Zen Buddhism Books

Book SynopsisNobel Peace Prize nominee, internationally renowned Zen master and bestselling author Thich Nhat Hanh shares his mindful techniques in mastering the art of living.'Thich Nhat Hanh is a holy man, for he is humble and devout...a scholar of immense intellectual capacity' -- Martin Luther King'[He] shows us the connection between personal, inner peace and peace on earth' -- His Holiness the Dalai Lama'The father of mindfulness' -- Irish Times'Easy to read and understand' -- ***** Reader review'Uplifting, questioning, and reaffirming' -- ***** Reader review'An enlightening book by a truly enlightened being' -- ***** Reader review'Compulsive reading' -- ***** Reader review''The Art of Living' is probably the best Buddhist book I've read so far' -- ***** Reader review**************************************************************************Master the art of living from one of the world's most revered spiritual leaders.Thich Nhat Hanh, the world's most renowned Zen master, turns his mindful attention to the most important subject of all - the art of living.The bestselling author of The Miracle of Mindfulness presents, for the first time, seven transformative meditations that open up new perspectives on our lives, our relationships and our interconnectedness with the world around us. He reveals an art of living in mindfulness that helps us answer life's deepest questions, experience the happiness and freedom we desire and face ageing and dying with curiosity and joy instead of fear.Stimulating and inspiring, this book teaches us the importance of looking inside ourselves and developing compassion, before we can turn to our relationships at home and in the wider world. Full of remarkable stories from Thich Nhat Hanh's own experiences and mindful practices for engaging with life, this will be a book that will help us generate happiness, understanding and love so we can live deeply in each moment of our life, right where we are.Thich Nhat Hanh is the subject of the major documentary Walk With Me narrated by Benedict CumberbatchTrade ReviewThich Nhat Hanh is a holy man, for he is humble and devout...a scholar of immense intellectual capacity. -- Martin Luther KingThe father of mindfulness. * Irish Times *[He] shows us the connection between personal, inner peace and peace on earth. -- His Holiness the Dalai Lama

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Book SynopsisTruly see yourselfHow to See is about our misperceptions, how we can gain insight and how mindfulness practices can help us see our real selves. Thich Nhat Hanh brings his signature clarity, compassion and humour in showing us how to achieve an awakened, more relaxed state of self-awareness so we cn understand ourselves and the world around us. This is a perfect pocket-sized guide to life by the most renowned Zen master in the world, who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.Trade ReviewThich Nhat Hanh is a holy man...a scholar of immense intellectual capacity * Martin Luther King *The father of mindfulness * Irish Times *Thich Nhat Hanh shows us the connection between personal inner peace and peace on earth * His Holiness the Dalai Lama *

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Book Synopsis'A spiritual polymath, the first and possibly greatest' Deepak ChopraThe spiritual is not to be separated from the material, nor the wonderful from the ordinary This remarkable collection of essays from pioneering Zen scholar Alan Watts offer a challenging and comprehensive insight into 'cosmic consciousness'. From the paradoxes of self-consciousness to psychedelics and the connection of spirit and matter, this is a mind-opening exploration into the relationship between spirituality and ordinary life.Trade ReviewThe perfect guide for a course correction in life -- Deepak Chopra

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Book Synopsis'The perfect guide for a course correction in life' Deepak ChopraIf we open our eyes and see clearly it becomes obvious that there is no other time than this instant An insightful exploration into the origins and history of Zen Buddhism from pioneering Zen scholar Alan Watts. With a rare combination of freshness and lucidity, Watts explores the principles of Zen and how it can revolutionize our daily life.Trade ReviewThe perfect guide for a course correction in life -- Deepak Chopra

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Book SynopsisCleanliness is next to enlightenment. In this Japanese bestseller a Buddhist monk explains the traditional meditative techniques that will help cleanse not only your house - but your soul.Live clean. Feel calm. Be happy. We remove dust to sweep away our worldly cares. We live simply and take time to contemplate the self, mindfully living each moment. It's not just monks that need to live this way. Everyone in today's busy world needs it.In Japan, cleanliness is next to enlightenment. This bestselling guide by a Zen Buddhist monk draws on ancient traditions to show you how a few simple changes to your daily habits - from your early morning routine to preparingfood, from respecting the objects around you to working together as a team -will not only make your home calmer and cleaner, but will leave you feeling refreshed, happier and more fulfilled.Trade ReviewThe most unusual self-help book of 2018 ... There is something surprisingly calming about just reading the book, hearing Matsumoto's simple instructions and admiring the clean pen drawings of Japanese sandals and brooms -- Jane Fryer * Daily Mail *A bestseller in Japan, this charming book offers practical cleaning tips as well as fascinating insights into the Buddhist approach to life, which counters the wastefulness of modern society with a respect for spaces and objects that is deeply humane ... Ideal preparatory reading for the January clean -- PD Smith * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisWe live in the Golden Age of publishing for spiritual, esoteric, and new age books of all conceivable stripes (and then there is the Internet). Amongst this wild proliferation of available information there has occurred a cheapening effect, in which many teachings have been watered down to make them palatable for a public with diminishing attention spans and suffering from information overload. For the sincere spiritual seeker there needs to be an awareness of the various ways we can go astray on the path, or fall off the path altogether. The whole idea of spirituality is to be awake, yet it is all too easy to simply end up in yet another dream world, thinking that we have found some higher truth. Rude Awakening: Perils, Pitfalls, and Hard Truths of the Spiritual Path is dedicated to examining, under a sharp light, the many ways our spiritual development goes wrong, or disappears altogether in the sheer crush of books and the routine grind of daily life.Trade ReviewAn insightful distillation of decades of hard-won spiritual experience. There are few seekers, I suspect, who will not resonate with its message and benefit from its advice (Richard Smoley, Author, The Dice Game of Shiva and Inner Christianity) P.T. Mistlberger has a unique gift in that he writes with such integrity and authenticity that he is able to cut through all the spiritual fallacies, forcing us to question the very motives that underlie our desire for liberation and truth. Rarely have I read such a well written, brutally honest account of the spiritual path (Paula Marvelly, Author, Women of Wisdom)

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Book SynopsisZen master Julian Daizan Skinner guides the reader through a sequence of meditation techniques that can safely lead even a complete novice through to advanced levels. Based on his own long experience of the Rinzai Zen tradition, as taught by the great seventeenth-century masters, Hakuin and Bankei, Daizan highlights the key points for success and addresses the pitfalls. Structured around a traditional teaching framework called "The two wings of a bird," Daizan clearly lays-out how these methods build and combine to create a transformative and sustaining practice. The book contains an extremely useful section describing the experiences of western practitioners who have successfully applied this framework within the pressures of modern life. The final section features key source texts in translation, making the book a complete introduction and guide to Zen meditation. The work of a master, the book speaks at a deep level, with utmost simplicity.Trade ReviewAn entertaining integral guide to Zen that will serve you faithfully for many years. This is a book of real quality from a teacher of the highest calibre, and the rarest gift. -- J.M. Harrison - multi-award winning author of Naked Being, We Are All One, The Soul Whisperer and YOU are THISA true gift to the world. From the historical context of Zen to the profound insights that lie at its core, seldom has so much wisdom been packed into a single volume. This book is a true beacon on the journey of self-growth, for all those who wish to take it. -- Dr. Russell Razzaque, founder of The College of Mindful Clinicians, author of Breaking Down is Waking Up and Obama KarmaTo those who find Zen somewhat intimidating, Daizan's relaxed approach should be appealing; Practical Zen offers something for everyone with an interest in Zen, with a plethora of ideas, possibilities, and suggestions for practice. -- Stephen Addiss, author of The Art of Zen and Zen SourcebookThe explanations and instructions are beautifully clear and the structure really supports the transmission of these invaluable practices. I particularly loved the sections on duality and non-duality, the unborn, the hara, the ox and all the stories, particularly the moving events around the temple fire. I wholeheartedly recommend Practical Zen. -- Multi-award winning novelist Livi MichaelSo far, I have found the guide to practice incredibly clear and the skills and practice itself incredibly useful. It is very difficult sometimes to quiet the mind, and other times a little easier. It is still early days but I intend to continue and ultimately find a teacher once I feel I have developed a solid basis. If you want to actually start meditating, then this is a great place to start. -- Duncan McGechie, AcubodyTable of ContentsAcknowledgements. Foreword by Miyamae Shinzan Gyokuryuji. Introduction: What you need and what you don't need. PART I: The first 49 days. 1. The physicality of Zen practice - Sitting on a chair. 2. Working with the breath - Breathing meditation. 3. Uncovering your fundamental adequacy: the Unborn - Unborn meditation. 4. Your Burning Question: Meditating with a Koan - Meditation with the koan "Who am I?". 5. From sickness to health: soft ointment meditation - Soft ointment meditation. 6. Cultivating guts: energising your hara - Building your hara. 7. Standing strong: including your legs - Energising the legs. 8. Activity's wheel runs free - Turning the wheel of the law. PART II: The Rest of Your Life. 9. Bringing it all together - Combined practice. 10. Roadmaps of your journey. 11. Putting it into practice: case studies. 12. Joining the lineage. PART III: Key Texts. 13. Translations of key texts. 14. About Shinzan and Daizan Roshi. Glossary.

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

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Book SynopsisShobogenzo: The True Dharma-eye Treasury (Taisho Number 2582) is the masterwork of the thirteenth-century Zen master Eihei Dogen, founder of the Soto sect of Japanese Zen Buddhism. This reprint edition presents Volume 2 of the exemplary translation by Gudo Wafu Nishijima and Chodo Cross of the complete ninety-five-chapter edition of the ""Shobogenzo"", compiled by the Zen master Hangyo Kozen in the late seventeenth century.

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Book SynopsisThis is is a unique and fascinating visual history of Japanese Buddhist art largely dating from the Edo period (1600–1868) to the present day, through one of the finest collections in the USA. The richly-illustrated text offers a concise introduction to diverse Japanese Buddhist practices and the central role art plays in them. Showcasing over 130 ornate and gold leafed paintings, textiles, ceramics, and sculptures from the Newark Museum’s extensive collection of Japanese Buddhist art, this volume provides access to hitherto unpublished masterpieces. It is divided into five parts: Buddha, Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas; Life and Death; Health and Wealth; Teachers and Students; and Tea Aesthetics and Implements. An essay, by guest author Dr. Ikumi Kaminishi of Tufts University, explores the tradition of illustrated storytelling (etoki) primarily performed by nuns in conjunction with painted narrative scrolls. Kaminishi accomplishes this through a detailed discussion of the Museum’s complete four painting set of the hagiography of Tokuhon (1758–1818) while posing a Buddhist reading of ukiyo the “floating world”. Edited by Katherine Anne Paul Contributions by Katherine Anne Paul and Ikumi Kaminishi Project Editor: Catherine Evans, The Newark Museum of Art Preface by Linda C. Harrison, The Newark Museum of Art’s Director & CEOTable of ContentsDirector’s Preface by Linda C. Harrison Acknowledgments by Catherine Evans Map of Buddhist sites in Japan Glossary Timeline; From Nara to Newark: Japanese Collections of The Newark Museum of Art by Katherine Anne Paul Buddha, Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas Life and Death Health and Wealth Extending Enlightenment: Japanese Buddhism and Art by Katherine Anne Paul Teachers and Students From Ascetic to Saint: The Etoki of Tokuhon’s Monastic Odyssey by Ikumi Kaminishi Tea Aesthetics and Implements Recommended Reading Index

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Book SynopsisDo you have an inkling that there is more to your life than you have been told? Well, that inkling is correct. Are you living your life to serve your true self, or are you happy jolting through life like a poorly programmed robot? A robot programmed to fit in, forgo its potential, and collect attaboy participation prizes. The Path to Personal Power will force you to face the quirks, mistakes and lies that comprise your human nature. Instead of sheepishly apologizing for it, you will develop the awareness and skills to overcome your human flaws and not be duped by those trying to exploit them.The Path to Personal Power is for those who want to live life more fully, who want to wake up and grab life by the horns. It lifts the veil and provides a new perspective on the Game of Life that helps you to bend the odds back in your favor-instead of being a victim on the sidelines. The Path synthesizes psychology, philosophy and aspects of Zen to show you how you unknowingly trip yourself up and how to get out of your own way. The Path provides a balanced approach to mastery, from personal power and working well with (not for!) others, to overcoming your psychological potholes and waking up spiritually.The Path contains the whats, whys and hows that will allow you to achieve escape velocity and break free from the gravitational pull of the average

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Book SynopsisRyokan (1758-1831) was a poet, master calligrapher, Zen hermit, and is one of the most beloved poets of Japan. Instead of becoming the head of a Zen temple, he preferred the simple and independent life of a hermit. Ryokan's poetry is simple, direct, and colloquial in expression.

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Book SynopsisKorea's Zen tradition has always been vibrant and continues to thrive today. This book gives voice to the "Zen mind" of Korea's contemporary Zen Masters, articulated through koans and excerpts of conversations in the form of brief questions and answers with students and other teachers.

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Book SynopsisRecognized as one of the greatest masterpieces of Buddhist literature, the teachings of Hui Neng have brought joy and inspiration to countless people since they were first written down in the sixth century. An illiterate woodcutter who was instantly enlightened, Hui Neng went on to become the Sixth Patriarch of Zen Buddhism. As a founding father of Zen, his profound, yet simple, teachings speak from a fullness of heart and mind.Trade ReviewFrom instant enlightenment to conscious departure, the Sixth (and last) Patriarch of Ch'an (Zen) Buddhism, Hui Neng, is the subject of Master of Zen. From the seventh Century AD, these stories, illuminating the Buddhist 'middle way,' come to life with fresh translations by Tze-si Huang, a native of China and long-time Buddhist; black-and-white line drawings accompany the text on facing pages, illustrated by Huang's wife, noted children's book illustrator, Demi.The deceptively simple, though not necessarily easy, text and drawings trace the wisdom journey of Hui Neng in the 'Altar Sutra.' Although poor and untutored, Hui Neng came into enlightenment in a marketplace when he overheard a monk chanting the Diamond Sutra. It's an inviting introduction for all spiritual seekers to drop deeply into the lessons of an enlightened master, considered the 'father' of Zen. Foreword Reviews Master Of Zen: Extraordinary Teachings From Hui Neng's Altar Sutra receives fine drawings by the famous artist Demi - some ninety black and white illustrations - to accompany the survey of an illiterate woodcutter who became the Sixth Patriarch of Chan (Zen) Buddhism. This contains his discourses and blends in a revealing autobiography, creating a fine and inspiring set of vignettes and reflections highly recommended for any Zen holding Midwest Book Review

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Book SynopsisThe feeling that it is five minutes to midnight is known to many by now, and is often referred to as the "Doomsday Clock." As the many crises faced by humanity and planet Earth gather and tumble toward an emergency, some have even reduced the time left to two and a half minutes. It is no wonder that we feel increasingly helpless and at a loss what to do.Osho calls Zen not a teaching but an alarm to wake us up, because as individuals we are all deeply asleep, and this sleep has to be shattered. “For centuries, you have been asleep. Sleep has become your nature. You have forgotten what awareness is, what to be awake means.” He wants us to wake up…before it is too late.Zen, more than any other religious or spiritual tradition, is relevant to such times as these, when none of our old approaches to solving problems will do. Immediate, urgent, and direct, Zen is not interested in answers or in questions, not interested in teaching at all, because it is not a philosophy. As Osho begins here, by quoting the great Zen master, Diae: “All the teachings of the sages, of the saints, of the masters, have expounded no more than this: they are commentaries on your sudden cry, ‘Ah, This!’”In this series of talks, Osho unfolds a selection of classic Zen stories and responds to questions. Along the way, we learn how the tools of Zen can be used to embrace uncertainty, to be at ease with not-knowing, to act decisively and with clarity and awareness. To "get woke," in other words, so that we can use each moment between now and midnight for transformation.Table of ContentsPreface Chapter One: The Great Miracle of Zen Chapter Two: A Path to Freedom Chapter Three: The State of No-Mind Chapter Four: Turning Inward Chapter Five: The Art of Awareness Chapter Six: The Liberation of Let Go Chapter Seven: Already a Buddha Chapter Eight: The Highest Peak About Osho OSHO International Meditation Resort More OSHO Books For More Information

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Book SynopsisA true companion for the journey, Precious Mirror, combines Kobun Chino’s brilliant calligraphy with translations of the poems into English enface. Kobun Chino Otogawa was an instrumental figure in the transmission of Zen to America and its evolution within our culture. Although he came to assist Shunryu Suzuki at the San Francisco Zen Center, Kobun was enamored of the way Zen, unfettered, blossomed in new soil and he followed it wherever it grew. For Kobun, Zen was not an institution, but the elemental nature of every aspect of our lives and existed in myriad forms. Kobun founded four temples, taught Buddhism at Stanford and Naropa University, demonstrated and taught Calligraphy and Archery. When Steve Jobs founded Next Computer, Kobun was listed as it's Spiritual Director.Trade Review“Kobun Chino has been gone fifteen years, but what vitality remains in his brushwork! Which is to say he was a dragon-master of Zen’s ability to reach “beyond words.” Gesture, ink, space, light, laughter; dry brush, wet brush, sadness, form, emptiness! His calligraphy is so direct it whisks past language. And yet most North Americans can’t read the words that hold all that spirit. So Gary Young uses syntax, line break, rhythm, type font, and American words to create poems that reflect Kobun’s own ink-strokes. If someone asks, what is Zen—give them this book.”—Andrew Schelling

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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 SynopsisRediscovery of Chinese lost gods

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