From a respected Zen teacher, a contemporary take on the paramitas, six traditional practices for cultivating compassion and wisdom–a path of deep hope in the face of personal trouble and societal crisis.

Every day seems to bring news of cruelty and pain from around the world. Amidst the barrage of the daily news cycle and the tumult of our personal lives, it may be natural to contract out of fear or anxiety. But is there a way to face our lives and the world without closing off our hearts? There is such a path, says Zen teacher Diane Rizzetto. Exploring the Buddhist teaching of the six paramitas or perfections, she writes of a path to reveal our deepest human capacity to give and receive, to patiently bear witness to whatever is arising in the moment, to take skillful action based on clarity and wisdom, to persevere with fortitude, and to rest in the silent stillness of each breath. Combining Zen teachings with accessible anecdotes from her own life and the lives of her many students, Rizzetto demonstrates the possibility of living with a hopefulness that is grounded in the present moment–a path of spiritual nourishment and deepening wisdom.