Although Buddhism is often depicted as a religion of meditators and philosophers; some of the earliest writings extant in India offer a very different portrait of the Buddhist practitioner. In Indian Buddhist narratives from the early centuries of the Common Era; most lay religious practice consists not of reading; praying; or meditating; but of visually engaging with certain kinds of objects. These visual practices; moreover; are represented as the primary means of cultivating faith; a necessary precondition for proceeding along the Buddhist spiritual path. In Thus Have I Seen: Visualizing Faith in Early Indian Buddhism; Andy Rotman examines these visual practices and how they function as a kind of skeleton key for opening up Buddhist conceptualizations about the world and the ways it should be navigated. Rotman's analysis is based primarily on stories from the Divyavadana (Divine Stories); one of the most important collections of ancient Buddhist narratives from India. Though discourses of the Buddha are well known for their opening words; "thus have I heard" - for Buddhist teachings were first preserved and transmitted orally - the Divyavadana presents a very different model for disseminating the Buddhist dharma. Devotees are enjoined to look; not just hear; and visual legacies and lineages are shown to trump their oral counterparts. As Rotman makes clear; this configuration of the visual fundamentally transforms the world of the Buddhist practitioner; changing what one sees; what one believes; and what one does.
#273267 in Books Geneive Abdo 2007-08-10Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.10 x .80 x 9.10l; .79 #File Name: 0195332377256 pagesMecca and Main Street Muslim Life in America After 9 11
Review
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. She deserves lots of creditBy LostplanetIt is seldom seen that a non-muslim has to say anything positive about muslims; specially in the Unites States. Lot of credit goes to Ms. Abdo for her fair and balanced view of Muslim life in America. Americans really need to open up their hearts and minds about muslims and stop judging through a tainted glass of hate and right wing brain washing. Don't judge the whole muslim "umma" due to the actions of 0.000001 %fanatics who think they are doing it in the name of religion.The only complaint I have is that she didn't discuss much about muslims in America from the Indo-Pak sub continent; as they make up a substantial number in this country.11 of 15 people found the following review helpful. The best insider to IslamBy Chris CarlThis inspiring; edge of your seat book is both refreshing and welcoming to both Muslim and non-Muslim. This is a review of an American convert who has been spending his Muslim life going from place to place trying to learn traditional Islam from some of the most authoritive figures and opinions that are accessible from the English medium. Also this opinion comes from a patriotic American who cares for the security and concerns of America like any other American has proudly served in the beginnings of the War against Terrorism. That being said I would like to say that this book surprised me at every level. She uses the opinions of some of the best well trained scholars in the US today whose influence to Muslims in America and abroad are increasing day by day. Scholars like Shaykh Hamza Yusuf; Shaykh Zaid Shakir; Shaykh Umar Faruq Abdullah; Shaykh Muhammad Yaqoobi; and Sulyman Nyang (many whom I have had the honor to hear them speak and shake their hands). Their message of peace and tolerance is taking the minds of Muslims and bringing them back to what Islam was for 1400 years. It is totally uprooting the intolerant views that men from Saudi Arabia have been trying to instill into unsuspecting new Muslim immigrants. Geneive does not mention what this means bluntly because her objectivity is trying to be welcoming to all Muslims but basically what this means to Americans is that there is a civil mind war in Islam and the good guys are winning. All the groups that seem anti-American and intolerant are getting kicked out and being replaced with an Islam that tolerates American culture and seeks to live and thrive in harmony with them. I think that this is something American journalists like Geneive Abdo tries to show. To the other majority of journalist; because it lacks the sensationalism of the extremist Islam that they want to create for their audience; does not cover this. But I do my best to inform Americans of this; especially our military. My military friends tell me how their friends in intelligence are being more aware of who the good guys and bad guys in Islam are. They know the names and ideas of these groups in a more sophisticated fashion and not just looking at the old method of stereotypical long bearded man and scarf lady which basically has no foundation. I think Genieve's book somewhat paints this internal struggle at the end of the book. Also a side note: It's important to mention that these groups that are intolerant and distasteful have only been around for 50-100 years. McCarthy-like journalists try to make it seem as if they have been around throughout Islamic history. A good analysis of this topic is "Islam Fundamentalism and the Betrayal of Tradition" by Joseph Lumbard; a book that I have freely given to professors and soldiers alike. Now the other point I love about this book is the hopes; dreams; and fears of the Muslims living in America and how they are fully American and should be shown to Americans everywhere. There are stories about women rebelling against oppressive un-Islamic customs of their cultures that is both heart warming for Americans and Muslims alike. There are also stories of heroic Muslims trying to show the loving side of Islam: what Muslims cherish despite the efforts of extremist and over-zealous "patriotic Americans" to try and keep them silenced. Another part I like is the internal woman's movements and how westerners improperly try to portray it and what the reality really is for Muslims. Geneive is not telling Muslims how they feel but conveying it. I could go on and on about the virtues of this book but I do not want to ruin it for everyone. I am sure there are Muslims that might not like it because they suspect every non-Muslim with bad intentions and I am sure there are Americans who won't like this book because it doesn't buy into their idea of how Islam should be. About the Muslim beliefs and practices; she does a good job showing the perspective of what Islam has been for 1400 years and how the majority of Muslims view it world wide rather then just how the majority of Muslims view it in America. Some Muslims in America make the religion a free for all interpretation because that's what was first conveyed to them. This is incorrect as there are legitimate scholarly principles to each discipline of learning that once you master; you might be authorized to teach. That being said; one mistake I found in the book was that Geneive portrays Sunni Islam without hierarchy. There is a hierarchy in Islam but it is through knowledge not power. The most knowledgeable and pious a person is his opinion is taken as more of an authority on an Islamic discpline than the lesser. Without structure and hierarchy; religion can be in the hands of the ignorant that can lead to the extreme zealotry or the extreme liberal who waters down a religion until it becomes meaningless. This mistake I forgive because most Muslims I come across aren't even aware of this either. Overall this is a good and authoritive book for any one wanting to learn about their Muslim neighbor. I myself and many others who would like to convey that such a topic couldn't have had a better job done on it.-Chris6 of 10 people found the following review helpful. Some good ideasBy Agent AsiahAs an American Muslim myself; I was looking forward to Abdo's work. I was wary of reading a book on Islam by a non-muslim journalist. Thankfully; I was pleasantly surprised with Abdo's approach of Islam and Muslims in general. She doesn't take the opinion that the religion needs to be modernized and secularized; she makes it known early on that she doesn't feel that being more western makes for a "good" Islam (as opposed to a "bad" eastern/traditional Islam). It seems her years in the Middle East; and perhaps her own experience as an Arab minority in the US have given her enough experience to write with a sensitivity that most Muslims will appreciate; especially after such books as Irshad Manji's Trouble with Islam (which coincidentally Abdo mentions unfavorably in her own work).So; besides the point that I was pleased that she kept herself politically correct and culturally aware; I was not too impressed with the book. Its sloppy editing and slapdash writing lead to an end product which feels like it was published a little too early in order to capitalize on the 5th anniversary of 9/11 (a feat which the inside cover of the book jacket mentions). This is unfortunate because it seems Abdo has been researching this book for many years; and it could have been a lot better with a bit more work. In Mecca she doesn't seem to focus on the main topic; but strays (sometimes interestingly) into the foundations of Islam; particular character histories; and even her own journalistic past in the Middle East. She also repeats facts and stories over and over again; to the point that it feels she is trying to take up space; and simply produce enough material to get the book published.All of this is tragic to me; because Abdo presents some fresh insights into the American Muslim experience. I have read many other secular books on Islam; hoping to find something to recommend to friends and those interested to know about my religion and my lifestyle. Abdo's book hits some things right on the head. I would suggest it for those who already know a little bit about Islam; or maybe a Muslim or two; and are looking for a different perspective than that presented on Fox News. It is a worthwhile read if you can get past some of the structural errors.
