The Story of Mu. James
Cordova and Mark Morse. Wisdom Publications MA. April 2016. 64 pp. ISBN#: 9781614292203.
This
short narrative is a picture book that tells the story of the origin of life
and the story of a man who lived a regular life. He finally sat under a tree and meditated
until he was One with matter, space and time. This realization is all that
could free humans from endless searching and suffering. “I am Mu.”
This is a koan (Zen riddle) that can only “be known.” It defies logic,
study, etc.
The
second half of the book contains beautiful illustrations of the story told in
the first part, but it will strike the reader that meditating on each picture
will bring one into that Oneness.
This
is not the kind of book that one rates; one may read it on several levels. Or perhaps one may use it as a meditation
book.
While
those who are familiar with Buddhism will relish this book, non-Buddhist
readers should also cherish its warm, inspirational qualities.
The
authors are both highly trained and practitioners of their respective fields,
Dharma transmission – a school of Zen Buddhism – and art.
I
received this book from Netgalley for a fair and honest review. The story and illustrations are ones I would
definitely recommend to other readers to enjoy and ponder!
