The World’s Religions by Huston Smith
July 24, 2006 | 9:47 pm
My posts have slowed down a bit, not only because things are moving along very rapidly with the marketing, manuscripts, and other aspects of the DreamTime books, but also because I’m sinking my teeth into this particularly weighty tome.
Wow. No light reading this. On the other hand, it is a beautiful summary of the basis for the world’s major religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and the Primal Religions (such as the beliefs of the Australian Aborigines). Given that so much of our world conflict stems from a difference in and misunderstanding of religious beliefs, this would seem like a good first step in trying to understand others.
I bought this book on the recommendation of a friend, and I’m very glad I did. I’d enjoy hearing from anyone else who’s read it.
Posted by: Smith, Huston — Meg
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Man’s Search for Meaning
July 16, 2006 | 5:29 pm
Having a bad day because your car won’t start, you forgot your lunch, or your boss yelled at you? “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl will give you an instant attitude adjustment. Written in 1946 about his experiences while a prisoner in a concentration camp in Nazi Germany, Frankl’s book shares his perspective — that of a psychiatrist — of his time during the war.
Frankl’s reflections are earthy and honest. Did it feel wrong that the some of the men who ladled the soup scooped to the bottom to give the peas to their friends? Perhaps, but Frankl was quick to point out that judging others if you do not know for certain how you yourself would react when your very survival was at stake is dangerous terrority. Did some men bring light to the other prisoners by how they chose to act? Yes, and this is the crux of Frankl’s book: We all have in our power to choose how we react to the conditions outside of us.
“Even though conditions such as lack of sleep, insufficient food and various mental stresses may suggest that the inmates were bound to react in certain ways, in the final analysis it becomes clear that the sort of person a prisoner became was the result of an inner decision, and not the result of camp influences alone. Fundamentally, therefore, any man can, even under such circumstances, decide what shall become of him–mentally and spiritually. He may retain his human dignity even in a concentration camp.”
Also of note in the book is his summary of logotherapy, the gist of which is to help people find the meaning and purpose in their lives. It is interesting to note that those who do not have to worry about their basic survival are often very discontent and ill-at-ease, frustrated and feeling as though they have not found their life’s purpose. Frankl’s theory seems to get at the same concepts of knowing oneself and of inner exploration that so many metaphysical/New Age writers also discuss, yet from the perspective of a psychiatrist. The similarity between two is quite interesting, and I am very interested in learning more about how the two fields overlap. Suggestions on good books welcomed!
Posted by: Frankl, Viktor — Meg
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Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth
July 10, 2006 | 7:53 pm
Having read “The Power of Now” only recently, I was curious to see if Tolle’s latest had a least a slightly sunnier view on the current state of human nature. Sigh. Not so much. As much as I generally agree with his underlying points (if we all awakened, the world would be a much better place — very much an oversimplification of his book, but that’s the general idea), I have a difficult time with how he expresses them in at least some of the book. He seems to feel that the current state of humanity is very much a mess, which seems to harken back to the notion that we are all sinners who need to be fixed.
For an example, on page 37, he talks about “the unchecked striving for more, for endless growth, is a dysfunction and a disease.” It seems as though as long as you are happy with your current state of being, recognizing that the Universe is continually expanding is a good and positive thing. This sentence in particular seems to conflict directly with the Hicks’ outlook. I’d love to hear what others who are familiar with both authors would say. Using the way the Hicks’ books look at things, it’s as though Tolle is focusing on the ingredients he doesn’t want in his pie, rather than what he does.
On the other hand, he does have some very good points. On page 62, he talks about how the ego reacts to others’ egos: “instead of overlooking unconsciousness in others, you make it into their identity” and “what you react to in another, you strengthen in yourself.”
And, on page 228, he sums up true freedom and enlightened living as “nonresistence, nonjudgment, and nonattachment.” Now that is a beautiful thought…more of that in his writing would be great.
Posted by: Tolle, Eckhart — Meg
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Other blogs to check out
July 5, 2006 | 7:20 pm
I’m working on collecting a list of other blogs that have to do with spirituality, self-help, mind/body/spirit, books, or are otherwise intriguing.
One such blog is http://darvish.wordpress.com/. It’s yet another example of how so many similar concepts circulate under different names, yet lead people to the same place.
www.beliefnet.com is a virtual potpourri of information on a wide range of spiritual beliefs and faiths.
http://www.moonpointer.com/ is a good spot to read Buddhist blogs.
I’d welcome any other suggestions to add to the list!
Posted by: — Meg
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