John – Page 15 – Lemuria Books

Author: John (Page 15 of 19)

The Practice of Lojong: Cultivating Compassion through Training of the Mind

by Traleg Kyabgon

Shambala (2007)

The word lojong is Tibetan for “mind training.” Lojong is training the mind to be intelligent in a very fundamental way, developing basic intelligence and making intelligent use of our emotional nature which leads to seeing and thinking more clearly.

We do not have the power to stop other people from doing certain things, but we do have the power to resist becoming adversely affected by the wrongs done to us by others, whether real or imagined.

This very practical book offers teachings and advice on how to cultivate compassion in our daily routines and workday: With lessons on how to maintain practice through the duration of our lives, we can keep the commitment to mindfulness by transforming adversity into awareness

Lojong is another serious and helpful book which I found through reading an excerpt in Best Buddhist Writings of 2008. I cannot emphasize enough on how one book leads to another which then leads to another and so on. It is truly the power of the reading path.

Lojong is a fine book to study for those who enjoy Salzberg’s Loving Kindness and the fine books by Pema Chodron.

Road Dogs by Elmore Leonard

By John

On July 31, 2009

In Mystery

Road Dogs: A Novel

by Elmore Leonard

Morrow (2009)

In June, Lemuria was visited once again by our pal Elmore “Dutch” Leonard. Real joy from working in a bookstore comes from developing a friendship with an author which is bridged and forged by the tool of the book itself. The author’s work meets your work in achieving fulfillment: author through bookseller to reader.

Around 30 years ago, I started reading this fine writer and set off on the path to bring Elmore Leonard to Lemuria. After about a decade, I succeeded with a first trip to Jackson. Since then, Elmore’s now been here a half dozen times or so, helping us to get readers for his fine work.

Reading Road Dogs during his visit increased the magic of this trip. It is a favorite among many Elmore Leonard favorites. If you have not read Elmore in a while or ever–try this one. Road Dogs is delightful, full of clever characters with tight, offbeat, and surprising dialogue. It’s a great weekend summer book. And when you’re finished, check out La Brava, perhaps Elmore’s best.

I hope Elmore will visit Lemuria again in friendship and give us many more fun reads down the road.

Classical Chinese Poetry

By John

On July 17, 2009

In Poetry, Zen

Classical Chinese Poetry: An Anthology

Translated and edited by David Hinton/Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, 2008

Before Thanksgiving I began a leisurely read of this “all-star” poetry collection which spans 2700 years (1500 B.C.E. to 1200 C.E.). The anthology of nearly 500 poems “focuses on a relatively small number of poets and provides selections that are large enough to recreate each poet as a fully realized and unique voice” (jacket).

Gradually absorbing the earliest to the latest, developing insight on poets influencing poets, understanding their distinctive voices helped me to put my previous readings of Chinese poetry into a more organized perspective.

Allowing myself to linger over these poems opens the doors of internal perception and conscious reflection, a process of slowing down the pace of life and perhaps even learning to be more present with the world around me.

Ezra Pound’s translations of Chinese poetry helped to break away from formalist rhetoric. In addition, he influenced and published expatriates in Paris during the 1920s. The use of “concrete language and imagistic clarity” can easily be seen in Pound’s publication of Hemingway’s In Our Time: It’s not what you write that’s important; It’s what you leave out (xix).

Reading a larger volume on a measured daily basis allows you to live with your reading experience, to become absorbed and allow the meaning of the text to ease into your life.

Retail Superstars by George Whalin

By John

On July 3, 2009

In Business/Economy

As we all know, independent retailing is facing huge problems as a result of the recession. Most independent retailers in the U.S. will not get bailed out by the government. For us to survive in retailing, we are faced with new challenges–many like I have not experienced in my 34 years at Lemuria.

Retail Superstars offers 25 essays about great independent stores. Reading these examples did not make me want to change my business concept. However, my desire to readdress my own issues my way was stimulated.

Retail Superstars outlines what is remarkable about the success of these stores. Powell’s Bookstore in Portland, Oregon–generally acknowledged as the best bookstore in the country–is my industry’s representative. Uniqueness is at the core of each essay.

Retailers of all types can get ideas out of this book and we need them to enhance our survival techniques.

I would welcome a volume two on these same stories concerning how they did or did not survive with a detailed explanation of the effects of the recession and how each store adjusted.

How To Win A Cosmic War by Reza Aslan

By John

On July 1, 2009

In War

“A cosmic war is a religious war.”

“A cosmic war is a conflict in which God is believed to be directly engaged on one side over the other. Unlike a holy war–an earthly battle between rival religious groups–a cosmic war is like a ritual drama in which participants act out on earth a battle they believe is actually taking place in the heavens . . . the conflict may be real and the carnage material, but the war itself is being waged on a spiritual planes; we humans are merely actors in a divine script written by God.”

“A cosmic war transforms those who should be considered butchers and thugs into soldiers with no ethical concerns sanctioned by God. Instead, they are transformed, above all ethics and sanctioned by God who is directing the actions of these soldiers.”

“A cosmic war is not won through artifice or strategy but rather through the power of faith. Cosmic warriors need not be burdened by tactical concerns . . . It is enough to align one’s will with the will of God, to strike at the enemy with the full force of God’s wrath, confident that the end rests not in the hands of men.”

“. . . there is no middle ground; everyone must choose sides . . . if you are not us, you must be them. If you are them, you are the enemy and must be destroyed.”

Cosmic war has “no settlement, no negotiation and no surrender.”

Reza feels “it is time to strip this ideological conflicts of its religious connotations, to reject the religiously polarizing rhetoric of our leaders and theirs . . . and to address the earthly issues that always lie behind the cosmic impulse.”

With eloquence and balance, Reza presents an understandable analysis of the confusing and frightening forces that confront us. He points out the need for democracy in the Middle East in order to enhance personal and religious freedom for the ultimate goal of world peace.

Reza’s Cosmic War is brilliant, timely and important. I encourage all my customers to consider reading this fine book and talk about it with your friends and share these positive concepts.

In Search of Small Gods by Jim Harrison

By John

On June 19, 2009

In Fiction, Poetry

In Search of Small Gods

by Jim Harrison

Cooper Canyon (2009)

* * *

For the last fifty days or so, I’ve been reading Jim’s new poetry book as slowly as I can. I finished last week but I still feel unable to express my thoughts about this beautiful collection of poems.

Small Gods is mostly about the present; however, this collection of poems urges readers to look back and reflect on their place in time in order to gain a new understanding about their short time remaining.

Through this beautiful poetry, it is apparent the time Jim spent reflecting on his own mortality and one cannot help but indulge in reflecting on his own mortal state. However, this is not to say the vibrant spirit of this great writer is not alive in this collection.

I find “Another Old Mariachi” and “Tomorrow” to be two of my favorites. “Eleven Dawns with Su Tung-p’o” has encouraged me to revisit this great Chinese poet soon.

To all Jim’s fiction fans: Don’t skip this little jewel of prose poetry. It’s a beautiful side to this great American writer.

The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain

By John

On June 5, 2009

In Poetry, Zen

The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain

Translated by Red Pine

Copper Canyon Press (2000)

About five years ago during some troubles, a friend visited while he was reading The Collected Songs. Before he left, he gave me his copy with the inscription: “For John, who could use this book.” And I have: reading, rereading and rereading again.

China’s monk-poet, Han Shan “Cold Mountain” wrote these poems 1200 years ago on rocks, trees and mountain walls. From a secluded simple life in his cave, Cold Mountain wrote simple unpretentious poetry. His poems esteemed for their spiritual honesty, poignancy and humor were written for everyone not just the educated elite. When Cold Mountain disappeared into the cliffs, his poems were collected and preserved.

Red Pine’s (Bill Porter) translation of Cold Mountain’s work enhances the reader’s experience, adding interpretive depth. Red Pine leads the reader to self-exploration through Cold’s insightful gift.

This beautiful collection will be my life-long companion to revisit again and again, enhancing my days. My life has been touched by this book and is different today as a result. A life enhanced by a fine gift from one understanding reader to another. This blog is my thanks to a friend.

Han Shan and Shih-te

Read more about Cold Mountain in a previous post of mine.

Fanning the Spark by Mary Ward

By John

On May 29, 2009

In Biography/Memoir, Southern Fiction

Relief engraving of the author by Barry Moser

Over 20 years ago, I had the pleasure of getting to know Mary Ward. From being a bookseller and getting readers for her first collection of short stories, Tongues of Flame, our friendship developed. Tongues of Flame won the Pen/Hemingway Award for Fiction.

Fanning the Spark: A Memoir is eloquent, incisive and reflects her immeasurable delight derived from writing and reading. She relates the importance of reading books and getting the meaning behind the writer’s words. Fanning expresses the diligent effort of understanding rightful writing. First a reader, then a writer. Qualities deeply understood by this great short story writer are beautifully and precisely reflected in her memoir.

Mary Ward expresses clearly the difficulties of being in one lifetime a good writer and a good person. The constant struggle between her need to write and the practicalities of family, duty and day-to-day living. This is a story of the competing demands of art and life.

Reading Mary Ward’s expression of her love of community and place often caused me to reflect on Eudora Welty’s One Writer’s Beginning, while her later speeches and essays remind me of Eye of the Story. For fans of Ms. Welty’s nonfiction, Fanning the Spark is the perfect fit.

A beautiful lady, Mary Ward, has once more given her readers wide wisdom for understanding the living of life in fullness.

Below, from the jacket: She lives in the village of Hamburg, between Marion and Marion Junction, Alabama, in the same house where she was born and raised.

Photo Credit: Jerry Siegel

Buddhist China in Picture and Poem

By John

On May 22, 2009

In Poetry, Zen

Where the World Does Not Follow: Buddhist China in Picture and Poem

Translated by Mike O’Connor / Photography by Steven R. Johnson

Wisdom Publications: Boston (2002)

* * *

O’Connor’s translation of ancient poems, alongside Johnson’s breathtaking photography, bring these ancient words to the present. Zen and Taoist poetry coupled with timeless images make for this wonderful book, which I slowly read; when I finished, I started over.

Reading clearly translated timeless poetry is relaxing and yields satisfaction. This anthology, associated with photography, stands out: Old words giving old truths, a modern translation with interpretive meaning for all time, with the association of the modern art form of photos. All mix together for a moving reading experience.

I enjoy rereading Chinese poetry, presented in different ways, which give alternate understanding and renewed depth. Blending art forms give another insight into the mind.

For instance: From “On Hearing a Bell” by Chiao-Jan:

“When the bell sounded

It was my mind”

Opposite page: a photo of the of the entrance of cold mountain’s home

On the next page a poem from “A Thousand Clouds, Ten Thousand Streams” by Han Shan:

“No dust can gather

Happy,

Clinging to nothing.”

Opposite page: a photo of cold mountain’s cave looking out

These examples especially moved me. This book being beautiful, is full of touching reading moments. Words from old with photos from the present add to each readers time with place, resonating in our hearts of an age gone by.

Sunday November 9, 2008, I close with a touching excerpt from a Jen Fan Poem.

“No wine I know

Can melt

This night.”

Never Turn Away by Ridgzin Shikpo

By John

On May 8, 2009

In Zen

My discovery from Best Buddhist Writing: 2008 (see this blog entry) was Ridgzin Shikpo (Michael Hookham) who began his practice in the 1950s.

In 1965, Shikpo met his principle teacher, Chogyam Trungpa Rimpoche, and received detailed instruction from him on the preliminary and main practice of the Dzogchen tradition. Shikpo’s emphasis is on presenting Dzogchen’s teaching in English using methods and language appropriate to Western students.

Never Turn Away is a practical book that I had to read slowly almost like a book of essays. Shikpo’s words ring with authenticity as he emphasizes the practice of openness and awareness to see the significance of our ordinary experiences. Even if we don’t know what to do or how to handle the situation, Shikpo advises us to simply turn toward the situation. The teachings of this book have a strong emphasis on working with direct experience.

Never Turn Away is divided into four sections:

1. Understanding openness through meditation and the truth of suffering

2. Mandala principles and the cause of suffering

3. Collapse of confusion and the cessation of suffering

4. Pursuit of truth and the truth of the path

All four sections are broken down and fit together with superb editing. These sections are full of techniques to help us understand out practice. Also, I found Shikpo’s full account of basic formless meditation to be most helpfully presented.

Never Turn Away does not feel contrived; It is genuine and open as Shikpo gives us his clues for facing the present.

Author: John (Page 15 of 19)

The Practice of Lojong by Traleg Kyabgon

Road Dogs by Elmore Leonard

Classical Chinese Poetry

Retail Superstars by George Whalin

How To Win A Cosmic War by Reza Aslan

In Search of Small Gods by Jim Harrison

The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain

Fanning the Spark by Mary Ward

Buddhist China in Picture and Poem

Never Turn Away by Ridgzin Shikpo

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