The Dalai Lama’s devotees will no doubt be thrilled by this new offering; others may wonder what distinguishes His Holiness...
Familiar wisdom from the Dalai Lama: a collection of lectures that His Holiness (The Path to Tranquility, 1999, etc.) has delivered in recent years.
The world we live in is now dominated by science and technology, the Dalai Lama observes sadly. But we don’t all have to be reduced to mindless technocrats: we can practice altruism, love, and compassion. Some nonbelievers, His Holiness says, may write off such Pollyanna-ish virtues as applying only to religious folk, but they are imperative for us all. His lectures are filled with aphoristic nuggets: self-discipline can be tough, but it ultimately leads to a life filled with happiness and respect; education should pay as much attention to spiritual development as to developing gray matter; one should be involved in spirituality even if one eschews organized religion; people (and even pets) know when we’re treating them dishonestly or unfairly. It must be said that some of the Dalai Lama’s wisdom is a touch Hallmark-ish: “If one wants more smiles in one’s life, one must create the right conditions for it.” And sometimes he simply serves up the obvious: if you are concerned about your neighbors and you’re friendly, “other people will . . . respond appropriately.” Although not intended as a Buddhist primer, this collection does painlessly introduce readers to concepts like karma and pratityasamutpada (the theory of interdependence). That is its main virtue.
The Dalai Lama’s devotees will no doubt be thrilled by this new offering; others may wonder what distinguishes His Holiness from Robert Fulghum.Pub Date: Feb. 12, 2001
ISBN: 0-670-89671-3
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2000
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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