| 9780865477766 |
| (hardcover) |
| 0865477760 |
Available:*
Library | Material Type | Call Number | Shelf Location | Status | Item Holds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Searching... Ute Pass Library | Book | 791.4372 PRIN | Nonfiction | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
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Summary
Summary
An engagingly contemporary approach to Buddhism--through the lens of an iconic film and its memorable characters
Humorous yet spiritually rigorous in the tradition of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and The Tao of Pooh , drawing from pop culture and from personal experience, The Dharma of "The Princess Bride " teaches us how to understand and navigate our most important personal relationships from a twenty-first-century Buddhist perspective.
Friendship. Romance. Family. These are the three areas Ethan Nichtern delves into, taking as departure points the indelible characters from Rob Reiner's perennially popular film--Westley, Fezzik, Vizzini, Count Rugen, Princess Buttercup, and others--as he also draws lessons from his own life and his work as a meditation teacher. Nichtern devotes the first section of the book to exploring the dynamics of friendship. Why do people become friends? What can we learn from the sufferings of Inigo Montoya and Fezzik? Next, he leads us through all the phases of illusion and disillusion we encounter in our romantic pursuits, providing a healthy dose of lightheartedness along the way by sharing his own Princess Buttercup List and the vicissitudes of his dating life as he ponders how we idealize and objectify romantic love. Finally, Nichtern draws upon the demands of his own family history and the film's character the Grandson to explore the dynamics of "the last frontier of awakening," a reference to his teacher Chogyam Trungpa's claim that it's possible to be enlightened everywhere except around your family.
With The Dharma of "The Princess Bride " in hand, we can set out on the path to contemporary Buddhist enlightenment with the most important relationships in our lives.
Author Notes
Ethan Nichtern is a senior teacher in the Shambala Buddhist tradition and the author of The Road Home: A Contemporary Exploration of the Buddhist Path and One City: A Declaration of Interdependence . He is also the founder of the Interdependence Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to secular Buddhist study as it applies to transformational activism, mindful arts and media projects, and Western psychology. Nichtern has taught meditation and Buddhist studies classes and retreats across the United States since 2002. He is based in New York City.
Reviews (2)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Nichtern (The Road Home), a Buddhist teacher in residence for the Shambhala N.Y.C. community, uses the 1987 film The Princess Bride as a frame for life lessons and discovering deeper spiritual truths. In a light and earnest tone, Nichtern offers advice about the dharma centered around friendship, romance, and family. His slightly geeky enthusiasm and willingness to share personal stories invites the reader into his world, which in turn opens the door for Buddhist principles and practices, including a meditation guide centered on character tropes from The Princess Bride such as a "Fezzik Stage" for imagining a loved one or friend and a "Vizzini Stage" for imagining an enemy. Fans of popular films who are also drawn to Buddhist principles will find much to enjoy here as Nichtern's deconstruction of the plot skillfully and clearly teases out well-defined lessons-his ruminations on friendship through the relationship of Fezzik and Inigo Montoya are a highlight. The book isn't for everyone-those who haven't seen the movie may find it difficult to follow-but for those who seek meaning, love, and values, even in unorthodox places, this unusual work will come as a pleasant surprise. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
The Princess Bride has been a cult classic since its debut in 1987. Kids love it for the swashbuckling fights and silly humor. Adults love it as a parody of fairy tales and romance. Buddhist teacher Nichtern loves it as an example of the dharma of relationships. It doesn't hurt that Christopher Guest, who plays the Six-Fingered Man, is his father's best friend. Having watched the movie more than 30 times, Nichtern examines the film from three perspectives: friendship, romance, and family. He cites examples of trust, inspiration, and generosity shown by the three friends, Inigo, Fezzik, and Wesley. The villains portray delusion, hatred, and greed. Nichtern describes the search for his own Buttercup and the lessons he learned about love. Finally, he looks at the grandfather character and the importance of finding one's place in one's family. Examples from the author's personal life add warmth to this study of relationships and Buddhist philosophy. Fans of the movie will want to see it again armed with Nichtern's insights.--Smith, Candace Copyright 2017 Booklist
Table of Contents
| Introduction: Fairy Tales, the Real World, and True Love | p. 3 |
| Part I The Dharma of Friendship | |
| 1 Mercenaries or Besties: What Are Friends For? | p. 35 |
| 2 The Bad Guys: Out There vs. in Here | p. 58 |
| 3 Find Your Inner Fezzik: The Practice of Friendship | p. 75 |
| Part II The Dharma of Romance | |
| 4 There Is No Buttercup | p. 101 |
| 5 Lost on the High Seas: Emptiness and Dating | p. 132 |
| 6 Basic Goodness: How the Farmboy Was Finally Reborn | p. 155 |
| 7 As You Wish, Part I: The Practice of Partnership | p. 176 |
| Part III The Dharma of Family | |
| 8 All Sentient Beings Have Been Grandpa | p. 195 |
| 9 Fred Savage Is a Jerk, and I Am Fred Savage: Gratitude for Your Lineage | p. 213 |
| 10 As You Wish, Part II: The Practice of Family | p. 233 |
| Conclusion: Have Fun Storming the Castle | p. 245 |
| Appendix: Seven-Step Loving-Kindness (Metta or Maitri) Practice in 20-25 Minutes | p. 259 |
| Notes | p. 265 |
| Acknowledgments | p. 275 |
