Natural Perfection: Teachings, Meditations and Chants in the Dzogchen Tradition of Tibet

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Experiential Dzogchen.......2005-01-16

As far as I know, this is the only tape set on Dzogchen, The Great Perfection, the highest teaching of the Nyingma tradition of Tibet (the oldest of the 4 surviving schools). Dzogchen is similar to the Mahamudra teachings of the Kagyu school, and the newest school (Gelugpa) of the Dalai Lama practices a version of Mahamudra as well. You can see my lists of Dzogchen, Mahamudra, and Union of Mahamudra & Dzogchen for other books and tapes on these subjects. Surya Das is an American Lama and best known for his Awakening the...books (especially Awakening the Buddha Within). On one hand, he dispenses with much of the Tibetan-specific mythology and symbology which Westerners can find disturbing or confusing. On the other hand, he tends to use humor a lot, coining such phrases as HahaYana (vs. Vajrayana). But these phrases often contain wisdom too: "We're all seekers; we need to become finders" and "Lighten up as we enlighten up." The latter may seem strange to those familiar with other Tibetan Buddhist (Vajrayana) teachings, but is not unusual for Dzogchen. Dzogchen gets to the heart of the mind without the elaborate visualizations of the generation and completion stages of the lower teachings. In this tape, Lama Das covers many basic teachings (e.g. the six paramitas--ways to approach life) as well as more advanced Dzogchen-specific teachings/methods (e.g. sky gazing). He does relate Dzogchen to regular Tantric Yogas (the lower 8 according to Nyingma). He also attempts to relate the teachings to life in America, coining phrases as "household engineer," America the Buddhafull," and "knowing and glowing." I find his metaphor equating vipashyana (insight meditation) to vaccination quite intriguing. In addition to actual teachings, he includes a number of guided meditations (which do take up a significant portion of the tape which is thus, blank--no talking) as well as the chanting of 3 mantras (Guru Rinpoche, Avalokiteshwara or Chenrezig, and Tara). Regarding the latter, he references the "21 Praises of Tara" which is commented upon by Khenchen Palden Sherab in "The Smile of Sun and Moon" which I highly recommend. All in all, this is a fine tape for someone interested in Dzogchen, especially if one doesn't have a Dzogchen Guru. It provides an additional dimension (hearing). I'd also recommend reading some of his books and some basic Dzogchen texts (e.g. Namkhai Norbu, Tulku Urgyen, or Drubwang Tsoknyi) before or immediately after listening to these tapes.

Allowing our Natural Perfection to be here now!.......2000-01-21

I have the audio cassette version of the book in my car, and have listened to it five times so far. I am finding the book extremely useful, for many reasons, some of which follow below: Lama Surya Das is an authentic Tibetan Lama, born and raised in the West - he understands the complexities of one of Tibetan Buddhism profoundest teachings - Dzogchen, but is able to convey it in a contemporary and often humourous form. A number of guided meditations accompany the discussion, and some "non-meditations", such as the 'sky gazing' technique are well explained. I would recommend the book, and other books by the author such as "Awaken the Buddha Within" which I have also read with much benefit. A humble debt of gratitude to Surya Das from me.

redundant, kept waiting for practical training, too "hip".......1999-11-06

I found the speaker's voice quite irritating after awhile. I kept waiting to hear more than "wake up"-"enjoy". I was looking for more actual meditation instruction, rather than his pleas to enjoy life daily. I say instead buy the "Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" by Sogyal Rinpoche for a real, honest, wonderful look at Tibetan Buddhism and life in general. This selection strives to be a little too hip, too 90's for me, which is what I am tired of and want to get away from. I am interested in the serenity of the Tibetan people and Buddhist beliefs and how to apply it to my life, not American rhetoric over and over. I was disappounted by what the cover said and what was inside.

Customer Reviews:

Author of the gay travel guide Rainbow Handbook Hawai`i.......1999-03-19

I enjoyed George's candid way of expressing his honest opinions, and his first-person scope of the places he covers. With all his traveling, he defenitely knows what and where he is talking about!

much action. much love........1999-01-06

I found that my romantic life became splendorous, rhapsodic, and hot hot hot! Just follow the directions, take a few detours and make any destination your garden of babylon!

Book Description

Rhythmanalysis displays all the characteristics which made Lefebvre one of the most important Marxist thinkers of the twentieth century. In the analysis of rhythms -- both biological and social -- Lefebvre shows the interrelation of space and time in the understanding of everyday life.

With dazzling skills, Lefebvre moves between discussions of music, the commodity, measurement, the media and the city. In doing so he shows how a non-linear conception of time and history balanced his famous rethinking of the question of space. This volume also includes his earlier essays on "The Rhythmanalysis Project" and "Attempt at the Rhythmanalysis of Mediterranean Towns."

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Everyday Life in Stuart Times (Peoples of the Past)
Laurence Taylor
Manufacturer: Hodder Wayland
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Europe | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ireland | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0750014695

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Henri Lefebvre: Rhythmanalysis: Space, Time and Everyday Life.(Understanding Henri Lefebvre: Theory and the Possible Continuum)(Book Review): An article from: Capital & Class
Neil Maycroft
Manufacturer: Conference of Socialist Economists
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000ALU7PC
Release Date: 2005-07-25

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Capital & Class, published by Conference of Socialist Economists on June 22, 2005. The length of the article is 1625 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Henri Lefebvre: Rhythmanalysis: Space, Time and Everyday Life.(Understanding Henri Lefebvre: Theory and the Possible Continuum)(Book Review)
Author: Neil Maycroft
Publication: Capital & Class (Refereed)
Date: June 22, 2005
Publisher: Conference of Socialist Economists
Issue: 86 Page: 170(5)

Article Type: Book Review

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Book Description

When the first edition of this book was published in 1977--to overwhelming critical and popular acclaim--it was the only publication to analyze wildlife law comprehensively as a distinct component of federal environmental law. The second edition, published in 1983, provided a thorough and authoritative update. Since then, the intense public interest in wildlife law has been reflected in a tremendous growth in both litigation and new legislation. This, the third edition, thoroughly revises and updates the earlier edition in light of current legal perspectives on the conservation of wildlife and biological diversity. Two decades after its first publication, this book remains the standard reference for anyone seeking to understand the statutes, regulations, and court decisions governing wildlife law. "Like the two that preceded it, the new edition of The Evolution of National Wildlife Law is a monumental achievement that will serve lawmakers, administrators, educators, conservationists, and scholars for years to come." --From the Foreword by Bruce Babbitt.

Customer Reviews:

THE definitive text on wildlife law.......2001-08-08

The first edition of this work, published in 1977, was considered a landmark in legal scholarship. Subsequent editions have lived up to that standard. The present edition (3rd) is expanded to cover related laws in the United States that impact wildlife. The organization of this book follows an historical view up until the 1970s. From that point the book follows the development of wildlife law in response to the changing cultural values of "the environmental era."

There is little concerning wildife law in the United States that is not covered in this volume. The exception is the myriad of state laws, a task that would have consumed ten times the amount of space. All in all, this is a standard reference in the highest sense of the word. I have used this as a text in not only wildlife management classes, but also environmental ethics and environmental policy. The book is that useful. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in wildlife and wildlife law.

The Evolution of National Wildlife Law : Third Edition

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The Evolution of National Wildlife Law : Third Edition
Melanie J. Rowland Michael J. Bean
Manufacturer: Praeger Paperback
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000ORKAAO

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The Evolution of National Wildlife Law: Third Edition
Michael J.; Rowland, Melanie J. Bean
Manufacturer: Praeger Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000ORMFMA

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The Evolution of National Wildlife Law: Third Edition
Michael J. Bean
Manufacturer: Greenwood Publishing Group, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MHG63Q

Book Description

This book presents recent advances in the field of catalysis by metals, in both academic and industrial laboratories. The contributions cover many aspects of the field, from theoretical chemistry to the preparation and characterization of catalysts, with applications on depollution and colonization of agricultural supplies. It addresses researchers and students working in the field.

Book Description

Camugu, recently returned to Johannesburg and disillusioned by the new democracy, moves to the remote Eastern Cape. There in the nineteenth century a teenage prophetess commanded the Xhosa people to kill their cattle and burn their crops, promising that the spirits of their ancestors would rise and drive the English into the ocean. The failed prophecy split the people in two, with devastating consequences. One hundred and fifty years later, the two groups’ decendants are at odds over plans to build a vast casino and tourist resort, and Camugu is soon drawn into their heritage and their future—and into a bizarre love triangle as well.

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A REVIEW OF HEART OF REDNESS: THE EVOLVING IDENTITY.......2006-12-08

The novel Heart of Redness by Zakes Mda, tells a tale of rural integration and religious conflict of a village in post colonial South Africa. The novel reveals the metamorphosis of South Africans through an economic, social, and cultural lens in the 1990s. Africa is no long the primitive continent solely known for its vast concoction of indigenous cultures. Instead, it is an emerging economy with its people adjusting to modernity and the how the lives of many Africans coexists with the remaining colonial influences. This struggle for change and progress, versus preservation of the land and traditions, becomes the pinnacle feud between the Believers and Unbelievers. By folding different generations of stories with each character of the book, Heart of Redness becomes alive with vivacity.
The story begins by introducing the Middle Generation that was lost to the colonial conflicts. Because of this great disturbance in African culture and history, the feud between the Believers and the Unbelievers drove the lives of many African decedents apart for decades. Camagu, the main character of the book, returns to South Africa for first time after being exiled to the United States for 30 years, finds himself to be a stranger in a land that he once called home. Camagu's character presented the readers an unbiased and western perspective as if the reader can experienced this story first handed.
After being educated in the west and earned a repertoire of outstanding professions, Camagu's knowledge and experience were almost nonfunctional in South Africa. For most jobs that he went looking for, he was overqualified. However, because he was not in the "elite" circle of the Aristocrats of the Revolution, he could not get into the jobs that would really allow him to make a difference. Discouraged by the rejection job after job, the discontent Camagu was ready to pack up his suit case and leave Africa once again. However, after an incidental meeting with the strange but beautiful NoRussia, Camagu begin his journey to Qolorha-by-the-sea, where he would hope that he can reunite with her. After his arrival, he learns the rich history of the momentous feud between the Believers and the Unbelievers, and the prophetess Nogqawuse "who deceived the amaXhosa nation" into famine and strife (p35). Subsequently, he finds himself intertwined with the grudge and livelihood of those who resides there.
The confrontation between the Believers and Unbelievers began when the prophetess Nogqawuse told the people of amaXhosa to slay all of their cattle for a new beautiful life awaits them. Although cattle slaying seem like a self-destructive idea, (which it consequently proved to be so regardless), the reasoning behind such request was logical for a lot of native Africans. When the Europeans brought over their cows that were infected with lungsickness, it plagued the African cows and caused devastating effects. Those who obeyed the prophecy and slain their cows became the Believers, and those who did not, became the Unbelievers. And because of this prophecy, the feud begins.
This prophecy drove ideologies, families, and friends apart. Sisters were against brothers, and mothers were against fathers. The disagreement branch out to other issues beyond the prophecy. The two twin brothers, Twin and Twin-Twin, was presented by the author to show how this prophecy can drive people apart regardless of how close they once were. When Twin became a Believer and Twin-Twin became an Unbeliever, the brothers broke apart. They each led their own mission in life to seek out their own destinies and fight against the others' ideologies.
Twin-twin was the original Unbeliever. He refused to slaughter his cattle when Nogqawuse gave the orders that the amaXhosa should destroy all their herds. He said the prophetess was a liar who had been sought by white people to destroy the black race. Today the village is full of Twin-Twin's progeny, because not many of his children died when famine attacked the land after Nogqawuse's prophecies failed (P62).

The Unbelievers thought the prophecy to be an absolute fraud. Because of this, unbelieving became a form of religion almost, as believing was. The main ideology behind the Unbelievers was that progress is necessary for prosperity to occur. The only way to do so was through the help of foreign investment and the building of a casino where it will provide jobs for the people. That way, there is a steady flow of income. In a conversation between Camagu and the leader of the Unbelievers, Bhonco, he discusses the Unbeliever's side with Camagu in regards to why building a Casino is beneficial for the people of Qolorha. "`We want developers to come and build the gambling city that will bring money to this community. That will bring modernity to our lives, and will rid us of our redness'" (p92). The redness discussed here, depicts the struggle and conflict of the African people that had endured over the centuries of colonial conquests, and the hardship that came with it.
"The Unbelievers are moving forward with the times. That is why they support the casino and the water-sports paradise that the developers want to build. The Unbelievers stand for civilization" (p71). A progressive and utilitarian view of the optimistic future is depicted here by the Unbelievers. Although the idea behind casino building and its economic benefits for the people may seem like a great idea, however, "it may not be the boon the Unbelievers think it will be" (p103). With the construction of casino building, "few men from the village, if any, will get the Jobs. Construction companies come with their own workers who have the necessary experience... Of course, a small number of jobs is better than no jobs at all. But if they are at the expense of the freedom to enjoy the sea and its bountiful harvests and the wood and the birds and the monkeys... then those few jobs are not really worth it" (p103). This rebuttal drives home the Believer's values and moral ethics to be more agreeable and sympathetic to accept. The author first seems to allow the readers to side with the Unbeliever's arguments. Ideally, this progress only seems logical and realistic for the future of Qolorha. Nevertheless, throughout different occasions in the novel, Mda reminds us time after time, that the social and moral consequences presented by the Believers in regards to the building of the casino, may not be as advantageous as it seems.
For the Believers, the failed prophecy is hindered on the shoulders of the Unbelievers as they were the once who didn't slay their cattle, causing the prophecy to fail. However, if the casino was to be built in Qolorha, Africans will have to adapt to the lifestyle of private property and ownership. This conflicts with the Africans who once knew the earth to be a collective bountiful garden of food. With the building of the casino, the sense of communal collectivity will be gone, and Africans would be forced to live with a foreign system of rules.
The rift between the Believers and Unbelievers is so deep, that even in communal events, if one group is attending, one can be sure that the other will not be there.
No one is ever invited to a village feast. When people hear there is a feast at someone's homestead, they go there to enjoy themselves... Everyone is welcome at a village feast. Indeed, it is considered sacrilege to stay away from your fellow man's feast. But none of the believers have come. The war of the Believers and Unbelievers has gone to that extent. They don't attend each other's feasts. They do attend each other's funerals... to make sure that the deceased is really dead. One less person to be irritated about. (p62)

This kind of conflict has deeply impacted the way many South Africans live. Often at times, the differences in religious beliefs can cause civil unrest and instability amongst communities. In this case, one can witness the degree of conflict that creates potential social problems, and prevent civil unity.
Another character in the novel that symbolically reciprocates the changing lifestyle of the South Africa is the store shop owner John Dalton. As a white decent and a Believer, he understood that in order to foster African culture in the globalize world of evolving demands, he must advocate environmental conservation in order to preserve the uniqueness of the amaXhosa nation.
However, one must not be fooled by this façade of his strong sense of conservationism and preservation of traditions (he did went to circumcision school). Dalton incorporates capitalistic marketing schemes into the cooperative cultural village that later served as a tourist attraction. These cooperative villages, resembles the very core of what African tradition is perceived to be by foreigners. For the Believers, the cooperative village turns tourist attraction to the Africans daily traditions, into a profit making tourist destination. As presented here, this was the Believer's way of preserving the beauty of Qolorha-by-the-sea.
Camagu learns that NoManage and NoVangelis are two formidable women who earn their living from what John Dalton calls cultural tourism. Their work is to display amasikothe customs and cultural practices of the amaXhosato the white people who are brought to their hut in dalton's four-wheel-drive bakkie, after he has taken them on various trails to Nongqawuse's Valley, the great lagoon, the shipwrecks, the rivers, and the gorges, and the ancient midens and cairns... All these shenanigans are performed by these women in their full isiXhosa traditional costume of the amahomba, which is cumbersome work when people want to look smart and beautiful... And the tourists pay good money for all this foolery. (p 96)

Although the cooperative village exaggerates the cultural meanings and execution of African traditions, it nevertheless preserved a sense of tradition that was necessary to make their adaptation to the outside world possible. Despised by the Unbelievers, the cooperative village was a success. Like Qolorha-by-the-sea, much of Africa is now an amalgamated culture of rich historic traditions tainted by globalization and capitalism.
The partial success of the novel comes from Mda's ability to manipulate the characters of the book and bringing them alive with vivid dramatization. "Qukezwa explains that they sell the best of their harvest to the Blue Flamingo Hotel, or to individual tourists... Those imbhaza and imbhatyisa that have not been bought, the women take home to their families. They fry them with onions and use them as relish to eat with maize porridge or samp" (p102). The little things that shape the way Africans live, to the errands and lifestyle that they lead, one can follow these imagery vividly and embrace the culture with open heart. From love triangle curses to street life, there are no better portrayal of the African culture than the detailed depictions of daily routines of the African women.
The feuding dogmas of the Unbelievers and Believers may never end. However, as these struggles continue, much of the transition both ideologies hinders on the evolving nation itself. What is left now is the unpredictable future. Both sides continue to be threatened and angered by each other for what has happened in the past, and what is to come in their future. Heart of Redness is a snapshot of the evolving Africa, trying to maintain a sense of tradition while at the same time, being exposed to the consequences of globalization. Thus, the byproduct of this concoction is a new cultural identity that embeds the past, present and future altogether.

South African Life among the Natives.......2003-10-24

The story intermingles two time frames: Both share the same family and Xhosa location on the shores of the Indian Ocean. One part tells the story of the British war against the native tribe in the mid-19th century - the war now known as the Zulu war. The other part deals with the present time.

Camugu comes from Johannesburg and tries to fit into the somewhat primitive village of Oorloha. He lands in the middle of the fight that has been going on for 150 years. In those days, the teenage prophetess Nongqawuse Told the tribe that all cattle had be killed and the harvest destroyed. Thus the tribe was split between Believers and Unbelievers, each group blaming the other for whatever went wrong. And so the verbal fighting goes back and forth.

Xhosa used to be a real tribe, but nowadays only the language survives as part of the Bantu languages. That accounts for the click sounds that are mentioned. The Zulu war did take place, of course, and the prophesy also happened. The story is interwoven with the local history.

The narrative has won prizes and has been called "brilliant' and loaded with genuine mythic power. Unfortunately, I can't see it that way. The story drags on and on without there being much of a concrete action. The two time periods are so intermingled as to confuse the reader who constantly has to check the names to place it correctly. Untranslated local words and expressions can be used to good effect, but here they are overdone. And the story itself is not new, not exciting, and utterly predictable.

A Masterpiece by a Master Storyteller.......2002-10-26

This is one of the most beautiful books I have read in years. Mda skillfullly evokes the tensions in contemporary South Africa for blacks caught between the tug of Western, technological culture and their identity in long-standing traditions. The story is given added substance by Mda's recounting the history of similar tensions from the nineteenth century, thus creating deep emotions that propel the characters. The story mixes family feuds, spats between the sexes, and sober deliberations about community versus individual choices, all told with a level of humor that underscores rather than undermines the importance of these issues for South Africa today.

Deconstructing empire in Joseph Conrad and Zakes Mda (1).(Critical Essay): An article from: Journal of Literary Studies

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Deconstructing empire in Joseph Conrad and Zakes Mda (1).(Critical Essay): An article from: Journal of Literary Studies
Harry Sewlall
Manufacturer: Literator Society of South Africa
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Journal of Literary Studies, published by Literator Society of South Africa on December 1, 2003. The length of the article is 6459 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Deconstructing empire in Joseph Conrad and Zakes Mda (1).(Critical Essay)
Author: Harry Sewlall
Publication: Journal of Literary Studies (Magazine/Journal)
Date: December 1, 2003
Publisher: Literator Society of South Africa
Volume: 19 Issue: 3-4 Page: 331(14)

Article Type: Critical Essay

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