The colorful tale of the successful flowering of an obscure; ancient Eastern sect in the modern world. In a single generation; Tibetan Buddhism developed from the faith of a remote mountain people; associated with bizarre; almost medieval; superstitions; to perhaps the most rapidly growing and celebrity-studded religion in the West. Disaffected with other religious traditions yet searching for meaning; huge numbers of Americans have found their way to the wisdom of Tibetan lamas in exile. Earthy; humorous; commonsensical; and eccentric; these flamboyant teachers―larger-than-life characters like Lama Yeshe and Chogyma Trungpa―proved to be charismatic and gifted ambassadors for their ancient religion. So did two Western women; born in Brooklyn and London's East End; whose homegrown religious intuitions turned out to be identical with the most sophisticated Tibetan teachings; revealing them to be reincarnated lamas. With great flair for both the sublime and the human; Jeffrey Paine narrates in page-turning; richly informative fashion how Tibetan Buddhism―rarefied and sensual; mystical and commonsensical―became the ideal religion for a "post-religious" age. "By far the best of the recent popular books exploring the amazing impact of Tibetan Buddhism. Paine's witty; erudite; flowing prose creates a memorable album of many characters―saints; rascals; and ordinary folks. He glosses over nothing; is ruthlessly critical where it is deserved; but is also secure enough to appreciate the beauty and the power of the 'magic and mystery': the profound practical wisdom and compassion of Tibetan civilization gone global."―Robert Thurman; Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies; Columbia University "Riveting....Recounts elegantly; yet without fuss; stories of human transformation that consistently incite our capacity for wonder."―Askold Melnyczuk; Boston Globe "Memorable anecdotes; great storytelling and keen observations mark this cogent exploration of the explosive growth of Tibetan Buddhism in the West."―Publishers Weekly; starred review
#430889 in Books W. W. Norton Company 1999-01-17Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.30 x 1.10 x 5.50l; 1.35 #File Name: 0393318338544 pagesGreat product!
Review
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. I meant 5 stars Capitalism versus workers white; workers Black; immigrants tooBy Tony ThomasThis is a history of working people in American. While it focuses on on Black/white racism has been used; it provides important information about the conditions of all working people since the earliest days of settlement. I found Jones' discussion of attempts to exploit Native Americans as slaves and indentured servants to be particularly illuminating. Jones also talks about the extensive systems of limiting the freedom of working people through contracts of indenture; peonage; and other forms that limited freedom of whites and black as well; as the continued manipulation of the image of what labor Blacks could accomplish to divide workers and deepen the exploitation of all. While I believe Jones' strength is her discussion of the colonial period and the AnteBellum North; her discussion of the selective urbanization and industrialization of African Americans since World War II is outstanding. She shows how the system of defacto segregation and continued discrimination is the based for African American poverty today.Most interestingly; she discusses the similarity between the ways that current immigrants; with and without papers; are oppressed and colonial systems of binding labor. From this well-documented history; you understand that throughout its history; Capitalism in America has never allowed any real freedom to workers that wasn't taken in struggle; and how crucial racism is to both the past and present of this country.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy CustomerNice buy; nice service8 of 11 people found the following review helpful. A brilliant look at racial division of labor in AmericaBy A CustomerBEST BOOK ever written; in my experienced opinion. All people craving info. on racial divisions(and aren't we all?) should pick up this classic text. It ingeniously describes the evolution of the working classes in America. And who said work was BORING? Not this kind. This would make the perfect gift for your grandmother; but more importantly; for yourself. A riveting journey into the soul; not to be missed by any history buff. American Work is true to its name; it was written by an American; cause shes gotta work.
