An Invitation to Practice Zen [Paperback]

Albert Low (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1989

Many good books about the rich literature and philosophy of Zen can be found ou bookstore shelves. But there are no books that explain simply, to the interested beginner, how to do Zen - how to sit down and begin to work toward fulfillment of the promises of Zen. An Invitation To Practice Zen answers this need. Its author makes no glib claims or airy promises. He admits that the way of Zen is not an easy one to follow. But for those willing to undertake the work, he offer concise, easy to understand, step-by-step instructions on how to incorporate Zen into your daily life - how to establish a regular program of practice that will make available the wisdom and insight to be gained from the discipline of Zen.

Product Details

• Paperback: 151 pages
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing; 1st edition (December 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804815984
• ISBN-13: 978-0804815987
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #503,453 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Albert Low is an authorized Zen master, an internationally Published author, and a former Human Resources executive. He was born in London, England, on December 16, 1928. He has lived in England, South Africa, Canada, and the United States and has resided in Montreal since 1979. He obtained a BA degree in Philosophy and Psychology, and is a trained counselor. In 2003, he was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws for scholastic attainment and community service by Queen's University, Ontario, a prestigious Canadian University.
1947- 1949, served two years in the British navy,
Left England in 1954 and emigrated to South Africa. Employed by the Central News Agency, a company that held the monopoly for the sale and distribution of all reading matter including books, magazines, and newspapers throughout Southern Africa--which then included South Africa, the two Rhodesias, Mozambique, and South West Africa. Eventually became the senior personnel executive and reported to the CEO. During this time he gave many seminars on creativity and organization for managers at all levels for the National Development Foundation of South Africa.
Left South Africa in 1963, as he could not agree with the political policy of apartheid, and moved to Canada. He was again employed as a personnel executive, this time with a large Utility that was at that time called the Union Gas Company. He was in charge of salary administration for all levels of company, as well as for organizational development. He developed an original theory on creativity, organization and management. Eventually wrote a book based upon his researches: Zen and Creative Management which has since sold more than 75,000 copies. During his time at the gas company, he continued to give talks and seminars on the subject of management, organization and creativity--the latter a subject he has spent considerable time studying, and which is very closely connected with Zen practice.
In 1955 became interested in Zen Buddhism and had a strong intellectual interest for about ten years.
In 1966 met a Japanese Zen Master, Yasutani, and practiced Zen first with him, and then for twenty years with Yasutani's chief disciple, Philip Kapleau. In 1976 he resigned from the Gas Company and went to Rochester Zen Center for three years where he served as editor of the Center's journal. In 1979 he relocated to Montreal as a probationary teacher. In 1986, he finally finished his training and was authorized to teach as a Zen master.

Dr. Low has made a study of human nature throughout his life. In writing his books he draws on his prolonged meditations on creativity and the human condition, his many years of providing psychological and spiritual counseling, and a wide-ranging knowledge of Western psychology, philosophy, and science. He has given many talks on the CBC radio and television.

He currently has well over two hundred students--among them university professors, doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, and lawyers--whom he counsels on both spiritual and psychological issues.

Publications
Zen and Creative Management. Published by Anchor Press, Playboy press and Charles E. Tuttle and has sold in excess of 75,000 copies

Zen dans la Service du Management published by Libre Expression Nov 1993

El Zen y la direccion de empresas published Ediciones Aura

Zen ve Yaratici Yoneticikil Etikitaplan

The Iron Cow of Zen Theosophical Publishing House. 1984. Republished by Charles E. Tuttle. Has passed through four reprintings with Tuttle.

A Vaca de Ferro do Zen Bodigaya Brazilia 1998

Invitation To Practice Zen published by Charles E. Tuttle, Tokyo in 1989. Has passed through eleven printings and is in its twelfth printing in a new format

Une Invitation À La Pratique Du Zen published Libre Expression, Montreal. It sold 3000 copies in Quebec alone.

La Pratique du Zen. Editions Dangles It is in its second edition there.

Introduccion al la pratique del Zen published by Editorial Kairos Barcelona. Has passed through two editions

Convite a Prátíca do Zen published by Shishil Editora Braslia, Brazil It has passed through two editions.

The Butterfly's Dream Charles E. Tuttle, Vermont. It is about to be reprinted

Le Rêve du Papillon Libre Expression, Montreal. This was a best seller in Quebec selling more than 4,000 copies.

The World A Gateway: Commentaries on the Mumonkan Charles E. Tuttle of Vermont.

Je Ne Suis Pas Un Être Humain published by du Mortagne Montréal

Wo bist du, wenn ein Vogelsing? Kommentaire zum Mumonkan published by Theseus Verlag

To Know Yourself Charles E Tuttle

Se connaîte c'est s'oublier: Editions Relié: France (accepted by Le Club, Le Grand livre du Mois, (Paris) (the Great
book of the Month club. Paris)

Conócete a tí mismo published by Oberon Grupo Anaya

Kendini Tani Izdusum felsefe

Creating Consciousness 2001 by White Cloud Press

Creer la Conscience Published by Relier Press France in Spring 2000 also accepted by Le Club, Le Grand livre du Mois, (Paris)

Zen and the Sutras Published by Charles E Tuttle in Spring 2000

Aux sources du zen published by Relier in Spring 2001 Republished by Albin Michel 2002

Hakuin Zenji's Chant in Praise of Zazen published by Zen books 2004

Hakuin on Kensho Published by Shambhala 2006

Dans la Forge du Maître; Mediaspaul Montreal. 2006

Além do despertar: Textos do mestre Hakuin sobre meditação zen. Published by Theosophic Books Brazil

Origin of Human Nature: a Zen Buddhist looks at Evolution. published by Sussex Academic Press, Sussex in Feb. 2008.

Conflict and Creativity at Work: the human roots of corporate life published by Sussex Academic Press Oct 2008

Beyond the God Delusion: religion as a quest for transcendence Kindle

Working with Koans Kindle 2009

Living With Yourself (formerly the Butterfly's dream) Kindle 2009

Zen: Talks, Stories and Commentaries (Formerly To Know Yourself) Kindle 2009

Hakuin Zenji's Chant in Zazen with commentaries by Albert Low

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A compass course to Zen practice, May 31, 1998

By 

Jose Maria Prieto Zamora "chemari" (Campus Somosaguas, Madrid Spain) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Invitation to Practice Zen (Paperback)

One of the first things to be said about this book is that it is eminently readable and feasible. This, alas, is by no means always true of books dealing with so broad and deep a subject in less than a hundred pages. This is the right guide for people looking for a book which explains Zen in a way that everyone can understand, something comprehensive but not too long. They will find in it exactly what they need, written with lucid, direct and contemporary style. The author is the director of the Montreal Zen Center. He is a layman, not a monk, and has devoted his last 30 years to the practice first and to initiate others. He received the full trasmission as a teacher of Zen from Roshi Phillip Kapleau. There is a French and Spanish version of this book. It is just a basic guide for beginners.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fine introduction to zen practice, March 5, 2001

By 

"dtrr" (Florida USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Invitation to Practice Zen (Paperback)

This is a good little book introducing Zen practice. The introductory chapters offer a concise overview of Buddhism and Zen Buddhism. Basic concepts like faith, doubt, mindfulness and awareness are clearly explained. The mechanics of meditation from sitting, how to place the hands, etc. are well done. This latter section is reminiscent of Philip Kapleau's Three Pillars of Zen because the author studied under Kapleau. Overall, a solid book to give novices who want to clarify some points and just get started.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good start but not long enough, July 4, 1999

By 

Evan DiBiase (Campbell, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Invitation to Practice Zen (Paperback)

I felt that this book was a good start; it certainly gave me a clear picture of the interesting nature of Zen. However, I was looking for more of a instructional as well as informative book -- I found only the informative parts here.