And for my Good Readers, here’s the new reviews and articles for this month. The ARJ2 ones are new additions to the top of A Reader’s Journal, Volume 2, Chronological List, and the ART ones to A Reader’s Treasury.
1.) ARJ2:
The Incredible Births of Jesus by Edward Reaugh Smith
In this book, Ed Smith lays out the story of the two Jesus boys, each with a distinctively different
genealogy, that are described in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. But instead of using the
standard "textual criticism" approach to explain the discrepancies, he explains the deeper truths
of Christianity that have been hidden from us, up until now. As I wrote this review, I was
reminded of the words of St. Paul in 1Corinthians 13:11-12:
"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."
In the adulthood of Christianity it is time to put away our childish things and face the adult facts
of reincarnation and karma: we are born with infections in our lower members and are captive to
those lower members and only by moving through the masks of successive personalities and
burning the dross from those lower members will we become purified so that once more we may
walk with purified "souls" into our Father's house once more.
If this sounds to you like it begs for a deeper explanation, read the review:
http://www.doyletics.com/arj/tibojrvw.htm
2.) ARJ2:
A Zen Wave by Robert Aitken
What is a haiku and why are you interrupting my sushi to tell me about it? Japanese culture has a
way of insinuating itself into our Western culture. From Aitken's book, I learned that we have
one word for the fruit of a tree (pears, apples, cherries) and the Japanese need two words. We
need two words for the flowers of fruit trees (e.g., cherry blossoms), and the Japanese need only
one (sakura). What meaning is one able to take from this trans-linguistic inversion? Aitken helps
us to discern the linguistic idiosyncracies with three-way translations (Japanese, English, and
literal word for word) of the seventeen syllable poems known as haiku, usually three lines of
five, seven, and five syllables each in the original Japanese.
We in the West tend to see a visit of a friend as the fruit (the important thing for us has a unique
word of its own) and their subsequent farewell as a trivial falling blossom (the important thing
for the Japanese has a unique word) of the fruit tree. In Japan the combination of visit and
farewell is like short-lived cherry blossoms — the shower of petals must be enjoyed to the
fullest measure possible.
[page 39] People in the West, sometimes quite insensitive to the
importance of farewells, can learn from the Japanese, who say farewell to the
very end. They wave and wave until their friends are out of sight.
My haiku offering on the subject follows, as suggested by one of Basho's:
Wave & wave
until they're out of sight —
all that's left is Fall.
For more obscurity and delight, read the other haikus in the review at:
http://www.doyletics.com/arj/azwrvw.htm
3.) ARJ2:
Childhood of Humanity an Essay by Bobby Matherne
How is it that children seem to live in a supersensible world of fairies and imaginary playmates that no longer exists for adults? What does this well-known feature of our world tell us about our heritage as human beings? Do any of those wondrous feelings we had as children, which we may remember dimly if at all, survive in us today? If so, how do they survive?
Curious? To inspect the childhood of humanity with Bobby, read the essay at:
http://www.doyletics.com/arj/childofh.htm
4.) ARJ2:
Twitch and Shout by Lowell Handler
Anyone who has seen Mel Gibson's Lethal Weapon movies may not realize it, but you saw him
portraying a person with Tourette's Syndrome. Lowell Handler had the same peculiar mental
quirkiness, quickness, and jerkiness of thought processes that Mel's character had. Only as he
grew up into an adult did Lowell come to understand his weird behaviors had been given a name:
Tourette's Syndrome.
To take a tour-ette along with Lowell for a few ticks, read the review:
http://www.doyletics.com/arj/tasrvw.htm
5.) ARJ2:
In the House of Memory by Steve Rabey
The ancients Celts lived in a world of spirit-filled nature long before Christianity was brought to
the shores of the westmost outpost of civilization at the time, an island considered so worthless
that the greatest conquerors of the time, the Romans, didn't bother to conquer it. Rabey tells us
about that island, Ireland, plus the Welsh and Scot on the western edges of Great Britain who are
all descended from the ancient Celts. This prayer from the book seems appropriate for the
turbulent times that we are experiencing today in the Fall of 2001:
[page 176] The Celts lived in turbulent times, and they had an awareness that
death could strike them at any time. They wove this concern into their
entreaties: 'I place my soul under your protection O Lord; save me from
sudden death. Praise and thanks be yours forever.'
To enter the House of Memory for a brief tour, read the review:
http://www.doyletics.com/arj/ithomrvw.htm