Zen Buddhism Books

Book SynopsisBringing the body-mind insights of Rinzai Zen from the mountains of Japan to the Western world, Zen master Julian Daizan Skinner and Sarah Bladen present simple meditation techniques to help achieve health, wellbeing and success.Taking the reader through the first 100 days of practice, the book then shows how to adapt the new learned techniques to the rest of your life.Including case studies at the end of each chapter to show how people's lives have been transformed through their meditation journeys, this is an accessible and practical guide to adapting Eastern meditation into busy Western lives.Trade ReviewThis is a brilliant little book. Unpretentious, clear and inspiring. -- Amelia Bullmore, actor and writerPeople sometimes think of Zen as a little ethereal and not something they can easily apply to their lives. This book entirely dispels such myths. It is a grounded, practical guide to how Zen can make a profound difference to your life in the here and now. I, like many around the world today, can personally attest to this, and indeed to Daizan's unique ability to teach and convey it. His clarity of voice, wisdom and dedication to the welfare of others shines clearly through the whole book, and I have no doubt that it will make a lasting impact on all who are fortunate enough to read it. -- Professor Russell Razzaque, psychiatrist and writerI have practiced with Daizan and Zenways and experienced dramatic benefits in my life. Read this book; do the practices; get the results. It's that simple. -- Pumeza Matshikiza, opera singerWe all want to be the best version of who we are, but not many of us get to be that. If by some chance you do get there, it's fleeting, giving a glimpse of what we can achieve, then the focus disappears. But it doesn't have to be that way. Daizan is the most amazing example of a human being who has found the best version of himself that I have ever encountered... but make no mistake, it didn't happen by accident, he worked at it. My meeting with him was no accident, and neither is the fact that you have picked up this book and are reading these words. This book will help you become who you really were supposed to be, and ARE! -- Joe Pasquale, comedianAs always, Daizan writes with clarity and assurance and from a place of huge compassion. The contents of this book are the foundations upon which all of the teaching at Serenity Retreat happens. I'm pretty sure it's the groundedness of the teachings that ensures that people keep coming back! This book is accessible, kind and real. I particularly liked the section on wealth which can often be a very confusing subject for spiritual seekers. I would strongly recommend it to anyone who is looking to start a meditation practice or anyone who is confused about what meditation is all about, or how it can be. -- Kim Bennett, entrepreneur and founder of Serenity RetreatTable of ContentsForeword Shinzan Roshi; Sarah on Daizan; Daizan on Sarah; Establishing Your Baseline; 1. Setting the scene; 2. Letting go of stress; 3. Overcoming physical pain; 4. Goodbye emotional pain; 5. The stress of success: Roleplay and time pressure; 6. Taking care of yourself; Interlude: Bumps in the road; 7. Elevated function; 8. Changing your life; 9. Your first hundred days; 10. The rest of your life

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Book SynopsisThis is one of the best books on Zen and Zen practice that I have read in years. Bussho uses a well-known Zen song/poem to elucidate the key features of Zen meditation, practice and life.It brings the famous Zen master's teaching alive while also showing how it is relevant to Zen practice in the 21st century. Tim Burkett, author of Nothing Holy About It and Zen in the Age of AnxietyForeword Book of the Year Finalist (Nonfiction: Religion)Singing and Dancing Are the Voice of the Law introduces us to one of the great works of Zen literature, The Song of Zazen. Zen teacher Bussho Lahn illuminates Hakuin's enigmatic poem in plain language, unpacking it and applying it to contemporary life. His book offers a wealth of information on the context and content of this eighteenth-century work, clearly evoking its themes of abiding wisdom, meditation, compassionate self-regard, and our own everyday life's potential to express deep spiritual truth.Short stanza by short stanza, this exceptionally readable and deeply engaging book shows how the poem's teachings and invitations are as applicable now as they were when they were first written nearly three centuries ago. Lahn offers readers an intuitive and progressive path of exploration of their spiritual lives, regardless of their faith tradition.

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Book SynopsisIn this book, Buddhist temple priest and chef Koyu Iinuma shares the simple and delicious plant-based meals he prepares in the kitchens of Fukushoji temple in Yokohama, Japan.The 73 recipes showcased in Zen Vegan Food are incredibly beautiful and tasty, while also being nutritious, sustainable and ethically responsible. Color photos show the finished dishes, while comprehensive information on Japanese ingredients like seaweed, miso and tofu helps home cooks with shopping and preparation.In this cookbook, readers will find: 28 recipes for vegan congee—the traditional Asian rice porridge dish that is taking the West by storm. These include Congee with Eggplant and Ginger, Soymilk Congee and Congee with Saffron and Chestnuts A chapter on Japanese-Italian dishes with recipes such as Grilled Turnips with Mustard and Olive Sauce, Spaghetti with Pesto and Shiitake and Mushroom Risotto with Nori Seaweed Delicious condiments and starters to brighten up any meal, such as Mushroom Miso Paste and Crunchy Kombu Chips Though we may not typically associate Buddhist monasteries with trendy chefs and temple cafes, a young generation of priests, like Iinuma, are ushering in a new era—one which emphasizes openness and a reconnection to the natural world. Buddhist monastery chefs have been creating delicious vegan dishes for centuries, and Zen Vegan Food offers a modern take full of fun and flavor.For anyone interested in sustainable, plant-based eating, this book will be a revelation—with new ways to prepare delicious meals the whole family will enjoy!Trade Review"This makes cooking with mindfulness an appetizing endeavor." --Publishers Weekly"A beautifully organized, and illustrated culinary compendium of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, elegant, and truly memorable dishes, Zen Vegan Food: Delicious Plant-based Recipes from a Zen Buddhist Monk will be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal, professional, and community library Vegan, Vegetarian, and Asian Cuisine collections." --Midwest Book Review

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Book SynopsisUncover the historical truth about Buddhist warrior monks with this informative and enlightening book. Exploring the origins of Buddhism and the ethos of the Japanese samurai, university professor and martial arts practitioner Jeffrey Mann traces the close connection between the Buddhist way of compassion and the way of the warrior. This zen book serves as a basic introduction to the history, philosophy, and current practice of Zen as it relates to the Japanese martial arts. It examines the elements of Zen that have found a place in budothe martial waysuch as zazen, mushin, zanshin and fudoshin, then goes on to discuss the ethics and practice of budo as a modern sport. Offering insights into how qualities integral to the true martial artist are interwoven with this ancient religious philosophy, this Buddhism book will help practitioners reconnect to an authentic spiritual discipline of the martial arts. Film, television and popular fiction have long exploited the image of the seren

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Book SynopsisIn his first ever book on intimacy and healthy sexuality, Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh teaches us how toove our partners and nurture our relationships and how to walk the path ofove past anger and disappointments while practising gratitude and appreciation. Written in aucid style and filled with simple mindfulness exercises, Fidelity: How to Create aoving Relationship thatasts is a manual to finding enduring and healthy intimacy in our relationships.

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Book SynopsisAn indispensable guide to koans, teaching the reader about the importance of lineage, the practice of “just sitting,” and koan practice as paths to awakening.“This marvelous book opens the treasure house of Zen and yet, happily, does not dispel its mystery. James Ford, an excellent storyteller and longtime Zen practitioner, presents a detailed and beautiful description of the craft of zazen, including “just sitting” and various forms of breath meditation—but focuses primarily on koan introspection. The power of koans, these 'public cases' from China, has never ceased to enrich my own experience of Zen. They are a medium of exploration of the history, culture, and view of Zen, but most importantly are a medium of awakening. James Ford is fundamentally a koan person, and for this, the book is particularly rich, opening the practice of koans in a splendid way. I am grateful for his long experience as a teacher and practitioner of this rare and powerful practice. Since the word koan has found its way into popular English usage, I am grateful too for the more nuanced and fertile view of koans that Ford presents. His definition of the word is telling: “a koan points to something of deep importance, and invites us to stand in that place.” He has also has created a wonderful translation of the Heart Sutra, Zen’s central scripture—and carefully opens up the heart of the Heart Sutra through scholarship and practice. Rich in textual sources and woven throughout with the perspectives of contemporary teachers, Introduction to Zen Koans sheds new light on ancient teachings. Through it, the reader will discover the importance of lineage, the traceless traces of the Zen ancestors, and the places of “just sitting” and koan practice as paths to awakening, as the great doorways into Zen.” —from the foreword by Joan Halifax  

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Book SynopsisThe delightful and often funny poetry of Zen’s quintessential free spirit, Master Ryokan—in a fresh translation by a beloved American Zen figureRyokan Taigu (1758-1831) was a monk in the Soto lineage of Japanese Zen who spent a good part of his life as a hermit, writing poetry, playing with children, and creating simple and exquisitely beautiful calligraphies—sometimes using twigs as his instrument when he couldn''t afford a brush. He was never head of a monastery or temple and as an old man, he fell in love with a young Zen nun who also became his student. His affection for her colors the mature poems of his late period.This loving tribute to the great legendary nonconformist includes more than 140 of his poems, 13 examples of his art, and a selection of laugh-out-loud funny anecdotes about his highly idiosyncratic teaching behavior.

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Book SynopsisThese are unique stories of timeless wisdom and understanding from the Zen Masters. With rich and fascinating tales of swords, tigers, tea, flowers and dogs, the writings of the Masters challenge every perception - and seek to bring all readers closer to enlightenment.Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.

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Book SynopsisThe Letters of Chan Master Dahui Pujue offers a complete annotated translation, the first into English, of a Chan Buddhist classic, the collected letters of the Southern Song Linji Chan teacher Dahui Zonggao (1089-1163). Addressed to forty scholar-officials, members of the elite class in Chinese society, and to two Chan masters, these letters are dharma talks on how to engage in Buddhist cultivation. Each of the letters to laymen is fascinating as a document directed to a specific scholar-official with his distinctive niche, high or low, in the Song-dynasty social-political landscape, and his idiosyncratic stage of development on the Buddhist path. Dahui is engaging, incisive, and often quite humorous in presenting his teaching of constantly lifting to awareness the phrase (huatou), his favored phrases being No (wu) and dried turd. Throughout one''s busy twenty-four hours, the practitioner is not to perform any mental operation whatsoever on this phrase, and to take awakening as the stTrade Review[T]his book is a wonderful resource to all who would read Dahui's epistles. The inclusion of lucid translations from multiple historical commentariesa rich exegetical apparatusis a great contribution. We are all indebted to the translators' work. * Jason Protass, Reading Religion *Dahui's Letters is an important work of Southern Song Chan that has had profound influence throughout the East Asian Chan, Sŏn, and Zen worlds. This translation by Broughton will become required reading for students and scholars alike, as it illuminates the teachings of one of the Chan tradition's seminal thinkers, Dahui Zonggao. * Albert Welter, Professor of East Asian Studies, University of Arizona *The Letters of Dahui -- essential Chan/Zen reading for centuries now available to us! Written by the greatest Chan master of the Song to prominent lay people rather than to monks, these letters highlight the question of how to live a life of Zen in the midst of a noisy and contentious world -- perfect for our time! An essential text by the master translator of our time for Chan literature. * Dale Wright, David B. and Mary H. Gamble Professor in Religion, Occidental College *Table of ContentsABBREVIATIONS; LETTERS OF CHAN MASTER DAHUI PUJUE VOLUME ONE; CONTINUED [THIRD LETTER IN REPLY TO VICE MINISTER CENG]; LETTERS OF CHAN MASTER DAHUI PUJUE VOLUME TWO; FIVE-MOUNTAINS (GOZAN) EDITION OF LETTERS OF CHAN MASTER DAHUI PUJUE (DAHUI PUJUE CHANSHI SHU/DAIE FUKAKU ZENJI SHO); BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Book SynopsisDale Wright offers a wide-ranging exploration of issues that have a bearing on the contemporary meaning of enlightenment. He considers the historical meanings of enlightenment within various Buddhist traditions, but does so in order to expand on the larger question that our lives press upon us--what kinds of lives should we aspire to live here, now, and into the future?Trade ReviewWhat is Buddhist Enlightenment? offers a wide-ranging exploration of issues that have a bearing on the contemporary meaning of enlightenment... [T]he book balances deep learning and an accessible style, offering valuable insights for students, scholars, and practitioners alike. * Lixia Dong, Reading Religion *How should we understand enlightenment today? For Buddhism, no question is more important, and Dale Wright's insightful responses are exactly what contemporary Buddhists need to think about—if Buddhism is to become what our globalizing world needs. * David R. Loy, author of A New Buddhist Path *Dale Wright's What is Buddhist Enlightenment? is a deeply humane book, rich with timely and profound reflections on what it might look like to aspire to the fully realized life of someone somehow 'enlightened.' Wright eloquently thinks along with the Buddhist tradition about an idea (enlightenment) that's central...to the modern West, yielding insights into what the Buddhist tradition might have to teach us, right here at the historical moment where we find ourselves, about how to be human. * Dan Arnold, University of Chicago Divinity School *Dale Wright takes on the daunting task of clarifying Buddhist enlightenment, and he skillfully does so in relation to karma, the bodhisattva ideal, meditative reading, and other facets of Buddhism. His critical exploration of Zen enlightenment in relation to morality and language is especially illuminating and will serve as a needed corrective to popular misconceptions. And his ten theses on contemporary enlightenment provide a rich foundation for developing and practicing enlightenment in this historical moment. * Christopher Ives, author of Imperial-Way Zen: Ichikawa Hakugen's Critique and Lingering Questions for Buddhist Ethics *A relevant and informative supplement to the Western practitioner's journey of development. * Sam Mowe, Tricycle *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Why Ask What Enlightenment Is? I. Contemporary Images of Enlightenment 1) The Bodhisattva's Practice of Enlightenment 2) The Awakening of Character as an Image of Contemporary Enlightenment 3) Secular Buddhism and the Religious Dimension of Enlightenment II. The Moral Dimension of Enlightenment 4) Enlightenment and the Experience of Karma 5) Enlightenment and the Moral Dimension of Zen Training 6) Enlightenment and the Persistence of Human Fallibility 7) The Thought of Enlightenment and the Dilemma of Human Achievement III. Language and the Experience of Enlightenment 8) Language in Zen Enlightenment 9) Enlightenment and the Practice of Meditative Reading 10) From the Thought of Enlightenment to the Event of Awakening Conclusion: Ten Theses on Contemporary Enlightenment Acknowledgments Bibliography

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Book SynopsisWhat is Buddhism? In Buddhism is Not What You Think Steve Hagen, bestselling author of Buddhism Plain and Simple and a Zen priest, cuts through the many misconceptions surrounding Buddhism, and shows us its true purpose. Drawing on down-to-earth examples from everyday life, this practical and straightforward guide penetrates the most essential and enduring questions at the heart of the Buddha''s teachings: How can we see the world in each moment, rather than merely as what we think, hope, or fear it is? How can we base our actions on reality? How can we live lives that are wise, compassionate, open and honest? What can it bring to our lives? This book offers a profound and clear path to a life of joy and freedom.Trade ReviewA clear and challenging showing of the fundamental truth of our lives. This is an exceptional book. Make good use of it -- Charlotte Joko Beck, author of EVERYDAY ZENCuts to the heart of the matter ... a book that will reward multiple readings over time ... Hagen's writing flows in a tranquil way, like a spring trickling up effortlessly from the earth -- Robert M Pirsig, author of ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE

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Book SynopsisThis collection of genuine teachings resonates with an authenticity that comes from Yoshin''s many years of practice. It is both profound and practical.A Temporary Affair is a collection of talks given at Sunday morning sittings at the Ithaca Zen Center by Yoshin David Radin, abbot and founder of the Ithaca Zen Center for the past 40 years. The talks contained here were given at a time when Yoshin’s health was severely compromised by end stage renal failure. In February 2019, he received a kidney transplant from a member of Ithaca Zen Center, to whom the publication is dedicated.The collection of 31 talks contains the insight of the individual dharma talks themselves, as well as the underlying story of how the dharma teachings helped the author cope, and even thrive, with his continuing loss of kidney function. The talks go right up to the days before he was admitted to the hospital. The comfort and guidance he received from the dharma during the times when he was most ill have been a great inspiration to all who know him, as they will to readers. In his own words, “How extraordinary, how blessed, how wonderful, to have met the teachings that free us from suffering when in difficult places.” Through these talks the reader can clearly see how he put that wisdom to use in his own life situation, and how they can do so as well.

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Book SynopsisA collection that offers selections from the foundational texts of the Chinese, Korean, and Japanese Zen traditions. Through representative selections from their poetry, letters, sermons, and visual arts, it provides students with an introduction to the first 1200 years of this rich - and often misunderstood - tradition.Trade Review"[T]he Zen Sourcebook [is] an excellent cross-section of some of the most important texts in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese Zen. The translations [are] well chosen from among the best available. . . . This is an excellent sourcebook for both beginners and serious practitioners." —John Daido Loori, Abbot, Zen Mountain Monastery"This is an excellent book . . . to be commended for its wide coverage; the Korean material is especially hard to find. . . . The short introductions to the selections are lucid, informative and focused, providing a good framework through which to understand the readings. Anyone who wants to work directly with translations of the primary texts, rather than textbook summaries, will find this book the most convenient available." —Brook Ziporyn, Northwestern University"The timeless words of Zen masters running the gamut from the well-known (Dogen and Bodhidharma) to the more obscure (miscellaneous Chinese nuns) can be found in [this book]. . . The teachings, which come in many forms—poetry, letters, and artwork among them—serve as primary texts, while pithy introductions provide historical background on topics ranging from the declining influence of Zen masters in seventeenth-century Japan to Korean master So Sahn's famous army of five thousand monks. This collection of Zen delights offers plenty of teachings to sink your teeth into, including this Blue Cliff Record koan: "A monk asked Yun-men, 'What is the teaching that goes beyond Buddhas and Patriarchs?' Yun-men said, 'A sesame bun.'" Bon appetit." —Tricycle"[A]n invaluable collection of teachings from China, Korea, and Japan, revealing Zen's brilliant use of language to evoke the Buddha's realization." —Buddhadharma"This sourcebook seem to me to be a uniquely rich and valuable treasure trove."—Rachel Hadas, Department of English, Rutgers University"I find that students from all academic backgrounds are able to access the material, yet it is scholarly and rigorous. I particularly appreciate the inclusion of the nuns' poetry, which other collections (such as The Roaring Stream) tend to ignore." —Alison Jameson, Department of East Asian Studies, University of Arizona

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Book SynopsisWHEN NOTHING IS SPECIAL, EVERYTHING CAN BEThe best-selling author of ''Everyday Zen'' shows how to awaken to daily life and discover the ideal in the everyday, finding riches in our feelings, relationships, and work. ''Nothing Special'' offers the rare and delightful experience of learning in the authentic Buddhist tradition with a wonderfully contemporary Western master.

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Book SynopsisBest known for his Buddhist teachings, Thich Nhat Hanh has lived in exile from his native Vietnam since 1966. These remarkable early journals reveal not only an exquisite portrait of the Zen master as a young man, but the emergence of a great poet and literary voice of Vietnam. From his years as a student and teaching assistant at Princeton and Columbia, to his efforts to negotiate peace and a better life for the Vietnamese, Fragrant Palm Leaves offers an elegant and profound glimpse into the heart and mind of one of the world's most beloved spiritual teachers.

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Book SynopsisThis pioneering guide to zazen—Zen-style seated meditation—provides practical instructions on how to begin or elevate your practice and progress along the Zen path Zen Training is a comprehensive handbook for zazen, seated meditation practice, and an authoritative presentation of the Zen path. The book marked a turning point in Zen literature in its critical reevaluation of the enlightenment experience, which the author believes has often been emphasized at the expense of other important aspects of Zen training. In addition, Zen Training goes beyond the first flashes of enlightenment to explore how one lives as well as trains in Zen. The author also draws many significant parallels between Zen and Western philosophy and psychology, comparing traditional Zen concepts with the theories of being and cognition of such thinkers as Heidegger and Husserl.

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Book SynopsisThe joy of intimacy—with yourself, with others, and with the whole universe. The long-awaited first book from a prominent modern American Zen teacher.For Roshi Pat Enkyo O’Hara, intimacy is what Zen practice is all about: the realization of the essential lack of distinction between self and other that inevitably leads to wisdom and compassionate action. She approaches the practice of intimacy beginning at its most basic level—the intimacy with ourselves that is the essential first step.She then shows how to bring intimacy into our relationships with others, starting with those dearest to us and moving on to those who don’t seem dear at all. She shows how to grow in intimacy so that we include everyone around us, all of society, the whole world and all the beings it contains. Each chapter is accompanied by practices she uses with her students at the Village Zendo for manifesting intimacy in our lives.

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Book SynopsisInformed by almost two decades of dialogue, research and teaching, this book refutes the mistaken premise that Zen Buddhism is more suited to people who lived all those years ago, or at least live all those miles away. Pivotal to this work is recognition that Buddhism is a mind culture. To appreciate that one is not in control of one's own mind is alarming indeed, but it is our perceptions of real and imagined threats that generate our anxieties, not an objective appraisal of the situation. Beginning with the annotated 'ox path' pictures, the gradual development of the wayward mind away from aimless wandering and towards Buddhahood is depicted and examined. Ever mindful of the legacy of India, the life and teaching of Sakyamuni Buddha are revisited as are the scriptures themselves. At every point, this book presents Zen Buddhism, not as some esoteric mystery cult, accessible only to the eastern mind, but in an animated, meaningful manner that demonstrates its purpose and function in today's world.Trade Review"This is an extremely lucid and readable introduction to Zen, which serves as a good introduction to Buddhism in general. Merv Fowler has performed an excellent task in bringing together material on the history, scriptures, teachings and spiritual practices associated with Zen. The book is a first-class introduction for students as well as the general reader. The author tackles very competently and reliably the salient features of the Zen tradition. I thoroughly recommend it..." -- G D Chryssides, Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of Wolverhampton.

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Book SynopsisRevered by Buddhists in the United States and China, Master Sheng-yen shares his wisdom and teachings in this first comprehensive English primer of Chan, the Chinese tradition of Buddhism that inspired Japanese Zen. Often mistunderstood as a system of mind games, the Chan path leads to enlightenment through apparent contradiction. while demanding the mental and physical discipline of traditional Buddhist doctrine, it asserts that wisdom (Buddha-nature) is innate and immediate in all living beings, and thus not to be achieved through devotion to the strictures of religious practice. You arrive without departing. Master Sheng-yen provides an unprecedented understanding of Chan, its precepts, and its practice. Beginning with a basic overview of Buddhism and meditation, ''Hoofprint of the Ox'' detials the progressive mental exercises traditionally followed by all Buddhists. Known as the Three Disciplines, these procedures develop moral purity, meditiative concentration, and enlightening inTrade Review"Master Sheng-Yen has written another inspiring introduction to the Chan buddhist tradition in China, more familiar to Americans as Zen, its incarnation in Japan.... Aided by a masterful introduction by well-known scholar Dan Stevenson, this book brings introductory books on Chan/Zen to a new level of sophistication, accuracy and relevance to both the more advanced and the novice American practitioner."--Publishers Weekly "In this illuminating treatise readers will discover a Chan practice that is marvelously alive.... A very special book; highly recommended."--Library Journal

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Book SynopsisThe discovery of a walled-up cave in northwest China led to the retrieval of a lost early Ch'an (Zen) literature of the T'ang dynasty, one of the recovered texts was the collection "Bodhidharma Anthology". This text provides a detailed study and an annotated translation of the anthology.Table of ContentsACKNOWLEDGMENTS ABBREVIATIONS AND CONVENTIONS 1. Introduction I 2. Translation of the Seven Texts of the Bodhidharma Anthology 3· Commentary on the Biography,Two Entrances, and Two Letters 4· Commentary on the Records APPENDIX A: THE STRATIGRAPHY OF THE TUN-HUANG CH'AN MANUSCRIPTS APPENDIX B: TOWARD A LITERARY HISTORY OF EARLY CH'AN NOTES GLOSSARY OF CHINESE LOGOGRAPHS WORKS CITED INDEX

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Book SynopsisThis collection of Abe's essays is a welcome addition to philosophy and comparative philosophy.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Even just the title of this book appeals. There are many reasons that a Zen monk might acquire a lifetime of wisdom—the least of which is my personal edification—but I’m grateful for it all the same.” —Estelle Tang, Elle.com“100 snack-size Zen activities you can do daily to add more calm to your life . . . The Art of Simple Living brings the spirit of Zen Buddhism to everyday life.” —The Daily Telegraph“Powerful . . . A profoundly beautiful work, easy to read, encouraging deep thought and reflection, but most importantly, acting as a practical guide to Zen action.” —The Japan Times“This in­ternational bestseller has helped people around the world quiet the chaos of everyday life, stress less and appreciate more. . . . Masuno’s tips are easy to execute. . . . Through this inspiring guide, Masuno shows that every step you take on the path of personal growth, no matter how small, can have a major impact.” —BookPage“A bestseller in Japan, this will certainly resonate with fans of Zen practice, or those simply looking to declutter a busy mind.” —Publishers Weekly“100 deceptively simple daily practices . . . to help you find, and embrace, the stillness at the center of your existence.” —Energy Times“Pithy tips on how to increase our feelings of well-being.” ―Lion’s Roar: Buddhist Wisdom for Our Time“Living a simpler life is a practice. It’s ordinary and it’s everyday. Shunmyo Masuno’s simple and relevant practices land gently and with the most comforting ordinariness, like a warm breath of familiarity to us, the frazzled masses.” —Sarah Wilson, New York Times bestselling author of First, We Make the Beast Beautiful“Our mind is blazing in the new dopamine war between alarmist news and attention-hooking apps. The Art of Simple Living is a bucket of water on the flames.” —Neil Pasricha, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Awesome and The Happiness Equation“I love this book. These little Zen practices can bring so much serenity to your life.” —Francine Jay, bestselling author of The Joy of Less and Lightly“I haven’t carried a purse in years, but this book almost made me wish I did, so I could keep it within reach.” —Cait Flanders, bestselling author of The Year of Less“I love The Art of Simple Living. With easy-to-follow, inspiring advice and lovely stories illustrating little things you can do that can have a big effect on your peace of mind, it’ll bring joyful moments into every day of your life.” —James Wallman, bestselling author of Stuffocation“The Art of Simple Living makes the time-tested wisdom of the Buddha radically accessible by providing easy-to-follow yet profound practices that blend perfectly with, and are a natural part of, everyday life. It is an encouraging and straightforward companion for all who seek to amplify the inherent peace of their minds.” —Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, author of Emotional Rescue and Rebel Buddha“This little treasure needs to be at every bedside. It awakens us to the most ordinary, everyday moments of our lives, revealing the richness, peace, and joy that come from living simply.” —Allan Lokos, founder and guiding teacher, Community Meditation Center, NYC; author of Through the Flames, Patience, and Pocket Peace

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Book SynopsisAn excellent book for people interested in meditation, from beginners to advanced. The practice of meditation leads to a mind that is more peaceful, tranquil, and at ease. Because the mind is more relaxed, events that usually disturb us seem to take on less importance, and we stop taking them in such a serious way. Likewise, through meditation the mind gradually learns to be independent of external conditions and circumstances, discovering its own stability and tranquility. A stable mind leads to the experience of less suffering in our lives.

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Book SynopsisMaps and guideposts are helpful when we undertake a journey. The ten Ox-Herding Pictures, the accompanying ancient poems, and a modern commentary by John Daido Loori, sketch the spiritual path encountered in Zen training, a path of exhaustive study of the self and the realization of the ultimate nature of reality. The Ox-Herding Pictures can be our companion on the Way of self-discovery, our compass and perspective when we need one. They are a bottomless source of mysterious wisdom to which we can return again and again for inspiration, and they translate easily into the gritty reality of spiritual practice that emerges from and grounds us in the inescapable relevance of our daily lives. The exquisite versions of the pictures found in the book are traditional Chinese nanga brush paintings by Gyokusei Jikihara Sensei, a modern Japanese master of calligraphy and a teacher in the Obaku School of Zen. The traditional verses accompanying them have been translated by John Daido Loori and Kazuaki Tanahashi, translator and editor of Enlightenment Unfolds: The Essential Teachings of Zen Master Dogen.

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Book SynopsisAn evocative examination of how to respond to suffering, live our fullest lives, and experience spiritual and personal growth - from a renowned activist, humanitarian, and spiritual thought-leader.

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