An engagingly modern method of Buddhism—through the lens of an iconic movie and its memorable characters
Humorous but spiritually rigorous, drawing from popular culture and from own event, The Dharma of “The Princess Bride” teaches us how one can comprehend and navigate our most vital own relationships from a twenty-first-century Buddhist perspective.
Friendship. Romance. kinfolk. those are the 3 components Ethan Nichtern delves into, taking as departure issues the indelible characters—Westley, Fezzik, Vizzini, count number Rugen, Princess Buttercup, and others from Rob Reiner’s perennially renowned film—as he additionally attracts classes from his personal lifestyles and his paintings as a meditation instructor. Nicthern devotes the 1st element of the e-book to exploring the dynamics of friendship. Why do humans develop into neighbors? What do we study from the sufferings of Inigo Montoya and Fezzik? subsequent, he leads us via the entire stages of phantasm and disillusion we come upon in our romantic ambitions, delivering a hearty dose of lightheartedness alongside the best way by means of sharing his personal Princess Buttercup checklist and the vicissitudes of his courting existence as he ponders how we idealize and objectify romantic love. ultimately, Nichtern attracts upon the calls for of his circle of relatives background and the film’s personality the Grandson to discover the dynamics of “the final frontier of awakening,” a connection with his instructor Chogyam Trungpa’s declare that it’s attainable to be enlightened all over except around your loved ones.
With The Dharma of “The Princess Bride” in hand, we will be able to set out at the route to modern Buddhist enlightenment with crucial relationships in our lives.
Table of Contents:
Introduction: Fairy stories, the true international, and real Love
Part I THE DHARMA OF FRIENDSHIP
1. Mercenaries or Besties: What Are pals For?
2. The undesirable men: in the market vs. In Here
3. locate Your internal Fezzik: The perform of Friendship
Part II THE DHARMA OF ROMANCE
4. there is not any Buttercup
5. misplaced at the excessive Seas: vacancy and Dating
6. simple Goodness: How the Farmboy was once ultimately Reborn
7. As you would like, half I: The perform of Partnership
Part III THE DHARMA OF FAMILY
8. All Sentient Beings were Grandpa
9. Fred Savage Is a Jerk, and i'm Fred Savage: Gratitude in your Lineage
10. As you need, half II: The perform of Family
Conclusion: have a good time Storming the Castle
Appendix: Seven-Step Loving-Kindness
(Metta or Maitri) perform in 20-25 Minutes
Notes
Acknowledgments