Mind Body Zen: Waking Up to Your Life [Paperback]

Jeffrey Maitland (Author), Kendo Hal Roth (Preface)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 3, 2010

In Mind Body Zen, long-time Zen student, world-renowned Rolfer, and former philosophy professor Jeffrey Maitland combines his expertise across the mind-body-zen spectrum to help bridge the East-West gap in spiritual practice.

Tackling the prevailing misconception that Zen is a philosophy, Maitland provides an in-depth explanation of why Zen is an eminently practical, grounded discipline. He emphasizes the power of simple, direct experience that lies at the heart of Zen. Maitland’s training in philosophy as well as bodywork distinguishes Mind Body Zen from many other books on the market. Drawing on his Rolfing expertise and years of applied meditation practice, he also offers techniques for healers across many systems and disciplines to more effectively work with their clients. Threaded throughout these discussions are the insights of Joshu Sasaki Roshi, founder of Mt. Baldy Zen Center, best known by some as Leonard Cohen’s teacher, still actively teaching at age 102 but whose work has rarely been published. Mind Body Zen will appeal to the growing number of Western Buddhists and spiritual seekers interested in Zen or meditation. Somatic therapists, psychotherapists, and healers of every persuasion will also find the connection between Zen and healing to be of great interest.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Maitland gives us a work that is profound, insightful, and informative, and gives a wider audience access to his understanding of one of the great unknown traditions of Zen practice and philosophy.”
—Kendo Hal Roth, author of Original Tao, from the preface

“Dr. Jeffrey Maitland is a talented practitioner, author, and lecturer. This book emulates his life as I see him in action. He moves, writes, teaches, and practices in a quiet stillness that commands great respect from the elements and his fellow beings. Being a physician, author, and lecturer myself, I have learned to seek and learn from the best. . . . Part of my healing comes from the concepts taught in this book. The pages unfold a practice that brings peace and tranquility to those that learn the art of Zen regardless of your religion or profession. This is the third book of Dr. Maitland’s that I have read and utilized in my life and practice.”
—John W. Brimhall, DC

“In these essays, Hokaku Jeffrey Maitland draws upon his experience as a Zen practitioner, philosopher, and pioneering somatic practitioner to clarify the principles behind Nyorai Zen—not through studies of discrete aspects of Zen practice but by addressing the whole. Mind Body Zen captures the spirit of the teachings of Zen master Kyozan Joshu, and is a compassionate call to practice—to know for oneself the beauty of what Joshu Roshi calls our true home.”
—Genyo Christopher Burawa, poet, translator, director of the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts at Austin Peay State University, and author of The Small Mystery of Lapses

“Mind Body Zen is a pick for collections strong in Zen Buddhism and philosophy… Long-time Zen student and former philosophy professor uses this blend of mind-body experience and Zen knowledge to bridge East/West gaps in thinking.”
—Midwest Book Review

About the Author

Hokaku Jeffrey Maitland, PhD, is an ordained Zen monk, an energy healer, and Certified Advanced Rolfer, one of seven Certified Advanced Rolfing Instructors in the world. A former professor of philosophy at Purdue University, he lives in Scottsdale, AZ.

Preface contributor Harold D. Roth, an expert on Taoism, is a professor of philosophy at Brown University and the author of Original Tao.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books (August 3, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556439040
• ISBN-13: 978-1556439049
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.7 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #283,211 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read for the serious koan student, May 16, 2011

By 

Mui - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mind Body Zen: Waking Up to Your Life (Paperback)

I found this book most helpful in understanding and approaching koan practice. There's a lot of great stuff here for the beginner also with pointers on how to get your body aligned in zazen. I also enjoyed how Jeff deals with the subject of duality and how he shows how Buddhism goes beyond philosophy.

5.0 out of 5 stars Mind Body Zen, April 10, 2011

By 

Satori - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mind Body Zen: Waking Up to Your Life (Paperback)

Mind Body Zen takes us on journey to a deeper understanding of the Japanese Rinzi Zen Buddhist practice. Dr. Jeffrey Maitland, (Hokaku is his dharma name), gives us an unprecedented view of Zen through both his philosophical lens of expertise as a former professor of philosophy at Purdue University and as a Zen monk, ordained by Japanese Zen master Kyozan Joshu Sasaki Roshi. Mind Body Zen is a comparative work illuminating eastern and western thinking, explaining how western thinking makes it difficult to understand the eastern practice of Zen Buddhism. Dr. Maitland also integrates the concepts of many renowned philosophers, such as Descartes, Kant, Hume, and Maurice Merleau-Ponty. Furthermore, as a Zen monk, Dr. Maitland describes his experiences with Joshu Sasaki Roshi which enables him in Mind Body Zen to break down the western barriers to understanding Zen. I have read extensively on Zen, yet I found Mind Body Zen to further my understanding of how to practice and achieve a better state of being in the here and now. I also found Dr. Maitland's section on proper posture for zazen to be very helpful in my day-to-day practice. In sum, I enjoyed reading Mind Body Zen immensely and would recommend it to anyone who wishes to understand what Japanese Zen Buddhism is all about, especially those with a philosophical bent.
-Jay Rondone, lifelong student of philosophy, psychology, and Zen

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent discussion of Zen practice!, March 20, 2011

By 

Tim - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mind Body Zen: Waking Up to Your Life (Paperback)

This was a great discussion of how Zen Buddhism relates to western philosophy, I especially liked the idea that Zen begins where western philosophy ends. The emphasis is on the concept that zen practice is a way of changing our outlook which enables us to get past some of the roadblocks that are present in our normal way of understanding the world. There are also some good tips on meditation posture & practice and the stories about Sazaki Roshi's teachings (Zenits) are a joy to read. Overall, this book is a great read and gives a unique perspective on zen ideas.