Preface
If this book is to lay any claim to authenticity, it must make one point clear above all others. It is this: By persistent and sustained practice, anyone and everyone can make the yoga journey and reach the goal of illumination and freedom. Krishna, Buddha, and Jesus lie in the hearts of all. They are not film stars, mere idols of adulation. They are great inspirational figures whose example is there to be followed. They act as our role models today. Just as they reached Self-Realization, so may we.
Many of you may worry that you are unable to meet the challenges that lie ahead. I want to assure you that you can. I am a man who started from nowhere; I was heavily disadvantaged in many ways. After much time and effort, I began to reach somewhere. I literally emerged from darkness to light, from mortal sickness to health, from crude ignorance to immersion in the ocean of knowledge by one means alone, namely by zealous persistence in the art and science of yoga practice (sadhana). What held good for me will hold good for you too. Today you also have the benefit of many gifted yoga teachers.
When I began yoga, there was, I am sorry to say, no wise, kind teacher to lead me. In fact my own Guru refused to answer any of my innocent inquiries on yoga. He did not instruct me as I do my students, offering them step-by-step guidance in an asana. He would simply demand a posture and leave it to me or his other students to figure out how it could be realized. Perhaps that stimulated some stubborn aspect of my nature, which allied to unshakable faith in the subject of yoga made me burn to go on. I am ardent and passionate, and maybe I needed to show the world that I was not worthless. But far more than that, I wanted to find out who I was. I wanted to understand this mysterious and marvelous "yoga," which could reveal to us our innermost secrets, as equally as it revealed those of the universe around us and our place in it as joyful, suffering, puzzled human beings. Download entire preface in .pdf format here.
Downloadable Excerpts
Click on the images below to download excerpts from B.K.S. Iyengar's Light on Life in .pdf format.
Preface
Download Preface |
Chapter 4: Clarity
Download Chapter 4 |
Asanas for Emotional Stability
Download Asanas for Emotional Stability |
Index
Download Index |
Book Description
B.K.S. Iyengar—hailed as "the Michelangelo of yoga" (BBC) and considered by many to be the most important living yoga master—has spent much of his life introducing the modern world to the ancient practice of yoga. Yoga’s popularity is soaring, but its widespread acceptance as an exercise for physical fitness and the recognition of its health benefits have not been matched by an understanding of the emotional, intellectual, and spiritual development that the yogic tradition can also offer. In Light on Life, B.K.S. Iyengar brings readers this new and more complete understanding of the yogic journey. Written with the depth of this sage’s great wisdom, Light on Life is the culmination of a master’s spiritual genius, a treasured companion to his seminal Light on Yoga.
Customer Reviews:
very inspiring read.......2007-09-27
Mr. Iyengar writes so anyone can understand and brings humor to complex subjects. The book has helped me deepen my yoga practice immensely. I completely recommend to anyone, especially those choosing to follow the yogic path.
Yoga philosopy 101.......2007-09-27
This is a surprisingly accessible overview of yoga and levels of practice. It is not a "how to" manual, but rather a "why to" manual with insights for the beginner as well as the experienced.
A book telling of a journey.......2007-05-13
I thought this was quite an interesting book of life--the life of B.Y.S. Iyengar. Recommended for those who are real curious.
And I always thought..........2007-05-03
...he was just another pretty face. Here is a work of genius. Iyengar's sincerity exudes from every page. What a fine man, and what a gift this book is, from one who has already given us so much. He has plumbed the depths of his yoga, and we are all the richer for it.
beautiful.......2007-04-01
A gem of a book. I had the good fortune of have met venerable Iyengar and he is such a great being.
This book is full of wisdom and wonder.
Thanks!
Product Description
Beyond personal history and archetypal themes, a comprehensive psychology must also address the fundamental significance of birth and death. Stanislav Grof, M.D., renowned for his pioneering contributions regarding the psychological and spiritual aspects of the birth process, now adds invaluable insights from more than half a century of research and personal discovery into the experience of death and dying. Dr. Grof distills teachings from ancient wisdom and modern science that suggest how to face the process of death and dying. The ultimate journey challenges us all, and how we approach it is much more than major personal issue. Those who come to terms with death in deep experiential self-exploration tend to develop a sense of planetary citizenship, reverence for life in all its forms, and spirituality of a universal and all-encompassing nature. Such radial inner transformation might be humanityís only real chance for survival. The Ultimate Journey describes ancient and aboriginal ritual and spiritual practices that help us understand the experience of death, develop effective ways of making dying easier, and integrate it as a meaningful part of life. The book also summarizes modern studies that shed new light on a variety of phenomena related to death and dying, including psycho-spiritual death and rebirth, near-death experiences, and the new expanded cartography y of the psyche that has emerged from Grofís fifty years of research of psychedelic therapy, Holotropic Breathwork, and spontaneous psychospiritual crises.
Customer Reviews:
Going With Love.......2007-02-14
Death and dying are the most universal and important experiences in human life, yet until the late 1960s, prominent members of Western civilization - including our medical doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, anthropologists, and philosophers - showed an astonishing lack of interest in these crucial areas. "The only plausible explanation for this situation is massive denial of death and psychological repression of everything related to it." So begins Stanislav Grof's new opus on death, dying, and transcendence, The Ultimate Journey, a heartfelt review of past and present efforts to redress this serious omission in our culture.
Grof writes that our modern industrial civilization typically gives more attention to the wardrobe, makeup, and even plastic surgery for the corpse than to counseling dying individuals and their families. This is in marked contrast to preindustrial societies for whom death and dying were paramount in their worldviews and important inspiration for much of their art and architecture. The shamans of many cultures - going back at least thirty thousand years - began their careers with a spontaneous or induced experience of death and rebirth. They explored, firsthand, territories of the psyche that transcend the boundaries of individual consciousness. Similarly, in the rites of passage, initiates were guided into non-ordinary or holotropic ("moving toward wholeness") states of consciousness and had a personal experience of numinous realities that transcend biological death. In the ancient mysteries, neophytes participated in various mind-expanding processes or "technologies of the sacred" to move beyond individual consciousness and experience directly the higher transpersonal dimensions of existence. The Goddess Mysteries of Eleusis, for example, held near Athens for almost two thousand years - and which it is now virtually certain used ergot, a naturally occurring form of LSD - had as their participants many of the creative and intellectual giants of Western culture. Pythagoras, Plato, Aristotle, Epictetus, Euripedes, Sophocles, Plutarch, Pindar, Marcus Aurelius, and Cicero all attest to the life-changing power of their holotropic experiences at Eleusis or the other mystery sites.
Grof further enriches this emerging new picture by reviewing important developments in the fields of thanatology, scientific study of reincarnation, near-death experiences, out-of-body experiences, and messages and visits from the Beyond. Reputable published data from researchers in these fields, while by themselves cannot be considered "proof" of survival of consciousness after death, together represent a wave of compelling anomalous phenomena that have not been convincingly explained in the traditional scientific paradigms. Grof suggests that the conflict between science and spirituality was completely unnecessary and reflects a misunderstanding between different domains of reality.
Grof also reviews the groundbreaking work with terminal cancer patients conducted by staff at the Spring Grove Hospital in Maryland, the last federally funded research project with psychedelics in the U.S. until the modern era. Describing in detail the research design, protocols, and procedure of these sessions, as well as a number of poignant case studies, Grof recounts the dramatic and often surprising therapeutic results the Spring Grove team observed in the five categories of: alleviation of emotional suffering, physical pain and distress, fear of death and attitude toward dying, time orientation and basic hierarchy of values, and psychological condition of the survivors. He and his colleagues repeatedly witnessed an astonishing process "that closely resembled the initiation practices of the ancient mysteries of death and rebirth and often involved experiential sequences similar to those reported in the Tibetan and Egyptian Books of the Dead." The inner experiences of these individuals gave them access to transpersonal and unitive domains of consciousness that helped them to live their final days, weeks, and months with less physical pain and fear of death, with more peace of mind, enjoyment of the present moment, and improved quality in their relationships. The accounts of these individuals' transitions are deeply moving and represented exceptionally rewarding experiences for the caregivers. Based on this and other well-published research, Grof invites administrators, legislators, and politicians to inform themselves by reading the professional and scientific journals, rather than the questionable reports of sensation-hunting journalists. He makes a heartfelt and convincing case that we may be depriving the dying of powerful healing tools to make their transitions easier, more joyful, and more dignified.
I recommend this book to anyone seeking to come to terms with their own or anyone else's mortality. From its strikingly appealing cover, its presentation of humanity's rich mythologies of death and rebirth, the reviews of consciousness research, and forty pages of brilliantly reproduced sacred frescoes, evocative tomb paintings, vivid mandalas, and precious personal photos - this book is itself an urgently needed manual for conscious dying and conscious living. It seems clear that our industrial civilization is plundering the earth to compensate for a deep unconscious fear of death and dying. Yet modern consciousness research is confirming what the shamans, mystics, and priestesses have always known. As the poet Rabindrananth Tagore realized: "Death is not extinguishing the light; it is putting out the lamp because dawn has come."
Average customer rating:
- Beware: Overrated Misinformation
- Far reaching account of an important theme
- Not sure how real it all is...
- Incredible
- Best of the Trilogy
|
The Ultimate Journey
Robert Monroe
Manufacturer: Main Street Books
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Similar Items:
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Far Journeys
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Journeys Out of the Body
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Cosmic Journeys: My Out-Of-Body Explorations With Robert A. Monroe
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Adventures Beyond the Body: How to Experience Out-of-Body Travel
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The Secret of the Soul : Using Out-of-Body Experiences to Understand Our True Nature
ASIN: 0385472080
Release Date: 1996-08-01 |
Book Description
In 1958, a successful businessman named Robert Mornroe began to have experiences that drastically altered his life. Unpredictably, and without his willing it, Monroe found himself leaving his physical body to travel via a "second body" to locales far removed from the physical and spiritual realities of his life. He was inhabiting a place unbounded by life or death.
Monroe recorded these experiences in two bestselling, landmark books, Journeys Out of the Body and Far Journeys. Ultimate Journey, his final and career-defining work, takes us further than we thought possible--and reveals to us what it all means.
Ultimate Journey charts that area which lies "over the edge," beyond the limits of the physical world. It presents us with a map of the "interstate"--the route that opens to us when we leave our physical lives, with their entry and exit ramps, their singposts and their hazards. It also tells us how Monroe found the route and travelled it, and uncovered the reason and the purpose of this pioneering expedition. It is a journey that reveals basic truths about the meaning and purpose of life--and of what lies beyond.
After six hardcover printings, the trade paperback edition of Ultimate Journey, will offer an even wider range of readers this exhilarating reading experience, the masterwork of one of the most daring and original thinkers and explorers of our time.
Customer Reviews:
Beware: Overrated Misinformation.......2007-06-06
I read the second book of his, and it left me pretty empty, I felt like it answered so few questions, and I found the objectivity of his point of view questionable. Having read the first 100 pages of this book, and in between having read other sources of information, now I get it: He is just full of it! From reading the second book, I learned a little about his life, about he was this wealthy businessman. To me that was a red flag that his work were not to be trusted, but I figured I should not be too prejudiced. However, know this: more often than not, someone so materially successful and influential will be aligned, perhaps loosely, with the evil element of the world. Different people have different names for it: the psychopaths, the reptilians, the illuminati, the new world order, the patriarchy... Whatever the name, anyone who really takes a look, does the research to try and see what is going on the in world, without burying their head in the sand fluff-bunny-new-ager-style, sees the evil element that rules the world, that leads all branches of mainstream thought or movements, even new agey stuff like this.
But it's not just about him being a wealthy businessman. He worked for the CIA, whose evil activities are a matter of public record. Most of all, in his books he puts forth this very selfish, greedy, egotistical, chauvinistic worldview as if that's "The Way it Is"... as if the whole of human history took place in the financial district of New York City in the 80's or something.
The idea that this book should be taken with a grain of salt really hit home when I came to part when he discusses the relationship between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. That part is patent nonsense that doesn't even agree with himself, not to mention what everyone else has written also.
I give this book an extra star though because it is an interesting read. However, it is so hard to tell where the B.S. ends and the truthful information begins. Perhaps Monroe did have good intentions, perhaps he was just unknowingly misled by his life experiences and other people. In either case, realize that is book is misinformation, but like most misinformation, it served up surrounded by plenty of truthful information too.
Far reaching account of an important theme.......2007-04-10
I read this book in the early 90s shortly after it came out. I had read the other 2 books of the same author before and this tops them all - and with a bang! I still measure all OBE literature against this classic and most fall short. - absolutely recommended reading even for the OBE illiterate.
Not sure how real it all is..........2007-03-30
I have now read all three of the late Dr. Monroe's books and in the correct sequence, but I'm still not totally convinced of the reality of his 'journeys'. My readings in Buddhism and other spiritual systems tend to support his experiences, at least to some degree, but much of what I've read in the many NDE (near death experiences) accounts and studies that I've read (cf. Ring, Valarino, et al) don't quite match up. Where is the tunnel of light? etc. Nothing much about Karma either. But reincarnation is neatly confirmed and then some.
In his favor, I don't see any reason why he would invent this material. He was already independently wealthy when he started writing and didn't seem to have any need or want for public attention. More importantly, he set up his Institute which has been functional for several decades now and enjoined the cooperation of many leading scientists etc. and it has produced numerous useful papers and books.
Also his work in hemi-sync research is much respected by other scholars, even utilized by the US Army and elsewhere, and the hemi-sync is the fundamental tool he had used to facilitate others entering into the states of altered consciousness which have led to their own parallel experiences which sort of confirm his.
Above all, he tries to present all this in a calm and fairly objective, almost scientific manner, without the usual touchy-feely trendy 'New Age' kinds of wishful thinking that so often pollute these kinds of subjects.
Still... In his earlier 'Far Journeys' and in this volume, there is a certain amount of flippant or pseudo-humorous, near-comical material, e.g. with respect to 'KT-95' and its denizens and their activities and interests, and the conversations he has with entities from there, as well as the conversations he has with the INSPECs (i.e. himself, as it turns out!). All of that seems to me to be almost silly rather than reflective of any reality he encountered.
He does gradually bring all the material into a kind of all-inclusive theory or presentation of the purpose of life, our origins, etc., and (mostly) what happens to the 'soul' or 'essence' of us when we depart, and it all rounds in as something pleasant, happy, and optimistic - in other words exactly what the average reader wants to hear. And he may have been right about it all, but it could also be just a little too good to be true.
I think that his first book 'Journeys out of the Body' was far and away the most interesting and best-written. As for this one, oh well, even if what he writes isn't really true after all, if nothing else it is at least quite entertaining.
Incredible.......2007-02-11
It may get a confusing if you haven't read the previous books, but this is an amazing and thought-provoking read.
Best of the Trilogy.......2006-01-07
This is my favorite of the Monroe books but it helps to read all three in order. I think that the jargon he uses (often times different from other source of knowledge about OBEs or Astral Travel) would otherwise be difficult to grasp. Also it is interesting to see how his perception becomes more refined over time (nearly 20 years from the first book to this one). I think that there is advanced spiritual knowledge here in disguise as a travelouge (albeit astral travelogue).
Book Description
A buzz is in the air...
Baseball is back in the Motor City!
And for the first time in nearly two decades so is Detroit Tiger Baseball Trivia.
The Ultimate Ultimate Detroit Tigers Trivia Book: A Journey Through Detroit Tiger History By Way of Trivia.
Containing over seven hundred and fifty questions that celebrate the one hundred plus years of Detroit Tiger baseball, The Ultimate Ultimate Detroit Tigers Trivia Book is a unique, fun, and interactive way to take a nostalgic stroll through the history of one of baseball's most storied franchises. Written by a lifelong Detroit Tiger fan for Detroit Tiger fans, this highly original question and answer book was inspired by a deep pride in my hometown team, and was composed, not only to challenge the minds of my fellow Detroit Tiger fans, but also to bring back those cherished memories, moments, and players that have brought so much happiness and enjoyment to Tiger fans over the years.
So, are you a True Detroit Tiger Fan?
-Which Detroit Tiger was the only pitcher to pitch to both Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle in a major league game?
-Which Detroit Tiger was the last player to play in the Negro Leagues and then play the major leagues?
-Who was the last Tiger hitter to win the A.L. MVP?
-Which Tiger was the youngest player in American League history?
-Who were the Detroit Tigers that would later go on to be part of the infamous 1919 Black Sox?
Play along, jog your Detroit Tiger memory, and find the answer to these questions and so many more, in The Ultimate Ultimate Detroit Tigers Trivia Book.
Customer Reviews:
Ultimate Tiger Trivia.......2007-06-14
Boffo! I couldn't put it down! An emotional roller-coaster ride through hell! Gripping! Compelling! Better than "Ball Four"! You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll read it again and again!
The authors' brother
Book Description
Experience a new reality through wondrous visions of the Enochian angels Enochian magick, a system of angelic evocation, is one of the oldest forms of ceremonial magick in the Western world, and perhaps the single most powerful magical system in all occultism. It was developed by the Elizabethan magician Dr. John Dee who, with the assistance of his seer, Edward Kelly, channeled an angelic language and alphabet that is remarkably effective in opening up the mind to currents of intelligence far beyond the human norm. Whether you are a beginner on your path of study or already an advanced magician, there is something for you in Enochian Initiation. Author Frater W.I.T. shares his own experiences and deeply personal visions, expanding upon and broadening the path toward understanding forged by John Dee, Aleister Crowley, and other great magicians who have come before. By bringing this practice into the modern era, Frater W.I.T. shows how human consciousness can be expanded and examined more closely than with simple meditation, psychoanalysis, or even mind-altering drugs. For those of you who might have hesitated to study Enochian magick because you do not share the same beliefs or convictions of the deeply religious Elizabethans, rest assured that it is possible to achieve the same wondrous results within a neutral spiritual context. Frater W.I.T. has developed a nonreligious spirituality in his conjurations while still using Hebrew and Enochian divine names. Through this book, you too will learn how to develop new techniques and ideas to shape your own magical style and method. An initiate of both the Masonic and Rosicrucian schools of mystery, Frater W.I.T. has spent more than twenty years studying western occult traditions. The purpose of his life's work is to develop new methods of ceremonial magick and explore new vistas of psychic and spiritual potential.
Customer Reviews:
Magickal Initiation Up Close.......2007-07-15
Frater WIT provides an in-depth and up close view into his own experiences with the Enochian system of ceremonial magick. This journal offers the reader insights into the journey. I found the book to be not only interesting, but useful as a type of guide. I think that anyone who practices ceremonial magick, or has any interest in it, will find this book highly educational on several different levels. Highly recommended!
A FASCINATING ACCOUNT OF VISIONARY MAGICK.......2007-03-28
Enochian Initiation is a fascinating and thought-provoking look into the inner world of a serious practitioner of the highly complex spiritual art form known as Enochian magick. It's sad to say that most individuals who call themselves "Magicians" seldom actually perform magick. Instead, they spend their time arguing about magick with others who don't perform magick either. How refreshing it is to actually read the thoughts and experiences of a serious magician who actually performs magick and utilizes the fruits of his magical experiences for the benefit of his own spiritual evolution and transformation.
Frater W.I.T.'s work is a highly intelligent and meticulously organized glimpse into the ongoing spiritual quest of modern visionary magician - something seldom seen the world of esoteric literature.
It is a serious and important contribution to the subject of Enochian magick and should be read and re-read by anyone interested in this fascinating subject - especially all who would call themselves `Enochian magicians.'
Enochian Initiation: An In-Depth Look Into Enochian Magick.......2007-01-31
It is clear from my having read Frater W.I.T.'s work that he is indeed an adept regarding the experiences he attains and describes in this remarkable book. What is perhaps even more exciting is that he writes so well, covers so
inclusively the history of Enochian magick, expounds in great detail the correct methodology for practice, and correlates integral aspects of metaphysics and modern scientific theory regarding the human mind in relation to the
universe that this book can be recommended to anyone (including the neophyte as well as those more advanced) interested in understanding and applying the incredible promise of internal development through ceremonial
magick regardless of previous experience. It is said that there are many ways to enlightenment and personal growth. For all those interested in using the methodology of Enochian magick this book is a must!
A fascinating account of self-initiation.......2006-12-26
This isn't primarily another how-to magick book. It does have a useful technical appendix, but the book is primarily a person account of Frater W.I.T.'s journey through the mind-spaces opened up using the Enochian Keys.
However you won't find much historical background of Enochian, you'll have to read up on that first, then take a look at a very detailed personal account of an Enochian journey.
General readers should also take some interest here, the book provides an account of an amazing journey, not unlike Carlos Casteneda, except in this case the "pschedelic agent" isn't a mushroom, its simply ceremonial magick.
If you've ever wondered what ceremonial magick "looks like" here's your chance to peel back the temple curtain and take a peek.
Its rare to find a magick book that shares the experiences of the practitioner, that's why this book would appeal to fans of the Castenda books or other personal diaries of practitioners.
Fans of the memoir genre would also enjoy this one, its a unique memoir of a real magick practitioner, using Dr. Dee's Enochian system not unlike a Buddhist uses the practice of meditation for the goal of enlightenment.
Reviewed by Sabrina Williams.......2006-12-07
Enochian Initiation by Frater W.I.T. introduces the reader to a ceremonial magick based on angels channeled by Elizabethan consultant Dr. John Dee and his assistant, Edward Kelley. They created this set of rituals as part of their quest for a higher consciousness that would provide Queen Elizabeth I with wisdom during her reign. Dee named these angels after Enoch from the Holy Bible, who was able to communicate with angels and enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Though much of the original text was lost, what remained of the tablets fell into the hands of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, an occult group of great influence on modern Wicca and Paganism formed by Freemasons, of which Frater was once a member. They pieced together the remains and created their own rituals from the information.
The author begins with an introduction into the history of the Enochian tablets and how their modern interpretations came to be. Believing the invocations are suitable for all levels of practitioners, he provides some short explanations of the forces being directed and the process of visualization. The beginning practitioner will find this very helpful, as Frater W.I.T. explains the symbolism behind each Spirit. Next, ten short chapters encase dated entries from the author's journal of personal experiences with each individual Enochian ceremony. These give the reader a glimpse of the revelations available through the rituals, though each person's experiences will vary with their own unique life stages.
My first impression from the Introduction was that I had found a kindred spirit in Frater W.I.T., as we share many perspectives on the quest for spirituality as well as the desire to move to higher consciousness and absorb and experience all that is possible. While I found his personal visions interesting, I was expecting a little more instruction as opposed to his journal entries comprising the bulk of the book, especially considering such extensive knowledge of another's visions could subconsciously affect the reader's own connections with the archetypes. I found myself skimming much of the journal, eager to reach the instructional chapters and get started.
Rewardingly, the last chapters are step-by-step directives for the rituals. I immediately practiced the first rite proffered by Frater. I was impressed by the sense of calmness and connection I experienced on this first venture, especially since it has been ages since I practiced. I can only imagine the potential that lies ahead in future rituals, and I intend on pursuing the Enochian tablets further. Frater W.I.T. was correct that any level of practitioner can benefit from the process of Enochian Initiation, and the work of the Golden Dawn has provided us with a treasure that can benefit generations to come.
Amazon.com
In 629, a Chinese Buddhist monk named Hsuan Tsang left the Tang dynasty capital Chang-an (current-day Xian) and set off to India to see the principal shrines of his religion. His path was arduous, involving the passage of vast deserts and towering mountains, and the record he made of his years-long voyage served generations of travelers along the Silk Road until, finally, it was forgotten.
Richard Bernstein, a former New York Times correspondent in China (and now a book critic for that newspaper), follows Hsuan's trail in this outstanding narrative of his overland journey into the heart of Central Asia, a journey that takes him and the fortunate reader into places that few travelers are privileged to see--places, such as Kashgar and Samarkand, that have storied associations but that remain remote even in the age of CNN and fast jets. Though not without his fears and not without getting into a little trouble, Bernstein talks to just about everyone he meets along the way, pokes into little-known corners of history, and spins a wonderfully literate story of difficult travel that recalls such books as Robert Byron's Road to Oxiana and Bruce Chatwin's The Songlines. Anyone who has ever dreamed of seeing the Ganges River and the Taklimakan Desert will find much pleasure in Bernstein's pages. --Gregory McNamee
Book Description
In 629, the revered Buddhist monk Hsuan Tsang set out across Asia in search of the Ultimate Truth, and to settle what he called “the perplexities of my mind.” From the Tang dynasty capital at Xian through ancient Silk Road oases, over forbidding mountain passes to Tashkent, Samarkand, and the Amu-Darya River, across Pakistan to the holiest cities of India–and back again–his sixteen-year journey was beset with every hardship imaginable. Pilgrimage complete, Hsuan Tsang wrote an account of his trek that is still considered one of the classics of Chinese literature.
In 1998, Richard Bernstein, venerated journalist and Time magazine’s first Beijing bureau chief, retraced the steps of Hsuan Tsang’s long and sinuous route, comparing present and past. Aided by modern technology but hampered by language barriers, harried border crossings, hostile Islamic regimes, and the accidental U.S. bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, Bernstein follows the monk’s path not only in physical but in contemplative ways. Juxtaposing his own experiences with those of Hsuan Tsang, Bernstein has crafted a vivid account of two stirring adventures in pursuit of illumination. Inspiring and profoundly felt,
Ultimate Journey is a marvelous amalgamation of travelogue and history, cultural critique and spiritual meditation.
Customer Reviews:
An Unbelievable Transformation.......2007-02-22
Unbelievable that the author could have transformed an epic pilgrimage by a legendary Buddhist hero into a dreary travelogue which passes from train to cab to rickshaw against a background of the author's midlife crisis.
The title itself is misleading because there is no journey. There is an uninspiring movement from place to place, but if there was any growth to be had, the author missed out on it. He professes no spiritual belief, and his disdain for the spiritual beliefs of those around him is explicit. Why travel around the world following the path of a devout Buddhist when you don't even believe in Buddhism?
This book should be required reading for the author's mother and his wife, probably the only two people who would find his pathetic musings the least bit interesting. The most important lesson to be learned from Ultimate Journey is that Bernstein lived a really interesting life, but when he turned 50, he let his fears push him into trying to make something grand happen. If he had looked inside for his ultimate journey, it would have been a lot more interesting and meaningful than this tepid tome.
I gave it two stars because of how clearly he describes the misery of travelling in China (now topping my "Do Not Visit" list).
The Ultimate Digressive Misfire..........2006-11-25
Great writing about travel, history and Buddhism are but a few of my major interests, so I was looking forward to digging into Richard Bernstein's ULTIMATE JOURNEY.
But alas, this is not great writing about travel, history or Buddhism - though (with that latter gripe) as this book often drifts towards the upscale insularity and ivory-tower navel-gazing tendencies Western Buddhism is occasionally accused of, it's probably just as well.
Bernstein's many, many digressions completely derailed this book - his writing about his own ancestry are one of the few places things come alive here, the other being his summation of Hsuan Tsang's actual journey through China, central Asia, and India.
Elsewhere, we get a lot of stuff about the Chinese girlfriend (methinks she'd have written a far more interesting book), the career ennui of an exceptionally priveleged man (at this late date, not automatically interesting, or unique in the least), credentials (which are impressive), and a lucky sidekick (a tall "L. L. Bean"-esque Chinese gentleman, generally referred to as Brave King, described as being eager to tag along as a respite from guiding malevolent Turks around the Gobi, though I'd have liked to hear a bit more of what Brave King was actually thinking, and those Turks were probably just misbegotten midlife crisis dudes from Ankara off on some sort of half-cocked sand-blasted vision quest across the wilds of Xinjiang).
There have been a number of great books about Asia, blending history, travel and occasionally Buddhism in grand fashion: Peter Matthiessen's SNOW LEOPARD, Pico Iyer's THE LADY AND THE MONK, Vikram Seth's FROM HEAVEN LAKE, and Ma Jian's RED DUST - the last three written by actual Asians. For all of it's pretenses, ULTIMATE JOURNEY does little to challenge the stature of those classics. Oh well.
-David Alston
A compelling Journey Through Central Asia.......2005-10-09
While not qualified to judge the author's comments on Buddhism, the book, for me, was one of the best travel books I've ever read. For some reason, Central Asia with its blood-stirring names -- Tashkent, Samarkand, the Silk Road, etc. -- has always fascinated me. Bernstein, in his 50s, did what I, now in my 60s, would have liked to have done but didn't -- travel the Silk Road and exotic points beyond. Perhaps his struggle with his mid-life crisis made his book all the more poignant to this old coot, but I found the story of the monk searching for truth and the story of the journalist searching for himself nicely completmentary. By the time I had finished this delightful book, I felt that I had accompanied the author along the way. And if Bernstein can do that for me, then I pronounce "Ultimate Journey" a helluva good read.
misses the mark.......2005-07-16
I'm a Buddhist, an international 3rd world traveler and I love travel writing. I thought I'd love this book and was very disappointed. The author should have taken the time to develop some Buddhist practice before launching into inaccurate intellectual Buddhist psycho babble. If you want to write about Buddhism, close the books and develop a mediation practice....everything else misses the mark. Without that perspective the book is boring.
travellogue and social commentary.......2004-02-18
_The ultimate Journey_
retracing the path of an ancient buddhist monk who crosses asia in search of enlightment
by richard bernstein
I bought the book in HongKong several summers ago, as i waited for my Chinese visa, knowing this would be the last new English bookstore for awhile.
It was a good choice, well written, interesting and really to the point. For it is a combination of travelogue and spiritual adventure in trying to retrace the path of Hsuan Tsang .
Mixed up are the author's thoughts about the reading about Hsuan Tsang and his journey, the physical places that both visit as Bernstein follows the ancient monk's path, and social commentary not just on the places and people but reflects a lifetime of a newspaperman's experiences in this part of the world. What could be a very disjointed and fragmented 'stream of consciousness' travelogue turns out to be a rather organized investigation into not just the author's current travels but the relationship of the monks journey and what happened in the intervening years from the mid 7th C. Well written as the author is a successful and introspective newspaper writer, thoughtful as this is really a work from the heart for him, and for me very much to the point as i had the book with me in Xian as the Big Goose pagoda.
Because of the dearth of english reading material that summer travelling, i think i read it twice, once straight through and at least once more a page or chapter at a time as i was starving for anything to read, even something i had already finished. I was not disappointed, for his writing and insights are deep and bear close reading. but most of all it was worth the weight in my already overloaded pack, a true recommendation from the heart and shoulders. enjoy.
Average customer rating:
- "New York" is a pleasure
- Another incredible book from Mark Crosby
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New York: The Ultimate Photographic Journey
Manufacturer: Universe Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0789305046
Release Date: 2000-12-01 |
Book Description
New York is a photographic exploration of everything quintessential about New York City, one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. From the Statue of Liberty to the World Trade Center, from Radio City Music Hall to Lincoln Center, from the Guggenheim Museum to the Empire State Building, photographer Mark Crosby takes us on an unforgettable tour of this magical city.
Crosby's vibrant images offer an insider's view of the city's streets and sites, and invite us to participate in the perpetual urban celebration--from Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to the New York City Marathon to a ticker tape parade in Lower Manhattan. Crosby captures the irrepressible spirit of New York with new photographs taken expressly for this book, and including all the major landmarks, as well as festivals, events, and the people who participate in them, in virtually every neighborhood.
Interspersed throughout this book are charming, thougthful quotes about the city by notable New Yorkers, writers, novelists, and poets--both famous and lesser known. Charlie Smith's lyrical foreword introduces us to the visual poetry of Mark Crosby's pictures.
Perfect for the first-time visitor to the city, as well as for the lifelong resident, New York will appeal to anyone who has felt the draw of this colorful, unique, and undeniably vital city.
Customer Reviews:
"New York" is a pleasure.......2001-02-03
Browsing through a bookstore or online, it sometimes seems that there are as many books of photography of New York City as there are yellow cabs or unemployed dot-com workers. So the first question is why do we need another, followed by, and why this one in particular? The answer is simple. Mark Crosby has an extraordinary eye for this city, and much like Walker Evans, captures the essence of what makes it wholly unique. In Crosby's beautiful and oftentimes surprising images, he reminds you that no matter how well you think you know New York, look again, the city just may surprise you.
Another incredible book from Mark Crosby.......2000-12-09
Mark's ability to capture the energy and essence of a scene or a life is incredible. His pictures are definately worth more than a thousand words.
Sites of NYC captured in this book are great, even for someone who lives in the city. Sometimes I marvel at how did he get that shot or even "Where is it?". A book this beautiful must have been created by natural talent - skill could never be perfected to this level.
I can't wait for the third book!
Book Description
SEDONA: BEYOND THE VORTEX, is in its third year, and still going strong as one of the most outstanding books on the subjects of planetary ascension, sacred geometry, and group consciousness. Inspired and endorsed by Drunvalo Melchizedek, creator of the Flower workshops,
Book Description
Originally built for military access during WW II following Pearl Harbor, the Alaska Highway now sees thousands of travelers annually. The famed two-lane highway runs nearly 1,500 miles from British Columbia to Alaska. In their entertaining book, Erwin and Peggy Bauer -- two of the world's preeminent photographers -- showcase the beauty of this vast wilderness in words and pictures. With 75 color photographs, The Alaska Highway is a lively tour and true celebration of the lure of the open road.
Customer Reviews:
Photographic portrait of scenes along the Alaska Highway.......2005-01-07
A delightful little book showing mostly native wildlife and scenics, as well as people and sights and signs along the Alaska Highway. Almost all the photographs have captions that tell the locations along the highway where they were taken, and the text gives an entertaining general narrative describing the highway from start to finish.
This is not a travel or wildlife field guide, but an inspiring pictorial book for a photographer or nature lover, showing and describing areas where many of the wild animals and interesting sights may be found. Erwin and Peggy Bauer, who both passed away this past year, were outstanding partners in a wildlife photography career spanning many many years.
I plan to travel the Alaska Highway this summer by RV and definitely will be taking this little book with me.
Where's the highway?.......2004-02-12
I was rather disappointed when I finally received this book. The cover is a perfect example of my problem with the book. Take notice of the subtitle, "A Portrait of the Ultimate Road Trip". Now notice the picture of the highway to the left, and a seperate picture of a brown bear to the right. For a book about something as visually exciting as the Alaska Highway and it's surroundings, I counted only 3 pictures that actually included beautiful scenery with the actual Alaska Highway. No pictures of wildlife and the highway. How about a picture of a brown bear crossing the road or a beautiful sunset blanketing the highway with golden rays of sunlight. If that is what you expected, you won't find it here.
In several instances the words describe how often one will encounter bison heards, grizzly bears, caribou, and moose crossing the highway, but not once is there an image of any of these creatures near anything remotely resembling asphalt. There are great pictures of these animals by themselves, but they could be stock photography from who know's where. The author's describe a mountain range coming into view as a beautiful backdrop to the Alaska Highway, so then why do they not show me a picture of the highway backdropped by this awesome mountian range? Instead they show me a picture of a lynx!?
Maybe my expectations of this book were too literal, and I expected too much from it. I mean I love dogs, but when I buy a book on the Alaska Highway I want to see it, not close ups of people's cute dogs. I counted 5 dog pictures, compared to the 3 pictures of the actual Alaska Highway. I think this book should be renamed; "The Alaska Highway and the Dogs That Live Off to the Side".
I must say that this book did make me more interested in the Alaska Highway, but not for anything it did, but for what it didn't do. It described the most beautiful images, but left your imagination to paint the picture. Disappointing.....unless you like dogs.
Not What I Expected.......2003-11-08
The description of this book indicates it is hardcover. It IS NOT a hardcover book. It's also very small. There are a lot of good pictures, but little writing. If you are looking for a nice hardcover book with lots of details - this is not it.
A delightful book.......2003-05-25
The authors provide a view of the Alaska Highway as it is in this century, not the previous century. The Alaska Highway of this century is not the dusty, gravel road of the previous century. This book allows the reader to formulate expectations of an Alaskan Highway journey in 2003. The authors also provide information on likely places to spot caribou, bison, muskoxen, and wolves. Their photographs capture wildlife, scenery, relaxing side trips, local humor, and glimpses into the past in a vibrant, brillant, informative, and tantalizing manner. The text is refreshing. I'm glad I bought this book and I would recommend it to others. For those planning to travel the Alaska Highway in the near future, this book is a great supplement to the 55th Anniversary (2003) edition of The Milepost.
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