Zen Unleashed: Everyday Buddhist Wisdom from Man's Best Friend

by Tim Macejak

Sheila the Zen Dog encourages us Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike to find peace through letting go of attachments and learning to be in the moment. Whether pondering the merits of barking versus receiving tummy rubs, considering the similarities between police dogs and show dogs, or sharing secrets of doggie dreams, Sheila uses her natural dog wisdom, haiku poetry, and simple explanations to fetch and deliver a clear and useful summary of Zen Buddhist teachings. Often dubbed The Middle Path, Buddhism as explained by this Zen Dog offers guidance to anyone, regardless of breed.

136 pages, Paperback

First published April 20, 2013

Reviews

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the book Zen Unleashed by Tim Macejak. Tim and his Buddhist dog Sheila explain many aspects of Buddhism with clever, easy to digest, stories.
There is a story in Zen Unleashed about a man who built a raft to cross a river. Once he crossed the river the man concluded that the raft was useful so he kept the raft and carried it around with him. This raft soon became a burden. Much like the raft, your opinions can become burdens if you carry them everywhere you go. The Buddha did not want us to become overly attached to our opinions. If anything in this book does not fit with your opinions, keep an open mind.
Tim Macejak presents Zen as more like a philosophy than a religion; you do not have to be Buddhist to learn from his teachings. I recommend this book to anyone who is willing to learn the philosophy behind Buddhism or to anyone who just wants a good read.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and sweet and full of zen wisdom in doggy haiku.

[Katy Jo Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a great and easy read. It is a book that you can open up randomly and appreciate and understand the content (Each page has a different topic). I'm sort of a sucker for these kind of books, and I'm intrigued to look even deeper into Buddhism.