The Looking Glass God

Bibliography:
Stiskin, Nahum. "The Looking Glass God: Shinto, Yin Yang, and a Cosmology for Today." Weatherhill. New York. 1972.

Review: This book is mostly available through third party used book suppliers in the Amazon system. I can begin my review by saying with enthusiasm, "get this book before it becomes obsolescent!" I have barely gone through it for the very first time and I am greatly impressed as to the depth and breadth of its explanation toward its subject matter.

How did I find it? A good story. Once a while back the author Rory Miller in his bibliography added an unprecedented paragraph on a book he read. This paragraph led me to that book and all the other in that series which has benefited me on a very personal level as well as my understanding toward the art of avoidance in self-defense.

While reading another great book the author did something unusual when referencing this book above by stating he got it, read it four times straight and recommended it highly. Like Rory's paragraph it was like a "neon blinking sign" stating, "you should get it bub cause I bet it is going to be good, real good."

I did what the sign said, got it and now gladly with highest of recommendations convey the benefit of getting a copy for your library.

One caveat, get the second revised edition of 1972. The original printing in 71 was less that what the author himself states so go for the revised edition of 72 for a more comprehensive/complete version. You will not regret it.

In closing, I will be reading this again and again at least three times before going on to another source book, etc.

ADDENDUM dtd Wednesday, March 7, 2012:

The Looking Glass God - Shinto, Yin-Yang, Cosmology

Bibliography (Heaven):
Stiskin, Nahum. "The Looking Glass God: Shinto, Yin Yang, and a Cosmology for Today." Weatherhill. New York. 1972.

Normally a bibliography is presented to the reader at the end of the publication but today I place it front and foremost to achieve a place of importance for this posting. If the question, "Why?," is then presented one can achieve the level of the answer as paramount toward "action" whereby action is "to purchase a copy of this book."

When I read what I perceive as an important publication I have both highlighter and pen in hand. I mark and hilite words, sentences and those parts that tend to speak to my cultural beliefs with specificity toward particular subjects, i.e. martial arts, etc. I did not do so in the case of this particular publication, book. I sensed in the first couple of pages a "need" to read it frequently therefore to hilite or mark the pages would distract my repeated readings and therefore my repeated attempts at full understanding of the depth and breadth of this terse tome on the aspects of Shinto.

Bibliography (Humans):
Stiskin, Nahum. "The Looking Glass God: Shinto, Yin Yang, and a Cosmology for Today." Weatherhill. New York. 1972.

Since I began with an idea I would expand my understanding of the concepts for yin-yang and Shinto I soon realized that it is much more. I find it applies to life first and all others as secondary or with a connectedness to "life." I believe the reader with an open-mind and proper attitude will gain a plathora of knowledge and understanding whereby they will become aware of the mirrors that encompass the way we live life, the way we practice and the way we train - and all that encompasses, includes and blends.

Therefore, after only "one reading" I can truly say that this publication has far exceeded my needs, desires and thirst for more in my way of living, way of learning and way of teaching. I look forward to returning to the very first page, after this post, and beginning once again. I see the need to come full circle many times, like the many lives of humans, to gain more momentum toward enlightenment.

Bibliography (Earth):
Stiskin, Nahum. "The Looking Glass God: Shinto, Yin Yang, and a Cosmology for Today." Weatherhill. New York. 1972.

Addendum: Since I began studying this book I have discovered today, the first of June in the year 2012, that with about ten readings or more under my belt that I discover new things at every reading.