Zen Soup (Compass) [Paperback]

Laurence G. Boldt (Author)

Book Description

Series: Compass | Publication Date: November 1, 1997

If, as the I Ching says, thoughts are spirits, then this collection of highly distilled thoughts from history's greatest philosophers and religious figures will certainly put you in good spirits. Laurence Boldt has long made a practice of applying Zen principles to everyday life. Here he applies wisdom from all corners of the world to twenty-five aspects, or qualities, associated with the Zen tradition. The result is a soup of the most hearty and wholesome kind, well-seasoned with age, and filled with delicious surprises:

You'll also find Flip Wilson on living in the moment; Will Rogers on the beginner's mind; Helen Keller on courage; Chekhov on self-confidence; and Colette on joy. Each chapter includes an entertaining and informative essay that explains the principle and its application to Zen wisdom. The rest is up to you. Read it in one gulp or savor each morsel. Either way, Zen Soup is sure to whet your spiritual appetite as it nourishes your soul.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (November 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140195602
• ISBN-13: 978-0140195606
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #143,960 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An enlightening blow to the head!, April 1, 2002

By 

Tim Burness (Brighton, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zen Soup (Compass) (Paperback)

Laurence G. Boldt has put together a first class selection of quotes from a wide range of famous men and women, each of them known for some kind of exceptional human achievement. As Boldt says, "the diversity of the sources highlights the timeless and universal nature of these principles", so there are many Westerners quoted aswell as more traditional Zen Eastern sources.

The book is divided into 25 different sections, each of them covering a quality associated with the Zen tradition e.g. Be Here Now, Beginner's Mind, Responsibility, Compassion, Joy, Discipline, The Game Of Life, Selfless Service, Letting Go, Everyday Zen. There is a brief introduction to each quality, then a selection of associated quotes.

Many readers of self-development books and spiritual ideas will be familiar with some of these sayings, but as befits the Zen emphasis, the quality and depth of these quotes really makes an impact. Some of the people quoted several times are Krishnamurti, Confucius, Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Einstein, Lao-Tzu, Goethe, Carl Jung, Albert Camus and texts from every major religion.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational, February 22, 2011

By 

Alsta - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zen Soup (Compass) (Paperback)

This book is filled with very inspirational and moving quotes. It is one of my favorite books and I find myself reading over it every week or so because I just really love it! I definitely think it is worth the purchase!

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zen 101: Zen made fun and easy, November 25, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Zen Soup (Compass) (Paperback)

This book is all quotations from Seneca & Sun-Tzu to William Blake & Noel Coward and many more. This is one of my favorite books and I recommend it to anyone.