{"product_id":"ma-the-japanese-secret-to-contemplation-and-calm","title":"Ma: The Japanese Secret to Contemplation and Calm","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"Ma—the emptiness in which time, space and\nthoughts are suspended—is an invitation to awareness.\"\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe traditional Japanese concept of ma refers to a pause or a space, \"the\nmoment of no action, the stillness and silence that is filled with more\npowerful energy than the moments of action\" on the classic Noh stage. It\nalso refers to the pauses taken in between notes by a shakuhachi flute player\nor the spaces between stones in a Zen garden which reveal unexpected vistas and\nperspectives.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe eighteen thought-provoking essays in this book present the work of talented\nwriters and artists with vast experience in the fields of Japanese art,\nreligion, music and philosophy. They show us how the experience of ma in the\ntraditional Zen arts and practices can be used to create a greater awareness of\nour surroundings to vastly improve our lives in many other areas.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eHighlights include:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c!--[endif]--\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul style=\"margin-top:0cm\" type=\"disc\"\u003e\n \u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\"The\n     Unspoken Space We Share\"\u003c\/b\u003e by \u003cb\u003ePico Iyer\u003c\/b\u003e, who\n     reflects on our word choice, the way we speak to each other and the pauses\n     in our everyday conversations\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\"Some\n     Gravel Some Stones\"\u003c\/b\u003e by \u003cb\u003eSteven Mansfield\u003c\/b\u003e, who\n     explores deliberate spaces in Japanese garden design and how these provide\n     us with moments of calm\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\"Photographic\n     Ma\"\u003c\/b\u003e by \u003cb\u003eRobert van Koesveld\u003c\/b\u003e, who draws our\n     attention to the mysterious communicative power of \"spaces\" in\n     photographic compositions that draw us in on a subconscious level\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\"Between\n     Form and Emptiness,\"\u003c\/b\u003e an interview with artist \u003cb\u003eMiya\n     Ando\u003c\/b\u003e, whose work in metal, canvas and sculpture is deeply rooted in\n     Zen Buddhist philosophy and reflects the human experience of time, the\n     seasons and ephemerality\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\"Moments\n     of Silence and Stillness\"\u003c\/b\u003e by \u003cb\u003eMagda Rittenhouse\u003c\/b\u003e,\n     whose explorations of traditional Japanese design focus on the spaces\n     between inside and outside, sacred and profane, the safe and the\n     unfamiliar\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003ePlus\n     thirteen other fascinating essays\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nIllustrated with 80 stunning photographs, this book will appeal not just to\nthose with an interest in Japanese culture and philosophy, but to anyone\nseeking to escape the stresses and challenges of daily life and develop a more\nbalanced, meditative approach to the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eKen Rogers\u003c\/b\u003e (1952–2024) was a writer, editor,\nfarmer, and longtime resident of Kyoto, best known as the co-founder of \u003ci\u003eKyoto\nJournal\u003c\/i\u003e, an acclaimed international magazine exploring Japanese and Asian\nculture since 1987. Passionate about fostering cross-cultural dialogue, Ken\nedited numerous publications illuminating Japanese aesthetics, Buddhist\nphilosophy, and daily life. Ken also emceed The Kyoto Connection, a monthly\nopen mic event that helped nurture a vibrant community of writers and\nperformers. He left behind a rich legacy of insightful storytelling and deep\nappreciation for the spaces between things.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eJohn Einarsen\u003c\/b\u003e is a photographer, designer, and founding editor\nof \u003ci\u003eKyoto Journal\u003c\/i\u003e alongside Ken Rogers. His books of\nphotographs include \u003ci\u003eKyoto: The Forest Within the Gate, Small Buildings\nof Kyoto\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThis Very Moment\u003c\/i\u003e (2023). From 2013–2015 he\nserved as an advisor to the \u003ci\u003eJapan Times\u003c\/i\u003e and in 2013 received\nthe Commissioner's Award of the Japanese Cultural Affairs Agency. He lives near\nKyoto's Nanzenji temple.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eCompiled essays, illustrations and photographs by talented writers and\nartists including:\u003c\/b\u003e Alex Kerr; Gunter Nitschke; Pico Iyer; Steven\nMansfield; Mark Hovane; Alexandre Avdulov; John McGee; Joshua Pearl; Edward A.\nBurger; Leanne Ogasawara; Nakajima Hiroyuki; Hikaru Hirata-Miyakawa; Magdalena\nRittenhouse; Kit Nagamura; Alexander Bennett; Atticus Sims; Takafumi Kawakami;\nRobert van Koesveld; and Michael Dylan Welch.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BERKELEY BOOKS PTE LTD","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44807799439567,"sku":"9784805319215","price":25.07,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0574\/5662\/3823\/files\/download_ed760351-be4f-4458-bae4-a28f096750f3.jpg?v=1777008669","url":"https:\/\/popular.com.sg\/products\/ma-the-japanese-secret-to-contemplation-and-calm","provider":"Popular Book Company Pte Ltd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}