ROAD SAGE; By Sylvia Boorstein; Sounds True Audio, Original material, one cassette (one hour, 20 minutes), $11.95, read by the author, available in bookstores.

Buddhist teacher, author and inspirational speaker Sylvia Boorstein has always taken a sensible and humorous approach to life. In this outing, available only on audio, Boorstein looks at the widespread and rather unhealthful problems of road rage and inattentiveness while driving.

Boorstein, a natural storyteller, went into the studio without a script and simply recorded her ideas about being peaceful and aware in the car. She was inspired to do so after witnessing the aftermath of an ugly accident. She assumes you are listening to her tape while driving and gently guides you through several exercises aimed at teaching awareness. They are simple to follow, and you may be surprised at how well they work.

Sounding sweet and homey, Boorstein could be your grandmother or a friendly neighbor. With her easy, low-key manner and upbeat attitude, she cannot help but charm you. She often uses stories from her own life and small parables to illustrate a point, giving her words added meaning.

The one small flaw with the production is Boorstein’s use of Buddhist terminology. She assumes that all listeners understand such terms as “dharma” (Buddhist teachings), which is not always the case.

A bonus is the cassette “In Their Own Words.” This 70-minute tape contains excerpts from 12 authors who regularly record for Sounds True Audio, such as Thich Nhat Hanh, Caroline Myss, Marion Woodman and Jack Kornfield. The subjects are mainly meditation, spiritualism and inner peace.