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Images of Zen

review by Marie-Claire Wilson

Dr. Miriam Levering is professor of religious studies at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Her numerous international teaching posts have included Namata Lecturer in Buddhism, University of London, and Visiting Scholar, Department of Religious Studies, Stanford University.

Lucien Stryk is the prize-winning author, translator, and editor of numerous volumes of poetry and edited collections, including The Awakened Self: Encounters with Zen (1995), Cage of Fireflies: Modern Japanese Haiku (1993) and the Penguin Book of Zen Poetry (1987). He lives in Dekalb, Illinois.

Merely by reading their book, “Zen Images, Texts, and Teachings,” you can de-stress and become more calm. This delightful book is a reflection of souls in balance. Zen is a Mahayana Buddhist sect, introduced into China in the 6th century C.E. and brought to prominence by the Japanese in the 12th century. Zen focuses on self-mastery through a rigorous daily spiritual discipline. Zen also aims at achieving enlightenment by intuitive insights gained directly through meditation and self-contemplation rather than through scriptures.

This beautifully-illustrated book is filled with photos of superbly serene landscapes accompanied by poems based on ancient spiritual principles. Thus in their book, the authors approach Zen in a way that is both philosophical and esthetic. Here, the Universe becomes a space where meditation and self-contemplation can occur in conjunction, thus to better lead us along our path to harmony and tranquility. Nature is demonstrated as a true tool to aid us in meditation that is more effective, that can elevate us to a higher spiritual evolution as well as to better intuitive insights.

One of the poetic quotes about nature really caught my attention: “You ask why I live alone in the mountain forest, and I smile and am silent until even my soul grows quiet. It lives in the other world, one that no one owns. The peach trees blossom. The water continues to flow.” Li Po (701 -762)

The contemplative experience of this book, with its beautiful photographs and expressive poetic passages and quotes, provides us with a communion with nature and a feeling of well-being. Nature is also a source of physical, mental, and spiritual regeneration. To show this is one of the reasons the authors created this book. To judge by my enjoyment of this book, and the feeling of calm that came with reading it, the authors were successful.

Marie-Claire Wilson, author and creator of
The Spiritual Tarot: The Keys to The Divine Temple
is a bilingual writer, workshop presenter, and
offers private readings at The Inner Space. Call 404-252-4540.