Book tip

[Guest guest]

Anyone who has GOOD book recommendations?

 

I only want THE BEST books, no crap please.

 

Regards

 

Lars

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Namaste, Lars

 

I think you were a group member when we had the "first five books"

discussion, but if not, here are some (quality!) book recommendations

from the moderators:

 

http://www.shaktisadhana.org/Resource/Messageboard/FAQ.html

 

I am most of the way through DB's list (I am slow! And easily

distracted by other reading material!) My favorite-favorite-favorite

has been:

 

_In Praise of the Goddess: The Devimahatmya and Its Meaning_, by

Devadatta Kali [David Nelson]

 

, Lars Hedström <lars@2...> wrote:

> Anyone who has GOOD book recommendations?

> [....]

[Guest guest]

Wonders of the Natural Mind, and Heart Drops of Dharmakaya.

-

Lars Hedström

Sunday, May 15, 2005 4:43 PM

Book tip

 

 

Anyone who has GOOD book recommendations?

 

I only want THE BEST books, no crap please.

 

Regards

 

Lars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Links

 

/

 

b..

 

c..

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

On the heels of your other message, I wasn't quite sure what kind of

books you were looking for. I decided to suggest a work of fiction.

One of my all-time favorites is Marge Piercy's Woman on the Edge of

Time. It is not a "spiritual book" per se, but it makes you think

about the world we are creating, and can create. It is a BEST book

in its genre, and by this particular author.

 

, "Eve__69" <eve__69@h...>

wrote:

> Wonders of the Natural Mind, and Heart Drops of Dharmakaya.

> -

> Lars Hedström

>

> Sunday, May 15, 2005 4:43 PM

> Book tip

>

>

> Anyone who has GOOD book recommendations?

>

> I only want THE BEST books, no crap please.

>

> Regards

>

> Lars

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> -

-----------

> Links

>

>

> /

>

> b..

>

>

> c.. Terms

of Service.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

> My favorite-favorite-favorite has been:

>

>

> _In Praise of the Goddess: The Devimahatmya and Its Meaning_, by

> Devadatta Kali [David Nelson]

>

 

 

I absolutely love this book - the translations are wonderful, the

commentary is great (and from a Sakta perspective), and the

scholarship and history is great in the introductory chapters. I

really love how Kali (the author) pulls together historical threads,

and discusses the often ignored impact of the devi mahatmya and the

sakta movement in general, particularly in the mahabharata, etc. Plus,

the devanagari version of the text is indispensable.

 

highly recommended!

 

(FYI, R. K. Narayan, in addition to the ramayana, also does a great

prose version of the mahabharata, which captures the spirit of the

work in a compact form, and in a format that westerners can appreciate

- e.g. as a mythological novel)

 

In addition to The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hinduism, which is

probably the most pedestrian of the introductions to the subject,

there's a fantastic little book called The Hindu Religious Tradition,

by Thomas Hopkins, which is part of the Religious Life of Man series

put out by the Wadsworth Publishing Company. It's 140 pages, and gives

an extremely concise and thorough grounding in Hinduism from the Indus

civilizations to the modern day. It's a bit scholarly and somewhat

dense for those who may not be into that sort of thing, but I

absolutely love it.

 

-erin

 

 

--

 

 

--\

-----

erin

www.erinjohansen.com

[Guest guest]

Lars,

Mmmm. Mary Ann makes a good point; you might want to specify what

kind of books you're looking for.

 

Hearing about all our favorite books might be fun, but possibly not

particularly helpful for you. :-)

 

----------------------

 

The 'links' section of SS includes a link to DB's Amazon "listmania"

list:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse/-

/17SX2T24MNOH1/ref=cm_aya_av.lm_more/103-7012613-7744626

 

And in the 'database' section, DB has a list of 70 books:

/database?

method=reportRows&tbl=1

 

, "Mary Ann"

<buttercookie61> wrote:

> [....] I wasn't quite sure what kind of

> books you were looking for. [....]

> >

> > [Lars wrote:]

> > Anyone who has GOOD book recommendations?

> >

> > I only want THE BEST books, [....]

[Guest guest]

Lars Hedström wrote:

> Anyone who has GOOD book recommendations?

>

> I only want THE BEST books, no crap please.

>

> Regards

>

> Lars

 

 

 

Depends what you mean by THE BEST and "craps". What is BEST to me

might not be BEST to you. What are you looking for? You must have a

Focus and intention.

 

To me the best way to learn, is not through book but through

experience. I like to sit and ask the wise one about their

experience.

 

Book [to me] is like the travel guide book. It gets you to a certain

point, thereafter you have to be on your own and actually practice it

only then you can really appreciate what you have read.

 

Somebody email privately me once and said: I do not need to be an

experience person, as long as I know how to get you there. I have

all the books with me to help you to get there.

 

And my respond is: well yes! You can but how far? It's like a

badminton coach who has never hold a badminton racquet or being a

player himself trying to teach another the correct stroke etc. Well

yeah! You might know all the rules and all the theoretical aspect,

but if you have not been there, down in the court, how would you

know? It didnt make sense. You do not have to be a Thomas Cup

Champion, but to participate in actual competition and survive to

tell us about it is good enough.

[Guest guest]

Books!

Name the topic and I will be able to trace!

What is good to me need not be the same to you!

Amazon cant provide all!

All books have something to communicate!

Read without any expectations and read placing yourself in the authours place!

Thereafter discriminate.

Open websites of UGK also

 

 

Lars Hedström <lars wrote:

Anyone who has GOOD book recommendations?

 

I only want THE BEST books, no crap please.

 

Regards

 

Lars

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/16/2005 4:11:59 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

lars writes:

I ofcourse meant books about yoga and tantra:-)

 

Regards

 

Lars

Check out everything by Alain Danielou especially Myths and Gods of India,

Goda of Love and Ecstacy and Phallic worship for good info about Shiva and

Lingams, however I think all of his books are worth having.

 

Harish Johari has some good books like Tools for Tantra (beware the

upside-down yantras) and the book Chakras amongst others

 

Ajit Mookherji has done some excellent scholarly work and I highly recommend

Kundalini Yoga, Kali the Feminie Force, The Tantric Way and anything you can

find

 

Also Madhu Khanna's book called Yantra is indispensible

 

A complete list would be huge, but I promise you can do no wrong with these

authors and they are among the giants.

 

Also Lars, I can provide ISBNs for everything, but the Authors names should

get you pretty far. These are all serious works and not new age gobbledegook

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

msbauju wrote:

"Lars,

Mmmm. Mary Ann makes a good point; you might want to specify what

kind of books you're looking for.

 

Hearing about all our favorite books might be fun, but possibly not

particularly helpful for you. :-)"

 

I ofcourse meant books about yoga and tantra:-)

 

Regards

 

Lars

 

 

[Guest guest]

If you're interested in reading about yoga, and you haven't read it

yet, you may be interested to read the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the

classic work on raja yoga. There is a translation and commentary by

Sri Swami Satcidananda that is pretty good.

 

And of course, Arthur Avalon/Sir John Woodroffe's translations of the

tantras, and commentaries on the tantras, are all quite good, and

should be read by any serious student of tantra. He's not as reliable

when he's not talking specifically about tantra, but his translations

and commentaries on the tantric texts are really invaluable. Many

editions of his books include the devanagari, as well, which is useful

for those of us who care to do deep explorations through the original

texts.

 

In addition, there is access to a wide variety of Tantras, etc. on

shivashakti.com. Please note that some of the FTP links don't work,

but if you type in shivashakti.com/ftp, you'll get a proper FTP

directory listing, and will be able to download various documents from

there.

 

cheers

-erin

[Guest guest]

Erin wrote:

 

"If you're interested in reading about yoga, and you haven't read it

yet, you may be interested to read the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali,"

 

I have read Feuersteins book about patanjali. I think patanjali is too wooly,

you can interpret him almost in any way you want.

 

 

"And of course, Arthur Avalon/Sir John Woodroffe's translations of the

tantras,"

 

I have only read his serpent power, his other books are just as good I think?

 

 

"Many

editions of his books include the devanagari,"

 

What is devanagari?

 

Regards

 

Lars

 

 

 

 

 

--

 

/

 

b..

 

c..

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

hahhaaaa There you go lars, you want books list. We will give you the

whole list... just dont get lost okay!

[Guest guest]

So, I'm curious.

In the torrent of titles, did you see anything that piqued your

interest?

 

, Lars Hedström <lars@2...> wrote:

> [....]

> [looking for] books about yoga and tantra :-) [....]

[Guest guest]

, Erin Johansen

<erin.johansen@g...> wrote:

> > _In Praise of the Goddess:

> > The Devimahatmya and Its Meaning_, by

> > Devadatta Kali [David Nelson]

>

> [Erin wrote:]

> I absolutely love this book - [....]

:-)

> highly recommended!

>

> [....]

> [Erin wrote:]

> In addition to [Linda Johnsen's]

> The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hinduism, which is

> probably the most pedestrian of the introductions to the subject,

 

I'm curious; what is it you don't like about the book?

I wasn't terribly excited, and I disliked the cartoons and whatnot,

but that particular adjective (pedestrian) didn't spring to mind.

 

What I *did* like about the book--

Ms. Johnsen writes from the point of view of a devotee. Her (and her

book's) point of view contrasts pretty sharply with that of the other

introductory text I have read--Gavin Flood's _Introduction to

Hinduism_. In my opinion, he seems to write from the point of view

of a scholar/observer--on the outside looking in.

 

Both books contain good information. The POV difference, in my

opinion, makes Ms. Johnsen's book a better fit for DB's intro list.

(Also, Flood's text has some dreadfully dry stretches.)

 

[Erin wrote:]

> there's a fantastic little book called

> The Hindu Religious Tradition,

> by Thomas Hopkins, [....]

 

Looks like I can pick up a copy used; thanks. I'd like to take a

look at it.

 

I find the relative paucity of introductory texts intrinsically

fascinating. Of course there are some; just not as many as I'd

expect. Things that make one go "hmmmmm."

 

Speaking of books--I saw that Sharanya (Chandra Alexandre's group,

http://www.sharanya.org) will be offering an online class in the

Sha'can tradition. Does Chandra plan to write a book (or workbook)

on Sha'can?

[Guest guest]

brief history of nearly everthing-Bill Bryson.

 

 

-

Lars Hedström

Sunday, May 15, 2005 4:43 PM

Book tip

 

 

Anyone who has GOOD book recommendations?

 

I only want THE BEST books, no crap please.

 

Regards

 

Lars

[Guest guest]

msbauju wrote:

 

"I think you were a group member when we had the "first five books"

discussion,"

 

I was? I can't remember but on the other hand i do not always read all mails

here.

 

" but if not, here are some (quality!) book recommendations

from the moderators:"

 

Thank you very much. I think I will start with _In Praise of the Goddess: The

Devimahatmya and Its Meaning_, by

Devadatta Kali [David Nelson].

 

Lars

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

msbauju wrote:

 

"So, I'm curious.

In the torrent of titles, did you see anything that piqued your

interest?"

 

Yes, for example this one:

 

"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hinduism" by Linda Johnsen "

 

I really have to increase my knowledge of the hindu mythology.

 

Regards

 

Lars

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

swastik108 wrote:

 

"Ajit Mookherji has done some excellent scholarly work and I highly recommend

Kundalini Yoga, Kali the Feminie Force, The Tantric Way and anything you can

find"

 

I have read his Kundalini yoga and his The tantric way. However they do not

cointains formal practices.

 

Regards

 

Lars

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/20/2005 2:44:03 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

lars writes:

I have read his Kundalini yoga and his The tantric way. However they do not

cointains formal practices.

 

Regards

 

Lars

You are correct, but most scholarly/research books will not contain formal

practices. Personally, I wouldn't really try too much without formal initiation

by a qualified Guru. Fervent devotion (bhakti) from a person is always

beneficial, but trying rituals is a little different and a person needs training

for

it as well as, I would suppose, Diksha from a Guru.

 

Otherwise, the individual will be doing things wrongly and of course

mispronouncing important mantras etc. I think of it like any classical art

form...

 

I could buy a set of Tabla then pretend they are mere "drums" and bang on

them, but it would never sound right even though it may make me feel good and I

would learn something of rhythm. With a decent teacher it would sound even

better although I may learn some things wrong, but with a qualified Guru from a

traditional Gharana as long as I put in the neccessary practice time (Sadhana)

it would soon surpass my highest expectations.

 

I have been eager to study Tantra for a long time, but I am a Tabla student

and have thought like this! When I first got a set I beat on them, when I found

a teacher I improved but my technique wasn't good, now that I have a

wonderful Guru, I find I have to go back and fix my techinique, but my knowledge

and

playing ability is increasing faster than it ever has and eventually if it

continues I will be a good Tabla player.

 

Even more important to me than music is my soul, so I will be patient until

my Tantrik Guru appears.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

swastik108 skrev:

 

"You are correct, but most scholarly/research books will not contain formal

practices. Personally, I wouldn't really try too much without formal initiation

by a qualified Guru. "

 

What would all the people in Europe and USA do then do you mean? Stop practicing

yoga?

 

No, I do not agree with you. Too many people say that they benefit from yoga in

spite of not having had any qualified guru as teacher.

 

"Otherwise, the individual will be doing things wrongly and of course

mispronouncing important mantras etc. I think of it like any classical art

form..."

 

One yogateacher told me that the main thing was not to do the different

practices 100% right but to try to see you as a witness in all practices until

transcendence was received - which is the goal (or atleast one goal) of yoga.

 

 

 

"I could buy a set of Tabla then pretend they are mere "drums" and bang on

them, but it would never sound right even though it may make me feel good and I

would learn something of rhythm. With a decent teacher it would sound even

better although I may learn some things wrong, but with a qualified Guru from a

traditional Gharana as long as I put in the neccessary practice time (Sadhana)

it would soon surpass my highest expectations."

 

 

I have been to more than one yogaschool. Some school pronounce "aum"

differently than others. And I think that also should be the case in India. No

matter where you live there are dialectal differences within relatively small

areas.

 

Nonetheless I think it is important to try to pronounce "aum" and other mantras

as close as possible to the traditional origin - if there ever was such one.

 

This is my truth and if you have another one that is OK ofcourse. We are all

different and thus have different perceptions about "reality" - what now ever

reality is.

 

 

"I have been eager to study Tantra for a long time, but I am a Tabla student "

 

Please tell me more about tabla, I do not know what it is.

 

Regards

 

Lars

 

 

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/22/2005 5:36:59 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

lars writes:

"""What would all the people in Europe and USA do then do you mean? Stop

practicing yoga?"""

 

Not at all, but to do it correctly, surely you would need some instruction.

 

 

"""No, I do not agree with you. Too many people say that they benefit from

yoga in spite of not having had any qualified guru as teacher.""

 

What kind of Yoga are they doing? If it involves serious physical exertion it

can be very dangerous to attempt it yourself. Otherwise it will be kind of

light and more like stretching which is ok, but even that will go better with

assistance. Now if you wanted to take it to the next level a teacher would be

neccessary in my opinion, but feel free to disagree I do not mind! physical

exercise is always beneficial if done properly, of course they shouldn't stop.

 

""One yogateacher told me that the main thing was not to do the different

practices 100% right but to try to see you as a witness in all practices until

transcendence was received - which is the goal (or atleast one goal) of yoga.""

 

Try to see you as a witness in all practices? Please explain this.

 

""""I have been to more than one yogaschool. Some school pronounce

"aum"

differently than others. And I think that also should be the case in India. No

matter where you live there are dialectal differences within relatively small

areas."""

 

This is absolutely true. In Bengali Aum sounds much different and much more

like Ong in some cases. I'm sure there are lots of variants, but what I refer

to is consistency and for that guidance would be of immense help.

 

""Nonetheless I think it is important to try to pronounce "aum" and other

mantras as close as possible to the traditional origin - if there ever was such

one.""

 

Definitely, if your going to do something, I say do the best that you can!

Learn about Devangari and how it works, or Telegu for that matter, or study any

Indian language, do everything you can to devote yourself to your chosen

God/Goddess, path or whatever it is you do. But, you can't say you're a master

of

anything until you really are and I don't think that is going to be easy.

 

""This is my truth and if you have another one that is OK of course. We are

all different and thus have different perceptions about "reality" - what now

ever reality is.""

 

That is how I know I like a person, regardless of how they think if they have

an open mind we can peacefully communicate

 

""Please tell me more about tabla, I do not know what it is."""

 

 

hahah Since I am a music student I used the Tabla reference for comparison.

Tabla is the standard classical North Indian percussion instrument and heard

throughout North Indian, or Hindustani classical music. If you have ever

listened to a good Sitarist like Nikhil Bannerji, or Ravi Shankar then you have

heard

some Tabla playing. It is composed of two drums the right handed Tabla which

is tuned to a specific pitch (sa) and the left handed Bass drum called Baya

which gives a characteristic deep sliding sound.

 

It is now so popular I am even hearing samples used in Rap music- But as a

purist I have to say I think this is a degeneration of the art form! In South

Indian classical the main percussion instrument heard is the Mridangam, but that

is a totally different animal altogether allthough both are coming from a

common source the ancient Mridang, or clay drum which in the South became

Mridangam and in the North Pakhawaj, which later evolved into Tabla.

 

I used the example because it is a complicated art and you could substitute

anything like painting, photography, printmaking, illustration etc.

 

I believe that a person's spirituality should at least be as important and

preferably even more so. One can get good at something by dabbling, or doing

research and work, but to achieve a level of mastery training is required and in

the realm of spirituality that would come from an accomplished Guru.

 

This is at least my belief. And yes it is annoying when you live somewhere

were you do not have access to such a person. I always hear the phrase "when the

student is ready the teacher will appear" and it annoys me to know end! I

wonder what more must I do and often think that it is nonsense. Hopefully one

day

I will udnerstand it all better myself and then I can be the one to get on

some naive young mans nerves by telling him the same thing!

 

Jay Ma

 

William

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I heard Gurumayi Chidvilasananda say that many can be our teachers.

Actually, I was going to say that myself, and then I thought I

remembered that she said it, or wrote it in a book I read. The point

is, I think it isn't only true that there must be one teacher. You

probably just aren't recognizing what there is to learn from all

around you, what is sparked within yourself, and moves you.

 

Also, as a westerner, I'm not seeking a "guru" -- not to say I don't

recognize a teacher when s/he appears in my life. Also, in terms of

spirituality, in the west, we have institutions like the Catholic

church which has allowed many injuries to happen to children within

families: molestations of children by priests and by parents b/c the

church fears sexuality and doesn't help people understand and deal

with that aspect of their embodiment. There's violence in the home

and in church policy when it comes to turning the other cheek to such

behavior - a misapplication of a spiritual concept, misapplied

to "forgive" and allow transgressions that are not acceptable.

 

I guess I think you needn't worry about it William. Or, you might

want to start recognizing what's all around you as your teacher(s).

And the person in the mirror, too.

 

 

 

, swastik108@a... wrote:

> In a message dated 5/22/2005 5:36:59 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

> lars@2... writes:

> This is at least my belief. And yes it is annoying when you live

somewhere

> were you do not have access to such a person. I always hear the

phrase "when the

> student is ready the teacher will appear" and it annoys me to know

end! I

> wonder what more must I do and often think that it is nonsense.

Hopefully one day

> I will udnerstand it all better myself and then I can be the one to

get on

> some naive young mans nerves by telling him the same thing!

>

> Jay Ma

>

> William

>

>

>