"This beautifully-told account of an individual’s journey to living in the moment with an intelligent heart (kokoro) is an illuminating joy."
After experiencing devastating losses and midlife malaise, Japanologist Beth Kempton embarked on a monumentally transformative journey that’s here shared in enlightening style. Positing answers to life’s big questions through the lens of kokoro — a word that’s “been alive in the Japanese language since before there was a system to write it down” — it’s a beautiful book, and might just change the way you think about life, death, and time.
Kokoro is pithily summed up by this statement: “When we approach life heart-mindfully, we experience the joy of arranging flowers, while understanding we are never really just arranging flowers.” In essence, kokoro “is the intelligent heart, which communicates our innate wisdom and responds to the world in the present moment”. Or, in the words of a wise nun the author encounters during her journey: “your job is to take care of now, as well as you can."
Encompassing three mountains (Hagurosan, mountain of the present and earthly desires; Gassan, mountain of death and the past; and Yudonosan, mountain of rebirth and the future), this shares the sublime power of stillness and living in the moment. As such, Kokoro comes hugely recommended for readers who are looking to lead more fulfilling lives through living with intentionality, gratitude and a mindful heart, free from societal pressure and expectations.
| Primary Genre | Health & Fitness |
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