The Fruitful Darkness: A Journey Through Buddhist Practice and Tribal Wisdom
Joan Halifax
(Author)
Thich Nhat Hanh
(Foreword by)
Description
In this "masterwork of an authentic spirit person" (Thomas Berry), Buddhist teacher and anthropologist Joan Halifax Roshi delves into "the fruitful darkness"--the shadow side of being, found in the root truths of Native religions, the fecundity of nature, and the stillness of meditation. In this highly personal and insightful odyssey of the heart and mind, she encounters Tibetan Buddhist meditators, Mexican shamans, and Native American elders, among others. In rapt prose, she recounts her explorations--from Japanese Zen meditation to hallucinogenic plants, from the Dogon people of Mali to the Mayan rain forest, all the while creating "an adventure of the spirit and a feast of wisdom old and new" (Peter Matthiessen). Halifax believes that deep ecology (which attempts to fuse environmental awareness with spiritual values) works in tandem with Buddhism and shamanism to discover "the interconnectedness of all life," and to regain life's sacredness. Grove Press is proud to reissue this important work by one of Buddhism's leading contemporary teachers.Product Details
Price
$18.00
$16.74
Publisher
Grove Press
Publish Date
March 15, 2004
Pages
272
Dimensions
4.3 X 7.9 X 0.8 inches | 0.4 pounds
Language
English
Type
Paperback
EAN/UPC
9780802140715
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About the Author
Joan Halifax, PhD, is a Buddhist teacher, Zen priest, anthropologist, and author. She is Founder, Abbot, and Head Teacher of Upaya Zen Center, a Buddhist monastery in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Director of the Upaya Institute. She received her Ph.D in medical anthropology in 1973. Her work for forty years has focused on engaged and applied Buddhism, with an emphasis on end-of-life care and programs for prisoners and the environment. She has served as visiting faculty and lectured on the subject of death and dying at many academic institutions throughout the United States and abroad. She is a Board Member and Fellow of the Mind and Life Institute. The author of many books, including Being with Dying: Cultivating Compassion and Fearlessness in the Presence of Death, Dr. Halifax founded the Project on Being with Dying.
Thich Nhat Hanh was a world-renowned Buddhist Zen master, poet, author, scholar, and activist for social change, who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was the author of many bestselling books, including the classics Peace Is Every Step and The Art of Living. Through his books and retreats at the monasteries he has founded in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia, he became a pre-eminent figure in contemporary Buddhism, offering teachings that are both deeply rooted in ancient wisdom and accessible to all. Sister Chan Khong is Thich Nhat Hanh's most senior monastic disciple and lifelong collaborator. A leading force in his engaged Buddhism programs and humanitarian projects, her books include Learning True Love and Beginning Anew.Sister True Dedication is a former journalist and monastic Dharma Teacher ordained by Thich Nhat Hanh.
Reviews
"An exceptional piece of work--large, mythic, specific, personal, rooted, wild, hungry, full of open heart."
