Zen Philosophy

Several schools of Zen developed in China in the 9th century. The Rinzai (Chinese, Lin-chi) sect of Zen was introduced to Japan by the Chinese priest Ensai in 1191. Rinzai Buddhism emphasizes the use of koans, paradoxical puzzles or questions that help the practitioner to overcome the normal boundaries of logic. Whatever the method of reaching enlightenment, once reached we realize the state of enlightenment we sought was there within us all along. The method is the gate, but there need not be any gate, since the gate is always open.

"You have been carrying this weight for too long. Isn’t it time to let go?" What if you already have the answers you're looking for, just waiting to be discovered? What if you never had to carry the weight you do—your regrets, your anxieties, your desire for something more—in the first place? In the Silence of Letting Go: Zen Tales of Awakening is a compilation of timeless and thought-provoking tales, all of which are designed to assist you in letting go of the things that are holding you back and entering a life of calm, clarity, and effortless flow. These tales, which draw ...

Zen is a way of life rather than an ideology; a way of life that transcends dualistic everyday thinking to reach satori (enlightenment), a state of mind in which the oneness of all things is experienced. This is our original state of mind that becomes overlaid by the strategic egoic thinking that perceives the world in adversarial terms, of "us and them", a world of separate entities that compete for survival. Zen goes beyond the sense of self as a separate entity in the world to reach a non-dualistic perspective. One is no longer a drop in the ocean, but the whole ocean in a drop. This ...

Discover the ancient secrets of Zen Buddhism in this amazing book. When you download Zen: The Essential Guide Book, you'll discover what zen is, and what it isn't. You'll learn the ancient story of the Buddha and find out how zen is practiced in our modern world. As many of you know from my other books, this has been a passion of mine for more than 20 years. Zen is becoming more and more popular as the undeniable results are being noticed throughout our western society.

This is an edited selection of the Koans from Mumon, dating back to the 13th century. Twenty-four key koans from the famous Asian text, The Gateless Barrier. Professor David Christopher Lane has written an introduction to the practice of Zazen and the use of loans. Lavishly illustrated in Zen motif, this delightful book encourages one to take up the practice of meditation by letting the rational mind be confronted by the paradox of existence.

Asian spiritual practices, from yoga and tai chi to qigong and mindfulness meditations, permeate our culture. But these practices are often casually used in the West, and sometimes little understood. As informative as it is inviting, A Lamp unto Yourself introduces “spiritual explorers” of all experience levels to embodied Eastern spiritual practices.

WINGS FOR SOARING: Taking It To The Next Level - Beyond Jonathan Livingston Seagull By Psychologist "Dr. Dan" Matzke, PhD An uplifting story inspired by the spirit of Jonathan Livingston Seagull and the songs of John Denver. Historical Note: This delightful yet thought-provoking novella was originally written as a sequel to Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. However, the publisher and author would not sanction a sequel, and forbid the use of the character names. To avoid copyright infringement and litigation, the names of the characters and parts of the story line were changed in ...

Through more than 50 Koans - pleasingly paradoxical vignettes following the ancient Zen tradition - leading physicist Anthony Aguirre takes the listener across the world from West to East, and through ideas spanning the age, breadth, and depth of the Universe. Using these beguiling Koans (Could there be a civilization on a mote of dust? How much of your fate have you made?

Many people hear the word "Buddhism", and they think it is a religion. However, a person of any religion can bring Buddhist principles into their life without giving up their religious beliefs. Buddhism is a simple and practical philosophy, practiced by more than 300 million people worldwide, that can make your life better and help you find inner peace and happiness.

Thich Nhat Hanh illuminates the path to peace through practices of gratitude and daily affirmations, including a "peace treaty" and the "diet for a mindful society". Practical and highly accessible, Touching Peace: Practising the Art of Mindful Living is an essential guide for mindful living in today’s world.

Dinty Moore set out to explore America's fascination with Buddhism and found himself enthralled. You will be too, as Moore takes you into the world of American-style Buddhism, from a mountain retreat for executives learning to deal with stress to a Tibetan Freedom Concert with the Beastie Boys.

Bite-sized bits of wisdom from the East and the West, from the Buddha to Yogi Berra

🌍 A bold vision. A soulful awakening. A global invitation. In a time of uncertainty, division, and planetary crisis, a new kind of identity is emerging—one rooted not in borders or beliefs, but in belonging to the Earth itself. Planetary Citizens: Awakening the Heart of Humanity is a powerful and timely call to rise into conscious participation with life, community, and the living planet. Written by transformational guide, podcast host, and movement builder Zen Benefiel, this groundbreaking book weaves personal awakening, global vision, and practical action into one coherent path ...

A fascinating compendium of literary and spiritual puzzles, Treasury of the Eye of True Teaching will challenge and inspire listeners to work with great doubt themselves and to discover their inborn potential for enlightenment. Masterfully translated by one of America's foremost translators of Chinese classics into English, it is a captivating window into the literary world of Chinese Zen and essential for students of all Zen schools today.

Zen Wisdom from Cats: The TAO of PURRS. Elevate your understanding of Zen and Tao with the unparalleled insights of Zen Wisdom from Cats: The TAO of PURRS. This masterful book by Nana Brontë merges ancient philosophies with the innate wisdom of our feline friends, offering a transformative guide to living a more mindful and harmonious life. Unlock Feline Wisdom for a Balanced Life: Relaxation and Presence: Discover how cats epitomize true relaxation and living in the present moment, teaching you to do the same.

A Year of Kaizen – 365 Days of Small Steps for Big Growth Do you struggle to stay consistent with personal growth? Do big life changes feel overwhelming? What if you could transform your life—just 1% at a time? A Year of Kaizen is your daily guide to self-improvement, using the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen—continuous, small, and sustainable progress. This book provides 365 powerful yet simple daily actions designed to help you: ✔ Develop Self-Discipline & Productivity – Build better habits, stay focused, and eliminate distractions. ✔ Strengthen Mindset & Mental Resilience – ...

Servant Leadership (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servant_leadership) is an evolutionary leap in facilitating people, places and things to perform at peak. In an ever-evolving world, leadership has transformed from a traditional top-down approach to a dynamic philosophy that embraces authenticity, empathy, and holistic growth. "Navigating Holistic Growth: The Servant Leader's Guide" is a roadmap to unleashing the power of servant leadership and propelling your organization towards remarkable success. Unlocking Potential Through Servant Leadership: Embark on a transformative journey that ...

What if Buddha was a Zen hippie? Buddhi isn’t your typical spiritual guide. Named “Buddha” by his free-spirited, hippie parents, he tweaked the name to something that felt a little more down-to-earth. After trading his Ferrari for a beat-up 1968 VW bus and swapping the chaos of Wall Street for a quiet lotus pond, he’s searching for enlightenment. With a dragonfly named Miles as his muse, Buddhi has turned the pond into the epicenter of his journey toward mindfulness. Armed with a ukulele, truly terrible coffee, and an irreverent sense of humor, he blogs his way through life’s big ...

David Chadwick, a Texas-raised wanderer, college dropout, bumbling social activist, and hobbyhorse musician, began his study under Shunryu Suzuki Roshi in 1966. In 1988, Chadwick flew to Japan to begin a four-year period of voluntary exile and remedial Zen education. In Thank You and OK!, he recounts his experiences both inside and beyond the monastery walls and offers insightful portraits of the characters he knew in that world

The School for Broken Hearts, founded by bestselling mega-monk Haemin Sunim, provides a safe and caring space for people going through a difficult stage in life. Following on from his first two immensely successful books (where the first was about slowing down, and the second was about accepting imperfection), this time, it's about finding one's path. In this book, which offers ancient wisdom for modern living, he shows how you too can find both inner tranquillity and 'small but certain happiness', whatever burden you are carrying.