Judith Weiss of Kesher Talk, who's been a very kind and gracious supporter of Ideofact for some time (and, believe it or not Judith, I am thinking about another post dealing with Mongols), has a post on a book that I think I might have to get hold of for my summer vacation, The Jew in the Lotus: A Poet's Re-Discovery of Jewish Identity in Buddhist India. I found this, from a review Judith quotes, particularly thought intriguing:
Nearly every major religion has developed a tension between its exoteric forms -- accessible to all practitioners -- and its esoteric secrets, which are restricted to a small band of initiates, if only to prevent the misuse of that esoterica. In a series of remarkable discussions, the Dalai Lama and these two learned, ebullient cabalists, Rabbis Schachter and Omer-Man, compare notes on the character of meditation, its structures, rhythms and traditions. To read these chapters is something like walking through a mythic garden . . . .
It appears that the book on the 72 Satans of Ismaili heresiography is beyond my reach (at least for now), so this might provide a good alternative...
Posted by Ideofact at July 21, 2003 11:25 PM
Hey Bill, I'm still waiting for your review of Mullahs on the Mainframe :)
Aziz --
Of course I'd love to read it. Eventually I'll get around to it. I have a pile of books I've bought over the last month in anticipation of August, when my hellacious stretch of work will be over. The Da Vinci Code is among them; I'll see if I can't scare up a copy of Mullahs on the Mainframe as well...
Posted by: Bill at July 25, 2003 01:41 AM