This compilation draws together an enlightening collection of Zen stories, poems, teachings, and meditations. Ancient Eastern masters speak in these pages next to American Zen practitioners such as Alan Watts, Gary Snyder, Charlotte Joko Beck, and Joan Halifax. Here are tales which emphasize living in the present moment, the value of meditation, the dynamics of nonpossessiveness, and the search for enlightenment. Koans are presented to train the mind to bypass reason, and humorous anecdotes are shared to convey the tricky nature of reality. Quite a few selections show how Zen speaks to modern day concerns such as peace and environmental stewardship.