THIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU • to appreciate the significance of this particular school of Buddhism;famous for its focus on meditation and self-awakening • to understand the history of Zen and the ‘Ways of Zen’ • to discover how Zen is a way of life — not a belief system • to avoid faux pas in conversation; in travelling and in personal relationships Zen (in Chinese; Ch’an) is the form of Buddhism which the great teacher Bodhidharma brought to China from India in the late fifth century. Today it is practised mainly in Japan and Korea;. Based upon the understanding that each of us has the potential for complete awakening; Zen is in fact a coalition of practical ways of stilling the mind in order to attain self-knowledge. Because the realization of the true nature of reality; including one’s own; is not an intellectual pursuit but an experienced truth; Zen teachers transmit the truth (dharma) from mind to mind or heart to heart without the use of words; using different techniques to break through the limitations of the logical mind. This engaging book explains the essence of Zen in simple terms.. It traces its development and looks at its unique methods of teaching; such as meditation; koans — startling paradoxes that stop the intellect — the use of texts; ceremonies; poetry; and the martial arts. It describes life in monasteries and in the everyday world. Because Zen is rooted in Reality; its practitioners often experience a delightful sense of wonder in the commonplace. This democratic and liberating philosophy does not require us to give up our own traditions; but rather helps us to deepen our understanding of them; and continues to inspire growing numbers of followers in the West. ACCESS THE WORLD’S RELIGIONS Simple Guides: Religion is a series of concise; accessible introductions to the world’s major religions. Written by experts in the field; they offer an engaging and sympathetic description of the key concepts; beliefs and practices of different faiths. Ideal for spiritual seekers and travellers alike; Simple Guides aims to open the doors of perception. Together the books provide a reliable compass to the world’s great spiritual traditions; and a point of reference for further exploration and discovery. By offering essential insights into the core values; customs and beliefs of different societies; they also enable visitors to be aware of the cultural sensibilities of their hosts; and to behave in a way that fosters mutual respect and understanding.
#5569969 in Books Greenhill Books 2006-02-19Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.38 x 1.16 x 6.50l; #File Name: 1853675342288 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Stupid bookBy danny boyI find this book impossible to read. It purports to cover a lesser known phase of the Napoleonic wars which was the Allied mopping up operations to push the French out of Spain.Although the text looks replete with military details and quotations taken from other well-known Napoleonic sources; unfamiliarity with the geographical locations of the area literally grinds all reading attempts to a halt. I cannot get past the first few chapters on several attempts. There are only two useless maps here; poorly reproduced from old maps and from which there cannot be any meaningful reference to places named in the text. There are better drawn maps further on in the book but I cannot reach that section yet until I have ploughed through these first few dreary chapters! I will have to try again sometime in the future with an atlas besides me.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. The final phase of the Peninsular WarBy HMS WarspiteIan C. Robertson's "Wellington Invades France" provides a detailed account of the final year (1813-1814) of the British campaign to evict Imperial French forces from Spain and then to complete the military defeat of Napoleon by invading France. Ian Robertson is well-versed in the era and has a number of books to his credit on this general topic. This particular history is so detailed as to be a very daunting read to all but the most dedicated student of the British Army in the Peninsular War. The prose tends to be very dry; although it is supported by nicely chosen quotes by witnesses to the campaign and by clear diagrams of the actual battles. The interpretation of events is fairly standard. The casual reader without background in the Napoleonic Wars will find this a challenging read.
