Taming the ox

Book Description

In this thoughtful collection, National Book Award winner Charles Johnson weaves together the threads of spiritual practice and creative expression, offering readers a unique perspective on how Buddhist wisdom can illuminate contemporary American life. Drawing from his dual commitment to artistic creation and dharma practice, Johnson presents essays, stories, and reviews that explore the intersection of contemplative spirituality with pressing social and political realities.

The author examines how ancient Buddhist principles can inform modern civic engagement, challenging the notion that spiritual practice requires withdrawal from worldly concerns. Through explorations of enlightened politics and the moral philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Johnson demonstrates how contemplative wisdom can guide ethical action in society. He considers what Buddhist teachings might offer African-American communities in the contemporary era, while also reflecting on the spiritual dimensions of democratic participation.

This collection reveals how one writer has navigated the convergence of American literature, visual arts, and Buddhist dharma throughout his creative journey. Johnson's insights emerge from lived experience rather than abstract theorizing, making complex philosophical concepts accessible to readers seeking practical wisdom. For those interested in how spiritual practice can deepen engagement with social justice and political responsibility, this work offers a compelling framework for understanding activism as an expression of compassionate awareness.

The book serves as both memoir and meditation, inviting readers to consider their own relationship between inner development and outer service.