Finding the Still Point: A Beginner's Guide to Zen Meditation

by John Daido Loori

Overview

One of the simplest, easiest-to-understand guides to Zen meditation—with audio exercises to serve as meditation companions.

Through Zen meditation it is possible to find stillness of mind even amidst our everyday activities—and this book reveals how. With easy-to-understand instructions, practical lessons, and short-but-sweet tid-bits of useful information, beloved Zen master John Daido Loori shares the way of Zen meditation in terms that even those starting from the very beginning can understand. Guided audio instructions—available for download online—supplement the teachings throughout the book, giving beginners the tools they need to take that first step into Zen practice and meditation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781611808452
Publisher:	Shambhala
Publication date:	07/07/2020
Pages:	96
Sales rank:	635,738
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.60(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

JOHN DAIDO LOORI was the spiritual leader and abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery in Mt. Tremper, N.Y., and the founder and director of the Mountains and Rivers Order. He was a dharma heir of Taizan Maezumi Roshi and a lineage holder in both the Soto and Rinzai lineages. He was also a painter and photographer with many exhibitions to his credit. He authored numerous other books including The Eight Gates of Zen.

Table of Contents

Part 1 The Practice of Zen Meditation

1 What Is Zazen? 3

2 Positioning the Body 7

3 Centering the Body 17

4 Head and Hands 19

5 The Hara 23

6 Breathing 25

7 Relaxation Exercise 29

8 Counting the Breath 31

9 Walking Meditation 37

10 Home Practice 41

Part 2 A Dharma Discourse

Introduction 49

11 The Great Way 51

Concluding Verse 67

Glossary 69

Suggested Reading List 73

Photo Credits 77

About Zen Mountain Monastery 79

Editorial Reviews

Loori, the revered and celebrated founder and abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery in New York, has authored numerous books on Zen Buddhist practice (The Eight Gates of Zen). In this ultraslim illustrated primer, Loori distills that experience and wisdom into a resolute and economical guide for beginners. It will likely become a classic. Part One addresses the Zen basics such as meditation positions, hara focus, breathing, walking meditation and home practice. This section is particularly friendly for beginners with its concise instructional essays, most under 1,000 words. Loori's deceptively simple prose, arising from decades of practice and teaching, hits its mark as an arrow hits center target: the means and results are evident, but the flight is elegantly invisible. Part Two, a dharma talk on "The Great Way," effectively imparts "a direct expression of the spirit of Zen by the teacher to his . . . students." Tools such as an appropriately short glossary and suggested reading list are complemented by a 70-minute CD (not heard by PW). The CD offers timed zazen sessions of 10 and 30 minutes, plus a brief talk by Loori on the benefits of meditation. This book-and-CD package promises to be a graceful gem in the legendary cosmic Diamond Net. (Sept.)

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

Publishers Weekly

A famed teacher of Zen-you'll know him from works like The Healing Power of Soundand Zen of Creativity-gives instructions on how to meditate, covering basics like where and how to sit. With a 70-minute CD.

—Graham Christian

Library Journal

"Loori, the revered and celebrated founder and abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery, distills experience and wisdom into a resolute and economical guide for beginners. This book-and-CD package promises to be a graceful gem in the legendary cosmic Diamond net."—Publishers Weekly Religion Bookline

"A famed teacher of Zen—you'll know him from works like The Healing Power of Sound and Zen of Creativity—gives instructions on how to meditate, covering basics like where and how to sit. With a 70-minute CD."—Library Journal 

From the Publisher