Waking Up to What You Do: A Zen Practice for Meeting Every Situation with Intelligence and Compassion [Paperback]

Diane Eshin Rizzetto (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 13, 2006 | Series: Shambhala Pocket Classics

Life is rising up to meet us at every moment. The question is: Are we there to meet it or not? Diane Rizzetto presents a simple but supremely effective practice for meeting every moment of our lives with mindfulness, using the Zen precepts as tools to develop a keen awareness of the motivations behind every aspect of our behavior—to "wake up to what we do"—from moment to moment. As we train in mindfulness of our actions, every situation of our lives becomes our teacher, offering priceless insight into what it really means to be happy. It's a simple practice with transformative potential, enabling us to break through our habitual reactions and to see clearly how our own happiness and well-being are intimately, inevitably connected to the happiness and well-being of everyone around us. 

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Rizzetto, abbess of the Bay Zen Center in Oakland, Calif., offers a compelling and highly accessible set of teachings on the Buddhist precepts, "guidelines" to everyday thoughts and behaviors that "prod us to wake up and see clearly the reality of... every situation." The first part of the book presents a clear overview of how to actually work with the precepts, as well as some fundamental Buddhist teachings on the illusion of the self and the advantages of resting in the "full experience" of life "just as it is." The bulk of the book is then given to discussions of the precepts themselves, which Rizzetto presents as aspirations rather than prohibitions: "I take up the way of speaking truthfully" instead of the traditional "not lying," for example. Other precepts include cultivating a clear mind and letting go of anger. Rizzetto's discussions are intelligent and compassionate, practical and engaging: while giving pragmatic suggestions, she persistently affirms that the precepts are not about following "some outward moral authority," but rather about engaging "the power of awareness so that we can see more clearly what deeply held beliefs are behind our actions"—a liberating invitation for anyone wanting to break open their usual "reactive thinking" and instead "find real freedom to engage life." (June)
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Review

"Rizzetto's discussions are intelligent and compassionate, practical and engaging: while giving pragmatic suggestions, she persistently affirms that the precepts are not about following 'some outward moral authority,' but rather about engaging 'the power of awareness so that we can see more clearly what deeply held beliefs are behind our actions'—a liberating invitation for anyone wanting to break open their usual 'reactive thinking' and instead 'find real freedom to engage life.'"—Publishers Weekly starred review

"The distinctive charm of Rizzetto's book is that she not so much explains Buddhism as applies its precepts to an active, committed, and contemporary life."—Library Journal

"A thought-provoking book that invites the reader to sharpen mindfulness in the presence of the most ordinary, everyday moments."—Ascent Magazine

"Rizzetto's book is an inspiring as well as practical guide. How refreshing! Please read this good book and then pass it on to a friend so that the circle of investigation and engaged practice widens."—Inquiring Mind


"A gem of a book; relevant for all schools of buddhadharma. This work goes well beyond listing and explaining rules to live by. We are given tools of discernment that bring these guidelines to life and make the precepts a far more interesting and creative dharma practice."—Larry Rosenberg, author of Breath by Breath and Living in the Light of Death

"Diane Rizzetto has written a thoughtful, sensitive examination of how to be a genuinely good person in this world. Steering a wise course between recklessness and self-righteousness has never been an easy task in life, and she does a beautiful job guiding that journey."—Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Faith

"A wonderfully honest, wise, and useful book, and an important one, as we find a way to express a spirituality of compassion in our troubled world."—Joan Halifax, Upaya Zen Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico

"Waking Up to What You Do, besides being an inviting title, is also an excellent description of what Buddhist practice is fundamentally about. Diane Rizzetto knows this terrain extremely well. She has lived and practiced it her whole life; her methods, insights, and anecdotes invite readers to do the same. This book is about more than just Buddhist precepts. It is a roadmap toward a more awakened and illumined life."—Lewis Richmond, author of Work as a Spiritual Practice

"No aspect of Zen practice is more crucial today than precepts, the bodhisattva mode of expressing compassion and insight in our troubled world. Diane Rizzetto's book provides a good introduction to actual practical engagement in the life of precepts. Her detailed examples from everyday situations clearly demonstrate how to find our own helpful deep awareness."—Taigen Dan Leighton, author of Faces of Compassion: Classic Bodhisattva Archetypes and Their Modern Expression

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala (June 13, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590303423
• ISBN-13: 978-1590303429
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #443,155 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Precepts Come to Life, August 30, 2005

By 

Ezra Bayda (San Diego, Ca, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waking Up to What You Do: A Zen Practice for Meeting Every Situation with Intelligence and Compassion (Hardcover)

What I like most about Diane Rizzetto's book is not just that the words are clear, which they certainly are, but that they are immediate and alive. There is none of the moral judgment that usually accompanies writing on the Buddhist precepts; rather, the precepts actually come to life, as guideposts on how to live in the midst of the moral confusion that marks our everyday living. Diane uses many real life examples, both from her own life and the lives of others: some help clarify the meaning of the precept; some illustrate how the precept can be lived in real lfe situations; and some are deeply inspirational - pointing us in the direction that we all wish to go. I recommend this book to anyone, Buddhist or not, meditator or not, who would like to live in a more genuine and open hearted way.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and helpful, April 12, 2006

By 

D. Gold (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waking Up to What You Do: A Zen Practice for Meeting Every Situation with Intelligence and Compassion (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful and insightful book. It really brought the precepts alive for me in a thoughtful and practical way. I have read through it twice and am amazed at how much more I picked up from second reading. It has been absolutely helpful, a real gem, and a very good read to boot!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wise and Insightful, August 27, 2006

By 

K. Uchiyama - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Waking Up to What You Do: A Zen Practice for Meeting Every Situation with Intelligence and Compassion (Hardcover)

A wonderful book. Full of very down-to-earth wisdom on living compassionately, honestly, and courageously. Many real-life stories from Rizzetto's work as a Zen teacher as well as practical advice and exercises for applying the book's teaching to your own life. Highly recommended.