I would call this piece "Hermeneutics of the Heart." It makes me wonder what my sacred texts are, and, as a bonus feature, gives good suggestions for future reading.
It’s problematic to “reply” to one’s own comment, but after “wondering” for a while about my sacred texts, I came to this conclusion in the middle of the night. My “texts” are pictorial, not written. They are a triptych, but less unified in theme than that term implies. Three films that have inhabited my “heart” deeply are “The Hustler,” which speaks of the meaning of “success,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” which deals with the meaning of “love,” and “Groundhog Day,” which addresses the meaning of “redemption.” I’m not sure that these three (success, love, and redemption) are “sufficient” for my salvation, but they are probably “necessary.” Of course, my understanding of them no doubt depends on having read other “Hesseian” sacred texts.
I'm less fond of the Dhammapada, but love the Tao Te Ching as central for me, Ken. I think about critical brief texts. The Heart Sutra totally as part of that collection, maybe the central one. The Tao Te Ching Maybe Jewel Mirror Samadhi & the Sandokai. Some others...
There is an issue with a good translation of the Dhammapada. Some are quite dense; others less dense but also less accurate. And a few, like the Byrom "rendering", are quite controversial. Yet Byrom's version speaks to me in spite of the criticisms. Go figger.
Similarly, I'm very fond of Stephen Mitchell's poetic rendition of the Tao Te Ching, while anyone with a whiff of scholarly about them will have serious problems...
I recall during my Christian ordinations noting that I certainly affirmed that the “Holy scriptures of the old and new testaments contain all things necessary to salvation,” however I also affirmed in each case, that that did not contain “all things possible to salvation.” Good stuff!
I would call this piece "Hermeneutics of the Heart." It makes me wonder what my sacred texts are, and, as a bonus feature, gives good suggestions for future reading.
It’s problematic to “reply” to one’s own comment, but after “wondering” for a while about my sacred texts, I came to this conclusion in the middle of the night. My “texts” are pictorial, not written. They are a triptych, but less unified in theme than that term implies. Three films that have inhabited my “heart” deeply are “The Hustler,” which speaks of the meaning of “success,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” which deals with the meaning of “love,” and “Groundhog Day,” which addresses the meaning of “redemption.” I’m not sure that these three (success, love, and redemption) are “sufficient” for my salvation, but they are probably “necessary.” Of course, my understanding of them no doubt depends on having read other “Hesseian” sacred texts.
Oh, and a fourth, which is a compendium of the means of salvation (grace, faith, and works): “Babe”
I have two scriptures: The Tao Te Ching and The Dhammapada.
I'm less fond of the Dhammapada, but love the Tao Te Ching as central for me, Ken. I think about critical brief texts. The Heart Sutra totally as part of that collection, maybe the central one. The Tao Te Ching Maybe Jewel Mirror Samadhi & the Sandokai. Some others...
There is an issue with a good translation of the Dhammapada. Some are quite dense; others less dense but also less accurate. And a few, like the Byrom "rendering", are quite controversial. Yet Byrom's version speaks to me in spite of the criticisms. Go figger.
Similarly, I'm very fond of Stephen Mitchell's poetic rendition of the Tao Te Ching, while anyone with a whiff of scholarly about them will have serious problems...
I recall during my Christian ordinations noting that I certainly affirmed that the “Holy scriptures of the old and new testaments contain all things necessary to salvation,” however I also affirmed in each case, that that did not contain “all things possible to salvation.” Good stuff!
Might not be sacred in the traditional sense, but A Short History of the Shadow by Charles Wright transformed me.
Thanks, Trip. I'll check it out...