• The Monk and the Philosopher

  • A Father and Son Discuss the Meaning of Life
  • By: Jean-Francois Revel
  • Narrated by: David Shaw-Parker
  • Length: 14 hrs and 27 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (43 ratings)

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The Monk and the Philosopher  By  cover art

The Monk and the Philosopher

By: Jean-Francois Revel
Narrated by: David Shaw-Parker
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Publisher's summary

Twenty-seven years ago, Matthieu Ricard gave up a promising career as a scientist to study Tibetan Buddhism - not as a detached observer but by immersing himself in its practice under the guidance of its greatest living masters.

Years later, this project was born, and Richard met with his father, Jean-Francois Revel - a French philosopher who became world famous for his challenges to both Communism and Christianity. At an inn overlooking Kathmandu, these two profoundly thoughtful men explored questions that have occupied humankind throughout its history: Does life have meaning? What is consciousness? Is man free? What is the value of scientific and material progress? Why is there suffering, war, and hatred?

Utterly absorbing, inspiring, and accessible, that conversation became this remarkable dialogue - one that engages East with West, ideas with life, and science with the humanities, providing wisdom concerning how to enrich the way we live our lives.

©1999 Jean-Francois Revel and Matthieu Ricard (P)2017 Dreamscape Media, LLC

What listeners say about The Monk and the Philosopher

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Wonderful enlightenment

The book is a great beginning to understand a modern and contemporary way of living the spiritual path. It offers deep and contrasting views.

The reading sometimes can be confusing, since is the same reader.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Empfehlenswert

Als jemand mit einem wissenschaftlichen Hintergrund, der sich in letzter Zeit immer mehr mit Buddhismus beschäftigt, war dieses Buch für mich genau das was ich gesucht habe. Ein sehr schöner Dialog, den ich sehr genossen habe.

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  • JK
  • 09-27-23

EXCELLENT

This is an absolute “must read” book.
I have the physical book and it was a pleasure to listen and read.
I learned so much from the discussions between these two amazing men.
I highly recommend this book.
The narrator mr. David Shaw-Parker is a pleasure to listen to.
My thanks to all involved, JK.

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The dialogues themselves proved tranquility is attainable.

The content can be understood and digested differently, but the compassion, curiosity, rigor and love were very evident and resonated throughout the book.

The only thing one needs to adjust to is sometimes in the audible book the voice of the two men was difficult to distinguish.

Then again, it was also the onest of that the voice and the love that made this experience so enjoyable.

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2 people found this helpful