The Zen Of Cat

There's no doubt cats are a meaningful feature of Japanese life: from folklore to fashion, they've left a giant paw print on the culture. It's believed that felines first appeared in Japan with the arrival of Buddhism via China in around 552, when their main role was to stop vermin from damaging scriptures. But what can we learn from these philosophical felines? Surely they can teach us a thing or two, through the wisdom gleaned over the centuries residing in ancient temples and co-existing with artists, courtesans, monks and writers. The Zen of Cat is interwoven with stories and facts about cats, Japan and Zen philosophy. Carla Francis includes discussions with Japanese cat lovers, and invites reflection and 'mindful mewsings' on life through an A-Z of Japanese words to inspire. Cats are unburdened by worry. They maintain an enviable equilibrium. Maybe we can too?

An entertaining and fascinating look at the wisdom and mindfulness Japanese culture has drawn from a great connection with and love of cats. There's no doubt cats are a meaningful feature of Japanese life: from folklore to fashion, they've left a giant paw print on the culture. It's believed that felines first appeared in Japan with the arrival of Buddhism via China in around 552, when their main role was to stop vermin from damaging scriptures. But what can we learn from these philosophical felines? Surely they can teach us a thing or two, through the wisdom gleaned over the centuries residing in ancient temples and co-existing with artists, courtesans, monks and writers. The Zen of Cat is interwoven with stories and facts about cats, Japan and Zen philosophy. Carla Francis includes discussions with Japanese cat lovers, and invites reflection and 'mindful mewsings' on life through an A-Z of Japanese words to inspire. Cats are unburdened by worry. They maintain an enviable equilibrium. Maybe we can too?

From one of America's bestselling humor writers comes a New Age take on our feline friends that is destined to become a classic. A must for cat owners who yearn to understand the feline psyche, this witty and laugh-out-loud funny book is Henry Beard at his best.

"Does a cat have a Buddha-nature?" "Mew!" "What is the sound of one can opening?" "Door open--stay in! Door close--go out!" "Fur is emptiness, & emptiness is fur." These are just a few of the Zen riddles that any cat solves with an insouciant flick of the tail as he pads down the path to Enlightenment. With chapters such as "Zen Fish, Zen Bones," "The Ten Sacred String-Chasing Pictures," "Nine Lives of Buddha," & "The Secret Transmission of Bodhipurrma," ZEN FOR CATS will delight all those who've survived the strict master-disciple relationship that cats use to lead us humans to the Truth. Deft ink-wash paintings capture the essence of cats in contemplation: practicing the "three pillars" of Za-Zen, Za-Snack, & Za-Nap; & reveal the best-kept secrets of the esoteric art of litter-box sand raking. Whether you are the Host or the Guest to a feline follower of the Way, you will find ZEN FOR CATS transcendent.

How often have we seen cats watching us with intense focus, playing obsessively with a toy, comforting us as they cannily assess our moods, lying calmly in a patch of sunlight? Cats exemplify the essential tenets of Zen philosophy and the desire to find the simple and spiritual in everyday life. They embody utter grace, nonjudgmental devotion, and a sense of spontaneous whimsy. What's more, as we interact with cats, these qualities are reflected back in us. Zen Cat pairs more than 50 charming black-and-white photographs of cats with simple and inspiring quotes from a variety of sources: A fat cat lying on the floor evokes the statement "A hand-rolled dumpling of heaven and earth; I gulped it down and easily it went"; a picture of a cat up for adoption is accompanied by Buddha's question "If we fail to look after others when they need help, who will look after us?" This ingenious coupling of concepts and images reminds us that even the most finicky of our feline friends have a lot to teach us, if only we take the time to learn.

Zen Cat Mindfulness Readers of Start With Why, You Are Here and Whatever You Are, Be A Good One will love the quotes and teachings of Zen Cats Advice from Zen Leaders: Join some cuddly kittens for a collection of sayings from the Buddha in Zen Cats. Don’t let the adorable cats fool you—they have plenty of mindfulness wisdom to share in the form of quotes and verses. These timeless verses, taken from the Dhammapada, will continue to be helpful and relevant to your life for years to come. Daily Mindfulness: Meditate along with these verses daily to gain a greater understanding of you, your life and your purpose. Learn from the clever cat to be true in body and mind. If you appreciated the mindfulness encouragement from Peace Is Every Step, The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching and Together Is Better, you will love the quotes in Zen Cats. Let your inner Zen Cat guide you to enlightenment.