| Title | : | Immeasurable Life: The Essence of Shin Buddhism |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1621385442 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781621385448 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 113 |
| Publication | : | Published June 23, 2020 |
“For a long time, I had been hoping that someone would write a book conveying the rich wisdom of the Shin tradition in clear and engaging language. Rev. Paraskevopoulos has successfully accomplished this feat with a deeply thoughtful work in which he urges us to question our conventional approach to life so that we may uncover its deeper meaning. I encourage anyone interested in exploring Buddhism to challenge themselves by reading this impressive study and opening up their hearts to its compelling insights.”—REVEREND KODO UMEZU, Bishop of the Buddhist Churches of America
“Immeasurable Life is sure to be valued by many within, and new to, the Shin Buddhist tradition. Its piercing appraisal of the human condition and heart-felt guidance to a reality that surpasses and illumines us make it relevant to all those who are seeking their spiritual foundation.”—PROFESSOR DAVID R. MATSUMOTO, President, Institute of Buddhist Studies, Berkeley
“In this exceptional work, Rev. Paraskevopoulos has successfully articulated the essence of Shin Buddhism in ways that are true to the tradition but which also appeal to contemporary readers beyond religious and cultural boundaries. The book addresses our universal yearning for answers to the questions of suffering, meaning, reality and practice. No one writes about Shin more beautifully and sensitively. His choice of words and manner of expression will surely nudge us to confront the depth of our imperfections, while propelling us to soar beyond ourselves to savor the immeasurable life and light at the heart of existence.”—EMERITUS PROFESSOR KENNETH K. TANAKA, Musashino University, Tokyo
“This is a wonderful book. In moving, powerful and poetic language, Rev. Paraskevopoulos offers a remarkable vision of Shin Buddhism and its timeless truths. He deftly explores the profound message of this tradition and the potential it has to radically change our lives.”—REVEREND ILONA EVERS, Vice-President, Shin Buddhist Association of Germany
Immeasurable Life: The Essence of Shin Buddhism Reviews
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This book was highly recommended, but I cannot pass along that sentiment. It may be a good read for someone much more educated than I am on the topic, but I would not suggest that someone who is trying to get a better understanding spend their time with it. The language is not straightforward and I found myself having to reread many passages just to get the intent.
Generally, with this type of work, I would expect many citations, but there is not a single citation or attribution in the book. You just have to take the author's word for what he writes. Even the italicized quotes from Shinran are not cited for reference so that the reader can look at the context of the original text.
There are some good discussion points brought out, but I don't believe they are collectively worth the time required to back up the discussion. The most troubling quote (page 91) was "The lesson in all of this is that we need to take the tradition's own view of it seriously or not engage with it at all." Shakyamuni encouraged his followers to question everything. This, in my view, is the correct approach for Buddhism, and even for Shin Buddhism.
