I have reviewed this most recently published book by James Low on Amazon, below.

Happily, currently it is also available at Waterstones… and via independent bookshops.

Words don’t really ‘cut the mustard’ for this book but anyway I wrote:

The flawless facets of this jewel are luminous with wisdom, radiating the truth…and the setting is gorgeous!

Each facet displays a different aspect of the dharma teachings without any clouding by extraneous inclusions.

With consummate skill born of a lifetime’s study and practice, firmly rooted in tradition, the related texts are expounded by James in a way which can clarify satisfy and delight… bringing ease in this time of turbulence.

The exquisite illustrations perfectly illuminate and reflect the text, as does the feel and lay-out of the book.

‘This is it’ is a rare and precious jewel of wisdom set perfectly in this engagement ring of the dharma’s compassionate communication. The fruit of the heart-work of many through time – it is both a joy and liberating privilege to engage with ‘this’…

I hope you may also enjoy the great pleasure of ‘this’

On the Simplybeing website there is,  under News,  coming from India, a request for prayers –   link to this
with James’ recommendation for the recitation of the Seven Line Prayer ‘dedicating the merit for the wellbeing of all, especially those suffering in India now , in India’s hot season’ …and with that there is a link to the text.

This is a powerful prayer ‘manifesting spontaneously as the natural resonance of indestructible reality’*.

This prayer is not familiar to everyone and the question of how to pronounce it has arisen… so I have put together a couple recordings.

This 1. is of James Low singing the prayer

This 2. is a combination of me reciting and singing it followed by 1.

James’ pronunciation is spot on of course, and mine derived from that less so…but i don’t have a version with James reciting to offer.

You will hear how James takes good time in his recording… mine’s a bit faster…may they be useful and the benefit of the recitations vastly multiplied!

* White Lotus, translated by the diligent and very reliable Padmakara Translation Group, contains an explanation of this prayer, given by Jamgon Mipham, and is recommended if you have an interest in this. The different depths of the prayer are revealed, being less or more accessible depending on our openness and engagement through time.

The translators introduction is very good, and includes an invitation to open the eyes to see how and why our initial engagement with this aspect of the dharma, often approaching from a reductionist or modernist level, may be softened…and so the profundity is more and more revealed.