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58 EASTERN HORIZON | BOOKS IN BRIEF

BOOKS IN BRIEF BOOKS IN BRIEF

Shambhala Publications, Inc.
(including Snow Lion, an imprint of Shambhala Publications, Inc)
4720 Walnut Street, Boulder, CO 80301-2670, USA
www.shambhala.com

Falling Is Flying. The Dharma of Facing Finding Rest in Illusion. The Trilogy of The World Could Be Otherwise.
Adversity. Ajahn Brahm and Chan Master Rest, Volume 3. Longchenpa. Translated by Imagination and the Bodhisattva Path.
Guojun. 2019. pp 136. US$15.95 the Padmakara Translation Group. 2018. Norman Fischer. 2019. pp 207. US$17.95
pp 298. US$26.95. Hardcover
Most of us tend to live each day as if it An imaginative approach to spiritual
will be just another day—like nothing will This is the third volume of the Trilogy of practice in difficult times, through the
change. It always comes as a shock when Rest, Longchenpa’s classic exposition of Buddhist teaching of the six paramitas
we lose a job, a loved one, a relationship, the Buddhist path. The purpose of these or "perfections"--qualities that lead to
our health—even though we’ve seen it teachings is to introduce us to our most kindness, wisdom, and an awakened life.
happen again and again to those around basic nature—the clear and pristine
us. Once we finally realize we’re not awareness that is the nature of the mind. In frightening times, we wish the world
immune, then we wonder: what now? According to the traditional Tibetan could be otherwise. With a touch of
How do we continue when the terrain Buddhist formula of view, meditation, and imagination, it can be. Imagination helps
suddenly gets rough? action, this volume follows Finding Rest in us see what’s hidden, and it shape-
the Nature of the Mind, which establishes shifts reality’s roiling twisting waves.
The answers to life’s angst are provided the view of the Buddhist path generally, In this inspiring reframe of a classic
in this little text by two well-known and specifically that of the teachings of Buddhist teaching, Zen teacher Norman
Buddhist masters: Ajahn Brahm, a teacher the Great Perfection, and Finding Rest Fischer writes that the paramitas, or “six
in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, and in Meditation, which outlines the main perfections”—generosity, ethical conduct,
Chan Master Guojun, a teacher in the points of meditation, namely, where patience, joyful effort, meditation, and
Chinese Zen tradition. These two beloved one should meditate, what qualities a understanding—can help us reconfigure
meditation masters share personal practitioner should possess and develop, the world we live in. Ranging from our
stories and anecdotes from their own and what should be practiced. everyday concerns about relationships,
experiences of dealing with life’s pitfalls. ethics, and consumption to our artistic
You’ll learn from their honest, generous The Padmakara Translation Group has inspirations and broadest human
teachings how you can live fully—even provided us with a clear and fluid new yearnings, Fischer depicts imaginative
flourish—even when the road ahead translation of the final volume of the spiritual practice as a necessary resource
looks steep and lonely. Personal, poetic, trilogy, Finding Rest in Illusion, along for our troubled times. EH
instructive, and often laugh-out-loud with its auto-commentary, The Chariot
funny, this is inspiring advice for people of Excellence, both intended to elucidate
from all walks of life. EH the appropriate action of a Buddhist
practitioner. EH