The Path of Aliveness

"The experiential practice of Zen Buddhism can be truly transformative at this very moment here and now. Zen Body, Zen Mind presents a Buddhist path requiring neither belief in something transcendent (the usual requirement of religion) nor postponement of transformation until one is a better person (the basic stance of psychotherapy). The book dives deeply into an exploration of the human body-mind based on traditional Buddhist teachings such as the Four Noble Truths, the Five Skandhas, the Eight Vijnanas, the Two Truths, the Five Dharmas, and the Bodhisattva Ideal and Bodhisattva Precepts. Zenki Dillo's transformative yet secular approach to Buddhism does not advocate for the abolishment of Zen rituals or forms of practice that have a religious appearance. To the contrary, he reconstructs rituals as forms of embodiment training that are essential for transformation. This contemporary reconstruction of the teachings is always in the service of helping the reader make experiential distinctions in their own body-mind. Based on these distinctions, Buddhist practices appear as intentional cultivations of the body-mind, moving us toward experiences of personal and transpersonal freedom, wisdom, and compassion"-- Provided by publisher.