Second Book Selection Topic

[doc benway]

We have now established that the book club (- patience cat, perhaps we'll start work on a better name next) will read and discuss a new book every other month.

 

The second book selection will be made by mid March and discussion will begin early May.

 

So far, the recommendations include:

 

1. Dakini's Warm Breath: The Feminine Principle in Tibetan Buddhism by Judith Simmer-Brown

http://www.amazon.com/Dakinis-Warm-Breath-...e/dp/157062920X

 

2. To Be Human by Jiddu Krishnamurti

http://www.amazon.com/Be-Human-Jiddu-Krish...2602&sr=1-1

 

3. Clear Light of Bliss: The Practice of Mahamudra in Vajrayana Buddhism by Kelsang Gyatso

http://www.amazon.com/Clear-Light-Bliss-Ma...8638&sr=1-6

 

4. Taoism: Growth of a Religion by Isabelle Robinet and Phyllis Brooks

http://www.amazon.com/Taoism-Growth-Religi...6562&sr=8-1

 

Feel free to make one recommendation per person and please try and make your recommendation clear so that I don't misinterpret your wishes.

 

Thanks everyone for your patience!

Edited February 17, 2008 by xuesheng

[Pietro]

We have now established that the book club (- patience cat, perhaps we'll start work on a better name next) will read and discuss a new book every other month.

 

The second book selection will be made by mid March and discussion will begin early May.

 

So far, the recommendations include:

 

1. Dakini's Warm Breath: The Feminine Principle in Tibetan Buddhism by Judith Simmer-Brown

http://www.amazon.com/Dakinis-Warm-Breath-...e/dp/157062920X

 

2. To Be Human by Jiddu Krishnamurti

http://www.amazon.com/Be-Human-Jiddu-Krish...2602&sr=1-1

 

3. Clear Light of Bliss: The Practice of Mahamudra in Vajrayana Buddhism by Kelsang Gyatso

http://www.amazon.com/Clear-Light-Bliss-Ma...8638&sr=1-6

 

4. Taoism: Growth of a Religion by Isabelle Robinet and Phyllis Brooks

http://www.amazon.com/Taoism-Growth-Religi...6562&sr=8-1

 

Feel free to make one recommendation per person and please try and make your recommendation clear so that I don't misinterpret your wishes.

 

Thanks everyone for your patience!

 

As I was looking at the books suggested by Procurator in the other thread, I saw a book that I think we REALLY should read. And we should read it soon.

 

It is from Livia Kohn (very famous and well known scholar on Daoism, friend of Michael Winn). Her book is

Daoist Body Cultivation: Traditional Models And Contemporary Practices (Paperback)

 

The picture in the front is a picture that use to be sold as a poster at Tao Garden.

I have not read this book (although I just ordered it). My guess, reading the title, looking at the picture, knowing her past (and present) as a daoist scholar, and knowing about her friendship with Michael, is is that in this work Livia studies the modern practices (I would expect the ones from Mantak Chia to be present, but possibly not only), and describes how they relate to the ancient tradition.

 

I think this book is a MUST for this community, and this club.

 

I am also very favorable to Robinet book, (which I will read in any case), but I fear that a second book on the history of Daoism can be a bit too much, one after the other. And I would suggest to read it a bit later.

 

And I don't support the other for considering them out of scope.

 

So, in any case, Livia Kohn's book is the book that I would like to suggest for the May discussion.

 

Pietro

[doc benway]

Let's update with Pietro's latest suggestion.

I think the point about back to back history books is a good one and I would like to propose that we postpone the Robinet book unless there are objections...

 

1. Dakini's Warm Breath: The Feminine Principle in Tibetan Buddhism by Judith Simmer-Brown

http://www.amazon.com/Dakinis-Warm-Breath-...e/dp/157062920X

 

2. To Be Human by Jiddu Krishnamurti

http://www.amazon.com/Be-Human-Jiddu-Krish...2602&sr=1-1

 

3. Clear Light of Bliss: The Practice of Mahamudra in Vajrayana Buddhism by Kelsang Gyatso

http://www.amazon.com/Clear-Light-Bliss-Ma...8638&sr=1-6

 

4. Daoist Body Cultivation: Traditional Models And Contemporary Practices by Livia Kohn

http://www.amazon.com/Daoist-Body-Cultivat...4304&sr=8-1

[Pietro]

Let's update with Pietro's latest suggestion.

I think the point about back to back history books is a good one and I would like to propose that we postpone the Robinet book unless there are objections...

 

Hello xuesheng,

Thanks for picking up my suggestion.

 

Although i am strategically happy if Robinet book is not on the list now, (the less taoist books there are the more people who are only interested in taoist texts will vote compact), still i feel unconfortable with my voting suggestion causing another member's raccomandation to be taken away.

Can we please ask Little 1 before taking away her suggestion. And if she does not answer we keep it. Being involved in the process this would make me feel much better.

 

Thanks,

Pietro

[doc benway]

 

Can we please ask Little 1 before taking away her suggestion. And if she does not answer we keep it. Being involved in the process this would make me feel much better.

 

That's why I asked if there were any objections...

I think it was cat's suggestion, actually.

It would be easy enough to keep it as an option although I think it is better to limit the number of options to minimize confusion.

[Pietro]

That's why I asked if there were any objections...

Xuesheng, please, don't make me state the obvious!

The author (Cat, Little 1, who ever) might be on holiday/busy/at the loo/meditating in Tibet and only coming back in May.

Edited February 29, 2008 by Pietro

[dao zhen]

I saw that you are all looking for books for the book club.

 

I personally like this work, and think maybe you may also.

 

Revealing the Tao Te Ching: In-depth Commentaries on an Ancient Classic by Hu Xuezhi

 

I do not know if this is the type of book that would fit into the interests for the club, but maybe it is worth a look.

 

I hope you find a good one.

 

With all of my best.

 

Happy reading.

 

Sincerely, dao zhen

[doc benway]

Pietro, my friend, don't get your panties into a knot please...

It's all in fun - I'm hoping none of us gets too worked up over picking a book!

Let's enjoy it!

 

Here we are:

 

1. Dakini's Warm Breath: The Feminine Principle in Tibetan Buddhism by Judith Simmer-Brown

 

2. To Be Human by Jiddu Krishnamurti

 

3. Clear Light of Bliss: The Practice of Mahamudra in Vajrayana Buddhism by Kelsang Gyatso

 

4. Taoism: Growth of a Religion by Isabelle Robinet and Phyllis Brooks

 

5. Daoist Body Cultivation: Traditional Models And Contemporary Practices by Livia Kohn

 

6. Revealing the Tao Te Ching: In-depth Commentaries on an Ancient Classic by Hu Xuezhi

 

Let's keep 'em all and sort it out in 2 weeks...

 

Dao Zhen - thanks for the suggestion, it looks like a great book!

[Taomeow]

My suggestion:

 

"Daoism and Chinese Culture," by Livia Kohn. I was going to buy it anyway. Livia Kohn is not a taoist and I go against my own "no songs by stuffed nightingales" credo with this suggestion (as in that premise postulated by Alan Watts that studying a live Eastern tradition from scholarly academic sources is like studying birdsong from a collection of stuffed nightingales). But there's few sources out there that replicate the writings of talismanic sorcery, I really want to see what they know and how it compares to what I know -- and that book has a chapter on the subject. For others, the interesting thing about this particular book will be to have read something "academic" and unimpeachable at that, so that no stuffed nightingales intimidate you with their trademark song and dance ever again.

[doc benway]

Now we have:

 

1. Dakini's Warm Breath: The Feminine Principle in Tibetan Buddhism by Judith Simmer-Brown

 

2. To Be Human by Jiddu Krishnamurti

 

3. Clear Light of Bliss: The Practice of Mahamudra in Vajrayana Buddhism by Kelsang Gyatso

 

4. Taoism: Growth of a Religion by Isabelle Robinet and Phyllis Brooks

 

5. Daoist Body Cultivation: Traditional Models And Contemporary Practices by Livia Kohn

 

6. Revealing the Tao Te Ching: In-depth Commentaries on an Ancient Classic by Hu Xuezhi

 

7. "Daoism and Chinese Culture," by Livia Kohn

[Mal]

Daoist Body Cultivation: Traditional Models And Contemporary Practices by Livia Kohn

 

I know we are not voting yet but Body Cultivation looks like a very interesting book to me.

 

I'll also toss in

 

Art of the Bedchamber: The Chinese Sexual Yoga Classics Including Women's Solo Meditation Texts

 

Great book if you like sex and retention etc. The best thing about it so far is you can see how the texts evolve over time and also where the modern books get their information from. It may not be that interesting (and possibly offensive) for female readers... the womens texts are only pages 192 to 221 but they make a good addition to Immortal Sisters : Secret teachings of Taoist Women trans Thomas Cleary

 

I hope to have Eva Wongs Shambala Guide to Taoism by this weekend, so it will probably turn up Monday

[Oolong Rabbit]

We already have enough book recs for the second selection, but perhaps a great idea for the third would be Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha, An Unusually Hardcore Dharma Book by Daniel Ingram. Ian posted the link to this a few days ago. It's online, it's free and from what I have read so far, it is terrific. The whole E-Book thing would eliminate people having to wait etc.... In fact, can I remove my entry for Kelsang Gyatso's Clear Light of Bliss and add this in it's place Steve? I think this book would be much more beneficial to the Taobums community.

 

http://www.interactivebuddha.com/mctb.shtml

 

PDF Version

 

MS Word Version

[mYTHmAKER]

Now we have:

 

1. Dakini's Warm Breath: The Feminine Principle in Tibetan Buddhism by Judith Simmer-Brown

 

2. To Be Human by Jiddu Krishnamurti

 

3. Clear Light of Bliss: The Practice of Mahamudra in Vajrayana Buddhism by Kelsang Gyatso

 

4. Taoism: Growth of a Religion by Isabelle Robinet and Phyllis Brooks

 

5. Daoist Body Cultivation: Traditional Models And Contemporary Practices by Livia Kohn

 

6. Revealing the Tao Te Ching: In-depth Commentaries on an Ancient Classic by Hu Xuezhi

 

7. "Daoism and Chinese Culture," by Livia Kohn

 

My vote

6. Revealing the Tao Te Ching: In-depth Commentaries on an Ancient Classic by Hu Xuezhi

[doc benway]

I'm going to cut off the list at this point and create a poll to select our next book from the follow list

 

1. Dakini's Warm Breath: The Feminine Principle in Tibetan Buddhism by Judith Simmer-Brown

 

2. To Be Human by Jiddu Krishnamurti

 

3. Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha, An Unusually Hardcore Dharma Book by Daniel Ingram

 

4. Taoism: Growth of a Religion by Isabelle Robinet and Phyllis Brooks

 

5. Daoist Body Cultivation: Traditional Models And Contemporary Practices by Livia Kohn

 

6. Revealing the Tao Te Ching: In-depth Commentaries on an Ancient Classic by Hu Xuezhi

 

7. "Daoism and Chinese Culture," by Livia Kohn

 

 

Let's get our votes in by the end of next week please.