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ook REVIEWS
and Eve Merriam are among non-Buddhist westerners
selected by Gach whose poems greet us with zen haiku
and the reality of impermanence, respectively.
Allen Ginsberg says what this book means: “The whole
body of the One Thus Come/falls in the raindrops and
drips from the eaves.” Thich Nhat Hanh’s well-loved
prose poem, “Interbeing,” excerpted from The Heart
of the Buddha’s Teachings, says what this book means:
“If you are a poet, you will see a cloud in this piece of
paper.” These are poems that allow us to transcend them.
“As thin as this sheet of paper is, it contains everything
in the universe....”
Of special note is the “Visible Language” section, a short
but sweet exhibit of calligraphy, altar (shape) poems and
brush drawings, including work by Thich Nhat Hanh, Peter
Bailey, Shunryu Suzuki, and my old favorite Paul Reps,
among others. One of Reps’ drawings shows a Buddha in
brush strokes with a straight, ruled line down the center of
his head and body. “Open Here,” is the inscription below.
I heartily recommend to students of the Buddha to Open
this book Here.
And of note...
By Judith Toy
Worlds in Harmony: Compassionate Action for a Better
World, by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Parallax Press,
46 Winter/Spring 2009
2008, softbound, 108 pages, abridged from three days
of dialogue between His Holiness and seven renowned
helping professionals at the Harmonia Mundi conference
in Newport Beach California, October, 1989. In his
foreword, Daniel Goleman, Ph.D., author of Emotional
Intelligence, reminds us that those of us alive now are the
first generation in human history to glimpse the possibility
of the end of our world. From the premise that this insight
is of no use unless it results in action, His Holiness speaks
with us person to person to teach us precisely how to save
ourselves and the planet through compassion and loving
kindness. He teaches us to be, think, and act as citizens
of the world in ways that are based on equanimity and
understanding. This book is also a guide to the practice
of healing and compassionate action in daily life.
Hope Is An Open Heart, by Lauren Thompson, Scholastic
Press, 2008, hardcover, 32 pages, illustrated by various
photographers; a children’s picture book. Lauren Thompson
practices with Rock Blossom Sangha in Brooklyn,
New York, part of the New York Metro Community of
Mindful Living. She is a best-selling, award-winning
children’s author. This book is dedicated to her Rock
Blossom sister Alison who died at age 42 of brain cancer.
The author wrote to me, “Though she was not ready to
die, and had little reason to hope for a future at all, she
found the most peace by focusing on the joy of the present
moment.” This gorgeously illustrated book of few
words invites its readers into the beauty and wonder of
the present moment.
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Buddhism,
Second Edition, by Gary Gach, Alpha, 2004, softbound,
390 pages. In a light-hearted voice, this chock-full compendium
presents the life and teachings of the Buddha
and explains how they spread and adapted to different
cultures. It includes an introduction to meditation and explanations
of the Three Jewels, the Four Noble Truths, and
the Eightfold Path. Gach, a student of Thich Nhat Hanh,
also includes insights into Buddhism’s cross-religious
influences and a chronology of Buddhist history. Most
important is the Buddhist perspective on why we suffer
and what we can do to be free. As Thich Nhat Hanh says
about this book, “It will bring a smile to us all.”
The Plum Village Cook Book, by monks and nuns of
Plum Village, Thich Nhat Hanh’s monastery in Southern
France, published by Plum Village, 2008, softbound, 66
pages; illustrated with full-color photographs. In this little
kitchen treasure, readers are invited to visit Plum Village
to see firsthand how the brothers and sisters “cook vegetarian
food mindfully, joyfully and calmly, which might
be an inspiration for you.” Most of the ingredients used
in these all-veggie recipes can be found at your local
[American] grocer; some items such as black and white
fungus, veggie ham, and veggie fish can be found at an
Asian market or online. Recipes use the European metric
system, so some cooks may need a U.S.-to-metric conversion
table. But it’s well worth it to experiment with these
tasty dishes that many of us have enjoyed at Thich Nhat
Hanh’s monasteries.