Practical Spiritual Teachings of A Traveling Buddhist Monk

·期刊原文

Lessons of the Lotus: Practical Spiritual Teachings of A Traveling Buddhist Monk

Reviewed by Donna Seaman

Booklist

Vol.94 No.3 P.289 Oce 1, 1997

COPYRIGHT by 1997 American Library Association

Wimala, Bhante Y. Nov. 1997. 224p. Bantam, paper, $12.95
(0-553-37855-4). DDC: 294.3
Moore is an explorer. He ventured into Internet culture in his first
book and was inspired to write his second when he became intrigued
with the surge of interest in Buddhism in the West. A lapsed
Catholic with a healthy sense of skepticism, Moore went on retreats
at Buddhist monasteries, attended sessions at zendos and meditation
centers, and participated in all manner of Zen and Tibetan Buddhist
events. His witty and candid "regular guy" approach to these
experiences is entertaining and comforting, and his
conclusions--that a viable form of American Buddhism has yet to
coalesce but that meditation can benefit nearly everyone--are right
on target.

Moore is the quintessential Buddhist novice, whereas Salzberg, a
longtime Buddhist teacher, is an adept. As her practice evolved, she
learned that it is possible to live with a sense of connectedness
and an "unbounded heart" and to help others do the same. Her
teachings take the soothing form of stories, both personal anecdotes
and instructional tales, and all are told with lucidity and warmth.
Yoga isn't a religion per se or merely a set of physical exercises
that help relieve stress and increase flexibility; rather it is a
spiritual and philosophical tradition articulated in a wealth of
poetic scriptures. Feuerstein, a prolific and cogent yoga scholar
and popularizer, has selected inspirational passages from various
Sanskrit and Hindi texts, including the Upanishads, the
Bhagavad-Gita, and the Mahabharata, poems that bare the "very heats
of yoga," and created a gracefully organized and beautifully
translated anthology.

Bhante Wimala, as the Dalai Lama explains in his foreword, is a
Buddhist monk from Sri Lanka who has traveled far and wide "teaching
in the spirit of monks at the time of Buddha," and his book is a
passionate and explicit invitation to walk the spiritual path.
Bhante Wimala helps readers recognize their preconceived notions
about various issues, then offers in-depth essays on alternative
perspectives. Like most Buddhist teachers, Bhante Wimala draws on
his own experiences to illuminate every discussion, whether the
topic is breath awareness or love.