Customer Reviews

Illuminated Spirit: Conservations with a Kyudo Master

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Beyond the fact that I live and work in Japan, this book is useful not only for those of us seeking wisdom from the traditional arts of Asia but anywhere. Dan Deprospero has done a superb job synthesizing all of the accumulated teaching of his teacher - almost one decade - within 143 pages. As mentioned in the introduction, some of it will seem obvious and repetitive but one needs to read this book several times to grasp lessons which can be applied to daily living. Indeed, each chapter is like a gem.

This is the kind of book that is a joy to read. The authors lived and studied with Hideharu Onuma for nearly ten years before his death in 1990. The authors teach Kyudo: Japanese Archery in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is a rare experience to have actually trained with a true master. The authors provide an enlightened glimpse into the inner most thoughts and advice from Kyudo master Onuma. Even if you are not into the martial arts, you will find the information useful and enlightening. The seven chapters cover a wide range of topics such as inspiration, everytday life, in search of the self, on being human and the mystery of Kyudo. This is a book almost everyone will find interesting and of value.

Rating: 3 stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Predator Hunter: A Warrior's Memoir)

Remember the world of the TV series Kung Fu? Buy this book and flashback to the quizzical GrassHopper asking myriad questions to the oriental sage and acquiring "wisdom" and therefore "illumination". A good buy to add to one's collection of "zen-style" books on the pine booksheves (near Herrigel's) and there are a few gems of "wisdom", oriental in style, otherwise nothing new. Somewhat repetative as well.