John – Page 17 – Lemuria Books

Author: John (Page 17 of 19)

Translated and edited by Sam Hammill and J. P. Seaton

Shambala Library (2004)

This nice little book is an excellent introduction to the Zen poets. It

is divided into two parts:

1) Chinese poems

2) Japanese poems.

Both are well represented and give the reader an understanding of the two

cultures’ styles.

The representative poets are chosen well; the book includes poems by most

of the heavy hitters. Each poet is lightly represented with just a taste

of their work.

Reading The Poetry of Zen is a nice way to get a feel for a starting place

if you want to explore this art form.

Following the poems is a concise commentary about each poet. I enjoyed

reading the poem then flipping to the back and reading about the poet.

The Poetry of Zen is not only a good introduction, but also a nice little

impressive anthology to share with friends.

The Art of Power by Thich Nhat Hanh

By John

On October 8, 2008

In Zen

The Art of Power

Thich Nhat Hanh

HarperOne (2007)

Having read a few of Thich Nhat Hanh’s books before and enjoying them, I was inclined to see how he would deal with the subject of power.

“Power is good for one thing only: to increase our happiness and the happiness of others,” he states. Revealing that true power comes from within. The Art of Power helps us understand and grasp our never ending search for external markers, the labels of our desire that are must in our lives. He challenges these assumptions and helps us understand learning about our inner strength.

Through mindfulness, we progress in a way of things working out more in our favor. Seeing clearly, allows better decisions with more constructive results. We might find more happiness with correct diligence and proper insight. The practice of caring and observing give us more power at work and home, to be more attentive with more correct vision.

Ending this fine book is Appendix B, “Work and Pleasure: The Example of Patagonia,” a fine essay on using business to tap into understanding spiritual power. Practicing business with compassion and contribution

Tom Piazza’s Novel, City of Refuge, Relishes in the Spirit of Rebirth

By John

On July 30, 2008

In Southern Fiction

City of Refuge: A Novel

Tom Piazza

Harper: August 19, 2008

Three years ago, so many lives in Deep Dixie were affected by Katrina. Many nonfiction books of essay, memoir, photo-essay, history and commentary have been published about this life-changing hurricane. Refuge, I believe, is the first piece of serious fiction to come out about this time. Ambitious and successful, I celebrate this novel’s publication by choosing it for our September 2008 First Edition Club Selection.

Refuge deals with two families (one 9th ward and one uptown) as we see windows into their lives and their souls. We live with these folks, as if they are real, which is a magical quality of very good fiction. Their story is told in this familiar plot as if they are breathing and somehow Tom maintains his vision of truth in fiction. Refuge is writing without too much sentimentality, neurosis and without contriteness that plagues many factual situational novels. His characters live and speak and you feel alive as a reader in knowing them. Their joys, their problems and plainly just their human ways of living and surviving.

I’m excited to be involved with promoting this novel, Tom’s my pal and I thought this book might be too much for him, I was so wrong. He excels.

Refuge is fresh, real and a serious page-turner. Oddly enough, I’m reminded of my first reading of John Grisham’s The Firm, many years ago. Good people make mistakes and you identify with their shortcomings. Troubled folks can learn how to enhance their lives and all the time, you the reader, are part of the feelings of pain, joy and truth. To the last page, Tom is successful and especially with the ending, no sentimental sap here. Just the guts of survival.

In reading Refuge, I feel the heart of New Orleans vibrate with humanity and the livable party spirit which those of us who visit value and enjoy.

Anyone touched by the pain of association with this great storm, should enjoy the wisdom of this novel. And be motivated to get off your ass and go to New Orleans and party, and may you find Chief Bo and his band of Indians chanting joy over the drums and rhythm, relishing in the spirit of rebirth.

See Nan’s Blog on City of Refuge

See Sarah’s Blog on City of Refuge

Light Comes Through by Dzigar Kongtrul

By John

On July 30, 2008

In Psychology, Zen

Light Comes Through

Buddhist Teachings on Awakening to Our Natural Intelligence

By Dzigar Kongtrul

Shambala (July 2008)

Last year, or so, I enjoyed DK’s other book Its Up To You in a large scale way. Excited about his 2^nd book, I dived in ASAP. Learning how to work on our emotional selves is so interesting and it seems as constant as breathing, eating, sleeping and just seeing the world around us.

I believe, putting it simply, all of us want to love more, see our internal and external worlds as clearly as possible. We want to stay fully healthy while expressing insights and interpreting our lives. LCT is very clearly written, adaptively arranged for the reader, essay length chapters make DK’s knowledge and understanding accessible for us to study and grasp. Light is an excellent satisfying extension of Its Up to You.

Some fine endorsements:

“LCT shimmers with frank advice on becoming more intelligent about our emotions. DK offers a practical path to clarify and peace.” –Daniel Goldman

“This is a wonderful fresh look at the amazing potential of our human mind. DK continues to challenge and encourage us.” –Pema Chodron

“LCT is a wonderful guidebook for living a very different kind of life.” – Sharon Salzberg

The Selected Poems of Li Po

By John

On July 30, 2008

In Poetry, Zen

The Selected Poems

By Li Po (701-762)

Translated by David Hinton

New Directions (1996)

About 4 years ago, I read this collection and last month I decided to reread Li Po, one of my favorite Chinese poets.

Li Po was called the “Banished Immortal,” an exiled spirit moving through this world with an unearthly ease and freedom from attachment. He is free from the attachments to self, however he profoundly belongs to mother earth. Li Po’s life was full of travel, big time pleasure drinking and a disdain of décor and authority. His meditative poems reflect his unfolding of being, rooted in non-being stillness.

I find Li Po easy to read, and that his poems lean from reading to self-reflection. Contemplative, yet, fun, profound they exist, somehow, from within the writer so long ago to within the reader of the present. Timeless so to say.

In wanting to share a poem, I just opened to a turned down page, and this was the poem:

9/9, Out drinking on Dragon Mountain

I’m an exile among yellow blossoms smiling

Soon drunk, I watch my cap tumble in the wind,

Dance in love—A guest the moon invites.

Li Po, ended his life out drunk in a boat, fell into the river and drowned trying to embrace the moon.

Work as a Spiritual Practice by Lewis Richmond

By John

On July 2, 2008

In Business/Economy, Zen

Work as a Spiritual Practice: A Practical Buddhist Approach to Inner Growth and Satisfaction on the Job

by Lewis Richmond
(Broadway, 1999)

Around twenty years ago, I studied Paul Hawken’s book, Growing a Business.
Billy Neville, a pal and fellow retailer told me about it, and
he was right. Hawken’s book still remains a must read for small business
people.

Lewis Richmond, ex-Vice President for Smith-Hawken, wrote this book about
10 years ago. I missed it then, but had recently discovered it in a
particular reference and went back to get it. Work is an excellent follow
up to Hawken’s book and for fans of Michael Carroll’s book about work.
Now that it is out of print, I had to find it on the used market. This
one should not be out of print.

Richmond, a Buddhist teacher and entrepreneur, explores ways to be
fulfilled with the pleasures of good, hard work. He deals with the daily
issues we face and offers insight into the rewards of proper coping.

Work breaks down the issues of conflict, stagnation, inspiration and
accomplishment. It deals with subjects such as: boredom, failure,
discouragement, quitting, money and time, control, power, gratitude and
etc. Addressing the aforementioned, daily issues that we face in work
allow us to see our own attitudes about these issues. By examining our
“work selves” within, we are able to address our strengths and weaknesses
in a more constructive way…should we make the choice to do so.

Pelican Road: A Novel by Howard Bahr

By John

On July 2, 2008

In Southern Fiction

Pelican Road: A Novel
By Howard Bahr
Macadam Cage: May 9, 2008

Howard Bahr is a train man. Pelican Road, Howard’s first non-Civil War fiction, is a literary train novel. This is the only serious railroad fiction that I know of.

Pelican Road is the train route from Meridian, MS to New Orleans. Set around 1940, Howard captures the personalities; the way folks lived; their meanness and their cares; their moments of good fortune and their unfortunate times.

Through the eyes of the people in this era, we learn about the ways of the railroad: the trains themselves and their workings; train jobs and their responsibilities; the real-life characteristics of railroad men; and insight into the joys and hardships of the railroad life.

I especially like the way Howard worked WWI (“Doughboy War”) into this novel. Dealing with flashbacks gives Howard’s Civil War fiction fans just enough. Pelican Road extends Howard’s fiction into a new, broader era offering insight into the 2nd generation, post-Civil War life.

My favorite aspect of this fine novel laid in Howard’s ability to relate the sheer power and force of the train itself and the way the machine is revered in language.

There is no doubt, in his heart, Howard is truly a railroad man.

The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer by Dan Buettner

By John

On July 2, 2008

In Health

The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest

by Dan Buettner
National Geographic (2008)

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve enjoyed reading health books more and more.
The Blue Zones is one that’s a little different than the typical “how to”
suggestion books. This one is much more fun.

Remarkable groups of people manage to achieve longevity, naturally, enjoying longer life spans while remaining active and vital well into their 80s, 90s and 100s. These people can be found in the world’s “blue zones.” Blue zones are extraordinarily long-lived communities where common elements of lifestyle, diet and outlook add to the quantity and quality of life.

Concentrating on the 4 blue zones of Sardinia, Okinawa, Loma Linda, California and Costa Rica. Buettner goes to lengths to bring out the commonness and humanness of those he interviews. He seems to capture the realness of everyday lives and offers insights into why these folks live longer and stay healthy.

Blue Zone is very pleasant reading, laid out well with photos and key fact boxes. I like most of his examples of individuals, and I appreciated their excitement about life while getting older.

Your personal blue zone ends this story with lessons the author learned from his studies with practically presented insights. The book concludes with the message that the choice is ours whether or not to incorporate these proven lifestyles into our own lives.

The Wise Heart by Jack Kornfield

By John

On May 22, 2008

In Psychology, Zen

The Wise Heart:

A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology

By Jack Kornfield

Bantam Dell (April 29, 2008)

Jack Kornfield is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist practice in the west. Graduation from Dartmouth in 1967, Kornfield has been institutional in bringing Buddhist psychology into western day by day mainstream living. An understanding of both mindsets that few can express as he can. He is able to make self-adaptation understandable, practical and helpful.

Wise Heart, is too much of a book to talk about in a few words. The major focal points are: Addressing who you really are; application of the good Psy-health practice of mindfulness; the understanding of self and of others; finding personal freedom and personal practice.

Just released, this is a wonderful book for the present. I have been living with Wise Heart for 2 months now, and have enjoyed it. Reading Wise Heart has increased my understanding of how to incorporate Eastern Psychology into modern life.

Fans of Jack Kornfield’s A Path with Heart and After the Ecstasy, The Laundry will not be disappointed as this story is continued.

Get Rich, Stay Rich, Pass it On by Catherine S. McBreen and George H. Walper Jr.

By John

On May 16, 2008

In Business/Economy

Get Rich, Stay Rich, Pass it On: The Wealth-Accumulation Secrets of America’s Richest Families

by Catherine S. Mc Breen and George H. Walper, Jr.

(Portfolio, 2009)

I just finished reading, and found Pass It On to be the perfect fit for the title of this timely book. I will pass this read on to my children. This book is a perfect follow up for families who have studied Schwab’s It Pays to Talk. Pass It On is a good one for families to read together, think about and discuss. Family financial goals are just another way to share love and friendship together in this important way that in the past was a hidden or taboo subject for some.

The main theme is that there are only two definitive ways to create the kind of wealth that can be bequeathed to multiple generations.

(1) Own income-producing real estate-in addition to your primary residence. An asset that can earn money for you and that can be passed down to your heirs as part of your legacy.

(2) Practice what we call continually innovative entrepreneurship—being involved in or investing and reinvesting, in a company product, or service that represents a whole new way to make money.

Pass It On stresses self-assessment, character ethics and self-analysis of your business passions. This practical book teaches you that only way to really have wealth is to have a plan for generational wealth.

Author: John (Page 17 of 19)

The Poetry of Zen

The Art of Power by Thich Nhat Hanh

Tom Piazza’s Novel, City of Refuge, Relishes in the Spirit of Rebirth

Light Comes Through by Dzigar Kongtrul

The Selected Poems of Li Po

Work as a Spiritual Practice by Lewis Richmond

Pelican Road: A Novel by Howard Bahr

The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer by Dan Buettner

The Wise Heart by Jack Kornfield

Get Rich, Stay Rich, Pass it On by Catherine S. McBreen and George H. Walper Jr.

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