Zen Buddha Popular Books
Zen Buddha Biography & Facts
Zen (Japanese; from Chinese "Chán"; in Korean: Sŏn, and Vietnamese: Thiền) is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty as the Chan School (Chánzong 禪宗, "meditation school") or the Buddha-mind school (foxin zong), and later developed into various sub-schools and branches. From China, Chán spread south to Vietnam and became Vietnamese Thiền, northeast to Korea to become Seon Buddhism, and east to Japan, becoming Japanese Zen. The term Zen is derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the Middle Chinese word 禪 (chán), an abbreviation of 禪那 (chánnà), which is a Chinese transliteration of the Sanskrit word ध्यान dhyāna ("meditation"). Zen emphasizes rigorous self-restraint, meditation-practice and insight (見性, Ch. jiànxìng, Jp. kensho), "perceiving the true nature" of oneself as Buddha-mind (bodhicitta and Buddha-nature), and the personal expression of this insight in daily life for the benefit of others. As such, it de-emphasizes knowledge alone of sutras and doctrine, and favors direct understanding through spiritual practice and interaction with an accomplished teacher or Master. Zen teaching draws from numerous sources of Sarvāstivāda meditation practice and Mahāyāna thought, especially Yogachara, the Tathāgatagarbha sūtras, the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra, and the Huayan school, with their emphasis on Buddha-nature, totality, and the Bodhisattva-ideal. The Prajñāpāramitā literature, as well as Madhyamaka thought, have also been influential in the shaping of the apophatic and sometimes iconoclastic nature of Zen rhetoric. Furthermore, the Chan School was also influenced by Taoist philosophy, especially Neo-Daoist thought. Etymology The word Zen is derived from the Japanese pronunciation (kana: ぜん) of the Middle Chinese word 禪 (Middle Chinese: [dʑian]; pinyin: Chán), which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna (ध्यान), which can be approximately translated as "contemplation", "absorption", or "meditative state". The actual Chinese term for the "Zen school" is 禪宗 (pinyin: Chánzōng), while "Chan" just refers to the practice of meditation itself (Chinese: 習禪; pinyin: xíchán) or the study of meditation (Chinese: 禪學; pinyin: chánxué) though it is often used as an abbreviated form of Chánzong. Zen is also called foxin zong (Chinese) or busshin-shū, the "Buddha-mind school," from foxing (Chinese), busshin (Japanese), "Buddha-mind"; "this term can refer either to the (or a) Buddha's compassionate and enlightened mind, or to the originally clear and pure mind inherent in all beings to which they must awaken." Busshin may also refer to Buddhakaya, the Buddha-body, "an embodiment of awakened activity." "Zen" is traditionally a proper noun as it usually describes a particular Buddhist sect. In more recent times, the lowercase "zen" is used when discussing the philosophy and was officially added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary in 2018. Practice Dhyāna The practice of dhyana or meditation, especially sitting meditation (坐禪,Chinese: zuòchán, Japanese: zazen / ざぜん) is a central part of Zen Buddhism. Chinese Buddhism The practice of Buddhist meditation originated in India and first entered China through the translations of An Shigao (fl. c. 148–180 CE), and Kumārajīva (334–413 CE), who both translated Dhyāna sutras, which were influential early meditation texts mostly based on the Yogacara (yoga praxis) teachings of the Kashmiri Sarvāstivāda circa 1st–4th centuries CE. Among the most influential early Chinese meditation texts are the Anban Shouyi Jing (安般守意經, Sutra on ānāpānasmṛti), the Zuochan Sanmei Jing (坐禪三昧經,Sutra of sitting dhyāna samādhi) and the Damoduoluo Chan Jing (達摩多羅禪經, Dharmatrata dhyāna sutra). These early Chinese meditation works continued to exert influence on Zen practice well into the modern era. For example, the 18th century Rinzai Zen master Tōrei Enji wrote a commentary on the Damoduoluo Chan Jing and used the Zuochan Sanmei Jing as source in the writing of this commentary. Tōrei believed that the Damoduoluo Chan Jing had been authored by Bodhidharma. While dhyāna in a strict sense refers to the four dhyānas, in Chinese Buddhism, dhyāna may refer to various kinds of meditation techniques and their preparatory practices, which are necessary to practice dhyāna. The five main types of meditation in the Dhyāna sutras are ānāpānasmṛti (mindfulness of breathing); paṭikūlamanasikāra meditation (mindfulness of the impurities of the body); maitrī meditation (loving-kindness); the contemplation on the twelve links of pratītyasamutpāda; and contemplation on the Buddha. According to the modern Chan master Sheng Yen, these practices are termed the "five methods for stilling or pacifying the mind" and serve to focus and purify the mind, and support the development of the stages of dhyana. Chan also shares the practice of the four foundations of mindfulness and the Three Gates of Liberation (emptyness or śūnyatā, signlessness or animitta, and wishlessness or apraṇihita) with early Buddhism and classic Mahayana. Pointing to the nature of the mind According to Charles Luk, in the earliest traditions of Chán, there was no fixed method or formula for teaching meditation, and all instructions were simply heuristic methods, to point to the true nature of the mind, also known as Buddha-nature. According to Luk, this method is referred to as the "Mind Dharma", and exemplified in the story (in the Flower Sermon) of Śākyamuni Buddha holding up a flower silently, and Mahākāśyapa smiling as he understood. A traditional formula of this is, "Chán points directly to the human mind, to enable people to see their true nature and become buddhas." Observing the mind According to John McRae, "one of the most important issues in the development of early Ch'an doctrine is the rejection of traditional meditation techniques," that is, gradual self-perfection and the practices of contemplation on the body impurities and the four foundations of mindfulness. According to John R. McRae the "first explicit statement of the sudden and direct approach that was to become the hallmark of Ch'an religious practice" is associated with the East Mountain School. It is a method named "Maintaining the one without wavering" (shou-i pu i, 守一不移), the one being the nature of mind, which is equated with Buddha-nature. According to Sharf, in this practice, one turns the attention from the objects of experience, to the nature of mind, the perceiving subject itself, which is equated with Buddha-nature. According to McRae, this type of meditation resembles the methods of "virtually all schools of Mahāyāna Buddhism," but differs in that "no preparatory requirements, no moral prerequisites or preliminary exercises are given," and is "without steps or gradations. One concentrates, understands, and is enlightened, all in one undifferentiated practice." Sharf notes that the notion of "Mind" came to be criticised by radical subitists, and was replaced by "No Mind," to avoid any r.... Discover the Zen Buddha popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Zen Buddha books.
Best Seller Zen Buddha Books of 2024
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Hana
Lauren OliverLauren Oliver's riveting, original digital story set in the world of her New York Times bestseller Delirium.The summer before they're supposed to be cured of the ability to love, b...
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Requiem
Lauren OliverThe third and final book in Lauren Oliver’s powerful New York Times bestselling trilogy about forbidden love, revolution, and the power to choose. Now an active member of the resis...
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Savor
Thích Nhất Hạnh & Lilian CheungCommon sense tells us that to lose weight, we must eat less and exercise more. But somehow we get stalled. We start on a weightloss program with good intentions but cannot stay on ...
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Resilient
Rick Hanson, PhD & Forrest HansonThese days it’s hard to count on the world outside. So it’s vital to grow strengths inside like grit, gratitude, and compassionthe key to resilience, and to lasting wellbeing in a ...
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Tangled
Carolyn MacklerParadise wasn't supposed to suck.Not the state of being, but a resort in the Caribbean. Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen are all there for different reasons, but at Paradise their live...
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You Are Here
Thích Nhất Hạnh, Sherab Ch÷dzin Kohn & Melvin McLeodCut through the busyness and anxieties of daily life to discover the simple happiness of living in the present moment, as taught by a worldrenowned Zen monkIn this book, Thich Nhat...
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Living Beautifully
Pema ChödrönInstant bestseller: Buddhist teacher Pema Chödrön shares lifechanging practices for living with wisdom, confidence, and integrity amidst confusing situations and uncertain timesWe ...
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Annabel
Lauren OliverLena's mother, Annabel, has always been a mysterya ghost in Lena's past. Until now.Discover her secrets in Lauren Oliver's brilliant original digital story set in the world of New ...
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Karma
SadhguruNEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, and PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BESTSELLER “Full of valuable insights to guide you.”WILL SMITH“Thoughtful and lifeaffirming . . . a mustread.”T...
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My Spiritual Journey
Dalai Lama & Sofia Stril-ReverIn this elegant selfportrait, the world’s most outspoken and influential spiritual leader recounts his epic and engaging life story. The Dalai Lama’s most accessible and intimate b...
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Raven
Lauren OliverThis captivating 50page digitaloriginal story set in the world of Lauren Oliver's New York Times bestselling Delirium series focuses on Raven, the fiery leader of a rebel group in ...
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Stuck in Neutral
Terry TruemanThis "intense reading experience" is a Printz Honor Book.Shawn McDaniel's life is not what it may seem to anyone looking at him. He is glued to his wheelchair, unable to voluntaril...
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The Three Pillars of Zen
Roshi P. KapleauIn this classic work of spiritual guidance, the founder of the Rochester Zen Center presents a comprehensive overview of Zen Buddhism. Exploring the three pillars of Zenteachi...
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Buddha Bowls
Hannah PembertonDiscover the new, easy way to enjoy balanced vegetarian and vegan meals with Buddha Bowls. Just follow the very simple formula: Grain + Green + Protein (+ Zen!) for meals that are...
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The Art of Living
Thích Nhất HạnhIn troubled times, there is an urgency to understand ourselves and our world. We have so many questions, and they tug at us night and day, consciously and unconsciously. In th...
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Advice Not Given
Mark Epstein, M.D.“Most people will never find a great psychiatrist or a great Buddhist teacher, but Mark Epstein is both, and the wisdom he imparts in Advice Not Given is an act of genero...
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Clash
Nicole WilliamsThe second book in the New York Times bestselling Crash trilogy!Their RomeoandJulietlevel passion is the only thing Jude and Lucy agree on. That, and fighting all the time . . .Als...
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Pandemonium
Lauren OliverThe second book in Lauren Oliver’s New York Times bestselling trilogy about forbidden love, revolution, and the power to choose. In this electrifying followup to Delirium, Lena is ...
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Buddha
Deepak ChopraDeepak Chopra brings the Buddha back to life in this gripping New York Times bestselling novel about the young prince who abandoned his inheritance to discover his true calling. Th...
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Everyday Zen
Charlotte J. BeckCharlotte Joko Beck offers a warm, engaging, uniquely American approach to using Zen to deal with the problems of daily livinglove, relationships, work, fear, ambition, and sufferi...
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The Art of Happiness, 10th Anniversary Edition
Dalai LamaA beloved classicthe original book on happiness, with new material from His Holiness the Dalai LamaNearly every time you see him, he's laughing, or at least smiling. And he makes e...
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Saltwater Buddha
Jaimal YogisFed up with teenage life in the suburbs, Jaimal Yogis ran off to Hawaii with little more than a copy of Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha and enough cash for a surfboard. His journey is a...
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Anger
Thích Nhất Hạnh"[Thich Nhat Hanh] shows us the connection between personal, inner peace and peace on earth." –His Holiness The Dalai LamaNominated by Martin Luther King, Jr. for a Nobel Peace Pri...
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No Mud, No Lotus
Thích Nhất HạnhThe secret to happiness is to acknowledge and transform suffering, not to run away from it. Here, Thich Nhat Hanh offers practices and inspiration transforming suffering and findin...
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The Art of Mindfulness
Thích Nhất HạnhThis selection from Thich Nhat Hanh’s bestselling The Art of Power illuminates the core Buddhist concept of mindfulness for the Western readerIn The Art of Mindfulness, one of the ...
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The Art of Power
Thích Nhất Hạnh"Power is good for one thing only: to increase our happiness and the happiness of others. Being peaceful and happy is the most important thing in our lives and yet most of the time...
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Tao Te Ching
Stephen Mitchell & Lao TzuThe bestselling, widely acclaimed translation from Stephen Mitchell"Mitchell's rendition of the Tao Te Ching comes as close to being definitive for our time as any I can imagine. I...
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Mindful Eating
Thích Nhất Hạnh & Lilian CheungCommon sense tells us that to lose weight, we must eat less and exercise more. But somehow we get stalled. We start on a weight loss program with good intentions but we cannot sta...
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Yoga Body, Buddha Mind
Cyndi LeeA complete manual for physical and spiritual wellbeing from the founder of the OM yoga center.In Yoga Body, Buddha Mind, the first book to give readers the best of both inextricabl...
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The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
Sogyal Rinpoche“A magnificent achievement. In its power to touch the heart, to awaken consciousness, [The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying] is an inestimable gift.”San Francisco Chronicle A newly...
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Refuge Recovery
Noah LevineBestselling author and renowned Buddhist teacher Noah Levine adapts the Buddha's Four Noble Truths and Eight Fold Path into a proven and systematic approach to recovery from alcoho...
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The Art of Communicating
Thích Nhất HạnhZen master Thich Nhat Hanh, bestselling author of Peace is Every Step and one of the most respected and celebrated religious leaders in the world, delivers a powerful path to happi...
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The Places That Scare You
Pema Chödrön“A lively and accessible take on ancient techniques for transforming terror and pain into joy and compassion,” from beloved Buddhist teacher Pema Chödrön (O, The Oprah Ma...
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Zen Buddha
Zen BuddhaZen Buddha's ebook is a practical and concise personal development ebook based on the Buddha Teachings. It consists of 9 short chapters divided into the Trinity of Spirit, Mind and...
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The Book of Shhh
Lauren OliverA perfect companion to Lauren Oliver’s bestselling Delirium trilogy, The Book of Shhh expands on excerpts included in the original series. Lauren Oliver delves deeper into the worl...
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Welcoming the Unwelcome
Pema ChödrönFrom the bestselling author of When Things Fall Apart, an openhearted call for human connection, compassion, and learning to love the world just as it is during these most challeng...
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Living Buddha, Living Christ 20th Anniversary Edition
Thích Nhất Hạnh & Elaine Pagels"[Thich Nhat Hanh] shows us the connection between personal, inner peace and peace on earth." His Holiness The Dalai LamaNominated by Martin Luther King, Jr. for a Nobel Peace Priz...
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Awakening the Buddha Within
Lama Surya DasLama Surya Das, the most highly trained American lama in the Tibetan tradition, presents the definitive book on Western Buddhism for the modernday spiritual seeker.The radical and ...
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Teachings of the Buddha
Jack KornfieldA reissue of the most popular collection of teachings from Buddhist literature, selected by one of the best known American Buddhist teacherswith a new preface and afterword Jack Ko...
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Crash
Nicole WilliamsIn this first book in the New York Times bestselling Crash trilogy, the world is introduced to this generation's Romeo and Juliet: Jude Ryder and Lucy LarsonExplosive. Sizzling. Tr...
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The Miracle of Mindfulness
Thích Nhất HạnhIn this beautiful and lucid guide, Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh offers gentle anecdotes and practical exercise as a means of learning the skills of mindfulnessbeing awake and fully a...
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Everneath
Brodi AshtonLast spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she’s returnedto her old life, her family, her boyfriendbefore she’s banished back to the...
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Buddha Mind, Buddha Body
Thích Nhất HạnhRevered Zen teacher and bestselling author Thich Nhat Hanh explores the connection between psychology, neuroscience, and meditation to reveal how we can cultivate our own...