Eco 3,008 Posted February 7, 2019 Author Share Posted February 7, 2019 Also was at a book store last night and found this gem, which will be part of my reading in the near future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber CaaC (John)+ 5,358 Posted February 7, 2019 Subscriber Share Posted February 7, 2019 Just finished reading... Now started reading a John Grisham book... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ 15,325 Posted February 7, 2019 Subscriber Share Posted February 7, 2019 5 minutes ago, Eco said: 3 minutes ago, Eco said: Next up: You're into Eastern philosophy lately? We read The Bhagavad Gita as part of Mahabharata at school. Epic poems are really not my thing so meh... The Dhammapada is an important read in Pali Tipitaka but it failed to make a lasting impression on me - and that's coming from someone who has a soft spot for Buddhism... If you ever want to continue reading on it I would highly recommend The Path of the Elders: A Modern Exposition of Ancient Buddhism by Ernest Erle Power (if you can still get a copy - I gifted mine to Panflute a while ago and it's not that easy to come across another one anymore...). That was by far the best explanation and analysis of the core of the Theravada Buddhism that I ever read. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eco 3,008 Posted February 7, 2019 Author Share Posted February 7, 2019 1 minute ago, nudge said: You're into Eastern philosophy lately? We read The Bhagavad Gita as part of Mahabharata at school. Epic poems are really not my thing so meh... The Dhammapada is an important read in Pali Tipitaka but it failed to make a lasting impression on me - and that's coming from someone who has a soft spot for Buddhism... If you ever want to continue reading on it I would highly recommend The Path of the Elders: A Modern Exposition of Ancient Buddhism by Ernest Erle Power (if you can still get a copy - I gifted mine to Panflute a while ago and it's not that easy to come across another one anymore...). That was by far the best explanation and analysis of the core of the Theravada Buddhism that I ever read. Always have been. It's why I moved to China. I have flirted with Buddhism for so long now, going to my local temple here in Atlanta which has a program with a couple local universities to teach course on it and classes on the Tibetan language. Back in 2010 H.H. DL came to Atlanta and I was able to go, had a pretty private session with him and about 10 other people, one of which was Richard Gere! I have never read the Dhammapada, but have read so many book on Buddhism you'd like I was a scholar. One of my favorites being the Tibetan Book of the Living and Dying, and also some of Thich Nhat Hanh wrote 'Old Path White Clouds' which really was an incredible read. I'll check out your book though, as it's something I can't seem to learn enough about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ 15,325 Posted February 7, 2019 Subscriber Share Posted February 7, 2019 3 minutes ago, Eco said: Always have been. It's why I moved to China. I have flirted with Buddhism for so long now, going to my local temple here in Atlanta which has a program with a couple local universities to teach course on it and classes on the Tibetan language. Back in 2010 H.H. DL came to Atlanta and I was able to go, had a pretty private session with him and about 10 other people, one of which was Richard Gere! I have never read the Dhammapada, but have read so many book on Buddhism you'd like I was a scholar. One of my favorites being the Tibetan Book of the Living and Dying, and also some of Thich Nhat Hanh wrote 'Old Path White Clouds' which really was an incredible read. I'll check out your book though, as it's something I can't seem to learn enough about. Tibetan Buddhism is quite different though as it's based on Vajrayana tradition; too esoteric and mystical for my liking personally. I appreciate Thich Nhat Hanh's writings for their accessibility to everyone and he certainly has a very unique, anti-dogmatic approach but his style just doesn't resonate with me much. All that said, my interest in Buddhism is purely academic. I definitely have a soft spot for it based on the philosophy at its core, the fact that originally it encourages the search for answers personally instead of mindlessly following the dogma, and its compatibility with science, but as every other religion, it turns away from what it preaches in many cases in practice when it's followed by the masses. That and also I'm just not made for religious/spiritual practices altogether haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eco 3,008 Posted February 7, 2019 Author Share Posted February 7, 2019 5 minutes ago, nudge said: Tibetan Buddhism is quite different though as it's based on Vajrayana tradition; too esoteric and mystical for my liking personally. I appreciate Thich Nhat Hanh's writings for their accessibility to everyone and he certainly has a very unique, anti-dogmatic approach but his style just doesn't resonate with me much. All that said, my interest in Buddhism is purely academic. I definitely have a soft spot for it based on the philosophy at its core, the fact that originally it encourages the search for answers personally instead of mindlessly following the dogma, and its compatibility with science, but as every other religion, it turns away from what it preaches in many cases in practice when it's followed by the masses. That and also I'm just not made for religious/spiritual practices altogether haha. Yes, I have only really studied Tibetan, or Vajrayana mostly, and it is a bit mystic. I have always been drawn to the Dalai Lama's open mindedness in regards to science and how when an ancient Tibetan tradition is proven wrong via scientific evidence, he seems to always be accepting of the change and understanding that some tradition is just that, tradition. A lot of TNH's writing don't resonate with me, although like you said, he has to be commended for reaching the masses which isn't something a lot of Buddhist monk has been able to do in the past. I'm very interested in learning more about Theravada Buddhism and so I'll search for that book. I'm sure I can snag a copy somewhere. BTW, how is Panflute doing? I feel like I haven't spoken with him in ages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ 15,325 Posted February 7, 2019 Subscriber Share Posted February 7, 2019 1 minute ago, Eco said: Yes, I have only really studied Tibetan, or Vajrayana mostly, and it is a bit mystic. I have always been drawn to the Dalai Lama's open mindedness in regards to science and how when an ancient Tibetan tradition is proven wrong via scientific evidence, he seems to always be accepting of the change and understanding that some tradition is just that, tradition. A lot of TNH's writing don't resonate with me, although like you said, he has to be commended for reaching the masses which isn't something a lot of Buddhist monk has been able to do in the past. I'm very interested in learning more about Theravada Buddhism and so I'll search for that book. I'm sure I can snag a copy somewhere. BTW, how is Panflute doing? I feel like I haven't spoken with him in ages. He's fine... I should try to get him back on here hehe but he doesn't seem to have much interest in participating in the forum lately. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eco 3,008 Posted February 7, 2019 Author Share Posted February 7, 2019 4 minutes ago, nudge said: He's fine... I should try to get him back on here hehe but he doesn't seem to have much interest in participating in the forum lately. Can't blame him really. As we all get older, it's seems we have less and less time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beelzebub 2,508 Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 3 hours ago, Eco said: Ya damn nitpicker Never bragged about it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inverted 1,776 Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 Just got past the 50-page mark with this. I'm enjoying it a lot more than I expected, for some reason I was thinking it would be much slower than it turns out to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eco 3,008 Posted February 7, 2019 Author Share Posted February 7, 2019 2 minutes ago, Inverted said: Just got past the 50-page mark with this. I'm enjoying it a lot more than I expected, for some reason I was thinking it would be much slower than it turns out to be. That is my favorite book of all time. Dostoyevsky's life during the writing of that is absolutely crazy, which you can tell when you know the events and read the book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ 15,325 Posted February 7, 2019 Subscriber Share Posted February 7, 2019 Mikhail Bulgakov is by far the best Russian author and The Master and Margarita is the best Russian novel of all time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inverted 1,776 Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 (edited) 15 hours ago, nudge said: Mikhail Bulgakov is by far the best Russian author and The Master and Margarita is the best Russian novel of all time. I've read The Master and Margarita so I'll decide this matter in due course. I also got about a 1/3rd of the way through War and Peace when I was 16 - wonder if I'll ever get round to it again. Edited February 8, 2019 by Inverted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ 15,325 Posted February 8, 2019 Subscriber Share Posted February 8, 2019 2 minutes ago, Inverted said: I've read The Master and Margarita so I'll decide this matter in due course. I also got about a 1/3rd of the way through War and Peace when I was 16 - wonder if I'll ever get round to it again. I find Tolstoy tedious and War and Peace is just torture haha. Didn't care for Anna Karenina either. Dostoyevsky is 'meh' for me; I appreciate the insights into the human psyche but his writing style is not great and for me it all feels too theatrical and too dramatic (for a lack of better word). Russian literature classics are usually just too dramatic and melancholic for my liking overall but that's just a part of the "Russian soul" hehe. Bulgakov is the only one I truly enjoy. Also liked Mikhail Sholokhov's And Quiet Flows the Don as well as Alexander Solzhenitsyn's novels. That said, outside of those "big books", soviet sci-fi and fantasy used to be really good as well as their action/adventure/spy/detective novels and travelogues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick 2,271 Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 I feel like a fat lazy twat skimming through this thread. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eco 3,008 Posted February 8, 2019 Author Share Posted February 8, 2019 12 hours ago, Inverted said: I've read The Master and Margarita so I'll decide this matter in due course. I also got about a 1/3rd of the way through War and Peace when I was 16 - wonder if I'll ever get round to it again. Haha - and that's my second favorite Russian novel. Oblomov was also good IMO, as well as Dead Souls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beelzebub 2,508 Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 6 hours ago, Rick said: I feel like a fat lazy twat skimming through this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eco 3,008 Posted February 11, 2019 Author Share Posted February 11, 2019 On 07/02/2019 at 08:05, nudge said: You're into Eastern philosophy lately? We read The Bhagavad Gita as part of Mahabharata at school. Epic poems are really not my thing so meh... The Dhammapada is an important read in Pali Tipitaka but it failed to make a lasting impression on me - and that's coming from someone who has a soft spot for Buddhism... If you ever want to continue reading on it I would highly recommend The Path of the Elders: A Modern Exposition of Ancient Buddhism by Ernest Erle Power (if you can still get a copy - I gifted mine to Panflute a while ago and it's not that easy to come across another one anymore...). That was by far the best explanation and analysis of the core of the Theravada Buddhism that I ever read. It has been bought! What timing in my life. So for my birthday, my father who most really understand me bought me a Newcastle Scarf and Beanie (Since Atlanta United's best player is now there), and a $100 gift card to Thriftbooks.com (which, if you don't know, is a massive used book store online). So I bought it, and 14 other books so far with just $60. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ 15,325 Posted February 11, 2019 Subscriber Share Posted February 11, 2019 7 minutes ago, Eco said: It has been bought! What timing in my life. So for my birthday, my father who most really understand me bought me a Newcastle Scarf and Beanie (Since Atlanta United's best player is now there), and a $100 gift card to Thriftbooks.com (which, if you don't know, is a massive used book store online). So I bought it, and 14 other books so far with just $60. Nice! What other books did you order? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eco 3,008 Posted February 11, 2019 Author Share Posted February 11, 2019 The Path of Elders Fluent Forever The Four Noble Truths The Tao of Pooh Altruism: The Power of Compassion A Plea for the Animals: The Moral, Philosophical, and Evolutionary Imperative to Treat All Beings with Compassion The Monk and the Philosopher Le Petit Prince (In French, so I can read it to my daughter) The Art of Living : Vipassana Meditation 501 French Verbs Mastering French Vocabulary : A Thematic Approach Harry Potter, Tome 1 : Harry Potter a l'ecole des sorciers (Harry Potter, Book 1, in French) The Attention Revolution Altered Traits: Science Reveals how Meditation Changes your Mind, Brain, and Body 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ 15,325 Posted February 11, 2019 Subscriber Share Posted February 11, 2019 18 minutes ago, Eco said: The Tao of Pooh I take it you've read Tao Te Ching? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eco 3,008 Posted February 11, 2019 Author Share Posted February 11, 2019 3 minutes ago, nudge said: I take it you've read Tao Te Ching? I have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ 15,325 Posted February 11, 2019 Subscriber Share Posted February 11, 2019 1 minute ago, Eco said: I have. I'm curious then, why The Tao of Pooh? I couldn't stand it; the author is so smug and the message of the book was just weird in my opinion... Let me know your thoughts once you read it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eco 3,008 Posted February 11, 2019 Author Share Posted February 11, 2019 2 minutes ago, nudge said: I'm curious then, why The Tao of Pooh? I couldn't stand it; the author is so smug and the message of the book was just weird in my opinion... Let me know your thoughts once you read it! 2 reasons, 1. I've actually heard great things about it. 2. It was $1.09 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ 15,325 Posted February 11, 2019 Subscriber Share Posted February 11, 2019 Just now, Eco said: 2 reasons, 1. I've actually heard great things about it. 2. It was $1.09 Can't beat that second argument Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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