Reflections On A Mountain Lake: Teachings On Practical Buddhism
Excellent writing and a solid grasp of their subjects mark the  efforts of these two authors. While both treat aspects of  Buddhist thought, Boorstein's perspective derives from the  Mahayana school, while Palmo's tradition is Tibetan. Boorstein  (That's Funny, You Don't Look Buddhist) focuses on the ten  paramitas (perfections of the heart), which include generosity,  morality, renunciation, wisdom, energy, patience, truthfulness,  determination, lovingkindness, and equanimity, and she devotes a  chapter to each. (Of course, concepts like wisdom and equanimity  are also a part of Tibetan Buddhism, but they operate  differently in that tradition.) In each chapter, Boorstein  follows the same format, first offering an explanation of what  the particular paramita means within Buddhism, then instructing  us on how to use the concept effectively in meditation, and  finally illustrating the paramita with stories that grow out of  her own experience and usefully show how that quality can be  applied in life. By contrast, Palmo, a Buddhist nun, begins with  a brief account of her life and training in Tibetan Buddhism.  She then considers many of the major concepts of this school,  including the six realms (e.g., hell, which she describes as a  mind filled with anger; shamatha, or calm abiding; and  vajrayana, or meditation that makes use of visualization). In  addition, Palmo provides some wonderfully informative and useful  chapters such as "Women and the Path" and "Difficult Points for  Westerners." The latter includes an insightful discussion of  karma and rebirth. Boorstein treats a more limited subject  matter, while Palmo offers both greater breadth and depth. Both  books are recommended, not only because they treat material from  different schools of Buddhist thought but because both offer  thorough explanations of their chosen subjects. Furthermore, the  stories used to illustrate and clarify the various topics are  effective and interesting, offering clear illustrations of how  the teachings can be applied to life. David Bourquin, California  State Univ., San BernardinoCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.