From Publishers Weekly
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Bortolin, an ordained member of Thich Nhat Hanh's Buddhist
community, may be the ideal person to write about the Buddhist
themes in Star Wars: he camped out for tickets to all of the
movies—even the less than stellar ones—and possesses his very own
set of Jedi robes. In short, consistent chapters, Bortolin
explores themes such as suffering, mindfulness, karma and
transcending the dark side. One especially helpful chapter
examines what nirvana is, comparing it to the all-pervasive Force
of Star Wars, and clarifying that nirvana isn't a sort of
Buddhist heaven or a blissed-out mental condition. Rather,
Bortolin asserts, it is "the very absence of ideas and
conceptualization." Bortolin looks to Jedi meditation as a
parallel discipline to the Buddhist practice of mindfulness
meditation. In this state, Jedi knights "get in touch with
reality as it truly is," observing their minds with calm
compassion and allowing greater understanding of the present
moment. One of the book's greatest strengths is Bortolin's
stubborn determination to find something redeeming about the two
most recent Star Wars films, and he does actually recover enough
of these nuggets to make some fans take a second look at those
overhyped flicks. With humor, strong examples and timeless
wisdom, Bortolin offers a new way to think about a pop culture
phenomenon. Lead us to Yoda, he does. (Apr.)
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Review
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"With humor, strong examples and timeless wisdom, Bortolin
offers a new way to think about a pop culture phenomenon. Lead us
to Yoda, he does." Author: Publishers Weekly
"Whether you interpret 'The Force' as being Nirvana or the Holy
Spirit, finding spirituality in 'Star Wars' can bring that galaxy
far, far away a lot closer to home." Author: Newsweek
"A light-hearted exploration of the Star Wars movies, providing a
new take on the six-part space fantasy epic. It's a good
introduction to teachings of Buddha, and how they infuse the
characters of Star Wars...on both the light and dark sides of the
force." Author: SFRevu
"The Dharma of Star Wars is, simply put, many of life's little
lessons wrapped up in Jedi robes. You don't have to be a believer
in the Buddhist way of life to appreciate some of the wisdom that
emanates from these pages." Author: StarWarz.com
"Star Wars fans will find Bortolin's pleasant humor and simple
directness immensely enjoyable and thought provoking, while
longtime spiritual practitioners will discover a new and profound
avenue into self-transformation."-- Author: Robert A. Johnson,
author of He and She and We and Owning Your Own Shadow
"A must-read for anyone ever inspired by the wisdom of Yoda, the
courage of Luke Skywalker or drawn to the dark side by Darth
Vader." Author: Noah Levine, author of Dharma Punx
"This will be a welcome and enlightening addition to Star Wars
fans' world, opening up a new way to understand the narrative of
this beloved series. Bortolin's Padawan Handbook is especially
useful." Author: Sumi Loundon, editor of Blue Jean Buddha: Voices
of Young Buddhists
"Whether you are a fan of Star Wars or not; whether you are a
newcomer to Buddhist thought or a long-time practitioner, his
light, yet richly rewarding approach provides a fresh perspective
that should encourage deeper thinking and practice." Author:
Frank Jude Boccio, author of Mindfulness Yoga
"This entertaining and inful primer provides a useful
service to future film buffs who want to better understand the
real-life religion behind this popular fictional world. Bortolin
succeeds in ferreting out some real wisdom from [the films],
providing a Buddhist interpretation of the Jedi Way." Author:
Tricycle
"A clear and clever introduction to Buddhism. The work will also
broaden anyone's understanding and appreciation of the subtle
underpinnings of Lucas' films. Bortolin's work is an important
contribution to the lexicon of modern Western Buddhist studies.
The book draws an arc of meaning and wisdom across the centuries
from the deer park to the pinnacle of 21st century pop culture."
Author: Ashe Journal
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