Melvin McLeod

I'm always fascinated with, and reading about religions...even non-theistic religions. I've read some of Daniel Dennett and Pascal Boyer and reluctantly concede that religious belief is hardwired into our genome, so I read to try to find out why, thus this book.

People have recommended Buddhism several times in my life. They haven't figured out yet that the fundamentals of Buddhism are so alien that it is impossible for me to take it seriously. Pursuing emptiness? Suffering is necessary? Loss of self? And those koans! If the only way to "answer" them is without intellect, then I have no use for any of this...intellect is prime. Abandonment of reason and intellect is a moral crime.

But that's me. For the most part, these stories are benign. A few are "out there" but most could have found their way into another collection easily.… (altro)

I have heard very good reports on Shambhala's "The Best Buddhist Writing" series, so I was excited to have the chance to read an ARC of the 2013 edition via Netgalley. I found this volume to have a wide-ranging collection of essays and excerpts from books covering everything from introductions to meditation and to basic concepts in Buddhism, to engaging slice-of-life essays exploring how the writers incorporate mindfulness in hectic lives, and even a piece in which Kay Larson traces the influences of Buddhism on John Cage's 4'33" (drawing on her work in her book [book:Where the Heart Beats: John Cage, Zen Buddhism, and the Inner Life of Artists|16171197]. The Table of Contents presents a who's who of Buddhist writers, both established writers and relative newcomers: Pema Chödrön, Thich Nhat Hanh, Joseph Goldstein, Natalie Goldberg, Sylvia Boorstein, Dzongsar Khyentse, Sakyong Mipham, Norman Fischer, Philip Moffitt, Karen Miller, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Kay Larson, and Lodro Rinzler. This volume is a wonderful introduction to recent writings on Buddhism and mindfulness, and should help readers to find new favorite writers in the field.… (altro)

Annually since 2004, Melvin McLeod, the editor-in-chief of the bimonthly Shambhala Sun, has compiled a volume of the “best Buddhist writing” from the previous year. Similar to The Best American Spiritual Writing (HarperCollins) and The Best Catholic Writing (Loyola) McLeod’s series offers an overview of important authors, themes, and genres of Buddhist writing.
The essays are drawn from a relatively small number of Buddhist publications (Shambhala Sun; Turning Wheel, Buddhadharma, Tricycle) and publishers (Parallax Press, Wisdom Publications, Shambhala Publications). Thus, the anthology might be more useful for a reader interested in learning about Buddhism than for one who is already a practitioner. It serves as an excellent and accessible introduction to different schools (Zen, Tibetan, Vipassana) and writers (including the Dalai Lama, Pema Chödrön, Natalie Goldberg, Joanna Macy, Frances Moore Lappé, Sylvia Boorstein) that influence and illustrate the vibrancy of Western Buddhism. One does not need to be a Buddhist to benefit from the practical wisdom the authors have gleaned from meditation practice. They share insights on dealing with chronic pain; grieving a former but still beloved spouse; the Iraq war (by a soldier who received conscientious objector status and is a Zen peace activist); and how the practice of mindfulness can enhance organizational leadership. Many of the contributors are noted teachers, authors, or activists, but some of the best writing reflects on more common situations.
In a lovely essay (“Retreat at Plum Village”), thirteen-year-old Cameron Barnett writes about the fruits of a family retreat made with Thich Nhat Hanh. “Thay, as his students call him, taught me to feel sympathy for those who are mean to others or who pick on me because their souls were not better off for what they were doing.” When Cameron returned to school, a fellow student “made fun of me for going on this retreat. Although it was an extremely offensive remark, I thought back to what Thich Nhat Hanh had told me and simply replied, ‘How are you today?’ He yelled at me again and I said, ‘I had a great break, how was yours?’ It took about a week, but by the next Monday, he no longer picked on me.”
More than practical advice, the implicit generosity and gratitude that inform these pages can make The Best Buddhist Writing a balm for weary readers.

by Rachelle Linner

Copyright Foreword Magazine, volume 12, no. 1… (altro)