Mad Monk Manifesto

Book excerpt: The Taoist monk and acclaimed author demonstrates how personal spiritual practice can lead to social change in this manifesto of spiritual activism. It’s easy to get outraged by world events and frustrated by personal battles. It’s much harder to act on that outrage in a positive way. Born of moral indignation and seasoned by a life of self-cultivation, Monk Yun Rou’s Mad Monk Manifesto shares insight, practical advice, and a powerful call to social and political action. Based on ancient Chinese wisdom such as Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, Mad Monk Manifesto demonstrates how effecting change on a grand scale begins with getting to know our own consciousness. As ripples move away from a stone dropped into a pond, Yun Rou begins with our personal lives, discussing diet, exercise, meditation, and mind/body practice. Then it expands to our public environment, describing what we can do to improve our community, government, and the world. In addition, Monk Yun Rou encourages everyone to engage in the nature that surrounds them, showing how environmentalism can take place in daily life. Winner of the Gold Nautilus Book Award