Scan barcode
nevillemikaela's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful illustrations but not a real guide to Zen Buddhism. This book definitely assumes that you have a basic understanding of many Buddhist concepts. Still, a really cool book, and makes me want to learn more about the topic.
a_pilgrim's review against another edition
3.0
Why are these strange Zen monks sitting facing the wall?
Dharma Delight: A Visionary Post Pop Comic Guide to Buddhism and Zen by Rodney Alan Greenblat is a beautifully illustrated and simplified introduction to Zen meditation and Buddhism. This book is for all "budding Buddhas of the future." This is serious stuff explained in a simple and joyful way!
***
There are billions and billions of Dharmas happening all the time, and every one of them can give us the opportunity to look, listen and reflect... and then learn.
Dharma Delight: A Visionary Post Pop Comic Guide to Buddhism and Zen by Rodney Alan Greenblat is a beautifully illustrated and simplified introduction to Zen meditation and Buddhism. This book is for all "budding Buddhas of the future." This is serious stuff explained in a simple and joyful way!
***
There are billions and billions of Dharmas happening all the time, and every one of them can give us the opportunity to look, listen and reflect... and then learn.
Study Your Self - What am I about?
The best way to study the self is in meditation.
If we shine the lamp on our own quality of being, we can solve problems and live in peace.
Your starship is called The Selfless-Self.
The benefits:
So I'm not going to get any gold?
You already are gold.
May you be a lamp to yourself and all beings!
battlepoet's review against another edition
5.0
A fun, colourful, brief look at various aspects of Buddhism and Zen. The art style is a joy.
noveladdiction's review against another edition
3.0
Giving this three stars because it was definitely visually appealing... but as a "guide" to Buddhism and Zen, this is not that great. If I hadn't already done some reading up and studying of Buddhist and Zen principles, then this book would have just confused me, and maybe even turned me off of the subject.
So basically - super awesome to look at, but a little rough in the reading department.
So basically - super awesome to look at, but a little rough in the reading department.
olivia_piepmeier's review against another edition
3.0
I originally heard about this likely from a Booklist review. As it sounded right up my alley, I pre-ordered it and it's been sitting in my to-read pile since May.
Just before starting to read it, I read something saying how the author is an abstract artist. I can't be sure I would have come to that realization on my own, but it's spot on. I think the best way to describe this book is an artists book, though not an "artist book" that you'll find in art libraries and special collections. This is a collection of digitized copies of his art, strung together with words and a bit of sequential art. It seems like the art existed, then this book existed. It's status as a comic/graphic novel would likely be debated in the class I teach.
For someone who is very new to Buddhism and Zen, I was thinking that this would be a good introduction. Honestly I think this is better for folks who understand it more. I felt like I was missing a lot, like these were Buddhist inside jokes. The pages about how to sit in Zen meditation were useful. Hearing about the different Buddhas was interesting, but it's obviously not even close to being a complete guide.
The art is abstracted, cartoony, and bright. I enjoyed his pieces especially considering my knowledge of Byzantine and Christian medieval art. They feel very similar in style and composition; lots of symbolism that might not make sense to an outsider, seemingly piled into a picture plane. I don't know that much about Eastern medieval art (it's on my to-do list) but I bet it's also similar.
Overall it wasn't exactly what I wanted, but here it is. After reading the authors bio at the end, I discovered that he created PaRappa the Rapper. This fact is a lot more significant to Trey but it gave me a chuckle.
Just before starting to read it, I read something saying how the author is an abstract artist. I can't be sure I would have come to that realization on my own, but it's spot on. I think the best way to describe this book is an artists book, though not an "artist book" that you'll find in art libraries and special collections. This is a collection of digitized copies of his art, strung together with words and a bit of sequential art. It seems like the art existed, then this book existed. It's status as a comic/graphic novel would likely be debated in the class I teach.
For someone who is very new to Buddhism and Zen, I was thinking that this would be a good introduction. Honestly I think this is better for folks who understand it more. I felt like I was missing a lot, like these were Buddhist inside jokes. The pages about how to sit in Zen meditation were useful. Hearing about the different Buddhas was interesting, but it's obviously not even close to being a complete guide.
The art is abstracted, cartoony, and bright. I enjoyed his pieces especially considering my knowledge of Byzantine and Christian medieval art. They feel very similar in style and composition; lots of symbolism that might not make sense to an outsider, seemingly piled into a picture plane. I don't know that much about Eastern medieval art (it's on my to-do list) but I bet it's also similar.
Overall it wasn't exactly what I wanted, but here it is. After reading the authors bio at the end, I discovered that he created PaRappa the Rapper. This fact is a lot more significant to Trey but it gave me a chuckle.
lindsayb's review against another edition
3.0
The art was so much fun, though I'm struggling to make sense of the book overall. It seems kind of like an intro to Buddhism, but I suspect it would be difficult for people to digest if they had no prior knowledge of it. I liked the hodge podge, but I also wanted a little more coherence.
********
Read Harder: Book about religion
********
Read Harder: Book about religion
tofufun's review
3.0
Fun art work, but I'm such a beginner when it comes to understanding Buddhism that it was over my head. Perhaps one day I'll understand...
More...