As a young, up and coming electrical engineer living in England, Ray Brooks had everything he could want a high paying job, late nights, and fast cars. All he was missing in his life was the meaning. A series of events brought him to Japan, where he met a man who played the shakuhachi, an ancient Japanese flute. That fortuitous interaction motivated Brooks to embark on a journey to learn this very difficult instrument. Through playing the shakuhachi, he began to understand the Zen discipline that is a crucial aspect of Japanese culture. This understanding greatly changed his outlook on life, putting him in touch with his authentic self. Blowing Zen s humor and its irresistible story of cultures converging lets the underlying message come through without preachiness: life is about finding your true calling, not just what brings you superficial joy. Brooks spontaneous approach to the collaboration of art, mind, body, and spirit is inspiring and instructive. This uplifting memoir has been entrancing readers since its release in 2000, and it is now being re-released with a new chapter and lots of photographs. This is the expanded and revised edition with photos.

The Zen Follies, by Fil Lewitt, with plenty of B & W photos and drawings of zenbos, oddballs, and unusual locations, takes a close, sometimes ironic and often funny look at the business and pleasures of Zen Buddhism, and tells through stories, essays, autobiography, and some poetry the path one person took to find the Way, and what happened along the way. The book is aimed at the general reader with no special knowledge of Zen. Lewitt has been practicing Zen Buddhist meditation for more than forty years, and now in his 70th year, was ready to write about it. He spent 1972 as a student/monk at Tassajara Monastery deep in the coastal range of central California, and founded and helped direct a small Zen Buddhist community, Big River Farm Sangha, in Mendocino, California, during the 70s and 80s.

The two great streams of Zen Buddhism are the Soto sect, known as the School of Silent Illumination, and the Rinzai school of rigorous koan study. Dogen established Soto Zen in Japan, and his work is widely known in the West with many of his books translated into English. Hakuin is credited with the modern revival of the Rinzai sect and is its most important teacher. His life has been a great inspiration to the students and practitioners of Zen in the West, and his writings offer great authority and practical application.Norman Waddell has devoted a large part of his life to translating and publishing work by and about Hakuin. This collection of six diverse and independent works contains five pieces never before translated into English, some of which have been until quite recently unknown, even in Japan. A rich and various gathering, the offerings here will be important to seasoned practitioners as well as attractive to newcomers to Zen and spiritual seekers of all faiths.

Koans are an indispensable tool on the path to enlightenment. They reveal Truth through presenting the reader with a paradox that can only be solved by changing one's attitudes. The venerable Koans of the past, those that have been handed down through the generations are written in the language of the past. The reader needs to be able to fully enter into that archaic language if they are to benefit. This book re-represents the Koans in modern language, accessible to all. It will not please the traditionalists, but it will make the wisdom contained therein accessible to a whole new generation of seeker. Each koan encapsulates a profound truth for reflection. Zen counsels the lessening of the ego, not the strengthening of it as consumer culture would urge. Instead of making a name for ourselves in society, we should listen to the voice of pines and cedars when no wind stirs, in other words become no-thing, entering instead the field of pure being that is behind the phenomenal world.

"while the poems in this volume certainly stand alone, experienced as a sequence, they transport you on a spirited, worthwhile journey: a journey in which, you will recognize yourself-encouraged, empowered, enlightened, and smiling inside and out, a journey where the greatest human mysteries just seem matter of fact-transparent. the thinking here is all so clear and true, it sounds simple. this is poetry so straightforward, prose lovers will enjoy it, and poetry lovers will discover craftsmanship so solid and steady that it feels effortless. one simply cannot imagine a better way to say what these words do. truth told in such an understandable and fresh voice, this is poetry that will be remembered." kathy hirshon, artist

In this book, Scott Shaw, a prolific proponent of modern Zen Buddhism, leads the reader through a series of discussions, detailing the various aspects of Zen in relation to human consciousness and developmental awareness. He guides the reader to a place where they may come to understand the true nature of the everyday trials and tribulations of life and make each of them a true learning experience. Ultimately, the reader may come away with a new sense of empowerment and personal understanding. From this they can transverse even the most treacherous of life circumstance with a new and enhanced knowledge of self-awareness.

This is a complete explanation of Zen practice written by one of the most eminent masters of pre-modern Japan. The author, Torei Enji (1721-1792), was best known as one of two "genius assistants" to Hakuin Ekaku, who was himself a towering figure in Zen Buddhism who revitalized the Rinzai school. Torei was responsible for much of the advanced work of Hakuin's later disciples and also helped systemize Hakuin's teachings. "The Undying Lamp of Zen" includes a range of principles and practices, from the most elementary to the most advanced. It is an indispensable aid to the practice of Rinzai Zen, and provides an accessible entree to the Zen experience in general. Torei is a compelling guide; his tone is energetic, no-nonsense, and full of personality.
Premier translator Thomas Cleary provides a thorough introduction and illuminating footnotes throughout, and his masterful translation allows Torei's distinctive voice to shine through.

"Examining one's life is arguably the central distinguishing characteristic of being human, and this wise and wonderful book is the perfect answer to Socrates's warning that the unexamined life is not worth living. Readers who merely read through the book's fascinating anecdotes will be entertained, but they will be seriously shortchanging themselves, for it is the guiding questions that provoke and inspire serious self-examination. As the calendar-like format of the book implies, these questions should be savored and pondered no faster than one page of questions per day. Levy and Parco continue to challenge our thinking as they did in their previous two Thinking Deeply About books. Echoes of Mind presents common topics in an uncommon way that encourages both reflection and introspection. Spending time with this book will be reassuring and yet challenging, even at times uncomfortable-but in all cases, rewarding."

Daryl J. Bem, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Psychology
Cornell University

An extraordinary Zen teacher and artist, Hakuin (1686-1769) is credited with almost single-handedly reforming and revitalizing Japanese Zen from a state of extreme spiritual decline.
What made Hakuin even more remarkable was that he was not only a religious teacher but also a prolific artist. Using calligraphy and painting to create visual Dharma, he rendered his teachings on paper in portraits and sketches, visually expressing the nature of enlightenment as he imparted it to his students.
The Religious Art of Zen Master Hakuin is a stunning volume containing many of Hakuin's finest calligraphies and paintings, along with commentary by Katsuhiro Yoshizawa, the leading Japanese expert on Hakuin and his work. Yoshizawa shares the story of Hakuin's life and learning, revealing the profound religious meaning embedded in each illustration. At times he closely examines each stroke of a portrait--which include depictions of peddlers, panhandlers, and beggars--and provides a richly detailed documentary of the life and lessons of one of Zen's most respected teachers.

Life is rising up to meet us at every moment. The question is: Are we there to meet it or not? Diane Rizzetto presents a simple but supremely effective practice for meeting every moment of our lives with mindfulness, using the Zen precepts as tools to develop a keen awareness of the motivations behind every aspect of our behavior--to "wake up to what we do"--from moment to moment. As we train in mindfulness of our actions, every situation of our lives becomes our teacher, offering priceless insight into what it really means to be happy. It's a simple practice with transformative potential, enabling us to break through our habitual reactions and to see clearly how our own happiness and well-being are intimately, inevitably connected to the happiness and well-being of everyone around us.

THE ZEN OF SELLING The Way to Profit from Life's Everyday Lessons For professional salespeople on the go, wading through a '500-steps-to-success' manual or trying to memorize sales rules are poor ways to learn. Salespeople know that nothing beats the impact of a real-life story. Now every important sales secret has been clarified and crystallized in this short, lively, and compelling collection of 17 stories. From handling harsh rejection to closing a tough sale, the stories use real-life contexts and fully fleshed out characters to illustrate fundamental selling rules. The truths that emerge in The Zen of Selling are universal, cutting across the sales spectrum of products, industries, experiences, and styles. Both enlightening and entertaining, the book is ideal for experienced salespeople who want a quick, fun to read refresher and for newcomers seeking an innovative primer on the essentials of selling.

Best known as the man who brought Zen classics to the West, Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki sheds light on all phases of a monk's experience, from being initially refused admittance at the Zendo's door to the definitive understanding the meaning of one's koan as the final act of ordinance into Zen priesthood. The Training of the Zen Buddhist Monk invites us inside the mysterious world of the Zendo, where monks live their lives in monastic simplicity. Suzuki reveals the subtle intricacies of the initiation ceremony, a monk's duty to beg among the laity, and he explains the spiritual remuneration of prayer & meditation as well as a life of service to others.Initially published in 1934, this exceptional hardcover edition contains handsome illustrations of diverse scenes from the life training of a Zen monk.DAISETZ TEITARO SUZUKI (1870-1966) was Japanese author who wrote essays and books on topics such as Buddhism, Zen, and Shin. His books played a role in making the west more knowledgeable with Far Eastern philosophy. He taught at western schools as well as Japanese schools. He was also a translator of Chinese, Japanese, and Sanskrit.

Zen koans are stories of exchanges between Zen masters and their disciples at the moment of enlightenment or near-enlightenment. These stories have long fascinated Western readers because of their wisdom, humor, and enigmatic quality. Drawing on over 30 years of practice and teaching, Richard Shrobe (himself a recognized Zen Master) has selected 22 cases from "The Blue Cliff Record" and "Wu-men-kuan" that he finds deeply meaningful and helpful for meditation practice. In "Elegant Failure, " he provides a wealth of background information and personal anecdotes for each koan that help to illuminate its meaning without detracting from its paradoxical nature. As Shrobe reminds us, "The main core of Zen teaching is the bare bones of what is there. In a certain sense, embellishing a story takes away from the central teaching: Don't embellish anything, just be with it as it is."

Telementation is a variation of what is often called "The Law of Attraction," where telementation focuses more on feeling reality into existence rather than believing or visualizing reality into existence. Telementation is an ancient meditative art form, and it is the true nature of our real deep inner self. It is virtually unknown to contemporary, modernized humans, but it is has been recognized by shamans, mystics, and philosophers as the ultimate power in the universe, which is possessed by all humans. Telementation is true consciousness (and true consciousness is the deepest, innermost part of mental reality, not the surface emanations), and therefore telementation is what humans actually are. This book is a short instruction manual on how to carry out the law of attraction with great ease. Telementation creates a revolution in a person's life that ends nearly all personal problems, and it brings a person back to their innate, inalienable greatness and poetical inner peace. Telementation is particularly productive for those who want a very simple guidebook on how to carry out Eastern meditation or Christian mysticism, for those who have had trouble attaining religious experience despite putting forth great efforts at meditation, and for those having trouble overcoming depression by conventional methods.

On a beautiful spring day in 2002, Lee Carlson's life was transformed forever when he was hit by a careless, speeding driver. Father, husband, writer, son all that was about to change. Several days later he woke up in a hospital with a new identity: Traumatic Brain Injury Survivor. Unfortunately he knew all about Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI. Just months before, his mother had fallen down a flight of basement stairs, crushing her brain and leaving her unable to walk, speak or feed herself. Passage to Nirvana tells the story of one person's descent into the hell of losing everything: family, home, health, even the ability to think and the slow climb back to a normal life. Told in a unique creative style brought on by the author's brain injury, combining short poems and essays in an interwoven, exuberant narrative, Passage to Nirvana recounts one person s struggle and ultimate joy at building a new life. The story takes the reader through Intensive Care Units, doctors offices and a profusion of therapy centers, eventually winding its way to sunlit oceans, quiet Zen meditation halls, white beaches, azure skies and a sailboat named Nirvana. Passage to Nirvana is a memoir, a treasury of Zen teachings and a sailor s yarn all rolled into one. Passage to Nirvana is an illustrative tale about finding a path to happiness after a traumatic life event, a book that will teach you about the Poetry of Living.

Extending their successful series of collections on Zen Buddhism, Heine and Wright present a fifth volume, on what may be the most important topic of all - Zen Masters. Following two volumes on Zen literature (Zen Classics and The Zen Canon) and two volumes on Zen practice (The Koan and Zen Ritual) they now propose a volume on the most significant product of the Zen tradition - the Zen masters who have made this kind of Buddhism the most renowned in the world by emphasizing the role of eminent spiritual leaders and their function in establishing centers, forging lineages, and creating literature and art. Zen masters in China, and later in Korea and Japan, were among the cultural leaders of their times. Stories about their comportment and powers circulated widely throughout East Asia. In this volume ten leading Zen scholars focus on the image of the Zen master as it has been projected over the last millennium by the classic literature of this tradition. Each chapter looks at a single prominent master. Authors assess the master's personality and charisma, his reported behavior and comportment, his relationships with teachers, rivals and disciplines, lines of transmission, primary teachings, the practices he emphasized, sayings and catch-phrases associated with him, his historical and social context, representations and icons, and enduring influences.

All religions are by nature traditions based on words and ideas. In this respect, spirituality recognised in religion is spirituality mediated by words and concepts. However, there is also a spirituality that consciously rejects words or ideas: "seeing spirituality", as opposed to thinking (or believing) spirituality. This book sets out to explore and elucidate this seeing spirituality. The Introduction presents a distinction between the thinking mind and the seeing mind, exploring seeing spirituality first in Meister Eckhart's teaching of "empty soul", in the Mahayana teaching of sunyata (emptiness) as presented in the Diamond Sutra and Nagarjuna's Verses on the Middle Way, and, finally, in the Zen master Huang Bo's Transmission of Mind. The focus throughout is on the presentation and explanation of seeing spirituality as immediate awareness of the present free of all concepts. Discussion centres around specific texts, focusing on the working of the seeing mind, rather than through abstract or metaphysical explanation. The author's elucidation of sunyata in terms of the distinction between the thinking mind and the seeing mind, and likewise his juxtaposition of Meister Eckhart and Huang Bo -- far apart in their traditions, as they are in time and space -- is unique and a major contribution to religious and philosophical scholarship. In addition, the work contains a new translation of major sections of Huang Bo's Dharma talks, the first in English since 1958.

So striking were the replies of Joshu (778-897 CE) to students' questions, that it was said that his "lips emitted light." His saysing were extremely influential throughout the Zen tradition and are included in many koan anthologies. Now here is the first full English translation of his sayings, lectures, dialogues, poems, and records from his pilgimages. The translation aims for readability rather than literalness; helpful notes illustrate features from the Chinese that might not be evident in English. A historical introudction by the translator a short biography of Joshu, and a useful glossary make The Recorded Sayings of Zen Master Joshu an invaluable text for any student of Zen Buddhism.

2010 Facsimile of the 1932 Edition. Goddard compiled a collection of favorite texts of the Zen Sect of Buddhism. Includes a History of Zen Buddhism, Self-Realization of Noble Wisdom, The Diamond Sutra, The Prajna Paramita Sutra, the Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch. Edited and interpreted by Dwight Goddard.

IN THICH NHAT HANH'S MOST EXCITING and provocative book in years, he offers a dramatic vision of the future of our planet and links his contemplation of environmental destruction to the Buddhist teachings of interconnectedness and the impermanence of all things. Rather than seeing impermanence as an excuse for disengaging from the world, he argues passionately that engaging with the world is the key to our individual and collective survival. The World We Have is above all a hopeful book. Thich Nhat Hanh offers a clear vision of the road ahead and models conviction and courage that we will need to stay on that path.

Breath-Centered Consciousness is a manual for practicing meditation. But don't expect to find the same instructions in this book that you've read in other meditation manuals. The practice described is ancient-the practice of anapana sati or "mindfulness of breathing"-but the way it's described may surprise you. And the way some common problems in meditation are dealt with is fresh and powerful. Distraction, for example, isn't a matter of what we pay attention to, but of how we pay attention-in the clinging anxiety of self-centeredness or in the equanimity of breath-centered consciousness. Meditation isn't something restricted to a special time of practice, but a way of life in which every moment is special. We meditate because we want to be happy. But we find in meditation that our happiness can't be separated from the happiness of others. If you're new to meditation-or if you've been meditating a while, but feel something is lacking in your practice-this book is for you.