Every life is a journey. What joys and sorrows will we encounter along the way? What burdens will we bear—and how will we hold them? In True Nature: The Pilgrimage of Peter Matthiessen (Pantheon), Lance Richardson recounts in unflinching detail the extraordinary and varied life of the Soto Zen priest, naturalist, activist, and award-winning author of The Snow Leopard. Drawing from numerous interviews and other original sources, True Nature takes the reader from Matthiessen’s earliest years to his passing in 2014. Through Richardson’s captivating storytelling, we gain an in-depth view into the many dimensions of who Matthiessen was. We get to know his sometimes fraught relationships, his work as a writer, and the environmental causes and social injustices that most compelled him. His connection to Buddhism is a vivid, ever-present thread. “You could call Matthiessen a poet–scientist; the mystical naturalist,” writes Richardson. “He had blind spots, of course, but his way of seeing tended to be bold, capacious, and hopeful.”
“Practice is fundamental to our conscious evolution; we’re always practicing—how to be with ourselves, how to be with each other,” writes Elena Brower in her latest book, Hold Nothing: An Invitation to Let Go and Come Home to Yourself (Shambhala Publications). This contemplative guide presents teachings gathered by Brower over her years of spiritual practice in meditation, yoga, and Reiki—and most recently in Zen, under the guidance of Roshi Joan Halifax at Upaya Zen Center. Each chapter explores themes such as “Opening into Your True Self,” “Bearing Witness,” and “Actualizing Acceptance.” Throughout, Brower shares her insights as a practitioner alongside some of her own most poignant memories—recollections revealing those raw, intimate touchstones of what it means to be human—followed by prompts for the reader to engage with the practice and their own lived experience. Colorful, centering watercolors bookend each chapter, serving as an invitation to pause and reflect on truth beyond words. The back matter includes basic meditation instructions that new practitioners may find helpful.
Depictions of Buddhism in the West often whitewash traditions founded and cultivated by Asians, and Asian American practitioners in particular are frequently stereotyped as “less authentic” followers of the dharma. Emergent Dharma: Asian American Feminist Buddhists on Practice, Identity, and Resistance (North Atlantic Books), a new anthology edited by Sharon A. Suh, challenges assumptions steeped in white supremacist patriarchy. “Each chapter in this volume expands the contours of Buddhism and intentionally blurs the boundaries between what has heretofore been deemed ‘authentic’ or ‘real’ Buddhism by sharing how Buddhism is perceived, received, and practiced differently by Asian Americans,” writes Suh. The many distinct voices of the Asian American women contributors reveal a rich, vibrant Buddhism that defies stereotypes. This work of feminist critical intervention offers recognition, acceptance, and reclamation—and ultimately the possibility of radical transformation.
Many Buddhist practitioners grapple with the concept of rebirth. What is it? How does it work? What does it mean for you and me? The late spiritual leader, poet, and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh spoke frequently on this topic. Selected passages from his teachings—with commentary by editor Brother Phap Luu—are artfully presented in Reincarnation (Parallax Press). “Permanence is an illusion, and the basic mistake is to believe that we have a consciousness, or a soul, that is always the same. Everything is impermanent,” said Thich Nhat Hanh. By employing evocative metaphors and illuminating key Buddhist concepts, he cogently dismantles the idea that any one thing moves through time and space unchanged; instead, he invites the reader to recognize the profound truth of continuation. Spare, elegant ink drawings by Jeanne Fries illustrate several of Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings.
How do Buddhist communities cultivate practices that are welcoming and inclusive to all? Specifically, how can they create compassionate spaces that actively recognize, serve, and support queer and trans ways of being? In Queer Engaged Buddhism (Sumeru), Buddhist scholar and practitioner Kody Muncaster lays essential groundwork for addressing this challenge. By examining traditional texts and concepts through a uniquely queer and engaged Buddhist lens, Muncaster alters and transforms conventional perspectives, potentially revealing previously unseen truths. “One of the gifts of being queer in a world meant for cisgender and heterosexual people,” writes Muncaster, “is that we are attuned to seeing the world with a different set of eyes; things that are nearly imperceptible to the dominant culture are blatantly obvious to us.” To humanize the research, they blend compelling personal experience and observation into more formal scholarly analysis. Relevant practices are included throughout; these have been adapted as needed to make them more inclusive of queer and trans folks.
Mystic Nomad: A Woman’s Wild Journey to True Connection (Monkfish Book Publishing) chronicles the spiritual odyssey of meditation teacher, somatic counselor, and nature mystic Annette Knopp. “I was born with a seeker’s heart and mind,” she writes. “For as long as I can remember, I had an unshakable, nagging urge to pierce through the layers of the known and familiar to realize the underlying truth of existence.” This deeply honest and moving memoir reveals what she discovered along the path—both the shadow and the light. Through her many travels and encounters with spiritual teachers and practices, she experiences subtle and sudden shifts in understanding and awakening. When a trusted guru sexually assaults her, she begins to reckon with the dangers of spiritual bypassing and unpacks the tangled trauma of her past. Applying insights from various wisdom traditions, as well as Western psychology, Knopp charts her own path home to healing, empowerment, and true integration.
Milarepa, Milarepa, Who Are You? (Wisdom Publications) by Sandra Fernandez is a children’s book that tells the inspiring story of Tibet’s most famous yogi and spiritual poet. As a young man, when misfortune befalls his family, Milarepa becomes angry and takes revenge, but then he feels remorse for his actions. Under the guidance of a wise teacher, he learns how to purify his karma. He goes on to practice solitary meditation in a Himalayan cave, where he gains enlightenment and emerges to share his teachings with others. Through clever call-and-response rhymes and artist Maura OConnor’s vibrant illustrations, this bilingual English–Tibetan book invites children to follow along on Milarepa’s journey of transformation. A link to supplemental resources on the publisher’s website includes a parent and teacher’s guide with related exercises and activities.
Inspired by meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg’s seminal book Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness, Kind Karl: A Little Crocodile with Big Feelings (Bala Kids) is a new children’s book by Salzberg and Jason Gruhl (illustrated by Sébastien Mourrain). In this adorable picture book, we meet Karl, a young crocodile navigating big emotions. Karl loves certain things—cardigans, crêpes, and combing his hair—but other things make him angry, leading him to react in ways he later regrets. He begins to think it can’t be helped—after all, he’s a crocodile. But part of him knows that isn’t true. After an especially bad day at school, Karl learns to question his thoughts and discovers how to be kind to himself and others. This charming tale offers wise, helpful takeaways for children and parents alike, with a loving-kindness meditation guide and related activities at the back of the book.
