BookFronter
The Fruitful Darkness by Joan Halifax

The Fruitful Darkness

A Journey Through Buddhist Practice and Tribal Wisdom

Joan Halifax, Thich Nhat Hanh

Grove/Atlantic · Print & ebook · March 25, 2004

“The wisdom of cultures that live harmoniously with nature spoken through the heart and mind of a true gnostic intermediary.” —Ram Dass In this “masterwork of an authentic spirit person,” Buddhist teacher and anthropologist Joan Halifax Roshi delves into “the fruitful darkness”—the shadow side of being, found in the root truths of Native religions, the fecundity of nature, and the stillness of meditation (Thomas Berry).

Buddhism - GeneralShamanismIndigenous Teachingsreligion
More
natureteacher
Buy on Amazon

We earn from qualifying purchases.

Who it’s for
For when you want practice, healing, and insight without the soft-focus treatment.
Genres
Shamanism, Buddhism - General, Indigenous Teachings
Published
Grove/Atlantic, March 25, 2004

Nearest books

Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved.

  1. Teachings of the Hindu MysticsAndrew Harvey55% match
  2. Magic of the OrdinaryGershon Winkler62% matchShares Shamanism
  3. Return of the Divine SophiaTricia McCannon60% match
  4. Shakti RisingKavitha M. Chinnaiyan MD, Greg Goode - foreword64% match
  5. Inside Vasubandhu's YogacaraBen Connelly, Norman Fischer55% match
  6. Mother Earth SpiritualityEd McGaa64% matchShares Shamanism
  7. Nature and the Human SoulBill Plotkin61% match
  8. Change Your Story, Change Your LifeCarl Greer55% matchShares Shamanism

For younger readers: All Our Relatives, Origin, Wisdom Stories of Tibet

Start with three books, and this one can be the first.

Members get a new edition every morning: a route out from their books to essays, research and talks, with the reason for each.

Start with this book

About this book

“The wisdom of cultures that live harmoniously with nature spoken through the heart and mind of a true gnostic intermediary.” —Ram Dass In this “masterwork of an authentic spirit person,” Buddhist teacher and anthropologist Joan Halifax Roshi delves into “the fruitful darkness”—the shadow side of being, found in the root truths of Native religions, the fecundity of nature, and the stillness of meditation (Thomas Berry).

Continue reading

In this highly personal and insightful odyssey of the heart and mind, she encounters Tibetan Buddhist meditators, Mexican shamans, and Native American elders, among others. In rapt prose, she recounts her explorations—from Japanese Zen meditation to hallucinogenic plants, from the Dogon people of Mali to the Mayan rain forest, all the while creating “an adventure of the spirit and a feast of wisdom old and new” Halifax believes that deep ecology (which attempts to fuse environmental awareness with spiritual values) works in tandem with Buddhism and shamanism to discover “the interconnectedness of all life,” and to regain life’s sacredness (Peter Matthiessen).

Practice, Unvarnished

For when you want practice, healing, and insight without the soft-focus treatment.

Come here for

  • Buddhist practice meeting tribal wisdom
  • Prayerful, reflective language with a rigorous edge

Expect

  • A study-friendly, reflective voice
  • Nature and teacherly themes

Where it sits

Buddhism - General47%
Shamanism30%
Indigenous Teachings22%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Buddhist Practice & Ritual
  • Zen Buddhism
  • Indigenous Teachings
Authors
Joan Halifax, Thich Nhat Hanh
Publisher
Grove/Atlantic
Published
March 25, 2004
Format
Print & ebook
Reading lane
Buddhist Practice & Ritual