MA

While the mere availability of this text in english is certainly extraordinary and invaluable, the translation and writing will obstruct some of its benefit for most readers. The author's reliance on latin terminology, as well as an unwillingness to use conventional and/or literal tranlations of sanskrit and tibetan terms, makes this a difficult read. I would never describe this book as "readable"- just the opposite. As noted in other reviews, there is a wealth of information in the chapters leading up to the translation, but they suffer from the same faults. While I am grateful to Dr. Pettit for publishing this work, I look forward to the release of a new translation.

A previous reviewer has pointed out that the introductory text and translation of Mipham's Beacon of Certainty are inaccessible for their use of non-standard terminology, Latin terms and so forth. The author ought to acknowledge these observations gratefully, but as someone who has written a book that is in nearly every respect identical to the one under discussion, I have some idea of what goes into the translation and writing of such a book, and also why in this case the use of Greek- and Latin-based terms and non-standard conventions of translation is desirable, if not absolutely necessary. Two or three comments are in order here.

First of all a "conventional and/or literal translation" of a philosophical term is not automatically the best translation. The early Tibetan translators were well aware of this and created an artificial vocabulary to translate Buddhist terms from Sanskrit into Tibetan -- so artificial that hardly anyone, even the most stalwart Tibetan Geshes and Khenpos, ever reads those old translations. Instead they read Tibetan-authored commentaries on the translated scriptures, which commentaries are highly technical, but nonetheless more readable than the translations. So perhaps Mipham's Beacon of Certainty is overly technical in its approach, but then Mipham's original composition is nothing if not a technical treatise.

If the author of Mipham's Beacon of Certainty had been perfectly literal in his translation of the term "zung-'jug", for example, he might have used "pair-joined" instead of "coalescent". But what makes more sense in plain English: "pair-joined", or "coalescent"? What translation of " 'dra-bcom" more readable: the ungainly, literal "Foe Destroyer" or the elegant Sanskrit term, "Arhat"? And which is more evocative of the Tibetan "ye-shes": the venerable Greek "gnosis", the numbingly commonplace "wisdom", or the rather literal "timeless awareness"?

A solid case could be built for using any of these terms. In the Beacon of Certainty it appears that "gnosis" was chosen because in the philosophical and mystical literature of the West "gnosis" has been used in ways very much analogous to how "ye-shes" is used in Nyingma philosophical commentaries. Perhaps not coincidentally, "ye-shes" translates the Sanskrit "jñana", which is closely cognate to the Greek "gnosis". While "gnosis" and "gnoseology" (the "logic of gnosis") might appear stilted or artificial to the uninquisitive reader, it turns out that the use of these and other Greek- and Latin-based technical terms in the Beacon of Certainty is hardly unwarranted. If Pettit is to be faulted for using Latin and Greek terms, he might as well be faulted for using Sanskrit terms like "samsara" and "nirvana". Those haven't been included in Webster's American Dictionary for as long as the words "coalescent" and "gnosis".

If by using such technical, non-literal or unconventional terms the author has rendered Mipham's Beacon of Certainty less than accessible to some readers, he ought to apologize on that account. However we should not forget that the original Tibetan text of the Beacon of Certainty was not written in a "literal" or "conventional" style. It is a highly technical work that, by Tibetan standards, is highly original in its presentation. Why then shouldn't a translation of a highly technical and original Tibetan treatise also be technical and innovative by English-language standards? A technical philosophical commentary should be translated and commented upon by the standards of technical philosophical commentary. It should not strive to conform to the philosophical and literary standards of Cliff Notes or Reader's Digest.

Most readers of Buddhist philosophical commentaries in English translation cannot expect to go cover-to-cover without also having to consult an excellent English-language dictionary, or without studying the footnotes. Tibetan monk-scholars face a similar challenge when they first study a treatise like the Beacon of Certainty. They cannot make sense of it without the learned commentary of their professor-Khenpos, who serve as interactive encyclopedias.

I would suggest that the inaccessibility of learned studies and translations of Tibetan philosophical commentaries is not necessarily a fault on the translators' part. It might also be the fault of the reader for expecting an intrinsically difficult and profound subject to come in a predigested format. If inaccessibility really is a fault in Pettit's case, then the great Tibetan translators and philosophical commentators are also of fault, because their writings are so technical as to be almost completely inaccessible to the literate Tibetan layman. If Pettit's translation and writing are somewhat inaccessible to the average reader, so are those of Vairotsana, Tsongkhapa, Lonchenpa and Mipham.

I think the same rule applies to reading these authors as to weight training: "No Pain, No Gain". Which sales pitch will you believe: the one that says you can look like Arnold in just fifteen minutes a day, or the one that says you have to bust your behind?

A translation that needs to be studied carefully, and read repeatedly, in order to yield the depth of the original text, may do greater justice to the original than a translation that seems "obvious" the first time through. This would seem especially true in the case of the Beacon of Certainty and its commentary, which are difficult and subtle texts that are memorized, studied and debated for a year or more in Tibetan monastic colleges.

That does not mean that the quintessential points of the Beacon of Certainty cannot be made more accessible for the layman. The Beacon can and should be rendered more accessible, but that I believe is the job of the kind and learned teacher who discourses on the text (which is the traditional way of studying). The translator's job, on the other hand, is to be as faithful and precise as possible regarding the original author's intention.

previous review should say "200 years" NOT "20 years"

thank you, and apologies!

I can't believe people are STILL being taken in by this decades old hoax. Edmund B. Szekeley makes many claims which have never been substantiated by any independent witness.

Claim 1: He says he "found" this manuscript in several places, such as the Vatican. The Vatican keeps detailed records of who is allowed to enter it's library and read and research. Strangely enough, Eddy's name does not appear on this list anywhere. The Vatican also has no record of this manuscript, or anything like it, ever being housed there.

He also claims he found this manuscript in
a) A monastery in Monte Cassino monastery which was, as is well known, destroyed by being bombed during the Second World War. Interestingly, Szekeley made no mention of the Hebrew fragments found at Monte Cassino until after the war.

b) The National Library of Vienna. Per Beskow (in Strange Tales About Jesus) says that when he asked the National Library of Vienna about the Old Slavonic text, the reply was sent that there is no such text, that a number of people have made inquiries about the text, and the general opinion was that Szekeley made it up.

Of course, there's always the possibility that a man with no formal training managed to learn ancient Hebrew, Aramaic and Old Slavonic, found an incredible manuscript that no one else had ever heard of, or even seen, and then a vast international conspiracy formed in order to discredit him.

It is clear that people who really really really wish hard enough, and are willing to believe anything, will still happily lap up this tripe. Point those people to me, I've got a nice piece of the True Cross I'd like to sell you, and I think I just might have found the undersea location of Atlantis.

I do know that the healing method outlined in this book works.I was bedridden for nearly a year with a severe blood disorder... and the MD's had given up on me. I applied the healing method I found in the Essene Gospel of Peace Book I... eating a diet of raw fruits, vegetables and sprouts... and fasting to cleanse the toxic matter out of the body. My healing was like walking out of a cloud of fog.
I believe that the Essene Gospel of Peace Book I is one of the most important books ever published on health, healing, diet and spiritual living ever published. pete2000@budget.net

This is one of the more inspired books that I have read. As is often said, it is academic to ascertain whether these are the true words of Jesus. What is salient is that one listens to the spirit speak inside you to determine the value of the words.

This book is very short. In short, the book outlines the importance of diet, fasting, and practices that will invite purity into the body. What is more important than these simple mechanics - however - is the greater idea that you cannot defile the one place that houses a direct communication with God - your body. To paraphrase: if you eat of death, you inherit death.

Excellent and inspiring.

As an authorized biography, and one written in collaboration (before her death) with Webb's daughter, it's not surprising that this volume is both informative of the minutiae of Webb's life and is almost completely uncritical of the man, his working methods, his relationships, and his works.

More annoying is the very poor organization. Facts are presented with little relationship to each other, and very little of a negative or human nature is passed along. Chronology is more or less tossed out the window. Particular works are referred to out of order, and rarely is much detail given about the shows themselves, or Webb's creative choices. Anecdotes are chock-a-block with each other, with paragraphs inserted, apparently at random, of laundry lists of Webb's cars, or his favorite foods.

Excessive space is given to mini-biographies of some of the major players in Webb's life -- and contributors to the book. Do we really need to know the genesis of Bobby Troup's "Get Your Kicks on Route 66" in a biography of Jack Webb?

The book's notes and bibliography are extensive, and it's clear the authors had good access to any number of important people. I only wish they had done a better job of giving us a better organized work, and had taken a more analytical approach to Webb and his work, rather than a 280-page press release of his life.

In his famous role as Joe Friday on the syndicated television series Dragnet, as well as later TV classics Adam-12 and Emergency, Jack Webb has become a beloved figure to more than one generations. This authorized biography, for which author Dan Moyer spent years working with Webb's daughter Stacy to research her father's life, describes Jack Webb's life from a hard childhood to an early radio career and finally stardom. Revealing Jack Webb as an artist personality whose passion for his craft sometimes caused problems in his relationship, Just The Facts, Ma'am: The Authorized Biography Of Jack Webb shows the humanity, triumphs, and foibles behind a well-known cult figure.

As one of Jack Webb's Mark VII and "Adam-12" producers, I want to applaud the authors for writing, "Just the Facts, Ma'am. The Authorized Biography of Jack Webb." The book, among many subjects, includes interesting information about Webb's talented and beautiful first wife Julie London and her second husband, jazz great Bobby Troup. The book brought other treasured memories back to me, such as my being the best man at Webb's marriage to the beautiful Jackie Loughery, Miss USA and the leading lady in Webb's film, "The D.I." Webb's daughter Stacy greatly contributed to this book and I was pleased to assist and advise the authors in the completion of this work. Much attention is given to Jack's radio days, and his TV "Dragnet," "Adam-12," "Emergency," and many other Mark VII projects many persons know little about. The book covers all of Webb's movies, and offers personal and unknown insights about Jack Webb. Numerous photographs were generously offered by Jack's closet family members and friends. They along with the story documentation, and chronology of Webb's life enhance this much needed biography of one of Hollywood's most innovative film pioneers. I highly recommend this authorized biography, and accurate book about my friend and television legend-Jack Webb. "Just the Fact's, Ma'am" is an enjoyable and enlightening read.

A very Clear and full of joy explanation of one of the most important Karma kagyupa text.

The 3rd Karmapa's text on Mahamudra, the higest state of space and bliss, is given a fresh new perspective by Tibetan Master Lama Ole Nydhal. The comparison between the experience of higest wisdom and jumping out of a plane is just brillant. As with all of Ole's works the commentary turns you on to your own inner potential (Buddha Nature) rather than waste time with dry scholarly debate. Ole succedes where traditional masters falter and brings these timeless teachings to the western world. Read and enjoy.

These old verses are only prose for those who get no explanations; no one would compare them to Sheakespeare or Goethe. But if you get explanations for them, they are pure gold. But - and that's what many people don't see - the explanations must fit to our (Western) daily life. No one else like Ole Nydahl did that better. His background of over 25 years teaching this around the world show that those old words still have a meaning for us, can change our view to the world in a rather short time. It's fantastic how powerful he always points back to us. This is no book for a coffee break, but after reading (once or several times) something changed - inside you!

There seems to be no shortage of opinions concerning Sayyid Abul a'la Mawdudi. His supporters declare him to be among the greatest figures in 20th Century Islam, while his detractors variously accuse him of lacking in Islamic scholarship and even of seriously distorting Islam to promote a radical political agenda.

As a non-Muslim seeking to better understand Islam I found TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING THE QURAN a distressing introduction. Having read the Quran cover-to-cover in translations, I sought a traditional commentary and this one came highly recommended by other reviewers on Amazon.

On the plus side, it is certainly true that the English is felicitious and easy to read, avoiding the sometimes obscurant style that results from overly literal translation. And while the reader is immediately plunged into considerable Arabic technical religious terminology, the patient reader will eventually find most questions answered -- though I still want to know more about Jinns then Mawdudi bothers to explain. I also found some of his interpetation of familiar Biblical narratives, such as the expulsion from Eden, to be interesting and worthwhile.

Much more troubling, however, is Mawdudi's savage and racist attitude toward Jews. One need only look at the topic index to see what is coming. Under "Jews" and "Judaism," topics include "Their religious and moral crimes," Their idol worship," "The reasons for their degeneration," Their fixing lies upon God," and "The prevailing spirit of racial prejudice in the Jewish religious system," and so on. Once into the body of the text, it only gets worse. Mawdudi spares no insult when talking about Jews: "degenerate," "willfully opposed to the truth," "decadent," "morally depraved," "shameful," "notoriously criminal and wicked," "base," "perverted in their views of religion," or just plain "evil." In his most absurd calumny (comment of Sura 2:95) he accuses Jews of knowing that Mohammed was a true prophet, but opposing him out of sheer spite (This will sound remarkably familiar to anyone familiar with Christian anti-Judaism!).

However, that Mawdudi is engaged in a racist, rather then a religious, polemic, is evident from the way he handles Christians with kid gloves. In Sura 2:18 where the Quran note "They say Allah has taken himself a son," a passage universally understood to be a reference to the Christian idea of Divine incarnation, Mawdudi makes no mention of Christianity at all in his comments, and even ignores the plain meaning of the text entirely. Only a few verses later he gives it all away (Sura 2:120). Commenting on the Quranic verse, which give equal criticism of Jews and Christians, Mawdudi never once mentions Christians, but takes the opportunity to lambaste Jews for "chicanery and duplicity." Elsewhere he makes it clear he considers Jews so degenerate that they are constitutionally incapable of doing right. In other words, they are racially unredeemable.

We have heard many times of late that Islam is a religion of peace and love, a religion free of racism. That may well be true, but those claims cannot be verified by reading TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING THE QURAN.

While there is said to be 120 to 130 Commentaries ( Tafaseer) of the Holy Quean, not a century passes by when a fresh attempt is made to explain Quran in the context of the time. This Tafseer certainly qualifies to be called tafseer of the 20th Century ( 14th century hejira).

I have read the original Urdu version and occasionally refer to English version. I would recommend it to anybody Muslim or non Muslim who sincerely wants to understand Quran and its relevance today.

Muslim and non Muslim scholars have mentioned some flaws in this book. It would take lots of space to analyze them all in this short space. However it should be noted that scholarship of nobody is final. There is always room for disagreement. This would be in accordance with what Maudoodi has been preaching himself all his life. That one should never consider his words to be last on any subject!

The most interesting aspect of this Tafseer I find is its analysis of current western ideologies. It convincingly proves that current ideologies of secularism, communism, nationalism, modernism etc are not beneficial for the ultimate well being of mankind. Quran not only shows how a person can go to heaven but also tells how one can establish utopian society which provides best room for spiritual and moral growth of mankind and at the same time is most progressive , most modern and most adaptive in terms of science and technology. Material growth doesn't have to be at the expense of moral values and moral requirements of society don't necessarily have to regress material progress. Western civilization went from one extreme where before renaissance all scientific and material progress was considered bad and was opposed both by state and church to another extreme where religion has been relegated to backseat. In this context this commentary convincingly argues that the only hope to take out the mankind from both these extremes is Islam.

It is also interesting to note that a reader Mr. Geoffrey Dennis has termed this commentary a racist one. Being a student of comparative religion and having gone through Islamic , Christian and Jewish religious texts and their commentaries, I can say with confidence that there are far less anti Jewish messages in Quran compared to both Old and New Testament. The meaning of these messages as I understand them (and Quran makes it clear) is that there are good people and bad people in any community. Quran condemns only the 2nd group be they Jews , Christians or Muslims. The only thing Maudoodi has done is to further explain these verses in the light of both Old and New Testaments. One could find tonnes of such quotations all over in this commentary. To call him racist is to call all these texts ( Old and New Testament and Quran) racist. By the way some of most devout followers of Maudoodi were Jewish converts to Islam like Maryam Jamilah etc.

The introduction alone is reason enough to buy this book. I highly reccomend this book for people that are discovering Islam, it addresses many of the concerns and question that linger in ones mind when migrating towards Islam. Great for reverts to Islam, and scholars alike.

The introduction mentions that this is the first of 12 books, this volume addresses the first two surrahs in the Quran, and each of the other three volumes tackles a few at a time until Volume 4 which goes up to Surrah 16. I am still waiting for the rest of the volumes that have not yet come out, but I studying the first 4 in depth, so I have enough to keep me busy.

Expecting to hear tales of families and everyday people, this book is instead about a student, Ma Bo, who took up the fight with the Red Guard during the Cultural Revolution. Though Bo tells some interesting stories about how the Red Guard worked, and how ignorant those in power seemed to be, he also feels very sorry for himself and how he was treated. One tires of the whining. Beyond that, some of the translation seemed to use vernacular that was inappropriate or dated. Overall, a disappointment.

Great book. Msut read. Broke my heart

of the Cultural Revolution in China. I've read the book and I think it's the most enchanting and detailed book on the Cultural Revolution in existance. It has graphical details, horriable truths, and a very nice translation by Howard Goldblatt. A must for students studying the Cultural Revolution!

This is not so much a Dzogchen Primer as a Rangjung Yeshe Publications primer!
Rangjung Yeshe Publications is an independent publisher founded by and run by Marcia Binder Schmidt and her husband. The Dzogchen Primer is compiled and edited by Marcia Binder Schmidt and is mostly compiled from existing writings from the Rangjung Yeshe catalogue interspersed with a few (also existing) Shambhala texts. The Rangjung Yeshe catalogue is largely based around the writings and teachings of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and have a very definite style or 'feel' to them. Although these writings offer a valuable contribution, they cannot be said to represent an encapsulation of Dzogchen (the editorial review which says "Schmidt pulls together writings from historic and contemporary masters" could wrongly give the impression that these are THE definitive writings).

If you want the definitive book on the subject of Dzogchen, you won't find it!
The Three Pillars of Zen of Dzogchen has as yet not been written. Until it has, you will have to patiently plough through some often very dense writings just to get the occasional glimmer of what is at the heart of the Great Perfection. The Crystal and the Way of Light by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu, The Golden Letters by John Myrdhin Reynolds, and Rangjung Yeshe's own As it is Vol 2 by Tulkhu Urgen Rinpoche might be a better starting point than The Dzogchen Primer.

As a Rangjung Yeshe Publications Primer, five stars. As a Dzogchen Primer, three stars.

The Dzogchen Primer is a nice collection of works compiled and edited by Marcia Binder Schmidt. The text compares Mahmudra, Dzogchen and Madhyamika as follows (pp. 175-176):

"According too the Mahamudra system, the means aspect is the Six Doctrines of Naropa, while the knowledge aspect is Mahamudra practice itself. These two are called the path of means and the path of liberation. By unifying means and liberation, we attain true and complete enlightenment. In the Madhyamika system, the Middle Way, the means aspect is relative truth; the knowledge aspect is ultimate truth. It is by unifying these two truths that we attain true and complete enlightenment. Finally, in the Dzogchen teachings, the means aspect is called 'spontaneously present nature,' while the knowledge aspect is called 'primordially pure essence.' By unifying primordial purity and spontaneous presence, Trekcho and Togal, we attain complete enlightenment."

This book takes the view that all three are the same in essence and nature, as do many sources. However, given the above comparison, the text is written from the Kagyu perspective with an emphasis on Mahamudra (rather than Dzogchen as one would expect from the title). In the Kagyu tradition, there is a heavy emphasis on the ngondro or preliminary practices, proceeding one step at a time. (In comparison, many Nyingma and Bon Dzogchen sources available in the West treat Dzogchen as a complete path in itself, although the preliminary practices are considered to be useful support activities.) Following the Kagyu outlook, the text begins with a few nice chapters on "the view" (basically the same in all three traditions) followed by many chapters on the preliminary practices. Authors include such noteworthy sources as Padmasambhava, Patrul Rinpoche, Shantideva, Milarepa, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, among others. It is a nice collection and shows some of the diversity of perspectives within the otherwise unified tradition.

Still, for a book entitled The Dzogchen Primer, one should note that the title is quite misleading. There is virtually no discussion of the Trekcho or Togal practices of Dzogchen. Readers expecting to find a book on Dzogchen practices are likely be disappointed. Readers interested in the preliminary practices or the Kagyu Mahamudra perspective, on the other hand, will find it a very nice addition to their collection. Had it been entitled The Mahamudra Primer, I would have given it 5 stars!

For anyone interested in Tibetan Buddhism, especially the teachings of Dzogchen, this is THE book to read. The compiler, Marcia Schmidt, has done an incredible job in bringing together in one volume the essential teachings from both the masters of the past and those teaching today. It is also fortunate that some of the Dzogchen teachers featured in this book are currently teaching in the West -- Thrangu Rinpoche, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, and Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche -- so these teachings can also be approached in person.

This book is a great gift to everyone who wants to understand the teachings of the Great Perfection.

This play is set in a studio during the early days of sound recording. Ma Rainey's back-up band awaits the overdue arrival of the so-called Queen of Blues, discussing their lives and arguing about the music scene and their places in it. The white studio execs are practically tearing their hair out over Ma's tardiness and the demands that she is sure to make when she arrives. When she finally comes, she is every bit as demanding and overbearing as we expect, but also very perceptive-she is well aware that black artists are being exploited by the very record company people who continually urge her to be "reasonable" about the amount of money that she "wastes" on personal demands while recording the music that makes them so rich.

Although it features very good dialogue and some fine monologues, nothing much happens dramatically during the course of the play. There is an explosive finale, but it feels contrived and overdone, as though Wilson didn't know where to take his characters after all of the talking stopped.

This play shows how the rage caused by racism can be manifested in unusual ways. Each character, the blues singer and her band, has a different means of trying to gain control of a racist society hoping to, thereby, overcome it. The author's surprisingly humurous dialogue accentuates the story but, there is no mistaking the gravity of these characters's pain. Wilson's writing makes the play fast-paced and gives excellent insight to the histories of the individual characters. The use of blues lyrics and speech make them not just backdrops but characters, themselves. The abrupt ending seems a little forced, but the play is extremely entertaining.

I would welcome suggestions to the analysis of August Wilson's " Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" at secondary school level. The book is too powerful but sometimes my students have difficulties in understanding its strenght.Sorry this is not a review, it's a cry of "Hellllp".

I am 41 years old. In my computer ages only go up to 12

Although this book gives the reader much useful information on GSM, the style is poor and and needs editing by Artech House. when I first read the book I got out my marker pen and delated large sections of useless text. The explanation of Channel Coding and Signalling, 5.14.4, started by saying 'The passengers (user data) in an airplane may have all paid full fare, the plane may be safe, and the accomodations exceptional, but nobody is going anywhere without the a pilot and crew (signalling data). The book is still in my bookshelf as it is a handy reference manual on GSM, but I am sure there are better books on GSM out there.

This book is a good entrance to the GSM world and can still serve as a quick handbook for GSM.
But the main problem is with the additional unnecessary text that some times can distract the reader away from the technical point being explained.

This book gives a detailed information about GSM. I can recommend this book for beginners.

This book does have good content but for those of you who are in your first semesters of Radiology technology it clearly does not simplify the information. It does not produce good examples or diagrams to make learning easy. It is also very cut and dry and makes it very difficult to read. It has no glossary and is poor in producing definitions. I highly recommend Bushong not only is the book fun to read but makes some of the more complex principles easier to understand. The workbook is really great also to help you prepare for your test and the end of the chapter quesions are nice because it helps to check see if you got the understanding of the chapter.

I find this one a "better" overall textbook than Christensen and Bushong. More inspiring, cosier and fairly well written. Downside : I personally found myself wanting some radiation physics tables that I had to find elsewhere ("Medical Imaging Physics"), and think the authors left out many interesting aspects physics wise, but your average student might find this works out just fine. Almost perfect starter.

Overall, this is an excellent text for radiography students and also physician residents in radiology. The text is comprehensive and easy to understand. We particularly like the abundance of drawings and tables. The special imaging chapters are very detailed and provide excellent information for students and others who use this text for reference purposes. The chapter on mammography is particularly good as it is the only chapter of its kind in any textbook. This chapter is excellent for those programs that teach comprehensive mammography. The mammography art and images are superb. Seasoned radiography educators are authors of this text and that makes this a unique book and one that is accurate technically.