Kensho

Kensho is the Zen experience of waking up to one’s own true nature—of understanding oneself to be not different from the Buddha-nature that pervades all existence. The Japanese Zen Master Hakuin (1689–1769) considered the experience to be essential. In his autobiography he says: “Anyone who would call himself a member of the Zen family must first achieve kensho-realization of the Buddha’s way. If a person who has not achieved kensho says he is a follower of Zen, he is an outrageous fraud. A swindler pure and simple.” Hakuin’s short text on kensho, “Four Ways of Knowing of an Awakened Person,” is a little-known Zen classic. The “four ways” he describes include the way of knowing of the Great Perfect Mirror, the way of knowing equality, the way of knowing by differentiation, and the way of the perfection of action. Rather than simply being methods for “checking” for enlightenment in oneself, these ways ultimately exemplify Zen practice. Albert Low has provided careful, line-by-line commentary for the text that illuminates its profound wisdom and makes it an inspiration for deeper spiritual practice.

Kensho is the transformative glimpse of the true nature of all things. It is an experience so crucial in Zen practice that it is sometimes compared to finding an inexhaustible treasure because it reveals the potential that exists in each moment for pure awareness free from the projections of the ego. Among the traditional Zen works are a number of important texts focusing on the profound subtleties of this essential Zen awakening and the methods used in its realization. The selections here are taken from: · Straightforward Explanation of the True Mind, by Korean Zen teacher Chinul (1158-1210), which provides the contextual balance needed to understand kensho by relating it to the broader teachings of the Buddhist scriptures and treatises. · Several works by Japanese Zen master Hakuin (1786-1769), whose teachings emphasize the techniques used in the cultivation and application of kensho and the importance of going beyond the experience itself to apply Zen insight to the full range of human endeavors. · The Book of Ease, a Chinese koan collection from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, with commentary showing the practical dimension of classical koan practice. The translator provides extensive introductory notes and detailed commentary on each of the selections to help the reader understand the inner meaning of this essential experience of Zen.

Kensho is the transformative glimpse of the true nature of all things. It is an experience so crucial in Zen practice that it is sometimes compared to finding an inexhaustible treasure because it reveals the potential that exists in each moment for pure awareness free from the projections of the ego. Among the traditional Zen works are a number of important texts focusing on the profound subtleties of this essential Zen awakening and the methods used in its realization. The selections here are taken from: • Straightforward Explanation of the True Mind, by Korean Zen teacher Chinul (1158-1210), which provides the contextual balance needed to understand kensho by relating it to the broader teachings of the Buddhist scriptures and treatises. • Several works by Japanese Zen master Hakuin (1786-1769), whose teachings emphasize the techniques used in the cultivation and application of kensho and the importance of going beyond the experience itself to apply Zen insight to the full range of human endeavors. • The Book of Ease, a Chinese koan collection from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, with commentary showing the practical dimension of classical koan practice. The translator provides extensive introductory notes and detailed commentary on each of the selections to help the reader understand the inner meaning of this essential experience of Zen.

Includes interviews with some of today's remarkable people, e.g. business owners, scientists, journalists, fimmakers, authors, philanthropists, and researchers, who talk about subjects ranging from business and personal development to social change and environmental issues. Designed to help the reader understand such issues as why the path to transformation often comes through a crisis; how the work-place is being redefined through philanthropy, authentic leadership, work-life balance, social media and attention to the importance of wellness; and how to break free of stagnant habits and bring awareness to how your thoughts shape your experiences.

Kensho is the Zen experience of waking up to one’s own true nature—of understanding oneself to be not different from the Buddha-nature that pervades all existence. The Japanese Zen Master Hakuin (1689–1769) considered the experience to be essential. In his autobiography he says: "Anyone who would call himself a member of the Zen family must first achieve kensho-realization of the Buddha’s way. If a person who has not achieved kensho says he is a follower of Zen, he is an outrageous fraud. A swindler pure and simple." Hakuin’s short text on kensho, "Four Ways of Knowing of an Awakened Person," is a little-known Zen classic. The "four ways" he describes include the way of knowing of the Great Perfect Mirror, the way of knowing equality, the way of knowing by differentiation, and the way of the perfection of action. Rather than simply being methods for "checking" for enlightenment in oneself, these ways ultimately exemplify Zen practice. Albert Low has provided careful, line-by-line commentary for the text that illuminates its profound wisdom and makes it an inspiration for deeper spiritual practice.

A compilation of columns that appeared between 1988 and 1995 in Martial Arts Training magazine. In this ever-changing world, traditions are often being cast aside as people search for novelty and progress. The 41 essays in this book are inspired by the teachings and wisdom of the ancients who devoted their lives to instruct others. Their ideas are preserved in this volume to inspire and guide readers in training and in life for years to come.

See the potential that is within each of us—the realization and embodiment of our true nature With Demystifying Awakening, senior meditation teacher Stephen Snyder skillfully marks the subtle path of the Awakening process. With loving care, personal examples, and gentle suggestions, Stephen plants the seeds of practice and meditation by: - explaining Awakening in an accessible way that draws on Zen and Theravada Buddhist traditions; - guiding readers through more than thirty foundational and advanced meditations and practices that support each step on the path of realization; - offering advice for identifying and working with resistances to Awakening; and - encouraging the embodiment and lived expression of realization through an exploration of the pāramīs, the Buddhist perfections of behavior. Demystifying Awakening transmits a practice path for Awakening in this lifetime.

The movement of designed objects is not just something purely functional but also triggers a wide range of sensations. A curtain swaying gently in the wind can cause the onlooker to feel easy and relaxed, as if it was he or she who is floating in the air. This imagined projection caused by the perception of moving objects is called "kinesthetic empathy". In this study, which followed on from a dissertation at the School of Design Research in London, the author investigates the esthetics of movement by documenting his own design-based learning and research process in terms of "research through design", using the experimental cooperation with puppet players as an example. He thereby creates a framework that allows designers to observe the esthetics of objects in motion as a trigger of feelings.