DOC Burning for the Buddha: Self-Immolation in Chinese Buddhism (Kuroda Studies in East Asian Buddhism) by James A. Benn in History

Description

To the Navajo; sandpaintings are sacred; living entities that reflect the interconnectedness of all living beings--humans; plants; stars; animals; and mountains. This book; now available in paperback; explores the circularity of Navajo thought in sandpaintings; Navajo chantway myths; and stories reflected in the celestial constellations. Beautifully illustrated by the author; this well-documented book explores the spiritual world of the Navajo; their ceremonial practices; and their conceptions of time and stellar motion. Griffin-Pierce shows how the images of sacred sandpaintings not only communicate the temporal and spatial dimensions of the Navajo universe but also present; in visual form; Navajo ideas about relationships among nature; self; and society. "Griffin-Pierce's approach is highly original; bringing this material together in an innovative and creative manner while grounding it holistically within the context of Navajo world view."--M. Jane Young; author of Signs from the Ancestors: Zuni Cultural Symbolism and Perceptions of Rock Art