Joan D.Stamm is surely an author in grade to make the difference if you want to read a book about Buddhism, being...inspired by a touch of western civilization. Although American, in fact, she hugged, embraced, the Buddhist philosophy and religion with all herself.
I fell attracted by the powerful cover of her newest book published by John Hunt Publishing A Pilgrimage in Japan The 33 Temples of Kannon.
I love Buddhism and I have always said it, because it is not a vertical religion but a religion in grade to speak at every living and not-living creature of this world. I consider the Japanese way of life also, more tranquil than not the one of the western world thanks to a philosophy and a religion in grade to give a different stabilization to the mind, soul and body, presenting harmony with the rest of creatures of this world and environment.
In this book the author tells to the reader her pilgrimage with her sister various years ago at the temples that would have brought them at the end at the Temple of Kannon. Who is Kannon? The author explains: "Kannon's symbolic thousands arms, 42, and thousand eyes testified to her ability to see and reach out in one thousand ways to heal, inspire and teach..."
The author didn't live a particularly heavy moment in her existence, when she decided to leave for this pilgrimage. Sure, she was searching for something: for an emanation of harmony, for staying better than she was, but she hadn't personally experienced any traumatic moment as a loss or a divorce can be.
What mainly Joan was searching was liberation. "Only ignorance and deluded thinking kept me from realizing my true self."
Each Temples after all are symbols. Symbols of the human possibility of reaching a new horizon. Not all the times it will be simple to reach the destination, but determination and the possibility of being set free by our mental slaveries, will make the difference.
The two women didn't follow the pilgrimage in a consecutive order, for reducing costs. The beauty of these temples, places and pilgrimage, tells the author, is that substantially they remained intact during these centuries, and plenty of suggestions.
A temple I love to signal the one of Okadera, celebrated because of the dragon. "Like dragon, writes the author, we can send out loving, helpful, sensitive generous and healing vibes, or judgemental, rude, domineering, stingy and destructive vibes..."
The beauty of a pilgrimage is that although we think that the protagonists are alone, they will find along their way a lot of helpful people, who will share with them feasts, loving moments, and understanding. A modality for cementing that brotherhood so indispensible in this world.
We will discover how considered is gingko for Japanese. Four of them survived also at the atomic horrible terrible bombs launched by the Americans. It means hope. And much more.
The second part of the book opens with the health's issues experienced by the various protagonists at some point.
The author asks for healing. Pain persisted she writes but something changed: "Let go, let it all go" continued to repeat Joan: "Liberation from all Obstructions."
A poetic book for all Buddha's lovers and estimators but also for all that people searching for peace and for different answers than not just the ones we receive in a daily base.
What I discovered with this pilgrimage is that the author didn't just re-born outside but inside, and it was a personal growth of soul, mond and body passing through an incredibly beauty spirituality.
A new rebirth.
Highly recommended.
I thank John Hunt Publishing for the physical copy of this book.
Anna Maria Polidori
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