Buddhism for Bears

Book review
by Miriam Solon

I just got the book Buddhism for Bears as a gift. This is a small book (available in both hard-and soft-bound versions) of illustrations and thoughts from the Dhammapada, the Eightfold Path and various sutras.

The authors (Chris Riddell and Claire Nielson) are British, so there is a sensiblity that runs from wry to twisted, with one spread that owes more to "Blazing Saddles" than to Monty Python. The bears are shown in varying stages of spiritual development, most at the householder/foolish-being end, while the texts speak of the lofty ideals of the path of sages.

The contrasts and paradoxes make for a suite of crescendoing laughter. This book reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously as it brings the teachings home to us who are caught up in just managing our lives.