The Vessantara Jataka is one of the most popular and influential Theravada Buddhist texts and the final and longest scripture in the Pali Canon. It tells the story of Prince Vessantara; who attained the Perfection of Giving by giving away his fortune; his children; and his wife. Prince Vessantara was the penultimate rebirth as a human of the future Gotama Buddha; and his extreme charity is frequently portrayed in the sermons; rituals; and art of South and Southeast Asia.This anthology features sophisticated literary and anthropological analyses of the ethics of giving; understanding of attachment and nonattachment; depiction of the trickster; and unique performative qualities of the Vessantara Jataka. Contributors to the volume include well-respected anthropologists; textual scholars in religious and Buddhist studies; and art historians who unravel from multiple perspectives the textrsquo;s morality; religion; and place in contemporary academic debates. These experts show the Vessantara Jataka to be as brilliantly layered as a Homerian epic or Shakespearean play; with aspects of tragedy; comedy; melodrama; and utopian fantasy intertwined to problematize and scrutinize Buddhismrsquo;s cherished virtues. Unusual for its disciplinary range; this collection helps recast Buddhism as a human tradition rich in ethical and aesthetic complexity. It also features an introduction describing the workrsquo;s main themes and styles; a character glossary; and a bibliography.
#2093244 in eBooks 2016-02-19 2016-02-19File Name: B01BYMGYHK
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. It talks about studies done to show the effects of music on the brain and why certain people like certain musicBy GHF(Im 14 writing this on my moms account)This was a very interesting book. It talks about how music is built into not only humans; but animals as well. It talks about studies done to show the effects of music on the brain and why certain people like certain music; and It also briefly mentions the healing properties of music. Overall it was a very good read and full of information.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Groundbreaking Exploration of the Effects of Music...A Must Read for Music LoversBy Ted LehmannIn The Power of Music (Walker Books; 2011; 284 Pages; $9.39 on Kindle) Elena Mannes explores how music has affected the human organism from the mysts of time to the laboratories of tomorrow. In doing so; she examines the role of music in primitive societies; its power to move the mind and the spirit; its ability to heal; and the mystique of its resonance in our minds and bodies. She does so in a mostly lively style; avoiding too many references to brain geography while presenting hard science and deep speculation with visual language that makes the findings of serious research available to the lay reader. As a film maker; her visual style brings the stories she has to tell to life; while she remains a reputable reporter; providing extensive footnotes and notes. Through interviews with scholars and musicians along with field trips to concert halls and primitive societies; she not only describes the musical experience; but makes it real and personal through her own experience.Much of the discussion of various effects music has on individuals (and groups) relies on medical and psychological research using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) which enables us to watch the brain in operation as it receives various kinds of stimulation. These images show; in vivid color and constant motion; various parts of the brain as they become involved in responding to stimuli. The images show that different frequencies; rhythms; and activities involve the brain in ways that could not even be imagined with earlier technology. Combined with more conventional measurements of blood pressure; heart rate; and breathing; a picture emerges of the entire body being effected by listening to and/or making music. The measurments also indicate that groups; listening together; may fall into synchronisity as their breathing and heart rates synchronise with others present. Studies have shown that even fetuses in utero experience the sounds of voices along with the tonalties and rhythms of music they hear. Such studies led to a fad in which mothers fed music by Mozart and others to their systems in order to; supposedly; increase the intelligence of their unborn children. The rest of this review can be found on my blog. If you decide to order it; please consider purchasing it through the portal there.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Its annoying and simplisticBy B. RobinsonI cant stand the writers style. Its annoying and simplistic; for a better book try "Your Brain on Music."
