A chance encounter with a charming stranger leads COLIN to one of the most interesting conversations he's ever had. MICHAEL is no ordinary stranger on COLIN'S train ride to Seattle. And while the two delve into topics like the meaning of life, COLIN begins to unravel MICHAEL'S mysterious past. There's more to MICHAEL. There's something different... something more than human.
Kukai the Universal is an extensively researched biography chronicling the life of Kukai, the visionary Japanese monk of the ninth century whose profound influence touched every aspect of Japan's civilization. Kukai was born in 774 into a declining aristocratic family, whose design was for him to become a statesman. However, he soon became disillusioned with the ways of politics and took a new path in life, pursuing his Buddhist studies and practicing meditation while roaming the country as an itinerant hermit. At the age of 30, Kukai sailed to China to become a student monk under the tutelage of Huiguo, the patriarch of esoteric Buddhism. Returning to Japan in 806 as a master of esoteric Buddhist teachings, Kukai initiated the building of a monastic center on Mt. Koya for the practice of Buddhism. This, and the founding and systemization of the Shingon doctrine were Kukai's major concerns for the remainder of his life. In 823 the Emperor Saga presented him with Toji, the most important temple in Kyoto, which became the headquarters for the Shingon sect. Kukai is known as the father of Japanese culture: he invented the kana syllabary, the basis of Japanese written language forms, was the originator of the pilgrimage circuit of 88 temples in Shikoku, a builder of lakes, a poet, calligrapher, sculptor, and the lexicographer who complied the oldest extant dictionary. He was also founder of the oldest school in Japan. Kukai is undoubtedly the greatest figure in Japan's history, creating the very fundamentals of its national culture. For this he was honored as a saint, under the name of Kobo Daishi. Book jacket.
The first and third readings for Eastertide in year C are taken from the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of John, both very appealing in their different ways. The second reading offers some of the more approachable scenes from the New Testament Apocalypse. The Apocalypse does not appeal to everyone, of course, but a contextualised reading and a contextualised presentation could be very life-giving. After all, the book is a response to broad cultural harassment, which occasionally firmed up to open persecution. At its core, the Apocalypse corresponds in the New Testament to the book of Job in Old. In other words, it addresses the question of suffering and what sense to make of it as believers in the crucified and risen Jesus. By exploring the context and background to all three readings, the author hopes to make the readings available for personal prayer and as a preparation for taking part in the Sunday liturgy. A very useful resource for all who wish to get more out the Sunday readings. Fr Kieran is very well-known for his regular emailings of resources on the readings. These are hugely popular amongst clergy and others. Now, for the first time, these readings are brought together in a series of books. This is the third volume covering Easter Week to Pentecost.
