Kakaku：3650 saved$36.50
Winsome Book India
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Superb book on tantric practices) 『Evan-Wentz was one of the first Westerners to meet with authentic tantric Buddhist teachings and probably the first to perform a systematic and accurate study of the Tibetan texts with the invaluable help of the late Lama Kazi Dawa-Samdup. The book contains the original texts superbly translated from the Tibetan by the lama and Evans-Wentz own exposition on some of the central practices, such as 'tummo' and 'phowa' (two of the Six Doctriones of Naropa).
Evans-Wentz was remarkably gifted and applied something akin to sublime linguistic flair in writing this book. His greatest achievement perhaps is his invention of a manner of English tantric language to effectively convey Buddhism's rarest and most inaccessible teachings to Western readers. This makes this book not only an accurate and virtually flawless account of tantric Buddhism, but also a delight to read.
Despite dating from the 1950s this book is still one of the finest and most comprehensive renderings of some of the most important tantric practices.』
(Still impressive after all these years) 『This book is a compendium of diverse Tibetan Buddhist works, translated, extensively annotated with footnotes, introductions,&addenda. For most, if not all, this was their original translation&publication in English. Evans-Wentz (E-W) adopted a scientific/anthropological view (per his training); per p. xii: R. R. Marett-"He meant to do his best to look through the window without being baffled by his own reflection in the glass." His critics (Donald Lopez in his preface&John Reynolds in his "Self-Liberation") emphasize E-W's history of Theosophy&Hindu yoga. However, as a scientist, I disagree. As George MacDonald said in "Lilith," "What do they know of England who only England know?" It's like trying to see a polar bear in a snow storm or a black cat in a moonless night! E-W non-dogmatically uses information from many sources e.g. Sufism, Christianity, Greek&modern philosophy, etc. to provide contrast&context with the text. Such background material is essential in order to comprehend meaning (knowledge) vs. mere information (dogma). Interestingly, Chen-Chi Cheng's "Yogic Commentary" points out further correspondences between Mahamudra (MM)&Zen, saying that p. xlii: "A knowledge of Tantric yoga contributes greatly to an understanding of all aspects of Buddhist enlightenment, including difficult&obscure Zen koans." As the "Yogic Precepts" in Book I point out, p. 79: "A philosophy comprehensive enough to embrace the whole of knowledge is indispensable,"&per E-W, p. 322 note 1: "The one mind of man in its workings transcends the superficial barriers of clime,&race,&creed." The wide range of these 7 documents&the lack of readers' prior training necessitated very extensive background. Nevertheless, this book, even today, is not for the squeamish; it requires perseverance, reflection, meditation, etc., but can be extremely rewarding to discerning readers. It includes both theory/wisdom&practices: MM, Naropa's 6 yogas, chöd (see Edou's wonderful book on the MM of Machig Labdron), powa (transference of consciousness), the 5 Dyani Buddhas&their wisdoms,&a short Perfection of Wisdom sutra. Some of these topics are addressed in more modern works, but some are not-or not in the detail given here or with the extensive explanatory material in Western terminology&embedded multi-cultural analogies. A few of the book's more interesting/controversial statements include: p. 88: "If the empty nature of the mind be realized, no longer is it necessary to listen to or meditate upon religious teachings," p. 310: "Externally mine our thought-creations which have risen up against me as enemies in the shape of deities&demons,"&p. 349: As modern scholars have noted, those great thinkers of ancient India taught, as Kant did 17 centuries afterwards, that the world is will&representation...phenomenal appearances." This is a phenomenal work even today.』
(a classic source) 『Along with the companion volumes making up the Tibetan Series edited by W.Y. Evans-Wentz, this book broke new ground when first published in 1935,effectively placing the first, full length translations of authentic Tibetan Buddhist teachings within our reach. Despite the passage of time and a prolific increase in the number of such translations, the material made available by W.Y. Evans-Wentz and his mentors remains some of the most lucid at our disposal. As W.Y. Evans-Wentz put it: ". . .my aim has been to place on record not only a catena of carefuly made translations of texts . . .but also a body of orally transmitted traditions and teachings relating to the texts, which I received from the late Lama@Kazi Dawa Samdup, who was my Tibetan Guru. . ." - hence, the emphasis throughout is essentially practical. In fact, W.Y. Evans-Wentz hinted that the present volume may well be found to be the most valuable, inasmuch as it gives the very texts of some of the principal yogas and meditations which many of the most illustrious Tibetan and Indian philosophers, including Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa and Milarepa, employed in attaining Right Knowledge " (i.e. samyak sambodhi).
The shortened titles of these seven texts are as follows:
(1) Gampopa's Supreme Path, called 'The Precious Rosary. ' (2) The Epitome of the Great Symbol. (3) The Epitome of the Six Doctrines (4) The Transference of Consciousness (5) The Method of Eradicating the Lower Self. (6) The Fivefold Wisdom of the Long Hum (7) The Essence of the Transcendental Wisdom.
Briefly summed up as 'Seven Books of Wisdom of the Great Path' - what we actually find here is a compendium of all the major doctrines and practices known to Tibetan Buddhism, as rooted in the Mahayana- although some practices, such as 'Pho-wa' (transference of consciousness) seem to be peculiarly Tibetan - even though utilised in an orthodox Buddhist context. Special commentaries precede each carefully rendered text, a wealth of information at the reader's disposal.
In recent years, some critics have questioned the approach taken by W.Y. Evans-Wentz. It is worth quoting W.Y. E-W again: " this volume is meant at once for the exact scholar and for the general reader. The former will note that the original textual sources, which are sevenfold, are authentic, and that nothing has been incoporated into the texts or presented in the introductions and annotations which has not had doctrinal sanction. "
Earlier editions of this text had a preface and tribute by Prof Chen Chi Chang, a Chinese Buddhist scholar who not only practiced Tibetan Buddhism with leading Lamas, but also had an honorary Tibetan title bestowed upon him - Cha-gyur Khan-po (Master interpreter/translator). W.Y. Evans Wentz was Rhodes scholar with impeccable qualifications. However, he was no dry-as-dust academic. Something of a scholar-gypsy-cum-pilgrim, W-Y Evans-Wentz wandered around N. India, Sikkhim, Tibetan communities etc., sitting at the feet of genuine Buddhist teachers, before that world was turned upside down by political upheaval. These are valuable sources.』
(The 3rd book in the Tibetan series from W.Y.Evans-Wentz) 『This is the third book in the Tibetan series from W.Y.Evans-Wentz. Although this book can be used as a stand-alone yoga book it is certainly not best read that way. Basically this is part of a developing series. The first book in the Tibetan series - The Tibetan Book of the Dead, is the fundamental book of the series which describes Buddhist philosophy, psychology and metaphysics. It is the best translation out there and the original! The second book in the series is called Tibets Greatest Yogi Milarepa is the story of a great yogi who puts into practice most of what we learn from The Tibetan Book of the Dead. It is through the story of Milarepa that we learn more about The Tibetan Book of the Dead. In the story of Milarepa the yogi studies the Seven Books of Wisdom of the Great Path as taught to him by his gurus. THIS BOOK is an expansion that explains those wisdoms and describes the yoga that is used to achieve them. When you understand that, then this book becomes invaluable to anybody who is looking for right yoga path. IT IS HERE!
These texts are ancient and old but have served millions since their inception. The work that Evans-Wentz has done here is substantial if not some of the most important yoga concepts ever seen by the occident. You will probably need a guru of some kind to help you get started in any form of yoga but this book is plain sailing once you learn the basics right. Most of the major yoga practices are covered in this book. Most new books on yoga are indebted to this mans work on the subject, all directly brought back from the orient by master gurus whom which Dr. W.Y.Evans-Wentz was a student for years.
There is lots of philosophy to go through and lots of text and this may put a lot of readers off, or those what to get straight into the practice but there is lots of philosophy and mental orientation to get right first. It is all here... all 434 pages of it! Mostly text! There is nothing else like it! The original is here!
*** The other books in the series are - The Tibetan Book of the dead and Tibets Greatest Yogi Milarepa - before this one. The final book in the series is The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation. ***』
(Liberating) 『Ancient wisdom transmuted through the modern, clear perception of Evans-Wentz and delivered in a highly readable and beautifully designed book.
Cannot go wrong here.』
『Books, audiotapes, and classes about yoga are today as familiar as they are widespread, but we in the West have only recently become engaged in the meditative doctrines of the East--only in the last 70 or 80 years, in fact. In the early part of the 20th century, it was the pioneering efforts of keen scholars like W. Y. Evans-Wentz, the late editor of this volume, that triggered our ongoing occidental fascination with such phenomena as yoga, Zen, and meditation. Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines--a companion to the popular Tibetan Book of the Dead, which is also published by Oxford in an authoritative Evans-Wentz edition--is a collection of seven authentic Tibetan yoga texts that first appeared in English in 1935. In these pages, amid useful photographs and reproductions of yoga paintings and manuscripts, readers will encounter some of the principal meditations used by Hindu and Tibetan gurus and philosophers throughout the ages in the attainment of Right Knowledge and Enlightenment. Special commentaries precede each translated text, and a comprehensive introduction contrasts the tenets of Buddhism with European notions of religion, philosophy, and science. Evans-Wentz has also included a body of orally transmitted traditions and teachings that he received firsthand during his fifteen-plus years of study in the Orient, findings that will interest any student of anthropology, psychology, comparative religion, or applied Mahayana Yoga. These seven distinct but intimately related texts will grant any reader a full and complete view of the spiritual teachings that still inform the life and culture of the East. As with Evans-Wentz's other three Oxford titles on Tibetan religion, which are also appearing in new editions, this third edition of Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines features a new foreword by Donald S. Lopez, author of the recent Prisoners of Shangri-La: Tibetan Buddhism and the West.』
IPhone 3G used's review (Yoga) 『The book was to hard to follow. These are yoga exersises for the more experienced.』
(I've had this book a long time) 『I take it everywhere I travel, business or pleasure. It's a convenient size and imparts the necessary information. It's fun, well laid out and I've found it much better than a DVD. Discover Yoga by yourself or enhance your studio experience with a well designed text. The pictures are clear and show poses well. The demonstrators show the correct forms. The text imparts the right amount of information without vectoring out into other subjects not related to the task at hand.
I thoroughly enjoy this book and have for many years.
IPhone 3G used's review (The art of bluff at its best) 『If you ask the average person to make an effort to produce a really, really bad drawing, he/she will definitely come up with something better than the drawings in this book, for, one thing is sure: the quality of the drawings in this book are very hard to match.
I fully agree with the first reviewer of this book. To begin with, the drawings are so poor that I am still not sure whether the author was making an experiment to test the readers' gullibilty before the printed page, or whether she actually believed that such drawings are of quality? I honestly cannot fathom how someone would dare present such awfully ugly drawings as a model to be used for "guidance"!
Further annoying is the author's constant use of names of painting masters (Matisse/Picasso, and more) for her own amazingly dreadful drawings, calling some of them "a study on Matisse's...." etc. etc.! In addition, her own incessant admiration of her own work with constant expressions like the "loveliness/beauty" of this drawing or that, or about "the power of beauty to heal" written under a dreadful drawing with just one pale ugly color that looks more like someone was sick over it.
While the author repeats how "all things are related, everything is one", her book demonstrates the exact opposite: her very titles and headings, borrowing words from yoga and zen, are completely unrelated to the content and actually distract from it, and, her drawings do not display ANY of the principles of balance and beauty she talks about and, due to their unbelievable ugliness, do a disservice to the few interesting points which she makes once in a while, and which you will find if you sift carefully through a lot of dross and completely ignore her titles/headings and classifications.
In order to get a crumb of benefit out of this book, you have to be extremely selective and very patient, because what is worthwhile in the end might be no more than a handful of pages. Besides, you have to have a strong stomach to take all those drawings.
If you really, really must have it, buy it used, as you will really, really regret having paid its full price!』
(another "misleading" art instruction...) 『Okay, so now there's the "YOGA OF DRAWING" "New&Improved!" Just like laundry detergent. There must surely be a catchy drawing book title combined with the perennial "ZEN" in the title going to press each month, and it's ridiculous. This book uses YOGA in the title to sell.
[by the way, Carbonetti DOES have an art book with "ZEN" in the title! ]
****** PLEASE KEEP IN MIND...that what I am going to say here, NOT that either art instruction or Yoga instruction is wrong; but that it is counterproductive to combine beginning drawing with notions of YOGA, etc. If you remember this, my review will be studied with greater clarity. *******
The author cannot distinguish between teaching art or teaching metaphysics.
As a result of this MOVING-IN-TWO-DIRECTIONS-AT-ONCE gimmick, students face the dilemma of studying art and metaphysics. Reason might suggest that Art cannot be, de facto, equated with metaphysics. Wisdom might suggest not attempting both simultaneously. Book sales might benefit from the combination; but that's a benefit to the author, not the book buyer.
Any human being is lucky to obtain mastery in a single field of endeavour, let alone presume to have mastered DRAWING and YOGA both; but one of these corny: A-WINK-IS-AS-GOOD-AS-A-NOD drawing titles comes out every month or so, and rarely does one of them offer justification or improvement on basic drawing texts already in print. The author who finds the subject of DRAWING, alone and of itself, inadequate to publish, must join DRAWING with something exotic, foreign and fantastical to con the general public.
The author, by combining religion with "drawing" in the title, suggests that DRAWING, of, and by itself, without reference to personal religion, metaphysics, or New Age hucksterism, is INSUFFICIENT. This is an insult to DRAWING, and art generally, because DRAWING is sufficient unto itself; And any author who must parade their religious beliefs before the general public is merely relying upon a common gimmick to sell books. Selling books, and teaching drawing, are two distinctly different things, and where there is one, you will probably not find the other.
I am very sympathetic to religion, inclusive of YOGA, and personal healing as well. However, the essence of YOGA [and why am I even discussing YOGA in an ART BOOK !!!???!! ] is that it is:
A SYSTEM OF INITIATION.
In Western Society however, it arrives watered-down, as a mere system of physical exercises, (Aerobics, if you will...) without the TEACHER, without spiritual initiation. (You can read precisely what I'm affirming here in Wikipedia. Look up YOGA) YOGA means "union" and it is about balancing the spiritual and physical.
Also, the idea of YOGA is used in its most general sense by the author, without clarification as to whether it is: RAJA YOGA, KARMA YOGA, BHAKTI YOGA, KUNDALINI YOGA, etc. each of which is suited to specific personality types and are intended to accomplish specific results. Without a teacher suggesting to you what specific YOGA type you need for further development, the student could end up wasting his entire lifetime, or worse, producing harmful results for himself. This is MARKETING American-style at its worst.
Moreover, even in the context of spirituality, the suggestion of YOGA is not an embrace of an entire spiritual system. It is an embrace in part, a most superficial affair. An "act" that wears thin with time.
There are two common fallacies in the mind, that are exploitable here. Both are so subtle as to be generally invisible.
(1) The KNOW-IT-ALL Fallacy:
Here, the authorship implies that if we KNOW-EVERTHING, we can produce powerful art. Certainly, if one "knows about" art, and "knows about" Yoga also, isn't that just about ...everything? Sure it is. Consider how many How-to-Draw books carry on about ZEN, QUANTUM PHYSICS and other powerful and incomprehensible abstractions. The implication is that if we KNOW EVERYTHING we will find the power to produce powerful art.
(2) The BE-IT-ALL, or WHOLENESS or WELLNESS Fallacy:
Here, the authorship implies that, if we are WELL, or are ...HEALED by spiritual practices, then we will be WHOLE. Only if we are WHOLE, can we acquire 'spiritual power' and thus produce powerful art. It just is not so.
These fallacies dwell in the hearts and in the minds of many people, and that vulnerability is exploitable by authors. Hence, they offer languange about HEALING or METAPHYSICS to their readership. Their readership, believing that powerful art is produced by people who are either KNOW-IT-ALLS or BE-IT-ALLS, in some holistic sense, buy these books by the truckloads. What's wrong with this?
Even a little reflection upon the most powerful art known to us, will demonstrate exactly the opposite. Powerful art is not only NOT the product of men and women who lived "balance" in their lives, nor harmony either. They neither KNEW EVERYTHING, nor were WHOLE or WELL. The Rennaissance Masters were not "saints". Van Gogh is a wonderful example of emotional imbalance, and might even have been poisoned by some poisonous batch distillation of the popular new drink, ABSINTHE, and Picasso was such a sensualist that any reference to "spirituality" is laughable. Likewise with Modigliani. Jean-Michel Basquiat died of a heroin overdose. Does the phrase, "Bohemian Lifestyle" ring a bell?
The art instruction Carbonetti offers here is too brief, and too pedestrian to distinguish it from other art instruction that at the very least, is not split into two distinctly different purposes in a single book. This is a case of an author looking for some catchy "angle" that will sell a book.
』
(Worth it just for the pictures) 『But the simple drawing technique is also useful. Great if you want to paint or draw expressively. The pictures are inspiring.』
(The Yoga of Drawing by Jeanne Carbonetti) 『This is a terrific book for those people who don't have fabulous drawing skills. It helps you understand how you can create wonderful drawings that are expressive even if you don't draw. It's a wonderful companion to Jeanne Carbonetti's other two books.』
(The Yoga of Drawing by Jeanne Carbonetti) 『This is a terrific book for those people who don't have fabulous drawing skills. It helps you understand how you can create wonderful drawings that are expressive even if you don't draw. It's a wonderful companion to Jeanne Carbonetti's other two books.』 『Lush artwork and helpful exercises show readers how to energize their own creativity to reach new heights of expression through drawing.』
『This book has been specially designed by the author keeping in mind the needs of the students of Yoga in Europe and America,who need practical but non-technical presentation of the subject in a language accessible to the beginner in the path.
At the end of the book an Appendix has been added and a glossary of Sanskrit terms given.』
Kakaku：339 saved$3.39
New Falcon Publications
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (An excellent synthesis) 『There are really no "cookbooks" for Yoga, but this is a wonderful companion for those learning to prepare that most delicious of nourishments with or without skilled help. Strictly speaking Kriya Yoga is not found among the classical yoga systems. The four components of the fundamental Mahayoga are Hathayoga, Mantrayoga, Layayoga and Rajayoga. The tantras list twelve subsystems, none of which is named Kriyayoga. "Kriya" simply means "technique" and refers to any controlled action of mind and/or body. The beautiful kriyas taught by Paramahansa Yogananda are classified as Layayoga kriyas in the principal traditions. But variances like this are found throughout the universe of yoga and have no bearing on the holy science itself. Any sincere seeker will find Carl Schmidt's "Recipe For Bliss" immensely helpful. It brings together precious insights from Zen Buddhism, Advaita Vedanta and Kabbala in addition to its core subject matter. With them the goal of Laya - dissolving and merging into God - is within the reach of all.』
(Wonderful) 『Carl Schmidt shares his insight without all the secrecy attached. It's best to read it through once and go back to it as its truth unfolds.』
(No Tiltle yet for the Review) 『No review because I have not read the book at moment』
(A soul stirring book filled with timeless Truth.....) 『"A Recipe for Bliss" by Carl Schmidt is filled with the author's experiences in spirituality. It revels his spiritual achievements with emphasis on Zen Buddhism, Kriya Yoga and the Hong-Sau technique of meditation.
This book contains timeless wisdom which shows the reader that the main purpose of life is to seek God and give love to all unconditionally. It inspires the reader to persevere in his/her meditation and NOT to lose hope in life. People suffering from depression will find this book filled with joy and endless love, and this writings will give them new hope and understanding.
Lastly I would NOT recommend this book to souls who would not appreciate spiritual Truths. The saying "Do not cast pearls to swines" holds true in the spiritual path. Those readers who gave a low rating for this book had failed to appreciate its timeless Truths of wisdom. Carl Schmidt's writings are filled with pure love and sincere honesty throughout the pages and it is quite painful to read the unwanted negative reviews!』
(Highly recommended) 『A RECIPE FOR BLISS is just that. It is a set of simple yet effective techniques. That is not all that is required on your journey, however. Each individual needs to evaluate and come to an understanding of his own on their path through introspection so that they can obtain the goal of ego dissolution and union with God. I am surprised to see that there were a couple of low ratings for this book and it does beg the question what their true motivations were. Carl Schmidt does not claim that there is one way, in fact, he states in his writings that there are several paths up the mountain, but once the top is reached, the view is the same. He provides a technique for one of those roads and lets the aspirant test drive it. He kindly avails himself to seekers by offering a free class on the hOMe Foundation website. As with any technique, it is up to the individual to do the work and this is probably the key ingredient, not technique per se. This book is definitely worth reading and the classes are definitely worth taking if you are searching for a way to connect to your origins. Thank you for sharing your gift Carl.』 『Some consider Kriya Yoga to be an esoteric and isolated practice. Historically, Babaji, the ageless saint dwelling in the remote regions of the Himalayas, revived it by passing Kriya on through a lineage of individuals that includes Lahiri Mahasaya, Sri Yukteswar, Paramahansa Yogananda and many others. However, for Kriya Yoga to impact this world, it has to take form and practice within you. It is not meant to remain dormant in esoteric and cult-like enclaves. It is not separate from "normal life." A Recipe for Bliss bridges the esoteric and the everyday. It describes how to enter the place that has no inside and no outside, without the urge to maintain a separate relative presence. A Recipe for Bliss is a blueprint to draw the Primordial Cosmic Vibration of the Holy Sound, Om, into your everyday awareness. From there you may enter a joyous life experience without ego and beyond dimensions to merge with the Whole Being God Is. A Recipe for Bliss can open the doors of your perception to a new and authentic way to experience your True Self.』
大満足！北国のホタテ・いくら・ボタンエビがぎっしり！
