AnyBook4Less.com	Find the Best Price on the Web Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Home  |  Store List  |  FAQ  |  Contact Us  |
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money Keyword AuthorISBN

Title: Bodhisattva Archetypes: Classic Buddhist Guides to Awakening and Their Modern Expression by Taigen Daniel Leighton, Daniel Leighton ISBN: 0140195564 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: February, 1998 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.95

Your Country USA Canada United Kingdom Australia Austria Belgium France Germany Italy Netherlands Switzerland Currency AutoUSD CAD GBP EUR AUD CHF Delivery Only cheapest delivery All delivery options Include Used Books Are you a club member of: Barnes and Noble Books A Million Chapters.Indigo.ca

Average Customer Rating: 4.8

Rating: 5
Summary: Has potential but he seems to be angry at minorities
Comment: When I initially started reading this book, I felt it had potential. Simply by describing the archetypes, it reminds us of the principles of an ethical life - that we all seem to completely forget in daily life.

I had some problems though, with the author's forays into explaining issues of race, class and discrimination. At many places, where one least expects it, he stigmatizes people who react against discrimination and oppression and seems to think that they should just lighten up and swallow injustice. He seems to especially dislike African American militance but says nothing about the white violence that it is the mirror image of. This is a very dangerous attitude. We all need to speak out, constantly, against oppression and historical injustices, and recognize its toxic effects on all of us. Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it. Its a bit insensitive to self righteously judge and condemn other people's pain, hurt and their resultant anger when one hasn't been similarly hurt oneself.

I think perhaps in the next edition, if the author wishes to condemn violence, he should select as a case study white violence - institutional and physical, rather than talking about the reactions of oppressed people to that violence.

Rating: 4
Summary: Thought-proking and educational
Comment: A wonderful introduction to bodhisattva practice and history. Rev. Leighton explores the historical manifestations of the bodhisattvas, but always returns to examples accessable to the western reader (this western reader, anyhow!) and brings the focus to the ways we can learn from the bodhisattvas, not just revere them from afar.

Rating: 5
Summary: A Book for All Sentient Beings
Comment: Faithful amazon.com patrons know the phenomenon of reading superlative reviews here, reviews that sadly overstate the qualities of the books reviewed. Reading the two reviews below, you might fear this is such a case. They are indeed, superb reviews, accurate, informative, yet rising to the power of poetry. But the reader need not fear; Leighton's book is honored by the reviews but has earned every such honor. And if the reviews rise toward poetry it is because the language of the book inspires them.

I read Leighton's work carefully, wearing both my hats as Buddhist and Buddhist scholar. I take both hats off to him as he has fashioned a book that scholars will learn from and practitioners will deepen with. Non-Buddhists please take note: this would be a marvelous way to begin learning what Mahayana Buddhism is really about. All persons will grow from reading this book, and I hope they do.