#buddhist

This is probably the most generous attempt to transmit the essence of #Buddhism I've ever encountered. While the choice of framework and some of the references Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse makes place him squarely within the #Tibetan tradition, this is a deeply #ecumenical work which reaches across all #Buddhist lineages and traditions. Will all traditions agree with everything he writes? Probably not, but it would be extremely difficult to be even more inclusive while also writing such a readable book.

What might make the book difficult for some is that he is quite direct about poking holes through a large swath of commonly cherished beliefs throughout. I experienced this as clever and illuminating as I would expect from a skilled skeptic debater, but I imagine that some might not appreciate this as a compassionate ripping-off of the band-aid or revealing pulling-out of the rug as I did.

Bonus points to Devendra Banhart for reading the audio version. His calm reading of Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse's writing has the dual effect of making it easier to hear truths which may be difficult to accept while also subtly emphasizing the power and sharpness of Khyentse's rapier wit.

This one is definitely going on my list of books to recommend to the Buddhist-curious or even to those already-practicing #Buddhists who may have a bit more stiffness in their practice than is good for them.

It's hard to know what to write about this one.

On the one hand, I experience much of Lama Rod's teaching in this book as brilliantly creative. The meditation instructions are well-systematized and I found the guidance helpful, especially for the #7homecomings, #tonglen, and #EarthTouching / #bhūmisparśa practices. I also deeply appreciated his acknowledgement of the issues present in the #Tibetan #Buddhist tradition and his way of relating to flawed teachers in a system vulnerable to abuse of power was valuable for me. The way he addresses #racism, #whitesupremacy, #queerphobia, #patriarchy and other forms of #discrimination or #opression reminded me favorably of Sebene Selassie's You Belong.

On the other, having now listened to it in its entirety, it seems like the book might have put together in a piecemeal sort of way. I get the impression that this might have been intentional or seen as unproblematic as a way to enhance the sense of authenticity. I listened to the audio version, and while the inclusion of the original audio for the interviews was a nice touch, it felt a lot like recycling content to me—I think I would have preferred a more edited final version with links to the originals for anyone who wanted to dig deeper.

On the whole, it was well worth the time I spent with it. I feel like I've learned quite a bit. If anyone is reading this and trying to decide between the print & audio versions, I would guess that the print version might be a bit easier to use, especially if one intends to refer frequently to the instructions for #meditation and #reflection.

Hands down the most striking thing about Lord of Light is how well Zelazny captured the tone of the source material and translated it into a form that works well within the context of a novel of speculative fiction. This is the first and only work of Zelazny's I have read thus far, so I might just be impressed by what qualifies for his usual style, but it feels much too intentional to me for it not to have been done on purpose. Despite the excellent voice and tonal execution which permeate the book, I had the sense that there was more of an effort to bend the source material to the story Zelazny wanted to tell rather than the story which the combination of the source material and the other ideas in the book might have been naturally most suited to tell. Maybe it's not a masterpiece, but it's close enough to that that it probably influenced a lot of similar works which came after it. Dan Simmons' Ilium and Olympos come to mind as favorable candidates.

Putting whatever timeless merits the book may or may not have aside, it operates on many levels and does a lot really well. The most valuable to me was how the gods and Sam occupied and moved through the space between the mundane mortal, the legendary, and the divine. The drama and political intrigue were interesting, and so was the exploration of the ramifications of the particular kind of #reincarnation which featured in the story. There were also some interesting bits about how #legends develop over time which tied nicely into the other themes of the book.

The last thing I want to mention is that I had this recommended to me as a #Buddhist novel, which I think is a bit of an oversimplification; it contains some Buddhist ideas, but I think the underlying message is more the common science fiction refrain of scientific progress than it is about liberation. That said, I thought the presentation of the concepts of #impermanence and especially of #selflessness were really well done.

#anicca #anitya #anatta #anatman