In A NEW WAY OF SEEING, seasoned Buddhist teacher, writer, and practitioner Dominique Side acknowledges that ideas of mindfulness and the practice of meditation have been adopted by hundreds of thousands in the West. While she agrees that this has been hugely beneficial, Side suggests that closer engagement with the original texts underlying these practices could be highly beneficial—even for those who would consider themselves Buddhists. As she writes in the introduction, “We might have been meditating and listening to Buddhist teachings for many years but do we think like a Buddhist? Has Buddhist thought permeated the way we actually see things? Or do we still see things as we did before we encountered Buddhism?”
As Side views it, in today’s world of rapid information and shifting trends, it’s essential for Western students of Buddhism to pause and ground their study and practice in the foundational teachings. Key to doing so are the Abhidharma teachings of Vasubandhu, a guide to understanding the Dharma and the path of practice. The Abhidharma explores profound and timeless subjects including the body and mind, personal identity, the nature of reality, consciousness, and karma. Moreover, it clarifies what it means to walk the path of practice with insight and understanding that’s firmly rooted in the Buddhadharma.
A NEW WAY OF SEEING invites Western readers to engage deeply with these essential teachings, applying them thoughtfully within their own languages, cultures, and ways of questioning—bridging ancient wisdom with contemporary experience and making the Dharma both accessible and transformative.
Side is excellent at addressing the very modern problem of media saturation, “fake news,” and social media. In a chapter entitled “Wisdom: Stepping Out Of The Information Maze,” she writes, “I would call it a crisis of info-anxiety and we are gripped. From the Buddhist point of view this chaotic state of affairs is a reflection of the way all of our minds are all of the time.” The means to break out of this troublesome modern maze are outlined by Side’s exploration of these ancient Buddhist texts.
This is a careful, graceful book. Perhaps it’s not aimed at those without some prior experience of Buddhist teaching; but for many (Western readers in particular), this will provide ample points of contemplation and revelation.
Dominique Side’s A NEW WAY OF SEEING is a carefully considered, illuminating work by a serious Buddhist practitioner. Essential reading for those who wish to apply traditional Buddhist practice and philosophy in a way that’s anchored to their lived experience.
~ Kent Lane for IndieReader