Issue Number 25 • Summer / Fall 2001 8585 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, California 90069-5199 Andrew Cohen Embracing Heaven and Earth: Dan The Liberation Millman Teachings of Andrew Living Cohen on Purpose: Straight Answers Shakti to Life’s Gawain Tough Questions Developing Intuition: Practical Guidance for Daily Life PPLLUUSS NNEEWW BBOOOOKKSS bbyy SSyyllvviiaa BBrroowwnnee,, JJuulliiaa CCaammeerroonn,, KK.. CC.. CCoollee,, AAmmiitt GGoosswwaammii,, JJeeaann HHoouussttoonn,, DDhhaarr-- mmaa SSiinngghh KKhhaallssaa,, PPaattrriiccee KKaarrsstt,, EElliizzaabbeetthh CCllaarree PPrroopphheett,, && HHuussttoonn SSmmiitthh • 1-800-825-9798 • 1-310-659-1733 • www.bodhitree.com Has Jesus Come Again? There are many people who who claim to be the reincarnation of Jesus. But nobody has gone to great scientific lengths to prove categorically that he is indeed who he says he is. to In this new book, My Past Life Life as Jesus: An Life Autobiography of Two Lifetimes, Bruce Robert Travis, a real estate broker in Maui, sets out to prove Travis spent 28 years on the research that he is the reincarnated soul of Jesus. He claims to have matched the soul pattern of his past-life personality as Jesus to the soul pattern of his personality in this lifetime as Bruce. To accomplish a pattern match was no easy task. He has been working on the decoding for more than 28 years. This book is the distil- lation of that process. Travis looks at reincarnation through the separate lenses of numerology, astrology, mathematical statistical probabilities, kabbalism, and prophecy — and then adds in the latest scientific theories about space, time, and the unity of matter — proving that reincarnation is real and that Bruce Robert Travis is indeed the reincarnation of Jesus Is this possible? Although highly controversial, we’ll have a pretty good idea this fall when a credentialed medical doctor trained in past-life therapy takes Bruce on a journey into his subconscious and past life. Whatever the result, Travis’s message is worth listening to. In the preface he writes, “It is my intention and purpose, my mission and my destiny, to finish and complete what I began long ago [as Jesus], which is to bring peace to the earth that is the King- dom of God and to unite all of humanity in the spirit that is the Brotherhood of Man.” Coming soon to a bookstore near you. Available this summer at www.mypastlifeasjesus.com Also available from Bruce Robert Travis: Messiah for Hire: A M E R I C O R P I N T E R N AT I O N A L P U B L I S H I N G Poems from Inner Space, Post Office Box 311, Kihei, Maui, Hawaii 96753 1966–1982 I N T R O D U C T I O N C O N T E N T S B T C ODHI REE AT “Commitment and responsibility enrich life, and that caring allows generosity, 10 Acting grace and love to flow. Faith and peace require almost superhuman and unre- 10 Afro-Caribbean Religion 10 Animals lenting effort, but it is in this effort that we discover who we are and where we 11 Art reside.” — from Things Seen and Unseen: A Year Lived in Faith 12 Astrology by Nora Gallagher ($12.00 241 pp. paper. ISBN 0679775498) 12 Be a Part of the Bodhi Tree 18 Best Sellers in Audio: Music, Our features celebrate three veterans of the consciousness movement. Each Audio Books & Teaching embraces a commitment to excellence and a personal practice that honors their 12 Best Sellers in Books words. In the first feature, spiritual liberation teacher Andrew Cohen, with his 51 Best Sellers in Video book Embracing Heaven and Earth, explains how to walk the spiritual path through 10 Bodhi Tree Online clear intention, complete honesty, and a gestalt sense of responsibility. For the sec- 26Sylvia Browne: Blessings from the ond feature, that doyen of visualization, Shakti Gawain with her book Developing Other Side, The Soul’s Perfection, Tara Intuition, shows us how to tap into the universal, intelligent life force that is at the andLife on the Other Side core of existence. In the third feature, sprightly Dan Millman brings his Taoist 13 Buddhism rules of living, called the house rules, into sharp focus through his book Living on 14 Tibetan Buddhism Purpose. He embraces personal responsibility and character. 16 Zen Buddhism Our thanks to Ian Miller of C.W. Daniel Inc. for our book review cover art. It is an original work by Emma Whiting. She has done several fine covers for 20 Julia Cameron: God Is No Laughing Matter Daniel’s extensive line of books in alternative healing and new age philosophy. Bodhi Tree 18 Edgar Cayce A ll last year we talked about our sophisticated re-write of our web site. After 18 Channeled Material Book Review much delay, we finally put it in place in early January 2001. It has a lot to 19 Children’s Literature Bookstore by Mail offer with easy searches and comprehensive listings. We have added sever- 19 Christianity Issue Number 25 al more author presentations (accessed through “lecture transcripts” on the home 4 Andrew Cohen: Summer / Fall 2001 page). Soon we will enhance our photo gallery with store and staff photos as well Embracing Heaven and Earth as more Bodhi Tree cat pictures. Please see what we now have to offer. Both virtu- Publishers 34 K. C. Cole: The Hole in the Universe Stan Madson, Phil Thompson ally and through our brick and mortar bookstore, we are here to be of service. We are still working on The Bodhi Tree Suggested Reading List (also called The 20 Creativity Editor Stan Madson 20 Death and Beyond Basic Booklist) and the The Bodhi Tree Community Guide, which is a listing of 22 Diet & Health Co-Editors astrologers, religious centers, vegetarian restaurants, tarot readers, psychics, and 23 Dreams Camilla Denton, James Culnan other companies, services and individuals important to spiritual community seek- 23 Eastern Mysticism ers. We are re-introducing the Elvis Presley reading list. Many people are unaware 26 ESP Contributing Writers of Elvis’s interest in metaphysics. One of his favorite books was The Impersonal Life 26 Feng Shui Louise Avila, and DeVorss Publications is issuing an Elvis Presley edition in May 2001 with a spe- Dana LaFontaine, 6 Shakti Gawain: Developing Intuition Cheryl Hall Parker, cial section containing his metaphysical story: The Impersonal Life: The Graceland® and Ivy Camille Sharpe Editionby Anonymous ($10.95 paper ISBN 0875167675). 28 Goddess There have been fires, floods, riots and major business volatility during the last 36 Amit Goswami, Ph.D.: Advertising Representation decade. Starting again in 2001, the business world is in turmoil. We are trying to The Visionary Window by Vowell & Wallace, Publishers, LLC. comprehend these changes and form positive business strategies. How do we Contact: Joelle Guglielmelli 28 Jean Huston: Jump Time remain viable? What changes do we need to do or programs to embrace? How do (310) 452-2283, FAX (310) 452-5753 we reach out to educate people about our assets and value, and stimulate business? 29 Inner Healing Production & Design It is true that wandering through our store allows serendipitous happenings to 48 Incense by Vowell & Wallace, Publishers, LLC. 3 Introduction occur where the book you need comes to you. It might fall on you, as it has for oth- James Vowell 32 Judiaca Codette Wallace ers, or emerge because of a casual conversation with another customer or staff 33 Kabbalah person. The discovery of an important book for oneself can only happen in a spir- Published Twice a Year by itually supportive place like the Bodhi Tree Bookstore. 19 Patrice Karst: The Invisible String The Bodhi Tree Bookstore, 8585 Melrose Avenue, 36 Dharma Singh Khalsa: West Hollywood, CA 90069-5199 W ith each issue of the Bodhi Tree Book Review, we ponder its effectiveness Meditation as Medicine (310) 659-1733 and weigh its cost. Mailing is now about $1.38 per issue domestic and 34 Magick $3.28 international. While the book review magazine well serves the com- 35 Math & Science PRICEINCREASES.All prices in munity and we are enamored with the tactile feel of it, would all of us be better 36 Meditation served, including the environment, if a web version of the Bodhi Tree Book Review 37 Mental Science this catalog reflect the most recent informa- tion from publishers. However, publishers was how it was published? As a trial, the last issue of the book review (No. 24) is 8 Dan Millman: Living on Purpose can and often do raise the retail prices of now on our web site as a downloadable Adobe file (pdf). It is accessible through a books, so we hope you’ll understand that button on the home page. It is a big file of some 4.3MB, which takes a bit of time 39 Music pwriitcheosu ti nn othtiicse c.atalog are subject to change to download, but the entire book review is there — cover, features, pictures, graph- 40 Native American 40 New Age Philosophy ics, advertising and text. If this were the only access to the book review, would you 40 Occult From time to time we make our mailing list look? Please let us know. 55 Order Form available to select organizations and com- As usual, we have marked books we have especially liked by “Editor’s Choice.” 41 Philosophy panies. If you are currently on our mailing And out of this group, two books emerge. They come from two poles of our con- 42 Poetry list and would not like your name made sciousness that just may be versions of the same space. They are Huston Smith’s available to any other organization or com- 37 Elizabeth Clare Prophet: pany, please send us the mailing label from Why Religion Matters(in Huston Smith) and H. C. Cole’s The Hole In the Universe Karma and Reincarnation this issue or write your name and address (in Math & Science). Cole gives us a romp through quantum physics, string theo- andYour Seven Energy Centers on a piece of paper and send it to: Bodhi ry and other science showing us that the emptiness of space is full of potential, is Tree Book Review, Dept. RMN, 8585 Mel- 42 Psychology rose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA 90069- truly mysterious, and may well be related to consciousness itself. Huston Smith 44 Relationship 5199 reminds us that consciousness bridges perceived reality and nonreality or “empti- 45 Religion ON THE COVER ness” and is the realm where value resides. Smith imagines a time when human 46 Rumi beings will recognize that consciousness, not matter, is the ultimate reality of the 46 Shamanism “Readers” universe. We are in an exciting time where the juxtaposition of religion and sci- 47 Huston Smith: Why Religion Matters by Emma Whiting, ence may well position us to be the conscious and responsible people of the twen- courtesy of ty first century. 47 Sociology C.W. Daniel 48 Tantra Company LTD, Pub- Our goal is to continue to provide a comfortable, inspiring book place in 50 Tarot lisher Ian Miller. 50 Video & Video Rental C. W. Daniel is an which to experience and share the stuff of spiritual understanding and 51 Visionary Fiction innovative and personal transformation. We wish you joy and good health and may the fiercely indepen- wonderful books and music you discover bring bounty to your life. 52 Neale Donald Walsch: dent publisher Communion with God of books on alterna- “A book is a thing among things … until it meets its reader … What then 52 Where to Park tive healing, meta- occurs is that singular emotion called beauty, that lovely mystery which nei- 52 Western Mysticism physical and New Age subjects. On the web: www.cwdaniel.com ther psychology nor criticism can describe …” — Jorge Luis Borges 54 Writing 54 Yoga Summer / Fall 2001 BODHITREEBOOKREVIEW 3 The Liberation of Andrew Since his awakening in 1986, Andrew Cohen has spoken for one thing: the potential for total liberation from the bondage of ignorance.Through his books, public teachings,and meetings with spiritual leaders of almost every tradition,he has tirelessly sought to convey that spiritual liberation’s true significance is its potential to completely transform not only the individual, When I started teaching, I believed that spiritual experi- but the entire way that human beings live together.He is the founder and guiding inspiration ence, or the enlightenment behind What Is Enlightenmentmagazine,a groundbreaking forum for penetrating inquiry experience, would be enough to trans- form most human beings, and they would about the important spiritual issues of our time.The following is an edited version of Andrew Cohen’s never return to their ignorant, small- Bodhi Tree Bookstore presentation.Edited by James Culnan. minded, self centered relationship to life. That is what my own teacher had taught me, and that was how I approached my students: The theory was that if you really got it, you would never forget; you would always be free. But what I discovered early on was that very few people sustain the depth of insight and realization that they initially experience. I saw this again and again. Instead, the spiritual path or journey involves an arduous process of preparing ourselves, or cultivating our ability to carry the subtlest of subtle insights. Most people — and I found this out the hard way — are capable of experiencing their potential for extraordinary transformation, but very few are able to make this transformation their own. In addition, I made the common assumption that spiritual experiences would be deeply humbling, since when we discover the sacred, we also feel a sense of awe and reverence towards all of life. I assumed that spiritual experience makes a person inherently soft and genuine. But I discovered that often it makes them more proud and arrogant than they were before; sometimes they develop a not so subtle sense of superiority towards those whom they feel know less than they do. From the beginning, I have felt that if spiritual experience is to mean anything, there has to be a very clear relationship between what one has realized and how one’s personality manifests in actual life. So if one doesn’t become more humble and selfless, or in other words — more free of the tyrannical ego -— then maybe the experience didn’t mean that much. A faith in the absolute dimension of reality may have awakened, but that alone does- n’t necessarily change the individual. I had thought that spiritual experience is the beginning, middle, and end of the spiritu- al path, but after fifteen years of teaching, I see that it is only the beginning. It is up to us to bridge the gap between what we have realized, and how we actually are as human beings. I want to discuss what I call the psy- chology of enlightenment. Usually, when we use the word psychology, we are talking about the separate sense of self, or ego. But in the psychology of enlight- enment, the separate sense of self is seen as the crucial obstacle to our complete humanity, or our spiritual realization. So, instead, we are considering how to be a human being who has become whole, because the ego is snuffed out of exis- tence, or given no room to move or breathe. It is a very different picture of the human condition. I am going to speak about five tenets I 4 BODHITREEBOOKREVIEW Summer / Fall 2001 Teachings This reflects a deep and rampant narcis- sism in most of us. But in order to be free, that is exactly what we have to go beyond, or transcend. It is the same thing with spiritual expe- riences. Often, after such an experience, a person will say “Aren’t I special?” because Cohen their ego is getting pumped up. Ironically, the experience of egolessness tends to make people feel “Wow! Now I am really cool!” However, when we discover the impersonal nature of our experience, the real reward is an intimacy and love that never occurs while we are stuck in the habit of personalizing. And this love is tru- ly spiritual, or even sacred. Furthermore, have come up with during the last ten a person becomes truly liberated, that when we see that this habitual personaliz- years or so, which cover everything you momentum is extinguished. And the accu- ing is the creator of ego, we then have the need to manifest the realization of enlight- mulated momentum of selfish acts, or kar- opportunity to understand that the ego is enment within our human condition. ma, is what ego is. So the liberated person ultimately empty or lacking in substance. The first tenet is called clarity of inten- no longer creates karma in the present, It is just a veil, even though it is where we tion. It tells us that if we aspire to be a lib- and can become a mature human being. spend most of our lives. That’s when we erated human being, and if there is going The third tenet is what I see as the ulti- Embracing Heaven and Earth appreciate the ultimately universal nature to be a hope of succeeding (since most mate form of spiritual practice. It is that we The Liberation Teachings of the human experience, which is our people don’t), then our desire for libera- have to be able, ready, and willing to face of Andrew Cohen own. Our experience of feeling, or sensa- tion in this life has to be more important absolutely everything, and avoid absolutely By Andrew Cohen tion, is universal; there is only one human to us than anything else, no matter what it nothing, in all circumstances, no matter $14.95. paper. 102 pp. paper. condition, and that is the one you are may be. Most spiritual seekers I have met what. However, most of us face very little ISBN 1883929296. Moksha experiencing right now. have realized far more than they are will- and avoid almost everything! The reason While many of us have come to The last tenet is the most demanding of ing to live up to. So most of us willingly that we continue, over and over again, to pursue the spiritual path via Eastern all. Most of us have been brought up in a compromise our own deepest understand- make important mistakes, or to act in traditions and teachers, some Ameri- very materialistic culture, where we are ing, and we know it. In fact, we are divided small-minded, blind and unconscious ways, cans have trouble relating to the tra- told that “this is YOUR life,” and as a to an extraordinary degree. We need to is that even though we may have had ditions of other cultures. This book is result, we have the feeling that “my life is aspire to be undivided, and that aspiration tremendously inspiring spiritual experi- a valuable and helpful response to MINE.” It is very deeply ingrained, and must be stronger than any other interest ences, we continue to avoid paying atten- this difficulty, and in about a hun- most of us believe it. And since it is “MY or desire, and ultimately, stronger than tion. But when we want to be free more dred pages, it covers the essential life,” it follows that “I deserve this” and “I our fears, as well. We lose our way because than anything else, we are no longer aspects of the spiritual path. The deserve that,” and “I’m trying to get every- at some point, we allow something to strangers to ourselves; in fact, we know our- finest teachers from eastern tradi- thing out of this experience that I can, for become more important than being free. selves better than anyone else ever could. tions tell us that spiritual practice is myself.” But what we realize in spiritual The second tenet is a tough one. Most The key is to stop acting in unconscious, fundamentally a matter of our own experience, if it is deep enough, is that this of us have a lot of compassion for our small-minded, and self-centered ways. You hearts and minds, but in this book, life is not ours. Who we are, or what we egos, and those of other people; we feel it just stop doing it. that message is clear and articulate, are, is part and parcel of the Self that is is reasonable to have an ego, and we Many teachers, Buddhists especially, are and is also impossible to ignore. universal. This particular existence of understand all its struggles, concerns, always telling us to be mindful, or to pay Here, Cohen proposes that while the incarnated consciousness is part and par- fears, and desires. But when we reach the attention. But that encouragement only path may be challenging, there is cel of that self that is one. point in our evolution of wanting to be works if it is inspired by a powerful inten- much to discover and, also, much Many people are seeking liberation, or free more than anything else, every one of tion to be free. Otherwise, we are just more we can give. — JC all these high and extraordinary things, but the struggles, desires, and fears of the ego watching and paying attention . . . to what? Other interesting books by for themselves alone. But that is not what become unreasonable. As a result, we have And why? Mindfulness has to be connect- Andrew Cohen are: Who Am I? And it’s all about. Generally, most thoughtful to be willing to take responsibility for the ed to our heart, and with the awakened How Shall I Live?($6.00. paper. ISBN individuals wonder, “Why am I here? What consequences of everything that has hap- inspiration to succeed in our spiritual 1883929245), Unconditional Relation- is the point of all this? Life is painful, and pened to us in the past. endeavor. In other words, it has to be ship to Life ($10.95. paper. ISBN difficult, and so much of it doesn’t make deeply connected with the present 1883929040), In Defense of the Guru sense. I want to know why.” The answer is Most of us have been hurt, wound- moment. Otherwise, paying attention just Principle ($5.95. paper. ISBN discovered when it becomes obvious that ed, and traumatized, or kicked means furrowing the brow and making an 188392927X), and Challenge of the point is not to live for ourselves, but to in the stomach, and often by artificial, mechanical, mental effort. And Enlightenment ($6.00. paper. ISBN live for the sake of the whole. Not “MY will people who claim to love us, whatever that that doesn’t work. 1883929148). be done,” but “THY will be done.” So when means. Everybody has a story to tell, and There are just two more. The fourth we no longer live to accumulate, or to over- usually it includes suffering. We have to tenet, which is called the law of imperson- come others for our own sake, all the pieces become responsible. Why? Because when ality, makes the bold declaration that every ship between the compulsive habit of per- start to fit together, and life begins to make we act in ways that cause others to suffer, aspect of our so-called personal experi- sonalization, and withdrawing. We stand perfect sense. Then we realize that we are out of ignorance or selfishness, we are act- ence is ultimately completely impersonal. apart from the whole, which means we in the right place at the right time for the ing in conditioned or unconscious ways It is not personal at all. It also tells us that also become separate from the whole. This right reasons, doing the right thing; we that express the consequences of the the ego is created through this deeply is the habit and mechanism that creates have our place in the fabric of the universe. things that happened to us. We have been compulsive habit of personalization, since the ego, or false veil. It is the profoundly The big question of “WHY?” is gone. It is hurt, wounded, or traumatized, so we most of us mechanically personalize virtu- separate sense of self. In the enlightened answered with a big “YES.” hurt, wound, or traumatize others. That’s ally everything we experience, in each state, there is no veil between the self and So, the fifth tenet points us to the ulti- how it works. moment. For instance, everyone knows the whole, and as a result, the enlightened mate purpose of spiritual teachings, and You have to understand that the ego, or what it is like to experience fear. But when person expresses an extraordinarily vul- spiritual experience, which is to liberate us separate sense of self, actually experiences we experience the presence of fear in our nerable state of being. If you are in the from a small-minded and self-centered a certain thrill in being able to get back at bodies and minds, we personalize it. presence of a deeply enlightened person, relationship to life as a whole. As all the everyone else. I call this “negative free- Haven’t you noticed that when we are fear- often you wake up to a deeper recognition greatest masters have told us, the ultimate dom;” it occurs when we deeply identify ful, we no longer feel open and intimate of your own self, since their unprotected truth is that we are one with the whole, with the ego’s pain or sense of being vic- towards other people? There is a relation- state allows us to see past the ego veil. and when we get to that point in our own timized. After all, the self-righteous sense What would it be like if we experienced evolution, the struggle is over, and the real of “getting what’s mine,” is what ego is all “But what we realize in the presence of fear without personalizing adventure begins. That’s when it really about. Let’s face it: the ego is a self-right- the experience? Or how about the move- becomes interesting, unlike before, when eous little monster. Yet, from the point of spiritual experience,if it ment of sexual energy, or sexual feelings? we were always worried about ourselves: view of enlightenment, the ego doesn’t is deep enough,is that Everyone knows what it is like to have sex- “How am I doing today, and am I more deserve anything except death. ual feelings, but when we do, we almost aligned than I was yesterday . . . “ up and In addition, we have to take responsibil- this life is not ours.Who instantaneously personalize the experi- down, on and on. When we get to this fifth ity for the consequences of everything that ence, so it becomes very special, and takes tenet, the way we feel about ourselves is no we have done in the past. Most of us have we are,or what we are,is on some inherent meaning: “I’m experi- longer important. The only question is, acted out of selfishness and ignorance, encing sexual desire? It’s very important!” are we giving everything, or not? Because and by so doing, we have caused others to part and parcel of the The ego is this compulsive wish to see our- if we are giving everything, we are free. suffer. Remember, we are dealing with the selves as unique, separate, or special. Nothing else matters, because in that entire momentum of karma, which has Self that is universal.” Haven’t you noticed how many new age alone, we realize perfect freedom. And the accumulated over a very long time. When teachings are all about “being special?” first four tenets make that possible. Summer / Fall 2001 BODHITREEBOOKREVIEW 5 Shakti Gawain is widely recognized as a leader in the world consciousness movement, and thanks to her work, many people have become familiar with “creative visualization.” Besides being the author of some twelve books, she is also a publisher. Shakti Gawain was co-founder, with Marc Allen, of Whatever Publishing, which later became New World Library, and today her imprint there is Nataraj Publishing. Through her writing, as well as her speaking, Shakti continues to help people discover their own intuition and inspira- tion. The following is a partial text of her Bodhi Tree Bookstore presentation. Edited by Camilla Denton Developing Intuition wwiitthh SShhaakkttii GGaawwaaiinn I was brought up in a family that was intellectual, even know that the little discussion has happened. We rational, and very educated, and since our education Developing Intuition don’t realize that we may have had an important feeling, system is primarily oriented the same way, I was good Practical Guidance for Daily Life and brushed it aside. at school. I got a lot of approval for being rational. As a By Shakti Gawain One of the first things in reclaiming our intuition, is to result, even as a young child, I was very skeptical. As far as $16.00. 157 pp. paper. ISBN 1577310802. Nataraj begin to pay attention to our gut feelings: our sense of I was concerned, it if you couldn’t prove it, it didn’t exist. $17.95. audio cassette. ISBN 157731090X. “This is where the energy is,” or “This is what feels right I thought that God was made up by people who couldn’t Developing Intuition is about learning how to tap for me.” Another reason why many of us don’t trust our stand the idea that we don’t know why we’re here, or what into our inner knowledge for enhancing our life intuition is because, from the time we were small, we were life is about. and achieving our goals. Shakti Gawain presents taught that we don’t know what’s right for us, that some Then, as I reached my teens and my college years, several techniques for enhancing our intuition, by greater authority knows better than we do. We develop a things began to happen. For one thing, it was the 60s. A providing relaxation habit of always looking to see what everybody else is doing lot of people were getting their minds opened up in many and clearing exercises when, in fact, we have the wisdom we need inside our own different ways — including me. I began to realize that as well as helping us selves. Further, each one of us has our own path in life, so there were levels of existence and aspects of life that interpret our inner nobody else can know exactly what’s true and what’s right weren’t rational and weren’t easily proven, and subse- messages. Gawain sug- for us. We can get help and guidance and support from quently found myself on a quest to find greater meaning gests that while there is other people, and there are people who may have knowl- and fulfillment in my life. I became interested in psychol- a rational voice in each edge and information that we need, but, when it comes ogy and philosophy, including Eastern philosophies, and of us that is fearful of right down to it, we alone can know what’s right for us. If I began to study yoga, and meditation. the consequences of you go to a doctor, or a lawyer, or any other expert, a One day, my mother persuaded me to take a workshop embracing intuition, we teacher, a therapist, a guru, by all means listen to what at an organization called Silva Mind Control. The work- can confront our fears they have to say, but then check into yourself intuitively to shop took place over a week and taught how the mind and safely embrace our see, “Does this feel true and right for me?” You don’t want works, how we don’t use many of its different functions own inner guidance. It to give away your power to someone else, and this is one and, also, how we can better put it to use. is all about allowing our way to begin owning your own wisdom again. At the end of the workshop, we conducted an exercise. life force to flow natu- We each worked one-to-one with a facilitator, who had a rally and creatively. Another thing that is important is to learn how to collection of cards. On each card was the name of a per- Other items by Shakti Gawain are: Creating True relax. We have such hectic lives, and we’re driven son, their age, their city of residence, and an ailment they Prosperity ($12.95. paper. ISBN 1577311701), Cre- all the time to be doing too much. Our lives are had. These were real people, with a real illness or ailment. ative Visualization Meditations(11.95. audio cassette. filled with so many wonderful opportunities but, the Our task was to see if we could, intuitively, get what was ISBN 1577310136), Creative Visualization ($6.50. problem is, we try to do them all! We are so oriented wrong with them. mass paper. ISBN 0553270443 & $10.95. trade toward doing and accomplishing and getting places and Well, a surprising number of us got the right informa- paper. ISBN 1880032627), Living in the Light ($6.50. making things happen that we’ve really lost touch, as a tion. It was amazing. In fact, it happened to me. Each time paper. ISBN 0553561049 & $17.95. audio cassette. culture, with the value of being. Yet, it’s in “being” energy I got a person’s name, I could intuit their information — ISBN 1577310489), and The Path of Transformation that we can get in touch with ourselves deeply, and allow over and over again. I got it right ten times out of ten. It ($13.95. paper. ISBN 157731154X & $15.95. audio the life force to come in. This is how we can receive and was as if I was tuning my mind to the right channel, and cassette. ISBN 1882591186). replenish, and refill ourselves from all the constant giving all the information was there. It blew my mind. I had and doing. If you’re doing, doing, doing and giving, giv- received this information not through my own five senses, ing, giving, and producing and producing, after a while, but in some different way. encouragement and the support that we need to keep you’re empty. We need to have a place to replenish the We all have this deep wisdom inside of us. And it is trusting our intuitive feeling about things. By the time energy that we put out. And that’s how we get re-inspired accessible. If we can acess it, it will actually let us know, we’re grown up, most of us have lost touch with it com- for whatever we need to do next. You can’t access your each moment of our life, what we need to be aware of, pletely. intuition when you’re on the go all the time. Personally, I and what we need to do. Fortunately, it’s really easy to re-learn and re-develop try to do a little bit of Hatha yoga every day just to get our intuitive abilities. And, after years of working with connected to my body and being. Other options are to What is intuition? First of all, it’s a completely nat- many, many people, I’ve found that most of us, with a lit- take a hot bath, or a walk. There are many things you can ural faculty. We’re born with it. If our culture tle support, can develop our intuition in a practical way. do to relax your body and mind enough to sink into a understood that and supported us in the nat- For starters, we all have intuitive feelings, probably many more intuitive place. ural process of developing our intuition, through our times every day. But most of the time we don’t know what Once you have found a way to access your deeper whole lives, we would always have access to it. Little chil- has happened, because we immediately disregard or dis- awareness, you can ask for whatever you need, for exam- dren are very intuitive, but our culture doesn’t really count what we feel. You might have a feeling of, “Yeah, ple: “What do I need to be aware of right now?” This is a believe in intuition. We’re more oriented toward the that feels right.” Or, “Ooh, I’d like to do that.” But, the good one, because it serves to subtly open the door for rational — not that there is anything wrong with the ratio- minute you feel it, another voice counterpunches with, your intuition to send you any kind of message, reminder, nal and scientific — but we almost worship these parts of “Are you kidding? That’s silly.” Or, “No, you wouldn’t be or awareness that you need to have in the moment. But, if ourselves. We’ve come to disregard the intuitive sense that able to accomplish that,” or, “What would other people you have something more specific that you want to ask we have. And, when we’re young, we do not get the think?” Our intuitive feelings are beaten down before we about, say a problem you’re wrestling with, or if you want 6 BODHITREEBOOKREVIEW Summer / Fall 2001 Whether or not you’re asking inside for it, it will start to come to you in one form or another. Our intuition is con- nected to our soul, and also to the universal intelligence. Our rational minds are like wonderful, state-of-the-art computers that can process anything that comes in through our five senses. But they are limited to what our experience is in this life so far. Intuition taps into all the wisdom and knowledge and information in the universe, and brings us just the piece that we need at any given moment. It’s amazing. Our soul is always moving us in the direction we need to go for our greatest development. And our intuition is one way that it can happen. It’s like our soul communicating to us and saying, “Go this way,” or, “Do this. Don’t do that.” At the same time, because intuition is trying to help us develop, it often takes us to places that are somewhat unfamiliar or, at least, not the places we might have consciously chosen to go. As a con- sequence, there’s often a feeling of being a bit on the edge. Learning to follow intuition is, in one way, about learning to follow the life force as it moves through you. But, it doesn’t always proceed in a linear way. It is not like step one, step two, step three, step four, all in a row. Rather, it’s more like, take this step. Okay, now step over here. In fact, we might even step backward. And then we’ll step here and then we’ll go there . . . as you follow, you begin to dance. It’s the dance of life. One of the sure ways to know if you’re following your intuition is that you invariably feel more alive. You may feel a little scared, or anxious, or excited, or whatever, but one thing for sure is that there’s an aliveness to it. When we don’t do what’s really true and right for us, we lose a certain amount of life force at that moment. We actually get depressed or a little stuck. More dead than alive. Listening to your intuition is one thing, while acting on it is another matter. Many people get intuitive messages, but don’t have the courage to do anything about what they hear. What I advise is, start with the small things. Don’t go out tomorrow and quit your job because you think maybe your intuition is telling you to do that, or any other major, dramatic act. Start with the seemingly little decisions we make every day. Like, “Where shall I have lunch?” Or “Should I call my friend?” If someone invites you to an occasion, instead of automatically going, “Yes” or “No,” stop. Take a moment. Breathe. Check in. Ask yourself, does this feel right for me? One of the most important questions in all of this is: “Well, how do I know what’s my intuition and what’s just all those other feelings and thoughts going on inside of me?” The simple answer to that is you can, with some practice, recognize that intuition has a different feeling than any of the other feelings, and thoughts, or voices that come to you. Intuition is always with us and is always correct, but we don’t always know how to hear it, or how to interpret it. Sometimes there are other things going on and, that messes us up. Also, we go through cycles with it. Interestingly, the question of recognition takes us into another realm of understanding, and I talk about this a bit in the book. We have many different voices inside of us, many different selves. It’s like having a whole lot of people living in there. So you’ve got one self saying, “There’s this thing that I want to do.” And you have another saying, “Are you crazy? You’re going to give up the paycheck? That’s stupid.” Well, they’re both valid. So, what to do? And where is your intuition in all of this? “There is a universal, intelligent life force that resides within One way to sort it all out is to take some different colored pens, and then use a different color to each one of us as a deep wisdom, and an inner knowing. We can express each of the voices. For instance, the one access this wonderful source of knowledge and wisdom through that wants to quit the job and do something else. Fine. Write out everything that one wants. Then, take another our intuition, an inner sense that tells us what feels right and color and write out everything that the naysayer thinks. If true for us at any given moment.” there are more than two voices, use a different color for each one, but express them all. You can do this verbally with a facilitator, too. You need to hear what the different voices are saying, and accept that they all have validity. some clearer direction, help or support, simply ask for ask. Just let it go, and go about your life, and what will There’s not a right one and a wrong one — there’s right whatever you need. The more you practice, the more you often happen is that it will come to you later. You may in all of them. It means you have to learn how to stay with will develop the process to the point where you will be wake up tomorrow morning with a flash of insight. Or the process without necessarily making an instant deci- able to ask for guidance and it will come to you. you might be walking down the street and suddenly have sion. You simply want to be with it instead. Eventually Sometimes you will get an impression, thought, feeling an impulse to go into a bookstore. You’ll be drawn to a something good will emerge, and most often, it will come or image that doesn’t particularly make sense to you, but particular bookshelf, and to a particular book. You’ll from your most intuitive place. It will clearly tell you what that’s okay. Let it be there. Don’t try to figure it out. At open it up, and boom, there will be a paragraph about your next step should be. other times, you may not get anything much, or at least exactly what you need to hear. nothing that seems particularly relevant or powerful. Our intuition is always guiding us, and it’s often guid- For more information about Shakti Gawain, consult her web That’s also okay. It doesn’t always come right when you ing us to learn the next thing that we need to learn. site: www.shaktigawain.com. Summer / Fall 2001 BODHITREEBOOKREVIEW 7 Embracing Drawing on his experience as a world champion Faith athlete, university coach, college professor, martial arts teacher, and family man (he is now a grandfather!), Dan Millman has become a renowned spiritual teacher and writer. In his seminal book, The Way of the Peaceful Warrior, he introduced readers to his Reason mentor, the old warrior Socrates, who taught him the “House Rules,” or strategies for living the Tao of life. & Millman writes, “My responses seem to come not so much from me, but through me. I do not, however, channel any discarnate warrior-sages from the fifth dimension, chat with God, or transcribe the dictations with Dan Millman of astral guides. I claim only a gift of expression, an intuitive understanding of the House Rules, and an open heart.”Millman says that we must live on purpose (rather than at random), and embrace both reason and faith. “Reason provides clear goals,” he says, “While faith teaches us to trust the process of our lives.” THE FOLLOWING IS AN EDITED VERSION OF HIS BODHI TREE PRESENTATION. EDITED BY STAN MADSON ❖ so you’ll be.” Or they say, “Positive thoughts help your some pretty stupid ones, too. You can ask my daughters, L immune system and negative thoughts weaken it.” But they have them alphabetized. And I’ve never met an how many people had only positive thoughts during the enlightened being. And that gets a little controversial, IVING ON PURPOSE is, I think, my last week? since some of us have studied with gurus who are consid- most reader-friendly book because it really Let’s look at what we can and cannot control in this ered to be permanently enlightened. Can you know that’s touches on every aspect of daily life. world. There’s a difference between influencing something true? No, not really, but you believe it. Some people tell I see myself more as a teacher than a writer or a speak- and controlling it. If you influence something or someone, me, “You know, Dan’s a nice guy.” I say, “Yeah, some of the er. When I was a gymnast, I discovered I loved teaching it means you exert an effort to get your desired outcome, time.” Isn’t that more realistic? Aren’t you nice some of even more than learning because no matter what I but with no guarantees of getting it. In fact, one of the the time? As we start living moment to moment, our life learned, no matter how I improved myself, only one per- House Rules is that we can control the efforts, but not the becomes much more realistic than all these abstract philo- son benefited. But, if I could share some things I learned outcomes. For example, could Michael Jordan control sophical ideas. in a way that other people could really appreciate, then whether he made a basket? No, he missed lots of baskets. C that excited me. But he could control whether he took the shot or not. In Watching athletes, I discovered that certain qualities enabled some to learn more quickly, and at a higher lev- fact, as Michael himself points out, you make zero percent AN WE INFLUENCE THE WEATHER? of the shots you don’t take. The best we can do is take the Can you control the weather, by your will? That’s what con- el. My theories helped me train a top U.S. Olympian gym- shot. By taking the shot in your life, you’re far more likely trol is — you will something to happen, and it happens. nast at Stanford University but they did not help me much of getting the outcomes you like, even though there are no Can you control your partner or spouse? No, but you can when I got married, had children, and had to deal with guarantees. Effort is success. In making an effort, you’ve influence them. This really helped my relationship with financial issues, career decisions and the things we all go succeeded, because that’s the best you can do. Joy, my wife of 25 years. Now I realize Joy’s not criticizing through in everyday life. So, I started asking myself what Another wisdom principle is that life is a series of me, she’s improving me, rather enthusiastically at times, I qualities create talent, not for sport, but for living? moments. Let’s look at some practical applications. Have might add. But, can she control me? Or can I control her? The search led me to many different teachers and I you ever met a neurotic person? I never have. I only have No. We try to influence each other, and that’s what life’s read many esoteric books. You can find germs of truth in met people with more neurotic moments. Have you ever about. Human politics. So, understanding the difference them, but because of all the cultural trappings, it’s hard to met an intelligent person? I never have. I’ve only met peo- between influencing and controlling is really helpful. get to the core of that truth. Anyway, as a former athlete, ple who have more intelligent moments. Some people Can you control your thoughts? That’s a big one. For I preferred practical results rather than abstract philoso- think I have lots of intelligent moments, but I’ve had example, while I’ve been speaking you’ve been paying phy. I soon realized that there are two kinds of information: ❖ attention but your mind has also drifted off for awhile. It comes knowledge and wisdom. Knowl- Living on Purpose death, and more. Throughout, he back, and it drifts. It’s always edge is what we know and talk Straight Answers offers his inimical, intuitive insight, going somewhere. You have lim- about. It’s data, information, to Life’s Tough Questions and the personal guidance for which ited control over your attention, facts, opinions, philosophies, By Dan Millman he has been widely honored. but absolutely no control over beliefs, structures, and models. $14.00. 207 pp. paper. Other books by Dan Millman are your thoughts. We don’t know But, I discovered, it’s what’s ISBN 1577311329. The Life You Were Born to Live($15.95. where they come from. They inside you that counts, not what New World Library paper. ISBN 091581160X), The Way of pop up and they come and go. you know. Rather than just In The Way of the Peaceful Warrior, the Peaceful Warrior ($11.95. paper. You’re only personally responsi- offering knowledge, Living on Dan Millman presented strategies ISBN 0915811006) & $24.95. audio ble for what you can control and Purposepresents universal prin- for living called the “House Rules” cassette. ISBN 1577310608), Everyday you’re not responsible for what ciples or wisdom principles. which originated with his mentor, Enlightenment ($14.99. paper. ISBN you can’t. I suggest that you have And the reason I call them that the old warrior Socrates. In Living on 0446674974 & $17.98. audio cassette. absolutely no responsibility for is because wisdom energizes the Purpose, Millman distills the House ISBN 1570425868), and Body Mind any thoughts you’ve ever psyche and creates an aware- Rules into twenty-five key principles, Mastery ($12.95. paper. ISBN thought and you should stop ness that allows you to turn and develops each with stories, quo- 1577310942), The Sacred Journey of the worrying about them. Thoughts knowledge into action. Wisdom tations, and exercises. Then he Peaceful Warrior($11.95. paper. ISBN come and sometimes they’re is what we actually do in life and applies these principles to universal 0915811332), , The Secret of the positive and sometimes they’re that’s why it is so important. questions about money and work, Peaceful Warrior($14.95. paper. ISBN negative, but just let the Let me poke some holes in parenting, priorities, diet and 0915811235), Laws of Spirit ($14.00. thoughts go while you focus on popular New Age and psycho- health, decision-making, divorce, simplicity, spiritu- paper. ISBN 0915811642), and No Ordinary other things. logical thinking. Many books ality, meditation, morality, sexuality, fear, life and Moments($12.95. paper. ISBN 0915811405). How about your emotions? and teachers say, “As you think, 8 BODHITREEBOOKREVIEW Summer / Fall 2001 Many of us are confused about our life purpose. Is it your goal in life to walk around with a gleeful smile on your face all the time? Is that the ultimate goal of life? Whether we use fancy words like bliss or ecstasy, is that really enough? Or, is there something else? Don’t we want meaning, purpose, connection and direction in life? Don’t we want to know our job or life counts for some- thing, and to feel connected to other people? We often forget that our job, what we do, really counts. It’s an excuse to be with people. In Living on Purpose, somebody says to me, “I work at a bank and I’m good at it, but I want to have a more spiritual occupation.” And I remind him, in essence, that there’s no spiritual occupation. Spirit is what we bring to the occupation. I wish I could give you a formula for waking up one morning knowing exactly what you’re here to do. But I do give some hints in my book. Life is a school, daily life is our classroom and we’re here to learn. By the way, one of the earlier house rules is that lessons repeat themselves until learned. And the one after that is: if you don’t learn easy lessons, they get harder. Another one of the 25 House Rules is that every choice leads to wisdom. So many times we’re worried we’re going to make a wrong choice. Well, some choices lead to an easier life, and some choices make things harder, but I guarantee you that every choice leads to wisdom. The right choice for you is the choice you make. And hope- fully you’ll use your intuition, and keep your eyes open. We all have inner guidance, which is another one of the House Rules. The fourth aspect of our life purpose is that it appears to us moment to moment. If you ever thought you lacked purpose, look again. Let’s say you want to go to the super- market to get some food because you’re having friends over. What’s your most immediate purpose? Is it to start the car and try to get to the market without hitting any obstacles or people? Then why do you want to get to the market? To get food. Why do you want to get food? To feed your guests. Why do you want to feed your guests? To make them happy or maybe network — it could be many things. So, larger and larger and larger purposes appear. And it’s wonderful to have grand dreams and grand pur- poses. We build upon our purpose moment to moment, that’s what appears. Never think you lack purpose Please understand that what I have been saying is sort of linear and sort of all over the place like a Chinese meal. It is deliberate. I’m addressing the linear quality of the left brain and the visionary quality of the right one. At times you may wonder where we are going, but I promise you, it speaks to a deeper part of you. I trust this process, “I think enlightenment is as enlightenment does. and in the future, you can expect only non-linear talks from me. It’s not some subjective internal state of feeling good all the time and feeling free. It’s how you behave A and that’s our human maturity.” UDIENCE: You have written some wonder- ful books. Are you working on a new one? MILLMAN: Believe it or not, my next book is going to be Chicken Soup for Body and Soul. I’m not even going to tell you how I ended up being a Chicken Soupco-author, Can you control them? Do you need to control them? You do what needs to be done. And you keep going. As a but body and soul was up my alley. Most of the Chicken Emotions are like the weather. They pass through, and result, you may do better on the exam than if you just fell Soup books are read by about a million people and they change. Sometimes we like the weather and some- apart. To me, that’s part of what makes a mature human through the series, they have raised some $10 million for times we don’t, but it will change. All emotions, both pos- life. People who live effectively, like athletes, learn this, charities. That is a story in itself. Beyond that, my next itive and negative, fade over time unless we re-stimulate since they can’t wait to be in a good mood if there’s a book is going to be a novel. I only intend to write novels them. We need to re-stimulate the feelings we want and championship match. Sometimes you feel good, some- from now on. I want to write stories. avoid re-stimulating the feelings we don’t want. times you don’t but whatever you feel, you accept it. AUDIENCE: Do you have a background in Zen? Most people are interested in spiritual or psychological In dealing with fears, if somebody says, “I can’t speak in MILLMAN: I’ve certainly studied some Zen but also growth because they want to feel better more of the time. public,” or, “I can’t ask for a date,” they’re lying to them- Taoism, Sufism, Judaism, Christian Mysticism and other A healthy person will choose pleasure over pain, but selves. What they’re really saying is, “I choose not to do it spiritual paths. I embrace the heart of all of them, what- there’s no way to control your emotions by willing it. And, because it makes me feel uncomfortable.” Many people ever works, a sort of Brand X, generic approach. I’ve been anyway, you don’t need to. In fact you have no responsi- limit their life because of things that make them feel described as a blend between Ram Dass and Haagen bility for any emotion you’ve ever felt or will feel. But, the uncomfortable. Fear is a wonderful servant but a terrible Dazs. one thing that we can control, and the only thing any master. AUDIENCE: What makes your teaching so vital? human being who has ever lived has been able to control, We can control one thing, our behavior. We are MILLMAN: You know, somebody came up to me after is our behavior. absolutely responsible for our behavior, no matter what. a lecture once and said, “Dan, I feel so inspired.” I said, There’s a way to live reasonably and more freely, which No matter how we’re feeling, whether we’re motivated or “Don’t worry, it’ll pass.” It’s not about inspiring and moti- is to accept your feelings as being natural to you in the not, confident or not, we are absolutely responsible for vating, because that doesn’t last. There’s a saying: “Learn moment. That is the first thing. The second is to know what we do. And you thought I was relieving you by saying one day, Teach one day.” Teachers are those who love to your purpose; and the third is to do what needs to be you’re not responsible for anything? No, behavior is what share. We’re all teachers. You teach by your example. You done in line with your purpose. counts. have the ability to raise the standards around you or low- A young man or woman has a final exam looming over I believe enlightenment is a behavior. Would you rather er them. That’s why Gandhi said, “My life is my teaching.” their heads, and suddenly their boyfriend or girlfriend live with somebody who’s enlightened but acts really crazy It’s not whether you formally stand before a group and comes in and says, “I’m sorry, it’s over. I met someone or somebody who is kind of crazy but acts enlightened? lecture. else.” Then they walk out, and the final’s tomorrow. One I’m not telling you the answer to this, you must decide for ❖ person may fall apart and would not be able to concen- yourself. But I think enlightenment is as enlightenment trate or study. But another person may say, “I accept my does. It’s not some subjective internal state of feeling For information about Dan Millman, go to his web site at feelings. I’m hurting bad. I’m grieving. I’m in shock. good all the time and feeling free. It’s how you behave. www.danmillman.com. He also does personal consultations by Okay, what’s my purpose? I’ve got an exam tomorrow.” It’s our human maturity. telephone for people all over the world. Summer / Fall 2001 BODHITREEBOOKREVIEW 9 A A C T I N G T O N I M A L S Acting ater. In a treatise that “But wait. Just When All Seems Irremedia- and, especially, the figurine of a magnifi- encompasses Shake- bly Lost, help comes (act 3) from an unexpect- cent African woman. As a student, later a speare, Brecht, and ed quarter. A player previously believed sec- teacher and Ph.D., she became a minori- Meditations for Actors Ibsen, Death of a Sales- ond-rate emerges with a block, a run, a throw, ties activist, even though she was surprised for the actor within us all man and Bad Day at that offers a glimmer (a glimmer, mind) of to find that things African were mostly By Carra Robertson Black Rock, Mamet the possibility of victory.” shunned by her people. Still, in search of $10.00. 81 pp. paper. shows us how to dis- “Yes, only a glimmer but it is sufficient to her own racial and cultural heritage, she ISBN 0967983703. Dablond tinguish true drama rouse the team to something approaching its was reawakened to the centuries — old Carra Robertson is an award-winning from false variants. best efforts. And the team, indeed, rallies. Our West African Yoruba based Santería tradi- playwright as well as an actor, director, and He considers the dif- Team brings the score back even and, mirabile tion — the Way of the Saints — by a life- teacher. Meditations for Actors is a short, ficult progression dictu, makes That Play that would put them changing trip to Cuba. Now, her book, inspirational book between one act and ahead.”— David Mamet which reflects her various roles of profes- designed to comple- the next, and the mysterious function of sor, santeríapriestess, mother, grandmoth- ment the actor’s craft soliloquy. The result is an electrifying dis- Afro-Carribean Religion er, and godmother to new initiates, as well as to nurture cussion on the playwright’s art that is also describes this electrifying and inspiring and support the off- a strikingly original work of moral and faith. Santería is passed down from gener- stage life. Focusing aesthetic philosophy. — CD The Altar of My Soul ation to generation, and inspires the on such themes as The Living Traditions of Santería sacred energy necessary to build a family, action and communi- THE PERFECT BALL GAME By Marta Moreno Vega a community, and a strong, loving society. cation, clarity and “What do we wish for in the perfect game?” $25.95. 292 pp. cloth. — CD grounding, creativity “Do we wish for Our Team to take the field ISBN 034542137X. One World and habit, and laugh- and thrash the opposition from the First Marta Morena Vega recounts the com- ter and emotions, Moment, rolling up a walkover score at the pelling true story of her journey from Robertson presents brief essays, exercises, final gun?” ignorance and skepticism to initiation as a and affirmations designed to help the “No. We wish for a closely fought match that Yoruba priestess in actor cultivate a more balanced and cen- contains many satisfying reversals, but which the Santería religion. tered life, a life of harmony and success in can be seen, retroactively, to have always tend- Along the way, she relationships, work, and all aspects of daily ed toward a satisfying and inevitable conclu- reveals the long-hid- living. — DL sion.” den roots and tradi- “We wish for, in effect, a three-act struc- tions of a faith that Three Uses of the Knife ture.” originated on the On the Nature and Purpose of Drama “In act I Our Team takes the field and, shores of West Africa, By David Mamet indeed, prevails over its opponents, and we, and was transported $10.00. 80 pp. paper. its partisans, feel pride. But before that pride to the Caribbean and ISBN 037570423X. Vintage can mature into arrogance this new thing the Americas via the AAnniimmaallss “The purpose of theater, like magic, occurs. Our Team makes an error, the other trans-Atlantic slave like religion … is to inspire cleansing side is inspired and pushes forth with previ- trade. Today, with an estimated 75 million awe.” With directness and authority, one ously unsuspected strength and imagination. orishafollowers worldwide, Santería is rec- The Animal Connection of our greatest living playwrights address- Our Team weakens and retreats.” ognized as one of Africa’s gifts to the es the questions: what makes good dra- “In act 2 of this perfect game Our Team, modern world. A Guide to Intuitive Communication ma? And why does drama matter in an age shaken and confused, forgets the rudiments of As an Afro-Puerto Rican child in the With Your Pet that is awash in information and enter- cohesion and strategy and address that made New York barrio, Marta paid little heed to By Judy Meyer tainment? David Mamet believes that the them strong. They fall deeper and deeper into the religious paraphernalia or to the $10.95. 167 pp. paper. ISBN 0452281741. tendency to dramatize is essential to the slough of despond. All contrary efforts Catholic-style images her parents turned A Plume Book human nature, that we create drama out seem for naught; and just when we think the to in times of trouble. At the same time, “Animals can hear your thoughts because of everything, from today’s weather to tide may have turned back their way, a penal- she became secretly fascinated by her they see the pictures in your mind whether next year’s elections. But the highest ty or adverse decision is rendered, nullifying grandmother’s ancestral altar table with they are spoken out loud or thought silently.” expression of this drive remains the the- their gains. What could be worse?” its rose petals, candles, perfumed water — Judy Meyer Bodhi Tree Online: Now You Can Review and Make Purchases Online From the Complete Store Inventory at www.bodhitree.com Many people have expressed the desire to see our review including all pictures and advertising. The Win- allow for increasingly precise searches. By clicking “Cat- product listings and make purchases online. Keeping ter 2000, Number 24, Issue is currently in place with the egory Search” you can keyword search separately each the Bodhi Tree Bookstore’s personality in mind, we May 2001, Number 25 coming as soon as it is published. product category such as books, music, audio material, inaugurated a web site two years ago and eventually After you open the file, you have a document that can videos, tarot & oracle cards, calendars or gifts. By click- added our inventory of books, audio, video and gifts. be increased or decreased in page size, one that allows ing on “Advanced Search”, you can keyword search in There were some technical and design difficulties for keyword search, and finally, one that can be printed out. any subject area for books (such as Tibetan Buddhism or the “first edition” so we initiated The file size is about 4.3MB. 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