A unique rendering of Buddhist teachings.
Sanderson presents a creative translation of the Dhammapada.
Rather than offering yet another literal interpretation of the Sanskrit and Pali Dhammapada—possibly the earliest known teachings of Buddhism—this collection offers a version based on the author’s own meditations on the original text. The result is a highly personal volume whose stronger verses evoke the metaphors of the Tao Te Ching, as in “Repetitions”: “Rain floods through cracks in a broken roof; / Emotion floods an undisciplined mind. / Rain rolls off a well-built and maintained roof; / Emotion rolls off a disciplined mind.” Representations of death are steeped in fear and escape, rather than acceptance, in contrast to the original Dhammapada, as in “Thinking”: “The student’s mind, learning meditation / Shivers and twitches like a fish on dry land; / The fibers of our being fear Death’s snares, / Our frightened minds run in all directions.” Some interpretations are expressed though expletives, while others use imagery that isn’t often associated with Buddhism, as in “The Ruins”: “How can we find happiness when we know / Our bones will be tossed out like old pumpkins / After Halloween, buried like compost?” “The Mirror” embraces a present-day zeitgeist: “And people buying and selling fake news / Will choke on their own bullshit in the end.” The section on the Paths—also known as the Eightfold Way in Buddhism, and the Four Noble Truths that form the basis for Buddhist teachings—is perhaps the most instructive part of this experimental translation; it appears in “Stanza Twenty: The Octovia,” in which the author labels in italics parts of the original text (in English), which offers a truly tangible connection to the interpretations that follow: “Right Mindfulness is one of the eight paths. / Getting your head straight is something you do.” Overall, this is a highly interpretative rendering that’s perhaps best suited to students of Buddhism, rather than newcomers to the Dhammapada.
A unique rendering of Buddhist teachings.Pub Date: March 15, 2022
ISBN: 9781952386268
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Sagging Meniscus Press
Review Posted Online: Sept. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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