Justin F. Stone

The book was okay, it was a quick read which helped my rating. It contains what I look for in these sorts of "spiritual" works, a healthy dose of biography and spiritual feeling with smatterings of direct references to religious or supernatural belief. Here, I think the author tried to relate his presented beliefs (a combo of Hinduism, Buddhism, zen meditative practices, and especially Tai Chi Chuan) to instances of his own life and was not particularly successful in my opinion. His anecdotes are also very fragmentary and do not follow any kind of temporal progression or purposeful arrangement so come off as scattered and unfocused in a narrative sense.
Similarly, some of the chapters in the book do not relate to any of the other chapters in any way such as Chapter 8 OU MIE SHU which is a chapter consisting of drawings and their captions from an artist friend. However, I still enjoyed it as it did serve as a brief respite from the rest of the text. Chapters 9 and 10 though are the least interesting in the entire book. They consist of various fragments from historical eastern religious works and teachings. Chapters 11 and 12 are similar in that they start much like 9 and 10 but break into a coherent (longer and less fragmented) recollection somewhat relating to the neoreligious bit.
Overall, I enjoyed most of what I read, the book was mercifully short, and the writer showed some panache in certain passages. I don't know if I'd ever really recommend this book to anyone not interested in zen practices as it consists mainly of fragmentary biographic anecdotes and may not contain enough "zen wisdom" for that reader. I'm not mad I read it though.
I'll leave you with my favorite bit from the book (the last paragraph before the epigraph):
"Later, the spell of the star-filled sky over the placid waters of the harbor, the sound of distant music, and the light of the incredibly large moon filled me with the wonder of Africa. Arab traders, raucous camel drivers, and lovely dusky ladies were mixed with my thoughts, and underneath the thinking mind something buzzed and revolved and told me I was alive."
… (mais)

Can anyone be healed through meditation?

Which meditations are best for which results?

The oriental masters achieve enlightenment and healing through meditative techniques. Now Justin Stone makes these 'great secrets of life' available to readers through easy-to-follow instruction and clear, straightforward commentary. This unique book is worth its weight in gold as to the benefits possible from its use.

Contents

Foreword, by Harold A. Cohen, M.D.
Introduction
Chapter 1 Many meditations-many effects
Chapter 2 What is meditation?
Chapter 3 Classification-different modes of meditation
Chapter 4 Circulating the chi, instruction & commentary
Chapter 5 Working with the breath, instruction & commentary
Chapter 6 Mantra and breath counting, instruction & commentary
chapter 7 The way of mindfulness, instruction & commentary
Chapter 8 Fixation-Chih-k'uan, instruction & commentary
Chapter 9 Visualization-Tibetan dumo heat, instruciton & commentary
Chapter 10 Chanting, instruction & commentary
Chapter 11 Mind control-Zen, instruction & commentary
Chapter 12 Moving meditation, instruction & commentary
Chapter 13 The spiritual side of meditation
Chapter 14 Suming up
Appendix-Meditation healing chart; Dangers in meditation
Epilogue, by Harold A. Cohen, M.D.
Glossary… (mais)

New edition-all new photos & instruction.

Justin Stone, once a t'ai chi ch'uan teachr, invented t'ai chi chih ('knowledge of the supreme ultimate') so that everyone, including elderly people, could easily learn and practise the simple movements, with all the benefits that come from circulation and balance of intrinsic energy. It was first taught in 1974, and there are now many accredited teachers in various parts of the world.

Mr. Stone spent years in Japan, India, and Chinese cities studying oriental spiritual discplines. His nine published metaphysical books are well-known, in addition to his t'ai chi chih videotape and several audio tapes. A teacher of eastern subjects at two universities, and originator of a language learning method for Japanese, he has financial background (advisor and allied member of the New York Stock Exchange) and is a composer member of A.S.C.A.P in music. The first one-man show of his paintings took place in 1979, and he has had several subsequent shows.

Contents

Part One
Preface
Foreword
New introduction
Part Two
General instruction
Important points on moving ccorrectly
The t'ai chi chih movements
Forward-back foot positions
Rockng motion
Bird flaps its wings
Around the platter (left)
Around the platter (right)
Around the platter variation (left)
Around the platter variation (right)
Bass drum (left)
Bass drum (right)
Daughter on the mountaintop (left)
Daughter on the mountaintop (right)
Daughter in the valley (left)
Daughter in the valley (right)
Carry the ball to teh side (left)
Carry the ball to the side (right)
Push pull (left)
Push pull (right)
Pulling in the energy (left)
Pulling in the energy (right)
Pulling taffy (left and right)
Pulling taffy-1st variation-anchor (left)
Pulling taffy-1st variation-anchor (right)
Pulling taffy-2nd variation-wrist circles (left)
Pulling taffy-2nd variation-wrist circles (right)
Pulling taffy-3rd variation-perpetual motion
Working the pulley (left)
Working the pulley (right)
Light at the top of the head/light at the temple
Joyous breath
Passing clouds
Six healing sounds
Cosmic consciousness pose
Notes on movements just learned
Part Three
Great circle meditation
Epilogue… (mais)

Justin F. Stone is the originator of T'ai Chi Chih and was formerly a T'ai Chi Ch'uan teacher. From music (where he was an arranger and an A.S.C.A.P. composer), he went to Wall Street where he owned half a seat on the New York Stock Exchange and was advisor to insurance firms, brokerage firms, and others. He then taught at several Universities, invented and taught a language-learning method, became active as a jazz pianist, an exhibiting painter, and a writer teaching Oriental disciplines. He is well-suited to do the latter, having studied and practised extensively in India, Chinese cities, and Japan (where he still stays at a Zen temple occasionally). Justin is also active in presenting seminars in various parts of the country. His poetry, which he considers his best work, is not known.

Contents

Why the need for heightened awareness?
Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1-Posture, state of mind
Chapter 2-Breath
Chapter 3-Evolution, awareness
Chapter 4-Sound
Chapter 5-Chi, prana
Chapter 6-Mindfulness
Chapter 7-Satipatthana
Chapter 8-Visualization, Chih k'uan, great circle
Epilogue
Final word
Glossary
Summary of pracitces… (mais)