James Thornton , a former senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council, is a teacher in the Buddhist and Hindu traditions who has studied under Zen master Taizan Maezumi Roshi, Hindu guru Mother Meera, and the Dalai Lama. From the first he learned the way of the mind and inner silence; from the second, he was tutored in the way of the heart and mystical unity with all things; and from the third, he was encouraged in the way of action based on ecological sensitivity. In this "down-to-earth handbook of spiritual practice," Thornton presents a soulful way of being in a rapidly changing world.
At the core of this understanding is the spiritual practice of wonder: "Be careful. If you let yourself feel this wonder, you will be lost. You will never get over it. It will become the center of your life. The consequences will be dramatic, and you risk being labeled an eccentric by your fellow humans: life will begin to make sense; meaning will come into your life unbidden; doubt will drop away and you will know who you are."
Wonder provides a portal into the inner landscape and a window on the landscape of the natural world. Thornton shares a poem he wrote called, "The Song of the Earth" that reflects his celebration of Gaia. Elsewhere in this sturdy manual, the author presents concrete practices on loving-kindness, meeting your own beasts, and getting up and getting through the day.
