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Zen Cat
How often have we seen cats watching us with intense focus, playing obsessively with a toy, comforting us as they cannily assess our moods, lying calmly in a patch of sunlight? Cats exemplify the essential tenets of Zen philosophy and the desire to find the simple and spiritual in everyday life. They embody utter grace, nonjudgmental devotion, and a sense of spontaneous whimsy. What's more, as we interact with cats, these qualities are reflected back in us.
Zen Cat pairs more than 50 charming black-and-white photographs of cats with simple and inspiring quotes from a variety of A fat cat lying on the floor evokes the statement "A hand-rolled dumpling of heaven and earth; I gulped it down and easily it went"; a picture of a cat up for adoption is accompanied by Buddha's question "If we fail to look after others when they need help, who will look after us?" This ingenious coupling of concepts and images reminds us that even the most finicky of our feline friends have a lot to teach us, if only we take the time to learn.
Zen Cat pairs more than 50 charming black-and-white photographs of cats with simple and inspiring quotes from a variety of A fat cat lying on the floor evokes the statement "A hand-rolled dumpling of heaven and earth; I gulped it down and easily it went"; a picture of a cat up for adoption is accompanied by Buddha's question "If we fail to look after others when they need help, who will look after us?" This ingenious coupling of concepts and images reminds us that even the most finicky of our feline friends have a lot to teach us, if only we take the time to learn.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published November 15, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 29, 2019
Judith Adler matches peaceful pictures of cats with various quotations from throughout history to create "Zen Cat".
It's funny, even though I consider myself a "cat person", I liked Adler's Zen Dog more than this feline version.
Cats are so contained. When you're looking at the photos of the dogs, there's an exuberance or bottled energy there that just doesn't seem to show up for the cats.
However, the book does have beautiful photos and quotations. Take this one from Rumi that is arranged next to a photo of a black cat viewing itself in a mirror: "We are the mirror as well as the face in it. We are tasting the taste this minute of eternity.
Or this one by Buddha which is paired with a cat on an urban street: "There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth: not going all the way, and not starting."
And finally, a simple photo of a grey cat looking directly at the camera: "I love all solitary places, where we taste the pleasure of believing what we see is boundless, as we wish our souls to be." by Percy Bysshe Shelley.
Even though I found the dog version more compelling, cat lovers may still feel the need to have this as a coffee table book. For everybody else, I recommend borrowing it from the library.
It's funny, even though I consider myself a "cat person", I liked Adler's Zen Dog more than this feline version.
Cats are so contained. When you're looking at the photos of the dogs, there's an exuberance or bottled energy there that just doesn't seem to show up for the cats.
However, the book does have beautiful photos and quotations. Take this one from Rumi that is arranged next to a photo of a black cat viewing itself in a mirror: "We are the mirror as well as the face in it. We are tasting the taste this minute of eternity.
Or this one by Buddha which is paired with a cat on an urban street: "There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth: not going all the way, and not starting."
And finally, a simple photo of a grey cat looking directly at the camera: "I love all solitary places, where we taste the pleasure of believing what we see is boundless, as we wish our souls to be." by Percy Bysshe Shelley.
Even though I found the dog version more compelling, cat lovers may still feel the need to have this as a coffee table book. For everybody else, I recommend borrowing it from the library.
August 10, 2018
Super cute and fast inspirational read. But I love kitties so... 😊
November 1, 2025
A quick photography book to flip through, with zen quotes from the Buddha and others . My favorites:
- paradise is where I am
- whatever interests, is interesting
- the truth knocks on the door and you say “go away, I’m looking for the truth” and so it goes away
- penetrating so many secrets, we cease to believe in the unknowable. But there it sits nevertheless, calmly licking its chops
- a hand rolled dumpling of heaven and earth; I’ve gulped it down and easily it went.
- I love all solitary places, where we taste the pleasure of believing what we see is boundless, as we wish our souls to be (Percy Shelley)
- don’t listen to what they say. GO SEE. (Chinese proverb)
- a painting of a rice cake does not satisfy hunger (ancient saying)
- there are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth: not going all the way and not starting
- the great charms of cats is their rampant egotism, their devil-may-care attitude towards responsibility, their disinclination to earn an honest dollar
- travel…is a quest not just for the unknown but the unknowing
- the city of cats and the city of men exist one inside the other, but they are not the same city
- when hungry, eat your rice; when tired, close your eyes. Fools may laugh at me, but wise men will know what I mean.
- even a cat is a lion in her own lair
- paradise is where I am
- whatever interests, is interesting
- the truth knocks on the door and you say “go away, I’m looking for the truth” and so it goes away
- penetrating so many secrets, we cease to believe in the unknowable. But there it sits nevertheless, calmly licking its chops
- a hand rolled dumpling of heaven and earth; I’ve gulped it down and easily it went.
- I love all solitary places, where we taste the pleasure of believing what we see is boundless, as we wish our souls to be (Percy Shelley)
- don’t listen to what they say. GO SEE. (Chinese proverb)
- a painting of a rice cake does not satisfy hunger (ancient saying)
- there are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth: not going all the way and not starting
- the great charms of cats is their rampant egotism, their devil-may-care attitude towards responsibility, their disinclination to earn an honest dollar
- travel…is a quest not just for the unknown but the unknowing
- the city of cats and the city of men exist one inside the other, but they are not the same city
- when hungry, eat your rice; when tired, close your eyes. Fools may laugh at me, but wise men will know what I mean.
- even a cat is a lion in her own lair
November 28, 2015
A nice small collection of black and white photographs of beautiful cats (and what cat is not beautiful) paired with mostly Eastern bits of philosophical wisdom. The sayings are not really my cup of tea, but I can look at cats forever, and endlessly be amused and calmed. The author hit it on the nail when she noted that cats live perfectly in the present. One should not have to endure life without at least once loving a cat.
May 12, 2017
Nice book, pictures were beautiful and the collection of quotes were memorable, didn't alway7s see the connection between the 2 but enjoyable all the same.
June 5, 2021
Nice illustrations, some nice quotes, but nothing extraordinary. A book that no longer needs to be taking up space on my bookshelves.
September 11, 2007
I just love the cat photography in this book.
May 24, 2009
This is a cute little book with nice photography of cats, it would make a nice small gift for cat lovers.
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November 19, 2012
I love cats. Love black cats. Love a Zen lifestyle. Need I say more?
December 6, 2013
Some good pictures and quotes. Nice idea, okay execution. Clearly alot of thought put into it.
December 10, 2015
Gift book.
January 31, 2016
A interesting selection of quotes paired with cat photos.
November 21, 2011
Wonderful photos of cat to go with the sayings of Zen Masters
December 25, 2012
Cats, lots and lots of pictures of cats.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews