History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The Golden Mean: In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Concludes

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The final culmination of a transcendent correspondence
The Characters Will Grab You and Not Let Go
Oh...
This will get you thinking
Amazingly enthraling and engaging, wonderfully illustrated.

The Golden Mean: In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Concludes
Nick Bantock
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0811802981

Book Description

Sabine -- I was sure I understood. Yet you were not here when I returned and there was no sign that you ever had been here.... Today comes your card saying you were in this house for three days after my return.?

I am bewildered.?

I need you badly.?

-- Griffin?

?In this final volume of the phenomenal, best-selling trilogy begun with Griffin & Sabine and continued in Sabine's Notebook, the mystery of the two artists deepens, their questions grow more urgent. New obstacles (including a sinister intruder) test the tenacity of their passion, and in each letter or postcard, painting and prose are even more richly intertwined. Destined to be the most sought after novel of the year, The Golden Mean builds toward a powerful conclusion that will satisfy the millions of readers already entranced by the spirited, imaginative, enigmatic union of Griffin and Sabine.

?With over 50 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and one million copies in print, the first two volumes of this unique trilogy have captured the imagination of readers and reviewers across the country.?

Visit griffinandsabine.com!

Customer Reviews:

The final culmination of a transcendent correspondence.......2006-09-03

Griffin and Sabine are located on opposite ends of the earth -- Griffin is a lonely artist in England, while Sabine is a mysterious native of the elusive Sicmon Island chain in the South Pacific. Somehow, these two unique souls manage to find one another via a postal correspondence, and it is this correspondence back and forth which comprises the Griffin and Sabine books. Griffin and Sabine come to realize very quickly that their lives are inextricably bound up with one another, and that their coming together, face to face, is of utmost importance, not only for their own sanity, but possibly for the fate of the very world. Unfortunately, meeting face to face is more difficult than each of them could ever have imagined, and their quest to reach out to one another in a world of smoke and mirrors forms the backbone of these books.

I have loved these books since I first read them several years ago, and I keep coming back to them and rereading them over and over. They are truly able to transport you from Sabines sun-drenched paradaisical island home, to Griffin's rain-soaked isolation, and into other realms that are far less easy to describe. Excellently wrought and wonderfully creative, I encourage anyone with an imagination to read this trilogy: "Griffin and Sabine," "Sabine's Notebook," and finally, "The Golden Mean."

The Characters Will Grab You and Not Let Go.......2003-11-26

"The Golden Mean" is the best of the three books, in my humble opinion. The ending is satisfying and still somehow mysterious. Bantock doesn't spoon-feed his readers information, he seems to want to encourage them to make up their own minds about the nature of Griffin and Sabine's relationship, What It All Means, etc. Altogether, it's a wonderful, nerve-wracking book.

Oh..........2001-12-21

In some ways I felt like this series wrapped up too neatly, and in other ways I felt like it should have been more wrapped up. Oh well. Still a magnificent work of art combined with a compellings and intruiging story.

This will get you thinking.......2001-09-30

The hauntingly beautiful writings, will keep you returning to this book (and the previous two) to search for the meaning.

Amazingly enthraling and engaging, wonderfully illustrated........1999-04-08

Nick Bantock needs to be congratulated for his amazing work in the Griffin and Sabine triology. His superb illustrations bring an intriguing story to life. Watching the correspondence of Griffin and Sabine unfold in these wonderful books is like watching a private moment unfold from the window. As you peak in at these two wonderfully real characters you not only can't wait to turn each page to see what is said but what is drawn. The style of these books was so well done they deserve the highest recognition. The realism used to create actual letters and postcards between Griffin and Sabine for the reader to take out and hold only adds to this amazing experience.

Love Letters and Two Other Plays: The Golden Age, What I Did Last Summer (Plume Drama)

Average customer rating:

As an actress in this show...
If done properly....wow!
Don't read if you want to spend time on other pursuits.
Friends for Life
Love Letters is simple, yet heartbreaking

Love Letters and Two Other Plays: The Golden Age, What I Did Last Summer (Plume Drama)
A. R. Gurney
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0452265010

Customer Reviews:

As an actress in this show..........1999-12-23

I am involved in a production of this play right now, and I have to say that when I read it before I auditioned, i cried, and the same was true in both call backs and the read through. This is a moving piece that proves that two people do not have to be married to be truly in love and live for each other. This play helped me inspect my own life and treat those around me with more thought as to the rest of our lives together. An excellent read, for the layman and the professional...

If done properly....wow!.......1999-07-25

This is the only play that I have seen in my Forensics (speech and debate) career that has brought tears to my eyes. But it has to be done properly or it will bomb.

Don't read if you want to spend time on other pursuits........1999-06-25

In Gurney's introduction to the play, he states that 'Love Letters' was created during an exercise to learn how to type. Once again, as is so prevalent in history, genius is created accidently. This small, simply-constructed, 55 page play is one of the most captivating pieces of literature I have ever read. After seing a production (on television) I sought out a copy and promptly read the entire play at once. Any reader desperately wants to see Andy and Melissa together and Gurney, the author, does a tremendous job of detailing their lives in such a short space. The play also reveals, so succintly, the heartbreak of mental illness and alcoholism. Melissa's ability to paint and create, her greatest gift, is borne from her pain. Gurney's ability to delve into the minds of such complex characters is outstanding. This play is truly a masterpiece of interpersonal relationships and love for all. There is hope in the hopeless. A must read for anyone with a heart and soul.

Friends for Life.......1999-04-14

"Love Letters" is a play consisting of a lifetime of correspondence between a man and a woman. It starts when they are barely old enough to write (2nd grade) and ends when one of them dies. In between, there is a lifetime of love, understanding, misunderstanding, longing, pain, and understatement. I saw the play produced in San Francisco in 1989 with Steve Allen and Jayne Meadows. In 1997, I saw it with the original Long Wharf Theatre cast of John Rubinstein and Joanna Gleason. It was excellent with both casts. Last night (04-12-99), ABC premiered a TV movie version directed by Stanley Donen with Steven Weber and Laura Linney. He got the essence of the play with their reading the letters to each other, and flashbacks to chosen moments in time. It had me crying all over again. I remember seeing it for the first time ten years ago with my male best friend. At the intermission, we both looked at each other and said, "Wow." It could have been our life story.

Love Letters is simple, yet heartbreaking.......1998-12-18

Love Letters has a very simple concept: Two people reading letters they wrote to each other on separate parts of the stage. They never look at each other. But within these letters is so much humor, love, and truth that the play will carry you away with delight. I read this play as I was browsing through a bookstore. I just wanted to read the first couple of pages since I'd heard so much about it. After page three, I didn't want to put it down. Now I'm buying it for a friend. Don't think this play is a sappy collection of gushy girl talk or even romance-novel fodder. If you have ever been in love, you WILL recognize parts of yourself in this. It always stays true to its well-drawn characters, which is what makes the end so heartbreakingly wonderful.

The Argonautika: The Story of Jason and the Quest for the Golden Fleece (Hellenistic Culture and Society)

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Softback Commentary?
Certainly one can do better
Should be more widely read...
Great translation with more commentary than you'll read.

The Argonautika: The Story of Jason and the Quest for the Golden Fleece (Hellenistic Culture and Society)
Apollonios Rhodios
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0520076869

Book Description

The Argonautika, the only surviving epic of the Hellenistic era, is a retelling of the tale of Jason and the Golden Fleece, probably the oldest extant Greek myth. Jason, a young prince, is sent on a perilous expedition but comes through various ordeals with the aid of the king's daughter, Medeia, winning the golden fleece and carrying off Medeia herself. He is a very modern figure, not at all Achillean: almost an anti-hero. Along the way, the story incorporates vivid accounts of early exploration and colonizing ventures. Peter Green's lively, readable verse translation captures the swift narrative movement of Apollonios's epic Greek.
Apollonios Rhodios (c. 305-235 B.C.), the author of the Argonautika, was appointed Chief Librarian in the legendary library at Alexandria around 265 B.C. His first draft of this poem, composed when he was a very young man, drew scornful reactions from the literati of the day, Kallimachos in particular, who thought epic passé and long poems vulgar. Apollonios withdrew to the maritime island of Rhodes (his work is notable for its nautical expertise), where he hammered out the text as we know it today, returning to eventual success in the city that had rejected him. The compromise that resulted is a fascinating combination of age-old myth and modern treatment that produces a gripping and unforgettable narrative. Peter Green has translated this renowned poem with skill and wit, offering a refreshing interpretation of a timeless story.
The cloth edition of the Argonautika includes Peter Green's lively and incisive commentary, the first on all four books since Mooney's in 1912. While clarifying text and background, the commentary takes full advantage throughout of the recent upsurge of scholarly interest in Apollonios.

Customer Reviews:

Softback Commentary?.......2007-03-11

i was shocked on aquiring the softback to discover that it was lacking the commentary, thus making the book semi-useless to me. and when i write 'shocked' i am being polite. the saving grace is that at least i got a good cheap copy of the poem in verse form.

Certainly one can do better.......2003-12-11

Green writes like a pompous ass. He throws in whatever tropes will push the academic buttons but he totally misses Apollonius. A truly excellent translation has yet to be written.

Should be more widely read..........2000-07-13

The Argonautika should be as widely read as the Iliad and the Odyssey (or for that matter the Aeneid). Before reading this particular version one should first study the structure of the work, completly discarding Green's Introduction to it, unless, of course, you happen to be a working classical scholar! The translation of Apollonios Argonautika is an excellent read, made much more understandable by the excellent Glossary, which provides background information on all the characters and gods mentioned in the epic, and on geographical locations as well. This glossary is either an excellent first source of information or as a refresher to what the reader might already know. Excellent maps detailing the route the Argonauts took are found in the back of the book. Although an excellent read, it's not one that should be done at a rapid pace! The bibliography makes no mention of Robert Graves narative work on Jason and the Golden Fleece, Hercules My Shipmate.

Great translation with more commentary than you'll read........1999-02-23

I liked it. The translation was well done and quite readable. I was surprised, however when I ran out of translation and hit the extensive commentary at the back. As I am not a scholar of Greek or Roman writings or mythology the depth of the commentary was generally too much for me. I would have preferred the split page method, where the text and commentary relevant to it appear on the same page. The glossary at the back was helpful to identify which god, goddess or hero was referred to. Some of them are obscure and some unfamiliar names and spellings are used in place of more familiar ones (Kirke = Circe for example).

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Amazing, Timeless
Definitely not a pain in the ass...

Golden Ass (Midland Books No 36)
Apuleius
Manufacturer: Indiana University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Essays | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0253200369

Customer Reviews:

Amazing, Timeless.......2001-01-06

I really loved this book and have recommended it to many (unfortunately none have taken me up on it). I had to read this for my History of Western Civilization class in college. I thought it was going to be boring and dry, but soon found myself consumed by it. It's hilarious, fast-paced, romantic and thought provoking. What impressed me most was that a person of today can easily relate to the way Apuleius thinks and acts. I had always imagined Greeks walking around in togas endlessly philosiphizing in white marble temples, but here we are presented with the how similar our thoughts and daily activities are to how theirs were. It allowed me to see historical figures in a new way. I think that being able to laugh (heartily) at the same jokes is indicative of how alike our minds are to theirs. Again I recommend this to everyone.

Definitely not a pain in the ass..........1998-04-02

I read The Golden Ass for a Classic art course I took while at university I loved it! It is fun, entertaining and comical- not your typical dry Roman read. It is a great story and a great look into history.I highly recommend this tale to anyone who not wants to laugh but is interested in an important text from antiquity.

Griffin & Sabine Trilogy: Griffen & Sabine/Sabine's Notebook/the Golden Mean

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These books are exceptional, a must read.
Passing it on,...
A True Romantic's Love Story

Griffin & Sabine Trilogy: Griffen & Sabine/Sabine's Notebook/the Golden Mean
Nick Bantock
Manufacturer: Publishing Mills
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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ASIN: 1879371588

Customer Reviews:

These books are exceptional, a must read........1998-08-17

Words fail me in description, the best I can do is wow. The story is enthralling, the art beautiful, and the story as original as can be. I loved them.

Passing it on,..........1998-02-27

After being introduced to these books in college, I also had to have them. Now that I'm teaching high school English, with a little censoring of language, my enthusiasm shows as they hear the story (and mystery) unfold. It makes them think, guess, hypothesize, get involved, even get angry! I left 35 ninth-graders speechless and hanging on every word!! Imagine that!!

A True Romantic's Love Story.......1997-11-12

I received the trilogypak for my birthday... I have previously read the books before, and I had to have them for myself. These books explore the dark and myterious world of 'what if' when it comes to romantic love. If you have ever felt that you have a soul mate somewhere in the world, and you felt that somehow, someway, they were with you, watching you, then these stories will enrapture and captivate your mind. This is a must read selection!

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For fans of discursive thought
A Quilt of Blessings
Great Wisdom & Understanding
ESSENTIAL READING !!!
History or Fiction ?

The Golden Letters
John Myrdhin Reynolds
Manufacturer: Snow Lion Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1559390506

Book Description

REL007000

Customer Reviews:

For fans of discursive thought.......2006-07-14

This book begins with "The Three Statements That Strike the Essential Points" from the Last Testament of Garab Dorje the first human master of Dzogchen: "One is introduced directly to one's own nature", "One definitively decides upon this unique state" and "One continues directly with confidence in liberation." They seem straightforward enough - OK maybe a little terse. Dudjom Rinpoche's Short Commentary (1 page) is very nicely translated and to the point. Next is a short work by Patrul Rinpoche with his poetic commentary that develops things further. By its end we are up to Page 67. Then Mr. Reynolds commentary kicks in - wow. I read it but it's some pretty rough sledding. Far, far too many insertions of Tibetan terms break the flow of what is, after all, supposed to be a translation. Then there are nuances (in parens) within interpolations [in brackets]like this from Page 145:

"As for the the real meaning of this: [All of] the states [consisting of the nondual gnosis or knowledge (which is primordial awareness) present in the hearts]of all the Sugatas are encompassed within this (single unique state of immediate intrinsic Awareness found within every individual sentient being)."

Dzogchen just isn't this hard!

The latter part of the book is lengthy scholarly material intended to defend and support Dzogchen's ancient lineage problem and its radical differences from Tantric Mahayana Buddhism. Hey,it either works in your spiritual life or it doesn't. What difference does it make if the concepts and techniques arose in 2,500 BCE or 1100 CE? Read "The Mirror, Advice on Presence and Awareness" by Namkhai Norbu and you can start living it - today.

A Quilt of Blessings.......2005-07-14

This is a magical book, a work of many gifted hands. For one, Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche is a great yogin, revealer of treasures, and scholar in Buddhist studies, and his fingerprints are visible throughout much of John Reynolds' presentation and his commentaries as well.

Reynolds (aka Vajranatha) translates here the Three Statements of Garab Dorje, which is a very early transmission of Dzogchen, or The Great Perfection (if you don't know, this is a very high Buddhist teaching), as well as a commentary by Patrul Rinpoche (see The Words of My Perfect Teacher) and a guru-yoga sadhana revealed by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche: all of which are extremely powerful and ably translated into clear English.

While I might quibble with certain of his ideas (the Jungian archetypal tango for one), I remain deeply impressed by Mr. Reynolds' commentaries and other supporting materials. What's not to love about a tantric adept in a tengallon hat? It's clear to me that Vajranatha is doing his own teachers proud, and I am thankful for his work. It will be a fine day when more of his translations and original writings are available in print.

May the Dharma flourish!

Great Wisdom & Understanding.......2004-12-10

This is a wonderful book, but (per Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung) it should be read with the understanding that there is a difference between objective/material/scientific reality on the one hand, and mythical reality (e.g. the Australian aborigine "dream time") on the other hand. Thus, many legends exist in virtually all religious traditions that are mythological. It is unrealistic to assume that your own religion has no such mythology and all others are merely mythology. In truth they are all a mixture of both types of reality. Neither should be denigrated, neither should be raised high above the other. Reynolds magnificently translates and comments upon this key Dzogchen text. But, he also makes numerous pithy, wise comments of a very general nature about religion/mythology in general. I think these make this work quite unique and particularly valuable in the study of comparative religion. I also find that comparing religious views tends to clarify my understanding. Amazingly enough, the doctrines of Kabbalah and those of Dzogchen and Mahamudra are VERY frequently supportive of each other - if not identical in essence (though differing in terminology, of course). Thus, I have added a number of quotes from this book into my collection:
p. 199: "It is only human nature to overlay the history or the biography of a charismatic figure-whether religious, military, or political-with myth, so that this figure comes to approximate a preexisting archetype. Thus, in later times, what we find in tradition, both written and oral, is not biography in the modern sense but hagiography...But this fact does not in itself disprove the real historical existence of these masters."
p. 202: "Modern scholars, conditioned by our literate civilization and our text-illuminated educational system, tend to overlook the importance of oral tradition...It would seem obvious that the appearance of a text at a particular time in history does not prove that the ideas the text contains first came into existence when these were written down in that text. Quite the contrary."
p. 203: "It is merely the bias of most modern scholars to think that something does not exist unless it is written down in some text."
p. 212: "Tradition itself is always pointing at a higher source and ultimate origin which lies beyond mere history."
p. 294: "It is necessary to be aware of the western intellectual tradition and cultural assumptions underlying our everyday use of language because otherwise we can be led into many misunderstandings."

ESSENTIAL READING !!!.......2004-07-22

John Reynolds was recognized as the first western man (Inje) to take Ngakpa ordination in Tibetan Buddhism. He studied extensively under the late Dudjom Rinpoche who gave him his vows, as well as with Namkhai Norbu, and Lopon Tenzin Namdak. Reynolds was one of the first westerners to translate essential texts in the Buddhist tradition, particularly teachings on Dzogchen. His translations are technically accurate, and show a depth of insight into Tibetan thought and theory which few others have shown. This is essential reading for any Buddhist!

I highly recommend his other texts as well, including his Bonpo Dzogchen teachings which are to be found at the moment in booklet form. See his website: www.vajranatha.com

Samaya hoh!

History or Fiction ?.......2004-07-17

Reynolds attempts to anchor the development of Dzogchen in history rather than myth and he fails. His style reminds me of a Christian fundamentalist - and I would bet that is his background - trying to prove the historical accuracy of Genesis. He has an answer for every issue critics and objective historians have raised regarding the origins of Dzogchen, its early documents and their authors, but almost all of those answers are unsupported by anything but conjecture and the pronouncements of lamas. If you are a true believer, this is probably the book for you. But if you would like something of substance that trys to separate history from fiction and partisan conjecture, I(...)

Know the Alphabet: Letter and Sound Games! (Video Tape: A Golden Book Step Ahead Video) (VHS: 30 Minutes)

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Know the Alphabet: Letter and Sound Games! (Video Tape: A Golden Book Step Ahead Video) (VHS: 30 Minutes)
Timmy Tiger , and Western Publishing
Manufacturer: Western Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0307138585

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A glimpse of China in change - beautifuly written letters

Golden Lilies: Letters by Kwei-Li
Eileen Goudge
Manufacturer: Hodder & Stoughton General Division
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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A glimpse of China in change - beautifuly written letters.......2006-10-15

This book consists of two series of letters written by a traditional Chinese lady called Kwei-Li. The first series are written shortly after her marriage when her husband is posted overseas as an offical and she writes of home life to him. They are notable for the poetry of their writing and are very evocotive of old China.

The second series of letters are written to her mother-in-law 25 years later and are very different in tone. They deal with the problems she has with a rapidly changing China and how the new, western style, education her children have received has changed their expectations in life - not in a positive way in her view.

This book is essentially a reprint of a book that was published in 1914 called 'My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard' as a series of letters that was given to the author to translate for publication. Unfortunatley the original letters have been lost and we can never know how much 'clarfication' of ordinary Chinese customs in the letters have been added to what we read now. Despite this, these letters give an inside glimpse of a fairly ordinary Chinese family dealing with the changes that swept China in the late 19th and early 20th century. They are also easy to read and beautifully written. If you have an interest in China these are worth reading even though it is doubtful that they could ever be used as historical documents and I should note that visually this is a beautiful book with commissioned woodcuts to illustrate the letters.

Alchemist of the Golden Dawn: The Letters of the Revd W.A. Ayton to F.L. Gardner and Others, 1886-1905 (Roots of the Golden Dawn Series)

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Alchemist of the Golden Dawn: The Letters of the Revd W.A. Ayton to F.L. Gardner and Others, 1886-1905 (Roots of the Golden Dawn Series)
W. A. Ayton , Ellic Howe , and F. Leigh Gardner
Manufacturer: Aquarian Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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