Desert Wisdom:Sayings from the Desert Fathers

Great little book filled with wisdom. Timely in our current culture.

Those giving this book a bad review because it ‘lacks length’ don’t seem to grasp its true purpose. This collection was compiled by a Japanese man with a deep Zen background. You’re meant to read each passage slowly and thoughtfully, pausing to reflect on it deeply. Accompanying every saying are traditional Japanese ink paintings, designed to help you dig deeper into your relationship with the quote, phrase, or story. Of course it’s not phenomenally long in terms of quotation count—he carefully chose only the very best ones that truly touched his heart and inspired him to add his art. And he did an outstanding job. This book changed my life, especially when it comes to ego, judgment, charity, and giving. It’s a phenomenal work. Now, with my new Catholic roots providing strong soil to grow in, it continues to bear fruit in beautiful ways.

This is a gem of a book. Just opening it and letting my eyes move across the illustrations brings peace. The sayings cover the whole of human experience and prove that wisdom and a good sense of humor is not a modern phenomenon.

This edition of sayings from the Desert Fathers is unique among many editions of the sayings, and wisdom, from the Desert Tradition. The sayings are short, well translated, but best of all, illustrated in a true Zen style. Nomura here realizes in print what not many scholars recognize, but which seems obvious to any Orthodox person of prayer who is Japanese, Chinese or Korean, or who has lived in Asia: namely, that the sayings of the great ascetics, both men and women, of the Christian Desert are very similar in manner and sometimes in content to the sayings (or Koan) of the Buddhist and Taoist ascetics. Certainly the style is the same, in which a student lives with the ascetic to learn the way of silence and contemplation (in the Christian tradition, of prayer) and memorizes the sayings of the Elder in order to preserve them. This memorization also helps in the daily life of the student. After living in China for nearly a decade, with intentional dialogue with many Buddhist ascetics in several countries, I have found Nomura's edition of Sayings very helpful for persons who are seeking the Holy Orthodox Faith, or ancient Christianity, for the first time; and also in dialogue with Buddhists who do not know about this tradition within Christianity. I only wish that the book were available in America in hardback, especially after glimpsing (years ago) a beautifully-bound version in Japan. How wonderful it would be to have a hardbound printing in English, with tall, empty pages, the lovely illustrations surrounded by emptiness, and the small sayings underneath.

Before reading this book, my spirit had been moved toward understanding "modern" disciples; seeking out the 'great cloud of witnesses that have gone before me. Saint Paul listed several from the Hebrew Scriptures, but what about for my witnesses? The history of 4th century Christianity is very much thought provoking, especially when considering our current generation of seekers of Christ and our commercialization of our faith. Christianity, in the 4th century just as in ours, was becoming ever increasingly secular in nature, and several disciplines were being forgotten. It is, to my conclusion, that the Holy Spirit led many disciples, men and women, into the desert to preserve the spiritual connectedness of the Holy union with God. "Desert Wisdom" is the birth pains of this small movement that has inspired countless generations that followed. These depictions and translations from desert sayings are articulated and inspirational. As a bonus, Henri Nouwen writes the forward for this book, which is a gem in and of itself! This book is definitely worth its price.

Product in perfect condition. Fast delivery.

It was all right, but I found nothing outstanding, despite the Nouwen intro

Excellent thoughts.. with illustrations.

Boring

以前テレビで見て買い求めた。 ゆっくり時間をかけて読みたい本。

This is a very good book.

Without the images I don't think that the book would be so great. The wisdom here isn't particularly noteworthy but that could simply be that the Desert Fathers (and Mothers) didn't have much to say anyway. Don't expect Buddha-like life-changing text. Having said that, the book is lovely. In the same way that Ryokan's poetry is embellished with Koshi-no Sengai's art, this is similar in style, and all the more lovely for it.