Meditation in the Wild: Buddhism's Origin in the Heart of Nature
This book is an exciting portrait of how the Buddha and meditators since his time have gone back into raw nature to try to understand themselves and humanity's place in the world. It draws upon history, poetry, and art to give a feeling of what it must have been like to go off into the woods to meditate. The examples drawn from Zen poets and Chinese paintings are captivating. While the book has scholarly foundations, it is quite readable. It also shows how our modern lifestyle affects our understanding of nature. I think Meditation in the Wild will find a large audience among the growing number of readers of books on meditation. Many people have now had a taste of meditation and are interested in reading more about its history and its relation to the natural world. Readers of books about nature and spirituality will also be drawn to this book.--Jack Kornfield, founding teacher Spirit Meditation Center