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| May, 2006 | ||
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This large and impressive volume contains a collection of studies of the world’s five major Eastern faiths: Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shinto. The book takes a look at each religion in terms of nine key themes: “Origins and Historical Development,” “Aspects of the Divine,” “Sacred Texts,” “Sacred Persons,” “Ethical Principals,” “Sacred Spaces,” “Sacred Time,” “Death and the Afterlife,” and “Society and Religion.” Also included are extracts, some brief and some lengthy, from historical texts. They are mostly instructive stories; however, their contribution to the reader can be important. From them we not only obtain a significant teaching, but are often able to see the more human—sometimes even humorous—side to a religion. Taoism, the mystical brother to Confucianism, provides some excellent examples. Lui Ling, a Taoist poet, writes: “He travels without tracks or traces/He lives without room or cottage/ Heaven is his curtain, the earth his mat/Self-indulgent, he does what he pleases.” Eastern Religions is replete with beautiful illustrations that decorate nearly every page. Their visual fidelity is made possible through the publisher’s selection of a glossy paper. Another design note, the book is large for a paperback which makes keeping it open a bit of a challenge and as an older reader I would have liked the type to be a size or two larger. However, readers of any age or religious persuasion intent on availing themselves of a well-organized, concise presentation of five major religions of our Eastern brothers and sisters will not be disappointed with this read. —Cliff Johnson
The incentive for R. Neville Johnston’s book Hidden Language Codes was a result of his dying and coming back to life after being randomly shot by a stranger in the spring of 1977. He believes he was sent back from his near-death experience to assist in raising human consciousness to a higher echelon by helping mankind to learn to speak an ascended language. His revelations during the time of his dying will keep you spellbound. One of them provides that the universe is made up of vibrations and the most meaningful vibration is words. If you are a word enthusiast, you will be thoroughly enthralled by his interpretation of commonly used words and the meanings that, he believes, are hidden within them. Johnston describes words that empower and words that are disempowering. He says, “Words are fundamental building blocks of thought and therefore of our life,” and that “disempowering words have certain recognizable traits… these words are guilt-encrypted, inspiring fear; they always make us feel ‘less.’ They are designed to keep us in place, to enslave us.” Through his many definitions of the secret codes and phrases he encourages us to use words that have positive vibrations and can be used to our advantage; he adamantly discourages us from using words that have negative vibrations and work to our disadvantage. Johnson explains it this way, “Learn to use power words—words that serve us well—such as ‘acceptance,’ ‘faith,’…and the key power word ‘love.’ Those words that do not serve us well include ‘greed,’ ‘blame,’ ‘hard,’…and ‘can’t.’” The food for thought that you will acquire from the Hidden Language Codes will most likely inspire you to continue to seek and use words in ways that benefit and enrich your life. —Mary Porter
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