How about...we just start a thread calling for book suggestions? I'll do it.

Yes! Please!

(Pssst! Look in the Meditation forum. )

I'm reading, again Henri Parmentiers Angkor (I googled this, nothing!) a book given to me by a little old lady I knew on my postround. When I told her I was going backpacking around South East Asia for a year she gave me this book all about Angkor Wat in Cambodia, she said she bought it in the 60's when she travelled there (it has numerous jottings she made in pencil throughout the book), its a facinating little book that goes into detail about one of my loves in life, Angkor Wat.

What am I reading? Nothing.

That might seem like an odd answer, but I mention it in a cautionary way. I use to be an avid reader, but in the last 6 months, I just haven't bothered with it.

In this time, I have noticed my articluation levels dropping, and I make far more spelling mistakes in my everyday writings than I use to.

Just goes to show you that the mind needs a workout too!

'Zen Bow, Zen Arrow', by John Stevens.

A small book about Awa Kenzo, the archery master from 'Zen in the Art of Archery'.

Rereading "Living the Martial Way" by Forrest Morgan. It deals with concepts of the martial arts like Mushin, Zanshin, etc and how to integrate the principals of martial arts into your life outside the dojo. Also "In the Dojo" by Dave Lowry about the different aspects and history of Japanese martial arts like etiquette, uniforms, and details about the arrangement of Kamiza, and the dojo itself.

just finished with:
"Samurai William: The Englishman Who Opened the East"
http://www.amazon.com/Samurai-William-Englishman-Opened-East/dp/0374253854

a good and interesting read. The author (Milton) does a great job of providing the audience with a concise context surrounding the events described so the magnitude of those events are not lost on the reader.

Here's an interesting read and something that can present a cultural reference from the author's vantage of Japan. The book is titled Mishima's Sword by Christopher Ross.

It's a narrative of Ross' (who is an Iaidoka) travels in Japan ostensively to find the sword with wich the famous author, Mishima, committed suicide.

In the course of his travels he gives a perspective of Japanese culture that is both entertaining, profound and funny.

bump

I've been reading about Suzuki Shoshan, a samurai turned zen monk in the Togugawa era.

1. 'Warrior Zen: the Diamond Mind...' by Braverman
Inexpensive and easy to read.

2. 'Death Was his Koan...' by Winston King
Expensive, but goes into much more detail about the time period, politics of the day, as well as gives a serious critique about Shosan's 'zen'.