amra@ihuxj.UUCP (01/12/84)
*** GREETING FROM THE CENTER ****
*** OF THE KNOWN UNIVERSE!! *****
(A.K.A OS/MAIN around here)
I would like to post my own recommendations for books on Asian/
Eastern philosophies and/or religions. I have read these books
many times and thoroughly enjoyed them each time. I do not claim
to be an expert in this area, but have found these books to be
stepping stones across the waters of ignorance. Please let me
know if you've read them and what your impressions were. It would
also help clarify if you'd include whether you have any practical
experiance with Eastern religions and/or belief systems.
Thanks to everyone who has (or will) send their own recommendations.
They are greatly appreciated. Hope to hear from you in the near future,
until then I bid you farwell.
Books I've Read
(and would recommend)
1) Meditation: An Eight Step Program by Eknath Easwaren
Thorough and enjoyable reading, good blend of
Eastern/Western philosophies.
2) Zen Mind, Beginners Mind by Shunryu Suzuki
Excellant, cuts to the heart of zazen practice. Shunryu
Suzuki is a direct descendant of Dogen-zenji by the way.
He established the first Zen monastery outside Asia, in the
U.S., in the early fifties or sixties.
3) The Prophet by Kahill Gibran
Sheer exstacy to read, Highly recommended.
4) The Garden of the Prophet by Kahill Gibran
Companion book to The Prophet. Concludes
the above story, also very good.
5) The Wanderer by Kahill Gibran
Like reading a collection of parables; very moving
and inspirational.
6) The Way of the Bull by Leo Buscaglia
Although this is not a book on Zen alone it does
have numerous valuable points to make. Buscaglia
lived in Asia for a period of years. This book is
an accounting of the experiances he had and the people
he met. The first chapter deals with his experiances
in a Zen monastery. Very moving book.
7) The Three Pillars of Zen by Roshi Phillip Kapleau
Best One; A finger pointing to the moon!!
A very thorough book covering essentials
of Zen!! If you only buy a few books,
by all means get this one.
8) Lao Tzu (Tao Te Ching) translated by Gia-Fu Feng & Jane English
Marvelous book, stunning calligraphy and photography
throughout. The words flow like water on its way to the sea.
The authors don't speculate about the meanings of Lao Tzu
But present the material verbatum without commentary.
9) Be Here Now by Ram Das
Not bad as as introduction to meditation practices.
Books that have been recommended:
(THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO SENT THEM!!)
1) The Analects of Confucius translated by James Legge
2) Four Plays by Chikamatsu
3) The Way of Zen by Alan Watts
4) the Art of War by Ping Fa translated by James Clavell
5) Go Sho Rin (Book of Five Rings) Myamato Musashyi
6) Hadakuri (Falling Leaves) author unknown (sorry)
7) Sourcebook of Indian Philosophy by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
8) Sourcebook of Chinese Philosophy by Wing-Tsit Chan
9) Lao Tzu translated by Wing-Tsit Chan
10) Siege of Khe-Sanh by Robert Pisor
This is about the siege of Khe-Sanh during
the Vietnam war. Thought I'd include it.
11) The Foundation of Indian Culture by Sri Aurobindo
12) The Synthesis of Yoga by Sri Aurobindo
13) Essays on the Gita by Sri Aurobindo
14) Tao of physics by Kapra
15) Tao of Sex by Kapra
16) Tao of the Loving Couple by Kapra
17) Dhammapada (Sayings of the Buddha) translated by Thomas Byrom
18) Diamond Sutra & The Sutra of Hui Neng author unknown (sorry)
19) The Tale of Genji by Lady Murasaki
20) Secrets of the Samurai by Ratti & Westbrook
21) An Introduction to Zen Buddhism by D.T. Suzuki
22) The Spirit of Zen by Alan Watts
Just started reading this one; not bad so far.
PEACE & BEST WISHES
From the ever curious mind of:
Steve Aldrich (ihnp4!ihuxj!amra)