【预订】Turning the Wheel: Essays on Buddhism and Writing

"WereitnotfortheBuddhadharma,saysCharlesJohnsoninhisprefacetoTurningtheWheel,"I'mconvincedthat,asablackAmericanandanartist,Iwouldnothavebeenabletosuccessfullynegotiatemylasthalfcenturyoflifeinthiscountry.Oratleastnotwithahighlevelofcreativeproductivity."Inthiscollectionofprovocativeandintimateessays,JohnsonwritesoftheprofoundconnectionbetweenBuddhismandcreativity,andoftheroleofEasternphilosophyinthequestforafreeandthoughtfullife.In1926,W.E.B.DuBoisaskedAfrican-Americanswhattheywouldmostwantwerethecolorlinemiraculouslyforgotten.InTurningtheWheel,JohnsonsetsouttoexplorethisquestionbyexamininghisexperiencesbothasawriterandasapractitionerofBuddhism.HelooksatbasicBuddhistprinciplesandpractices,demonstratinghowBuddhismisboththemostrevolutionaryandmostcivilizedofpossiblehumanchoices.HediscussesfundamentalBuddhistpracticessuchastheEightfoldPath,TamingtheMind,andSanghaandilluminatestheirplaceintheAmericanCivilRightsmovement.Johnsonmovesfromspiritualguidestospiritualnourishment:writing.Inessaystouchingontheroleoftheblackintellectual,UncleTom'sCabin,andRalphEllison,JohnsonusestoolsofBuddhistthinkingtoclarifydifficultideas.Powerfulandrevelatory,theseessaysconfirmthatwritingandreading,alongwithBuddhism,arethebasiccomponentsthatmakeupathoughtfullife.,