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Rating: 
Summary: An Insightful Look
Review: "Knee Deep in Grace" is an insightful look into the consciousness of a loving individual who attained a deep level of realization. It is written with warmth, humor, and insight by someone whose heart and mind is in accord with Dipa Ma's teachings.
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Summary: My Favorite Book
Review: A good friend of mine in San Jose recommended me to read this book, and she said she would reimburse me if I were not satisfied. Well, I have read it again and again, with footnotes, translation into Vietnmese for friends; and I have already ordered ten books to send to my firends as a "token of my gratitude" to them. I have also e-mailed to friends everywhere telling them to read it to "strengthen your self confidence that laypeople can also gain the highest jhana, and a poor, uneducated woman can also become a Saint". I will also write a book review and ask my good friend Dr. Jane Rand to write the Review in English to be published in the bilingual (Vietnamese-English)in the Dat Lanh Buddhist Review Magazine in San Diego.
With deepest gratitude to Ami Schmidt for her excellent work. We all expect you to write similar books in the future.
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Summary: Good, but the Miraculous Sections May Throw Some Readers Off
Review: Although Dipa Ma Bura died in 1987, those who know something of her might very well acknowledge her still as one of the greatest Theravada meditation teachers who taught in America to date. As the book review and other reviewers have pointed out, people like Joseph Goldstein (author of 'One Dharma'), Sharon Salzburg (A Heart as Wide as the World), and Jack Kornfield (Teachings of the Buddha) all trained under her guidance. In this presentation of her body of work we are now able to see the startling spirituality present in this woman's very being. Students who trained in India and America under her still tribute her with remarkable praise. She had been born and raised in India (Calcutta, to be exact), and at the age of 12 as so many young Indian women do, she was sent of to marry a man 33 years her elder. That initial marriage did not wind up working, and so she left for Burma and lived with another man. Her husband died and left her with a 7 year old young daughter to raise alone, which drove her into depression. Yet one night she had a dream where Buddha Shakyamuni came before her, at which point her entire life changed. With amazing intensity she was able to meditate with utter concentration, teaching the vipassana method to others in Calcutta. She was said to possess 'special powers' of the mind, to which I am admittedly skeptical. Stories of cooking food with no fire, or reading people's minds - even time travel. To me, these stories are not necessary to take something from her teaching, because 'miracles' can make students become attached to miracle teachings and thus discount anything they find 'not so special.' If that makes sense? All in all, Knee Deep in Grace has a lot of PRACTICAL advice, advice on how to approach any situation as feasible. Her impression left with us is that of an almost saintly woman, who held vipassana meditation in her tiny apartment nearly every day up to her death. Enjoy the book.
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Summary: The most inspiring book a meditator will ever read
Review: I really didn't know much about Dipa Ma except that Sharon Salzberg had studied with her. But when I read an excerpt from this book in Tricycle, I went out immediately and bought it. And my God, am I glad I did. I have been meditating 2-3 hours EVERY DAY since I read this wonderful book--it just takes away any reluctance to immerse yourself in the practice. Dipa Ma's story is inspiring, but more than that, there is more incredible wealth of practical, inspiring advice in this little volume than in ten books twice its size. Please buy and read this book--you won't regret it!
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Summary: A wonderful portrait
Review: I was so inspired by this portrait of Dipa Ma, painted by the voices of many of her students. It's a powerfullly compelling read--Dipa Ma's immense heart and flinty determination come through loud and clear. A must-read, if you knew Dipa Ma or if you want to know more about the teacher of many of our teachers.
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Summary: A wonderful portrait
Review: This book is a real treasure. Dipa Ma comes through as such a gentle, disarming, fierce, sweet presence. She is completely irresistible. Actually, it is almost enough just to gaze at the black-and-white photos throughout the book. I never had the privilege of meeting Dipa Ma but reading her words and learning how she conducted herself I am ashamed when I consider how I have been spending my evenings for the last few years--reading, watching tv, or going to bed early--when I could have been meditating. For about thirty years I meditated for two half hours a day but for the longest time now I have been doing so only in the morning. Back to the grindstone.
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Summary: Completely Disarmed
Review: This book is a real treasure. Dipa Ma comes through as such a gentle, disarming, fierce, sweet presence. She is completely irresistible. Actually, it is almost enough just to gaze at the black-and-white photos throughout the book. I never had the privilege of meeting Dipa Ma but reading her words and learning how she conducted herself I am ashamed when I consider how I have been spending my evenings for the last few years--reading, watching tv, or going to bed early--when I could have been meditating. For about thirty years I meditated for two half hours a day but for the longest time now I have been doing so only in the morning. Back to the grindstone.
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