An artful, straightforward tome on meditation.
Teaching meditation involves describing practices and states of mind which are typically difficult to pinpoint in clear language, but Belgard skillfully shares the meditation experience with readers.
The text is divided into two main sections–the first focuses on theory while the second concerns the practice of meditation. Each chapter begins with an icon of an iris, representing New Orleans’ Blue Iris Sangha meditation group, of which Belgard is a cofounder. The author draws attention to major concepts by placing them beside the face of a meditating Buddha, thereby setting them apart from other text. Throughout, Belgard uses stories from his years of teaching meditation to exemplify ideas and support his points. The author focused on helping students learn to forgo self-centered thought patterns in exchange for breath-centered consciousness. This process, according to the author, moves students toward a state of equanimity which allows them experience compassion and understanding. Belgard brings a modern reality to the art of meditation by focusing on essential motivations rather being a stickler regarding proper form, even remarking, "Today the Buddha might sit in a chair to meditate (especially if his joints were as sore as mine have been recently)." His contemporary and occasionally humorous writing style makes the text approachable and likely to be embraced by a wide audience. The latter half of the book includes useful exercises for novices to attempt. Belgard designed these exercises in order to bring students closer to understanding the interconnected nature of reality. Fortunately, he communicates his instructions in a writing style both simple and elegant.
An artful, straightforward tome on meditation.Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2008
ISBN: 1419691864
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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