Dennis Genpo Merzel Roshi, one of the most highly regarded American Zen teachers, demystifies the experience of enlightenment, teaching that it is none other than the awakening to our true nature, which is ever present and inherent in all of us. Through the practice of meditation, one is able to turn the light of inquiry inward and discover this for oneself. Genpo Roshi lays out this journey of discovery for us—from the first tentative glimpses of Buddha Mind to the full flowering of realized life. Always practical and down-to-earth, Genpo Roshi shows that following the Buddha Way does not require us to leave behind our ordinary lives. Instead it is a process of integration, learning to flow freely between the many dimensions of our lives so that our existence becomes more meaningful and joyous, and so that we are able to carry the wisdom and compassion we have realized into daily life.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Clear, crisp, and intimate. Readers new to the subject will gain a clear perspective on Zen practice as it really is, and seasoned practitioners will find much here to support and clarify practice in a variety of areas."—Library Journal
"The value of this original book lies not only in its clear presentation of Zen teaching, but also in the long experience and the depth of insight of its author."—Roshi Robert Jinsen Kennedy, author of Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit and Zen Gifts to Christians
"Genpo Roshi gives those who have never meditated a chance to see their true face and experience the oneness of life."—Roshi Bernie Glassman, author of Instructions to the Cook and Infinite Circle
"In this book, you will hear the voice of a great contemporary Zen teacher who has seen the life of Western Buddhism step out of the shadows. Thanks to Genpo Roshi's courage and skill, we are treated to a Zen that is marvelous, accessible, vibrant, and deeply human. The Path of the Human Being inspired me—and will inspire you—to examine your life thoroughly—with the brave and tender muscle of the heart as well as the Big Mind that includes everything. Nothing is missing from the jewel of a book."—Joan Halifax Roshi, Upaya Zen Center
"Here is a book that points the way to the heart of what it means to be truly human. Genpo Roshi invites us in direct, no-nonsense language to transform ourselves and the world around us. He makes the Zen way clear and accessible to anyone who is willing to engage it. A must for every Zen library."—John Daido Loori, Roshi, Abbot of the Zen Mountain Monastery, and author of The Eight Gates of Zen
"The value of this original book lies not only in its clear presentation of Zen teaching, but also in the long experience and the depth of insight of its author."—Roshi Robert Jinsen Kennedy, author of Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit and Zen Gifts to Christians
"Genpo Roshi gives those who have never meditated a chance to see their true face and experience the oneness of life."—Roshi Bernie Glassman, author of Instructions to the Cook and Infinite Circle
"In this book, you will hear the voice of a great contemporary Zen teacher who has seen the life of Western Buddhism step out of the shadows. Thanks to Genpo Roshi's courage and skill, we are treated to a Zen that is marvelous, accessible, vibrant, and deeply human. The Path of the Human Being inspired me—and will inspire you—to examine your life thoroughly—with the brave and tender muscle of the heart as well as the Big Mind that includes everything. Nothing is missing from the jewel of a book."—Joan Halifax Roshi, Upaya Zen Center
"Here is a book that points the way to the heart of what it means to be truly human. Genpo Roshi invites us in direct, no-nonsense language to transform ourselves and the world around us. He makes the Zen way clear and accessible to anyone who is willing to engage it. A must for every Zen library."—John Daido Loori, Roshi, Abbot of the Zen Mountain Monastery, and author of The Eight Gates of Zen
From the Inside Flap
Dennis Genpo Merzel Roshi, one of the most highly regarded American Zen teachers, demystifies the experience of enlightenment, teaching that it is none other than the awakening to our true nature, which is ever present and inherent in all of us. Through the practice of meditation, one is able to turn the light of inquiry inward and discover this for oneself. Genpo Roshi lays out this journey of discovery for us?from the first tentative glimpses of Buddha Mind to the full flowering of realized life.
Always practical and down-to-earth, Genpo Roshi shows that following the Buddha Way does not require us to leave behind our ordinary lives. Instead it is a process of integration, learning to flow freely between the many dimensions of our lives so that our existence becomes more meaningful and joyous, and so that we are able to carry the wisdom and compassion we have realized into daily life.
Always practical and down-to-earth, Genpo Roshi shows that following the Buddha Way does not require us to leave behind our ordinary lives. Instead it is a process of integration, learning to flow freely between the many dimensions of our lives so that our existence becomes more meaningful and joyous, and so that we are able to carry the wisdom and compassion we have realized into daily life.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Recommended With Reservations...,
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This review is from: The Path of the Human Being: Zen Teachings on the Bodhisattva Way (Hardcover)
Although most of "The Path of the Human Being" is informative, I found myself losing interest around page one hundred. I began feeling that too much of what was being written was simply being rehashed multiple times. For example, the concept of "Big Mind" is hammered upon again and again, but I could not help feeling that this author didn't trust his readers enough to allow them to hear the more "Buddhistic"-sounding "Buddha-mind"-an expression that carries deep resonances and meaning(especially when you consider that the term "Buddha" means "awakened")-something that "Big Mind" does not capture.
However, don't get me wrong: Merzel is a smart guy with a lot of experience, and he does offer us some interesting tidbits here. I like his recounts of some of the stories involving Bodhidharma and Dogen, and I think his insights are great.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Bodhisattva Way,
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This review is from: The Path of the Human Being: Zen Teachings on the Bodhisattva Way (Paperback)
A great book that describes the next step in Zen practice which is to help others in the world through actions in your daily life. You can sit and think and be enlightened until your eyes leak tears of gold but if you don't put your enlightenment into action what does it mean. This book tells you about that and reminds you not to take your enlightenment to seriously because there is always more to learn and be. It reminds you that Zen in a living practice that in never really mastered because life is never over.
The only part that put me off in the entire book is the label "Big Mind". To someone who has read alot of the traditional books on Zen this is just a little too "New Age" and the author could have just used Buddha nature or some other traditional descriptive word for this mental state. Over all a great book that I would rank in my top 3 with Reb Anderson's "Being Upright" and Wes Nisker's "Buddha's Nature"
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Clear, concise, simple - a decidedly "Zen" book,
By
This review is from: The Path of the Human Being: Zen Teachings on the Bodhisattva Way (Paperback)
Merzel gives a simple, accesible, and clear introduction to (Soto) Zen, and places the traditional practices in a context and framework that are easy to understand and simply translated to modern, day-to-day living.
For me, he captured the essence of "Big Mind" and other fundamental concepts with uncluttered sentences, plain language, and a touch of humour. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in meditation and/or understanding what (us) crazy Zen practitioners are all about.
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First Sentence:
TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED years ago, Shakyamuni Buddha did something crazy: he left his wife and child, his palace and kingdom, to start a long search. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
dai kensho, zazen practice, practicing zazen, dualistic mind, koan study, fifth patriarch, sitting zazen, thirty blows, small mind, sixth patriarch Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Big Mind, Buddha Mind, Dogen Zenji, Middle Way, Shakyamuni Buddha, Maezumi Roshi, Buddha Way, Siddhartha Gautama, Zen Buddhism, Nangaku Ejo, Kapleau Roshi, Tendo Nyojo, Chinese Zen, Eightfold Path, Three Treasures New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED years ago, Shakyamuni Buddha did something crazy: he left his wife and child, his palace and kingdom, to start a long search. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
dai kensho, zazen practice, practicing zazen, dualistic mind, koan study, fifth patriarch, sitting zazen, thirty blows, small mind, sixth patriarch Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Big Mind, Buddha Mind, Dogen Zenji, Middle Way, Shakyamuni Buddha, Maezumi Roshi, Buddha Way, Siddhartha Gautama, Zen Buddhism, Nangaku Ejo, Kapleau Roshi, Tendo Nyojo, Chinese Zen, Eightfold Path, Three Treasures New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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