The Book of Ho'oponopono: The Hawaiian Practice of Forgiveness and Healing

The three authors%E2%80%94Bodin, a medical doctor; Bodin Lamboy, a feng shui expert; and alternative healing specialist Graciet%E2%80%94write separate sections of this work, which explains ho'oponopono, a practice for achieving reconciliation that was developed in indigenous Hawaiian religion. (The authors are not Hawaiian, and provide an introduction explaining how they became familiar with ho'oponopono.) It involves repetition of a simple, mantra-like phrase that purports to "cleanse memories." The book is organized logically, offering history and overview; placing the practice in contemporary scientific context; and explaining how to use it in everyday life. The simple chant invites comparison to other pithy prayers such as the Jesus Prayer that concentrate the mind and tame mental activity. Most successful is the final part of the book, partly because of the winningly positive tone of author Lamboy. Her section also clarifies the relationship between this practice and alternative energetics, including the metaphysical law of attraction. But Graciet's attempts to produce a science for the practice are an unpersuasive academic pastiche. Least successful are the cartoon-like illustrations that open the chapters. This short book describing a spiritual practice that is unlikely to be familiar to many will make the most sense for fans of The Secret. (Apr.)