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Buddhism Plain and Simple
Steve Hagen Manufacturer: Broadway ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 0767903323 Release Date: 1998-12-29 |
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You might want to digest this book slowly, a few pages at a time. Although Zen teacher Steve Hagen has a knack for putting the philosophy of Buddhism in a "plain and simple" package, it may take a while to sink in. There is so much there. Seeing reality, realizing the wisdom of the self, breaking free of dualistic thinking--this is pretty heady stuff. Thankfully, Hagen passes it along in the form of examples from life, psychological tidbits, and stories from Buddhist teachers past and present. And when it clicks in, it can be life-transforming. Hagen explains this shift in outlook and how the fundamental way we look at the world affects everything we do. As an outline, Hagen follows the basic teachings of the Buddha, and we see that, rather than dogmatic truths, they are reminders for us as we reconsider the life we have taken for granted for so long. As it turns out, Buddhism is life, plain and simple. --Brian BruyaBook Description
“A beacon light of clarity and wisdom, a sobering teacher for us all. Simple and outstanding. Highly recommended.” - Charlotte Joko Beck, author of Everyday Zen“This is. . . . about awareness. Not awareness of something in particular, but awareness itself'being awake, alert, in touch with what is actually happening. It's about examining and exploring the most basic questions of life. It's about relying on the immediate experience of this present moment. It's about freedom of mind.” - Steve Hagen
The observations and insights of the Buddha are practical and eminently down-to-earth, dealing exclusively with awareness in the here and now. Buddhism Plain and Simple offers listeners these fundamental teachings, stripped of the cultural trappings that have accumulated around Buddhism over the past twenty-five centuries. The newcomer will be inspired by the clear, simple principles found in Buddhism Plain and Simple, and those familiar with Buddhism will welcome this long-needed overview.
“Buddhism Plain and Simple is a delightfully direct pathway toward our true heart.” - Steven Levine, author of Who Dies?
Read by the author.
Customer Reviews:
Plain and Simple.......2007-10-05
great intro to the world of buddhism.......2007-09-05
Easy Peasy!! Get this one FIRST........2007-07-22
Simplicity opens the door........2007-07-20
Simply vapid.......2007-07-13
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Simple Buddhism: A Guide to Enlightened Living
C. Alexander, Ph.D. Simpkins , and Annellen M., Ph.D. Simpkins Manufacturer: Tuttle Publishing ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 0804831769 |
Book Description
Exploring a new religion is no easy task. That's why the Simple series is so popularthese delightful books take readers by the hand and lead them into the basics of an Eastern faith without intimidation or confusion. Simple Buddhism, invites readers to discover this appealing religion and its peaceful doctrines, as well as:Customer Reviews:
greatest introduction for westerners.......2005-10-23
Just what a newbie needs.......2005-01-21
A Well Presented and Inspiring Guide to Buddhism.......2003-10-10
An accessible introduction to Buddhist thought.......2002-03-28
historical perspective and a guide to enjoying life.......2000-11-06
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Peace at Home: Simple Solutions for Relaxing Rooms
Juliet Pegrum Manufacturer: Chronicle Books ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items:
ASIN: 0811839923 |
Book Description
Peace at Home reveals the principles for creating truly relaxing rooms through beautiful photographs, inspiring wisdom from Eastern philosophies, and practical design advice. Taking readers through each room in the home, author Juliet Pegrum shares the basic design elements that combine to create harmony, simplicity, and ease. For example, in the bedroom, light and texture play essential parts. Pegrum illustrates how softness can be maximized through the use of natural fibers, bountiful pillows and cushions, and plush surfaces; and how light is dimmed or muted for a restful effect. In the living room, she shows how careful selection and placement of furnishings create a welcoming flow and a convivial ambiance. Warm and inspiring photographs of havens of all types speak to apartment dwellers and homeowners alike. For anyone who strives to create a soothing retreat from the outside world, Peace at Home shows the way.Customer Reviews:
Lives up 100% to its title. Ten stars.......2006-02-15
Excellent, practical advice with strong pictures.......2005-01-14
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Simple Zen: A Guide to Living Moment by Moment
C. Alexander, Ph.D. Simpkins , and Annellen M., Ph.D. Simpkins Manufacturer: Tuttle Publishing ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 0804831742 |
Customer Reviews:
Great Intro to Zen.......2003-01-15
An excellent guide to Zen.......2002-04-05
Strictly for the Tourists.......2001-05-07
Let's start with the 'good' news - this book is NOT 128 pages long, it is, including bibliography and index, 158 pages in length. Having said which, the pages are only about two-thirds the size of a regular paperback - so the book still isn't quite as large as it might seem.
And now for the other news. Namely, the whole book appears to be the author's personal view of Zen. Which wouldn't be a problem except that the author seems to have a totally sanitised, pre-packed for the American market, view of Zen.
In practice this means that, for example, pages 3 through 36, illustrate a seemingly continuous process of Dharma transmission and succession from Mahayana Buddhism, through Ch'an to Zen.
In historical reality, so far as we now know it, there is no such line, or even lines, of continuous transmission and development. Rather Ch'an Buddhism, and therefore Zen Buddhism, seriously lost its way after the death of Hui-neng (638-713).
I have no doubt that the author offers his version of Zen history in all good faith, but the fact is that the politiking of one of Hui-neng's students, a certain Shen-hui, brought about a dualism within the body of Ch'an/Zen teaching from which it has never recovered.
Its perpetuation through to the present day is demonstrated by the existance of, and competition between, Rinzai and Soto Zen.
As demonstrated by the heavy emphasis on historical considerations, this is a fairly academic, even sterile, description of Zen. (There are another 6 pages on the more recent history of Zen, plus 10 pages of "Time Lines" - in plain English that's: charts of supposed lines of succession.)
So approximately one quarter of the entire book is given over to the history of Zen. But what is it there for? Do we need to know this stuff in so much detail (even if it were accurate) in a book subtitled "A Guide to Living Moment by Moment"? I think not.
On the contrary, all it said to me was that the author is far more interested in parading his intellectual prowess than in delivering a real understanding of what Zen Buddhism is all about.
In short, this is a "strictly for the tourists"-type book. If all you want is a superficial "bluff your way in Zen" sort of introduction to the subject then I guess this may prove to be a sufficiently short read at an appropriately low price.
If, on the other hand, you want to acquire any kind of genuine understanding of Zen then this is definitely NOT for you.
An inspiring introduction to Zen.......2001-04-10
A great guide to Zen.......1999-10-31
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The Everything Zen Book: Achieve Inner Calm and Peace of Mind Through Meditation, Simple Living, and Harmony (Everything Series)
Jacky Sach , and Jessica Faust Manufacturer: Adams Media Corporation ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 1580629733 |
Customer Reviews:
Finally, a book that makes Zen approachable........2007-02-12
Highly accessible.......2005-09-04
Learning From The Book, The Cushion & Applying It To Life.......2004-02-09
I'm new to the Everything series books - and I'm enjoying them very much. They are pretty similar to the Dummies and Idiots books, but without that initial giggling of having the words ...for Dummies - and Idiot in the titles.
This is a great introduction to what Zen is and it has some of the best, useful and practical tips and advice on to how to practice that I've ever read.
The big focus in this book is the practice of Zen. That's not to say that all the book talks about is meditation. The Everything Zen Book pretty much covers as close to everything Zen as one book can.
I was most impressed with how The Everything Zen Book wonderfully emphasizes throughout that Zen is the Practice. No smoke and mirrors of what Zen is - just the real - as Jacky Sach's and Jessica Faust simply put:
Zen starts with seated meditation, then you take what you learn on the cushion and apply it to the rest of your life...
The negative - someone chose to have a horribly difficult to read font for the quotes that are peppered throughout the book - it ruined the initial experience of each of these fantastic quotes making them almost impossible to read. Not a deal breaker - I still highly recommend the book to those interested in Zen and those that want to further learn about hitting the cushion and start meditating...
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In This Very Moment: A Simple Guide to Zen Buddhism
James Ishmael Ford Manufacturer: Skinner House Books ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 1558964339 |
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Beyond Words: Dzogchen Made Simple
Julia Lawless Manufacturer: Element Books Ltd. ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items:
ASIN: 0007116772 |
Book Description
Introduces the practice of Dzogchen without requiring readers to know anything about Tibetan history or culture.Customer Reviews:
wigwam..........2003-11-30
Using everyday language to communicate complex precepts.......2003-09-18
A very engaging, highly readable, educational overview.......2003-08-06
I have registered with online bookstores to give me instant notification of any new book with the word "dzogchen" in the title, so hungry am I to learn more. What a surprise it was to
discover this book, the first dzogchen book I have seen that has been written by "untitled" westerners. Authors Julia Lawless and Judith Allan are not presented as lamas, tulkus, rinpoches, or even as anis, professors or translators. They are ordinary people, albeit with years of practice under their belts, giving testimony to Natural Mind. They speak simply, with joy and gratitude, about the wondrous nature of the dzogchen teachings and of the magnificent teachers past and present who are its principal exponents and our indispensable guides. Their everyman or everywoman perspective is a fresh viewpoint for English-language books in print on dzogchen, and one I feel is an important encouraging and even stabilizing force for sincere practice in Europe and North America.
Although I have been fortunate to spend a lot of time at the feet of Tibetan masters, I learned new things in this book I will always remember. For example, I never knew that the incomparable Garab Dorje, this world's first dzogchen master, started life out with the nickname of "The Happy Zombie". Suddenly I felt much closer in spirit to Garab Dorje. Also, it was news to me, but very good news, that the great master Dudjom Rinpoche predicted that many terma will be discovered in the West and will be aimed specifically at the Western mind.
My thanks go to the publishers for setting the book in 12-point type with wide open spaces and generous leading. The format was literally a sight for sore eyes, as many cost-conscious dharma publishers are on the verge of turning many dharma teachings into literal fine print to save paper and printing costs. I have chronic eyestrain. It was also quite a coup to not only
find Dr. Gyurme Dorje this side of 10,000 yaks, but also to nail him down for a technical review. I hope the publishers did the right thing and paid out a respectable honorarium for such a service.
I have just a few recommendations for improvement. I had the strong impression that the publishers rushed this book into print about two months ahead of schedule, perhaps to have
the book launch coincide with some large and widely attended dharma event. All the tail-end publishing tasks seem to have been dropped. The book has no index. Despite no index, subtitles within chapters are not included in the table of contents. There is the strangest glossary I have ever seen, a list of terms with no definitions. And I was going round the bend with separate lists of numbered footnotes and references. The bibliography listed an interesting-sounding talk by Pir Vilayat Khan, but under "n" for "Notes". I had to look long and hard for this reference.
Regarding the book's focus, it was clear the authors were making every effort to avoid the use of "technical buzzwords", to use a phrase quoted in the book from Dr. Jim Valby, who ironically is himself one of the progenitors of "technical buzzwords" for the western mind, by virtue of his stated part-time occupation as a translator. The book's cover flap mentions "pointing-out instruction", but not the book, although I found one, single reference to "Direct Introduction". As mentioned above, no definitions were provided in the glossary of Tibetan words used in the book. No direct, explicit references were made to key dzogchen terminology such as trekcho and togal. While I appreciate Dr. Valby's concern about the potential preponderance of self-proclaimed masters leaning only on the lingo and a few early translations of tantric rituals for credibility, I don't think such people could cause long-term damage. Let's face it, you can't fake a rainbow body. Thanks to our teachers, westerners will sooner or later see the light.
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Zen in 10 Simple Lessons
Anthony Man-Tu Lee , and David Weiss Manufacturer: Barron''s Educational Series ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: 0764118358 |
Book Description
From its origins in sixth-century China and subsequent flourishing in Japan, the branch of Buddhism called Zen has spread around the world. But it is more than a religion. Zen teachings touch on all aspects of practical life, with emphasis on mental focus and heightened awareness of reality. This book is divided into ten chapters, each intended to be read as one in a series of hour-long Zen lessons. They explain how to apply the qualities of simplicity and harmony inherent in Zen to everyday things for a more joyous, meaningful, and intensely experienced life. The ten lessons cover the following subjects: A brief history of Zen, Zen teachings and precepts, Meditation and self-mastery, Zen and relationships, Zen and health, Zen and food, Zen and the workplace, Zen and the home, Zen and the garden, Zen and the arts. The author discusses several aspects of Zen, including forms of meditation, the paradoxical Zen phrases known as koans, and the Zen way of cultivating goodness. The text is enhanced throughout with full-color photos and illustrations.
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Zen and the Art of Intimacy: The Simple Path of Passion, Fidelity and Love
Arthur Samuels Manufacturer: Element Books Ltd. ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover ASIN: 0007176880 |
Book Description
Helps readers experience intimacy and commitment in a way that is liberating, fulfilling and deeply gratifying.Customer Reviews:
Excellent and thought-provoking book.......2007-07-21
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Zen Meditation: Plain and Simple
Albert Low Manufacturer: Tuttle Publishing ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 0804832110 |
Book Description
First published by Tuttle in 1989 as An Invitation to Practice Zen, it has gone on to sell nearly 20,000 copies. Now, with a new preface and updated instructional photographs, it's perfect to help a new generation of readers looking to learn the basics of zazen, zen meditation. With a concise overview of the basics and clear photographs illustrating the proper positions and postures, this comprehensive guidebook demystifies the age-old practice of zazen and brings its numerous benefits into the daily lives of today's Westerners.Customer Reviews:
Nice little primer.......2001-04-22
The only drawback is that the pictures showing the positions are in black and white, and the model is wearing dark clothing and socks. This makes it very difficult to tell the difference between the Lotus and Half Lotus positions if you don't already know.
The book stresses persistance, and that "anything brought up by zazen can be solved in zazen". It is a simple, fairly undogmatic approach to the practice of meditation.
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