Deep Down Things: The Earth in Celebration and Dismay

by Lin Jensen

Overview

Beloved and critically acclaimed author Lin Jensen returns with this bounteous volume exploring what the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins calls "deep down things." Richly informed by deep ecology, Lin's writing explores our intimate connection to the land, to the specificities of place, and to the living earth itself-all as Lin uncovers our own deepest nature, the true heart of what it means to be human. There is much in what's happening in our environment now that can and perhaps should be cause for dismay - and Deep Down Things looks squarely at all of this and nonetheless gives us ample cause for celebration.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780861716111
Publisher:	Wisdom Publications MA
Publication date:	09/14/2010
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Lin Jensen is the critically acclaimed author of the memoir Bad Dog! A Memoir of Love, Beauty, and Redemption in Dark Places and Pavement: Reflections on Mercy, Activism, and Doing "Nothing" for Peace. His first book, Uncovering the Wisdom of the Heartmind, received the Best Nonfiction/Spiritual Book award from Today's Librarian. His prose that has been likened to Steinbeck, and his wonderfully poetic writing has made him one of the most beloved of modern Buddhist writers. He has taught writing in various colleges and universities for over twenty years, and continues to teach Buddhist ethics and practices at Chico State University. He is the founding teacher and senior emeritus teacher of the Chico Zen Sangha, in Chico, California, where he lives with his wife.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Earth: An Introduction 1

Roots 7

Ten Hearts of an Earthworm 13

Sighting the Morning Star 19

Four Truths that Spare the Earth 25

Earth Lineage 35

Having the Lake to Ourselves 45

Getting Rid of the Rabbits 49

By Right of Mercy 53

Buddhist Economics 59

The Nature of Place 63

When Too Many Are Not Enough 71

A Matter of Scale 77

Digging Holes 81

What's Fair 87

Ringing the Bell 91

A Look into the Mirror 95

Kitchen 99

A Gathering of Spirit Like Rainwater 103

Victory Garden 107

The Whole World Is Kin 115

Earth Fear 119

A Most Righteous Horse 123

Scavengers 127

Oh, Beautiful 131

Fruits of Refuse 135

When You Don't Know Who You Are 137

Milking the Cow 141

Witness: An Epilogue 145

Related Material

Real Estate 149

Defending Earth 153

Index 159

About the Author 164

Editorial Reviews

"Jensen writes with a deep understanding of life, the land, and the human spirit."

Chrisopher Moore

"Lin Jensen is an American original. He brings the insights of Buddhism, ecology and memoir together—giving us a way to take it all to heart and make it native."

John Tarrant

"Lin Jensen is the clearest voice in Buddhism. Highly and urgently recommended."

Karen Maezen Miller

"Our Buddhist Thoreau gets deep down into the roots of our disconnection from the earth and from each other—and how we can be healed."

David R. Loy

“Our Buddhist Thoreau gets deep down into the roots of our disconnection from the earth and from each other—and how we can be healed.”—David R. Loy, author of The World is Made of Stories and Money, Sex, War, Karma

“Lin Jensen is an American original. He brings the insights of Buddhism, ecology and memoir together—giving us a way to take it all to heart and make it native.”—John Tarrant, Roshi, author of Bring Me The Rhinoceros & Other Zen Koans That Will Save your Life

“Lin Jensen is the clearest voice in Buddhism. Highly and urgently recommended.”—Karen Maezen Miller, author of Hand Wash Cold and Momma Zen

“Jensen writes with a deep understanding of life, the land, and the human spirit.” —Chrisopher Moore

From the Publisher