MA

This book contains numerous quotes from famous personalities and sutras. The commentaries / explanation is in plain English. The layout is such that similar ideas (or at least in some areas) are group and presented together before an explanation is presented.

To me, reading this book is like having a glimpse of key ideas in many other well-known Buddhism texts. Many thanks to those who have made this book available.

this book is solid. great translator of a great text with a great teacher giving a great commentary. this level of instruction is usually reserved for a more direct teaching situation, and without that you may find much of it uselessly vague, abstract or confusing. maybe not. but for those who do have some experience in this realm, it should give you a wealth of helpful information. especially those interested in the gaps and bridges between mahamudra and dzogchen. for a more abbreviated version of this same teaching, by the same author (karma chagmed) see chokyi nyima rinpoche's "union of mahamudra and dzogchen," incidentally done by my favorite translator!

This book is a very well written guide to the essentials of business management. No techno-babble, no haughty wordiness. Direct, succinct, and funny at times. Nice book for those of us who have too much of this type of stuff to read.

This book doesn't have nice illustration or fancy pictures, but covers all the major aspects of managing, without boasting or waffling. It's very well written, so I would define it a "VERY USEFUL" book.

Deal with the here and now effectively with this in-depth divination tool. The ancient Chinese method of acquiring wisdom, the I-Ching, comes alive through the awesome art work of the Tao Oracle by Ma Deva Padma. This deck makes the I-Ching entirely accessible to beginners, and the cards' depth and beauty is sure to captivate even advanced practitioners of divination.

From my dabblings with divinatory devices, I believe I can go out on a limb and say that this is the best new divination tool of the year 2002. Padma is also known for the beautiful Osho Zen Tarot, a Tarot deck designed for those concerned with living fully in the present moment. Besides artwork you can just melt right into, there are a lot of other things going for the Tao Oracle.

First, I don't know how you could just pass this deck up on the shelf without giving it a second, or third look. Its earth-toned, sturdy outer packaging depicts card #27, "The corners of the mouth". The card shows a meditative, serene face with a white flowering tree superimposed over the right side of the face. It denotes the importance of achieving body-mind balance towards maintaining good health.

The cards themselves are named, numbered, and each includes extremely helpful word associations. The card's I-Ching symbol appears in the lower right and special symbols created by Padma are on the lower left to help emphasize the natures at work in the I-Ching symbol.

At the top, a Yin-Yang symbol depicts the colors associated with the hexagram, which again, reinforce the duality of forces at work on the card. Sometimes these forces are in harmony, reinforcing each other, sometimes they conflict, showing challenges to be overcome.

The well-organized accompanying text contains direct, thorough interpretations of the cards and Padma shows us that her talents for visualization are not just through art, but through words as well. There is a detailed interpretation of the card followed by an interpretation of the individual lines of the card's hexagram.

There are some well-crafted spreads at the back of the book, including a one-card daily "pearl of wisdom" reading. Should you want more information on the "pearl", or, on the card in the "insight" position in the other layouts, you can use 3 coins like you would when consulting the traditional I-Ching, in order to create a new hexagram.

This is where it gets a little complicated so be sure to carefully read the section on this, it's not that hard to follow, and it will be worth your while. You will be surprised at the new insights you will obtain when you add this step into your reading.

What I especially like is the Tao Oracle's emphasis on the present moment...not some far-flung future predictions. It focuses readers' attention on the thought patterns, habits or actions they are dealing with presently. The future will come about based on what one is doing today -- that's where attention really needs to be focused.

All in all, the Tao Oracle is a feast for the eyes as well as for the spirit. Though fine for the bright beginner, advanced practitioners of divination will more immediately appreciate the depth of this tool for self-awareness. It's an incredibly beautiful, well-designed divination tool at a very reasonable price.

I have worked with the I-Ching for years and also Tarot. I also love Ma Deva Padma's artwork. So, when I saw this oracle, I just had to get it! The artwork is beautiful and really captures the meanings behind the I-Ching hexagrams. You dont even have to look at the book. But the book adds alot to the reading.. is very well written and easy to understand. A must-buy for anyone who wants a fresh view of the I-Ching.. or for anyone wanting to try a new oracle.

This book is raw, wild, and truly classic! I pray that Michael Guinzburg developes a following in the US so we can get the English versions of his other work (currently available and very popular in France). Guinzburg somehow interweaves the history of Jackson Pollock, the fiction of Jackson Pollock and a wild rich freakshow of the cash Hampton elite. Pearls, performance art, animal testing, and everything in between is thrown at this unlikely canvas.

My God! I picked up a copy of this amazing book in France a few weeks ago and I can't wait for the original English version.

This is the wildest, craziest, funniest salad of high literature, political/sociological observation, loony sex and scatalogical excess that has ever passed before my eyes. Totally gripping. Yanks you by the short hairs and doesn't let go. I laughed so hard I had to buy a three pack of new underpants. Where Ed Harris' new Oscar nomatinated (albeit anemic) film "Pollock" leaves off, "Top of the World, Ma!" kicks in and blasts off.

The torch of certainty is an essential text for any serious Buddhist practitioner of the Kagyu lineage. The text, written by Jamgon Kongtrul and translated by Judith Hanson, describes the four ordinary foundation practices and the four special foundation practices. These are commonly known as the ngondro practice.

The text covers specifics on each practice and should be used alongside the Ngondro text, with instruction from your lama.

The introduction includes a section on the Kagyu lineage known as the golden rosary.

The must have manual for anyone setting out to do the Ngondro practices. Clear and concise, with a very nice question/answer section.

U.S. Navy Aircraft 1921-1941/U.S.Marine Corps Aircraft 1914-1959 by William T. Larkins is the best book I've found on Naval Aviation. Would love to see a book like this up to the present.
This is really a great book.

Mr. Larkins book has many rare photos and is one of the best if not the best Naval Aviation books around.

The Woodchuck's Guide To Gardening by Vermont organic gardener Ron Krupp, is a thoroughly "user friendly" guidebook written especially for aspiring organic and biodynamic home gardeners. Embracing thrift and the practical considerations as symbolized by the woodchuck, The Woodchuck's Guide To Gardening provides a wealth of tips, tricks, and techniques for keeping soil healthy, overseeing nutritious produce through all four seasons, foraging for wild plants, teaching one's children to garden, and a great deal more. Written in down-to-earth, accessible language for gardeners of all experience levels and backgrounds, The Woodchuck's Guide To Gardening is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal and community library gardening reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The Woodchuck's Guide To Gardening by Vermont organic gardener Ron Krupp, is a thoroughly "user friendly" guidebook written especially for aspiring organic and biodynamic home gardeners. Embracing thrift and the practical considerations as symbolized by the woodchuck, The Woodchuck's Guide To Gardening provides a wealth of tips, tricks, and techniques for keeping soil healthy, overseeing nutritious produce through all four seasons, foraging for wild plants, teaching one's children to garden, and a great deal more. Written in down-to-earth, accessible language for gardeners of all experience levels and backgrounds, The Woodchuck's Guide To Gardening is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal and community library gardening reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Khiem is a writer and editor-in-chief of a publishing house in contemporary Vietnam when he is attacked by a clique of conformist writers. The result is the banning of his book. His lover, Hoan, is slandered and sacked from her job, necessitating her leaving Hanoi and becoming caught up in opium trafficking resulting in her arrest. Khiem's wife is a smuggler, has an extra-marital affair and dies during an abortion. His best friend is sent to Angola as a health expert and dies there. After a long period of suffering, Khiem and Hoan are finally reunited. This is the bare bones plot summary of a deeply engaging, superbly written, highly recommended novel of friendship, love and betrayal played out against a background of Vietnamese culture and politics in a state of rapid transition and change. Ma van Khang's remarkable novel is aptly translated into English by the collaborative efforts of Phan Thanh Hao and Wayne Karlin.

I am also from Louisiana and have been to Baton Rouge many times, and I think it's wonderful that someone from Louisiana has written two books full of Boudreaux jokes and stories. Everyone should read these, because you just have to love the Cajun culture in them! Some of my favorites from the first (Dat Boudreaux Ain't Me, It's Ma Cousin) are when Boudreaux meets the devil ("Eet is STILL not as hot here as South Louisiana on a good July day!") and when Boudreaux decides to change his name (His name is Poo Poo Boudreaux and he wants the judge to change it to Poo Poo Fontenot!). I just got an autographed copy of this book from Hammond and can't wait to read it! I hope that Larry keeps making Boudreaux books!

This edited volume is undobtedly THE comprehensive guide to the alien abduction phenomenon. It includes arguments for the both sides of the debate, all of which are presented by knowledgable, educated persons. This is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the subject matter. The volume includes all proceedings of the discussion, including graphs and charts shown: nothing is left out. An edited/abriged version of this volume is available from a diffrent publisher--aviod it. The abridged versiion, though it may be an eisier, faster read, is FAR inferior to this complete text.