Buddha In A Teacup (Hardcover)

by Todd Walton (Author) "Each morning on her way from the subway to her office in the pyramid building, Cheryl passes hundreds of beggars..." (more)
Key Phrases: San Francisco, Boo Boo, Animal Control

Editorial Reviews

Review
"I am much taken by the beauty and abundance of these elegant, sharply-etched epiphanies. The Buddha spirit walks through these stories like a grand master passing from board to board in a hall of stalemates, resolving every one." -- William Carpenter, author of Rain and The Hours of Morning

"It is truly wonderful to find stories such as these, with their subtlety, delicacy, and beauty, reminiscent of the best haiku poetry--each one a thought-provoking gem." -- Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of Tribe of Tiger, The Animal Wife, and The Old Way

"Todd Walton's quietly told tales fill me with joy. How glad I am to share the world with such an amazing spirit and gifted writer!" -- James Norwood Pratt, author of The New Tea Lover's Treasury

I am much taken by the beauty and abundance of these
elegant, sharply-etched epiphanies. The Buddha spirit walks through these stories like a grand master passing from board to board in a hall of stalemates, resolving every one. --William Carpenter, author of Rain and The Hours of Morning

It is truly wonderful to find stories such as these, with their subtlety, delicacy and beauty, reminiscent of the best haiku poetry each one a thought-provoking gem. --Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of The Tribe of Tiger and The Old Way

Todd Walton s quietly told tales fill me with joy. How glad I am to share the world with such an amazing spirit and gifted writer! --James Norwood Pratt, author of The New Tea Lover s Treasury

Product Description
Inspired by the teachings of the Buddha, these forty-two contemporary short stories will uplift and inspire modern-day readers, who needn t have interest in Buddhist spiritual practice nor be familiar with Buddhist jargon to derive full enjoyment from reading them. The tales express universal human predicaments and challenges that transcend any particular philosophical or religious orientation. Some of the stories are humorous, some sad, some erotic, some enigmatic; all are linked by the themes of mindfulness, nonviolence, honesty, compassion, forgiveness, generosity, and love perhaps the greatest remaining hope for our otherwise savage society.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Lost Coast Press; 1st edition (February 17, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1882897951
• ISBN-13: 978-1882897957
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #465,391 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars little snippets of life, May 27, 2008

By	Meade Fischer (Santa Cruz, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Like little snippets of life, Walton's short gems capture the soul of a situation and tell the reader all he or she really needs to know about the characters and the situation. Each two to five page story in Buddha in a Tea Cup is a tiny world unto itself, and each presents characters during a small moment of epiphany.
Like sitting in a park, quietly observing the lives that pass you by, reading this book allows one a peek into the human condition as played out in individual daily dramas, and to catch these ordinary people at a time when they look up for a moment, and realize something basic about their lives.

With an economy of words, Todd Walton paints these little scenes, without preaching or driving home his point with a hammer. Like a Zen Buddhist meal, these stories leave you satisfied, but not gorged.

Meade Fischer

5.0 out of 5 stars Written in a way to be appreciated by even secular readers, May 6, 2008

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

The middle path - the path between total indulgence and total denial in order to find peace in life, one of the central themes of Buddhism. "Buddha in a Teacup: Tales of Enlightenment" is a compilation of over forty short stories each focusing on an aspect of the Buddhist dharma, the teachings emphasized by the Buddha. Stories humorous, erotic, mysterious, and sad alike all bound by common themes of mindfulness, love, patience, and other important themes to Buddhists. One doesn't have to be a Buddhist to enjoy "Buddha in a Teacup: Tales of Enlightenment", as it was written in a way to be appreciated by even secular readers. Highly recommended to short story collections and Buddhist studies shelves.

5.0 out of 5 stars Quietly Walton, May 3, 2008

By	Nolan Winkler "New Mexico artist" (Hillsboro, NM, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Have read all of Todd Walton's novels. All wonderful reads. BUDDHA IN A TEACUP, comprised of many short stories with a Buddist bent, is another great read from a talented writer! I am a reader who doesn't usually choose to read short stories but since it is a Walton book, I bought it and was delighted with each story. I'd love to read more about many of these characters. Some of the them I recognized from other of his reads which made it even more fun (to think I was 'in' the know somehow). In any case, this would make a great gift for anyone who loves to read....loves real character studies, even in a short story format. Bravo, Mr. Walton. And I would suggest to anyone who reads this that they get hold of (ie: buy) more of his books for many hours of fabulous entertainment!