The Jew in the Lotus: A Poet's Rediscovery of Jewish Identity in Buddhist India (Plus)

I started reading the book. Well written, interesting.

I really loved the way this was written.I read this right before I went on a Buddhist pilgrimage to India and Nepal, and while I enjoyed it the first time, I had very little knowledge aboutJudaism and the Tibetan story beforehand.While I was on the trip, I experienced so many flashbacks to my religious Jewish upbringing.I was really struck how many similarities there were with the lineages, practices, prayers, etc.So, when I returned from the trip, I started reading this book again.It is a beautifully articulated account of the conversations between HH the Dalai Lama and the different representativesfrom different Jewish sects.Mystical Hassidism, strict Ultra Orthodox, Progressive/Reform, Zionist, JUBU...they are all given the chance to discuss their areas of concern/expertise with HH.It covers many spiritual, religious, and philosophical analysis and comparisons between the two religions.Truly fascinating.The writer paints a really beautiful picture of India, as well.It's colorful, humorous, and incredibly informative.My thinking in this day and age is that if you get to the core of most ideologies,you can find much that is similar, and it is kind of comforting when we find that essenceof truth and compassion.For anyone interested in getting a pretty well rounded glimpse into the one-nessin Judaism and Buddhism (as well as the differences), this is a lovely read.

I read this book twice, and in the intervening years I had learned more about Jewish mysticism and meditation. As a result, I got a lot more out of the book the second time around. I suspect I would find it even better if I knew more about Buddhism.Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, one of the Jews who met with the Dalai Lama, perhaps summed up what was most important about this meeting between two ancient religions:"All religions," he said, "not just Judaism, are now being placed in a new situation. At first I thought the culture was forcing us. But I've come to believe this pluralism is God's will. Can you learn to propagate your religion without using stereotypes and negative images of the other? If we can't. all religions will go down the tubes-and good riddance-because we're a source of hatred and demolition of other people."

Written with a healthy sense of respect, humor and a dose of skeptical curiosity, "The Jew in the Lotus" is far more than its subtitle suggests--"A Poet's Rediscovery of Jewish Identity in Buddhist India." The book stands as a documentary narrative describing a formal, week-long visit between His Holiness, The Fourteenth Dalai Lama and a delegation of Jewish Rabbis in 1990. Yet, more than this, the work stands-philosophically-as a bridge connecting the more esoteric aspects and teachings of Buddhism, Judaism, Vedanta, as well as historical Sufism.As a lay reader in the area of comparative religious studies, I found Kamenetz' record of these dialogues, commentary, interviews and the treasure trove of additional anecdotes to be invaluable in my being able to connect my seemingly disparate readings in esoteric studies.Thus, no matter which wisdom tradition speaks most to your heart, consider setting time aside to travel with Kamenetz to India. And, you will unwrap an incredible gem of a work.

The story was somewhat tedious...with frequent repetition of what happens when some Jewish scholars and writers make a trip to visit the Dalai Lama, hoping to exchange views on religious matters. Of more interest to Jews and Buddhists, probably, that the average "man-or woman-in-the-street".

A few years ago ten Jews of all types of observance were invited by the Dalai Lama to come to the Indian side of Tibet to explain how Jews survived several episodes of expulsion since he saw a parallel to their own expulsion from the Chinese side of Tibet. This book tells about these meetings, encounters on the way, and although it started as a more historical-political discussion, a large part of the book deals with what attracts Jews to Buddhism: a large proportion of practicing Buddhists in the US, but apparently also of non-native Buddhists in Tibet, are Jews. An amazing similarity between Jewish traditions, particularly mysticism, and Buddhism emerges. During this journey, several of the protagonists rediscover their own Jewish tradition in a new light. For anyone interested in interfaith dialogue, Judaism, Buddhism, intercultural exchange, reading this book will take you on a wonderful journey.Both Jewish and Buddhist expressions and traditions are explained in a fairly good and detailed glossary at the end.Nevertheless, for those completely unfamiliar with Jewish traditions, it may be more difficult a read.

It's clear that Kamenetz himself learned a lot during the events he writes of, and the book makes it possible to ride on his shoulders through that both the meeting between the Dalai Lama and a delegation from across the spectrum of Judaism and his digestion of those events afterwards. The book is centered more on Judaism than about Buddhism, and covers issues such as the principles of Kabbalah in an authentic, nontrendy form and how it fits into mainstream Judaism; the commonalities and differences between Jewish and Buddhist views of the world; the failures of current Jewish religious education, and the effects of the Holocaust on modern Judaism (not just the people killed, but ho it has changed the focus of the religion). It addresses some of the same concerns about assimilation as Anne Roiphe's Generation Without Memory, but by contrasting Judaism to Buddhism and examining some of the people who are in a spectrum between the two ("JuBus") comes closer to finding some answers.

I'm using this to research Jewish varieties, get an overview of those varieties, and specifically get an understanding of Allen Ginsberg's position within the religious/spiritual context. This ticks all the boxes, and the seller underestimated the condition of their book.

Paper bad quality, book smells like kerosene

A thinking person's book. Sensitive, well written, thoughtful,thought provoking.

A most thoughtful book. Not a quick read, but more one for days of reflection. A must-read for those who search for their spiritual roots, whatever they may be.

One of my favorite books - interfaith and cross-cultural dialogue from two of the great teachers of our time. Highly recommend.

slightly boring got a bit slow after middle