Customer Reviews

Mind Body Zen: Waking Up to Your Life

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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.

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

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.

"Mind Body Zen" is a fascinating look at the implications and practical aspects of Zen practice from long-time student, professor and renowned healer Dr. Jeffery Maitland. From this unique perspective, Maitland discusses topics ranging from practical meditation advice to the nature of duality and insights into the integration of this awareness with practice of medicine and bodywork. His discussion and analysis of Eastern and Western post-modern philosophic traditions is unique, detailed and revealing.

Maitland's writing evidences his depth of understanding of the void that carries us all, and the great compassion that sets our feet on the ground and brings us home. Highly recommended!

MIND BODY ZEN is a pick for collections strong in Zen Buddhism and philosophy, who will find this comes from a long-time Zen student and former philosophy professor who uses this blend of mind-body experience and Zen knowledge to bridge East/West gaps in thinking. Basic ideas behind Nyorai Zen tells why Zen is a practice more than a philosophy, and will appeal to healers, Zen practitioners and new age students alike.

This is a straight forward book of Zen practice, including a critical look at Western philosophy in relation to Buddhism. Accented with "Zennits" (stories), of Kyozan Joshu Sasaki Roshi and students, Mind Body Zen flows. Written with intimacy and compassion of a monk, friend, and healer... this book is highly recommended.