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The Path With Heart
Uses quotations from various religions, philosophers, and writers concerning the purpose of life and the goals that give life meaning
- GenresSelf HelpSpirituality
73 pages, Paperback
First published November 29, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
August 3, 2018
It’s a very nice attempt at getting outside the materialism and selfishness of American culture, and I think it was probably revolutionary for 1989.
But reading it 30 years later, all I can see is the narrowness of the view. All the religions cited are patriarchal, almost all the quotations from white men. Moreover, the entire mindset of the author is western, self-centered, power-imbalanced — firmly standing in what the book Ishmael describes as a Taker ideology.
“Each of us has the power to shape the course of his or her life... what we give in life determines what we receive... much more important than what we receive, however, is that in giving, in serving our fellow man, we each make an impression upon the world...”
I can almost myself being mansplained to. What about listening, what about indigenous religions who give us a power-with worldview rather than power-over?
I admire that the author was trying to use his ideology to have power over the world for good, but we have seen over and over how one white guy’s idea of what’s “good” can be misguided and end in disaster.
The first half of the book is an exhortation to not be so materialistic, to get away from our idea of “success” but all I can think is that this is a conversation between two rich white dudes. For those of us not so privileged, the ability to earn a living, to pursue money for the sake of it, is not so vile.
The whole book felt like eavesdropping on a conversation between people of privilege in a western society with no idea that anyone else has other perspectives, and no capacity to sit still and listen. I’ll bet, though, that the author has changed in the last 30 years and would write a much better book now that he (hopefully) knows more.
But reading it 30 years later, all I can see is the narrowness of the view. All the religions cited are patriarchal, almost all the quotations from white men. Moreover, the entire mindset of the author is western, self-centered, power-imbalanced — firmly standing in what the book Ishmael describes as a Taker ideology.
“Each of us has the power to shape the course of his or her life... what we give in life determines what we receive... much more important than what we receive, however, is that in giving, in serving our fellow man, we each make an impression upon the world...”
I can almost myself being mansplained to. What about listening, what about indigenous religions who give us a power-with worldview rather than power-over?
I admire that the author was trying to use his ideology to have power over the world for good, but we have seen over and over how one white guy’s idea of what’s “good” can be misguided and end in disaster.
The first half of the book is an exhortation to not be so materialistic, to get away from our idea of “success” but all I can think is that this is a conversation between two rich white dudes. For those of us not so privileged, the ability to earn a living, to pursue money for the sake of it, is not so vile.
The whole book felt like eavesdropping on a conversation between people of privilege in a western society with no idea that anyone else has other perspectives, and no capacity to sit still and listen. I’ll bet, though, that the author has changed in the last 30 years and would write a much better book now that he (hopefully) knows more.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review