Publication
Imprint: San Francisco, California : Harper & Row, c1989. Responsibility: Charlotte Joko Beck, edited by Steve Smith. Physical: Text : 1 volume : x, 214 pages ; 24 cm. Features: Includes notes.
Call number
Lay Life / Beck
ISBN
9780060607340
Collections
CSS Library Notes
Description: This book uses Zen to deal with the problems of daily living--love, relationships, work, fear, ambition, and suffering. Everyday Zen shows us how to live each moment to the fullest.
Table of Contents: Beginnings
Practice
Feelings
Relationships
Suffering
Ideals
Boundaries
Choices
Service
FY2000
Table of Contents: Beginnings
Practice
Feelings
Relationships
Suffering
Ideals
Boundaries
Choices
Service
FY2000
Physical description
x, 214 p.; 21 cm
Description
Charlotte Joko Beck offers a warm, engaging, uniquely American approach to using Zen to deal with the problems of daily living--love, relationships, work, fear, ambition, and suffering. Everyday Zen shows us how to live each moment to the fullest. This Plus edition includes an interview with the author.
Language
Original language
English
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User reviews
LibraryThing member Joycepa
My manual for Zen meditation and understanding.
The format of Everyday Zen is a series of transcripts of talks that Joko has given to students during intensive meditation retreats or during regular Saturday morning programs at the Zen Center of San Diego, which she heads.
Joko is a rarity in
Beck lives in today's world, not 11th or 13th century Japan. She understands, as the Introduction puts it, that the "chop wood, carry water" idiom of medieval Eastern practice has to be translated, for Westerners, into "make love, drive freeway." She can speak to a modern, Western student in a way that those following the monastic model of Japanese Zen can not or find difficult.
Beck is a practical, no nonsense teacher. One of her objectives is to destroy in her students the romantic notions that many people bring to Zen. While psychological change probably will occur, it's not the object of Zen, nor or special "powers". Joko is relentless in refusing to give her students what she calls "cookies"--false hopes or pretenses for starting what is really a way of life. Joko is excellent, as a result, in defining what Zen is NOT, which turns out to be remarkably useful to a student. She understands that Americans, in particular, want to be "fed" enlightenment, preferably by listening to a teacher tell them how to live or by reading it in a book. Joko constantly demolishes these notions.
The book organizes the essays (for that is what they turn out to be) into sections: Beginnings, Practice, Feelings, Relationships, Suffering, Ideals, Boundaries, Choices, Service. Each gives practical advice on meditation and living. While she is insistent that no book can take the place of practice, still this one is invaluable as a manual for those of us who do not have access to a teacher. It really is a "how to" book rather than a series of inspirational messages. I have found it invaluable in my own life.
Too bad there is no rating higher than 5 stars.
The format of Everyday Zen is a series of transcripts of talks that Joko has given to students during intensive meditation retreats or during regular Saturday morning programs at the Zen Center of San Diego, which she heads.
Joko is a rarity in
Show More
American Zen--American, not Asian; female; mother of 3 children; she had an independent career from which she retired. She started Zen when a mature adult. As a result, she brings a different, practical perspective to Zen, not always found in American zendos; I can speak from personal experience to that. Beck lives in today's world, not 11th or 13th century Japan. She understands, as the Introduction puts it, that the "chop wood, carry water" idiom of medieval Eastern practice has to be translated, for Westerners, into "make love, drive freeway." She can speak to a modern, Western student in a way that those following the monastic model of Japanese Zen can not or find difficult.
Beck is a practical, no nonsense teacher. One of her objectives is to destroy in her students the romantic notions that many people bring to Zen. While psychological change probably will occur, it's not the object of Zen, nor or special "powers". Joko is relentless in refusing to give her students what she calls "cookies"--false hopes or pretenses for starting what is really a way of life. Joko is excellent, as a result, in defining what Zen is NOT, which turns out to be remarkably useful to a student. She understands that Americans, in particular, want to be "fed" enlightenment, preferably by listening to a teacher tell them how to live or by reading it in a book. Joko constantly demolishes these notions.
The book organizes the essays (for that is what they turn out to be) into sections: Beginnings, Practice, Feelings, Relationships, Suffering, Ideals, Boundaries, Choices, Service. Each gives practical advice on meditation and living. While she is insistent that no book can take the place of practice, still this one is invaluable as a manual for those of us who do not have access to a teacher. It really is a "how to" book rather than a series of inspirational messages. I have found it invaluable in my own life.
Too bad there is no rating higher than 5 stars.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ddzimmerman
Down-to-earth, easy-to-understand Zen and Buddhist practice
LibraryThing member shulera1
Beck has an interesting perspective on life, and taught me a lot about Zen. I've found that nearly all my perceptions of the practice were incorrect, and that Zen isn't just about being happy or calm, it's just about being.
I enjoyed the book quite a bit and would recommend it. It said some things
I enjoyed the book quite a bit and would recommend it. It said some things
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that were scary and made me uncomfortable, but made me think about life in a different way, which I appreciate. Show Less
LibraryThing member warmaiden
A slim volume, but a difficult read, mostly because the zen way is so hard to wrap my head around. Deep insight in this one, useful for anyone willing to make serious life changes to become happier.
LibraryThing member bordercollie
Another read of this excellent compilation of dharma talks by a wise woman; an inspiring book to keep on the nightstand.
LibraryThing member larsmagnusnoren
One of the very best books on zen I´ve ever read.
A clear voice that stems from years of zazen practice desects subjects from the middle of our everyday life. They are presented as the ground for continious awakening in our very lives. The warm "no bullshit" approach to themes as love and relations
A clear voice that stems from years of zazen practice desects subjects from the middle of our everyday life. They are presented as the ground for continious awakening in our very lives. The warm "no bullshit" approach to themes as love and relations
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makes this a good book to demystify and refocus practice to the actual happenings in our lives. It will attract the lover of buddhism and at the same time effectively remove the false hopes of a distant wonderland. Show Less
LibraryThing member sholt2001
This is a good introduction to zen and meditation without many of the religious overtones. While the book advocates major lifestyle changes, the advice is also practical for integrating basic concepts into daily life.
LibraryThing member tbert204
One of the best introductory book on Zen practice. Very practical, applicable guides to life-centered living.
LibraryThing member Aspenhugger
A Zen guide to the problems of daily living, love, relationships, work, fear and suffering. Combining earthly wisdom with spiritual enlightenment, it describes how to live each moment to the full and shows the relevance of Zen to every aspect of life.
This is an outstanding book! It explains the
This is an outstanding book! It explains the
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practice of Zen in an easily understood way. This book is remaining in my library, but not put away on the shelf but kept close at hand, to guide me in learning to do zazen. Show Less