Straight from the Heart brings together an inspiring collection of Buddhist teachings; songs of realization; meditation instructions; and enlightened poetry—all chosen for their power to speak directly to the student. Drawn from Indian Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism as well as from all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism; some will impress with their beautiful poetry and powerful imagery; others with their profound power of instruction. Still others share personal advice for life that seems to come directly from the mouth of the author; and some serve as immediate and profound practice instructions. Several are just delightfully unconventional; even outrageous; letting in fresh air on petrified views or musty traditions. Most of them are simply unknown precious gems; which deserve a wider audience. Each of the works is preceded by a brief introduction and a short biography of its author. Many of these are legendary accounts of supernatural feats; edifying examples for students on the same spiritual path meant to expand their limited outlook with “mind-blowing†stories. Miraculous deeds; magnificent songs; and pithy instructions distinguish this collection assembled by the Buddhist scholar and translator Karl Brunnhölzl; whose years of work among dharma texts and his skill as a translator yield a rich mine of teachings all chosen for their ability to speak directly to the heart.
#985222 in Books Univ of Massachusetts Pr 2002-07-29Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.16 x .75 x 6.22l; 1.10 #File Name: 1558493611320 pages
Review
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful. Meaning in Civil War HistoryBy Robin FriedmanPeople with an interest in the Civil War can be divided into two rough groups. The first group consists of those with an interest in military history; in the story of the great battles; campaigns; leaders; and strategies of the war. This group includes; among others; visitors to battlefields; reenactors and; (to use a patronizing term I dislike); Civil War "buffs". The second group consists of people who are interested in the causes of the war; its meaning and significance; its aftermath; and the way Americans have viewed it over the years to shape their understanding of themselves. This second group frequently finds the interest of the first group somewhat out of focus in considering the war.There is; in fact; no need for this sharp division in the two groups. The Civil War was the defining moment in our history and can be studied with benefit from many perspectives. David Blight's book of essays "Beyond the Battlefield: Race; Memory and the American Civil War" (2002) acknowledges (preface; p. x) that there is ample room for both military and social-political study in approaching the war. His approach; however; veers sharply towards the latter. Professor Blight offers an important and necessary study of the ideas and meaning of the war; but even in its own terms it may not be the exclusive way of considering ideas and meaning.Professor Blight is interested in how Americans have viewed the Civil War over the years. Broadly speaking; he argues that Americans became preoccupied with restoring national unity and reconciliation between the North and South following the conclusion of the War. Both sides thus ignored the role of ideas in the war. They tended to downplay the sources of the war in the institution of slavery and; following the war; allowed the creation of a Jim Crow; racist society which continued to deny rights to black Americans. Peace and sectional reconciliation thus were achieved at the cost of the rights of black Americans and of ignoring the ideals for which the war was fought. Thus Professor Blight's essays in this volume amplify ideas he expressed well in his earlier book: "Race and Reunion: the Civil War in American Memory."In his preface; Professor Blight states that the essays are informed by three broad themes: 1. the meaning; cause; and consequences of the Civil War 2.the nature of African-American history and the significance of race in American history; and 3.the character and purpose of a study of historical memory. Of these themes; the third is rather abstract; and Professor Blight never fully explains what he means. Put simply; I think people tend to use the past for their own purposes. But relativism and myth-making are endemic to all forms of historical study; and Professor Blight seems; correctly in my view; to insist that we can learn something about the past separate from our own preoccupations and prejudices. In other words; the first and second themes of his book are more compelling and better stated than the third theme.The first section of the book focuses on the origin of the Civil War in slavery. It includes illuminating discussions of the work of Frederick Douglass; consideration of the many slave narratives that appeared before the war; and discussions on the interactions that Douglass had with President Lincoln. There is also an interesting essay on the way in which one Union soldier's ideas on the war and its causes evolved during his three years of military service. These essays are insightful in showing how slavery ultimately was the source of the conflict.The second group of essays studies the way Americans tended to sentimentalize the war after its conclusion by forgetting its ideological underpinnings and its origin in slavery. Professor Blight very correctly wants Americans to reconsider the origins of the war; to remember the fight over slavery; and to recommit themselves to the goal of human freedom and equality. There are further essays about Frederick Douglass; about the Shaw memorial (commemorating the attack by black troops of Fort Wagner; South Carolina); on the history of the Emancipation Proclamation; and on veterans reunions; particularly at Gettysburg in 1913. What Professor Blight has to teach is extremely important and well-presented. I am not sure that he gives full weight to the difficulties the country faced at the conclusion of the war and of the struggles that might have continued to rend the country without reconciliation efforts. It was truly a difficult situation for our country; and the consequences were not happy.The final section of the book includes discussions of Ken Burns's television history; an excellent essay on W.E.B. DuBois; and an essay on the late Professor Nathan Irvin Huggins whose works influenced Professor Blight's.I enjoyed the allusiveness and the love of learning that Professor Blight shows in these essays. He discusses and uses well writers such as Douglass; DuBois; Walt Whitman; Paul Lawrence Dunbar; Nietzsche; James Weldon Johnson; and many others. The erudition of the book makes it a pleasure to read.I also found the book valuable in getting the reader to focus on the causes and consequences of the Civil War; including the focus on slavery and Reconstruction. There has been; and still is; a tendency for some people to forget their centrality to the war. But the importance of a reunited nation should not be discounted entirely. Nor should Americans forget the valor and sacrifices made on the Battlefields to forge our national character and to enable Americans of subsequent generations to discover and expand the ideals of our Nation and to rededicate themselves to the realization of these ideals. There is need for Americans to understand both the need for justice and for the end of racism and also the need following the war for reconciliation and for a united people. The goals are (and should have been) complimentary and not exclusive. I think this latter point tends to be downplayed in Professor Blight's otherwise excellent essays.0 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy James Rydergood condition0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Olivia WilliamsThanks
