5 comments about The Pema Chodron Collection: Pure Meditation:Good Medicine:From Fear to Fearlessness.

1. these are wonderful recordings of pema chodron presenting teachings and wisdom about meditation, open heart, and tonglen. she is clear, wise and funny. i've played these over and over and they have helped me so much in my own practice. highly recommended.



2. Have you seen that ad on TV - "Your mind controls you, but do you control your mind?" Pema Chocdron shows you how to stop the incessant noise and criticism of your mind by finding a space where ideas are allowed, but teh spontaneous reaction to those ideas is not. By becoming compassionate towards others, you become more compassionate towards yourself, and learn to laugh at yourself and feel less alone by realizing "others feel like this too".
   
   Buy this - it helps.



3. I put Pema in my walkman (yes, I'm old) and listen to her on my long walks with the dog. I can listen to them over and over and enjoy them. She's easy to listen to and imparts information without preaching.



4. Every CD in this set is excellent, and since they were taped on site at sessions in Cape Breton you feel like Pema is right there in the room with you. Pema's words along with her wonderfully soothing voice will truly heal the aches and pains of living. It's not just the simplicity but the honesty that makes owning everything Pema worthwhile. If I had known about her years ago, I would have lived differently, if not more easily. Now, because of Pema, there are no regrets, just today. This set is very good therapy.



5. This is a very nice collection of three of Pema Chodron's CD's. She is an excellent teacher--compassionate, thoughtful, and very user-friendly. Listening to these CD's has helped open my heart and mind during stressful moments in life when taking a moment to pause and stay with an uncomfortable emotion is the more difficult but, beneficial mode of operation.

5 comments about Introduction to Tantra : The Transformation of Desire.

1. I recently started to learn Tantra and my teacher recommended me to buy this book and start reading and learning from it. I'm about 1/2 way thru the book and it is well written and has a great wisdom in it. I would recommend this book to get inner look on what is Tantra about!



2. This is a very good book for learning what Tantra is and what tantric practices and visualizations are, but it should be understood - and probably is by many or most - that this is not a substitute for real study under a qualified teacher. Lama Yeshe makes this clear from chapter to chapter. My only caution is that readers should not expect to read this book and feel as though they are completing some kind of introductory-level "training" in Tantra, or that they will accomplish "Transformation of Desire." It is an introduction and overview for outsiders looking in (taught by a highly qualified and respected insider), not a "manual" for beginning practitioners to achieve readiness for intermediate or advanced tantric instruction. Insofar as this is understood, Lama Yeshe does a very good job describing and explaining Tantra and its practices, and I learned quite a lot about it.



3. I've read two and a half chapters in this book and it's given me so much vital information.
   
   I highly suggest it to anyone looking into buddhism.



4. First, this book is easy to read. Second, it is written with much respect to other religions; tantra is a way of life that will greatly compliment anyone's belief system.



5. This was the greatest, most easy to understand text on the basics
   of the ancient art of Tantra and the meaning of it. I've been so
   confused with too much information and the different types of practice.
   This was so straightforward and simple - just what I needed!!

5 comments about The Three Pillars of Zen: Teaching, Practice, and Enlightenment.

1. I commented several months ago on a post made by Mike-in-the-Middle, asking for more resources to help a beginner (me) without easy access to a roshi who could offer clarity on Zen/Buddhist ideas. I have since received several emails which offered more resources for me to check out, and I'd like to share these resources with you.
   
   Buddhism Without Beliefs by Stephen Batchelor. This one is obviously of a secular bent, and I've been reading it off and on since I purchased it. It's a bit. . . scholarly, with some big 50-cent words, if you know what I mean. You definitely need a quiet place to be able to focus on his intellectual renderings, but if you can get into it, it's very insightful. Although it's "intellectual" and contains "big words," it doesn't contain a lot of the mysterious and otherworldly terminology of other such books written by Zen/Buddhist disciples. The book shows how you can practice the tenets of Buddhism without necessarily buying into all the religious aspects.
   
   The Positive Psychology of Buddhism and Yoga: Paths to a Mature Happiness by Marvin Levine. This is the book I am currently reading. Mr. Levine makes a good comparison between the tenets of Buddhism (and yoga) and those of Western Psychology, both of which seek to put the person in touch with his/her true self. He also gives advice, gleaned from his own life and journey, about how to incorporate the ideas into your life. This book is VERY readable; Mr. Levine goes out of his way to make this book accessible to the lay person. I'm enjoying this one very much. (It doesn't have to be QUITE so quiet at my house in order for me to get into it. =)
   
   Also recommended to me, but which I haven't yet checked out, are the following books:
   
   Here is a short email I received.
   "Saw a comment you left on a review of 3 Pillars of Zen mentioning you were looking for a good place to start. For me, the perfect start was "Buddhism Plain and Simple" by Steve Hagen. It's short, inexpensive and simple. Then I went to his website and downloaded all his free audio talks to listen to on my commute, and now i feel i can approach more advanced zen books quite comfortably (but start with the book before the audio stuff).
   
   Another book recommended was Everyday Zen by Charlotte Joko Beck.
   
   I hope these books will help some of you on your journey.
   
   =)
   Laurie
   (Lovejoy444 at a o l dot com)



2. An interesting contrast to the more traditional Soto style (with its emphasis on just sitting and not forcing) although the approach in this book does incorporate most of the commonly used methods of practice. I enjoyed this read because it gave perspective to the type of practice that "feels" right for me, I now know this even more so having read of the approachs taken by this author. Even if you may not agree with the approach to Zen practice outlined in this book, it is still a must read, it will re-affirm your perspective or provide new insights, either way it should be read and forgotten.



3. Do not expect to read this as a "Zen for Dummies". Unfortunately trying to learn Zen from a book is a little bit like teaching someone who has been born blind to "imagine" various colors such as red, blue or green. Zen has to be experienced to be understood. Having said that, however, this book is probably the next best thing.



4. There are many paths to enlightenment, and this may be one for some... but not for everybody. Zazen is a highly codified form of meditation. It feels like a rigourous martial training, reminiscent of karate or kendo. Except that you are aiming for spirituality. This is a double-edged sword. For those who have doubts... the book will provide an interesting cultural read, but there are many paths, even among Buddhist followers.
   
   Pros: self contained meditation manual, complete with personal lectures from Japanese masters, struggles of other followers and pictures of seating positions. A welcome contribution to the literature.
   
   Con: zazen only, at times critical of other Buddhist paths. Ignores the fact that the journey to spirituality is ultimately personal.



5. The title for my review is something I read in the review sections. I am an American, don't speak or write Japanese or Chinese...like most practicing Americans. This means that we for the most part have to trust what the writers of a way purportedly beyond words and letters have to say on reams and reams of paper. PK had the advantage over us in that he had a facility for language and set his life up to pursue his Zen. I like this book. Frankly it is a morass out there. PK always goes back to the fundamental of sitting. If one is not sitting...the slow going is even slower! I recommend this book for anyone that is seeking to learn...because there is much to unlearn eh?
   
   I recommend this book because I believe that when pushed people can make up their own perceptions of what a special book like this has to offer. My only criticism of it would be the anecdotal descriptions of people reaching kensho and the bells and whistles and weeping that goes with it...kensho has certain hallmarks but the reader must come to it in their own way...and these war stories do much to create preconceived notions of what one's practice can entail.
   
   That being said...of all the books (and there are myriad) this one has a good feel to it and its simple focus on the fundamentals without jargon is forever needed. When one looks through the book notice the pictures of PK and his Roshi's. The eyes and the face say a great deal...and the images speak volumes of what practice meant to them.
   
   Before you buy the latest thirty dollar rehash of what some whipper snapper has to say about Zen...Give this book a read.

5 comments about The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are.

1. After reading this marvelous exposé on the advaita view of who I really am, there was nothing left to do than to give it to my son. It is the ultimate gift a father can give!!!



2. In 1966, Alan Watts published a book near the end of which he introduced the word "nonduality" to a mainstream audience: "The unity, or inseparability, of one and many is ... referred to in Vedanta philosophy as `non-duality' (advaita) to distinguish it from simple uniformity." The Book is important for anyone who wants to understand nonduality. The topics it covers are wider ranging than what's seen in the current crop of more direct and lean books on nonduality. He riffs on God, Christmas morning, American values, spirituality, Dads, religion, social change, philosophy, death. He calls in Blake, Bohm, Schrodinger, a gang of philosophers, a cut of Zen. Did I mention Santa Claus? Yeah, I think I did.
   
   Alan Watts was the Carl Sagan of nonduality. That is, he spoke eloquently, plainly, quotably, and memorably about the essential truth of his sphere of interest, which could be called nonduality, truth, IT, That, or This, or Who You Are.
   
   In the first few pages, Watts informs the reader a new perspective is about to come down: "We do not need a new religion or a new bible. We need a new experience - a new feeling of what it is to be `I.'"
   
   Then he gets into it and in paragraph after paragraph of explanation and example, Watts lays down the nondual perspective: "...what we call `things' are no more than glimpses of a unified process. Certainly, this process has distinct features which catch our attention, but we must remember that distinction is not separation."
   
   Watts' tone of voice is like that of any guru: "If you ask me how to get beyond the ego-feeling, I shall ask you why you want to get there. If you give me the honest answer, which is that your ego will feel better in the `higher spiritual status' of self-transcendence, you will thus realize that you - as ego - are a fake."
   
   Because of the quality of explanation, I would say The Book is an important and excellent book to add to your study of nonduality. I do think there are moments when Watts enjoys hearing his own voice, but I enjoyed hearing it too.
   
   Jerry Katz
   One: Essential Writings on Nonduality



3. There are many many books available today written about the non-dual philosophy or perspective. At the time this book was written, the old nonduality traditions like Zen, Dzogchen and Taoism were well-known but cloaked in the mystery of Asian or Eastern religions or philosophies. Alan Watts was one of the first to take this revolutionary and radical perspective to the West.
   
   Alan Watts writes from a clear understanding of the nature of reality - he does this in a way that slowly lures us from our conditioned and programmed thought process into a more open and accepting stance.
   
   He points to the fact that the illusion of "ME" being a separate entity held prisoner within a bag of skin and bones is merely a mistake in perception, a false belief given to us by unknowing and similarly-illusioned parents. He uses concepts and illustrations to guide us past the mind, past the overlay of conceptual belief, into a pure STOP, a cease of the mind, in which the true nature of beingness can be known.
   
   The traditional Eastern philosophies were always viewed as just that - Eastern and "separate" philosophies, which applied to "those of that faith" but was not much more than a passing curiosity of those in the West. When this book came out, it was an introduction to Advaita Vedanta, a Western slant on the Eastern teachings. It talked about things which were taboo in the west, hence the title "The Book on the Taboo against knowing what you are."
   
   And why is it Taboo? It's taboo because there is a Truth shining through the words, a freedom of being which underlies ALL religious beliefs, a seeing/knowing which is ever-present and prior to the mind and it's attempts to run away from the Truth. And who wants their long-held and treasured beliefs to be questioned?
   
   Who really wants to know that they truly do not exist?



4. In his pursuit of science man emphasizes the difference between things: this is not that. This approach has created the technological world in which we live, but the very same mind set has created a culture in which man feels cut off from the world, isolated in the eternal 'I', lonely and at odds with those around us. "You are not me", we say. But in this book Watts wants to teach us a different way of looking at the problem. Things do not exist in separate categories of, for example, 'right' and wrong. Rather the world is a set of continuums and polarities which are basic to our understanding. Right and wrong are interdependent and we can't understand one without knowledge of the other. Also, we are not divided off from the world, but intimately linked to the environment. In a witty scenario Watts explores the inter-relationship between an ant in a hole in the ground and you, via your own kitchen. You and I share certain qualities, though of course we may have different degrees of them.
   
   This book is, at its heart, Watts' take on the philosophy of Indian, Verdic (Hindu) literature. As usual it is very accessible reading and is filled with witty descriptions and arguments that lead you to think more deeply about life. I read the book several months ago and am still taking on board some of his apparently simple arguments. I found, however, that I agreed with Watts through his long chains of arguments only to balk at his final conclusion. This happened repeatedly. Specifically I cannot agree that man is a total microcosm of the macrocosm, that we are a unique, yet complete, expression of Brahma, God, Absolute Meaning, or whatever you choose to describe the ultimate 'It' as. This is just too much metaphysics and theology for me. It must be remembered that Watts is an ex-Anglican minister and I think his background shows here. I also wished that Watts had spent much more time defining modern man's current predicament as I feel that this is where he is at his very best. For example I loved the first half of his earlier book The Wisdom of Insecurity for that very reason. Of course your understanding of the world may be very different to mine, so you may like the book better than I did. I certainly didn't dislike it, but I do not feel that it is his best.



5. This is a distillation of the sublime wisdom of fifties and sixties writer on Vedanda, Zen, and psychotherapy in a proto-integral non dual Zen way. This is a perfect, succint glide past constructed and limited ego. Five stars.

5 comments about Turning the Mind Into an Ally.

1. Powerful and delivered so sweetly. A poignent description of meditation and how it can free you from a discursive mind and enhance your quality of life. I would highly recommend this book to the non or practicing meditator alike.



2. This is a beautiful book that presents the fundamentals of Buddhism and meditation for the beginner without the weight of ritual and history. It simply delves to the core meaning of the practice and communicates the many benefits to the reader in a refreshingly simple and thought-provoking way. Highly recommended.



3. Sayong Mipham has produced an easy to digest book involving the basic principles of meditation. At the risk of being overly simplistic, "Turning the Mind into an Ally" involves removing the clutter that crowds the mind. To employ Mipham's own metaphor, our minds often run wild like a horse which needs to be corraled and trained. Even through simple techniques that only involve breathing, one can focus the mind. Yet Mipand's instruction does not stop here as he takes the reader through further levels. I am hesistant to summarize the book further as Mipham states his case much better than I ever could for him.
   
   Although I am a Christian, I have long been interested in Buddhism and the principles of meditation. As Thomas Merton explored in his lifetime, Buddhism has more parallels with Christianity than one might think. In reality, this book is written for a wide audience and can appeal to divergent people including those with only the most basic knowledge of Buddhism.



4. This book was a pleasure to read. The message was awesome and the metaphorical teachings are a work of art! This author transcends Buddhism. He is not trying to sell Buddhism as a religion. He teaches the readers how to calm the mind chatter to reach a level of abiding peace and to become leaders, helping others to reach a stage of enlightenment. The goal of all of this is happiness and it deals with changing ones focus from self-centeredness and seeking bliss from external things to serving others and learning what is real and what truly brings lasting joy.
   
   The author uses a clever horse analogy throughout the book and brings it all together with an extraordinary and delightfully skilled culmination. I had to stop and take a deep breath and contemplate on how much thought went into weaving this teaching and metaphor summarizing the lesson with a beautiful mind picture in less than two paragraphs.
   
   I have read and reviewed many great books on Mindfulness meditation. This book takes that meditation to another level of Shamatha and Contemplative meditations for "Turning the Mind Into an Ally," discovering truth, appreciating life and becoming an example for others to emulate.
   
   It is by far worth much more than a 5-star review! Buy it now. You will be glad you did!



5. Some people go to a chiropractor for a spinal adjustment; I turn to this book time and again when I'm in need of a mental and emotional adjustment. And even aside from the meditation itself, when I'm stressing too much over things I can't control, or spending too much time thinking about what or who is frustrating me, the teachings in this book have given me the tools to put things in perspective, not as I might wish them to be but as they are and that is a GREAT thing! It would not be overstated to say this book has changed my life in the three years since I first read it.
   
   Multi-tasking with work, kids, home, etc., I began to notice my memory failing me more and more often. Though I probably don't meditate long enough or often enough, I am so uplifted afterward. When I meditate in the morning, my whole day is better for it. There is something about fucusing on the breath that makes it easier to focus on anything better. Whenever I find my thoughts wandering, I narrow things down to the breath and the thing I'm actually doing and everything else falls away. I've learned something about the discipline that's necessary to pay attention to the here and now and thus, my memory is improved because I'm now paying attention in the moment and everything has a better quality to it. It's really that simple.
   
   Like other reviewers, I go through my phases of reading this book before bed. It's soothing and calming and I feel more optimistic. the philosophy is so well laid out here and accessable and useful to anyone, even if you don't practice the meditation - but I hope you will... I am so grateful to have stumbled upon this one!

5 comments about The Open Road: The Global Journey of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama.

1. "The Open Road" is indeed about journeys - both physical and spiritual. The book is, of course, centered around the Dalai Lama and his public and private life, but it delves into other areas as well - the West's dreamlike vision of Tibet, life in India, dealings with China, various schools of Buddhism, politics, etc. Very clearly, it comes across that the Dalai Lama is at heart a realist, and much of this book addresses his strong desire to face the world straight-on and find real solutions to end war, pain, and suffering.
   
   My only complaint about this book is that it does not flow well. There is no easy progression of going from point A to point B. It feels a little choppy. At times I was anxious to skip over paragraphs and move forward. I learned quickly, though, that this was a mistake. There is wisdom tucked away on every page. I learned to read the book slowly, stopping every few pages to let it all sink in. The author and his subject, the Dalai Lama, both have wonderful insights to share.
   
   An enlightening read.



2. it came in about 2 days and it was in perfect condition. way to go book company



3. Not an easy read but if you stick with it, an overall interesting read. Well worth the time.



4. A soulful and insightful portrait of an important world leader. Written with real feeling and humility.



5. Pico Iyer's new book subtitled "The Global Journey of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama" takes its title and theme from an essay by D. H. Lawrence about Walt Whitman and his poem, "The Song of the Open Road". Lawrence wrote "The great home of the Soul is the open road. Not heaven, not paradise, not `above'" The human person (or "soul" for Lawrence) "is a wayfarer down the open road" and democracy flowers "where soul meets soul in the open road." (Iyer, pp. 13-14)
   
   Whitman's poetry, with its journeying, democratizing, spirituality, and sense of the private makes a fitting motto for Iyer's book. In describing the Dalai Lama and his journeys, Iyer also makes excellent use of appropriate short head notes from Thoreau, Michael Faraday, Emerson, Thomas Merton, Aldous Huxley, Marcel Proust, Etty Hillesum (Holocaust victim), and Beijing journalist Xinran Xue. These introductory quotations illuminate the story Iyer has to tell. I found especially illuminating the following Hasidic proverb which introduces the final section of Iyer's book, "In Practice" (p. 163).
   
   " You must invent your own religion or else it will mean nothing to you. You must follow the religion of your fathers, or else you will lose it."
   
   Pico Iyer is a journalist who writes regularly for the "New York Review of Books." He has known the Dalai Lama for over thirty years. Iyer's father, who had been born in Bombay and went on to study at Oxford, was five years older than the Dalai Lama. Iyer's father became friends with the Dalai Lama after the latter fled to India in 1959. Iyer is not a Buddhist, but he writes of the Dalai Lama and his teachings with great sympathy together with a commendable attempt at objectivity.
   
   The book begins slowly and meanders from place-to-place. Iyer's portrait of the Dalai Lama emerges only gradually. Iyer portrays the multi-faceted characters of the Dalai Lama as spiritual leader for Tibetan Buddhism (viewed as a god by some within the Tibetan tradition), political leader and statesman for the Tibetan government in exile, religious seeker, Buddhist monk, and ordinary human being. The Dalai Lama's most appealing traits include his humility and self-effacing character under the glare of constant media attention usually accorded to entertainers and some politicians. Iyer is impressed with the Dalai Lama's ability to communicate at a simple level basic human and religious values to people of varying religious denominations or of no religion at all. The Dalai Lama has tried to encourage people to explore their own religious traditions rather than convert to Tibetan Buddhism. Yet besides the openness of his message, he is a person of great learning and practice within the Tibetan tradition, which he explores in depth in seminars and trainings beyond his public appearances.
   
   Iyer's book is in three parts. The first part, "In Public" focuses on the celebrity the Dalai Lama has become in recent years and examines his public appearances worldwide with emphasis on visits to Japan and to Vancouver. The second part of the book, "The Philosopher", gives a more in-depth picture of the Dalai Lama and of Tibetan Buddhism. Iyer shows rituals, teachings, and schisms within this school of Buddhism that will be unfamiliar to those who know only the public face of the Dalai Lama. He describes well an encounter between the Dalai Lama and the American monk Thomas Merton just before Merton's untimely death, and he compares the spirituality of these two different traditions. Both the Dalai Lama and Merton had the goal of finding commonality among different religious paths.
   
   The final part of the book "In Practice" offers a detailed look at Dhramasala, India, home of the Tibetan government in exile. Iyer discusses the difficulties in the Dalai Lama's path in returning the Tibetan people to their homeland under a rapprochement with China. The Tibetan people will face an uncertain future upon the death of the Dalai Lama, with the loss of the prestige and respect he has garnered on an individual level.
   
   For Iyer, the Dalai Lama recognized early, as did his predecessor, the Thirteenth Dalai Lama, that Tibet erred in attempting to shut out modern life. The Dalai Lama has tried to learn himself the science and knowledge that the West has to offer. He has given, in turn, a perspective on spiritual growth and on humanism that people from many backgrounds and stages of life find inspiring. In Iyer's account the Dalai Lama is a possible guide to the open road that remains to be found by every person.
   
   Robin Friedman

5 comments about Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen.

1. If you are truly after understanding the nature of Zen Buddhism this book will be the greatest gift ever. Infinite wisdom of this man will touch you with every phrase, not colored, not wrapped in unnecessary complications, simple, deep and true. This is a book to read many times and to feel lucky time after time.



2. Ed Brown definitely knows Master Suzuki's heart.
   And he presents the warm heart of his master in a logical and progressive ordering of a few of Suzuki's lectures.
   
   After 30 years of daily meditation (15 in the style of Monk Dogen) and always failing to reach calmness of mind in every session,
   a book like this gives a nugget of hope.
   
   For example:
   specifically, on page 6 of the Chapter on "Calmness of Mind," it offers:
   "Exhaling, you gradually fade into emptiness--empty, white paper."
   
   This is as clear as it gets;
   the essence of the connection between breath, body, mind and emptiness.
   Thank you very much.
   
   Other concepts are also explained nicely.
   
   For example:
   Suzuki explains the meaning of the koan of "Jumping Off the 100-foot Pole,"
   starting at page 16. (Myself, I've never really understood this one. I've always pictured myself reaching the top of the Pole and then trying to decide what to do next.)
   Suzuki explains that this is precisely where I make my big mistake--stopping at the top of the pole and thinking. He says that the secret is just to say "Yes!" and jump off from there--forget the top of the pole and extend your practice.
   
   One last example:
   In the Chapter "Stand Up by the Ground" (page 139)
   Suzuki explains "Immo,"
   which can also mean a questioning, "What is this?"
   A very subtle point here.
   "What" or "It" is both something very definite ( "What" is "it"? may refer to that specific table right over there, and at the same time something beyond description and comprehension, maybe this table has only one leg and functions more like a chair and is merely drawn by an artist to symbolize some basic human emotion.)
   Oh boy, my mind really runs wild with kind of "stuff."
   
   Maybe Ed Brown will write a new book, giving his own commentary on these concepts.
   Didn't Zen successors always write commentaries on scriptures?
   
   Well, maybe "not always so."
   Yet this book is like a Zen scripture.
   
   Thank you very much Mr Brown.



3. Outstanding book with insight into a true Zen master. Written after the passing of Suzuki Roshi by one of his students, it is an insight into a beautiful man.
   
   Not always so is a simple book with a single teisho or talk every couple of pages. This allows you to read one talk and digest it without having to delve into any serious brain bending. Suzuki Roshi presents the most complex ideas of Zen in a refreshing and accessible way. I enjoyed reading the 1-2 pages and then going to sit, just as if he gave me a personal teisho.
   
   It is a thin book, but would you expect anything less from someone who could say one word and hold everything in it?
   
   If you are new to Zen or an old master there is probably something wonderful to find in here for you.



4. On page 110, it is written: "Because we do not cling to any particular standard for thinking, for us there is no true way and not false." Is that not a meaty philosophical idea that could lead to endless intellectual discussions about the Buddha etc. etc.? His life will be prolonged in your mind and get in the way of your practice.
   The book does end on what Zen really "is"; "So the point is just to sit..." (page 152). "Even though our practice is not better than a frog's, we continue to sit." (page 151). "Just sit for the the sake of zazen" (page 152).
   But you won't make a best-seller with: Just sit. Just sit. Just sit., page after page. Sazuki's best-seller "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" was already too much more than enough to get across the simple idea that Zen is what happens to you when you sit still and follow or count your breaths. And what happens to you cannot really be put into words and ideas.
   I give the book four stars for the interesting personal stories, philosophical and psychological discussions. But for the real practice itself-- sitting and meditating in Zen fashion--it was entirely unnecessary.



5. I am very new to Zen and have read several books on the subject. I have practiced zazen for a little while, so I am, by no means, advanced on the subject of Zen and zazen meditation. This book is geared more for those who are more advanced into the world of Zen and Buddhism than I am as there are a lot of things written that I really don't understand (I know that's somewhat Zen in and of itself), but seriously there are better books for beginners. Hopefully in a few years I can pick this book back up and get more out of it.
   
   That being said, the essays are short and wonderful and even though I didn't "get" all of them, there were a lot of great little nuggets inside. For the price, this book is packed with great stuff, I'm just not sure it's for beginners.

4 comments about A Pebble for Your Pocket.

1. While many children's books deal with fiction this book speaks of the reality of here and now. It is thought provoking on a child's level teaching spirituality and awareness. My six year old seems to enjoy listening to the stories.



2. My daughter (2) is a little young for this book yet, but I read it and think it is wonderful for children. If you have children about 6 or older who are having a difficult time or are angry about something, this book would be great. Even if your children are happy though, there are wonderful lessons here for everyone and that can help the world to become a more peaceful place.



3. This is a fun book that my daughter and I are reading together. She is 8 and I wanted to teach her some of the Buddhist precepts I find character building. She loves the stories.



4. Again, I purchased this book for a small friend. I read it first and enjoyed it, but his mother tells me he and his brother also enjoyed the stories.

5 comments about What the Buddha Taught: Revised and Expanded Edition with Texts from Suttas and Dhammapada.

1. Walpola Rahula wrote this in the 50's so its not infiltrated with much newer "New Agey" takes on Buddhism. It gives a good idea of how and what the Buddha actually said, his style of preaching. He was repetetive to make sure the people around him understood what he meant so it could be recalled easier. I could actually picture and hear the Buddha lecturing the avid listeners as they became aware right on the spot. This book is very helpful to those who already have some basic knowledge of Buddhism. A truly oustanding work.



2. A book that will give you a clear, easy to understand introduction to Buddhism. Will help make hard to grasp aspects of Buddhism clear to the reader.



3. By far the most infomative book on buddhism, avoiding over simplification and really getting to the heart of this philosophy.



4. This book is simple and down to earth in its presentation of Buddhism. So much so, in fact, that I am almost embarrassed by my books on Tibetan, Zen, Theravadan and all the other sectarian accounts of the Buddha's teachings. Reading Rahula, I have to ask: when did Buddhism get so complicated? And why? From his presentation, the additions to the teachings by later traditions seem superfluous indeed.



5. This is the foremost book on Buddhism recommended for it's simplicity, authenticity, completeness, and scholastic rigor. If you want to know what Buddhism is really about, rather than what some popular crackpot or charlatan is trying to re-brand as Buddhism these days, this is the book to read. It is written with non-Buddhists curious about Buddhism in mind, and is suitable for use in college-level courses. Even if you're a Buddhist, this is worth reading just to see if you have any misconceptions about Buddhism.

5 comments about Osho Zen Tarot: The Transcendental Game Of Zen.

1. 
   
   This is my fifth purchase of a deck of the infamous TAROT. It's already my favorite. It doesn't conform to the usual four reigning families but it needn't. These are not fortune telling cards; they are meditational tools for those dealing with the Nowness of being. The illustrations are breaktakingly gorgeous on some while others -even negative cards like 'laziness'- reflect a quirky cartoon charm. This is a warm deck of cards where an student of the Buddha or just the spiritually curious can look at different aspects of their lives with new sharpness and intensity.



2. One of the most beautiful packs of Tarot Cards I have ever came across. You can relate each and every one of them to some part of your life. They are inspirational and have a lesson in each of them. I get all of my friends to buy them. I recommend them to everyone who needs direction in their lives.



3. Zen and Nonduality:
   
   I can only talk about this deck as part of the spiritual genre known as nonduality, which speaks to the experience of oneness, especially with God or reality itself. Nonduality is the wisdom or deepest knowing of Zen, but not only Zen, also Sufism, Kabbalah, Advaita, Buddhism, Gnostic Christianity, quantum theory, and other fields.
   
   The nonduality genre consists of teachers, students, scriptures, sacred structures and sites, rituals, practices, books, films, audio and video recordings, websites, blogs, emails, all the subjects they bear on, such as religion, philosophy, psychology, quantum physics, and the genre of nonduality also includes this deck of cards.
   
   The Book and The Deck:
   
   There are two parts to this deck. One is the deck. The other is the book that accompanies it. The book states very plainly how this deck differs from other tarot decks: "Osho Zen Tarot is definitely not a traditional tarot in the sense that you play with prediction. Rather it is a transcendental game of Zen which mirrors the moment, unwaveringly presenting what is here, now, without judgment or comparison."
   
   The book itself describes the deck within the context of traditional tarot decks. The framework made up by the Major and Minor Arcana is explained. Recommendations are given for how to play the transcendental game of Zen, including card layouts and the frame of mind to keep.
   
   Then each card is pictured (in black and white) and the theme is described concisely and profoundly by means of an excerpt from the vast body of Osho's writings. As well, there is a brief commentary on the card itself, about the picture, the symbolism, the meaning, the application to your life.
   
   Freeze Frame the Now:
   
   Between the artistic card itself, the Osho reflection upon the theme, and the commentary, a moment of deep understanding and insight becomes possible. When that card is part of a layout of cards, then that understanding and insight becomes part of a bigger transcendental construction. The result is that the present, the moment, becomes crystallized so that you can examine it.
   
   If you want to crystallize the now, do a layout with these cards, and examine the crystal's angles, colors, points and planes. Become aware of how the universe creates you and act sensibly from that knowledge. That's what this tarot deck is about. I use it once in a while to turn the moment inside out. Mostly, it's fun.
   
   Jerry Katz
   One: Essential Writings on Nonduality



4. Beautiful set of tarots and a masterful art of getting you to look within for the answers to what is puzzeling you. I have enjoyed the tarot readings and have begun my journey.



5. Everytime I asked this tarot for an answer or guidance, it always gave me exactly what I needed to hear at the moment. Quite amazing. I love the messages that Osho has given on each card - not just a woodoo kinda thing like any other tarot I used in the past. Try to quiet your mind before you enter the reading. It somehow helps me queit my mind as well - very powerful and helpful.
   
   Ullasini Khwan
   www.urbanyogis.com