Dharma Wheel

I'm aware that entertainment is a dream state and therefore incompatible with being awake, per definition, at least from a Theravada perspective. But I'm trying to gently reduce what's left of my addiction to entertainment, so will appreciate it if anyone can recommend good novels that are not too incompatible with being on the non-path toward awakening.

Looking for inspiring novels with good morality (sila), but not directly related to Buddhism or any other spiritual worldview, since I will read it when tired of being in a "spiritual state of mind".

Of course, it's best if I can figure out how my mind can meditate 24/7 without getting "fed up" by this monotony, but I'm still a few blocks away from getting there, so nice to get a pause from spirituality by reading a good novel when it feels necessary.

It can be everything from science fiction and fantasy to drama and romance, preferably without violence. Inspiring but not addictive, if that's possible.

Have so far used math as entertainment, since it occupies the mind without creating emotions and fantasies. But it triggers my academic ego. A good novel is probably better. Any suggestions?

'Moby Dick' by Herman Melville. Thought by many to be the greatest novel in the English language.

The many volumes (12!) of 'A Dance To The Music Of Time' by Anthony Powell.

The Prince and the Zombie
Adventures of the Mad Monk Ji Gong
Monkey (Waley's abridged version, the original Journey to the West is far too repetitive)

All are light, and don't require you to be wearing your serious spiritual hat.

Thanks, will take a look at the Dance and the Mad Monk

Used to read a lot of heavy novels when I was a teenager, but now prefer something more uplifting or intriguing, like The Royal Game by Stefan Zweig, The Red and Black by Stendhal, Doctor Faustus by Thomas Mann, Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco, Siddhartha by Hesse, or fantasy books in the classical tradition of Tolkien and Lewis, such as the books by Robert Jordan and Terry Goodkind. Inspiring books, not depressive or decadent.

Can't go wrong with Jane Austen, and I've always found P.G. Wodehouse very inspiring.

Love Jane Austen, just have to find a book that has not been made into a movie I've seen

I doubt that you will...she wrote only six complete novels and they have all been done a number of times. I have read none of them But the lady that shares my life says that no film has ever really done them justice.

I was thinking about your question, and while they aren't exactly novels this fellow Ramesh Menon has written some modern renderings of various Hindu epics and puranas that I found quite entertaining, such as this one:
https://www.amazon.com/MAHABHARATA-Mode ... B00ALWYMSI

IMO, it's good for Buddhists to be familiar with Indian culture and mythology and these books are an amusing way to gain such familiarity.

Nice suggestion for those who want a lighter take on Hinduism, in between all the serious stuff

The Epic of Gilgamesh, and if you like Tolkien theres Beowulf. Otherwise what about travellers in Asia. There's Way of the White Clouds by Lama Anagarika Govinda. Three Years in Tibet, Ekai Kawaguchi. Mission to Tibet, Sweet and Zwilling. Heart of the World, Ian Baker. Yogins of Ladakh, Crook and Low.
And we haven't even got to the biographies! Dudjom Rinpoche says if you read anything, read biographies.

If all this piety is too much, theres always William Dalrymple.

I love George Orwell, but maybe it's best to try his lighter books such as Burmese Days or A Clergyman's Daughter.

In fact I preferred those to Animal Farm and 1984

maybay wrote:The Epic of Gilgamesh, and if you like Tolkien theres Beowulf. Otherwise what about travellers in Asia. There's Way of the White Clouds by Lama Anagarika Govinda. Three Years in Tibet, Ekai Kawaguchi. Mission to Tibet, Sweet and Zwilling. Heart of the World, Ian Baker. Yogins of Ladakh, Crook and Low.
And we haven't even got to the biographies! Dudjom Rinpoche says if you read anything, read biographies.

If all this piety is too much, theres always William Dalrymple.

Well, he did say novels ...

Dalrymple is fantastic btw, his "Nine Lives" is a must read IMO.

Also, I feel like recommending the Judge Dee books by van Gulik for some reason.

Lobsang Chojor wrote:I love George Orwell, but maybe it's best to try his lighter books such as Burmese Days or A Clergyman's Daughter.

In fact I preferred those to Animal Farm and 1984

Don't forget "Keep the Aspidistra Flying".

dzogchungpa wrote:

Lobsang Chojor wrote:I love George Orwell, but maybe it's best to try his lighter books such as Burmese Days or A Clergyman's Daughter.

In fact I preferred those to Animal Farm and 1984

Don't forget "Keep the Aspidistra Flying".

Of course, the Orwell anthology I got was a great literary experience

entertainment is completely incompatible with awakening

Crazywisdom wrote:entertainment is completely incompatible with awakening

Even Mad Max movies?

Crazywisdom wrote:entertainment is completely incompatible with awakening

Nonsense. One of the most realised teachers I have ever met. a widely admired monk and yogi , loved detective novels.

As mentioned, dreaming and awakening is not possible at the same time, so I'm guilty as charged

Lazy Monk wrote:I'm aware that entertainment is a dream state and therefore incompatible with being awake, per definition, at least from a Theravada perspective. But I'm trying to gently reduce what's left of my addiction to entertainment, so will appreciate it if anyone can recommend good novels that are not too incompatible with being on the non-path toward awakening.

Looking for inspiring novels with good morality (sila), but not directly related to Buddhism or any other spiritual worldview, since I will read it when tired of being in a "spiritual state of mind".

Of course, it's best if I can figure out how my mind can meditate 24/7 without getting "fed up" by this monotony, but I'm still a few blocks away from getting there, so nice to get a pause from spirituality by reading a good novel when it feels necessary.

It can be everything from science fiction and fantasy to drama and romance, preferably without violence. Inspiring but not addictive, if that's possible.

Have so far used math as entertainment, since it occupies the mind without creating emotions and fantasies. But it triggers my academic ego. A good novel is probably better. Any suggestions?

Drop the theravada perspective. Don't try to be holy or saintly in a world full of unholy stuff. Trying to get to purity like that is a deceptive dream. Ever heard of emptiness? Realisation of no-self? That's the way to go. And when you get some insights, put porn and horror movies on, doesn't make any difference to Moby Dick. That's what Andrew Holecek, a buddhist teacher, recommended. I fully agree with him.

dzogchungpa wrote:

Crazywisdom wrote:entertainment is completely incompatible with awakening

Even Mad Max movies?

Yup