Rating: 
Summary: I have a different cover!!
Review: A general look at existence by exploring Buddhist philosophies. Not exactly what you might guess from the title and cover. Does not focus as much on finding definite personal meaning in the individual human as you would think but also looks into all humans of the world and politics. Uses some nice parables to help understand some Buddhist understandings of the nature of existence. Much more depth on debating the sons (monk's) views than doing the same with the father's. Though it was good enough to finish, sadly I was happy to get it done with, I think it actually got worse as it proceeded. ..Talks alot about the Dalai Lama. hmmmm.. pretty ok book
Rating: 
Summary: A nice buddhist introduction with some scepticism thrown in
Review: I liked this book a lot. Mattieu Ricard covers a lot of buddhist fundamentals in a nice, concise way using fairly everyday language.I liked the dialogue where a somewhat sceptical western philosopher asks questions that leads to good explanations of buddhist thinking from the monk. There are a few passages where Mattieu Ricard talks about his masters and their enlightened activity, which I found very inspiring. It is also nice to have the philosopher help connect buddhist thinking with references to western philosophy, very educating for me. Personally, I got a bit impatient by impression that the philosopher wasn't listening with an open mind, but rather associating practically everything with "old" western thinking in a very intellectual way. There are a lot of things in what the monk says that is definitely good material for contemplation, and not just "information" to be put in an academic perspective. I would love to see a "Cave in the Snow"-like book by Mattieu Ricard.
Rating: 
Summary: What a Find! -- Intellectual Insight into Buddhism
Review: It's hard to find a good intellectual book on Buddhism. Many of the books out there are either written in the lighter "self help" style, are tartgeted at more serious practitioners or are a little too Zen for me to grasp without building some context first. For someone like myself, exploring Buddhism as an alternative or supplement to my traditonal protestant upbringing, I've been looking for a book that both (i) presents Buddhist philosophy in a Western context that I can relate to and (ii) keeps the discussion on a more intellectual/philosophical level. This book delievers. Make no mistake, the subject matter is pretty dense. However, the book delighfully readable due largely to it's "dialogue" format. Both father and son and eloquent, thoughtful and respectful communicators and tend to get right into the issues of interest to me just as I begin to wonder if they are going to touch on them. As a result, I felt a definite affinity with the authors. After reading several other books on Buddhism, I finally feel as though I have a foundation for understanding it. I have built my context and now I want to learn more. For that I am grateful and highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Can't get past Kant
Review: MATTHIEU RICARD did a disservice to western philosophy. The reason why is that he left out 200 hundred years of philosophy, with the exception of a couple of ethicists that I've never heard of. I don't remember him making one comment or argument used by anybody after Kant. Where was Sartre, Heidegger, or Nietzsche? All of whom could have bolstered his position. Or even the presocratic philosopher Heruciltus who said everything is in constant change the same concept that Buddhist expound.
Rating:
Summary: Buddhism and pragmatism confronted
Review: So, what is the meaning of life ??
This book confronts two very different views on the meaning of existence in a fascinating way. The first thing that really appealed to me while reading was the open, friendly way in which the discussion takes place. This is not just because it is a father and a son speaking, it's also because they both represent philosophies that are open to other views and willing to listen and discuss their standpoints. If all religions were as inclined as buddhism (if buddhism indeed is a religion) to debate and discuss their teachings and dogmas, we would live in a more peaceful world indeed.
The son, the monk, moved to Himmalaya in the 70's because he felt the west could not satisfy his spiritual seeking. At the beginning of the book I was very moved by this story, and by his criticism of western materialism which is right on target. But the further I read, the more I felt that the father, the philosopher, also had some very serious points in his criticism of the buddhistic metaphysics, and of the ascetic hermit life as an ideal.
The problem is, it seems to me, that the buddhist devotes his whole life to feeling compassion with his fellow beings, but there - also - is something very arrogant in this concept of compassion. Buddhism in fact teaches us that suffering, when it comes down to it, is our own fault. It is a product of ignorance - the fully enlightened never suffers - and of bad karma from previous lives. So buddhist compassion seems to say: I feel compassion for you, but not because of the pain you suffer, but because of your ignorance.
The problem with this view upon suffering - that it ultimately derives from ignorance - is revealed in the example of Tibet. The chinese occupation and destruction of Tibet shows us that suffering is real and calls upon not only meditation, but action - don't forget the Dalai Lama is also a diplomat.
And how could karma have anything to do with this, Tibet being the spiritual society it is (was) ?
Another problem with buddhist compassion is that it is best practiced far away from people who actually suffers - namely in caves or monasteries. Shouldn't the enlightened devote his life to helping his fellow beings ? Isn't it immoral to let the poor peasants in Bhutan and India pay for the monasteries and the monks (these peasants actually think they will go to heaven for the good karma they get by doing this) ?
In conclusion I think this book shows us, that spirituality is simply necessary for us to live full lives. But also that we should try to change the world for the better by acting, and that science and politcal power actually therefore also are good tools we should use to create a more prosperous and peaceful world for everybody.
Rating:
Summary: A divinely dialogue -- dream of a book
Review: The book should be lauded for its sincerity and, most importantly, the clarity with which the two distinguished interlocutors discuss the most essential questions of living,dying and life in general. The two are eminently qualified intellectually -- one being a respected philosopher in the Western tradition and the other, a Western scientist turned Tibetan Buddhist. The father-son relationship brings a closeness and a directness to the dialogue, which is detached yet affectionate at once. In short, it is a divinely dialogue. This achievement would not be possible had it been conducted between two unrelated intellectuals. I particularly enjoyed the chapter "The red flag on the roof of the world" which is dealt with particularly sympathy to the Tibetan tragedy. While being sympathetic to the issue, they do not religiously sensationalize it. Jean Francois was particularly right in saying that for Tibetan Buddhists to have lasting impact in the Western world, it must fulfill two conditions. It should stand the test of logical thinking, and it should be "compatible" with the amazing and scientific technological development of the modern world. While Buddhism has fulfilled the first goal, it is yet to fully show that it has succeeded in the second. But it must be noted that Buddhism is increasingly showing its compatibility, particularly with the rise of Buddhism in the modern West and highly developed Asian countries like Singapore and Taiwan. Buddhism is not only compatible, but may prove to be a catalyst for a healthy and balanced development of the material world if practised properly. Modern world's craze for novelty will be eased while human beings may try to focus more on fundamental improvements in life. The problem with the human beings now is that -- thanks to the ignorance -- they tend to too many unnecessary things in their attempts to gain satisfaction. This not only fails to bring them happiness, but leads to disillusionment, dissatisfaction and immense waste of time and resources. Matthiew was particularly right in saying that the Eastern Buddhist tradition focusses "on being" while the modern thinking is centered mainly "on having." This is the fundamental difference, and as a Tibetan brought up by spiritual parents, I could not agree more with his point of view.
Rating:
Summary: the monk and the philosopher
Review: The Monk and the Philosopher Gautama Buddha like Socrates used dialogue as his favorite method of teaching. This book also follows the Buddhas footsteps in being a dialogue between two highly intelligent individuals who happen to be father and son. The father is Jean-Francois Revel a leading French philosopher and Mathieu Ricard, a scientist turned Buddhist monk. Their conversation lasted for 10 days and covered a very wide range of Buddhist issues. Initially, the discussion focused on the controversial subject of whether Buddhism is a religion or a philosophy. The monk explained that it is more a philosophy than a religion, because it is not a dogma and allows flexibility of ideas. Moreover, it is a product of human mind who never made any claims to divinity. In fact the Buddha emphasized that his teachings be not accepted if wanting in logic and rationality. The acceptance of ideas should be like purchasing gold, the Buddha said. Before purchasing gold, "we rub it on a flat stone pound it with hammer and melt it in fire", so also every doctrine must be thoroughly examined for its validity and truthfulness. The collected sayings of Buddha (known as Sutras) cover one hundred and three volumes of the Tibetan canon, the Kangur. This is accompanied by another two hundred and thirteen volumes of commentaries written by eminent teachers and scholars. The reason for such a huge collection is the length of the time the Buddha taught without break from the age of thirty until his death at eighty. Although vast in its totality the core teachings are quiet concise. They analyze the most important problem faced by mankind - that of suffering. By suffering the Buddha meant mental anguish or agony, which is a translation of the word Dukha in Pali. According to the Buddha suffering arises when the self or the 'me' that we cherish is threatened and denied its wishes. The usual goals in life of power, wealth, fame and sensual pleasure, give only temporary satisfaction. One day or another they turn into sources of unhappiness. Pursuing purely earthly goals we have no more chance of attaining true happiness, "than a fisherman has of catching fish, by throwing his net into a dry riverbed." The Buddha warns that, "if you keep your hand in fire, it is no use hoping that you won't get burnt." The only way to save your hand is to take it out of the fire. The book briefly covers the remedy, which the Buddha advocates to overcome suffering. As suffering is born out of greed, ignorance, attachment, hatred, pride and jealousy they should be discarded and replaced by thoughts of virtue, loving kindness and compassion. The book does not describe the techniques of meditation in any detail, as this was not very appropriate for the purpose of discussion, but the basic principle is explained, which is to maintain awareness of the present moment, free of any discursive thoughts. Gradually, the meditator becomes better and better in the process and the negative thoughts become weaker and weaker and loose their confining solidity. Eventually, the process of 'liberation' occurs, when even if the negative thoughts arise, they pass through the mind without effect, "like drawing made on the surface of water". The mastery of the mind gives patience, and patience gives strength to act correctly, without being blinded by anger, revenge and aggression. A spiritually developed mind is also able to see reality as it exists, whether good or bad, without getting overwhelmed by emotion. To illustrate this a Zen poem is quoted which reads, "To her lover, a beautiful women is a source of delight; to an ascetic a distraction; to a wolf a good meal." A brief section concerns the most esoteric of Buddhist doctrines, which in Sunyata or emptiness. In it, it is claimed that visible world does not have any concrete existence or form. The concerned sutra states, "Emptiness is form and form is emptiness", implying that in final analysis the world does not have any intrinsic reality. If atoms are not "things", as Heisenberg states, then how can their accumulation in form of visible objects, become things? The closest modern physics comes to Sunyata is that, "Matter is energy and energy is matter". If all matter turns into energy then that would be emptiness in the physical sense. Buddha did not try to 'convert' anyone, as in reality there is nothing to convert to! The contemplative aspects of Buddhism are common to all religious. Its analytical approach leads to the understanding of the mind - useful for person of any denomination. The philosopher sums up his impressions by stating the west has trimphed in science, but wisdom is not based on scientific certitude, and scientific certitude does not lead to wisdom. Both are separate but indispensable for the welfare and well being of mankind. The monk sums up by stating that such a dialogue is useful, but can never be a substitute for the silence of personal experience, as Goethe had aptly stated, "silence allows nature to whisper to us". Through those whispers we learn the purpose of life. DR. VIQAR ZAMAN
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, but father and son seem quite gullible...
Review: There is a lot of interesting material in this book, but personally I drew up short when I realized that the son actually believed in the REALITY of the Dalai Lama being reincarnated in a young Tibetan child. That is to say, the son was convinced that this was a fact of life. It seems highly implausible to me, and to most people who need scientific evidence for the miraculous. The father is a bit wiser, but even he blindly believes in the pseudo-religion of Sigmund Freud.
Rating:
Summary: The Monk and the philisopher : Wonderful...
Review: This book is wonderful. Full of wisdom. Highly recommended. Do want to hv part II. I agreed with the father though I agreed with some belief of buddism too. Would like to look for "Letters to Lucilius" which is mentioned in the book, any suggestion to it? Once again, it is worth reading.... U would definitely love it.
Rating:
Summary: An interesting and unqiue book...
Review: This book records an extended conversation between a top French philosoper and his son, a former PhD scientist that worked for a Nobel Prize winner who gave that up and became a buddist monk and aide to the Dali Lama. I am not sure why, but I found myself drawn to this book -- and have found it to be quite rewarding. For me at least, the book operates on at least 3-levels: first is that this book provides a good insight to what Tibetan Buddism is all about and how it is taught -- something I had come across before, but not in this detail. The conversation basically contrasts various western philosphies with Tibetan Buddism - but the emphasis is on Buddism and you don't have to be a philosophy student to appreciate it. Reading this book puts me in a calm state of mind -- not unlike reading the bible (there are many paths to Nirvana!). Budda and Jesus apparently had similar perspectives -- both being essentially pioneering monks, both placing great emphasis on austerity,compassion, altruism and empathy for others.[Compare this to 50's Jewish-American novelist Ayn Rand who advocates a self-centred, "greed is good" philosophy as an antidote to inefficient, destructive socialism - the contrast is stark. Polar opposites.] The second is the father-son angle which is interesting not least because the son has taken on the celibate life of a monk which has implications for father and son, however this is not a big issue in the book; the father clearly loves his son and has accepted his son's path - somewhat grudgingly I suspect. The third angle is the characters. The father is a larger-than-life big brassy, bold, top French academic, a philospher. [French philophy has itself been criticized in recent years(particular by a top American scientist) as being overly trendy, pompous and ignorant in trying to adopt modern scientific concepts and apply them to philosophy -- while failing to really understand the original concepts involved. This type of issue is not apparent in this book though]. The son on the other hand was a successful and proficient science student that became disillioned and went in search of a more rewarding life [from other sources it seems to me that France, like Britain became fascinated with Himalayaa. For France the 60's and 70's led were times of TV documentaries and slide shows of Nepal and Tibet, and of course the Dali Lama's flight to Paris would have been a huge in the French news]. The son is able to provide a unique insight having the background of a professional western scientist and a trained Tibetan monk with access to the Dali Lami himself. The father-son relationship takes that a step further by providing a philosophical perspective. A triangle then: science, philosophy and religon/Buddism -- the big picture. I pick this book up, read a few chapters and then leave it until I feel in the mood to read it again. I have almost finished it now. You don't have to be a Buddhist or philosopher to enjoy this -- but it is not a light, fast read, it would be easy glaze over reading this if you were not in a receptive mood.
|
