Synopses & Reviews
Since the beginning of human history mountains have had an extraordinary power to evoke the sacred in our lives, Regarded as places of mystery and spiritual attainment by people in every culture, mountains arouse feelings of reverence and awe. In this strikingly beautiful book Edwin Bernbaum combines exquisite photography with years of mountaineering and scholarly research to provide the most comprehensive study of sacred mountains to date.
Part I explores the significance of sacred mountains across the globe, including Sinai and Zion in the Middle East, Olympus in Greece, T'ai Shan in China, Fuji in Japan, Kailas in Tibet, and the San Francisco Peaks in Arizona. Bernbaum focuses on notable mountains in each region, placing them in their historical, religious, and cultural contexts. In Part II he identifies the major themes found in traditional views of sacred mountains, themes such as mountains as centers of the cosmos, abodes of the gods, and divine sources of life. He also takes a fresh look at well-known works of literature and art, noting the ways that mountains are integral to ancient myths and religious traditions.
The book is enriched by Bernbaum's field work among religious pilgrims and practitioners, his accounts of historic mountain ascents, and reflections on the place of mountains in his own life. From early childhood, Bernbaum has been drawn to mountaineering, and his experiences, often moving and sometimes harrowing, bring an intimacy to his writing. Over 100 full-color photographs superbly complement the gracefully written, evocative text.
"This book is fascinating ... full of adventure, cultural significance and religious symbology". -- Sir Edmund Hillary
"EdwinBernbaum has succeeded in unfolding the many aspects of this rich symbol, and has never forgotten to let the reader climb with him in this symbolic ascent. In our time of increasing ecological disasters -- as well as awareness -- such a book is a timely and important contribution". -- Raimon Panikkhar, University of California, Santa Barbara
"Once in a great and precious while, a book comes across a columnist's desk that arrests the spirit and causes one to see the world in a breathtakingly now way. (This) is such a book". -- George Ann Geyer, Universal Press Syndicate
"A treasure of a book that masterfully weaves together fact, history, legend, and spiritual truth". -- Jacob Needleman, author of The New Religions
Synopsis
Winner of the Commonwealth Club's Gold Medal for best work of nonfiction, as well as the Giuseppe Mazzotti Special Jury Prize in Italy for literature of mountains, exploration, and ecology, Sacred Mountains of the World investigates the myths, practices, and religious beliefs surrounding legendary holy peaks around the globe, providing a unique synthesis of natural history, environmental and cross-cultural studies, and in-depth religious scholarship. Complemented with more than 100 full-color photographs, this beautifully written, evocative book highlights the many diverse ways in which people of different cultures have approached and viewed sacred mountains throughout history.
Synopsis
"This book is fascinating . . . full of adventure, cultural significance and religious symbology."and#151;Sir Edmund Hillary
"A treasure of a book that masterfully weaves together fact, history, legend, and spiritual truth."and#151;Jacob Needleman, author of The New Religions
"Edwin Bernbaum has succeeded in unfolding the many aspects of this rich symbol, and has never forgotten to let the reader climb with him in this symbolic ascent. In our time of increasing ecological disastersand#151;as well as awarenessand#151;such a book is a timely and important contribution."and#151;Raimon Panikkar, University of California, Santa Barbara
"Once in a great and precious while, a book comes across a columnist's desk that arrests the spirit and causes one to see the world in a breathtakingly new way. [This] is such a book."and#151;Georgie Ann Geyer, Universal Press Syndicate
Synopsis
Since the beginning of human history, mountains have had an extraordinary power to evoke the sacred in our lives. Regarded as places of mystery and spiritual attainment by people in every culture, mountains arouse feelings of reverence and awe. In this strikingly beautiful book Edwin Bernbaum combines exquisite photography with years of mountaineering and scholarly research to provide the most comprehensive study of sacred mountains to date.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 274-277) and index.
About the Author
Edwin Bernbaum, Ph.D., is a mountaineer, scholar of comparative religion and mythology, and the author of The Way to Shambhala (1980). A Senior Fellow at The Mountain Institute, he sits on the Board of Directors of the American Himalayan Foundation and is a member of the World Commission on Protected Areas of the World Conservation Union.