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Zen Masters of China: The First Step East
by Richard Bryan Mcdaniel Albert Low[Zen Masters of China presents more than 300 traditional Zen stories and koans, far more than any other collection. Retelling them in their proper place in Zen's historical journey, it also tells a larger story: how, in taking the first step east from India to China, Buddhism began to be Zen.]The stories of Zen are unlike any other writing, religious or otherwise. Used for centuries by Zen teachers as aids to bring about or deepen the experience of awakening, they have a freshness that goes beyond religious practice and a mystery and authenticity that appeal to a wide range of readers.[Placed in chronological order, these stories tell the story of Zen itself, how it traveled from West to East but also how it was transformed in that journey, from an Indian practice to something different in China (Ch'an) and then more different still in Japan (Zen). The fact that its transmission was so human, from teacher to student in a long chain from West to East, meant that the cultures it passed through inevitably changed it.Zen Masters of China is first and foremost a collection of mind-bending Zen stories and their wisdom. More than that, without academic pretensions or baggage, it recounts the genealogy of Zen Buddhism in China and, through the stories themselves, illuminates how Zen became what it is today.]
Zen Masters of China
by Richard Bryan Mcdaniel Albert Low[Zen Masters of China presents more than 300 traditional Zen stories and koans, far more than any other collection. Retelling them in their proper place in Zen's historical journey, it also tells a larger story: how, in taking the first step east from India to China, Buddhism began to be Zen.]The stories of Zen are unlike any other writing, religious or otherwise. Used for centuries by Zen teachers as aids to bring about or deepen the experience of awakening, they have a freshness that goes beyond religious practice and a mystery and authenticity that appeal to a wide range of readers.[Placed in chronological order, these stories tell the story of Zen itself, how it traveled from West to East but also how it was transformed in that journey, from an Indian practice to something different in China (Ch'an) and then more different still in Japan (Zen). The fact that its transmission was so human, from teacher to student in a long chain from West to East, meant that the cultures it passed through inevitably changed it.Zen Masters of China is first and foremost a collection of mind-bending Zen stories and their wisdom. More than that, without academic pretensions or baggage, it recounts the genealogy of Zen Buddhism in China and, through the stories themselves, illuminates how Zen became what it is today.]
Zen Masters of Japan
by Richard Bryan McdanielZen Masters of Japan is the second book in a series that traces Zen's profoundly historic journey as it spread eastward from China and Japan, toward the United States. Following Zen Masters of China, this book concentrates on Zen's significant passage through Japan. More specifically, it describes the lineage of the great teachers, the Pioneers who set out to enlighten an island ready for an inner transformation based on compassionate awareness.While the existing Buddhist establishment in Japan met early Zen pioneers like Dogen and Eisai with fervent resistance, Zen Buddhism ultimately perservered and continued to become further transformed in its passage through Japan. The Japanese culture and Japanese Buddhism practices further deepened and strengthened Zen training by combining it with a variety of esoteric contemplative arts-the arts of poetry, the tea ceremony, calligraphy, and archery. Zen Masters of Japan chronicles this journey, and shows how the new practices soon gained in popularity among all walks of life-from the lowly peasant, offering a hope of reincarnation and a better life; to the Samurai warrior due to its casual approach to death; to the ruling classes, challenging the intelligentsia because of its scholarly roots. A collection of Zen stories, meditation, and their wisdom, Zen Masters of Japan also explores the illusive state of 'No Mind' achieved in Japan that is so fundamental to Zen practices today.
Zen Masters of Japan
by Richard Bryan McdanielZen Masters of Japan is the second book in a series that traces Zen's profoundly historic journey as it spread eastward from China and Japan, toward the United States. Following Zen Masters of China, this book concentrates on Zen's significant passage through Japan. More specifically, it describes the lineage of the great teachers, the Pioneers who set out to enlighten an island ready for an inner transformation based on compassionate awareness.While the existing Buddhist establishment in Japan met early Zen pioneers like Dogen and Eisai with fervent resistance, Zen Buddhism ultimately perservered and continued to become further transformed in its passage through Japan. The Japanese culture and Japanese Buddhism practices further deepened and strengthened Zen training by combining it with a variety of esoteric contemplative arts-the arts of poetry, the tea ceremony, calligraphy, and archery. Zen Masters of Japan chronicles this journey, and shows how the new practices soon gained in popularity among all walks of life-from the lowly peasant, offering a hope of reincarnation and a better life; to the Samurai warrior due to its casual approach to death; to the ruling classes, challenging the intelligentsia because of its scholarly roots. A collection of Zen stories, meditation, and their wisdom, Zen Masters of Japan also explores the illusive state of 'No Mind' achieved in Japan that is so fundamental to Zen practices today.
Zen Meditation in Plain English
by Peter Matthiessen John Daishin BuksbazenAn excellent, practical introduction to Zen meditation. Written in a warm and easily accessible style, this book appeals to anyone with an interest in meditation, Zen, or, as is often the case today, a combination of the two. The book emphasizes the importance of receiving good instruction and of finding groups to practice with, yet it lays out the necessary steps to practice Zen meditation on your own. The book includes easily followed exercises to help the reader along. For anyone looking to uncover a clear and insightful path into the philosophy and practice of Zen meditation, this book represents the culmination of that search.
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
by David Chadwick Shunryu Suzuki"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few." So begins this most beloved of all American Zen books. Seldom has such a small handful of words provided a teaching as rich as has this famous opening line. In a single stroke, the simple sentence cuts through the pervasive tendency students have of getting so close to Zen as to completely miss what it's all about. An instant teaching on the first page. And that's just the beginning. In the forty years since its original publication, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind has become one of the great modern Zen classics, much beloved, much reread, and much recommended as the best first book to read on Zen. Suzuki Roshi presents the basics--from the details of posture and breathing in zazen to the perception of nonduality--in a way that is not only remarkably clear, but that also resonates with the joy of insight from the first to the last page. It's a book to come back to time and time again as an inspiration to practice, and it is now available to a new generation of seekers in this fortieth anniversary edition, with a new afterword by Shunryu Suzuki's biographer, David Chadwick.
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: 50th Anniversary Edition
by Shunryu SuzukiNamed one of the 100 Best Spiritual Books of the Twentieth Century (Spirituality & Practice)A 50th Anniversary edition of the bestselling Zen classic on meditation, maintaining a curious and open mind, and living with simplicity."In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few."So begins this most beloved of all American Zen books. Seldom has such a small handful of words provided a teaching as rich as has this famous opening line. In a single stroke, the simple sentence cuts through the pervasive tendency students have of getting so close to Zen as to completely miss what it's all about. It is an instant teaching on the first page--and that's just the beginning.In the fifty years since its original publication, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind has become one of the great modern spiritual classics, much beloved, much reread, and much recommended as the best first book to read on Zen. Suzuki Roshi presents the basics--from the details of posture and breathing in zazen to the perception of nonduality--in a way that is not only remarkably clear, but that also resonates with the joy of insight from the first to the last page.
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
by Shunryu Suzuki Trudy DixonZen mind is one of those enigmatic phrases used by Zen teachers to throw you back upon yourself, to make you go behind the words themselves and begin wondering. "I know what my own mind is," you tell yourself, "but what is Zen mind?" And then: "But do I really know what my own mind is?" Is it what I am doing now? Is it what I am thinking now?" And if you should then try to sit physically still for a while to see if you can locate it--then you have begun the practice of Zen, then you have begun to realize the unrestricted mind. The innocence of this first inquiry--just asking what you are--is beginner's mind. The mind of the beginner is needed throughout Zen practice. It is the open mind, the attitude that includes both doubt and possibility, the ability to see things always as fresh and new. It is needed in all aspects of life. Beginner's mind is the practice of Zen mind. This book originated from a series of talks given by Zen Master Shunryu Suzuki to a small group in Los Altos, California. He joined their meditation periods once a week and afterwards answered their questions and tried to encourage them in their practice of Zen and help them solve the problems of life. His approach is informal, and he draws his examples from ordinary events and common sense. Zen is now and here, he is saying; it can be as meaningful for the West as for the East. But his fundamental teaching and practice are drawn from all the centuries of Zen Buddhism and especially from Dogen, one of the most important and creative of all Zen Masters.
The Zen Mindfulness Workbook: Practices and Meditations to Reduce Stress and Find Inner Peace
by Ingrid Yang MDCultivate calm through Zen mindfulness It's all too easy to walk through the world preoccupied by our endless thoughts. But that can get in the way of living in the moment and truly experiencing all that life has to offer. This workbook shows you how to quiet your mind and release worry. It examines mindfulness through the lens of Zen teachings and provides exercises that leave you feeling calm, present, and open to possibility. Learn about Zen—Explore the basic tenets of Zen Buddhism, how they can help you let go, and how they enable you to connect with yourself. Take a deep dive into mindfulness—Understand the Seven Pillars of mindfulness, how to achieve a mindful state, and the positive effects of mindfulness, such as better focus and lower blood pressure. Develop your practice—Create your own Zen-based mindfulness practice with a wide range of guided meditations, practical exercises, and inspiring affirmations. Start living mindfully and alleviate anxiety with this comprehensive Zen mindfulness workbook.
The Zen Monastic Experience: Buddhist Practice in Contemporary Korea
by Robert E. BuswellRobert Buswell, a Buddhist scholar who spent five years as a Zen monk in Korea, draws on personal experience in this insightful account of day-to-day Zen monastic practice. In discussing the activities of the postulants, the meditation monks, the teachers and administrators, and the support monks of the monastery of Songgwang-sa, Buswell reveals a religious tradition that differs radically from the stereotype prevalent in the West. The author's treatment lucidly relates contemporary Zen practice to the historical development of the tradition and to Korean history more generally, and his portrayal of the life of modern Zen monks in Korea provides an innovative and provocative look at Zen from the inside.
Zen O'Clock: Time to Be
by Scott ShawA new way to look at clocks and calendars—and learn to live more peacefully in the present. Imagine being able to step beyond the controlling hands of clocks, calendars, and schedules to discover the mystical process that will give you an entirely new perspective of time. Inside this book are insightful aphorisms that will help you live more peacefully in the present. With each page, Scott Shaw, an expert in meditative consciousness, helps you throw away phrases like &“wasted time&” and &“time constraints&”—and understand the difference between what time is and what we perceive it to be. Imagine, right now, time in your hands!
Zen Odyssey: The Story of Sokei-an, Ruth Fuller Sasaki, and the Birth of Zen in
by Janica Anderson Steven Schwartz Sean Murphy Joan WattsExplore two lives—and a relationship—that profoundly shaped American Zen.Ruth Fuller Sasaki and Sokei-an Shigetsu Sasaki: two pioneers of Zen in the West. Ruth was an American with a privileged life, even during the height of the Great Depression, before she went to Japan and met D. T. Suzuki. Sokei-an was one of the first Zen priests to come to America; he brought the gift of the Dharma to the United States but in 1942 was put in an internment camp. One made his way to the West and the other would find her way to the East, but together they created the First Zen Institute of America and helped birth a new generation of Zen practitioners: among them, Alan Watts, Gary Snyder, and Burton Watson. They were married less than a year before Sokei-an died, but Ruth would go on to helm trailblazing translations in his honor and to become the first foreigner to be the priest of a Rinzai Zen temple in Japan. With lyrical prose, authors Steven Schwartz and Janica Anderson bring Ruth and Sokei-an to life. Two dozen intimate photographs photos show us two people who aren’t mere historical figures, but flesh and blood people, walking their paths.
The Zen of Creativity
by John Daido LooriFor many of us, the return of Zen conjures up images of rock gardens and gently flowing waterfalls. We think of mindfulness and meditation, immersion in a state of being where meaning is found through simplicity. Zen lore has been absorbed by Western practitioners and pop culture alike, yet there is a specific area of this ancient tradition that hasn't been fully explored in the West. Now, in The Zen of Creativity, American Zen master John Daido Loori presents a book that taps the principles of the Zen arts and aesthetic as a means to unlock creativity and find freedom in the various dimensions of our existence. Loori dissolves the barriers between art and spirituality, opening up the possibility of meeting life with spontaneity, grace, and peace.Zen Buddhism is steeped in the arts. In spiritual ways, calligraphy, poetry, painting, the tea ceremony, and flower arranging can point us toward our essential, boundless nature. Brilliantly interpreting the teachings of the artless arts, Loori illuminates various elements that awaken our creativity, among them still point, the center of each moment that focuses on the tranquility within; simplicity, in which the creative process is uncluttered and unlimited, like a cloudless sky; spontaneity, a way to navigate through life without preconceptions, with a freshness in which everything becomes new; mystery, a sense of trust in the unknown; creative feedback, the systematic use of an audience to receive noncritical input about our art; art koans, exercises based on paradoxical questions that can be resolved only through artistic expression. Loori shows how these elements interpenetrate and function not only in art, but in all our endeavors.Beautifully illustrated and punctuated with poems and reflections from Loori's own spiritual journey, The Zen of Creativity presents a multilayered, bottomless source of insight into our creativity. Appealing equally to spiritual seekers, artists, and veteran Buddhist practitioners, this book is perfect for those wishing to discover new means of self-awareness and expression--and to restore equanimity and freedom amid the vicissitudes of our lives.From the Hardcover edition.
The Zen of Ecopoetics: Cosmological Imaginations in Modernist American Poetry (Routledge Environmental Literature, Culture and Media)
by Enaiê Mairê AzambujaThis book is the first comprehensive study investigating the cultural affinities and resonances of Zen in early twentieth-century American poetry and its contribution to current definitions of ecopoetics, focusing on four key poets: William Carlos Williams, Marianne Moore, Wallace Stevens, and E.E. Cummings. Bringing together a range of texts and perspectives and using an interdisciplinary approach that draws on Eastern and Western philosophies, including Zen and Taoism, posthumanism and new materialism, this book adds to and extends the field of ecocriticism into new debates. Its broad approach, informed by literary studies, ecocriticism, and religious studies, proposes the expansion of ecopoetics to include the relationship between poetic materiality and spirituality. It develops ‘cosmopoetics’ as a new literary-theoretical concept of the poetic imagination as a contemplative means to achieving a deeper understanding of the human interdependence with the non-human. Addressing the critical gap between materialism and spirituality in modernist American poetry, The Zen of Ecopoetics promotes new forms of awareness and understanding about our relationship with non-human beings and environments. It will be of interest to scholars, researchers, and students in ecocriticism, literary theory, poetry, and religious studies.
The Zen of Living and Dying: A Practical and Spiritual Guide
by Philip KapleauTo live life fully and die serenely--surely we all share these goals, so inextricably entwined. Yet a spiritual dimension is too often lacking in the attitudes, circumstances, and rites of death in modern society. Kapleau explores the subject of death and dying on a deeply personal level, interweaving the writings of Western religions with insights from his own Zen practice, and offers practical advice for the dying and their families.
The Zen of R2-D2: Ancient Wisdom from a Galaxy Far, Far Away
by Matthew BortolinEntertaining and engaging, this new follow-up to Wisdom&’s bestseller The Dharma of Star Wars stands on its own and will captivate a broad audience with the Star Wars story from a Buddhist perspective.Did you ever wonder why R2-D2 is: Always calm and cool under pressure, The key to the rebellion&’s survival, The one who never fails to save the day? Could it be because he&’s secretly a Zen master? Discover your inner R2—and the truth about who you really are! This delightful and illuminating romp unfolds in the form of a fictional dialogue between the author—a die-hard Star Wars devotee with a deep connection to Zen—and two cosplayers dressed as C-3PO and R2-D2 who insist on being called by their character names. Along the way, you&’ll come to see what everyone&’s favorite astromech can teach us about peace, happiness, and life&’s true meaning.
The Zen of Recovery
by Mel AshA practical synthesis of AA&’s Twelve Steps and Zen&’s Eightfold Path. In this compelling blend of East and West, Mel Ash shows how Zen mind and practice connect to the heart of recovery. Courageously drawing from his lifetime of experience as an abused child, alcoholic, Zen student, and dharma teacher, Ash presents a practical synthesis of Alcoholics Anonymous&’s Twelve Steps and Zen&’s Eightfold Path. You don&’t have to be Buddhist to appreciate the healing power of The Zen of Recovery. The book makes Zen available to all seeking to improve the quality of their spiritual and everyday lives. It also includes practical instructions on how to meditate and put the book into action. Its message will help readers live more profoundly &“one day at a time.&”
The Zen of Seeing: Seeing/Drawing as Meditation
by Frederick FranckSeeing/Drawing is spiritual discipline, a "Zen method" admirably suited to the active temperament, and a way of contemplation by which all things are made new, by which the world is freshly experienced at each moment. <p><p> A renown Dutch artist offers his concept of seeing and drawing as a discipline by which the world may be rediscovered, a way of experiencing Zen. Drawn and handwritten by Frederick Franck
The Zen of Therapy: Uncovering a Hidden Kindness in Life
by Mark EpsteinA remarkable exploration of the therapeutic relationship, Dr. Mark Epstein reflects on one year&’s worth of therapy sessions with his patients to observe how his training in Western psychotherapy and his equally long investigation into Buddhism, in tandem, led to greater awareness—for his patients, and for himself For years, Dr. Mark Epstein kept his beliefs as a Buddhist separate from his work as a psychiatrist. Content to use his training in mindfulness as a private resource, he trusted that the Buddhist influence could, and should, remain invisible. But as he became more forthcoming with his patients about his personal spiritual leanings, he was surprised to learn how many were eager to learn more. The divisions between the psychological, emotional, and the spiritual, he soon realized, were not as distinct as one might think. In The Zen of Therapy, Dr. Epstein reflects on a year&’s worth of selected sessions with his patients and observes how, in the incidental details of a given hour, his Buddhist background influences the way he works. Meditation and psychotherapy each encourage a willingness to face life's difficulties with courage that can be hard to otherwise muster, and in this cross-section of life in his office, he emphasizes how therapy, an element of Western medicine, can in fact be considered a two-person meditation. Mindfulness, too, much like a good therapist, can &“hold&” our awareness for us—and allow us to come to our senses and find inner peace. Throughout this deeply personal inquiry, one which weaves together the wisdom of two worlds, Dr. Epstein illuminates the therapy relationship as spiritual friendship, and reveals how a therapist can help patients cultivate the sense that there is something magical, something wonderful, and something to trust running through our lives, no matter how fraught they have been or might become. For when we realize how readily we have misinterpreted our selves, when we stop clinging to our falsely conceived constructs, when we touch the ground of being, we come home.
Zen on the Trail: Hiking as Pilgrimage
by Christopher IvesDiscover how hiking can be a kind of spiritual pilgrimage—calming our minds, enhancing our sense of wonder, and deepening our connection to nature.Evoking the writings of Gary Snyder, Bill Bryson, and Cheryl Strayed, Zen on the Trail explores the broad question of how to be outside in a meditative way. By directing our attention to how we hike as opposed to where we’re headed, Ives invites us to shift from ego-driven doing to spirit-filled being, and to explore the vast interconnection of ourselves and the natural world. Through this approach, we can wake up in the woods on nature’s own terms. In erudite and elegant prose, Ives takes us on a journey we will not soon forget. This book features a new prose poem by Gary Snyder.
Zen & Oriental Art
by Hugo MunsterbergZen & Oriental Art is an indispensable, beautifully illustrated introduction to the influences of Zen on Oriental painting. folk art, and architecture, with a special section on the role of Zen in twentieth-century art and architecture in the West. Dr. Munsterberg quite naturally begins with an explanation of Zen Buddhism itself, and the historical development of Zen in India and China. Zen's particularly rapid adoption in Japan is covered in the next chapter, which is followed by sections on the Zen art of ink painting in both China and Japan. Also described are the influences of Zen on Japanese architecture, and the intimate connection of the religion with the Japanese tea ceremony. Of particular interest to Western readers is the chapter on Zen andtwentieth-century Western art.
Zen & Oriental Art
by Hugo MunsterbergZen & Oriental Art is an indispensable, beautifully illustrated introduction to the influences of Zen on Oriental painting. folk art, and architecture, with a special section on the role of Zen in twentieth-century art and architecture in the West. Dr. Munsterberg quite naturally begins with an explanation of Zen Buddhism itself, and the historical development of Zen in India and China. Zen's particularly rapid adoption in Japan is covered in the next chapter, which is followed by sections on the Zen art of ink painting in both China and Japan. Also described are the influences of Zen on Japanese architecture, and the intimate connection of the religion with the Japanese tea ceremony. Of particular interest to Western readers is the chapter on Zen andtwentieth-century Western art.
Zen Parenting: Understanding Ourselves so we can Take Better Care of Our Children
by Cathy Cassani Adams'There are few parenting books that hit the mark and this is one of them!' Dr ShefaliWe can't always plan for what's next - that's been made more and more clear in the past few years. The truth is that life is never predictable, especially for parents. What is possible is an unlimited capacity for compassion and caring - for yourself and your children. As you navigate the uncertainty with openness and humility, you find the clarity, connection, and community that is Zen Parenting. Using the seven chakras, therapist Cathy Cassani Adams discusses parenting issues such as school pressure, self-care, emotional intelligence, anxiety, sexuality and gender, and more, while offering concrete examples and strategies to help you wake up to your life as a parent. Zen Parenting guides you to:- Establish your physical, emotional and mental foundation- Practice creativity and how to access your emotions- Develop your sense of self and allow your kids to do the same- Experience openheartedness, empathy and compassion- Discover genuine and meaningful communication- Explore mindfulness, meditation and your own intuition- Connect to something greater than yourself
Zen Parenting: Understanding Ourselves so we can Take Better Care of Our Children
by Cathy Cassani AdamsAn audiobook that helps parents to pay attention to daily life and the relationships they are creating with their children.We easily fall into the trap of parenting without a real awareness of what we're doing and why we're doing it, invariably using other peoples' ideas and values or outdated child-rearing techniques.A Zen Parent, is not a label or prescriptive way to parent, but a willingness to stay present with what's happening and do the right thing. It's a commitment to an imperfect practice of continual self-awareness so we can show up for our children in an authentic and mindful way. The one thing that can be counted on throughout parenting is change - just when we understand our child's experience or buy the right size clothes, they change and grow. Just when we get comfortable with typical life challenges, the world experiences a global pandemic. Being able to parent and live well requires a willingness to get comfortable with disorder and uncertainty, and even more of a willingness to be introspective and creative to once again find reorder.Structured through the 7 bodily chakras, which are used as a framework for human existence, this book is for parents who want to raise their children in a more self-aware and mindful way, to expand their thinking about who they are and what they want to share with their kids. It's a self-study and reminder to pay attention to daily life and the relationships they are creating with their children. And it's an opportunity to live what they want their kids to learn, to show up as themselves so their kids know they can do the same.(P) 2022 Hachette Audio
The Zen Path Through Depression
by Philip MartinA Compassionate and Spiritual Approach to Rediscovering JoyUsing easy-to-follow techniques and practical advice, Philip Martin shows you how to ease depression through the spiritual practice of Zen. His lessons, full of gentle guidance and sensitivity, are a product of his experiences in using Zen practices and wisdom to alleviate his own depression. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of depression and recommends a meditation or reflection. With these tools, coping with depression becomes a way to mend the spirit while enriching the soul.