Book Description
When eighth-grader San Lee moves to a new town and a new school for the umpteenth time, he doesn't try to make new friends or be a loner or play cool. Instead he sits back and devises a plan to be totally different. When he accidentally answers too many questions in World History on Zen (only because he just had Ancient Religions two schools ago) all heads turn and San has his answer: he's a Zen Master. And just when he thinks everyone (including the cute girl he can't stop thinking about) is on to him, everyone believes him . . . in a major Zen way.

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Customer Reviews (2)

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Author Jordan Sonnenblick has done it again. ZEN AND THE ART OF FAKING IT gets the up and downs and total frustration of being a teen just right.

San Lee's life has been full of new towns and new schools, but this one upsets him more than all of the others combined.This time, instead of having his dad uproot the family in search of his latest scheme, it is just San and his mother because his dad is in prison.

Not particularly successful at anything in the past, San has frequently used negative behavior to get attention. Being Oriental and adopted by a white couple has not always made things easy. Now with his father serving time for his shady business dealings, San finds himself feeling the need to get things right this time.

Faced with not only a new school and trying to fit in, but also with Wednesday night phone calls from a convict father he never wants to talk to again, San is ready to try just about anything.With his mother working long hours to make ends meet, he decides he needs a gimmick to win some friends and positively influence some people. Thanks to his new social studies teacher, the door to Zen Buddhism opens wide.

San's well-worn clothes and tattered sandals become a great disguise as he steps into his role as the Zen expert of the eighth grade. With help from the local library, the perfect "meditation" rock right outside school, and his new friend, Woody, San fools everyone into believing his Buddhist philosophy. Although he seems to be fitting in and gaining popularity, he worries that faking it may make him like the father he has learned to detest.

Sonnenblick uses his humorous, straight-forward style to grab readers on page one, and whisk them into San's world.There are crazy antics, a touch of romance, family frustrations, and quite a bit of Buddhist information packed into this fast-paced read.If you haven't read Sonnenblick's other books, be sure to check out Drums, Girls, And Dangerous Pie and Notes From The Midnight Driver.

Reviewed by:Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

this book rocks
You know how some people are just naturally hilarious?Jordan Sonnenblick is one of those people.ZEN is an awesome book, containing most excellent dialogue and a plot that will keep you up very late, reading until your eyes hurt to find out what happens next.

This is the story of San Lee, new kid, who's trying to fit in by...well, not exactly being himself.We love San right from the start.Like the rest of us, he has baggage to deal with and family issues and someone special in his life he's trying to impress, and we're sympathetic to his struggles.You'll love how San changes as his confidence grows.And the Zen bits are really fun.

Read it.Love it.Pass it on. ... Read more

Book Description

Amazon.com
The premier metaphysician of the 20th century, Martin Heidegger, once said in regard to D. T. Suzuki, "If I understand this man correctly, this is what I have been trying to say in all my writings." Roman Catholic writer Thomas Merton, analytical psychologist Carl Jung, social psychologist Erich Fromm, avant-garde musician John Cage, writer and social critic Alan Watts, poet Gary Snyder -- all influential in their own rights, claim a debt to Mr. Suzuki and his writings, the most representative of which are gathered here in Zen Buddhism. An intellectual understanding of Zen begins with this book.Book Description
No other figure in history has played a bigger part in opening the West to Buddhism than the eminent Zen author, D.T. Suzuki, and in this reissue of his best work readers are given the very heart of Zen teaching. Zen Buddhism, which sold more than 125,000 as an Anchor paperback after its publication in 1956, includes a basic historical background as well as a thorough overview of the techniques for Zen practice. Concepts and terminology such as satori, zazen, and koans, as well as the various elements of this philosophy are all given clear explanations. But while Suzuki takes nothing for granted in the reader's understanding of the fundamentals, he does not give a merely rudimentary overview. Each of the essays included here, particularly those on the unconscious mind and the relation of Zen to Western philosophy, go far beyond other sources for their penetrating insights and timeless wisdom.



What is most important about D.T. Suzuki's work, however--and what comes across so powerfully in these selections--is his unparalleled ability to communicate the experiential aspect of Zen. The intensity here with which Zen philosophy comes to life is without parallel in the canon of Buddhist literature. Suzuki stands apart from all teachers before or since because of his exceptional ability to eloquently capture in words the seemingly inexpressible essence of Zen. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The Man That Brought Zen To The West late 1940's
Besides the great writer Alan Watts who was able to popularize Zen and the Eastern mindset to the West,morphing into the literary current day pschologists such as Mark Epstein and Jon Kabat Zinn, much credit must be given to Suzuki who was the undisputed earlier intellect who brought Zen as an academic calling to the West..His writing is difficult,historic, and philosophically prosed yet taking one's time with these works sheds light on Zen's themes of seeing that IS second nature because it is original nature.
The great intellectual's of the day,such as Karen Horney,Erich Fromm all showed their respect to Zen in their concepts while William Barrett's introduction rings fresh as the new intellectual zeitgeist of the then day hit Western shores...Barrett himself a fine philosopher and writer offers a timely overview bringing in Heidegger and existentialism one of his areas of expertise.

focus on the finger, and you'll miss all the heavenly glory
this is the second book that i have read by dt suzuki. i started with 'introduction to zen...' where 'introduction' was just that, and introduction to many of the ideas of zen, this book extracts from several other writings to focus in greater detail on different subjects in zen. one chapter that i was excited (but later left feeling wanting for more) about was a comparison of zen with existentialism. furthermore, i feel as though i got enough out of the 'introduction...' that much of this book was superfluous. however, that which i did appreciate were the chapters on the history and development of zen that was lacking in the 'introduction...'

An Excellent Selection from an Excellent Writer
This was the first book I ever read on Zen, and it remains, in my mind, one of the best.D.T Suzuki is thorough and imaginative, linking the principles of Zen to the culture and history of Japan, as well as to Western philosophy.Suzuki has a well-deserved reputation as the 20th century's foremost authority on Japanese Zen.While perhaps more of a scholar's book than a practitioner's book, this selection of essays from Suzuki's Zen and Japanese Culture do a wonderful job of conveying the spirit and rich history of Japanese Zen, and its roots in Chinese Ch'an.Faced with a complex topic that by its very nature does not lend itself to written accounts, Suzuki manages to neither over-analyze the topic nor sidestep the issues by refusing comment.The essays selected give a good taste of the complex spectrum of Zen, and its many cultural and historical manifestations, without swamping the reader with material.A fine and complex work by a well-respected figure of the Zen tradition.

Difficult to understand, but you'll get the hang of it
It takes a while to understand, but Suzuki really knew what he was talking about.It provides a very good understanding of his take on Zen Buddhism.

Zen authority?
Suzuki is considered to be the foremost authority on Zen Buddhism.Suzuki brought Zen thought to America. The best of D.T. Suzuki is included here.I've read quite a bit on the subject and I believe Suzuki has the best grasp of Zen.The reading is difficult, but so is the topic.I highly recommend this book if you really want to get deep into Zen.Another slightly easier book to understand,`Living Zen' by Robert Linssen uses Suzuki's material quite extensively. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Since depression sometimes responds well to drugs, it's natural to think that, without medicinal intervention, we're helpless in the face of it. Like John Tarrant's groundbreakingLight Inside the Dark, Philip Martin's The Zen Path Through Depression offers a powerful alternative. A psychiatric social worker having recovered from depression himself, Martin is a sympathetic voice, urging the reader not to escape from depression or fight against it but to face it and work through it. He says that the mindfulness exercises appended to each short section of his book are optional, but they seem essential. It's true that the book could stand alone with its one- and two-page sections devoted to trenchant explorations of fear, death, sufficiency, choice. But the exercises bring you through the quagmire of depression and back into life. They are true experiences that untie knots impervious to thought alone. Instead of thinking your thoughts, you watch them, and where they can take you finally is back into joyful living. --Brian BruyaBook Description
Drawing on his own struggle, Philip Martin reveals another path people can travel to get through depression - one that not only eases the pain, but mends the spirit. Extremely accessible to people with little or no Zen experience as well as to longtime students of Buddhism,The Zen Path Through Depression shows how the insights and exercises of Zen offer relief for those suffering from depression.This groundbreaking guide shows how to cope and heal, and even how to see the experience as an opportunity for spiritual growth and learning. Leading readers step-by-step through a recovery process that uses walking meditation and other meditative ways of enhancing awareness, koans, and other Zen teachings, Martin offers true help and spiritual guidance on the path to healing and contentment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Shows how to escape depression
Author Philip Martin has practiced Zen for many years. When he came down with a bout of depression, he used Zen training to move past depression. His book describes many subtle aspects of the depressed sate, and it instructs us in a variety of meditations. At many AA meetings, members are given a chip for different lengths of time away from alcohol. Nearly all chips include the quote from Shakespeare "To thine own self be true." Meditation, especially what is taught in this book, will help us all to be true to ourselves.
Buddha says much of our suffering comes from our attachment to people and things. We want to have the things that give us pleasure remain as they are. In other words, we do not like change; a change may result in losing a part of our life that we have grown attached to. A sense of loss can cause us to spiral down into depression. Obtaining an acceptance of a world that changes can help us climb out of the pit of despair.

Fear can be a major component of depression. We worry that in some future moment we will not have what we want, or will lose what we have. We don't want to feel this pain. When we are faced with real danger right now, fear is useful, and it is what we need to be feeling. But much of our fear comes from projection into the future--worry and anticipation over what might (or is going to ) happen.

Meditation can remove the lid and let out the terrifying, ugly, and boring thoughts and emotions that we had locked away inside of us. It can allow us to feel and accept our true feelings. When we face these demons inside of us, they lose the power to overwhelm us. They might still be there, but they do not stay in control.

Depression makes us aware of doubt that we carry with us. We wonder if anyone really cares or if we are really of any use in the world. We may have looked to a job, a relationship, a belief, or a philosophy to give us some certainty. We want our life to be predictable and right. Mediation will help us to live peacefully with doubt and unpredictably.

Buddha also described a fundamental truth that the suffering in our lives is caused by our desire. We want experience, sensation, and pleasure. At the same time we try to avoid merely uncomfortable and neutral feelings as well. And even when we experience something pleasurable, it is flavored with the thought that we could lose it, so we cling to it even more strongly. Some of us seek relief from uncomfortable feelings with alcohol and other drugs. These often work for a while, but sometimes eventually steal our souls. More socially approved ways of seeking relief from unacceptable feelings are food, television, sex, and work. By reducing this quest for total and permanent pleasure, we can rise from sadness without resorting to drugs or obsessive behaviors.

Many of our beliefs develop from our judgments. We may judge the world and others. If we judge others harshly--we probably also have high standards for ourselves. It is difficult to always reach our high standards so we frequently judge ourselves as being not good enough for falling short. This idea was summarized in the bible with "Judge not, lest you be judged."

"Meditation is nothing special or exotic. Instead, it is simply slowing down to listen to what is within and around us. It is paying attention with our heart and our mind to each moment as it presents itself to us. " Meditation has allowed me to grow beyond my depression to a whole new life. This book can also help you go beyond low points in your life, to become the person you were meant to be.

A gem of a book
I found this little pearl a couple of years ago hidden on the shelves of a large bookshop, amidst a load of dross.
It's a beautiful book, simply and gently written, which assists you to reflect on aspects of your thinking and feeling that may be contributing to depression.
Each chapter is brief, with a page or so of discussion about a topic such as anger. loss, etc, and then a few paragraphs to read and reflect on .
i have found the book personally helpful, and have also been able to use some sections for mindfulness practice in a DBT skills group.
Two colleagues who have experienced significant depressive episodes have found it helpful, and recently I bought a new copy from Amazon for one colleague who had taken to carrying my copy with her to dip into periodically throughout her day.
Each section is brief enough that even if you are depressed and your concentration is impaired you could still complete a chapter. I would recommend it for a depressed person as it has a gentle, non judgemental flavour to it.
I hope you gain as much from it as I have done. Even though I have now had this book for some years I still enjoy reading it and reflecting on its contents, which is unusual in my experience of books about depression.

Best Book I ever bought!
This book came to me just when I needed it.It helped me through my depression and was a light in my tunnel.I am grateful to the author of this book and hope that he continues to write.

Depressed?... read this.
This book is not going to cure you with some helpful tips and tricks. The book does have a few of those. However, it tries to show a path that can lead to making depression a little annoying roach that you can either step on or let run back into the wall.

Reading this book alone won't do much, probably forget most of it a week after reading it. However, adopting the techniques and investigating them and throwing yourself into them with determination will reap huge benefits.

You might want to pick up a copy of Thich Nhat Hanh's Miracle of Mindfulness, it has a few simple techniques that transformed my life.

You don't have to become a Buddhist to use this stuff. There is no beliefs you need to accept, just practical methods to stop letting painful emotions take over your mind.

Stop flushing moment after moment down the toilet. Read this book... if you don't like it, read something else. Keep reading and reading until something snaps, and you get it.

Outside of Buddhism, another book I found helpful... You Can Be Happy No Matter What by Richard Carlson.

vague and unhelpful
Generic advice available in any meditation book.The author makes it clear that he was not predisposed to depression because it didn't start until he was 37.It probably would have gone away if he had done nothing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Cutting Through Craving
I have given away several copies of this book, and own one of my own, which I enjoy re-reading. Many people struggling with addictions also have difficulty with Alcoholics Anonymous' emphasis on a "higher power" (generally conceived as "God"). This book serves the important function of introducing a non-theistic (non-"God"-based) approach to AA, and to a personal meditative practice.

This book serves as a sort of "bridge" between Zen Buddhism (admittedly only one school, but Zen is the form which is practiced by author Mel Ash) and the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.The book is organized in a way which mirrors the 12 Steps, and, as a result, it is easily accessible for people who are involved with that program.In other words, you don't need to know anything about Zen to get value from this book, but you do need to have at least a healthy respect for the 12 Steps as a path of recovery from addiction.

"The Zen of Recovery" begins as a standard AA speaker meeting would - the author gives us his "drunkalogue" - a story of what he was like before he got sober- his trials and his humiliations.At the same time as he decide to stop drinking, the author also begins to practice zazen under a meditation instructor (zazen being the style of silent seated meditation practiced by Zen Buddhists). As a result, the author's perspective onthe 12 Steps is colored by his growth as a Zen Buddhist.

Author Mel Ash applies the teachings of Zen Buddhism not just to alcoholism, but to all addictions and cravings - the attachments which Buddhism says are at the root of all suffering.The book is therefore useful not only for alcoholics, but for anyone in the throes of a compulsive craving.

I also really enjoyed the spare and elegant Japanese ink-brush drawings with which Ash illustrated the book.That's just me - I always like a book with pictures.

True zen!
As a "recovering alcoholic", I have had MUCH trouble within and without the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous when people find out that I am a Buddhist skeptic who does not believe in the idea of a deity called "god".As a practicioner of Zen, I am pleased to see that Mr. Ash has a solid grip of the "Zen of recovery".

Those who criticize the book for being "too Zen" as opposed to other Buddhist traditions should have read the title, "The Zen of Recovery", before they bought it!How much so like the average A.A. member, complaining about things that are relatively silly.

This book spells out Buddhist detachment and the idea of a "power" that can "restore us to sanity", applying it skillfully to the 12 Step Tradition in the process.Most of what is IN the book has already been reviewed here, so let me end by saying that first of all, I don't go to a bunch of A.A. meetings anymore because of the culture of whining, glorification of the alcoholic history, and closed-mindedness towards any idea of "a power greater than ourselves" that isn't an anthropomorphic "god".However, I DO go to three meetings a meet where the envirenment is condusive to a true "spirituality", and I am definately going to be ordering many copies of this book to distribute to my many A.A. "peers" who actively criticize my "agnostic beliefs" and consider Zen to be a path towards relapse.

Get this book if you can relate to anything I have just written, adn especially if you are interested in Asian spirituality as an alternative to the Judeao/Christian approach most often endorsed by the loving members of Alcoholics Anonymous!

Good work, Mr. Ash.

This is a fantastic book
As a person with an addictive nature I cannot speak highly enough about this book - it is lovely! I want to buy copies for everyone I know - whether they are in recovery or not. As for the review saying, "any zen book can give you principles to quit drinking..."I don't think the purpose of this book was to stop ppl from drinking, but rather: to accompany ppl who may already struggle w/ a higher power w/in the twelve steps. I suspect that most ppl reconnect with themselves AFTER moving into the program and encounter obstacles along the way. For me, this book acts as a liason between the twelve steps and my internal obstacles.

Mel Ash's interpretation of the twelve steps is insightful and in no way contradictory to the program. His writing voice is simple and easy to follow; we are a culture who live in fear and this book delicately encourages those of us in recovery to find our bliss. When you see a flower, SMILE.The teachings are so simple - Enjoy!

Intelligent & Insightful
Mel Ash, using Zen as the spiritual component, adapts the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and zens it up. It's easy to swallow for me because the emphasis is not singularly recovery from alcoholism but also eating disorders, narcotic addiction, etc. The reading is gentle and doesn't underestimate or devalue the audience with sterile language. It gets awfully real world and how we can intermingle our recovery into our lives, which is what I wanted when I entered into recovery.

He talks a lot about how our denial *is* our sickness...from the 12 steps perspective and from the Zen perspective; that even those not in a compulsion may still suffer simply from the predisposed human condition. He speaks of our *dualistic* thinking [good/bad, right/wrong, black/white] as the manifestation of our human condition and more to the extent of our compulsions... How we in our compulsions/addictions are the magnification of the human suffering condition...just to the extreme.

This book is compassionate, intelligent, and worthy of top shelf status. It does not interfere with one's religious views but can enhance anyone's recovery. For me, this book, is what I have been searching for; the combined 12 steps with a spiritual component I can relate to. I really enjoy this book and know it will be favored by me in years to come, as it's more of a living philosophy within recovery and without.

Not bad
It is possible to get very gung-ho about Mel Ash's ZEN OF RECOVERY. I am not gung-ho about it, but the book does something which no other book I am aware of has achieved, made a sincere and plausible link between 12-step principles and Buddhist principles. Unfortunately, the book's Buddhism is Zen, only one of many different Buddhist paths. Thus the book lacks a certain universalism that I find unfortunate. However, it is well worth reading, if nothing else serving as a jumping-off point for investigating Buddhism (or the Buddha) as one's higher power. Any Buddhist who is in Alcoholics Anonymous or any other 12-step program is well advised to read this book. It will help one get past the bloc that I felt in 12-step programs, which in Western society are predicated upon Christianity or Judaism. ZEN OF RECOVERY reinforced in me the belief that I had a place in 12-step meetings, even though I did not believe in a God as defined in any theistic sense. Aside from the above caveats, this book is a radical step forward in the recovery movement. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Stillwater Lives
Little Stillwater the Panda Doll makes a perfect gift to accompany Zen Shorts as well as Zen Ties. He can keep the reader company while reading these books or can be cuddled while an adult is reading to a younger child.He can open up a whole study of pandas and their habitat.Enjoy the peace of Stillwater.

Picture next to book misleading
Stillwater the Panda Doll is cute and adorable, but please be aware that he is only 4 inches tall!When you look at the Amazon site that encourages you to buy the doll with the book Zen Shorts, he appears to be as tall as the book.He isn't. ... Read more

Book Description
If all that has ever been said and written about the art and science of fundraising could be distilled down to just what really matters—what fundraisers everywhere need to know—there would be only a small number of true gems deserving of the description, “nuggets of information.”

Leading international fundraiser Ken Burnett, author of the classic Relationship Fundraising, has identified and defined 89 such nuggets which he presents here as The Zen of Fundraising, a fun read, one-of-a-kind look into what makes donors tick and–more importantly–what makes them give.Download Description
If all that has ever been said and written about the art and science of fundraising could be distilled down to just what really matters what fundraisers everywhere need to know there would be only a small number of true gems deserving of the description, & nuggets of information.Leading international fundraiser Ken Burnett, author of the classic Relationship Fundraising, has identified and defined 89 such nuggets which he presents here as The Zen of Fundraising, a fun read, one-of-a-kind look into what makes donors tick and more importantly - what makes them give. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good Points, but Where's the Zen?
I was hoping that this book would provide an overview of working smarter, not harder -- for example focus on understanding your own message in order to be more effective.Instead, it is a "to do" list (which the title states)that only the largest and best established organizations would have time/resources/or history to do.I'm a start-up, and for me, I can only hope to get to the point where most of the ideas in this book are useful -- or even possible.

It's good in that the underlying theme is: It's the customer, stupid.But that is something that all good salespeople/strategic marketing know:take care of your own customers first, keep communication channels open, listen more than you talk, find out why they do business with you.etc.

So:my biggest problem is the title:It should be:Maintaing Funding for Charitable Organizations: A checklist for focusing on your donor relationships.If you are in that situation you should probably read this book.But don't look for the zen.

Speaking as a professional...
This book is a snap shot of everything that works in donor relationships - and some good advice about things that don't. It's about building a relationship that really means something to the donor as well as the charity they are donating to. And it's also about being proud to be a fundraiser - stand up and be counted!!

Through a writing style, which stays light right to the last few pages, Ken manages to capture the essence of a lot of jargonese which penetrates the fundraising world. This is a simple book - but not for simple minds. If you like the snap shot style of American quick fixes then this is a great introduction to relationship fundraising and a whole lot more. At the end Ken makes some personal points and a bit of a plea for better customer service - well made and if only half the advice in this little book is put into practice, there would definitely be a shift.

Just try one simple thing which Ken outlines - I would suggest a fundraiser working on their own would really benefit from number 17. Really understand your donors - no amount of consultancy and research by other people can ever replace that one!

If you are new to fundraising, then take advice from number 71 - Be proud to be a fundraiser - and number 76 - `Be respectful of your donors, and show that respect even when they're not present' - and lastly number 78, which gives the ultimate in reading lists for fundraisers, both old and new.

The fact that Ken points us in the direction of best practice from a great variety of sources - big household names from Britain such as the RNLI but also from across the globe. Reading this on the tube was ideal, it is possible to dip in and out and I enjoyed creating my own `fundraising menu'. Recommended is a number 78, 72, 48, 22 and 17. Oh and definitely 87, the outlawing of killer phrases such as`'That won't work' and `There isn't time'. But then again...


... Read more

Book Description
Shunryu Suzuki’s extraordinary gift for conveying traditional Zen teachings using ordinary language is well known to the countless readers of Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind. In Zen Is Right Here, his teachings are brought to life powerfully and directly through stories told about him by his students. These living encounters with Zen are poignant, direct, humorous, paradoxical, and enlightening; and their setting in real-life contexts makes them wonderfully accessible.

Like the Buddha himself, Suzuki Roshi gave profound teachings that were skilfully expressed for each moment, person, and situation he encountered. He emphasized that while the ungraspable essence of Buddhism is constant, the expression of that essence is always changing. Each of the stories presented here is an example of this versatile and timeless quality, showing that the potential for attaining enlightenment exists right here, right now, in this very moment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Like Being In Dokusan
Dokusan usually refers to a private meeting between a student and the Zen master. "Zen Is Right Here" gave me the feeling that I was in dokusan with Shunryu Suzuki Roshi. This is a wonderful collection of teaching stories and anecdotes that need no embellishment. They are short and sweet and to the point. Much like good haiku. A brief example:

A student asked in dokusan, "If a tree falls
in the forest and no one hears it, does it
make a sound?"
Suzuki Roshi answered, "It doesn't matter."

This is a delightful book that I will read again and again. I keep it on my night table. Indeed, Zen is right here!

Same book different name
If you already own To Shine One Corner of the World, this is the same book.This wonderful glimpse of the wisdom of Shunryu Suzuki is a collection of short stories and responses to questions, as retold by his students.Reading this book made me think I would have liked Suzuki as a teacher.He had the ability to get right to the point in a humorous way.You can feel his compassion and empathy for his student's questions in his responses. ... Read more

Book Description
A work of Zen art is a teaching in visual form, intended to be contemplated not only for its beauty, but for the secrets it contains about being fully human, fully alive. As teaching, Zen art can be profound, perplexing, serious, humorous—sometimes all within the same piece; as art, it stands somewhere outside standard aesthetic conventions, even those of other schools of Buddhist art. It is most often identified with the expressive medium of calligraphy or brush painting, but whatever the mood or medium, each work is the tangible record of an unrepeatable moment in the artist’s mind, an expression on paper of his or her understanding of the nature of things.The Zen Art Box contains forty images of brush painting and calligraphy, each beautifully reproduced in fine quality on a 6 1/2" x 9" card that you can display on the enclosed folding easel stand. The back of each card includes an explanation of the art by Stephen Addiss along with commentary from John Daido Loori on the Zen wisdom contained in it. Also included is a 32-page color-illustrated booklet with essays on Zen art by both the authors. ... Read more

Book Description
"Every morning I jump out of bed and step on  a land mine. The land mine is me. After the  explosion, I spend the rest of the day putting the  pieces back together. Now, it's your turn. Jump!"  Zest. Gusto. Curiosity. These are the qualities  every writer must have, as well as a spirit of  adventure. In this exuberant book, the incomparable  Ray Bradbury shares the wisdom, experience, and  excitement of a lifetime of writing. Here are  practical tips on the art of writing from a master of  the craft-everything from finding original ideas to  developing your own voice and style-as well as the  inside story of Bradbury's own remarkable career  as a prolific author of novels, stories, poems,  films, and plays. Zen In The Art Of  Writing is more than just a how-to manual for the  would-be writer: it is a celebration of the act of  writing itself that will delight, impassion, and  inspire the writer in you. In it, Bradbury  encourages us to follow the unique path of our instincts  and enthusiasms to the place where our inner genius  dwells, and he shows that success as a writer  depends on how well you know one subject: your own  life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (36)

Love what you do- - -the words will come naturally




Writing about writing is wrought with woe,because a clever few words gathered by one writer may become muck in the minds of some readers.

However, here goes.Good conversation is based on a genuine interest in others.But, the key to good writing is a genuine interest in good ideas.Bradbury loves ideas, he is a master of wonderful "what if?" flights of fancy.For example, who else could see a fallen harbour pier and imagine it into a lovelorn dinosaur?

Bradbury uses words and ideas the way Thomas Edison used science and ideas.But what launches such talent?In Bradbury's case, a wondrous magician with a seedy two-bit carnival who took time to listen to the great ideas of a 12-year-old boy.

Complicated?Stephen Leacock once said about writing, "You just jot down ideas as they occur to you.The jotting is simplicity itself--it is the occurring which is difficult."

So, how does Bradbury do it?Basically, his life is a fun adventure;he enjoys life;facing his day's work is not a burden, for him writing is always the fever, the delight, the ardor of life itself.He has the spirit of wonder, adventure and mischief of a seven-year-old.Think 'Calvin' of comic strip fame, and you appreciate the mind of Bradbury.If this seems odd, it is only because 'Calvin' is a cartoon boy instead of a white-haired old sage.Bradbury's ideas underwent a similar evolution from fantasy to relevance in the 1950s, when librarians and scientists awoke to see the genius inherent in science fiction.

A second element, which Bradbury downplays, also relates to Leacock, "I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it."Bradbury enjoys his work with the delight 'Calvin' has in playing.If there isn't a 'Hobbes' in Bradbury's life, it's only because he hasn't told us of it yet.

A third element is Bradbury's love of books.In his early career, he wrote in the basement of a library.For a break, he went upstairs to the library and, in his words, "There I strolled, lost in love, down the corridors, and through the stacks, touching books, pulling volumes out, turning pages, thrusting volumes back, drowning in all the good stuffs that are the essence of libraries."

This book is much more than "zen", it celebrates "love" in a way that is almost lost in today's world. . .. .but which nonetheless has profound meaning.Romance novels are about the quest for love;Bradbury is someone who celebrates a love of new ideas every day.

Few books about writing are this good.

excellent
This is a keeper. Sometimes as authors we second guess ourselves and this really helps put writing into perspective.

Etiology of a fictionist
It was fascinating to read here the writing autobiography of one of the favorite authors of my youthful self. Bradbury's reflection on his boyhood literary influences easily triggered my own look back to the time when he was mine. Zen, by the author's admission, was a very new concept for him (just a few weeks old) when he wrote the title essay in this collection. And also, he confesses, used as his title the way a medicine show barker would use "calliope, drum and Blackfoot Indian," to get the audience's attention. As for his actually doing the Zen thing, that would be a longer story, and the subtext of this book. Bradbury recounts the catalytic events of a long literary life, the necessary attention to the memory-material within, the introspective silence and the stepping out of bed onto a fresh metaphorical landmine each morning, the links back through time to smells and sights and fears and loves that shaped the stories he came to tell. Living like a lizard: full tilt boogey or unblinking on a rock. Details of formative events as disparate as the writing of his best known novel, FAHRENHEIT 451, in the basement of the L.A. Public Library or an early encounter with Mr. Electrico, a sideshow performer in a second-rate carnival paint a vivid self-portrait of a writing life. ('451 was written on a pay-per-use public library typewriter which required a dime per half hour, and the finished original manuscript cost Bradbury $9.80. Not a bad investment for a bestseller turned movie script which is still in print forty-five years later. And, of course, 451 tells the tale of a future day when all books are burned by official edict, starting with the libraries... Mr. Electrico zapped him with the news that he had lived before, and was immortal.) As a practical writing guide, ZEN pales compared to "DEEP WRITING, 7 PRINCIPLES THAT BRING IDEAS TO LIFE (Tarcher/Putnam, 1999) by Eric Maisel but this is a far better story: electrified, blazoned with color, and drunk while in charge of its own bicycle. A real treat for current or one-time or future Bradbury fans.

Write Here, Write Now.
Zen. The practice of living fully in the now, paying full attention to being, and to doing.

Is this possible with writing? It is if you follow Bradbury's lead, and immerse yourself first in what he tells you about how HE writes, and then, put the book aside, and immerse yourself in your own daily writing practice.

Do it fearlessly, consistently, and mindfully, and allow your best to surface. You'll stop being so quick to judge what you write, and just let the writing flow (editing and rewriting come later)!

So go ahead, pick up the book and read a little. Then, pick up the pen, and follow your Zen.

Joy of writing
This book may be more for the word than the Zen practitioner, but it is for anyone wanting affirmation and inspiration for the craft of writing.Herein Bradbury provides us with the techniques and processes he used since the age of 12 to bring life to words; his deep love of writing and incredible memory, pour from each page making the reader almost drunk (on Dandelion Wine.)After reading this book you too will feel like you can and should write anything albeit with patience and practice.

Whether Bradbury realizes it or not, the discipline of writing is akin to the discipline of Zen as seen in consistent practice of that which we want to achieve, be it a novel or enlightenment.He shows us his method of confronting his childhood fears and shadows while also recommending that not thinking is essential to the creative flow of words that becomes a written product and how wonderful to read of his experiencing the sacred muse.

This book seemed like it would make great high school reading material to encourage young people who so need to express themselves,and it made me feel like using an old fashioned typewriter again, his pre-word-processing tool of hand to paper.It is short and easy to read, full of zest for life and of course the thrill of writing!

... Read more

Amazon.com
Take a trip through the topography of the brain, and you're likely to get lost somewhere around the medulla oblongata. Zen can lose you before you've even pretzeled your legs into the lotus position. But a unique neurologist-Zen Buddhist has written a tome that is a map to all the mysteries of meditation and mind. Take breathing out, for example. We spend just over half of our breathing time exhaling. For meditating monks, it's a full three-quarters. EEGs show us that the act of exhaling helps physically quiet the brain. Many other causal connections can be found between Zen practices and the physiology of the brain, and James H. Austin lays them out one by one, drawing from his own Zen experiences and the latest in neurological research. So if you've ever wondered what the corpus callosum has to do with consciousness or how the limbic system contributes to enlightenment, Austin will get your brain racing and put your mind at ease. --Brian Bruya Book Description
Winner of the Scientific and Medical Network 1998 Book Prize

Aldous Huxley called humankind's basic trend toward spiritual growth the "perennial philosophy." According to James Austin, the trend implies a "perennial psychophysiology"--for awakening, or enlightenment, occurs only because the human brain undergoes substantial changes. What are the peak experiences of enlightenment? How could they profoundly enhance, and yet simplify, the workings of the brain? Zen and the Brain summarizes the latest evidence.

The book uses Zen Buddhism as the opening wedge for an extraordinarily wide-ranging exploration of consciousness. In order to understand the brain mechanisms that produce Zen states, one needs some understanding of the anatomy, physiology, and chemistry of the brain. Austin, a neuroscientist and Zen practitioner, interweaves his teachings of the brain with his teachings/personal narrative of Zen. The science, which contains the latest relevant developments in brain research, is both inclusive and rigorous; the Zen sections are clear and evocative. Along the way, Austin covers such topics as similar states in other disciplines and religions, sleep and dreams, mental illness, consciousness-altering drugs, and the social consequences of advanced stages of enlightenment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Enter withextreme caution
The Author is a neurologist and a Zen practitioner.

His skill at the field of neurology; I will reserve comment until I obtain sufficient information to form a credible opinion.

The information about Zen; is terroble at least in the beginning. I was only able to complete the first thirty pages before throwing the book down in disgust because he tells some things about zen that "just ain't so."

Page 7. "The Zen of which we speak is an ancient sect of mahayana Buddhism."

Zen is NOT Mahayana Buddhism. Zen is neither fish nor fowl.

Zen began in China and was called chan (sitting meditation) Buddhism began in India, when Buddhism was taken to China; the Chinese state religion was Taoism.

Zen is an outgrowth of the two philosophies Buddhism and Taoism. Chan practitioners borrowed parts of each philosophy, and chan was born as a third and seperate philsophy. thename was changed to Zen after chan was taken to Japan.

Page 8. "Chan also drew some of it's ethical base from Confucianism"

Confucius lived about the same time of Buddha (sidhartha Gautama), and by the time Chan was introduced Confucianism had been replaced with the state religion pf Taoism. It's a mice story; but isn't so.

Page 8. "Thus it gradually evolved into what Kobori-roshi would later describe as a strange dragon with a Taoist torso, Confucian feet and the Buddhist enlightenment-experience for it's eyes.

I documented earlier that Taoism had replaced Confucianism as the state religion before the birth of zen, and I thought the author said on page 7 that Zen was Mahayana Buddhism?

Page 13. "Authentic Zen will not be drawn into such artificial "minn gyms"."

What is a gym? a gymnasium where a person goes to play a sport or to exercize. Zen IS all about exercizing the mind so you can awaken to your True Nature, and silence the monkey mind.

Page 14. "Zen shuns halucinations and dogmatism"

Excuse me Mr. Austin; but one can NOT awaken to their True Nature without going through the mental state called makyo where your mind will generate all sorts of visual AND sometimes audible halucinations.

As I said earlier' I was only able to stand about the first thirty pages before throwing the book down in disgust. The Zen instruction may get better; but I DO know the author puts a lot of garbage about Zen in the mind of the readers.

If you want to learn Zen; start here.

Entry level.

"Taking The Path Of Zen" Robert Aitken
"Zen: Lessons From A Modern Master" Katsukui Sekida

Experienced

"Zen Training: Methods And Philsophy" Katsuki Sekida
"Three Pillars Of Zen" Phillip Kapleau

For more books check my listmania list for Zen books

Zen was the first meditation system I learned at the age of 12 when studying martial arts.

I am nearly 52 now. I have practised taoist, guided, Hawaiian, Jewish, and several other forms of meditation over the years; but I always seem to find myself wandering back to Zen after a few weeks to months.

Excellent Understanding of ZEN
ZEN & THE BRAIN is an excellent book about the mechanisms and affects of the Brain before,during,&after the process of ZEN meditation. It includes a brief history of Zen & what Japanese Koans are & how they should be approached. If You are a beginner it is a fascinating exploration,if you are intermediate or advanced,his book will furthur motivate you to higher levels of ZEN.Doctor James H.Austin writes surprisingly humbly about his lessons of Zen.This is a MUST READ & PURCHASE book,ZEN AND THE MIND BY JAMES H.AUSTIN.

where is the brain center for compassion?
so he spent his sabbaticals doing things to cat brains?

since cat brains are completely different from human brains what was the point of torturing innocent animals?

perhaps he needs to go back and meditate some more on compassion.

i will not be reading or purchasing his book.

Thought provoking book of paradox
This very detailed and voluminous book delves into two subjects, which at times appear very different and not easily connected. On the one hand, the author provides an excellent description of his experience with Zen Buddhism. He describes how Zen is a very rigorous practice and recounts his own progress. Perhaps the strongest aspect of the book is the careful use of terms. Concepts such as "emptiness" and "suchness" are explained in detail. There is an interpretation of the Freudian concepts of ego and id, and a distinction made between the egocentric "I" and the pragmatic "I". The egocentric "I" is further defined as "I-Me-Mine" - different aspects of the selfish and limiting ego, driven by cravings.

I was struck by the author's announcement that he considers consciousness to be brain-bound. As a neuroscientist, he clearly and repeatedly indicates a distrust for mystical speculation, and indeed, there is very little on such subjects as karma (explained as circumstances beyond control). But announcing that consciousness is local to the brain is, in my view, a sort of mysticism in itself, a jumping to a conclusion that he uses as a premise. The philosophy that underlies Buddhism maintains that the material world is a delusion and that the only escape from inevitable suffering (since everything eventually dissolves) is to turn consciousness back into itself, back to it's origin. Perhaps I am missing something, but herein lies the central paradox of this book.

The tendency of science is to treat the brain as an isolated unit, whereas the brain functions within a larger, more fundamental system - the energy system of the body. Human beings can be thought of as fields of energy. Early in the book, there is an analogy that connects the wind through bamboo leaves with the "ripples of excitement [that] sweep back and forth over dendrites." The energy of this "wind" as manifested by the electrical signals is subtle and difficult to measure. "The brain is no power plant. Even when researchers amplify its faint potential up to 50 microvolts, its output amounts to only 50 millionth of a volt". The neuroscientist, then, faced with the difficulty of studying the brain as part of an energy system has concentrated on the brain in terms of chemical reactions within neural pathways. Consciousness is not thought of as being fundamental, as linked with energy; but rather as a result of chemical reactions.

How can the isolated brain, to which consciousness is bound, escape the inevitable suffering of the material world? How does the materialism of a neuroscientist fit with Zen Buddhist practice and experience? This is the paradox of the book, and as far as I see, this paradox deepens as the book proceeds.

But this particular paradox does not appear to matter from the author's perspective. The author's Zen practice is aimed at stripping away all the egocentric (I-Me-Mine) diversions until the subject arrives at pure awareness, the way things really are. The author's Zen experiences, in which he experiences a mystical breakthrough (not his term), certainly were very real to him, and he tries to explain them in the concrete terms of neuroscience. These explanations become very speculative, but in any event, the brain could well manifest every single meditative state that is described.

If you are a scientist, I suggest skipping this book.
I hate to write a critical review, since any book is a work of love and dedication.But for scientists as myself, I would tread carefully, dear reader.

For example, consider Fig. 2 and 3 on pg's 150 and 151.Fig. 2 shows the brain with regions delineated by 5 patterns (dots, dashes, white, etc.).OK so far, but there is no graphical legend to the patterns.And in the textual legend the author refers to "the cross-hatched area."I submit no x-hatched area exists in this Figure.(Maybe a zazen test?)

Being human, I forgive one error.Now, on to Fig. 3.Nice picture.But read this part of the legend."The long cingulate gyrus receives extensive thalamic projections from the anterior thalamic nucleus (not indicated)."

What I describe is a figure legend describing something not indicated in the Figure. In 54 years (OK, I have only been reading since age 3 or 4, so in the last 50 years of reading), I have never before seen such an example.

Did the MIT Press really read and edit this text?

Respectfully yours,
... Read more

Amazon.com
"Zen enriches no one," Thomas Merton provocatively writes in his opening statement to Zen and the Birds of Appetite--one of the last books to be published before his death in 1968. "There is no body to be found. The birds may come and circle for a while... but they soon go elsewhere. When they are gone, the 'nothing,' the 'no-body' that was there, suddenly appears. That is Zen. It was there all the time but the scavengers missed it, because it was not their kind of prey." This gets at the humor, paradox, and joy that one feels in Merton's discoveries of Zen during the last years of his life, a joy very much present in this collection of essays. Exploring the relationship between Christianity and Zen, especially through his dialogue with the great Zen teacher D.T. Suzuki (included as part 2 of this volume), the book makes an excellent introduction to a comparative study of these two traditions, as well as giving the reader a strong taste of the mature Merton. Never does one feel him losing his own faith in these pages; rather one feels that faith getting deeply clarified and affirmed. Just as the body of "Zen" cannot be found by the scavengers, so too, Merton suggests, with the eternal truth of Christ. "It was there all the time but the scavengers missed it...." --Doug Thorpe ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Ride your horse along the edge of the sword
This little set of essays on Zen Buddhism by one of the great Catholic thinkers of this century, a Trappist monk often associated with peace theology, is challenging and unique.It is clear the Merton is well-informed about Zen and approaches it from an open mind, seeking affinities between his faith and that of the Zen masters.I half expected a syncretic approach but, for all of his acceptance of ideas and concepts of Zen, Merton never compromises his essentially Christian view of the world.Rather, he embraces Zen mysticism; its apophatic approach to the universe and divinity; its rejection of the world and self; and he finds parallels in Christian life and thought down through the ages.He also describes his discussions with D.T. Suzuki in a way which clearly shows his delight with the man and his ideas.The dialogue between the two men shows the similarities as well as some of the differences in their thinking.

While most of the book elucidates Zen philosophy and relates it to western Christian thinking, a chapter on Zen and art rounds things out nicely.For anyone interested in Zen or Christianity this book will definitely be of interest.It has, in my opinion, the added benefit of pointing out the many parallels between Christian mystical and ascetic practices and Zen without confounding or conflating them.

Some Careful and Dispassionate Ado About Nothing
This is one of Merton's best but most difficult books, one of his most misunderstood by both his devotees and his critics.It is usually either too enthusiastically embraced for the wrong reasons, or glibly dismissed for superficial and ignorant ones.

First of all, Zen is not a religion, it is a way of thinking and seeing, in key ways much like an aesthetic, except that it is an aesthetic toward all of life and not just individual tastes in the plastic arts.The whole concept of a faith in a Western sense is alien to its spokesman here, Suzuki, and Merton is not out to convince he or you otherwise.But Zen can have consequences for faith and belief.

Merton and Suzuki are both old pros and well seasoned in their respective traditions before they get here.Similarities and affinities between Christian monasticism and Zen monasticism are explored, yes, and they are mainly outward.But it is the inner and intrinsic differences which one will remember afterwards.There is no attempt on either side of trying to "bridge" them or paste them over with verbal formulas.True, Merton sometimes picks a poetic statement to explain something basically untranslateable.These statements are pleasing to a Western poetic sense, sound a little mysterious, and apparently constitute "wow" moments for certain Western readers which they assume are appropriately "Zenlike."The title metaphor is a key case in point.But the fact is Zen is absolutely unsentimental and not even "sympathetic" in the Western sense.And to the extent certain Zen sayings or "koans" sound like poetry, this is not their intent but, at best, a secondary effect.Zen is really "nothing" in an absolute sense -- a way so uniquely Oriental that it is really grasped by few Western seekers.It is arguably not even graspable by someone raised, say, to about age 6 in totally Western surroundings.Indeed it is arguably ungraspable even by its most ardent devotees and practicioners.One might call it a sort of cosmic joke except that it is deadly serious.Here is where the consequences for the muddle headed Westerner come in.Whatever Zen "is" or "isn't", it can be overwhelming and, yes, potentially destructive (not just to faith but also to basic sanity) for one not properly mature, seasoned, sane, grounded in a full and deep Christianity.It is worth knowing about and this book is a big aid, but it is not a plaything.As indeed Christianity is not, although unfortunately as now practiced in the West it has been heavily sentimentalized.Zen, if properly pursued, will indeed expose and probably shatter such a weakness -- without really having that aim.Its serious accounting of the void it posits will have such an effect on anything in its path.

Merton and Suzuki approach their dialogue fairly dispassionately, and what proceeds is something of a dissection of the DMZ between these "two paths."Both men are honest enough not to mince or blur distinctions.The potential "equality" of the "two ways" is not explored or promoted; it is irrelevant to both men, not even an issue. While Merton was engaging in this partly in response to a contemporary call to ecumenical "dialogue," in no way does the discussion follow by now classical ecumenical approaches, ie. theological agreements, doctrinal differences, etcetera.Again, Zen is not a theology.Nor is it the difference, here, between apples and oranges -- more between apples and a perfect vacuum.The fact that the vacuum may elude perfect linquistic expression, as any "god" or specifically the Christian God is ultimately a mystery, is not set up as a similarity in other than the most superficial sense.And of course many modern philosophies, even in the West, explore the limits of language as to any subject or even any concrete thing conceivable.

If this all sounds somewhat dry, it is because it is.Frankly, I question how many supposed "readers" or "reviewers" have actually read this dialogue completely, or in any event not by "speed reading."I suspect about as many people have actually read it as claim to have read Finnegan's Wake.No, its no thriller.Its charm is its candid air and the human respect between the two men speaking, across a gulf mutually acknowledged as about as wide as the Grand Canyon.But it remains, after many years, about the most cogent and honest thing on its subject.It might even prove to be the last-- eventually it might be seen that the beginning was the end.And if that's not Zenlike enough, of course, it was really all for nothing anyway . . . .

Just don't capitalize it:ie. "Nothing."Then, no you didn't get it . . . To the extent of course it matters . . . .

Zen
Slow, dry, and dull. If you are really into Zen it might be for you, but if you are you will want more. If the reader is Catholic they will be dissapointed. This is a typical book of its period, post Vatican II and during the greatest phase of experimentation.

A little book with lots of meaning.
There is something refreshing about this little book. The title will seem a bit misleading - if expecting to find an account of Zen per se - minus the Christian based reflections of the author. However, Merton is known well enough - and these essays show him at his best. The dialogue between D.T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton is fruitful. Christianity and Buddhism have often been presented as antithetical, working from bases too different - to afford dialogue. These essays challenge that perception, without falling into vague generalisations.

If anything, recent years have seen a 'hardening of the orthodoxies' - a retreat into numbingly conservative attitudes. Happily, the essays in this book evoke a more open-ended perspective. There is something arrogant and unspiritual about the wish to deny the value of dialogue between spiritual traditions. Where the 'birds of appetite' wheel and prey, the truth has fallen from sight - be it Christian 'innocence' or the 'fundamental face' of Zen.

We can't deny the merits of a Christian who endeavoured, with a whole heart, to take stock of what goes on in the other World religions. Similarly, we can't look badly upon a Buddhist, who was large-hearted enough to share the workings of the Christian mind and spirit. Merton's encounter with Buddhism exerted a seminal influence upon his whole life-thought. Suzuki's encounter with Christianity - chiefly, through Eckhart, exerted a similar influence (the Eckhartian equation 0=infinity -found its way into Suzuki's hand-written notes appended to the Mastsugaoka Zen Bunka ed of the Rinzai Roku). Let's hope that this new century of ours witnesses more dialogues in this vein.

Paved With Good Intentions
Okay I love Thomas Merton, but this is one of his slower moving works. It's good; but as a below reviewer pointed out, it's certainly not for everyone. Thomas Merton had a tremendously open mind toward eastern traditions, and in Kentucky there is actually a Thomas Merton Zen center to this day. But as for a book on Zen goes, this was probably designed more for Christians than Buddhists. In fact, I am pretty sure that it was. Probably the most worthwhile and memorable section of this book was the dialogue between Merton and D.T. Suzuki, the Japanese Zen scholar at that time. Now I never liked Suzuki's style too much for my part, being a Zen practitioner I have always found his approach simply too scholarly for my blood. His Zen was that for the academic community, which is not really good or bad. It's one of the reasons Zen Buddhism has flourished here in the United States in the years since. Here Merton shines through. It's ironic, I find he defends his view on Christianity with much more veracity than Daisetz was probably hoping to convey for his part. The two tried to make it a pretty congruent, or harmonious event, but needless to say there were misconceptions on both sides of the aisle.

Anyway, in terms of Merton's literature concerning Eastern thought - I am much more drawn to his, "The Way of Chuang Tzu." Much more fluent and vibrant. Zen and the Birds of Appetite, on the other hand, sets out to do some remarkable things; but I think it might actually put you to sleep. I could be wrong. After all, this is solely coming from the Zen side of the book review. There may be a plethora of Christians who truly identify with what Merton was conveying here. And similarly, there might even be a good number of Zen practitioners who feel they can relate to it as well. You know, I'm just one small voice here. I wouldn't pay too much attention to me. Because it is, nevertheless, one of those books worth having sitting up somewhere on your bookshelf. I am simply giving one take. So, I hope this review was somehow helpful for you all. I hope you enjoy the book and take something out of it. ... Read more

Book Description
The Compass of Zen is a simple, exhaustive—and often hilarious—presentation of the essence of Zen by a modern Zen Master of considerable renown. In his many years of teaching throughout the world, the Korean-born Zen Master Seung Sahn has become known for his ability to cut to the heart of Buddhist teaching in a way that is strikingly clear, yet free of esoteric and academic language. In this book, based largely on his talks, he presents the basic teachings of Buddhism and Zen in a way that is wonderfully accessible for beginners—yet so rich with stories, insights, and personal experiences that long-time meditation students will also find it a source of inspiration and a resource for study. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

How do you keep your mind?
I love this book and this Zen Master. It is a complete teaching on Zen Buddhism, from basic to advanced subjects. All throughout the book Zen Master Seung Sahn uses personal stories (many of them quite humorous) to help illustrate his points. My own copy is worn from years of reading and re-reading. Perhaps the single most useful phrase I have retained from this book is "How do you keep your mind?" Wonderful book full of excellent guidance. Also has a brief glossary of terms in the back and an excellent selection of Koans to use. I'd recommend it whole-heartedly!

Brilliant
Beginners read this book.Masters read this book.Worth its weight in gold.And yet it's no big deal.:0)

Seung Sahn, Wonderful
If ever you want a book on Zen, this is it.The A to Zen of Zen.

The Compass of Zen

The Compass of Zen is an excellent source of information concerning Zen Buddhism. It is TRULY a compass that sorts out volumes of information concerning Zen Buddhism.Seung Sahn'snon-academic language is heart felt and inspiring.
I highly recommend this book for ANYONE who has an interest in Zen and meditation.

great read
i agree with most of the other reviewers here...

love the sometimes broken korean english

summarises a ton of into in a very succinct manner

easy to read

has some humour

positions the various forms of buddhism in context with one another

"just buy it"

jxm ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

I think I see
This book started out badly for me. The author said up front he doesn't call himself an artist. Only smug people do that. If you are an artist without a purpose, then you probably aren't really an artist, so I believe him. Then he goes on a rambling journey explaining how no one can do art like him, that all the modern art and the people who view it are unenlightened and he is enlightened and you can be too. All you have to do is a bunch of blind contour drawings and then modified contour drawings. Do them in ink. Don't pay attention to light and shadow. Apparently really being able to "see" means seeing ink lines around everything in one color even. Mkay. Apparently it's all part of the Zen thing. I wonder if crass comments around everybodies art but you own is part of the Zen philosophy. He obviously likes eastern art and he keeps talking about eastern religion at the same time admitting he isn't religious. Now I'll say something positive. He does have some nice ink drawings and they do kinda remind me of Rembrandt ink drawings. But Rembrandt followed though and he was famous for his use of light and shadow. I guess he wasn't Zen. He's right about blind contour drawings helping your eye-hand coordination so he did take something away from all the teachers who came before him. But that's about all you are going to get in this book, along with some lessons in ancient eastern philosophy and a strong sense that he knows something nobody else does but can't really explain it too well.

....REMINDS HUMANS THAT THE JOURNEY IS ABOUT CREATION
We get caught up in "does it look real" as we draw and make pictures and Franck reminds us that our scrawling lines are like heartbeats and that we must quiet ourselves and focus calmly, with serenity to fully expand our vision and express ourselves with lines and tones. Meditation in Action (subtitle) certainly implies the author's intentions as he draws upon Eastern philosophy and age-old quotes to fully illustrate and expound his ideas. I enjoyed the "journey" of this book and Franck's relaxed insights and stories about putting pen to paper, the getting "lost" in our cognitive shifts as we sketch and perceive the "ten thousand things" that surround us. A little bit of technique is discussed about drawing and picture-making too! A fine, spiritual and percolating brew!

A life changer
This book changed my life. I can now "see". As a begining art student, I was having difficulty "seeing". I read this book 3 times in a row when I first got it. It changed the way I look at everything. People, places, life. Such a passion for life, drawing and humanity comes through Frederick Franck's drawings and words. Frederick Franck is an amazing conduit. I'm grateful he wrote this book. Highly, highly recommended.

Be aware of what you see
No, it's not a book about Zen or drawing, but it is an ispiration for both.This book inspires the reader to see the world for the first time, not just look at things for the sake of avoiding them while driving. Franck's style is not bombastic, but his entusiasm for drawing, for life,and for awareness shows through every word he writes.

Delightful book about SEEING as opposed to "looking at"
This book is one of the few that has had a profound impact on my life,and one of the very, very few which will always have a place on my bookshelf.I go back to this delightful book again and again when I needto be inspired and refreshed.

"Zen Seeing / Zen Drawing" isneither a primer nor a thorough discourse on either zen or drawingtechnique, and thank goodness - the last thing we need is more "talking" about zen or "how to's" about art.Thisbook, plain and simple, is about the experience of SEEING, truly seeing,not just with ones eyes, but with all of ones senses, ones heart and onesspirit.

If you have always wanted to draw but somehow never have, thenthis book may be just what you need to get started, especially if you haveany inclination towards things "zen" or spiritual. ... Read more

Amazon.com
The paradox of Zen is that learning to just live in the present requires lots of hard work. In Being Zen, seasoned Zen teacher Ezra Bayda unpacks this paradox. He demonstrates the need to just be and then instructs us how to undertake the hard work with precision and persistence. Through personal anecdotes he shows us how we keep ourselves from living a genuine life. Instead, we maintain an ideal image of ourselves by creating strategies that depend on delusive self-images,blind spots, and knee-jerk reactions. He then shows how, by "living the practice life," we can relentlessly observe this process and transform our edifices into open spaces of natural awareness and innate compassion. Bayda offers specific practices for dealing with such automatic emotions as anger and fear, teaching how they can be dampened and eventually dissolved. A "how-to" book in the best sense of the word, Being Zen is about how to just live. --Brian BruyaBook Description
We can use whatever life presents, Ezra Bayda teaches, to strengthen our spiritual practice—including the turmoil of daily life. What we need is the willingness to just be with our experiences—whether they are painful or pleasing—opening ourselves to the reality of our lives without trying to fix or change anything. But doing this requires that we confront our most deeply rooted fears and assumptions in order to gradually become free of the constrictions and suffering they create. Then we can awaken to the loving-kindness that is at the heart of our being. While many books aspire to bring meditation into everyday experience, Being Zen gives us practical ways to actually do it, introducing techniques that enable the reader to foster qualities essential to continued spiritual awakening. Topics include how to cultivate: Perseverance: staying with anger, fear, and other distressing emotions.Stillness: abiding with chaotic experiences without becoming overwhelmed.Clarity: seeing through the conditioned beliefs and fears that "run" us.Direct experience: encountering the physical reality of the present moment—even when that moment is exactly where we don't want to be. Like Pema Chödrön, the best-selling author of When Things Fall Apart, Ezra Bayda writes with clear, heartfelt simplicity, using his own life stories to illustrate the teachings in an immediate and accessible way that will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

wonderful book!
"being zen" is one of the best books i've ever read.ezra bayda takes life, as it is, and show us how to live it fully, in this moment.he deals with specific emotional reactions in life and how to use them to find out more about our deepest beliefs, the very beliefs that keep us from opening our heart to life and to people.you find yourself on every page.i gave this book to all of my friends because i think it will give them joy.

Being Zen: Bringing Meditation to Life
A very clear and concise understanding of meditation. It is a wonderful addition to any mindfulness library.It is a very real approach to a significant way of life.

The best of Buddhism
This book along with FREE YOUR MIND (Sensei Anthony Stultz)and SWEET ZEN (Cheri Huber)represent the triumvirate of new presentations of the Dharma.So good!