As a religion concerned with eternal salvation, Zen is based on and grew out of a Buddhist worldview very different from the currently prevalent scientific materialism. Leighton explicates this worldview through the writings of the Zen master Eihei Dogen (1200-1253), considered the founder of the Japanese Soto Zen tradition, which is now spreading in many places in the West. Broader awareness of Dogen's worldview and its implications, says Leighton, is helpful for a modern understanding of Zen a...
Haiku (Box of Zen)
by Munuela Dun Mascetti and Manuela Dunn-Mascetti
First Zen Reader (Routledge Library Editions: Zen Buddhism, #3)
by Trevor Leggett
When Zen Buddhism crossed from China to Japan in the twelfth century, it entered a phase of development that was not only to inspire a magnificent range of artistic achievement but also to exert a tremendous influence upon Japanese life itself and, eventually, to bring to the attention of the West a religious philosophy both unique and challenging in its power. First published in 1960, the purpose of this anthology is to suggest an approach to answering the perennial question 'What is Zen?'.
The Laughing Buddha of Tofukuji (Spiritual Masters. East and West)
by Ishwar C Harris
Hakuin Zenji (1689-1769) was one of the most important of all Japanese Zen masters. His commentary on the Heart Sutra is a Zen classic that reflects his dynamic teaching style, with its balance of scathing wit and poetic illumination of the text. Hakuin's sarcasm, irony, and invective are ultimately guided by a compassion that seeks to dislodge students' false assumptions and free them to realize the profound meaning of the Heart Sutra for themselves. The text is illustrated with Hakuin's ow...
Zen and psychedelic exploration share a common concern: the liberation of the mind. Through numerous essays and interviews by such luminaries as Terrence McKenna, Charles Tart, Jack Kornfield, as well as visionary art by Odilon Redon, Mark Rothko, Alex Grey, and more, Zig Zag Zen is a provocative and thoughtful exploration of inner states and transformation.
Thich Nhat Hanh explores the connection between psychology, neuroscience, and meditation. He discuss the importance of creativity and visualization in a successful meditation practice, presents basic Buddhist practices (in particular walking meditation and sitting meditation), and writes about the importance of brotherhood and sisterhood in finding love, happiness, and living harmoniously with others. Buddha Mind, Buddha Body continues and reviews the material in Understanding Our Mind by the...
Gratitude The Key to a Happy Mind"Do this simple thing every day; wake up, be grateful, be kind and help others. If you do this, your life will be filled with joy." -His Holiness, The 14th Dalai Lama Follow the advice of Buddhist leader Thich Nhat Hanh, "With all I have experienced in my own life, the power of gratitude stands above everything else. In your mindfulness practice, use gratitude until it becomes your way of life." In this book discover how gratitude is your key to a happy mind. B...
This text offers a comprehensive introduction to the Chan Buddhist Path. The author, Chan Master Sheng-yen, is a revered figure in the Chinese Buddhist diaspora who divides his time between institutions in Taipei and New York. Although Zen Buddhism originated and evolved in China and is experiencing a revival there today, most Westerners are far more familiar with its Japenese manifestation as popularized by D.T. Suzuki. Master Sheng-yen hopes this book will rectify this situation. Most of the b...
Learn how to cultivate your own joy through the Happiness & Contentment Workbook, with 70 writing exercises and plenty of space to delve into and reflect upon each one. Full of practical meditations, guided explorations of your inner psyche, and wonderful analogies, this workbook covers topics such as:Removing limiting beliefsLooking at the bigger pictureBefriending your inner criticEmbracing unhappinessRediscovering your wild energyUnhooking from negative thoughtsSlowing downBeing present... an...
For 2,500 years, The Dhammapada has been an essential Buddhist classic. Translated by Ananda Maitreya, the 100-year-old elder of Sri Lankan Buddhism.