Karen Maezen Miller

Part memoir, part zen manual, PARADISE IN PLAIN SIGHT is a beautiful offering of wisdom, knowledge, and inspiration. I love the duality that comes through so clearly in Karen Maezen Miller's writing. She's not a master gardener, but she loves tending to her garden. She's not a zen guru, but she's passionate about zen.

This book shines as a great example of the author practicing what she preaches... there is no "one" answer. No perfect way to do anything. All we've got is this moment, where show more our lives unfold.

Every time I picked up this book, I felt enveloped in the sense of calm, peace, and ease that continued to linger throughout the day. Reading PARADISE IN PLAIN SIGHT was a beautiful experience, and one I'm very grateful to have had. show less

Momma Zen is a book I picked up on the recommendation of a friend and fellow mother and I will never be able to thank her enough for it. Miller is a mother and recently converted Buddhist Priest whose perspective will alter your own views on how to handle everyday occurrences. She shares experiences that the reader can connect to even in the event they have never had a child of their own. During my own journey through this book I have found greater peace and comfort and feel better equipped show more to handle the challenges that come my way.Every mother or future mother I know will be receiving a copy of this book. I can hardly begin to explain how inept you feel as a new mother (even the second time around) and Miller helped me to know that I am not alone in my feelings. She shares experiences that make you laugh out loud, but in almost every chapter I also found myself crying. From the actual experience of having a child to caring for and loving my own, I finally have begun to understand that I am not alone.This is a book that I would also recommend to anyone seeking more peace in their own lives. Miller discusses how she handled the loss of her mother and how it affected the way she cared for those around her. Her writing and explanation of this one experience is beautiful beyond words. If you are interested in learning more about meditation I would read this book, because she offers advice even to those with only a few minutes to spare. There is even a "When you need a little help" section in the back of the book referencing each chapter with a subject to refer to, brilliant.Momma Zen is a beautiful book that breathes new life into its readers. I give it a 10 out of 10. I plan on rereading it over and over again as I grow older to see how my perspective changes. show less

I read this as a preview to giving it to my daughter--a collection of essays about being a new mother and learning to parent from the heart. The first part of the book was pleasant but I didn't relate to it much. Has it been that long since I had a young child? Or was I that different?
By the middle of this short book, I started underlining parts I wanted to go back to, words of wisdom, apt phrases to remind me of how to live.
Miller points out that raising a child who has compassion, show more self-respect, and creativity requires that we pay attention to fostering these in ourselves. Then she shows us how she uses ordinary situations with her daughter as her own reminder to live that way.
By all means, get this book. While spending your time reading may not be zen (living your life in the present, tending to the work that comes to you), the brief essays can get us back on track. show less

I really enjoyed Momma Zen, but this latest one didn't strike much of a chord with me. For someone who is all about detachment, it struck me as self-centered and memoir-ish.