Uri Kaplan is a writer, translator, and scholar of Asian religions. He holds a PhD from Duke University and lectures at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Haifa University. He published a number of academic journal articles on Buddhism and Confucianism, and is author of Buddhist Apologetics in East Asia (Brill, 2019) and Monastic Education in Korea (University of Hawai'i Press, 2020).
Stories have the power to change us--to help us learn and grow, and to help us help others do the same. In this inspiring collection of tales from the East, Uri Kaplan provides us a precious treasure that can help us find more fulfillment, more joy, in our lives. This book is ideal for teachers, parents, or anyone who simply wants to be happier. Tal Ben-Shahar, cofounder of Happiness Studies Academy and author of Happier. In this illuminating anthology, Kaplan (Buddhist Apologetics in East Asia), lecturer at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, brings together 49 parables from East Asia and India. Though many of these stories, like A Piggyback Ride (a lesson in letting go of the past), will be familiar to readers interested in Buddhism, Kaplan's articulations of them flow well and move briskly to key points. Publishers Weekly review. One of the joys of these wise tales is that they can easily be shared, and I expect that the stories Kaplan has collected here will illuminate many future conversations with friends. A few of the stories I loved; some of them are touching (like The Mouse King), some are nuggets of wisdom, and some are downright funny. Ultimately, what you get from Wise Tales From the East will depend mostly on your own reflection. The stories in Kaplan's book will provide fodder for years. Readers' Favorite review This insightful book takes you on a journey, beautifully demonstrating some of the simple truths of our human existence. I look forward to using the stories in therapy and in teaching. Michal Kahn PhD, Clinical Psychologist.