Beate
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
A short question, but I would be happy with a long answer. May you tell something about what kind of spirituality Paladin of souls is inspired by? I ask because it resonates very much with the real life mystics I have read before, from various traditions. I guess I am wondering if these are works you have also read, or it is just some truths in there that are truly universal.
Lois McMaster Bujold
The first two Chalion books were written over a decade ago, now, so my recall of their composition is getting vague. I had a life accumulation of occasional church attendance, but more important was probably reading. Some C. S. Lewis, a book by Thomas Merton, something by an Islamic mystic, some readings on Buddhism, Taoism, and Shinto, The Confessions of St. Augustine, biographies of St. Ignatius Loyola and that fellow who went off to found the leper colony in Hawaii, Teresa of Avila, and so on. And reading, yes, about real-life mystics, mostly from the Middle Ages in the course of my general historical filter feeding of the era.
The serious mystics across religions do seem to be zeroing in on something similar, and recognize it in each other, though whether it is some subtle universal equivalent to the hiss from the Big Bang, or just the 60-cycle hum of their own biology, I am not sure. (Though I suppose it could be both.)
Ta, l.
The serious mystics across religions do seem to be zeroing in on something similar, and recognize it in each other, though whether it is some subtle universal equivalent to the hiss from the Big Bang, or just the 60-cycle hum of their own biology, I am not sure. (Though I suppose it could be both.)
Ta, l.
More Answered Questions
Lara Miller
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Does it annoy you when people tell you their dreams? Last night I dreamed that an insane seafarer showed up, trying to deliver to Penric a boatful of holy animals. Penric was really not sure what to do with them, but the man turned out to be neither exactly insane nor demon-possessed, but instead some kind of botched and inside-out saint. (No idea.) Pen was trying to think what would happen if he brought him to Iroki.
Conniption Virtue
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Dear Lois, A few times, Penric twists up a message before handing it off to be delivered; I assume as a security measure. Perhaps you would be intrigued to know* about "letter locking" which is an old this-world solution for same. There are several YouTube videos and a good website about it by Jana Dambrogio. *assuming you don't already know?
Bethany Salway
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
It may be worth noting that Goodreads recently changed their default messaging settings. Members can no longer direct message authors unless you change your 'Who Can Send Me Private Messages' setting to 'anyone'. I noticed you recommended this form of contact to readers seeking to send fanmail, so I thought you might prefer to keep that option available. Much love! https://www.goodreads.com/user/edit?tab=settings
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