Straight to the Heart of Zen - Eleven Classic Koans and Their Inner Meanings (Paperback, 1st ed)

Koans are at the very heart of Zen practice; this collection of informal koan talks will bring the Zen student into the presence of Roshi Philip Kapleau, the famous author of "The Three Pillars of Zen ." The talks in this collection came directly from the "zendo" (training hall) and from the intense form of practice known as "sesshin," a Japanese word meaning "to train the mind." These are direct presentations of the practice and understanding of one of the century's greatest American masters.
These Zen talks focus on koans that illuminate fundamental issues of the spiritual life. While koans may be said to be uniquely Zen, in Roshi Kapleau's talks they become as familiar, everyday, and relevant as the questions we ponder--in one form or another--all our lives. Why was I born? Why must I die? How can I find an end to suffering?
The book has three main sections. As Zen begins with the Buddha's life and enlightenment, the three "teishos "(talks) in Part One are each drawn from an incident in the life of the Buddha. Since Zen in the West is a lay movement, not a monastic one as it is in Japan, Part Two presents koans and commentary drawn from the lives of three great lay figures in Zen. Part Three contains five teishos on traditional koans that reflect fundamental concerns common to all of us, man or woman, monastic or lay, Buddhist or otherwise: What is the road to enlightenment? What will happen to me when I die?

General

Imprint:	Shambhala Publications Inc
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	July 2001
First published:	July 2001
Authors:	Philip Kapleau
Dimensions:	229 x 153 x 12mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback - Trade
Pages:	173
Edition:	1st ed
ISBN-13:	978-1-57062-593-0
Categories:	Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Non-Christian religions > Religions of Indic & Oriental origin > Buddhism > Zen Buddhism Books > Religion & Spirituality > Non-Christian religions > Religions of Indic & Oriental origin > Buddhism > Zen Buddhism
LSN:	1-57062-593-X
Barcode:	9781570625930

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