Waking Up and Growing Up: Spiritual Cross-Training for an Evolving World

Hamilton and Wilson (coauthors of Compassionate Conversations) draw on their experience as Zen Buddhist teachers and conflict mediators for this solid guide to fostering a “spirituality with teeth.” Citing the value of a pragmatic spiritual approach—one that builds skills to help others rather than simply healing oneself—the authors highlight such strategies as building community and forging stronger bonds with others through questioning, active listening, and reframing. Exploring how the principles behind meditation inspire communal practices, they compare seeking “oneness” with the world to finding common ground during conflicts, and describe how people can get in touch with their body and emotions to interact with others more intentionally. Throughout, the authors condense Zen teachings into a beginner-friendly overview that can feel repetitive at times, but they pepper the account with memorable bits of wisdom (“It takes time to discover the timeless”). Newbie practitioners will find the most value here. (June)