Zen Dog (Hardcover)

by Judith Adler (Author), Toni Tucker (Author) "Dogs don't simply have Buddha nature: Their very dogginess is Buddha nature..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
While scores of books have expounded upon the spiritual qualities of man's best friend (why do so many writers think that they are the first to come up with the not-so-profound thought that "dog" is "God" spelled backwards?), Zen Dog is unusual in exploring the topic from a Buddhist perspective. The canine stars of this gift book are pictured in black-and-white photographs by Toni Tucker; the portraits are imaginatively paired with quotes from Buddhist, Taoist and other sources. Compiler Judith Atler calls dogs "furry, slobbering, barking, begging, shedding little Zen masters" who almost perfectly embody Buddha nature. While some serious Buddhists may dismiss the book as pure fluff, perhaps it will inspire others to appreciate the nirvanic qualities of the perfect Frisbee catch.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
Find enlightenment at the end of a leash with this delightful look at the Buddha nature of our canine companions.
An afternoon nap in a patch of sunlight, a meandering walk in the woods, a full-body shake to greet another soul. No other creature displays the joy of living in the moment quite like a dog or exhibits the unquestioning devotion, honesty, and sheer selflessness that is the essence of the Buddha nature. Zen Dog celebrates this great truth, bringing koans and canines together for the first time.

Inspiring quotations from the Buddha, Lao Tzu, and other Zen masters are paired with charming black-and-white photographs of dogs that illuminate the message. A dog wagging its tail in the breeze, for example, provides a surprisingly apt answer to the age-old question, “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” And the image of a family pet awaiting a tasty table scrap offers a whole new perspective on the saying, “If you know the power of a generous heart, you will not let a single meal pass without giving to others.”

The perfect gift for dog lovers and spiritual seekers, Zen Dog might even prove who the true “masters” in pet-owner relationships really are.


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Product Details

• Hardcover: 108 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter; 1 edition (September 18, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609608797
• ISBN-13: 978-0609608791
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 6.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #929,392 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cute little book, February 9, 2002

By A Customer

As every dog owner knows, dogs live completely in the moment. It seems entirely fitting for a book like this to reveal the members of the canine kingdom for the happy little Buddhas that they are, through 50 black-and-white photographs paired with quotes from various Zen sources. I also highly recommend another little book of Eastern wisdom titled "Open Your Mind, Open Your Life" by Taro Gold which is filled with hundreds of insightful quotes to inspire and enlighten.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars LOVING CANINE BUDDHAS!, November 29, 2001

By	Sandra D. Peters "Seagull Books" (Prince Edward Island, Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Being a devoted follower of Buddhist Philosophies, this book totally captured my heart. Filled with lots of photographs and Zen quotations which seem so fitting of the canine world, this book will give you plenty of smiles and bring sunshine to your day. These devoted Buddhas of the animal kingdom know better than anyone the meaning of compassion, loyalty, unconditional love and living with a kind heart. They give so much and expect so little. Our canine friends can teach us an endless amount about what is important in life and what is very insignificant, if only we would take the time to stop, listen and observe. The only downside of the book was that it contained too few pages in number and coloured photographs would certainly have given the book higher quality and appeal, even if the end result was a higher price tag.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Nice Gift Book for the Dog Lover, June 24, 2002

By	M. Allen Greenbaum (California) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This slim volume contains some excellent photos of dogs with Zen and other Eastern-inspired quotes on the facing pages. For example, opposite a picture of a very majestic German Shepherd holding a leash in his mouth is the quote "Mastering others is strength, mastering yourself is true power." -Lao Tzu/Tao Te Ching. All quotes are attributed to their sources, and there is a list of the pictured dog breeds at the back (unfortunately the pages are not numbered). Some quotes are from the Tao, others from Buddha ("The fool who knows he is a fool is that much wiser. The fool who thinks he is wise is a fool indeed," opposite a quizzical looking mixed), Sanskrit, and individuals as diverse as Goethe, Rumi, Robert Persig, and the Dalai Lama.

It is slightly annoying that some quotes are cited only to the names of other books (e.g.," Zen Flesh, Zen Bones," "The Little Zen Companion."). The book doesn't completely elucidate the dog-Zen equation in its brief introduction, but this is obviously more for dog lovers than for serious students of Eastern religion and philosophy. A few photos could have better arranged or focused (and once in a while a quote seems a bit forced onto the picture), but overall this is a funny, calming, and sweet book that will speak to your inner dog. The nicely formatted book has 107 pages (including photos), and can be perused for light humor as well as insight.