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/lit/ - Literature

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2230002 No.2230002 [Reply] [Original]

My family celebrated christmas early because of travel restrictions, and I dun got me a kindle.

I plan on loading up some classic literature onto it and reading through that, as well as some recommendations from friends, but what I beseech of you, /lit/, is some eastern philosophy texts. Things on daoism and zen buddhism and the like. It's been surprisingly hard to find any that aren't new-age 40-year-old-white-guy-selling-you-crystals nonsense.

>> No.2230007
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2230007

http://www.feedbooks.com/book/215/tao-te-ching

>> No.2230010

>It's been surprisingly hard to find any that aren't new-age 40-year-old-white-guy-selling-you-crystals nonsense.

Looks like you've already figured out pretty much everything there is to know about English language "eastern philosophy texts."

>> No.2230013

White guys like Alan Watts and Jon Kabat-Zin are ok.

>> No.2230037

Probably your safest bet is to ignore every writer with a non-Asian name, the longer ago they died the better.
Here's an example randomly fished-up within the last 5 minutes:

Googled 'zen'
Browsed a few pages
Found:
Takuan Soho (1573-1645)
http://www.daikonforge.com/downloads/TheUnfetteredMind.pdf

>> No.2230041

dont read white interpretations of eastern philosophy.

In fact, don't read eastern philosophy. Its not anything like western philosophy. Its in pursuit of a certain mindframe. You really will gain nothing from it.

>> No.2230047

>>2230041
>>2230037
So far the most success I've had is with texts written by an asian translated by a white dude.

Also
>don't read eastern philosophy. Its not anything like western philosophy.
Thats the entire reason I want to read it, and all alternative philosophies to the one I was raised by.

>> No.2230051

>>2230047

I believe that eastern philosophy was written in order to experience a certain mindframe. Nirvana or whatever, enlightenment.

I think that you have no way of relating to the texts. Western philosophy is different, we rigorously define concepts. Asian philosophy is more mystical, less defined. Without being an asian monk, i dont think you can really get the intent of the texts

>> No.2230096

>>2230051

You don't think even an abstract interpretation may somehow benefit a person?

>> No.2230098
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2230098

>> No.2230122

If you haven't already, get some Confucius. Also, it may not be philosophy, but The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu is one of the most influential easterns texts, being the world's first novel 'n all.

>> No.2230163
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2230163

Hey, just saw this thread, and I'm lying in bed reading The Way of Zen. I'll attach a picture of the paragraph I just read, maybe it'll perk your interest.

Also, don't heed a single word of deists advice; he is a troll and or a retard.

>> No.2230298

>>2230002

You're looking for "The Zen of Pooh."

>> No.2230307
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2230307

>It's been surprisingly hard to find any that aren't new-age 40-year-old-white-guy-selling-you-crystals nonsense.
>It's been surprisingly hard to find any that aren't new-age 40-year-old-white-guy-selling-you-crystals nonsense.
>It's been surprisingly hard to find any that aren't new-age 40-year-old-white-guy-selling-you-crystals nonsense.
>It's been surprisingly hard to find any that aren't new-age 40-year-old-white-guy-selling-you-crystals nonsense.
>It's been surprisingly hard to find any that aren't new-age 40-year-old-white-guy-selling-you-crystals nonsense.