Very few masters of Zen have been writers; very few writers about Zen have been masters. Katsuki Sekida was both. His finest work, Zen Training, remains one of the most comprehensive books on Zen ever written in English. In A Guide to Zen, Marc Allen, a former student of Sekida, presents selections of the original work to produce a beautifully readable, brilliant guide to Zen meditation. Includes a summary of Zen and a complete course in Zen meditation, with specific practices and commenta...

**This pioneering guide to zazen—Zen-style seated meditation—provides practical instructions on how to begin or elevate your practice and progress along the Zen pathZen 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 e...

A new translation of The Gateless Gate and The Blue Cliff Records**, two classic collections of Zen koans—or guiding ‘riddles’—used in the study of Zen Buddhism**The strange verbal paradoxes called koans have been used traditionally in Zen training to help students attain a direct realization of truths inexpressible in words. The two works translated in this book, Mumonkan (The Gatele...

A mindful and spiritual approach to manifesting and using our own power—from a national bestselling author and world-renowned Buddhist monk“Among Buddhist leaders influential in the West, Thich Nhat Hanh ranks second only to the Dalai Lama.” — The New York TimesEvery day, in every interaction, we all exercise power. The choices we make, the way we communicate, the relationships we form, and the way we choose to view the wo...

The human mind is inherently free. It neither affirms nor denies. It is not constrained by the conflict of the opposites, like right and wrong or self and others. An awakened mind knows that the dynamic unity between self and others forms part of an integrated whole. Having direct knowledge of this mind brings profound peace. The teachings of the Buddha point the way to acquire this knowledge through direct personal experience.In this intriguing and enlightening collection of stori...

In 1975, Lama Yeshe undertook his most extensive international teaching tour, being on the road for nearly nine months. During this time he gave many and varied teachings, a few of which have already been published in Becoming Your Own Therapist, Make Your Mind an Ocean and The Peaceful Stillness of the Silent Mind.This book contains the teachings and meditations Lama gave at a five-day retreat he led near Melbourne, Australia, which he introduced by saying:"Whether or not ...

Cutting-edge science and spirituality tell us that what we believe, think, and feel actually determine the makeup of our body at the cellular level. In Zen and the Art of Happiness, you will learn how to think and feel so that what you think and feel creates happiness and vibrancy in your life rather than gloominess or depression. You'll learn how to adapt to life's inevitable changes, how to deal with stress in a healthy way, and how to nurture a mindful happiness in your daily life. Most...

Because words can no more hold the truth than a net can hold water, we use koans. Koans are sayings, or doings, of Zen masters, the patriarchs and Buddha. Take for example the koan: The Sound of One Hand clapping. In its entirety it reads: "You know the sound of two hands clapping. What is the sound of one hand clapping?" The obvious, intellectual answer is, No sound at all! But then what is this No sound? In other words, is it just silence?If one is to work on this koan, indeed on ...

For anyone interested in learning to meditate but not sure how to begin, comes this book from psychologist and meditation expert Dr. Robert Puff, contributing writer for Psychology Today and a practicing meditator himself for over thirty years. You'll learn the value of meditation for physical and mental health, several different types of non-religious meditation, detailed instructions on how to practice each, and answers to all the questions asked by beginners. Think of it as "base camp" ...

**Exploring the three pillars of Zen—teaching, practice, and enlightenment—the founder of one of the most influential Zen centers in the U.S. gives readers invaluable advice on how to develop their own practices."The Three Pillars of Zen has been the wellspring of Zen teachings for practitioners in the West, remaining as vital and fresh today as it was when it was originally published. It truly ranks among the timeless classics of Zen Buddhism." —Roshi John Daido Loori, Ab...

“A masterpiece.”—Jon Kabat-ZinnSince Mindfulness in Plain English was first published in 1994, it has become one of the bestselling — and mostinfluential — books in the field of mindfulness. It’s easy to see why.Author Bhante Gunaratana, a renowned meditation master, takes us step by step through the myths, realities, andbenefits of meditation and the practice of mindfulness. The book showcases...

This comfortably written book is a courageous out pouring of one's personal journey of learning how to meditate. The book weaves a compelling storyline into an inspiring how-to-guide, teaching a unique method of meditation. The downhome, conversational style of the author invites you into her world and tells you how it was to struggle with knowing there was more to life than she was experiencing. She felt a longing for something that she found hard to express and yet the feeling was with h...