If, as the I Ching says, thoughts are spirits, then this collection of highly distilled thoughts from history's greatest philosophers and religious figures will certainly put you in good spirits. Laurence Boldt has long made a practice of applying Zen principles to everyday life. Here he applies wisdom from all corners of the world to twenty-five aspects, or qualities, associated with the Zen tradition. The result is a soup of the most hearty and wholesome kind, well-seasoned with age, and filled with delicious surprises:
"Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, thence lies your vocation." —
Aristotle
"A man with outward courage dares to die: A man with inward courage dares to live." —
Lao Tzu
You'll also find
Flip Wilson
on living in the moment;
Will Rogers
on the beginner's mind;
Helen Keller
on courage;
Chekhov
on self-confidence;
Colette
on joy. Each chapter includes an entertaining and informative essay that explains the principle and its application to Zen wisdom. The rest is up to you. Read it in one gulp or savor each morsel. Either way, Zen Soup is sure to whet your spiritual appetite as it nourishes your soul.