asura

'a·su·ra: In Buddhism, the lowest rank of gods, also called giants or titans, which have become addicted to lowly human passions, particularly those related to arrogance and violence. In Hinduism, demons or power-hungry enemies of the gods. In earlier Hindu texts they were actually gods of morality and social issues.

Ex: "His land will be level and smooth, the ground made of crystal, adorned with jeweled trees, with ropes of gold to mark the boundaries of the roads. Wonderful flowers will cover the ground, everywhere will be pure and clean, and all who see it will rejoice. The four evil paths of existence, hell and the realms of hungry spirits, beasts and asuras, will not exist there.

- The Lotus Sutra(translated by Burton Watson)

exegetical

ex·e·'get·i·cal: critically explanatory; interpretative.

Also, exegetic.

Ex: He began with a historical survey of the various exegetical traditions concerning the story, elaborated on the numerous misreadings that had grown up around it, and ended with a lengthy catalogue of legends...

- Paul Auster, The New York Trilogy

prelapsarian

,pre·lap·'sar·i·an: Of or relating to the period before the fall of Adam and Eve.

Ex: If some saw the Indians as living in prelapsarian innocence, there were others who judged them to be savage beasts, devils in the form of men.

- Paul Auster, The New York Trilogy

2006 Recapitulation

,re·ca·,pit·u·'la·tion: The act of reviewing or summing up statements or matters.

Ex: Let's enjoy this recapitulation of books read over the past year.

Yes, I know. I haven't been updating. You know how the holidays are. And I'm so scattered at times. Still... we'll give it another shot this year. The reading will not cease. The words will be tallied and fauned over.



1. The Wounded Land by Stephen R. Donaldson






2. Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead
by Tom Stoppard







3. The One Tree by Stephen R. Donaldson





4. The Business of Acting
by Brad Lemack








5. Uncle Vanya
by Anton Chekhov




6. I Am a Camera
by John Van Druten








7. Basics of Buddhism
by Pat Allwright





8. The Taming of the Shrew
by William Shakespeare







9. White Gold Wielder
by Stephen R. Donaldson




10. Sight Unseen by Donald Margulies








11. The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster

Witty, Wise & Worthy Phrases #6

WWWP #6

While one valiant heart yet defends the Earth, evil can never triumph utterly.

from White Gold Wielder by Stephen R. Donaldson

Witty, Wise & Worthy Phrases #5

WWWP #5

We are mortal, and the visage of failure is heinous to us. But we are not required to succeed. It is required of us only that we hold fast in every gale and let come what may.

from White Gold Wielder by Stephen R. Donaldson

Witty, Wise & Worthy Phrases #4

WWWP #4

Her hands made small, fugitive movements at her sides.

from White Gold Wielder by Stephen R. Donaldson

inchoate

in·'cho·ate [in-koh-it]: imperfectly formed or not fully developed; being only partly in existence.

Ex: His inchoate supplication drew her to him.

- Stephen R. Donaldson, White Gold Wielder

Witty, Wise & Worthy Phrases #3

WWWP - #3

In punishing yourself, you come to merit punishment.

from White Gold Wielder by Stephen R. Donaldson