“Practical Zen: Meditation and Beyond” by Julian Daizan Skinner
£13.99
Zen master Julian Daizan Skinner guides the reader through a sequence of meditation techniques that can safely lead even a complete novice through to advanced levels. Based on his own long experience of the Rinzai Zen tradition, Daizan clearly lays-out how these methods build and combine to create a transformative and sustaining practice.
Description
In this book “Practical Zen: Meditation and Beyond”, Zen master Julian Daizan Skinner guides the reader through a sequence of meditation techniques that can safely lead even a complete novice through to advanced levels. Based on his own long experience of the Rinzai Zen tradition, as taught by the great seventeenth-century masters, Hakuin and Bankei, Daizan highlights the key points for success and addresses the pitfalls. Structured around a traditional teaching framework called “The two wings of a bird,” Daizan clearly lays-out how these methods build and combine to create a transformative and sustaining practice.
The book contains an extremely useful section describing the experiences of western practitioners who have successfully applied this framework within the pressures of modern life. The final section features key source texts in translation, making the book a complete introduction and guide to Zen meditation. The work of a master, the book speaks at a deep level, with utmost simplicity.
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An entertaining integral guide to Zen that will serve you faithfully for many years. This is a book of real quality from a teacher of the highest calibre, and the rarest gift.
J.M. Harrison – multi-award winning author of Naked Being, We Are All One, The Soul Whisperer and YOU are THIS
A true gift to the world. From the historical context of Zen to the profound insights that lie at its core, seldom has so much wisdom been packed into a single volume. This book is a true beacon on the journey of self-growth, for all those who wish to take it.
Dr. Russell Razzaque, founder of The College of Mindful Clinicians, author of Breaking Down is Waking Up and Obama Karma
To those who find Zen somewhat intimidating, Daizan’s relaxed approach should be appealing; Practical Zen offers something for everyone with an interest in Zen, with a plethora of ideas, possibilities, and suggestions for practice.
Stephen Addiss, author of The Art of Zen and Zen Sourcebook
The explanations and instructions are beautifully clear and the structure really supports the transmission of these invaluable practices. I particularly loved the sections on duality and non-duality, the unborn, the hara, the ox and all the stories, particularly the moving events around the temple fire. I wholeheartedly recommend Practical Zen.
Multi-award winning novelist Livi Michael
Reviews
2 reviews for "Practical Zen: Meditation and Beyond" by Julian Daizan Skinner
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paul.feetham –
A compassionate, valuable, insightful and thoughtfully constructed manual.
Either as a standalone or when used in conjunction with the online course, this will move anyone’s practice forward.
Alexander Platt –
Zen and its concepts may be daunting to many readers, but Daizan Skinner’s “Practical Zen” is that rare accomplishment, an introductory work, without jargon or needless complication, that provides a cogent first exposure to what may be for many an unfamiliar field. Skinner’s charming, literate and assured style gracefully takes the reader from the fundamentals of the Zen tradition to its more advanced concepts and practice. The book is as informative as it is a pleasure to read.
Part insight from Skinner’s mastery of Zen, part history, part “how-to” – the well-titled “Practical Zen” appears to have been written for a range of readers, from those who are curious about the world and traditions of Zen, to spiritual seekers, to Zen students already committed to beginning a meditation practice. Each of these audiences will be satisfied by Daizan Skinner’s accomplished book, and his wise, intelligent and often joyous explications of one of the world’s great spiritual traditions.