Download or read book Zen Traces written by Kenneth Kraft and published by Paul Dry Books. This book was released on 2018-06-05 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As Zen takes root in the West, new forms arise. For centuries Zen masters have tested their students with “koans” and “capping phrases.” A koan is a spiritual paradox that must be solved intuitively. A capping phrase is a trenchant comment. Both are meditative practices that reveal deeper truths about the self and, ideally, lead to enlightenment. In Zen Traces, Buddhist scholar Kenneth Kraft plays off these practices in a new idiom. He selects passages from four sources: traditional Zen, present-day Zen, Henry David Thoreau, and Mark Twain. When a koan-like story about a contemporary Zen teacher is paired with a pithy comment by Mark Twain, something fresh emerges. “In this lovely book, Ken Kraft provides a unique opening for American Buddhism and American wisdom in general. The reader will come to fresh and spacious new insights and enjoyments… Cheers for Zen in America and a deep bow to Ken Kraft!”—POLLY YOUNG-EISENDRATH, Ph.D., author of The Present Heart: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Discovery “I highly recommend this delightful book of East-West wisdom—full of surprise, insight, wit, and piercing beauty.”—KATY BUTLER, author of Knocking on Heaven’s Door: The Path to a Better Way of Death

Download or read book Tracing Back the Radiance written by Robert E. Buswell, Jr. and published by University of Hawaii Press. This book was released on 1991-11-01 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Chinul (1158–1210) was the founder of the Korean tradition of Zen. He provides one of the most lucid and accessible accounts of Zen practice and meditation to be found anywhere in East Asian literature. Tracing Back the Radiance, an abridgment of Buswell’s Korean Approach to Zen: The Collected Works of Chinul, combines an extensive introduction to Chinul’s life and thought with translations of three of his most representative works.

Download or read book A Bird in Flight Leaves No Trace written by Seon Master Subul and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2019-04-30 with total page 381 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Penetrate the nature of mind with this contemporary Korean take on a classic of Zen literature. The message of the Tang-dynasty Zen text in this volume seems simple: to gain enlightenment, stop thinking there is something you need to practice. For the Chinese master Huangbo Xiyun (d. 850), the mind is enlightenment itself if we can only let go of our normal way of thinking. The celebrated translation of this work by John Blofeld, The Zen Teaching of Huang Po, introduced countless readers to Zen over the last sixty years. Huangbo’s work is also a favorite of contemporary Zen (Korean: Seon) Master Subul, who has revolutionized the strict monastic practice of koans and adapted it for lay meditators in Korea and around the world to make swift progress in intense but informal retreats. Devoting themselves to enigmatic questions with their whole bodies, retreatants are frustrated in their search for answers and arrive thereby at a breakthrough experience of their own buddha nature. A Bird in Flight Leaves No Trace is a bracing call for the practitioner to let go and thinking and unlock the buddha within.

Download or read book Zen Way written by Myokyo-ni, and published by Tuttle Publishing. This book was released on 2011-12-06 with total page 174 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Written by one of today's most distinguished teachers, this Zen book provides an authoritative introduction to Zen training from the perspective of someone who has gone through it. The author begins by setting out the basic Buddhist teaching based on the example of Buddha and then traces the fundamentals of the Zen way through a detail account of workings of a contemporary Zen monastery. She draws on her own experience of twelve year's study in a Rinzai monastery to present the pattern of its life: the harsh introduction that the novice endures, the daily routine of chanting, work and meditation, the seasonal festivals, retreats and rituals. Through all this, Myokyo-ni shows that the Zen way leads to a genuine insight into the Buddhist teachings and provides what is necessary for the development of such insight to occur. Lastly, she demonstrates that this insight is not merely a mental exercise but a genuine restructuring and making whole.

Download or read book Zen Women written by Grace Schireson and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2009-11-10 with total page 321 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This landmark presentation at last makes heard the centuries of Zen's female voices. Through exploring the teachings and history of Zen's female ancestors, from the time of the Buddha to ancient and modern female masters in China, Korea, and Japan, Grace Schireson offers us a view of a more balanced Dharma practice, one that is especially applicable to our complex lives, embedded as they are in webs of family relations and responsibilities, and the challenges of love and work. Part I of this book describes female practitioners as they are portrayed in the classic literature of "Patriarchs' Zen"--often as "tea-ladies," bit players in the drama of male students' enlightenments; as "iron maidens," tough-as-nails women always jousting with their male counterparts; or women who themselves become "macho masters," teaching the same Patriarchs' Zen as the men do. Part II of this book presents a different view--a view of how women Zen masters entered Zen practice and how they embodied and taught Zen uniquely as women. This section examines many urgent and illuminating questions about our Zen grandmothers: How did it affect them to be taught by men? What did they feel as they trying to fit into this male practice environment, and how did their Zen training help them with their feelings? How did their lives and relationships differ from that of their male teachers? How did they express the Dharma in their own way for other female students? How was their teaching consistently different from that of male ancestors? And then part III explores how women's practice provides flexible and pragmatic solutions to issues arising in contemporary Western Zen centers.

Download or read book The Other Side of Nothing written by Brad Warner and published by New World Library. This book was released on 2022-05-10 with total page 402 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A reader-friendly guide to Zen Buddhist ethics for modern times In the West, Zen Buddhism has a reputation for paradoxes that defy logic. In particular, the Buddhist concept of nonduality — the realization that everything in the universe forms a single, integrated whole — is especially difficult to grasp. In The Other Side of Nothing, Zen teacher Brad Warner untangles the mystery and explains nonduality in plain English. To Warner, this is not just a philosophical problem: nonduality forms the bedrock of Zen ethics, and once we comprehend it, many of the perplexing aspects of Zen suddenly make sense. Drawing on decades of Zen practice, he traces the interlocking relationship between Zen metaphysics and ethics, showing how a true understanding of reality — and the ultimate unity of all things — instills in us a sense of responsibility for the welfare of all beings. When we realize that our feeling of separateness from others is illusory, we have no desire to harm any creature. Warner ultimately presents an expansive overview of the Zen ethos that will give beginners and experts alike a deeper understanding of one of the world’s enduring spiritual traditions.

Download or read book Zen Buddhism Simple Guides written by Diana St. Ruth and published by Kuperard. This book was released on 2008-11-01 with total page 124 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: THIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU • to appreciate the significance of this particular school of Buddhism, famous for its focus on meditation and self-awakening • to understand the history of Zen and the 'Ways of Zen' • to discover how Zen is a way of life — not a belief system • to avoid faux pas in conversation, in travelling and in personal relationships Zen (in Chinese, Ch'an) is the form of Buddhism which the great teacher Bodhidharma brought to China from India in the late fifth century. Today it is practised mainly in Japan and Korea,. Based upon the understanding that each of us has the potential for complete awakening, Zen is in fact a coalition of practical ways of stilling the mind in order to attain self-knowledge. Because the realization of the true nature of reality, including one's own, is not an intellectual pursuit but an experienced truth, Zen teachers transmit the truth (dharma) from mind to mind or heart to heart without the use of words, using different techniques to break through the limitations of the logical mind. This engaging book explains the essence of Zen in simple terms.. It traces its development and looks at its unique methods of teaching, such as meditation, koans — startling paradoxes that stop the intellect — the use of texts, ceremonies, poetry, and the martial arts. It describes life in monasteries and in the everyday world. Because Zen is rooted in Reality, its practitioners often experience a delightful sense of wonder in the commonplace. This democratic and liberating philosophy does not require us to give up our own traditions, but rather helps us to deepen our understanding of them, and continues to inspire growing numbers of followers in the West. ACCESS THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS Simple Guides: Religion is a series of concise, accessible introductions to the world's major religions. Written by experts in the field, they offer an engaging and sympathetic description of the key concepts, beliefs and practices of different faiths. Ideal for spiritual seekers and travellers alike, Simple Guides aims to open the doors of perception. Together the books provide a reliable compass to the world's great spiritual traditions, and a point of reference for further exploration and discovery. By offering essential insights into the core values, customs and beliefs of different societies, they also enable visitors to be aware of the cultural sensibilities of their hosts, and to behave in a way that fosters mutual respect and understanding.

Download or read book The Book of Zen written by Eric Chaline and published by B.E.S. Publishing. This book was released on 2003 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The Book of Zen" offers a history and overview of Zen, as well as an introduction to its method and ideas. This enlightening and enjoyable book is enhanced with more than 200 illustrations, most of them in color.

Download or read book The Way of Zen written by Alan Watts and published by . This book was released on 1957 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One of the most remarkable tendencies of our time is the growing fascination exerted by Zen Buddhism. Artists, psychologists, and philosophers throughout the Western world have become increasingly intrigued by this unique form of Asian philosophy, which, for more than a thousand years, has been a dominant influence in life, art, and thought of China and Japan. The speical interest of Zen is that it is one of the very few forms of philosophy which, as a way of experiencing rather than thinking, offers the world something more than a set of theories and ideals. The genius of Zen is in its way of showing that many of our most tormenting problems are abstract cretions of thought, which simply vanish in the instant that we "wake up" and see our everyday world just as it is. Zen proceeds to this awakening with a directness, humor, and verve which make it a refreshing change from the inconclusive verbosity of conventional philosophy. This book is the first comprehensive account of Zen in its historical and cultural setting. It traces its origin in Indian and Chinese though as background for a clear and vivid description of its way of living and feeling, and of its techniques for overcoming the mind's frustrating confusion of symbolic thought with actual experience. The author has combined a scholarly treatment of the original sources with a clarity of expression which will command this work to the serious student and the layman alike.

Download or read book Zen written by Alan Watts and published by New World Library. This book was released on 2019-07-30 with total page 82 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: According to Alan Watts, "Zen taste deplores the cluttering of a picture or of a room with many objects." In that sense, this minimalist book embodies the aesthetic of Zen itself. As with brushstrokes in a Japanese ink painting, the words have been used sparingly and arranged precisely, with no unnecessary detail. In seven brief chapters, Watts captures the essence of Zen Buddhism as a religion and a way of life. He explains fundamental Zen concepts, introduces revered Zen thinkers, places Zen within the broader context of Eastern religion, and traces the influence of Zen in the arts. Illustrated with calligraphy and drawings by the author, this reprint of an old classic will delight fans of Alan Watts, while introducing new readers to a legendary author who infused groundbreaking scholarship with literary brilliance.

Download or read book Lay Zen in Contemporary Japan written by Erez Joskovich and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2023-12-29 with total page 203 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explores the emergence and growth of Zen as a non-monastic spiritual practice in modern Japan. Focusing on several prominent lay Zen associations, most notably Ningen Zen, it explores different aspects of lay Zen as a lived religion, such as organization, ideology, and ritual. Through a combined approach utilizing Buddhist text, historical sources, and ethnographic fieldwork, it explains how laypeople have appropriated religious authority and tailored Zen teachings to fit their needs and the zeitgeist. Featuring the findings of three years of fieldwork, interviews, and archival research, the book comprehensively describes various Zen practices and explores their contemporary meaning and functions. It undermines the distinction between traditional or established Buddhism and the so-called New Religions, emphasizing instead the dynamic relations between tradition and interpretation. Written in accessible language and offering insightful analysis, this book brings to light the essential role of lay Zen associations in modernizing Zen within Japan and beyond. It will be of interest to scholars and students of religious studies, particularly those studying Buddhism, Japanese society, and culture.

Download or read book Zen Master Who written by James Ishmael Ford and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2006-10-20 with total page 282 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Surprisingly little has been written about how Zen came to North America. "Zen Master Who?" does that and much more. Author James Ishmael Ford, a renowned Zen master in two lineages, traces the tradition's history in Asia, looking at some of its most important figures -- the Buddha himself, and the handful of Indian, Chinese, and Japanese masters who gave the Zen school its shape. It also outlines the challenges that occurred as Zen became integrated into western consciousness, and the state of Zen in North America today. The author includes profiles of modern Zen teachers and institutions, including D. T. Suzuki and Alan Watts, and such topics as the emergence of liberal Buddhism, and Christians, Jews, and Zen. This engaging, accessible book is aimed at anyone interested in this tradition but who may not know how to start. Most importantly, it clarifies a great and ancient tradition for the contemporary seeker.

Download or read book Record of Traces and Dreams the Heart Sutra written by Kido Inoue and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2012-09-28 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The purpose of a reclusive monk such as myself audaciously presenting a volume like this is to transmit the True Dharma and the Great Compassion of Buddha. In doing this, I wish to highlight the fact that the Heart Sutra is an outstanding guidebook for the path to liberation and for the practice of the Buddha Way. This sutra describes the Ultimate Path in a most straightforward manner. I would like you to know that by exerting yourself daily in the way it describes the time will come without a doubt when the results of your effort will manifest. Master Kido Inoue To fully understand the meaning of the Heart Sutra, one cannot simply follow, or have faith in what it is says, without detailed analysis. The Heart Sutra cannot be fully grasped with pure intellect alone. Practicing the True Way requires you to throw away all things and to forget the ego. When the words are approached with both the mind and the heart, its full understanding will naturally be revealed through practice. Because of this, the guidance of a real Dharma Master (or Roshi)such as Master Kido Inoueis required. Here, he shares his teachings in a straightforward and honest fashion.

Download or read book Zen Masters of Japan written by Richard Bryan McDaniel and published by Tuttle Publishing. This book was released on 2014-01-07 with total page 405 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Zen 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 Zen monk 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 persevered 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 with each Zen master profiled. The book shows how the new practices soon gained 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 elusive state of 'No Mind' achieved in Japan that is so fundamental to Zen practices today.

Download or read book The Complete Book of Zen written by Wong Kiew Kit and published by Cosmos Internet Sdn Bhd. This book was released on 2010 with total page 340 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Shaolin grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit explains the principles and practice of Zen with a clarity that can only come from true understanding. In The Complete Book of Zen, Wong Kiew Kit traces the history and meaning of Zen, following its geographical path from early beginnings in India to China, and then to Japan and Vietnam. He shows how Zen lies at the heart of all great works of art and culture, and then relates its practice to daily life, setting out how Zen training and meditation may: - Enhance internal strength, concentration, intuitive abilities and emotional balance. - Allow inspiring glimpses of cosmic reality. - Help reduce states of chronic and degenerative diseases. The exercises offer not only a spiritual appreciation of the practice, but also an actual physical experience of Zen. Irrespective of your religious or personal beliefs, The Complete Book of Zen will encourage you to explore your spiritual potential, and bring simplicity, focus and vitality into your life.

Download or read book Making Zen Your Own written by Janet Jiryu Abels and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2012-01-23 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this book, Janet Jiryu Abels traces the life stories of twelve Chinese Zen masters who, together, shaped what was to become known as Zen's Golden Age. She presents their biographies, describes their teachings, and shows how their lives and teachings can inspire those who practice Zen today. The book is a presentation of ancient Zen insight vividly relevant for the twenty-first century, addressing both the needs of both new and longtime Zen practitioners. Its singular distinction is in bringing Zen history, ancestral teachings, and present-day application of those teachings into one work. Although the book is based on scholarly sources and historical records, Abels stresses the humanity of these Zen ancestors, showing that they were not formed from a generic mold but were individuals with quirks, senses of humor, heartfelt enlightenment experiences, varied ways of living, and unique ways of expressing Zen. She tells their stories in a lively, accessible manner, shedding light on their paradoxical teachings with clarity and simplicity. She also shows that they all faced the same challenges that Zen practitioners face today. Interwoven among the stories and teachings are Abels' own insights into the dharma of Zen, as well as practical applications and encouragements that readers can bring to their individual practice of the Way. These insights are based on her more than ten years as a Zen teacher. She is the founder and co-resident teacher of Still Mind Zendo in New York City.

Download or read book Opening to Oneness written by Nancy Mujo Baker and published by Shambhala Publications. This book was released on 2023-01-24 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Stop trying to become “better” by suppressing or hiding parts of yourself, and learn what it means to be fully human with this accessible guide to the core ethical teachings of Zen Buddhism. In Opening to Oneness, Zen teacher Nancy Baker offers a detailed path of practice for Zen students planning to take the precepts and for anyone, Buddhist or non-Buddhist, interested in deepening their personal study of ethical living. She reveals that there are three levels of each precept: a literal level (don’t kill, not even a bug), a relative level that takes moral ambiguity into account (what if it’s a malaria-spreading mosquito?), and an ultimate level—the paradoxical level of nonduality, in which the precepts are naturally expressed from a state of oneness. Full of nuance, intelligence, and compassion, the first half of the book addresses the ten grave precepts mostly from the relative level, including instructions for how to practice these precepts individually and in pairs or groups. The second half of the book takes a deep dive into looking at the precepts from the ultimate perspective, largely through an exploration of the writings of Dogen, the thirteenth-century religious genius who founded the Soto Zen school. At once comprehensive and innovative, Opening to Oneness will take its place alongside classics like The Mind of Clover, The Heart of Being, and Being Upright as a cherished guide to Zen Buddhist ethics.