Book Description
Perhaps no other person in America has done more to bring mindfulness meditation into the mainstream than Jon Kabat-Zinn. Through many research studies and his pioneering work at the University of Massachusetts where he is founder of its world renowned Stress Reduction Clinic, Kabat-Zinn has served as a recognized bridge between science and meditation. With Mindfulness for Beginners, he offers the definitive course designed specifically to introduce new students to the proven benefits of mindfulness practice, including: stress reduction, alleviation of depression, chronic pain relief, and more.
On CD 1, Kabat-Zinn presents "Mindfulness 101"—an accessible, comprehensive tutorial that addresses the basics of mindfulness meditation and explores the spacious, luminous, and mysterious qualities of awareness itself. CD 2 guides listeners through a series of five meditations meant to be used at home, at work, or while traveling. Includes Eating Meditation, Mindfulness of Breathing, and Mindfulness of the Body. Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way—on purpose, in the present moment, and without judgment. This special kind of attention nurtures greater awareness, and is a simple yet powerful route for getting ourselves back in touch with our own wisdom and vitality. Now, Jon Kabat-Zinn brings the practice of meditation to the widest possible audience with Mindfulness for Beginners.
Customer Reviews:
Life changing.......2007-08-11
I have been lucky enough to take two Mindfulness courses and they have changed my life. Both were run by excellent course leaders but nothing compares with hearing Mindfulness founder Jon Kabat Zinn discuss the philosophy and methodology behind it. His wit, compassion and way with words themselves make CD1 compulsive listening as well as explaining the reasons for CD2 which are the practices themselves. I cannot recommend this highly enough to anybody who wants to learn about themselves and especially those seeking release from troubled mind states such as anxiety and depression. Buy it- Mindfulness practitioners will tell you honestly that they make no promises to 'fix things' but it might change your life too...
Like it........2007-07-29
I needed something, especially non-religious, to get my mind off of where our country is headed.
This is a very good CD........2007-05-24
I bought this CD at the recommendation of a social worker. I'm a perfectionist, which frequently leads me to experience anxiety. I've lived this way for 50+ years but it's not healthy. However, it has been the norm for my life. Yes, I've done some counseling over the years, which has been extremely helpful but I constantly battle with trying to do too much, making it all perfect and then dealing with the anxiety that follows.
Although I've tried relaxation techniques in the past, I learned that Jon Kabat-Zinn's information is more than relaxation. It is learning to incorporate "mindfulness" into my busy, waking day. I found the information in this CD to be very informative. I've only listened to the CD two times and will need to repeat several more times to better learn this technique. Kabat-Zinn is the narrator and his voice is excellent as a reader or narrator. I highly recommend this CD, as well as the follow-up CD I am now listening to, "Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Mediation in Everyday Life".
Recommendation and Caution.......2007-05-12
The guided meditations on the second CD reduce fear about the future by bringing one's attention repeatedly to the simple pleasure of being settled in the present moment. The experience of the meditations encourages optimism; as long as life will provide at least the one pleasure of meditative repose in the present moment, it seems life will be good. The experience of the meditations seems to show that life provides ample time for repose amid the requirements of life and for genial meditation on the subjects of those requirements. The pleasures one feels in that rest and in those subjects of meditation will urge one to regard such rest and meditation as being among the requirements of life, or at least of lives worth living. Everything to this point seems good for life, good for a good life. However, three possible dangers seem to need addressing. It seems one may develop greed or, perhaps I should say, too much greed for meditation and its pleasures. It seems too much such greed may foster hatred or, perhaps I should say, too much hatred of the other requirements of life. And too much greed for meditation and too much hatred of life's other requirements may foster delusion or, perhaps I should say, the specific delusion that it would be good to let go too much of life's other requirements. But meditative enjoyment of living requires life; the more one enjoys meditating, then, the more it seems good, "as best you can," to be mindful of the requirements of life, to understand them, and to act prudently for their sake. I think Jon Kabat-Zinn wants, in part, to help us correct our excesses; his Mindfulness for Beginners can help us do that, as an ordinate part of a political philosophic life.
Foundation and Practice - the basics for Westerners.......2007-04-23
This CD is an introduction to mindfulness that is aimed at an audience of Westerners who are not familiar with Eastern philosophy. This audio provides the foundational concepts necessary to have a meditation practice and gives a taste of several different types of practice.
The first CD covers concepts such as the present moment, the definition of mindfulness at attending to what is arising in the moment, awareness, the relationship between mind and heart, etc. It also covers the importance of openness and curiosity vs. judgment and identification with what is going on. That is to say, it distinguishes between a witness of what is arising and the phenomena in question. In other words, it makes the point that there is something standing behind the mind, emotions, sensations, etc. and that this something is a type of consciousness called witness consciousness. This CD also goes into the important of allowing (non-striving) vs. a desire that pushes toward acheiving something. In the last section of CD Zinn contrasts awareness which is passive and accepting with thinking which arises out of desire.
The second CD provides an introduction to some minfulness practices such as mindful eating, breath meditation, mindfulness of the body as a whole, mindfulness of objects such as sounds, thoughts and emotions. It also introduces the notion of meditation as pure awareness without judgment. One might compare this to pure experience without desire or aversion. Although one is given a taste of each of these practices, none of them are comprehensively covered and the guided meditations are not long enough for practice purposes except for a complete beginner.
In general, meditative practices are divided into concentration practices (narrowing the attention) and mindfulness practices (awareness is expanded in a detached way). On the this CD, all of the practices are termed mindfulness practices, but the CD actually contains both types which in essence are about attending to different aspects of reality in different ways.
As someone who teaches meditation to Westerners myself, I find this an excellent, gentle and easily accessible introduction. It achieves what it sets out to do, which is to provide a philosophical framework for a meditation practice and the very basics of starting one.
If you enjoy this tape and you want to take things deeper, then Guided Mindfulness Meditation (Guided Mindfulness) by the same author would be a logical continuation. The book Breath by Breath: The Liberating Practice of Insight Meditation would also be a great next step. Something complimentary that build on it, but is a bit more heart-centered would be Meditation for Beginners. There is also a listmania list on my profile for meditation that has other recommendations.
Amazon.com
A respected Zen master in Japan and founder of the San Francisco Zen Center, Shunryu Suzuki has blazed a path in American Buddhism like few others. He is the master who climbs down from the pages of the koan books and answers your questions face to face. If not face to face, you can at least find the answers as recorded in Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, a transcription of juicy excerpts from his lectures. From diverse topics such as transience of the world, sudden enlightenment, and the nuts and bolts of meditation, Suzuki always returns to the idea of beginner's mind, a recognition that our original nature is our true nature. With beginner's mind, we dedicate ourselves to sincere practice, without the thought of gaining anything special. Day to day life becomes our Zen training, and we discover that "to study Buddhism is to study ourselves." And to know our true selves is to be enlightened. --Brian Bruya
Book Description
Zen mind is one of those enigmatic phrases used by Zen teachers to throw you back upon yourself, to make you go behind the words themselves and begin wondering. "I know what my own mind is," you tell yourself, "but what is Zen mind?" And then: "But do I really know what my own mind is?" Is it what I am doing now? Is it what I am thinking now?" And if you should then try to sit physically still for a while to see if you can locate it—then you have begun the practice of Zen, then you have begun to realize the unrestricted mind.
The innocence of this first inquiry—just asking what you are—is beginner's mind. The mind of the beginner is needed throughout Zen practice. It is the open mind, the attitude that includes both doubt and possibility, the ability to see things always as fresh and new. It is needed in all aspects of life. Beginner's mind is the practice of Zen mind.
This book originated from a series of talks given by Zen Master Shunryu Suzuki to a small group in Los Altos, California. He joined their meditation periods once a week and afterwards answered their questions and tried to encourage them in their practice of Zen and help them solve the problems of life. His approach is informal, and he draws his examples from ordinary events and common sense. Zen is now and here, he is saying; it can be as meaningful for the West as for the East. But his fundamental teaching and practice are drawn from all the centuries of Zen Buddhism and especially from Dogen, one of the most important and creative of all Zen Masters.
Customer Reviews:
You don't have to understand it to love it.......2007-06-10
I bought this book eighteen years ago. When I bought it, I understood little of it but for the past 18 years it has been my favourite companion book helping me to calm down before I went to sleep. I have never read "a new age book" and pride myself on being hard-headed, but nonetheless the soothing, calm prose was reassuring even if enigmatic. 18 years on, I now actually understand quite a bit of it and read it not only for the prose style but for the meaning.
I personally had to read Joko Beck before I could really understand how zen is integral to my life, as I needed to acquire an understanding that went beyond words before I could appreciate how "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" linked into my life. However I think this book is still a treasure.
How to be like a beginner but not for beginners.......2007-05-18
Despite my unfamiliarity with Zen, the sense did come through to me of an earnest, centered practitioner. I found the philosophical observations in this book more universal, and so more accessible, than the observations about the specifics of Zen meditation practice -- sitting, breathing techniques etc. This book does not lead the reader by the hand from square one, it is, rather, a book of observations transcribed from tape recordings of Suzuki addressing groups of people already experienced in Zen. I liked the book's secular, practical tone, as I can do without the magical thinking that is served up without question in many books by practitioners of Eastern religions, more so, to be sure, in the Hindu than the Buddhist tradition. I concur with reviewer L. A. Allen (no relation) that the title of this book can be somewhat confusing; much of the content doesn't connect well for a person who is unfamiliar with Zen Buddhism and seeking an introduction.
Zen Intro.......2007-05-16
Zazen is zazen, plain and simple. Easy to digest introduction to the practice with minimal amount of Japanese to look up.
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki.......2007-03-29
"Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" is as good a book as any regarding a Beginner's interest in Zen meditation and the proposition of improving one's consciousness.
The text's chapter's are categorized according to (1) Right Practice (2)Right Attitude (3)Right Understanding.
The enigma of Zen meditation is that it has become so popularized in Western culture that people have come to characterize anything weird or odd as "zenny". Moreover, other irrelevant baggage is accrued by the many books on art or other endeavours who employ Zen in their titles as a marketing gimmick. This further complicates popular understandings as to what Zen either is or isn't.
Therefore, it is appropriate that author Shunryu Suzuki targets the subject of "Mind Weeds," from which I quote briefly:
"That everything is included within your mind is the essence of mind. To experience this is to have religious feeling." --p. 35 and also:
""Nothing outside yourself can cause any trouble. You yourself make the waves in your mind. If you leave your mind as it is, it will become calm. This mind is called big mind."--35
The reader will find himself captivated and excited by the author's insight and teaching, and will begin probably to see the world and self in an entirely different perspective.
Its all a state of mind.......2007-03-18
Very interesting book, I'm just starting to get into the whole Zen mind thing and feel this book was a great help. A lot of interesting philosophy and advice. I recommend it for any avid reader that's trying to expand there own mind and reach a higher level of peace and enlightenment.
Book Description
Answers fundamental questions and issues that arise in the minds of modern Western individuals who are beginning this tradition of practical spirituality.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting.......2007-10-10
I really like the "Q & A" layout of the book. I was looking for a book to explain Buddhism simply. While this book is easy to read and informative, I am now looking for a book that gives definitions and how to pronounce some words. I would recommend this book for anyone who has general questions about Buddhism.
a good beginning for those newly interested in buddhism.......2007-08-12
Lately, I've been noticing Buddhist influences around me more and more frequently. From prints and candleholders of the Buddha at Target, to everyone threatening with Karmic repercussion for any wrongdoing, Buddhism seems to be everywhere. Many times, especially during existential crises, I would get a bit curious as to what Buddhism really entails, but every time I perused the aisles of my local alternative bookstore in search of a life-changing Buddhist book, I usually got a little overwhelmed and ended up leaving the store with incense and candles instead. That is, until I got my hands on this book.
If you're like me, or just don't know where to begin, then this would be a good start. Don't be fooled by the slimness of this book, Buddhism for Beginners is definitely not the kind that you get through in one sitting. Not because it probes deeply into the subject, but mainly because it covers a lot of information, even while only skimming the surface. The book is in the form of question and answer, creating a dialogue between reader and author. The topics range from the basics of Buddhism, to what the Buddha's view on controversial topics is (abortion, death penalty, the environment), to women in Buddhism and even parenting. It can be rather repetitive at times, and a lot of the answers are rather ambiguous. More than once you will find the answer begins with "it depends." At times, the author oversimplifies and statements like "If you show people how patient you've become they will think Buddhism is a good thing and will be curious too" appear more than once in the book. If anything, this book leaves the door wide open for those interested in Buddhism to do further reading in the subject.
Criticism aside, I'd recommend this book not just for people interested in Buddhism, but really for everyone. A lot of what is mentioned is really common sense: be compassionate, tolerant, truly enjoy things, ask questions, which, in this day and age, we sometimes tend to forget. Consider this a "refresher course in life," the kind of book you keep around and pick up from time to time. The author's voice is nonjudgmental, serene and optimistic without being cliché. I read this book after a notoriously low point in my life, and after pondering many of the ideas in it, I was left feeling hopeful, motivated not to take life too seriously; after all, I could always come back and try again.
Written very well!.......2007-07-07
I was pleasantly surprised to discover how helpful this book is in understanding Buddhism, and now I feel that I can better answer others' questions on why I prefer Buddhism to my original religion/philosophy. For some reason, the books written by the Dali Lhama are hard for me to stick with, and they didn't answer my questions about Buddhism. This book, however, takes one common question at a time and clearly answers it - all of my questions were in there, plus a few more. I plan on buying more books about Buddhism by this author.
Book Review.......2007-05-12
This book is hard to comprehend for the lay person. You really have to concentrate on what your reading to really take in everything that it has to offer. It has a lot to offer however.
Deep but Easy to Understand.......2007-03-18
This is a great book for beginners interested in the basics of Buddhism. After reading this book I have a better understanding and a greater appreciation of Buddas and Buddism. The logic, spirituality, peace, compassion and kindness to your fellow person and yourself that Buddhism promotes is wonderful. "Om Mani Padme Hum".
Average customer rating:
- Meditation for Beginners
- Meditation for Beginners
- Meditation for Beginners
- Start Here!
- The Art of Meditation
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Meditation for Beginners
Jack Kornfield
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Book Description
Start Meditating Today with This Beginner's Guide. Have you ever thought about trying meditation, but didn't know how to get started? On Meditation for Beginners, trusted teacher Jack Kornfield uses clear language and step-by-step demonstrations to show you how simple it is to start - and stick with - a daily meditation practice. In this complete beginner's course, Jack introduces you to the "Insight" tradition of meditation. Zen monks draw from this same tradition, yet anyone can use its principles to cultivate a profound inner calm, while awakening to the truth of life. Four complete meditation exercises teach you how to work with breathing, posture, attention, forgiveness - even difficult emotions - to create tranquility and clarity in your everyday life. Now you can begin meditating today - in just the time it takes to listen to Meditation for Beginners.
Customer Reviews:
Meditation for Beginners.......2007-01-08
This is a fabulous CD set, with life changing value. Anyone remotely interested in meditation or personal reflection will truly benefit from the teachings of Jack Kornfield.
Meditation for Beginners.......2007-01-06
This is a very easy way to get started with meditation. Jack Kornfield is one of the most informative instructors for meditation.
Meditation for Beginners.......2007-01-05
As someone who only recently began seriously trying to meditate, I found this CD helpful. It explained how to quiet and focus the mind in preparation for the meditative state.
Start Here!.......2006-11-10
Jack Kornfield is a great way to begin your journey of meditation. He is a calming and informed voice. I had many "ah-ha" moments listening to his work. I highly recommend it.
The Art of Meditation.......2006-10-25
"The first session of meditation practice is a beginning like the beginning of any art form. Like any other art form, the art of meditation takes some time to practice." ~ Jack Kornfield
Meditation for Beginners truly is perfect for anyone who is just starting to meditate because it includes a Guided Meditation CD. The book introduces you to why meditation is a good idea, how to connect with the breath and how to cultivate a daily meditation practice.
The CD has sections for connecting with your breath, working with sensations that arise in the body, dealing with feelings and emotions, and observing your thoughts. The last two sections include a Forgiveness (7:13) and Lovingkindness (10:50) Meditation.
Jack Kornfield studied in monasteries in Thailand and trained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand and India. He is also the author of "After the Ecstasy, the Laundry," "Living Dharma" and "A Path with Heart."
As I listened to Jack Kornfield's beautiful voice, I was able to relax more fully and fall into the meditation in the moments of silence. You may lose track of time and just enjoy having Jack guide you through the various meditation practices.
Sometimes it is relaxing to release all your awareness of the moment-to-moment stresses of life and to truly find that place of peace where your body can heal. By listening to a guided meditation session you surrender into the moment and can feel a sense of joy rising from within where true happiness is born.
I remember the first time I tried to meditate and how restless I felt. Now years later, meditation is something I can appreciate for its intrinsic beauty and revelatory nature. If you find you are feeling especially restless, try exercising before meditating or doing a yoga routine right before the guided sessions.
~The Rebecca Review
Book Description
Known for bringing "insight" meditation to the West and for his many best-selling books, including A Path with Heart (over 100,000 copies in print), Jack Kornfield now offers a collection of his most popular teachings with Buddhist Meditation for Beginners. Specially designed gift set includes four complete audio learning courses: • The Beginner's Guide to Buddhism—Jack Kornfield illuminates Buddhism's most essential teachings, and how they make it possible to overcome challenging mental states such as fear, confusion, and anger. • Meditation for Beginners—Comprehensive introduction to the vipassana ("insight") practice of meditation to cultivate a profound inner calm and awaken to the truth. Exercises include four complete meditations. • Meditations of the Heart—Step-by-step meditations cast light on Buddhism's cornerstone, the Four Noble Truths. These meditations take less than ten minutes each to practice; yet will take you to the heart of essential Buddhist teachings on opening to the truth, forgiveness, fearlessness, and more. • The Beginner's Guide to Forgiveness—Drawing from his background in meditation and psychology, Jack Kornfield reveals the path to forgiveness and the way out of our pain. Jack Kornfield's best-selling meditation programs present him at his best: engaging, intelligent, helpful—and easy to follow.
Customer Reviews:
grounded inspiration.......2007-01-15
As a psychotherapist interested in Buddhism I discovered Jack Kornfield recently and was pleased his book was indeed what I was searching for. His life endeavour is to balance his first-hand Buddhist experiences with living in the Western world. He reveals theory and insight in a personal intelligent way: a diverse presentation also offering practical examples of meditations. Although he reveals meditation as something one can do immediately from where one is now in the world, he does not present meditation as an instant cure, realizing that deep emotional difficulties can need other therapeutic interventions as well. The book for me is one of grounded inspiration.
Customer Reviews:
Buddhism for Beginners.......2007-09-22
As a beginning practioner, with little time now to look for a personal teacher, I depend on learning from some of the great teachers, by print or audio media. I found Jack Kornfield's teachings, on this audio course, to be insightful, easy to follow, well illustrated with examples and peppered with his delightful sense of humor. I can only hope to meet him some day. I would highly recommend this audio course to anyone interested in Buddhist philosophy and would wish that some of our world leaders would buy a copy as well!
Book Description
"Trustworthy and delightful guide Kim Boykin will demystify and deepen your understanding of both the traditions she practices. Animated and illuminative Zen for Christians beckons toward a practicing and practical faith at the intersection of two great traditions. A gem!"
— James W. Fowler, author, Stages of Faith
In Zen for Christians, author Kim Boykin— who has personally experienced the gifts of Buddhism in her own Christian faith and has taught this subject in a variety of settings— offers Christians a way to incorporate Zen practices into their lives without compromising their beliefs and faith.
Zen for Christians assumes curiosity but no knowledge as it walks readers through specific concepts of Zen philosophy— such as suffering, attachment, and enlightenment— and explains each in a simple, lively way. Sections between chapters gently guide readers through Zen mediation practices, explaining the basics in a clear, engaging way. One key chapter places Christian and Zen teachings side by side to help Christian readers not only understand Zen but appreciate what it has to offer them.
Zen for Christians illustrates how Zen practice can be particularly useful for Christians who want to enrich their faith by incorporating contemplative practices.
Customer Reviews:
A Practical Guide.......2007-01-09
I was plesantly surprised by the easy that this book explains the zen buddists beliefs. I was able to understand nearly everything the first time through.
It gets the job done.... sort of.......2005-09-12
If you are interested in zen meditation, and have no experience ,this is a good start, but there are many nonchristian meditation books out there that do a better job. If you want an analysis of christian and zen beliefs this does a decent job, but is very redundant at times and is mostly an account of the author's personal experiences. All in all the book is just OK, not good and not bad.
A partial reconciliation.......2004-07-27
While it is true that one could practice, say, yoga, and practice it well and fairly near completeness and still be a Christian, it is a bit of a stretch to fully immerse oneself in Zen Buddhism and remain a Christian. Or vice-versa.
This is not and cannot be immediately apparent to casual and beginning practitioners of either Christianity or Zen. Certainly however it should be clear to Kim Boykin. And, after a fashion, I think it is. What she has done is reduce Zen to something close to a non-spiritual practice, a "Zen for health," if you will, in particular Zen for mental and emotional health, and in that way make Zen compatible with Christianity.
As Boykin points out, the central tenet of Christianity, that of salvation, is similar to the Buddhist tenet of right behavior. In Christianity all have sinned, but if we accept Christ, who died for our sins, as our savior we will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. In Buddhism we are not "unsaved" or in a state of mortal sin, rather we are in a state of pain and suffering, some of it psychological. We overcome that state through Right Living, Right Behavior--the famous Eightfold Path. (See especially page 91.)
Boykin goes into the differences and similarities in her third chapter, "Zen Teachings and Christian Teachings." Basically she resolves all apparent conflicts by stating that "Zen teachings are not doctrines." This is precisely, exactly correct. Indeed, the central spirit in Zen is to laugh at all doctrines, to find enlightenment through "killing the Buddha" and "no thought," which are ways to get away from the limitations of the so-called rational mind. Typically a Zen koan presents the student with a logical paradox and demands an answer, an answer that can only be found by transcending the rational mind and all doctrines. So, by this method Boykin can accept any facet of Christianity including the most literal and fundamental and find no conflict with Zen.
So be it.
However, there is no "God" in Buddhism. Consequently for God to have a "son" can only be understood in a symbolic sense. The acceptance of Christ as a personal savior, again can only be done in a symbolic sense. To go even deeper into Buddhist "theology," if you will, or "psychology" (which I think is the best way to understand these things, at least in the beginning) it is necessary to realize that for the Buddhist we do not even exist in the same way we do in Christianity. In Buddhism the self is an illusion. In Christianity the self is very real and transcends death. Furthermore, there is no concept of karma or reincarnation in Christian theology. Boykin does not discuss either idea, possibly because neither idea is logically compatible with Christianity.
What Boykin does well here is to show how Zen meditation can enrich one's life, how "being here now" and other Zen practices can lead to a fuller spiritual experience, as they have for her. From a Christian point of view, prayer is the most powerful meditation. From another point of view, prayer is simply one type of meditation. Prayer and meditation are both practices, or techniques, if you will, for finding God or nirvana--which to some people amounts to the same thing. Zazen ("just sitting," i.e., sitting meditation) is certainly a practice that would be compatible with any religion.
So what Zen for Christians is about is using Zen techniques to further one's Christianity. This is fine, but theological speaking, Zen and Christianity are different ways to God and cannot be held as truths simultaneously without some strenuous mental gymnastics. (Or actually in the impish spirit of Zen, they can be held simultaneously in the mind with the greatest of ease!) A striking example of this discordance can be seen on page 40 where Boykin recites a prayer learned from Karl Rahner. It ends with the words, "I am powerless, blind, dead, but you are mighty, light, and life and have conquered me long ago with the deadly impotence of your Son." Prayer is surrender to a power greater than oneself. But words like "the deadly impotence of your Son" have no meaning in Zen.
More in concert with the spirit of Zen would be the 46th Psalm as quoted on the next page: "Be still, and know that I am God." However, the use of the word "God" and the sense that "God" would actually demand something of someone is foreign to Zen. In Zen one does not speak of God partly because traditionally the Buddha turned aside all such questions. (It takes some study to understand why he did.) But theologically speaking, to mention God would be to immediately identify God in some manner, and that would be meaningless since what stands for God in Buddhism is beyond any human designation--indeed beyond human comprehension. On the other hand, in Christianity God is made personal. Moreover, in fundamentalist Christianity, humans are said to be made in the image of God.
Boykin's style is engaging and her recollection of her Zen training and how she came to the Catholic Church make for interesting reading. I had the sense that one of the commonalities shared by Zen and Christianity that Boykin discovered, perhaps in a subconscious way, is in the practices of Zen and the rituals of the Catholic Church. Although they are very different in structure and event, they serve some of the same purposes, that of helping the aspirant find spirituality. And of course the monastic tradition in Zen has some similarities with that of the Catholic Church.
Bottom line: While this is a good introduction to Zen, if you want to read about how Zen and Christianity can and cannot be reconciled, I recommend Thomas Merton or Alan Watts.
Great Book.......2004-04-29
Zen for Christians is a fantastic book for those wishing to learn more on the basics of zen meditation. This is a step by step guide to getting the most out of your meditation. I would recommend this book to any christian who is hesitant about the merger of another religion. It really is simply a christians guide to better meditation and not a guide to merge any religions.
Concise.......2004-03-08
I'm glad these sorts of work are becoming more and more popular in the literary world, because we have them coming from both the Christian and Buddhist community. Kim Bokyin is a teacher of contemplative prayer (a subject Merton always wrote extensively about) to both Christians and non Christians. This books' more like a beginners guide for people who don't have any idea what Zen Buddhism is actually about. Like a nice lure giving the fish just enough that, with any luck, they will come begging for more.
She's a very concise instructor in here, pouring over the fundamentals with a sort of ease and conviction. She explains meditation, koan work, non duality, The Four Noble Truths here; and what's more, Christians don't need to feel they need to give up Christianity to practice Zen. It may be true on a deeper level that in order to truly devote yourself, this might be so. But you can enhance your current religious traditions and spiritual practice with zazen (Zen meditation) at any time. Even contemplating scripture as though they are koans, is a beneficial practice. Christianity has a lot to benefit from Zen, allowing people to place aside desires for achievements (I dare say even heaven) and simply realize your life as this moment. There is no "goal." Only this.
This was an excellent book, and for those with interest in further reading on the matter I recommend Ruben Habito's book "Living Zen, Loving God." He has studied Zen and Christianity for decades, and provides further illuminating insights for Christians on reconciling Zen with Christianity. Anyway, get this book. It's an invaluable tool on the spiritual path.
Book Description
Here is a comprehensive introduction to Zen Buddhism for those who don't know how or where to begin, nor what to expect once they have started practicing. It includes the fundamentals of meditation practice (posture, technique, clothing), descriptions of the basic teachings and major texts, the teacher-student relationship, and what you will find when you visit a zendo, plus a history of Zen from the founding of Buddhism to its major schools in the West. In addition to answering the most frequently asked questions, it offers a listing of American Zen centers and resources, an annotated bibliography, and a glossary.
Jean Smith's enormously practical approach ensures that The Beginner's Guide to Zen Buddhism will become the book teachers and students alike will recommend.
Customer Reviews:
Great Beginner's Guide.......2006-02-27
The best thing that can be said is that it lives up to it's title. It presents Zen Buddhism largely in it's 'American Zen' incarnation which is what most of us who read the book are going to encounter when we venture beyond our armchairs and frontdoors. It's the not the be all and end all of anything, just a very nicely done introduction to a very complex subject. You don't learn Buddhism from books anyway.
Finally a beginners' book that is true to its title!.......2005-10-28
With her clear writing style, Smith offers anyone interested in Zen Buddhism a very good basic introduction, including practical advice and a resource guide. While she introduces the reader to the beginnings and diversity of Buddhism as a whole, she emphasizes Western approaches to and developments in Zen. Smith's work is informative and unpretentious, terse without omitting any vital details, reflecting respect and admiration for Zen traditions without worship of personalities and exoticism.
Great introduction to Zen Buddhism.......2005-03-05
As someone new to Zen Buddhism, this gave me a great overview and background to start. It's very readable and goes into all the main topics I was curious about, including etiquette, history and basic principles. I highly recommend this book!
Misconceptions about this book.......2003-05-29
Its funny how life long followers of buddhism would consult with this book, as it is for beginners. This book is for someone with little or no knowledge of what path to take. Buddhism is inherently diffucult to begin with, thus a book is of extreme importance to new zennists.No book will encompass all that is needed to know especially a book on Buddhism.This should be considered a introductory on Buddhism.However and i believe the author would agree with me that NO text on buddism is all inclusive. This you take a little from here and a little from there and paint your "own" picture. You didnt learn math from one book did you??
Haven't I read that before?.......2001-02-08
While Smith's book is a very good introduction to Zen for Americans who have no background in Buddhism, I have one complaint. In at least two sections, Smith quotes verbatim from her collection Zen 365, without acknowledging the original sources. In Beginners Introduction to Zen, it appears as Smith's own words. In Zen 365, these passages are attributed to someone else. Very disconcerting. Otherwise, it is a competent introduction and I enjoyed reading it.
Book Description
Created specifically to address the questions and needs of first-time students, this full-length retreat on audio guides participants through Buddhism's cornerstone teachings, including the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path to freedom, understanding karma, the Ten Perfections for opening the heart, the inner tools of samadhi and prajna (concentration and insight), and many other essential principles. Includes meditations, teaching parables, poetry, and inspiring true accounts gathered from Buddhism's 2,500-year-old legacy.
Customer Reviews:
Most Accessible Basic History of Zen.......2004-02-20
Surprisingly, this volume in Documentary Comic Books Series from Writers and Readers publishers turns out to be a pearl of great price: a readily accessible, fun to read, History of Zen Buddhism. In a delightful series of line drawn cartoons (which the subject lends itself to) we follow Gotama Buddha through his magistral Life, Nagarjuna thru his teachings, Bodhidharma into China, Dogen back to Japan, and every major figure in between. The contributions of these great teachers and patriarchs are reduced to a few key sayings, koans, and concepts. In 160 pages, mostly pictures, the reader garners a coherent picture of the history, identity, meaning, and purpose of Zen, that would otherwise have taken the reading of many volumes, thick ones, to imbibe. This effort is a brief, informative recovery of the original face of Zen history and a wonderful teaching tool. My friend, the late Paul Reps, would have LOVED this slender masterpiece. Or, as Ikkyu puts it in the book:
'And what is it, the heart?
it is the sound of the pine breeze
in the ink painting.'
A delightful, quirky introduction.......2001-02-20
If you like your religion serious and grim, this probably isn't the book for you. But if you are drawn to Zen Buddhism in part because of its warmth, humor, and apparent contradiction, it's an excellent place to start.
The authors make it clear from the start that although they have studied Zen for many years, they are students, not enlightened masters. For some writers, this would be a liability; their humility transforms it into an asset: their willingness to admit their imperfect knowledge make this much more approachable than other Zen books I have read. They impart a fair bit of basic information, while also conveying the flavor of something that "cannot be described in words [...] an experience more basic than the level of conceptual thinking."
The book, like other books in this series, is a quick but broad introduction to a complex topic. If you are looking for a serious, detailed reference book, look elsewhere. But out of the dozen books on Buddhism on my shelf, this is the one I first loan to friends who are curious about Zen.
A Good Intro.......2000-02-04
This work by Blackstone and Josipovic is an adequate introduction to Zen Buddhism with some nice history. When it gets into practice and study is where I stumbled. In the discussion of the koan, the authors read off a few that I am familiar with, but then this one, which I found strange they would include it:
"One day he [Choa-chou] fell down in the snow and cried out "Help me up, help me up!" A monk ran over and lay down beside him. Choa-chou got up and walked away. (If you can guess who learned what in the above situation, you are doing better than the authors). pg 100
I felt the authors should have left that out, for it made me suspicious of the rest of the book. A fun book otherwise and good for someone who knows a little more about Zen than just a beginner, for they will have a more refined view.
Poor art work, confusing text.......1999-11-20
I am just a beginner in the study of buddhism.After reading "Buddha For Beginners"( a book in this series),I thought this book would be a good next choice. I was wrong! Although the historical text was informative, the text about theory and teachings was mostly quite confusing. The art work was not good.The illustrations' humor was witless and sometimes in poor taste. Had this been the first book I read about buddism it may have been my last
A very enlightening book on the basics of Zen Buddhism........1999-03-01
I really enjoyed reading this book. The reading went quickly, because there are pictures as well as words to express ideas. The illustrations were well done, and usually quite humorous. The book does not go into any serious dogma, just explains at a very basic level what Zen is and where it came from. I'd recommend this book to anyone; I can't pick out anything I didn't like.
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