Zen

Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life

by Thich Nhat Hanh

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"I read this book twice once ten years ago and once recently. The last reading was the most powerful possibly because I had read both Converstaions with God and An Encounter With A Prophet. It was much easier for me to attain great peace after I had changed my concepts of God from reading these two books. try it you will like it"

Publisher: Bantam | More reviews: amazon.com

Zen And the Art of Happiness

by Chris Prentiss

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"I've read many, many books on Zen and the way of happiness...but this one is the best I've ever read. And the beauty of it is that it makes it very simple, straight to the point, and tells you the way to achieve real happiness in life. I've recommended it to many people and still re-read it every few months. The simplicity of it is very powerful and it has the potential to really change one's own life. "

Publisher: Power Pr | More reviews: amazon.com

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (Shambhala Library)

by Shunryu Suzuki

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"This is a collection of talks by one of the first Zen teachers in the U.S. If you're already practicing Zen, I highly recommend this book. If you're new to Zen, you might love this book or you might find it largely incomprehensible, or maybe both. Suzuki makes liberal use of the paradoxical language that is typical of Zen--e.g., "For us, complete perfection is not different from imperfection. The eternal exists because of non-eternal existence." If you'd prefer a more ordinary, explanatory style, I recommend Charlotte Joko Beck's "Everyday Zen." If you're looking for practical instruction in Zen meditation, you'll find it in "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind," but you might prefer either Philip Kapleau's "The Three Pillars of Zen," which includes more detailed instructions and illustrations of sitting postures, or Cheri Huber's instructional video "The Secret Is There Are No Secrets."

When I first read "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind," for a college class on Buddhism, I wasn't quite sure what to make of it, but I did end up practicing Zen, and maybe this book had something to do with that. For many years, even while living at a Zen monastery, I suspected that a lot of the enthusiasm for this book was an "emperor's new clothes" phenomenon: a few respected people said it was wonderful, so then everybody said it was wonderful. I figured its aura of profundity was due in large part to Suzuki's congruence with our archetype of mountaintop gurus--the short sentences and limited English vocabulary, and the paradoxical language that sounds deep even though nobody actually knows what the heck it means. More recently, I've come to think that the emperor really does have clothes and that the big issues of human life are hard to talk about without paradox, and this is now one of my favorite Zen books."

Publisher: Shambhala | More reviews: amazon.com

True Love: A Practice for Awakening the Heart

by Thich Nhat Hanh

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"This is a little book you can read within a couple of sittings, and if you are open to it, it will open your heart.
It's not a book about relationships or about fixing problems -- it's about changing your perspective, becoming still and present to your experience. You don't need to search for love elsewhere -- if you can consistently practice what Thich Nhat Hanh calls "mindfulness", you will *be* love and you will see it everywhere. When I was done reading this book, I felt a sense of peace and presence and a wonderful knowing that all the love I ever need is right here in my own heart."

Publisher: Shambhala | More reviews: amazon.com

Osho Zen Tarot: The Transcendental Game Of Zen

by Osho

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"As is my usual practice, I'll preface this review with the disclaimer that I am not what you would call a professional practicioner of the tarot. The cards are nothing more than a hobby for me--one that I picked up after becoming intrigued with tarot during my reading of the Illuminatus! trilogy. Since then, I have begun to collect decks a few at a time, but I treat the entire pursuit more as an entertaining hobby than any kind of lifestyle. That being the case, you might think that Osho Zen Tarot would run a little roughshod across my sensibilities. After all, these cards are designed almost specifically for meditative purposes, and I'm not the sort of person who's real likely to put in that sort of time. That's really not the case, I've found. In fact, I'm not even sure that I'd call this a tarot deck--most tarot cards are designed with at least some divinatory capacity in mind, while these focus more on personal reflection and an exploration of the self. The cards have been reworked to a great extent. Both the major arcana and the minors have been rewritten and reordered--I have a hard time even relating this deck and other tarot decks. It is because of this difference that I cannot recommend this deck to beginners--not only is it vastly different from every other set out there, but it's probably also not what you're looking for to begin with. As usual, my recommendation for beginners is to stick with the Rider-Waite or another deck done in the style, but this one's probably not up their alley. The cards themselves are fully illustrated, with keywords printed at the bottom for aid in interpretation. The court cards are indistinguishable from the rest of the cards in the suit, except for the presence of directional arrows at the bottom of the card instead of a number. The trumps are numbered, but don't appear to directly correspond to the majors of other tarot decks. One thing should be noted before purchasing this deck--Osho can rub some people the wrong way. Reading the book, some of what was included for aid in interpretation was useful, and some was a little disturbing--reminiscent more of cult rhetoric than real guidance for life. The ostensible purpose of the deck is to relate Zen and tarot--not being a practitioner of Zen, I can't say how well that's been done. The inclusion of a twenty third trump, however, should be reflective of the tone and attitude of Osho--the twenty third trump is labeled the master, and his picture is plastered all over it. I'm really not sure what to make of this deck, all things told. I am glad that I own it, and I think that any collector of the tarot will definitely want to add this to their stash. I'm not so sure about these cards' utility for divinations, but for personal exploration I expect they should work very well for most people. If you can put up with a little bit of arrogance from Osho, than this deck is probably a good investment for you, with beautiful artwork and an interesting take on the tarot."

Publisher: St. Martin's Press | More reviews: amazon.com

Big Mind - Big Heart: Finding Your Way

by Dennis Genpo Merzel

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"Western culture teaches us to focus on the good. This can offer merit. When we see the good in ourselves and others, we can create feelings of well-being. Yet, always lurking in the shadows are darker sides of our human nature. Seeing our shadow sides can create feelings of guilt and shame - a sense that we're not o.k. So we run and hide from them. When our shadows are particularly scary or deeply embedded, we may not even see them. When we repress the darker aspects of our nature, we carry a weight that limits our growth. Our shadows still emerge, but in covert ways that can damage our self and others. Conversely, allowing ourselves to embrace all aspects of our true nature can be immensely liberating. For it is only by bringing all aspects of ourselves into consciousnesss that we can truly awaken.

In Big Mind, Big Heart, Genpo Roshi offers us a wonderful gift. By knitting together the ancient wisdom of Zen with the more recent wisdom of Western psychology, he has created a technology accessible to anyone ready to face the challenges of inner work.

As a Research Director for one of the world's largest professional services firms, I find Genpo's work to be among the most important I have encountered across a wide terrain of material on learning and growth. I find it incredibly useful as I continue to develop my own self-awareness. I believe his work carries tremendous possibility for organizations, too - particularly in the domain of leadership development, where a shift in consciousness is of dire need.

We are at an inflection point in society and organizations where "how" we learn is every bit as important as "what" we learn. By seeing our dualistic nature (on the longer path of non-dualism) we can release our clinging to conditioned patterns, limiting ideas, and damaging behaviors - and open to new ways of being, multiple perspectives, and wise action. Thank you, Genpo, for offering us your wise and compassionate guidance for that journey."

Publisher: Big Mind Publishing | More reviews: amazon.com

Zen in the Art of Archery

by Eugen Herrigel

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""Zen In the Art of Archery" is, hands down, the absolute worst book one could possibly read if, by reading it, one hopes to get a clear understanding of what kyudo is.I am the translator of the article "The Myth of Zen in the Art of Archery" by professor Yamada Shoji, mentioned upthread by another reviewer. Professor Yamada is an experienced kyudo practitoner. I also have been practicing kyudo for 30 years, 11 of them in Japan under the tutelage of some of the most senior instructors in Japan.To put it bluntly, Herrigel got everything, and I mean everything, wrong. He himself only practiced kyudo for three years, if his translator Sozo Komachiya is to be believed (he started in 1926 and returned to Germany in 1929). He spoke no Japanese. He was himself a mystic (or he wanted to be one, anyway) intent on understanding Zen, not archery, and he had very definite pre-formed ideas about what he was looking for and what he believed Zen, and, by extension kyudo, to be. Given such a situation, the impending disaster was a forgone conclusion. Even with the best instruction he would not have understood kyudo.His book is very seductive, filled as it is with tantalizing mystical stories about a seeker on the road to "enlightenment". So, it will appeal to romantics who have no experience in either Zen or kyudo, and it has been my experience that the book indeed appeals primarily to such people. It is instructive to note that those people who have experience in either discipline are quick to point out how thoroughly Herrigel bollixed it up.I began kyudo under the influence of his book, and it was only after many years that I fully realized exactly how pernicious that influence was. I strongly urge those people who are interested in kyudo to never read it or only to read it after they have been practicing kyudo for a long time under competent instruction. To read it with the intent of forming an informed opinion of kyudo is not only inadvisable, it is positively dangerous.Read "Kyudo: The Essence and Practice of Japanese Archery" by Onuma and DeProspero instead. It is as good an explanation of kyudo as Herrigel's book is a bad one."

Publisher: Vintage | More reviews: amazon.com

Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen

by Shunryu Suzuki

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"When you think of Zen Buddhism, chances are the first name that comes to mind for you may be Roshi Shunryu Suzuki. His bestselling book, "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind," has remained a monolith in the area of Zen literature for years, and rightly so. The title of this particular book captures the ongoing paradox of Suzuki's teaching style, stemming from his often used phrase, "It may be so, but it is not always so." What this means is that people so oftentimes cling to their own understanding to the point where they cannot flex or learn anymore. We might become experts without even knowing it, even experts on not being an expert. This is possible. Yet everything changes in our world, that includes even truth. In order to help this world as well as ourselves, we must be willing to bend some and let go of our linear thinking. Life is a process of learning. But learning alone is simply not enough. There isn't a good practice or a bad practice, there is only practice. That means you, "vow to save all beings suffering everywhere." That's not good or bad. That's your job. Roshi Suzuki helps each and everyone of us step into the world that is eternally present and free from all opposites. Where everything we encounter is, "Just like this." Only that. Every action leads to understanding, so please don't separate anything; this is Roshi's most precious gem he has left behind for all of us. Buddhist life is just life. It's going to work, caring for the garden, and taking a walk. I do hope you'll buy this book so you may step into the world of practice as stated by Suzuki here, because it's the key to all of the happiness humanity can ever know. The happiness of no happiness. Hopefully you understand that point. As Korean master Seung Sahn would likewise state, "Only go straight." Enjoy this book."

Publisher: HarperOne | More reviews: amazon.com

Zen and Now: On the Trail of Robert Pirsig and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

by Mark Richardson

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"Saw the author speak at his first book event last night, purchased the book there, and stayed up all night reading it. Like many, I know now, I couldn't get through Zen and the Art.. during my first read as a teenager. I also didn't know the author was from St. Paul (where I live). This book gives great insight into Pirsig, but also into Richardson.

It's so well written and, by it's very nature, compelling. I read to see what would happen next. Also very evocative of the landscape and people. And he has to be commended on his reporting skills, finding and interviewing all those people from Pirsig's past.

I just finished a new Harper Lee biography. So I guess this is a new genre: respectful, compelling books about the lives of recluse authors...without help or guidance from those authors!
"

Publisher: Knopf | More reviews: amazon.com

There Is Nothing Wrong with You: Going Beyond Self-Hate

by Cheri Huber

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"We all do it (or did it at one time)...we all believe in the voices that criticize ourselves. Those voices pound our self-worth down and build-up our fears. This book is about the first step in discovering your true and powerful self -- that person you know you could be if the chains would just come off; the person who brings joy to the lives of those around you. It's all about replacing that fear and hate with love...Love for yourself. If you find yourself in a vicious cycle of commit -> stress & try -> fail -> self-battery -> resolution -> commit. You can now know how to step off the treadmill and step into your personal joy.This book changed my life.Was there some great secret of life in it? Nope, not really. Was there some Tony Robbins-style empowerment formula? Not at all.This book simply allowed me to sit still a moment and look straight into the face of my greatest enemy: my hateful-self. That person was constantly telling me all these lies about how I "wasn't good enough" or "wouldn't be happy until..." Cheri led me through the realization that I am worthy of being loved right now: faults and all. The first step to making lasting change in anything is telling the truth about how it is right now (i.e. accepting the current reality). How can you make lasting change in yourself until you evict the lier?Cheri's book is an easy read. She is keeps it real simple. This is clearly a work from the heart.If this book were $1,000, I'd *still* recommend it (or recommend you borrow it! ;D)."

Publisher: Keep It Simple Books | More reviews: amazon.com