enigmatic, their philosophical and aesthetic significance obscured.iReading Zen in the Rocks/i, the classic essay on theikaresansui/igarden by French art historian François Berthier, has now been translated by Graham Parkes, giving English-speaking readers a concise, thorough, and beautifully illustrated history of these gardens.BRBRBerthier's guided tour of the famous garden of Ryoanji (Temple) in Kyoto leads him into an exposition of the genre, focusing on its Chinese antecedents and affiliations with Taoist ideas and Chinese landscape painting. He traces the roles of Shinto and Zen Buddhism in the evolution of the garden and also considers how manual laborers from the lowest classes in Japan had a hand in creating some of its highest examples. Parkes contributes an equally original and substantive essay which delves into the philosophical importance of rocks and their language of stone, delineating the difference between Chinese and Japanese rock gardens and their relationship to Buddhism. Together, the two essays compose one of the most comprehensive and elegantly written studies of this haunting garden form.BRBRiReading Zen in the Rocks/iis fully illustrated with photographs of all the major gardens discussed, making it a handsome addition to the library of anyone interested in gardening, Eastern philosophy, and the combination of the two that theikaresansui/iso superbly represents.BRBRPraise for the French edition:BRBRA small book of rare depth, remarkably illustrated, on one of the most celebrated and beautiful rock gardens of the monasteries of Kyoto.—iL'Humanité/iBRBRThroughiLe Jardin de Ryoanji/i, Berthier@õÂ? (öÿ¾Û€  (less)

for spontaneous Zen painting) captures the spirit of a fiery group of players who play as one focused combo. The album features some of the top Jazz players from the Seattle and New Mexico Jazz scenes, and is anchored by Barrett's powerful, hypnotic drumming, which is based on a hybrid mix of the American drum set, with African, Brazilian and Cuban drums. Recorded over the course of one calendar year in New Mexico and Seattle, Zenga pulses with rhythm and shimmers with melody. The album features the elegant piano, muscular upright bass, and buoyant trumpet and saxophone melodies. Grammy-nominated Iraqi master musician Rahim Alhaj contributes Arabic oud, creating a kind of 'Jazz Arabesque' feel on two of the tracks. Barrett w...  (less)

Orchestra) on guitar and John Moloney (Sunburned Hand of the Man) on drums. This live shot of electricity gradually ramps up from Flower and Matt Bower’s dueling guitars to the point where Moloney’s drums come crashing in after about six minutes, leading to a furious crescendo that lasts for the remainder of the 19-minute track. 'Slew Plateaus #2' is a lengthy collaboration with underground gadabout Mattin, whose previous collabs with Tony Conrad, Bruce Russell, Eddie Prevost, et al. hopefully prepared him for the Bower wrecking ball delivered here. The other two cuts are absolutely blistering demolition work, which, in spite of their visceral impact, reach a state of zen-like stasis after a couple of minutes, à la the best...  (less)

integral philosopher, writer, and lecturer. He is widely recognized for his unique ability to integrate advanced Western thought with the intuitive sensibilities of Eastern spiritual traditions. Originally from Japan, Kimura was ordained as a Buddhist priest in the Soto school of Zen at the age of twenty-one. He traveled to India to further his study of Eastern philosophy and religion, eventually moving to the United States to pursue his work in the integration of spiritual philosophy and physical science. Kimura is passionate about evolution and human development, and is keenly aware of the urgent life conditions we face across the globe. He is the founder and chairman of Vision-In-Action, a public benefit corporation whose mission is to promote original thinking as a comprehensive and creative approach to restore wholeness and integrity to our deeply divided world. He is also the editor-in-chief of he Journal of Integral Thinking for Visionary Action. In this interview with Mitchell, Kimura describes his work with both philosophical and poetic nuance, speaking to the heart of what we know to be true, as well as want to be true relative to the creation of a world we all know most deeply is possible. The two interact delightfully to create a joyful, and enjoable learning environment. C2007, 120 Minutes, Color.  (less)

decades. On this DVD you will be treated to nine astonishing pieces of strange to unleash the moment. DVD Contents:Unshuffling Rebecca - An in - the - hands, self - working Triumph. Triumphs next evolution. No moves! Backlash - A no - palming signed card to pocket; with an outrageous kicker! Angel Case - A diabolical utility item designed to switch small objects. Perfect for spirit writing! Zen and The Art of Boomerang - Toss a card high in the air, catch it in the deck and it splits its mate! Flesh - Pieces of a toothpick magically and visually jump from hand to hand! Impromptu Nightshades - Pauls classic Nightshades on the fly; borrow a buck and watch George flip his shades! Buck Naked - What a scam! One of the greatest bill swindles ever conceived! The Shape...  (less)