Zen Art for Meditation

One copy of this elegant book lives in my backpack. On a 15-day walk through Wales, I used the 15 tenets -- around which the book is organized -- one each day, as the focus for that day's experiences. Holmes's Zen tenets enriched this hike immeasurably. The insights connecting text, art, and haiku are freshly realized with each meditative dip into this timeless book.

I bought my copy of this small treasure fifteen years ago, and few books have ever worn so well. It is as fresh and beautiful for me today as when I first read it. The book is divided into fifteen chapters, each devoted to a central tenet of Zen Buddhism, which is then elaborated upon through the presentation of several Chinese or Japanese paintings and a number of haiku, all of which are masterfully related to the tenet through a simple prose explantion. The tone is often light and playful, but the insights are profound, and the various parts of the book flow together flawlessly. It is a true pleasure to have and to read. You can't go wrong here.

Mr Holmes lives here in my town. It helps to be able to talk to him. The ideas are universal and transcend time.

A wonderful little book, for those intertested in zen and haiku and Asian art. We in introduced to the inter-connectedness of the haiku poets and the paintings, which reflect the spirt of enlightenment. Contains many of the great haiku of the past. An excellent starter book for someone who is curious about zen, and also a fine refresher course for the long-time student of Eastern thought. I've bought many copies as gifts for friends. Highly recommended