Mindfully Green: A Personal and Spiritual Guide to Whole Earth Thinking

by Stephanie Kaza

With all the attention on living sustainably, the one thing missing from the conversation is how to find a personal connection with green living that will sustain us on our green path. While practical approaches to an eco-responsible lifestyle offer important first steps, it is critical that we ground these actions in broader understanding so that we can effect real change in the world.

In this book, Stephanie Kaza describes what she calls the “green practice path.” She offers a simple, Buddhist-inspired philosophy for taking up environmental action in real, practical, and effective ways. Discover new ways to think more deeply about your impact on the natural world, engage in environmental change, and make green living a personal practice based in compassion and true conviction.

Genres: Buddhism, Nonfiction, Environment, Spirituality, Green

144 pages, Paperback

First published November 11, 2008

Reviews

[Marghe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Questo libro è una vera perla! Una visione dell'ambiente con un approccio buddhista, che porta la persona a intraprendere la via verde con un atteggiamento calmo e determinato. Era proprio ciò che cercavo da lungo tempo. I problemi ambientali e le conseguenze che ne derivano diventano sempre più evidenti ai nostri occhi col tempo che passa, ma le azioni da parte nostra non sembrano ancora abbastanza tempestivi. C'è bisogno di maggior azione, e per una maggior azione dobbiamo essere tutti ad agire per cambiare la rotta. Ma dobbiamo rimanere anche calmi, essere pacifici e aperti a dialoghi. Non possiamo sfociare nella rabbia e nella violenza, non possiamo cadere nella disperazione e nello sconforto. Non possiamo perdere la fiducia e la determinazione.
Consiglierei tanto questo libro a chiunque, tutti dobbiamo agire per il ben-essere di tutti.

[Constant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up because of a recommendation from a professor. The prof taught a course called Voluntary Simplicity. It changed my life.
This book is soo informative & lovely. She touches on her own and others experiences with 'living green'. This book made me feel a connectedness to something I have not felt in a long time, if ever. The connectedness to life, simple and satisfying; not the daily rush and grind of making money and acquiring 'stuff'. Kaza's book really opened my eyes to a lot of things I find imperative in my life now; conscious eating, spiritual consciousness, & making positive daily decisions thoughtfully instead of automatically. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested or already involved in Whole-Earth thinking :)

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I’ve read this year. Higlighted the heck our of this too haha I picked this up from my dad’s shelf and I’m so glad I did. This book talks about the green path in a non-intimidating way. So many great points in this book and I hope everyone gets a chance to read this too.

[Rayn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little too hippie for me but good points

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, kind book. The author is a professor of environmental studies at the University of Vermont, and a practicing Zen Buddhist. In this book, she is encouraging people to combine the insights of Buddhism with environmental 'activism' through cultivating inner peace, finding a sangha of like-minded eco-hippies, and seeing the beauty and fragility of the world around us, all while being honest about our place in it. I found this book to be utterly delightful. As a person who is deeply concerned about the planet on which I live, and on the long-term stability of the civilization I live in, there is a lot to think about in Professor Kaza's gentle words of wisdom. Great stuff. Much to ponder.

[Juta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nope. I only got about a third of the way through this one. I'm a practical person, I believe in science and action. Maybe this book brushes on that, but all the stuff about spirituality just had me screaming, "Bullshit! You got some exercise and the endorphins made you care less about the trees!" and other such pearls of wisdom. Not the book for me...

[Damien · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful book. I cannot recommend it enough to anyone who is interested in protecting the environment or Buddhism. My full review is here.

[Tatiana]

I love this book, and it isn't just because I love Stephanie Kaza. This is one of the first books I have read that honestly addresses the connections between personal sustainability and global sustainability. This was a great prep for diving into my Intro to Environmental Studies class.

[Mike Dettinger]

I always wish I got more out of these kinds of books, but alas I don't get much from them...not that the content isn't good, but I guess I don't have a visual input for spiritual matters.

[Celeste Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This should be the Bible for the earth. You can only read it in short spurts and it's hard to understand.

[Cordula Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book .
I would truly recommend reading it.