introduction to Lovingkindness meditation ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Buddhism    2. Buddhism - General    3. Compassion    4. Loving kindness    5. Meditation    6. Religion    7. Religion - World Religions    8. Religious aspects    9. Mind, body, spirit: disciplines & techniques    10. Religion / Buddhism   

Reviews (9)

Tough but Worthwhile Reading
I spent the better part of year getting into this book. Having begun to understand Nagarjuna's project, however, I have fond that this book has completely changed the way I think.
great translation but mediocre interpretation/exposition
i've read multiple english translations of the mulamaadhyamika kaarikaa and strongly feel that jay garfield's is easily the most lucid one available on the ancient text. but from the start i felt garfield's interpretation lacking in hard logic and so concentrated only on the translation. for an intellectual understanding on the subject i used trv murti's "central philosophy of buddhism" which imo is probably the best exposition on the subject in english (garfield himself cites murti's work as one of his references). garfield's translation and murti's exposition complement each other rather nicely. after a few years of study i feel amply rewarded and am thankful to garfield (as well as murti) for it. a piece of friendly advice for madhyamika students : don't be seduced by the subtle dialectic. most often it is the ordinary sounding verses (often sounding out of place in the chapters) which represent the true light in the text. you need to reconcile the dialectic with these verses for true understanding to dawn. to be carried away by the dialectic is like catching a snake by the tail - as the classic commentator chandrakirti warns. the day the "cries of the intellect" have subsided in you and your mind neither accepts nor rejects anything, you can set this book aside!

A precious resource, but I suspect it tames Nagarjuna
This book has been a treasure to those of us who had stared in consternation at K. Inada's translation or wrestled with the misprints in D. Kalupahana's edition. Here lucidity reigns. But there is something excessively dry and scholastic about Garfield's Nagarjuna. I think this is partly due to the fact that Garfield translates from the Tibetan, not the original Sanskrit. Compare his translation of Ch. 19, verse 1: "If the present and the future/Depend on the past,/Then the present and the future/Would have existed in the past", with Sprung's: "If what is arising here and now and what is not yet realized are dependent on what is past, what is arising here and now and what is not yet realized will be in past time" (which could be further improved by translating "atita" as "what has been"). So dry is Garfield's diction that his retention of a verse format seems pointless. The Gelug-pa Tibetan interpretation of Nagarjuna is a scholasticizing one, and loses some of the savor of emptiness and liberation which gives meditative point to Nagarjuna's laconic logic. Also, Garfield keeps referring to Hume and Wittgenstein in a way that further domesticates and scholasticizes Nagarjuna, making him a linguistic therapist who frees us from substantializations and reifications, but who also allows us to install ourselves comfortably in the conventional dependently co-arising world. It seems to me that in Buddhism this samsaric world is always painful, radically unsatisfactory, and that Nagarjuna is not just curing us of false theories about it, but is revealing it as radically self-contradictory even in its everyday pragmatic or conventional texture. To say that emptiness "is not a self-existent void standing behind a veil of illusion comprising conventional reality, but merely a characteristic of conventional reality" (p. 91) sounds very bland. Emptiness is not just any characteristic, but a radically subversive quality of our world, which it is by no means easy to realize. "The actuality of the entire phenomenal world, persons and all, is recovered within that emptiness" (p. 95) is again too bland. Only a Buddha can grasp the world in its ultimate emptiness and its conventional texture at once. The recovery of the conventional from the point of view of ultimate emptiness is not a comfortable restoration or even a disillusioned Humean resignation to conventions. It means realizing that the apparently solid world of experience is only a flimsy, provisional raft or skillful means, surpassed by the empty ultimacy which it can serve to indicate. "The eventual equation of the phenomenal world with emptiness, of samsara with nirvana, and of the conventional and the ultimate" (p. 101) is very, very eventual, so that only a Buddha can perceive it correctly. Asserted too early, too sweepingly, it can short-circuit the path to liberation. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Buddhism    2. Buddhism - General    3. Early works to 1800    4. Eastern - General    5. Madhyamika (Buddhism)    6. Medical    7. Måadhyamika (Buddhism)    8. Neuroscience    9. Religion    10. Religion - World Religions    11. Criticism & exegesis of sacred texts    12. Religion & Theology | Buddhism    13. Religion / Buddhism