Zen hops, skips, and jumps around conventional ideas, concepts, and words. The best Zen literature hints rather than tells. In this snappy and intriguing paperback, Richard McLean begins with an explanation of some of the essential elements of this path. He discusses enlightenment, compassion, nonduality, and mindfulness.
McLean has gathered together parables and stories he's adapted from ancient and modern Zen masters. They include tales about teachers and students, seekers, animals, elders, and parents. The art of attention is illustrated in a vignette about a mother preparing her children's lunch for school. Echoing the true spirit of Zen, these fables point the way to living in the present, eschewing comparisons, appreciating humor, and celebrating simple joys.
