Asia Books

First of all, I agree with other reviewer's assertions that this is not a book for beginners. Without a basic understanding of foundational Buddhist thought and Buddhist cosmology, this book wouldn't make much sense. Vimalakirti is one of my favorite characters since he is a great example of how a lay person can achieve Buddhahood. He could enter gambling halls and other dens of iniquity, engage in business and family life, and still remain unsullied as he taught the Dharma. This book is one of the few readable texts about him. Although very well translated, it still retains some of the repetition and obscure references found in any ancient Buddhist work having a basis in an oral tradition. If you have an intermediate knowledge of Buddhism, this is an excellent work.

This and the Flower Ornament Scripture will keep you busy for awhile. Not easy or light reading by any means.

I agree with many of the other reviewers in this space. This sutra is quite simply my favorite Buddhist text, and Prof Thurman's translation is my favorite translation. I travel with this book because it is so compact and precise in describing the way of the Bodhisattva, the great vehicle of the Mahayana path. I have heard Prof Thurman read from his book, and his transmission is no small contribution to the progress of Buddhism in the West.

Several reviewers have mentioned the humor. I have fond memories of reading this text out loud to my fellow dharma students, and having a good laugh each time a disciple sheepishly declines Lord Buddha's invitation to go visit the ailing bodhisattva, Vilmalakirti. The replies of Vimalakirti, on the other hand, are the highest wisdom I know of in Buddhism, and reflecting on them is a great treasure.

The Vimalakirti-nirdesha Sutra, though almost certainly not spoken by Shakyamuni Buddha himself, is nontheless held in the highest esteem by all schools of the Mahayana. It belongs to the category of sutras which are, in all probability, fictional creations of Mahayana scholars, and not expounded by the Buddha. Despite this, the Vimalakirti Scripture is still given the title of a sutra. For the doctrine it expounds is in perfect conformity with the highest teachings of the Buddha, and, more than any other sutra, the Vimalakirti Sutra shows the perfection of the bodhisattva ideal for laymen and women. Robert A.F. Thurman's translation of this masterpiece is close to perfect. Working from a Tantric perspective (being himself a Vajrayana Buddhist), Thurman details, in his notes and introduction, the clear relation between Buddhist Tantrism and the Vimalakirti sutra, which can lead one to the conclusion that its composition was largely influenced by the esoteric teachings of the Tantras. Yet, the teachings of the Vimalakirti Sutra are in no way exclusive to students of the Vajrayana, or of Tibetan Buddhism in general. This scripture has historically been of tremendous influence on Chinese Buddhism, and is the subject of some of the greatest works of Chinese Buddhist Art. It is also held in the highest esteem by Zen Buddhism for its emphasis on the practice of the layman amongst the cares of the world. Indeed, it is one of the few canonical scriptures that are of particular value to Zen. The scripture tells the story of the layman Vimalakirti (almost certainly a fictional character), a bodhisattva of the highest order, on par with such figures as Manjushri, who, in order to develop living beings, lives as a layman in the crowded metropolis of Vaishali, participating in business and government and teaching the dharma in accordance with conditions. On this occasion, Vimalakirti manifests himself as being sick, in order to develop beings who come to inquire after his health. The Buddha, desiring to know how Vimalakirti is doing, requests several students and bodhisattvas to go and visit him, all of whom decline, however, saying that their skill in the dharma cannot be matched with Vimalakirti. Finally, Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom, goes to the house of Vimalakirti along with a retinue of several hundred disciples. The vast majority of the scripture is composed of the dialogues that occur between Vimalakirti and Manjushri, as well as with the disciples and bodhisattvas. Finally, the entire retinue (Vimalakirti included) return to the Buddha, who delivers a final section to the discourse. Many famous incidents in Buddhist lore occur in this sutra: the exchange between Shariputra and the Goddess, the chapter concerning the Dharma Gate of Nonduality, Vimalakirti's explanation of the cause of his sickness, etc. To any Buddhist practitioner, particularly those of Vajrayana Buddhism and Zen, this sutra is of the utmost importance. The only two major translations available in English are those of Thurman and Burton Watson. Thurman's translation, however, is the better of the two, rendering in clear, poetic English the difficult doctrines of the Mahayana. His notes provide excellent insight into the historical relations of the Sutra, and its importance to Tibetan Buddhism, as well as to Chinese Buddhism. Highly, highly recommended.

This is the Vimilikirtisastra, a Mahayana treatise that deals with nonduality. What this means is that the construct of the Therevada (or Hinayana-- meaning devotional Buddhism) is replaced by something other-- larger-- (from Sanskrit little vehicle to larger vehicle).

What does this mean to you? You have a book here in which all of the paired items (good/bad, monk/layperson, holy/inholy) start to be broken down. Buddhism becomes 'purer' through being less pure, more people are offered the ability to have salvation...

More than that, this is a fun read that can be gone through multiple times-- which will be necessary if you want to fully grasp all that this book says. It will alter your conception of what the Dharma is, or introduce you to one if you're just beginning to learn about it.

I would suggest, though, that you have some background in the Therevada stuff before you start-- otherwise this book would kind of be pointless: excepting that parts of it are amusing. Prof. Thurman has a knack for translation...

With the exception of a few errors this book is a must read for those who want to try to understand something about a very elite unit, the 9th Cavalry. I was in the Blues in 1966. I was a squad leader and the assistant platoon sgt. On occasion I was the platoon sgt. Never have I met a finer bunch of men who endured the trials of their home on the wire at night followed by running through the jungle the following day. I still wonder how we maintained ourselves, that is, staying awake on the wire and running the jungle. It was impossible to do what we did without sleep but we did it anyway. What the book describes between the Blues and the pilots is very true. We were united in a common goal. I think that goal was to destroy the enemy and go home alive. I personally know that when the lift pilots dropped us Blues on the ground they bided their time in agnony waiting for the call to saddle up and retrieve the Blues, and bring us home. This book describes how the pilots protected the Blues as much as humanly possible. Well done, Matt.

This is a great book that chronicals the experiences of an array of Vietnam Vets. My dad's story is in this book!

While not as good as "Brennans War", it's a great book.

Hunter-Killer Squadron stands alone as the finest book written on the helicopter war in Vietnam. Follow the 1st Cav's "Pink" teams as they decimate the NVA while incurring excruciating losses themselves. A "pink" team consisted of a (white) scout helicopter nosing around at treetop level, attempting to draw fire, invariably succeeding, covered by an orbiting (red) Cobra gunship. Once you read this, you'll understand what helicopter warfare was all about and the revolution it brought about in tactics. The book consists of 25 ancedotes from pilots, gunners and crew chiefs, every one a cliff-hanger. Other great Vietnam helo books: Crew Chief, Chickenhawk, Lest We Forget, and "Low Level Hell". And don't miss "Eyes of the Eagle" by Linderer.

I flew with the men of the 1/9 for more than 2 years. Soldiers like Lurch, Lofton, the Saint, Poxon, Jones, Thomas, Burrows, Brennan, ...the list goes on and on. Their integrity was never questioned, their courage was matched only by their determination. I consider even having my name mentioned in a book about these great soldiers my highest decoration. Perhaps Viet Nam was the end of an era where men fought by guts, determination and intelligence, and began the fight by computer (or remote control) era. Each soldier of the 1/9 has my deepest respect, they risked their lives daily and are the essence of the American ideal of soldiering. Wherever they are today, may God bless them. If we are ever involved in a major conflict again, and these kind of men aren't around, God help us all.

A must read for anyone interested in Indonesia. Superb historical accounts, on the ground descriptions and skillful storytelling. A classic on my bookshelf! Students love it.

I consider this book as very interesting and easy to read. The author describe the situation in a way that you can feel the situation in a real way. it is a very interesting historic document of the Suharto dictator fall; very interesting for all the people who want to know what happened in this crucial days in the history of Indonesia.

This is a terrific book. The author was in Indonesia at the end of the 1990's, in what was obviously a very tumultuous time for that country. The book is divided into three sections, each of which deals with a different event. The first section deals with two trips that Parry made to the island of Borneo, which witnessed several episodes of ethnic conflict during the 1990s. The author was specifically drawn to the island because of reports that members of a particular ethnic group were not only being killed, but that they were being slaughtered in brutal, ritualistic fashion. Parry not only manages to find people who confirm these stories, but on his second trip to the island he actually sees more direct evidence of these atrocities. The second section of the book deals with the student protests that led to the downfall of Suharto. This was probably my favorite part of the book, because Parry provides such an outstanding analysis of the ideological underpinnings of Suharto's regime. I only wish that he would have discussed in greater detail the financial crash as well as the ensuing involvement of the IMF, as well as the anti-Chinese riots that took place throughout the country. The final section of the book details the author's stay in East Timor, including his meeting with an elusive pro-independence guerilla fighter and his harrowing stay in the UN compound after the independence referendum, when the pro-Indonesian militias were committing reprisal attacks with the blessing of the Indonesian military. Throughout the book Parry manages to infuse the narrative with an impressive sense of drama, such that it often reads like a novel. Parry realizes that he witnessed history in the making, and he does a good job of conveying to his readers the historical import of the events that he relates.

Excellent book, well-written and gripping for the most part. During the climax, I found myself unable to put it down -- something that doesn't usually happen with non-fiction. Spare prose and light touches of very British humor at certain points added to the reading "pleasure," if that's the right word for a work centering on horrific events.

I deduct a star for a bit of exaggeration over the climax. From the way it was built up, I thought Lloyd Parry had been involved in something truly horrific. Ultimately, I found his reaction very male and a bit irritating, rather overdone.

Overall, though, an excellent book. I hope he plans on writing more.

As an Indonesian that lived through the tumultous period covered in the book, I found Richard Parry's work to be very authoritative. He digs deep, more than just facts and statistics. Though not a picture that I want my homeland to be remembered by, I found this to be a must read.

This book is a great work of art, it shows the significance of India's contribution to the world of spirituality; spirituality at its pinnacle, not magic or the occult arts. Enlightenment, the greatest contribution of India to the world. It's a good book for any reader from any part of the world to read, easy reading and great illustrations.
Something not to miss out on.

India My Love is one book that shine out in my Osho collection. The very fact is that I been sometimes gifting this book to people who are fond of Osho Discourses. This book is a gem of Osho Insight and truly Indian vision because no other spiritual leader has so vividly introduced the Real India and the spiritual beliefs. Osho speaks of yogis, fakirs, buddhist monks, jain gurus and all about ancient India. This book is not only about stories of saints and osho transcript of talks but also has great illustrated pics alongwith snippets about mystical India. The Krishna tales and Atista are topics that create a lot of interest to read and the liberation goal of osho is defined as one read through these pages. Osho unfolds cultural and spiritual aspects of the golden past of India. A good & Must Read for an Osho Fan. Great Pick.

"The real India is a quest of the inner most soul of man - not the geography, nor the political history, but the inner journey. The journey of meditation is the real India. Mahavir represents it. Buddha represents it. Krishna, Christ and Nanak - they represent the real India. And I have the heritage of all of them and much more," declares Osho.

The very word "India" sounds differently to different people. Most of us may get an immediate view of images like one of these: a herd of skinny cows scattered all over a barren, over-gazed field; people lined-up to a remote water tap to fetch drinking water; trains and buses over crowded with people on its roof; naked yogis and sadhus in eye-unpleasant figures and shapes; etc, etc.

Osho, in this book, India My Love, takes us to a totally different pilgrimage of India: the India of enlightened mystics and of spiritually awakened people. Osho unfolds the golden past of India by picking one story at a time, and explaining it in light of its spiritual and cultural values. There is no doubt that Osho has been one of the most brilliant educators and storytellers of our time. The West has not fully recognized his teachings and legacy yet.

India My Love, on the one hand, samples the wisdom of Osho, unsurpassable by any, and on the other hand, provides with a glimpse of an India, rare and unknown to many, that has a continuum legacy of 5000 years-old search for the enlightenment during all phases of the Indian history.

If you have been to India, you have to read this book. You'll find the echo to bring you back to India. If you have not been to India, you have to read this book. It will bring you to India, the real India. Everyone has an inner yearning to go to India, at least once in your life time. Don't delay. Start the spiritual journey led by OSHO.

This is one of those books that takes you from one world and brings you into another, in this case southeast Asia. Usually, I have found this quality in certain novels, but not often in short story collections, so I was glad I came upon this group of stories. I particularly liked the stories 'Fingertips Pointing to the Sky' and 'The Hotel Bombay'.

This collection of stories was a very enjoyable read and affected me on many levels. The stories encompassed a wide spectrum of emotions. I read the book in one sitting and then found myself going back a few weeks later and re-reading some of the stories for a second time. While all of the stories were sensitive to the area of southeast Asia they worked as a comment on the human condition regardless of geographic area.

I came across this book quite by accident after returning from an extensive business trip in southeast Asia. I liked the author's attention to detail and wished there were more than fourteen stories included here.

In fourteen stories the author has captured the feel of the area of the South China Sea. Asia is so vast with so many beautiful countries and where better to learn about different cultures than through literature. By reading, one is rewarded with a further understanding of the world we live in. I especially enjoyed this collection of short stories and would recommend it to anyone interested in either the atmosphere of southeast Asia or simply in well written stories.

The one thing all fourteen stories have in common is a link to the South China Sea. Some of the stories are humorous, others deal with serious subjects such as trafficking in women, extreme poverty, a sweatshop owner who's also a rapist, revenge, the Khmer Rouge, and attempts to escape from Vietnam. Some of the stories are predictable and one has a tragic irony. This collection was highly enjoyable and I read it in one sitting.

This book is a grammar book, and yet is very easy to read. The material is presented in a variety of ways within each chapter, which helps with keeping interest.

Each chapter starts with a conversation written with kanji/hiragan/katakana and an english translation. The romaji version is included at the end of the chapter, so you can refer to it if you are not sure of the kanji reading. Then the grammar points are discussed one by one, with examples and cultural references.

I already knew some Japanese before I started on this book, and I have found it excellent and would highly recommend it for any intermediate learner of Japanese. The first chapters are an excellent recap, and my teacher says that the later chapters are harder than GCSE level (UK exam for 16 yr olds), approximately the standard of the AS level (UK exam for 17 yr olds).

As to whether this book should be chosen as the sole book for an absolute beginner, I'm not so sure - my recommendation would be to buy it because it is excellent, but in addition, to get something like "Japanese Language and Culture" for a slightly easier ride at first.

Note: This is Volume I, the grammar Volume. Note that Volume II does not follow on sequentially from it - instead the two volumes complement each other, with volume II containing the word lists and exercises, so it is worth getting both volumes.

This is volume 1 of "An Introduction to Modern Japanese". The preface and the introduction are already very interesting and make you eager to continue. All in all, there are 52 lessons. Each lesson comes with useful dialogues or texts in kana and kanji, followed by thorough and well-written grammar explanations. At the end of the lesson, you can find romaji transcription and the translation of the dialogue or text. Volume 2 comprehends exercises and word list for each lesson, plus a reference Japanese-English/ English-Japanese vocabulary at the end of the book. In summary, this is an excellent method for getting solid skills in Japanese.

This is quite possibly the best Japanese grammar/teaching text I have purchased. It is neither pedantic nor superficial. However, it is VERY dense (in the content sense). The introductory text "Yookoso!" by Tousaku, at its slower pace, is probably more appropriate for someone who knows absolutely no Japanese (IMPORTANT: for "Yookoso!", buy the soft-bound lesson book and audio CD's too). If you know some Japanese but are a bit rusty, or if you are seriously trying to teach yourself, Bowring and Laurie is a wonderful reference book (although I find it very readable too).

The book is organized into 52 lessons, each preceded by a passage in Japanese. Each passage in the reading is cleverly selected to demonstrate a particular grammatical construction. These constructions are then picked apart one-by-one in the lesson. I loudly applaud the authors for refusing to use ANY romanization except in the romanized translation of the passage for each lesson (which is isolated from the lesson itself) and except for the very early lessons where it is required for explanation of the syllabaries. This prevents students from handicapping themselves with a fake and truly useless writing system. It makes me very upset to see the profusion of Japanese texts peppering the shelves that concentrate only on speaking and lean on the crippling crutch of romanization. Try to read a subway map in Toyama or some other small city having learned nothing but romaji; let me know how you do. "Learning" Japanese without learning how to write is like "learning" physics without first learning basic calculus- you will never truly understand. There's no way around it: if you want to know Japanese, you must learn your kanji and kana just like everyone else.

This book is heavy. At close to 500 pages, there is a lot of material to cover (the recommended study time is 1-2 years). Again, the authors win my respect for their completeness. There is no way around this. No matter what that computer software or those car-audio tapes advertise, I'm sorry: you cannot learn Japanese in 90 days by studying "just X minutes a day."

The authors' tone is light and for the most part avoids linguistic terminology. American-English or other non-UK English speakers may notice some differences in diction, but this does not affect the learning experience at all. The material and the pace are very enjoyable.

My recommendation, if you are truly serious about learning Japanese is the following. Buy this book, the lesson book (Volume 2), a Kodansha EJ-JE furigana dictionary, and a kanji learner's dictionary. Make a Japanese friend and/or date a cute Japanese girl or guy (seriously- you'll be surprised how motivated you'll become). Concentrate on forcing yourself to speak and read Japanese. Read as much every-day material as you can: newspapers, advertisements, comics, whatever you can get your hands on. Most importantly, be persistent! And if you can afford it, travel to Japan and immerse yourself.

I first checked this book out at my university's library, and I was impressed from the get go.

While the explainations at time may be only somewhat vague, they are for the most part concise and straight to the point. The one feature I enjoy most was the building up of vocabulary and usage, and how one lesson carried fairly smoothly in to the next.

I've been using it for the past month on my own and I've noticed a marked improvement in my grammar skills. Of course, this book does nothing for verbal ability - but if practiced verbally, it sure does. My tutor has noticed a marked amount of improvement in my speaking ability, and I've noticed an improvement in my understanding as well.

As with any guide, this book is just that: a guide. Practicing what you learn is always the key to improvement. I highly suggest buying this book coupled with the second one. The vocabulary lists and excercises are invaluable for comprehension.

I just wanted to state the importance of getting the workbook with the textbook. The workbook increases the student's learning ability tenfold. I've been writing out all the exercises, there are an average of five exercises for each of the 52 lessons, and found my retention of the kanji and sentence structure to be very high: much higher than without the exercises.

The textbook makes it easy to learn the different kanji, both name readings and standard readings, by presenting them all in the context. Instead of bombarding the student with different kanji and the numerous readings, a kanji will be introduced in the context of one reading at a time. Only in a later lesson will a new reading and context be given so the student can intuitively understand which is the appropriate one: instead of guessing.

The 52 lessons and exercises average about 20 new kanji and 60 new words including particles and new readings of previously learned kanji. Without the exercises this would seem like a lot, after doing the exercises, it isn't so hard, just time consuming.

These books were created to teach students to tackle a short story after 6 months and a newspaper after a year. So the student will not need to wait until the end before being able to find applications.

One more thing, get a kanji learner's dictionary such as Kodansha's. It helps a lot with the written exercises.

"Merdeka Square" ("Freedom Square")

For the Western spies on the prowl in Jakarta, 1965 was the best of times and the worst of times. The political climate was as sordid as a Turkish steam bath and just as tricky to find your way about in. But there was real intelligence work to be done. The agents saw their task as saving Indonesia from the creeping Red menace. The country's Communist Party was Asia's largest outside China and was gaining influence over President Soekarno. His wavering threatened to destabilize an already shaky Southeast Asia as the Soviet Union's influence and investments in Indonesia soured, whilst China increased its hold on political life.

The West, alarmed by the growing communist influence in Asia, funded six assassination attempts against President Soekarno and, when these failed, coerced and bribed a group of generals to overthrow their charismatic leader. Secretly, Australia deployed its SAS along the Malay/Indonesian border and for three years these special forces troops penetrated deep into Indonesia, killing the Soviet backed enemy, the skies above protected by nuclear-armed British Vulcan bombers which flew regular, covert missions over Indonesia's densely populated cities.

Among the secret service agents watching these developments was Harry Bradshaw, whose sexual adventures land him in a Soviet entrapment. His protégé is Murray Stephenson, a trained ASIS agent whose position in the embassy provides a colorful background for the sinister, dangerous machinations and turmoil which brought President Soeharto to power, resulting in the slaughter of half a million Indonesians.

Based on fact, the story commences with Murray being recruited by the Secret Service and sent to Indonesia where he assimilates easily, reporting on student unrest as university campuses are infiltrated by communist elements. Handsome, young and fluent in Bahasa Indonesia, Murray's sexual exploits lead him into dangerous liaisons with influential Javanese women, one a member of the spiritualist sect, Subud, the other an active officer of the communist women's militia.

When Bradshaw is murdered by the Soviets, his replacement, the Melbourne based ASIS chief, obviously unfriendly to his predecessor's protégé, tragically creates an air of distrust amongst the Jakarta based agents. Murray becomes reluctant to pass all his intelligence findings back to Melbourne, confiding in the Military Attaché who accompanies the agent on his mission to save the life of the man who would become the Indonesian president for the next three decades.

This is the inside story to The Years of Living Dangerously. In 1965 as three different factions move to effect their coup d'etat against the ailing president, we find the Americans backing a group of generals whilst Murray is deeply involved in the intrigue surrounding the communists own plans to effect a takeover. Secretly, the West also supports a junior general by the name of Soeharto.

-2-
During the last days of September a list is given to the communists who sweep silently into Jakarta and commence their bloody coup. Six generals are captured and murdered, unwittingly clearing the way for Soeharto to assume power the following day. Tanks fill the capital as two hundred thousand troops swarm over the city, split loyalties spawning firefights throughout Jakarta which falls to the communists for less than one day. Soeharto's headquarters face the US embassy on Merdeka Square and it is here, alongside the national monument, that the young general makes his bold move. Within hours he recaptures the capital.

The Soviets move to shore up their own position, fearing that the West had effected the coup which would result in Indonesia turning from its Russian allies. The KGB First Secretary contacts anti-Soeharto army officers, who set about plotting to kill the pro-West, General Soeharto whose forces commence their campaign of slaughter across the nation, throwing the archipelago into civil war.

Murray's communist lover Yanti temporarily escapes the purge only to be captured, interrogated and executed. His other companion, the seductive Ade, has been reporting on Murray activities to the interim military regime that attempts to execute the Australian spy.

Traitorous military elements initiate a plot to kill Soeharto, foiled by Murray who manages to prevent the new leader's aircraft from taking off with the deadly bomb on board.

Murray returns to Melbourne and, disillusioned with the Secret Service, resigns.
As he leaves the building there is a curt exchange between him and the new ASIS chief, and the reader is introduced to Stephen Coleman, Murray's replacement who takes the story into the post coup period of corruption, murder and the amassing of incredible wealth as Indonesia leaps forward. The sequel is titled "The Timor Man".

If you like Tom Clancy you will love this book. Also if you have any interest in looking into the minds of the Indonesian government or military then this book is for you. Kerry Collison writes about a subject he lived not just something he read about in history books. The writing style is not the traditional American style, which gives the story more power. Kerry carries his readers along with his characters as if you were there. Great read I look forward to reading the second in the Trilogy.

I first read Merdeka Square and was surprised by the factual accounts contained in the book. However, Jakarta has more surprises in store for the reader, and anybody interested in Asia (or who has investments there) should put this in their reading list. Collison writes a gripping account of how business is (or used to be) done in Indonesia, and details the life of a very human hero,Murray Stephenson,who may very well be Asia's answer to Jack Ryan.

Jakarta is probably Collison's best book to date. His accounts of Indonesian politics, financial troubles, and social unrest happened to predict quite accurately events that transpired after the book was published. Collison obviously knows his primary subject (the people and government of Indonesia) and has done a meticulous job of researching everything else. It is also interesting to note that his description of two nuclear power plant near-misses is remarkably close to a recent event in Scotland.

Having lived and worked in Asia,with a number of years in Indonesia, Kerry Collison's books have not only given me substantial pleasure in his presentation of life in this giant archipelago, but has also provided me with a much deeper understanding of what makes these people tick. Move over Tom Clancy! We have a new author in town!

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (3/07)

"Japanese Yoga: the Way of Dynamic Meditation" introduces the form of Shin-shin-toitsu-do, which means "the way of mind and body unification." The author describes it as "the direct investigation of universal principles for living." He believes that we can transform our lives by following this practice. It was created by Dr. Nakamara Tempu, also a sensei, when he went to India in the early 1900's to study yoga. In developing Shin-shin-toistuo-do Dr. Tempu incorporated his knowledge of martial arts, western medicine and psychology, and healing into this form.

Shin-shin-toistu-do is different from Indian yoga. It uses a variety of stretching exercises, breathing methods, methods of seated and moving meditation, massage-like healing techniques, auto-suggestion techniques, and mind and body coordination drills. Included are also principles for the unification of the mind and body. This practice is very practical and can be used in our everyday life.

We are encouraged to use this practice because it will teach us to transcend our bodies and it places a higher importance on mental and physical health over material wealth. In reading and learning about this practice, I appreciated the humbleness of Mr. Davey. He encourages the reader to look inside ourselves to find truth, not at him.

I think that this is a great book for anyone interested in meditation and healing techniques. I think that people with a passion for the Japanese martial arts will really benefit from the training. It is in no way difficult to follow and Mr. Davey keeps it very interesting. He also provides resources to accessing instruction and supplies, and a glossary for quick reference.

My personal interests lie in Japanese martial arts and healing. I am pursuing my third degree black belt in karate and have been attuned to mastery level in Reiki. I was very excited to read "Japanese Yoga," because I felt that in addition to assisting me with my everyday life, it will also help me to achieve my next levels of training in the other art forms. Physically and mentally, I will benefit, especially as I feel myself physically aging. I also think that incorporating something new into my life will bring an additional excitement to my training.

One of the key principles of Japanese Yoga or shin-shin toitsu do is being and staying positive. When you stay positive, the ki or the energy starts to flow in you. When you turn negative, the ki stops flowing. It is as simple as that! H. E. Davey writes in a simple and most effective manner to instill in one this simple principle.

If you are practicing Yoga for some time, you will know that Yoga is not all postures. Living life to its maximum is yoga; letting that universal energy flow through you uninterrupted is yoga. The author writes about the teachings of his master - Nakamura sensei. While acknowledging the roots of Japanese Yoga lies in the ancient practice from India, Nakamura sensei went on to form the foundations of Japanese yoga through his own interpretations and experiences.

As with staying positive, concentration of the mind is a big part of the book. There are several exercises/techniques (candle gazing, listening to the fading of the ringing bells to eternity) explained in the book and how, with such exercises once can connect to the universal energy. The exercise with a pendant is a simple and profound way to illustrate the effects of the mind on the body. You will find the many gentle stretching and ki stimulating exercises easy to learn and practice. This is one of the yoga books that I could read through without the express need to 'know' the steps of postures, the sequences and combinations of different categories of postures, etc, etc.

I found the book to be simple and devoid of the numerous asanas that one needs to learn to 'practice' yoga. You need to read quite a bit of the book to get a sense of what Dynamic Meditation is. That's how this book is different. If Yoga were to be condensed into a two-page booklet readied for a crash course, then there wouldn't be so many books on the subject. Each author and each way of yoga uses a different and often unique way to get the message across. H. E. Davey speaks from his own experience and practice in writing this book and in it you will find a different and welcome way of practicing yoga. This book will be a unique addition to your Yoga library.

`Japanese Yoga' is comparatively an easy book to read and to follow. The author has a good gasp of Japanese culture and its philosophies. His explanations are relatively easy to follow. I think the paradox of Japanese is that they don't say much as most of their communication is through their actions and Davey has managed to explain many of demonstrated action into simple words. Although the book has fewer illustrations of yoga techniques which was rather disappointing but the explanation behind `Japanese Yoga' concept was well handled by the author. I will certainty recommend this book to any student who is keen to understand the basic principles and the source behind various exercises discussed in the book and those who are keen to understand the primary connection between the body and mind.

'Japanese Yoga' is a surprising book that affects your daily life from day one that you practice it.
The fact that i keep on practicing it everyday is a solid proof that the exercises are helpful in many ways.

The author H.E. DAVEY reveals in a clear and instructive way the teachings of NAKAMURA TEMPU SENSEI.
Both the psychological and spiritual background of his method are written in a down-to-earth way and without acting as a 'guru'.
Each of the principles has a PRACTICAL pendant as an exercise or test to make you really feel what is meant. In this way these principles are not mere assumptions, but become true and real, here and now.
For example : the principle that the mind moves and controls the body : the author includes several tests and exercises to make you find out for yourself what is meant.

The practice of Japanese Yoga has a lot to offer : stretching exercises, improvement of posture and breathing, centered movement, healing skills, meditation etc. These are not too difficult for most people, if practiced in the right frame of mind. And they are beneficial indeed.

The author suggests that there could follow a second volume of this book. i would be very pleased to read and learn more about Japanese Yoga.

H.E. Davey also wrote "Living the Japanese Arts and Ways", 45 paths to meditation and beauty. This volume
further explores the Japanese Ways (do) and is equally interesting and revealing. It looks at "body-and-mind-

unification" through the traditional crafts and arts of Japan.

If you're just interested in whether I liked this book or not, I'll get that out of the way first. I enjoyed this book and I expect to read it again in the near future.

I should mention, before discussing the contents, that this book is well-constructed. I like to read on airplanes and took this book on several short trips. It not only fits well into carryon luggage, but also withstands the rigors of travel and hotels extremely well.

This is not just a how-to type of book. Readers will not be overwhelmed by images of slim, svelte individuals in contortionist stances or situations. Rather, this book discusses the mental process of meditation. Any physical postures or exercises mentioned seem to be designed to facilitate the meditation process, not merely to lose weight or
fit in with the burgeoning yoga crowd.

I don't think there is any one good manner of addressing the mental processes, especially those of meditation. It is just too complicated an area. This author takes the approach of discussing some of the short-term goals of the incremental steps of his method, Shin-shin-toitsu-do, rather than ephemeral discussions of long-term, years-down-the-line goals. He
repeats important points, usually from different angles and perspectives. This approach can be heavy-handed and burdensome, if not done correctly.
Mr. Davey keeps his approach light. Just when it seems he is going to spoil things, he is off on another tangent that brings the reader back to the same goal.

I couldn't read this book in one sitting, although it is not a ponderous tome. I felt the need to break it into many short, educational readings. Sometimes just a snippet, sometimes reading longer. The material was presented in an easy manner, free of self-importance, yet not disrespectful. I know I probably didn't pick up all the important material
discussed, but I put it down with the feeling that I had found something that was important. I will read this book again, soon.

Suzanne Olsson is to be commended for her perseverance in trying to get the world community involved in the scientific and archeaological study of these graves and the people of Kashmir. This book is so much more than her personal travel journal, which it started out to be. The ideas and ancient eastern history are fascinating to consider. Any one who is on their own personal journey to understand and appreciate the historical Jesus will gain much from reading this book. The world thanks you, Suzanne!!!

As a lifetime resident of Kashmir,and author of several books about the life of Jesus in Kashmir, I have devoted my life to research into the tomb of Roza Bal.I feel this book will help
change the world.

The references, the words, and the thoughts are about the real story of Jesus, written by his decendent.

Here you will follow the family sagas as they roamed between worlds. What had begun with Adam and Noah, ended with the deaths of Mother Mary and Jesus. You will learn surprising new clues for the real reasons of the crucifixion: why Jesus, the new king, was brought before Pilate. You will visit the tomb of Roza Bal in Kashmir, and be shocked to find out what has been deliberately hidden from the world because of petty religious intolerances, jealousy, ego, and greed. The ancient tomb and its artifacts and documents will prove the identity of the man buried within. Jesus died in his old age: at his side was his lifetime companion John, the Bishop of Edessa, member of the White Brotherhood who was known to the Buddhists as Anjuna. You will find how Jesus' life and teachings touched upon every culture and religion in the world in ways you could never have imagined. Readers will be startled, then pleased to see these new details about this most extraordinary man's life, and the most extraordinary adventures he lived.
What you will find is an affirmation of many faiths. Approach this new information in the spirit of seeking
the "what-if" truths, for scattered herein is an incredibly new trail of leads for you to follow. There are places herein for an occasional smile as well as some frowns, and this perks up the reading of lengthy genealogies and confusing names and connections weaving across the millennium.

Kashmir had been a secret place of refuge for this Hebrew family for many millenniums.The aim of this book is clearly to inform the west that the east does have more unpublished
information about the historical Jesus. The life and works of Jesus are of vital interest to the people of the whole world. The wonderful prophecy made in Isaiah is clear that Jesus, being descended of King David, was to live. To have survived the crucifixion is to have truly fulfilled the prophecies. To have survived the crucifixion is the true message of the cross. To understand the true historical Jesus, this book is an absolute requirement.
Professor Fida Hassnain, Srinagar, Kashmir
author: 'Search for the Historical Jesus'
http://www.spinninglobe.net/histjesusearch.html

As a child growing up in India, I used to travel each summer to Kashmir along with my family and spend a week in what we considered to be paradise. The shimmering Dal lake, the beautiful gondola-esque Shikharas, the apple and cherry orchards, the wonderfully ornate houseboats and the pristine air. We had to stop visiting Kashmir from the 1980's once the separatist movement gathered steam and paradise became hell with bombs exploding virtually each day. The slight improvement in the situation today is overshadowed by the resurgence of the Taliban in the Northwest Frontier province of Pakistan as well as the shaky political climate in Pakistan.

Viewed against this backdrop, the fact that Suzanne Olsson was able to achieve what she did in Kashmir is truly commendable. Having spent the last two years writing my fictional account on the Rozabal tomb, each and every word in Suzanne's book makes me understand the extent to which she has sacrificed a considerable part of her life to the cause of Rozabal. Her book, more than a terrific tome of research for generations to come, is also a desperate plea to ensure that Rozabal is not lost. It is far too precious!

There were so many things that I loved about Suzanne's book. Where do I begin? Do I tell you about her observations (on page 45) as Kashmir possibly being the closest thing to Shangri-La? Do I tell you about how (on page 82), Suzanne reveals the Brahma-Abraham and Sara-Saraswati connection magnificently. Or do I talk about how (on page 108) she talks about the 354 idols in the temple of Mecca before they were cleared by Mohammed and establishes the connections between Hinduism and Islam more firmly than probably anyone else before her? Or do I talk about her heartfelt plea for religious tolerance (on page 359) and her feeling of helplessness with the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha by the pre-9/11 Taliban regime of Afghanistan? Jesus in Kashmir, The Lost Tomb is NOT about The Lost Tomb. Well, yes it is... BUT it is significantly more important than that. It is a testament to the fact that world religions are much more closely related to each other than is revealed by those who guard such secrets and that religious intolerance is rather ridiculous given these close historical and philosophical relationships.

The alternative explanation to the Jesus story is presented in a comfortable and clear-headed style that will leave the reader wanting much more. In fact, if you are serious about wanting to know more about Jesus in India and the reasons why Rozabal could very well actually be his final resting place, DON'T read my book, The Rozabal Line which lays no claims to serious scholarship and instead attempts to simply provide a "fun read" using historical material that is already out there thanks to dedicated researchers such as Suzanne), and instead pick up a copy of Suzanne's book which is truly a remarkable work of scholarship, dedication and commitment. I salute you, Suzanne!

We have extensively researched the core aspects of this incredible and detailed account gifted to the world by Suzanne Olsson. The years of research and dedication to truth are overwhelmingly obvious in reading this book.

Our independent research sourced documentation dating back thousands of years and, we believe, supports the findings in this book.

From our position of health care we understand the need to reduce barriers and unfounded fears that prevail. Fundamentally all core religious teachings are from the same platform.

What is outstanding within this book is that greater wisdoms in the most prevalent religions are the result of one man and his key followers. No one person has achieved such a profound and sustained creation of spiritual wisdom since Jeshua. Not only was his work of great importance, he bridged the borders and boundaries of the world's greatest faiths and brought greater awareness and alignment to all.

Many myths are dissolved by this research, all of this information reduces fears and boundaries that have been created through centuries of errors.

The universal importance of this work should be applied Srinagar, Kashmir. It is the place where science needs to continue the work.

Now is the time, in the ancient traditions of Chaldi Colleges (pronounced Kaldi), that these referenced historical records are brought together in a way that people of any faith and persuasion can freely and readily explore for themselves the thousands of documents and books available in little known places. It is time to bring scientific process to play and go forward with the scientific investigations, proposed within this book. Of immediate importance is the undertaking of the authorised DNA investigations at Roza Bal and at Muree. Expanding this work by comparing the findings with similar DNA research at the Tialpot tomb and the mummies of Egypt, many of whom were also considered princes, kings, and holy people, will lead to exciting growth in our understanding of history.

The foundations for tolerance and peace will be enhanced by this work. Such important developments have profound positive contributions to health and growth of all communities.

Such constructive undertakings may well lead to a major and much needed economic industry in Srinagar as a result of this non-partisan development.

John Doel - Chartered Accountant - for Pascas Health

I found this book to be fascinating and informative and very well researched. Although it is obviously the author's opinion, she makes a very solid argument for the presence of Jesus in Kashmir and challenges the popular opinion of the outcome of His crucifiction. It is far from being just the the story of Jesus though, as she dilengently traces the connection of many other historic Jews, including Moses, Solomon and Abraham to this ancient section of India. In addition, she lays the ground work for the theory that Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism and Christianity all have roots in this area and were influenced by (dare we say related to) each other. Ms.Olsson's mission appears to be to draw attention to this grossly neglected part of the ancient world and it's priceless artifacts before their history and their message is lost forever in the destruction that seems to be the mandate of certain Muslim sects that dominate the area. Her first hand accounts of her extensive travel in this region and her use of current and archival photos and maps made this a riveting and provocative read. I highly recommend it.

This is phenomenal book! There's a slight bit of difficulty with so many Indian names, which are unfamiliar to Western ears and a bit difficult to keep track of. My solution was to turn around when I finished the book and immediately re-read it. I was totally unaware that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands even existed until reading this book, and now I'm mad to see them for myself. The story of the destruction of these ancient tribes over the last 200 years is one of the saddest things you will ever read, and it makes you root even harder for those people on Sentinel Island, who have resisted all attempts at contact by the "civilized" world and are shooting Stone Age arrows at our airplanes when they fly over. Let's hope they're able to maintain their independence--

Madhusree Mukerjee's writing is so compelling I didn't want to stop reading. The historical background she relates is based on solid scholarly research, but the book should easily appeal to popular audiences. Readers will admire the author's persistence on her visits to the Andaman Islands in striving against bureaucratic resistance and other difficulties to search out, experience, and report on the current situations of the aboriginals.

In reading the book, I continually found myself, as the author did, identifying with the native peoples in their confrontations and interactions with the invading visitors, settlers and administrators. Mukerjee has an excellent way with words, including the manner in which she describes the many ironies and the bunglings by the governing bureaucracies. Regarding the resulting messes, she uses perfect imagery: "One could always blame the previous administration, a long line of pointing fingers fading into history."

It's unfortunate and sad how, over much of the world, so-called civilized outsiders continue to arrogantly and ignorantly devastate other lands and their inhabitants, intentionally, unintentionally, and through greed and indifference. Even though the facts recounted in the book eloquently speak for themselves, the manner in which Mukerjee frequently relates her own reactions and feelings on her visits seems entirely appropriate. Hopefully, this book will draw considerable attention, both in India and worldwide among concerned citizens and officials positions to influence policies.

The book is excellent, beautifully written, even poetic in places. The author describes the history of contact by the 'civilized world' with the people of this lost world on the Andaman Islands, a world about which I knew nothing. She uses an interesting novelistic device of weaving together past and current events to described the world of the Andamanese and of her trials and tribulations of trying to work through an uncooperative bureaucracy to meet the fascinating original inhabitants. The cast of characters is huge and includes historical figures from as far back as 1771 to people of today. The role of the author is that of compassionate observer. Ultimately the tale is sad; thoughout I kept asking, "What are we doing?".

Discussions of endangered peoples often invokes stories about Amazonian natives, Kalahari Bushmen, and Australian aborigines to name a few. The people of the Andaman and Nicobar islands are seldom mentioned however. Mukerjee does a great service to the indigenous people of these islands by exposing the destruction wrought upon them by modern intrusions.

The Andamanese and Nicobarese have lived in isolation from the modern world in the Bay of Bengal for thousands of years. They were portrayed in travelogues, including Marco Polo's, as ferocious, cannabilistic, and uncivilized to the highest degree. These impressions were often based not upon direct interaction but rather on distant observation of a unabashedly naked people with a hunter-gatherer culture. When actual interaction did occur primarily by the British, the Andamanese and Nicobarese were often ferociously defensive as can be expected when confronted by an imperialist power intent on conquering and also gathering human specimens to study and display on the mainland. Even in the face of these dangers, they attempted to maintain some peaceable interaction with their conquerors and displayed the great attributes of their cultures.

Mukerjee spent some time in the islands in an attempt to interact with the Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa, Nicobarese, and Sentinelese and in the process, has exposed the Indian government's wrongheaded and destructive policies toward these indigenous peoples. It is apparent that most Indian bureacrats in the islands are there to live the easy life and make a quick buck, and the few who desire to make change often are faced with insurmountable obstacles in their attempt to improve policy toward the natives. Mukerjee describes her subjects in affectionate detail, and her love for them and her sorrow for their plight are evident throughout the book. Her feelings for them culminates as she approaches the Sentinel Islands, home to possibly the most undisturbed culture on earth. As her boat nears the islands, she begins to regret her intrusion and thinks to herself "Please please please, let us not destroy this last haven."

Unfortunately, disease and war has wiped out most of the islands' population. Construction and deforestation is wiping out native habitats. The islanders are impotent to change the situation, and the Indian government will ultimately be responsible for protecting these vulnerable and beautiful people.

I highly recommend this book to anyone concerned with the disappearance of a people who have not been able to fight back and are quickly disappearing from our earth.

_The Land of Naked People_ by Madhusree Mukerjee is an interesting and informative account of one of the last stone age peoples in the world (or what is left of them), native peoples of the Andaman Islands, a archipelago located north of the Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean, a people that according to archaeologists, linguists, and geneticists have been isolated from the rest of the world for tens of thousands of years. Mukerjee interwove personal accounts of travels to the islands and interviews with government officials, researchers, activists, local residents, and the tribesmen themselves with vivid historical narratives of early contact situations, warfare with, and research on these aboriginal peoples.

The people of the Andamans, long known to Asian and European travelers, were feared for centuries as cannibals and headhunters. They were often referred to as "dog-people," as sub-human; in the nineteenth century some were displayed in the Calcutta zoo, where Bengali visitors took them to be descendents of the monkey god Hanuman, and as late as 1925 a paper published in _Man_, a journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, defined the Andaman as a new species of human, _Homo mincopoeus_. Simultaneously intriguing and repulsing Arab, Chinese, and British travelers by their casual nudity (the natives wore virtually no clothing), ferocity towards outsiders (many of the historical accounts are of hostile first encounters and "punitive expeditions" against islanders), and their physical features that were more African than Asian, the islanders were little bothered for centuries, the islands mostly unsettled despite being located on major trade routes between India and China. Though outside civilization has become increasingly dominant in the last 200 years or so, there are still remote areas in the archipelago; the one hundred or so individuals who make the island of North Sentinel their home are still very much a stone age people (though many technically no longer use stone but rather work metal from nuts and bolts that wash up on their shores into arrowheads) who may be among the most isolated humans on earth (though how long they will stay isolated is a matter of some concern).

Mukerjee divided the Andaman islanders into four groups. About ten tribes (at one time during colonial times comprised of as many as 5,000-8,000 people) made up a group called the Great Andamanese, occupying most of the Great Andamans (the South, Middle, and North Andaman Islands) and several adjacent smaller islands. They were at war with the elusive Jarawa, a small group that numbered at one time as many as 600, a group that lived in the dense western forest of South Andaman. Seven hundred or so Onge tribal members lived on Little Andaman, a sizable island farther south, and a hundred Sentinelese lived on the eighteen square miles of North Sentinel off to the west.

The author painted a vivid picture of an interesting group of people. Though only distantly related to the Congo Pygmies, they were originally similar in many respects; they lived in dense, moist tropical forests in small bands, had peppercorn hair, painted their naked bodies with clay (a practice which the author discussed at length), used bows, arrows, and nets to obtain food, and had extraordinary botanical knowledge. Hunter-gatherers, they subsisted on a variety of plant products, fish, sea turtles (a favorite), dugongs (now virtually extinct in the islands), and a number of forest animals, the most favored of which was the wild boar, believed by some to have descended from the southern Chinese pig. The natives cared greatly for children; among the Great Andamanese it was considered a compliment and a mark of friendship if a married man, after paying a visit, asked his hosts to adopt one of their children; these parents would in turn not only visit frequently their own but adopt others. Several of the groups had taboos against killing certain creatures. The Great Andamanese for instance ruled that it was taboo to kill a certain spider, a type of beetle, two bird species, two fish species, a certain mollusk, and two types of trees. Cicada grubs were much coveted in several of the islands as food, but many were fearful of upsetting Biliku, the northeastern monsoon wind, whom the cicada was the child of; the islanders would be "silent as a mouse" during early morning and late evening singing of the cicadas, not doing any work or making any noise.

Unfortunately much of the book is about the very sad state of the Andaman Islanders. Massive, often illegal, deforestation, even in the protected tribal reserves, has resulted in huge erosion problems, silt runoff that has killed nearshore corals and local fisheries, and deprived the islanders of much food and shelter on every island but North Sentinel. Only 42 Great Andamanese remain, most of them alcoholics (a dependency on alcohol and other substances in the past deliberately encouraged by the authorities), suffering from malnutrition thanks to a diet largely of oil and starch, and many of the children fathered by the welfare staff who are supposed to care for them, Mukerjee documenting how the social workers sometimes took cruel advantage of them. The remaining 100 or so Onge are only a little better off. Disease in the past devastated the islanders and still thins their numbers to this day as they are a people without previous exposure to such illnesses as pneumonia, mumps, and even the common cold. The Jarawa are famous for their resistance, having fiercely fought logging and road construction in their forests, killing laborers and travelers as recently as 1998. Much feared, laborers required guards, police had to escort travelers on the road through their forest; one person told the author, if asked if he ever saw a Jarawa, replied, no, "To see is to die." Though there have been some reverses in favor of the Jarawa in the end it seems that they are doomed to be assimilated into Indian culture if they don't perish from disease and deforestation first.