John – Page 16 – Lemuria Books

Author: John (Page 16 of 19)

The Best Buddhist Writing: 2008

On April 24, 2009

Above: Lemuria’s Zen Section

The Best Buddhist Writing of 2008, Edited by Melvin McLeod, Shambala (2008)

I look forward each year to this collection. I have found many new books and authors to read from McLeod’s work. However, one of my enjoyments is rereading the editor’s selections from books I’ve read already. It’s interesting to see not only what authors’ books he chose but to also consider why that particular excerpt was chosen.

This year’s edition was equally outstanding and varied as the previous collections have been. Essays selected include fine pieces from Joseph Goldstein, Pema Chodron, John Daido Loori, Steve Hagen, Thich Nhat Hanh and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

My favorite piece was from Michael Carroll’s book The Mindful Leader. Rereading especially during this recession time helped me to refocus on some of his business concepts, some of which seemed like I had read too long ago.

Another nice quality of these collections is reading essays that are thoughtprovoking. You might not be drawn to read a whole book by the author but learning about new folks with different slants on things is an expanding quality of reading these annual collections. They are also edited to be very reader friendly.

Ocean of Dharma

By John

On December 6, 2008

In Zen

Ocean of Dharma

365 Teachings of Living Life with Courage and Compassion

The Everyday Wisdom: by Chogyam Trungpa

Shambala (2008)

Trungpa published Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism in 1973. When I opened Lemuria in 1975, and touched upon Zen, Trungpa books were established and acknowledged in the middle America counter culture. His work became a staple in my bookstore and has remained as such ever since.

Born in Tibet in 1939, giving up his monastic robes and immigrating to North America in 1970 as a lay teacher. He wrote many books until his death in 1987. His understanding of the western mind made him one of the most important influences on the development of Buddhism in the west.

Over the years I’ve read, enjoyed and felt enhanced by reading Trungpa books. I haven’t read one in a while and was delighted when Ocean a small book was released this year. 365 chapter pages of Trungpa wisdom divided to be read daily. Each teaching is on living life with courage and compassion. Teachings pulled from a lifetime of his writings condensed into this page-a-day issue for internal reflection.

I like these kind of books. Over the years I’ve gotten so much from Trungpa that reading Ocean was like finding gold without working for it. I decided to read two pages a day and have enjoyed my revisitation with the author.

Carolyn Rose Gimian, compiler, pared down Trungpa’s immense teachings to this everyday, adaptable concept. Carolyn’s understanding of this teacher’s work is evident and I thank her for her editorial work and gift of this fine little book.

Ocean of Dharma could be a good introduction to Trungpa and the greatest hits for those who enjoyed his work in the past.

From Snow Lion #261 “Discipline is not a demand but a pleasure.”

From Sacred Action #244 “We should regard everything that we do as very important, not a big deal, but very important.”

From Relating to Others #253 “We are constantly trying to work out our relation to the other. It’s like your dog meeting someone else’s dog.”

Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life by James Hollis

By John

On December 5, 2008

In Psychology

Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life: How to Really Grow Up

James Hollis Ph.D

New York: Gotham Books

Recently I’ve been reading Hollis’ new not yet released book. During this troubling economic time around the world, I’m reflecting on the earlier Hollis, I read a couple of years ago.

As we face our instabilities and turbulent life shifts, it is up to us individually to challenge our pasts and choices to allow growth (spiritually and psychologically) into our later years. For some, instabilities caused by external sources is a time for self-reflection which can be important and helpful for the long run of life.

Middle age people (est 35-70) begin to question choices, realize personal limitations and feel stuck. For some, these challenges lead to a commonly known, “mid-life crisis”. Hollis offers this helpful book about self-growth, becoming ourselves, exploring non-traditional roles of adulthood and embracing more authenticity. He offers keys to enhancing our psychological depth and understanding in all relationships.

Finding meaning is right on and helpful. For me to sparcely write about what Hollis achieves in this fine book is an injustice. Finding Meaning is an important, outstandingly helpful, deeply insightful self work on book. As helpful as any I’ve ever read.

Hollis uses literary examples to express Jungian analysis suggesting important questions and proposing challenges to help us be more clear about our meaning in the world.

In these unstable times I recommend this book. Also, I recommend it to anyone looking for a helpful read for deeper understanding into your situation. This book does not do the work for you or make it easy and entertaining.

Finding Meaning is a river of words for those who want to flow with more understanding into self maturity.

John and Pat have also written about another one of Hollis’ books, What Matters Most: Living a More Considered Life.

His Holiness, the Dalai Lama

By John

On December 5, 2008

In Zen

Ethics for the New Millennium
By His Holiness, the Dalai Lama
Riverhead Books (1999)

In Tibetan, the greatest significance in determining the ethical value of a given action is that the internal drive or inspiration for our action; both those we intend directly and those, which are in a sense involuntary. These actions denote the individuals overall state of heart and mind. Wholesome automatic actions of contribution can be felt in all aspects of everyday life, thus automatically be ethical.

For 2008, I read this Dalai Lama book on ethics. As 2008 has come about, Tibet people seem to be under attack and the Dalai Lama’s efforts seemed to be questioned.

Ethics is an easy to read presentation focusing mostly on:

(A) Foundation of Ethics
(B) Ethics and the Individual
(C) Ethics and Society

I found all 3 sections interesting, helpful, informative and reflective. While reading, I thought a lot about my ethics concerning my life, behavior and work. Inter-reflection and inter-question, both I find helpful when reading Dalai Lama’s books.

Ethics is a fine book for right now and if anyone questions the motives of the Dalai Lama in April 2008, I suggest reading this book before making up your mind.

Seth Godin’s book Meatball and Business Practices

By John

On November 29, 2008

In Business/Economy

Meatball Sundae: Is Your Marketing Out of Sync?

Seth Godin

Portfolio: New York (2008)

After Tribes I wanted more Seth.

Lemuria feels in-sync yet out-of-sync at the same time, during all this election, stock market, hyped up emotional b.s. that’s floating about on TV, computer and even our recent la-la-land reality.

Meatball Sundae helped me understand that Lemuria needs more effort in a new way to be a better bookstore. However, being a better bookstore may not make us successful or even survive in the future. I use this example to emphasize how I read Meatball: Lemuria needs to enhance our message to you, our judge. Meatball can make the reader think about and apply Godin’s suggestions to their own marketing.

Meatball opened my brain to the concept of needing to represent my work more effectively on the web. Also, Meatball made me more aware of how I was being marketed to by other web marketers = what, why and how this new web selling is working. Godin’s book also helps clear up the difference between new marketing (non-interruption information) and old advertising (commercials). We the consumers have learned to be smart and block out obnoxious ads.

It seems that learning how to be more authentic with our story is the key. How to use all our tools on the web, our daily work, selling, service, marketing, etc. to tie into a complete authentic package. Once the consumer can believe in and buy into us enough to support us and then to share their experience with others.

Meatball is specific with examples but also general. Ideas are there for you to pick out what you the reader need right now to use to help relate your work better to others. Relating to our customers could be the key we are looking for to enhance business not relying on rude old school customer interruption.

Read it, soak it up and run with your ideas.

Freeing Yourself From the Narcissist in Your Life by Linda Martinez-Lewi

By John

On November 20, 2008

In Psychology

Freeing Yourself From the Narcissist in Your Life
by Linda Martinez-Lewi, Phd
Narcissism, an excessive desire for controlling ones self interest, is very interesting and I enjoy thinking about this concept.

Everyday interaction with people, especially for me, working in a retail bookstore for 34 years: where any conversation can happen (on the spur of any moment, about any topic or opinion) has opened my eyes with this continuous observation. I love watching how people think and talk, especially about what they are reading and why they are moved by books. I was excited to read this book.

Freeing yourself, kinda sneaks up on the reader, luring you into the lifestyles of some great successful (in some ways) narcissists: Picasso, Frank Lloyd Wright, Ayn Rand etc. All these fascinating grand achieving personalities are so interesting yet they each seem to have flawed a valuable part of their life by an excessive ego-control and a super-abundant self love.

I appreciated the way our author used these fishhook personalites to catch this readers interest and make me address my own issues. Addressing individually the handling of life’s enjoyment, creativity and the sharing of genuine compassion within the authentic representation of self.

This is not a heavy book, but an entertaining look using superstars. Yet always coming back to the readers own mirror of self. Freeing gives helpful hints of how to look at our own self and create an understanding of blocks handicapping us from more fulfilled lives.

Social Intelligence by Daniel Goleman

By John

On November 14, 2008

In Psychology

Social Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, Bantam (2006)

In the recent past, I read an essay, probably from a Best Zen Writing book, which included an excerpt from Social Intelligence. I was so impressed that I put this book on my to-be-read list. So in May of 2008, I got around to getting a copy. Wow, I was knocked out.

Goleman explores an emerging new science with startling implications for our interpersonal world. Studying our reactions to others and theirs to us, reveals a far-reaching biological impact:

Good Relationships=Positive impact on physical health

Bad Relationships=Poison to our bodies

Daniel Goleman has made me think about my relationships which exist solely through computer/Internet interaction and how this type of bonding can change how we feel and interact. Also, his sections on raising healthy-minded children and preserving healthy family relationships seem right on target to me. I wish I had this book 30 years ago when my first child was born.

Even more so, I enjoyed the sections on the dark side of narcissism and the inspiring techniques Goleman suggests for cultivating rewarding work relations. I also enjoyed reflecting on his presentation of sexual attraction and how we detect and feel honesty in our human interaction physically and virtually.

It’s hard to think anyone could not benefit greatly from reading this book. In fact, I recommend this book to anyone; it would be a positive use of your time.

The Zen Poetry of Ryokan

By John

On October 30, 2008

In Poetry

The Zen Poetry of Ryokan

translated by John Stevens

“Who says my poems are poems?

my poems are not poems.

After you know my poems are not poems,

Then we can begin to discuss poetry!”

Ryokan has said.

Recently, being provoked by conversation with Yvonne, our childrens expert and a poetry fan, I decided to reread Ryokan.

Ryokan was born in Japan around 1758 and threw himself into the Katsura River committing suicide in 1795. This hermit monk was beloved for his poetry and his character. His poetry being deceptively simple celebrating nature and a natural life.

I love reading Ryokan’s poems. Emotion, solitude, raindrops, moonlight, blooming flowers, and children: Along with many other wonderful images to think about, are clearly expressed causing much inter-reflection for the reader.

If you think you are intimidated by reading poetry and don’t think its fun with an added value, try Ryokan. It’s true pleasure, then when you finish, pick up another favorite, Ikkyu, and continue the fun.

“It is not that I do not wish

to associate with men,

But living alone I have he better way.”

Ryokan — autograph lines on a self portrait sketch.

The Forever War by Dexter Filkins

By John

On October 27, 2008

In War

In May of this year I had the good fortune of getting an early reading galley of The Forever War. I was taken back by its reality- “eyes on the ground”.

The Forever War is non-judgmental. It is journalism brought forth from the eyes and mind of a soul I could believe. I felt what Dexter saw and I could see what he felt for others in their situation. Not since Dispatches and Loyd’s My War Gone By has war journalism struck me so powerfully.

Another pal Robert Stone wrote a brilliant front page New York Times essay about war journalism praising Dexter’s work and stating in an explaining way Forever War’s place in American war literary history.

Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us by Seth Godin

By John

On October 8, 2008

In Business/Economy

Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us

Seth Godin

Portfolio (October 21, 2008)

Seth’s new book challenges us to be leaders. He points out how the tools are there for anyone who is willing to lead.

To lead, is to challenge the system of old ways success. To do it your way, with your ideas, with your skills, keeping the genuiness of your mission forthright in your effort and consciousness. Old school techniques are not necessary to follow for success today. Following the status quo is old news. By learning to be fresh, creative and with genuine individualness, you are in a better chance of getting supporters for your mission. Seth labels these supporters, your Tribe.

This is a tight compact little book packed with suggestions of how to expand your contribution with your work and putting yourself into the position of expanding the value of work’s result. Gaining momentum faster so that your contribution can fall into place quicker and with more success.

Quick stimulis and correct marketing communication using all the modern tools open the world to the individual more than ever before, giving quicker results.

Now is the time for us to challenge ourselves to contribute more to the world and enlarge our fingerprint on it.

I consider Tribes, a fun thought stimulating book. A must for anyone in small business. Good ideas against not being stuck in your own self produced mundane business habits.

I wish I could have read this book many years ago.

Author: John (Page 16 of 19)

The Best Buddhist Writing: 2008

Ocean of Dharma

Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life by James Hollis

His Holiness, the Dalai Lama

Seth Godin’s book Meatball and Business Practices

Freeing Yourself From the Narcissist in Your Life by Linda Martinez-Lewi

Social Intelligence by Daniel Goleman

The Zen Poetry of Ryokan

The Forever War by Dexter Filkins

Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us by Seth Godin

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