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  <title><![CDATA[Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen]]></title>
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    <![CDATA[If you can imagine Zen Existentialism, <em>Not Always So</em> is it. Part instruction manual for Zen practice and part philosophical meditation, Shunryu Suzuki's teachings emphasize being-in-the-world. He does not point toward a singular enlightenment-event as a burst into higher consciousness. Rather, he suggests a more experiential enlightenment that finds meaning in a full awareness of the present. For example: &quot;If you go to the rest room, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you cook, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you clean the floor, there is a chance to attain enlightenment.&quot; <p>  Shunryu Suzuki was an important emissary of Zen Buddhism to the United States. Establishing a Zen center in San Francisco in the 1960s, he attracted many noted pupils, including this book's editor, Edward Espe Brown. In fact, <em>Not Always So</em> is Brown's collection of Suzuki's teachings during his last years, in the late 1960s and early 1970s.<p>  No doubt some readers will want to wrestle with the often paradoxical nature of Zen teachings. And those from the Western philosophical tradition may find vast differences between the Western system that takes its cue from Descartes' <em>cogito</em> and the Eastern one that emphasizes the destruction of the ego. Says Suzuki: &quot;It is just your mind that says you are here and I am there, that's all. Originally we are one with everything.&quot; While the book does not wrestle with cultural-philosophical differences, it is nevertheless a good introduction to Zen. Suzuki's teachings tend to flow from simple stories, usually drawn from his own experiences. It's almost entirely free of the jargon that clutters many books on Buddhism, and the teachings are communicated with clarity and brevity. <em>--Eric de Place</em></p></p>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[I love Suzuki because he does not ask that you not be yourself in order to transcend yourself to achieve zennie inner peace. In fact, he suggests you &quot;enjoy&quot; your problems because they are part of the structure of your life, show you who you are, allow you to grow and change, and/or may no...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/24391916">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[If you can imagine Zen Existentialism, <em>Not Always So</em> is it. Part instruction manual for Zen practice and part philosophical meditation, Shunryu Suzuki's teachings emphasize being-in-the-world. He does not point toward a singular enlightenment-event as a burst into higher consciousness. Rather, he suggests a more experiential enlightenment that finds meaning in a full awareness of the present. For example: &quot;If you go to the rest room, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you cook, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you clean the floor, there is a chance to attain enlightenment.&quot; <p>  Shunryu Suzuki was an important emissary of Zen Buddhism to the United States. Establishing a Zen center in San Francisco in the 1960s, he attracted many noted pupils, including this book's editor, Edward Espe Brown. In fact, <em>Not Always So</em> is Brown's collection of Suzuki's teachings during his last years, in the late 1960s and early 1970s.<p>  No doubt some readers will want to wrestle with the often paradoxical nature of Zen teachings. And those from the Western philosophical tradition may find vast differences between the Western system that takes its cue from Descartes' <em>cogito</em> and the Eastern one that emphasizes the destruction of the ego. Says Suzuki: &quot;It is just your mind that says you are here and I am there, that's all. Originally we are one with everything.&quot; While the book does not wrestle with cultural-philosophical differences, it is nevertheless a good introduction to Zen. Suzuki's teachings tend to flow from simple stories, usually drawn from his own experiences. It's almost entirely free of the jargon that clutters many books on Buddhism, and the teachings are communicated with clarity and brevity. <em>--Eric de Place</em></p></p>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[A beautiful book based on a series of lectures Suzuki Roshi gave at Tassajara Zen Center in the Ventana Wilderness.  A founder of the San Francisco Zen Center, his lectures are simple, direct with a beauty inherent in those two qualities.  The Zen tradition over other Buddhist traditions is known fo...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/47255544">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen]]>
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    <![CDATA[If you can imagine Zen Existentialism, <em>Not Always So</em> is it. Part instruction manual for Zen practice and part philosophical meditation, Shunryu Suzuki's teachings emphasize being-in-the-world. He does not point toward a singular enlightenment-event as a burst into higher consciousness. Rather, he suggests a more experiential enlightenment that finds meaning in a full awareness of the present. For example: &quot;If you go to the rest room, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you cook, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you clean the floor, there is a chance to attain enlightenment.&quot; <p>  Shunryu Suzuki was an important emissary of Zen Buddhism to the United States. Establishing a Zen center in San Francisco in the 1960s, he attracted many noted pupils, including this book's editor, Edward Espe Brown. In fact, <em>Not Always So</em> is Brown's collection of Suzuki's teachings during his last years, in the late 1960s and early 1970s.<p>  No doubt some readers will want to wrestle with the often paradoxical nature of Zen teachings. And those from the Western philosophical tradition may find vast differences between the Western system that takes its cue from Descartes' <em>cogito</em> and the Eastern one that emphasizes the destruction of the ego. Says Suzuki: &quot;It is just your mind that says you are here and I am there, that's all. Originally we are one with everything.&quot; While the book does not wrestle with cultural-philosophical differences, it is nevertheless a good introduction to Zen. Suzuki's teachings tend to flow from simple stories, usually drawn from his own experiences. It's almost entirely free of the jargon that clutters many books on Buddhism, and the teachings are communicated with clarity and brevity. <em>--Eric de Place</em></p></p>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[My son loved it! : I purchased this for my son for Christmas because he loves to watch Stephen Colbert. Well, he opened it Christmas and started to leaf through it and began to laugh, then his brother joined him and they both started to laugh. It was like pulling candy from a baby to get their atten...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/27353185">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[If you can imagine Zen Existentialism, <em>Not Always So</em> is it. Part instruction manual for Zen practice and part philosophical meditation, Shunryu Suzuki's teachings emphasize being-in-the-world. He does not point toward a singular enlightenment-event as a burst into higher consciousness. Rather, he suggests a more experiential enlightenment that finds meaning in a full awareness of the present. For example: &quot;If you go to the rest room, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you cook, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you clean the floor, there is a chance to attain enlightenment.&quot; <p>  Shunryu Suzuki was an important emissary of Zen Buddhism to the United States. Establishing a Zen center in San Francisco in the 1960s, he attracted many noted pupils, including this book's editor, Edward Espe Brown. In fact, <em>Not Always So</em> is Brown's collection of Suzuki's teachings during his last years, in the late 1960s and early 1970s.<p>  No doubt some readers will want to wrestle with the often paradoxical nature of Zen teachings. And those from the Western philosophical tradition may find vast differences between the Western system that takes its cue from Descartes' <em>cogito</em> and the Eastern one that emphasizes the destruction of the ego. Says Suzuki: &quot;It is just your mind that says you are here and I am there, that's all. Originally we are one with everything.&quot; While the book does not wrestle with cultural-philosophical differences, it is nevertheless a good introduction to Zen. Suzuki's teachings tend to flow from simple stories, usually drawn from his own experiences. It's almost entirely free of the jargon that clutters many books on Buddhism, and the teachings are communicated with clarity and brevity. <em>--Eric de Place</em></p></p>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[eh... valid points, but i do believe a little coherency would have been appreciated. and concise would be nice. it was distracting which is... i would imagine - precisely what we do not want.]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[If you can imagine Zen Existentialism, <em>Not Always So</em> is it. Part instruction manual for Zen practice and part philosophical meditation, Shunryu Suzuki's teachings emphasize being-in-the-world. He does not point toward a singular enlightenment-event as a burst into higher consciousness. Rather, he suggests a more experiential enlightenment that finds meaning in a full awareness of the present. For example: &quot;If you go to the rest room, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you cook, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you clean the floor, there is a chance to attain enlightenment.&quot; <p>  Shunryu Suzuki was an important emissary of Zen Buddhism to the United States. Establishing a Zen center in San Francisco in the 1960s, he attracted many noted pupils, including this book's editor, Edward Espe Brown. In fact, <em>Not Always So</em> is Brown's collection of Suzuki's teachings during his last years, in the late 1960s and early 1970s.<p>  No doubt some readers will want to wrestle with the often paradoxical nature of Zen teachings. And those from the Western philosophical tradition may find vast differences between the Western system that takes its cue from Descartes' <em>cogito</em> and the Eastern one that emphasizes the destruction of the ego. Says Suzuki: &quot;It is just your mind that says you are here and I am there, that's all. Originally we are one with everything.&quot; While the book does not wrestle with cultural-philosophical differences, it is nevertheless a good introduction to Zen. Suzuki's teachings tend to flow from simple stories, usually drawn from his own experiences. It's almost entirely free of the jargon that clutters many books on Buddhism, and the teachings are communicated with clarity and brevity. <em>--Eric de Place</em></p></p>]]>
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  <date_added>Tue Jun 19 17:43:13 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Jun 19 17:45:10 -0700 2007</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[This remains one of my favorite books of Zen as it deals with it in a very down-to-earth way that can pretty much be practiced by anybody.  When I first encountered this book I had the strong impression, from the way it's written, that his words were something I could experience as something just fo...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2138005">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[If you can imagine Zen Existentialism, <em>Not Always So</em> is it. Part instruction manual for Zen practice and part philosophical meditation, Shunryu Suzuki's teachings emphasize being-in-the-world. He does not point toward a singular enlightenment-event as a burst into higher consciousness. Rather, he suggests a more experiential enlightenment that finds meaning in a full awareness of the present. For example: &quot;If you go to the rest room, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you cook, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you clean the floor, there is a chance to attain enlightenment.&quot; <p>  Shunryu Suzuki was an important emissary of Zen Buddhism to the United States. Establishing a Zen center in San Francisco in the 1960s, he attracted many noted pupils, including this book's editor, Edward Espe Brown. In fact, <em>Not Always So</em> is Brown's collection of Suzuki's teachings during his last years, in the late 1960s and early 1970s.<p>  No doubt some readers will want to wrestle with the often paradoxical nature of Zen teachings. And those from the Western philosophical tradition may find vast differences between the Western system that takes its cue from Descartes' <em>cogito</em> and the Eastern one that emphasizes the destruction of the ego. Says Suzuki: &quot;It is just your mind that says you are here and I am there, that's all. Originally we are one with everything.&quot; While the book does not wrestle with cultural-philosophical differences, it is nevertheless a good introduction to Zen. Suzuki's teachings tend to flow from simple stories, usually drawn from his own experiences. It's almost entirely free of the jargon that clutters many books on Buddhism, and the teachings are communicated with clarity and brevity. <em>--Eric de Place</em></p></p>]]>
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  <date_added>Fri May 25 11:04:34 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed May 30 15:07:13 -0700 2007</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[This is not as tight as <em>Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind</em>.  More of the same - would recommend the first over the second, both useful.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1442287]]></url>
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    <![CDATA[Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen]]>
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    <![CDATA[If you can imagine Zen Existentialism, <em>Not Always So</em> is it. Part instruction manual for Zen practice and part philosophical meditation, Shunryu Suzuki's teachings emphasize being-in-the-world. He does not point toward a singular enlightenment-event as a burst into higher consciousness. Rather, he suggests a more experiential enlightenment that finds meaning in a full awareness of the present. For example: &quot;If you go to the rest room, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you cook, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you clean the floor, there is a chance to attain enlightenment.&quot; <p>  Shunryu Suzuki was an important emissary of Zen Buddhism to the United States. Establishing a Zen center in San Francisco in the 1960s, he attracted many noted pupils, including this book's editor, Edward Espe Brown. In fact, <em>Not Always So</em> is Brown's collection of Suzuki's teachings during his last years, in the late 1960s and early 1970s.<p>  No doubt some readers will want to wrestle with the often paradoxical nature of Zen teachings. And those from the Western philosophical tradition may find vast differences between the Western system that takes its cue from Descartes' <em>cogito</em> and the Eastern one that emphasizes the destruction of the ego. Says Suzuki: &quot;It is just your mind that says you are here and I am there, that's all. Originally we are one with everything.&quot; While the book does not wrestle with cultural-philosophical differences, it is nevertheless a good introduction to Zen. Suzuki's teachings tend to flow from simple stories, usually drawn from his own experiences. It's almost entirely free of the jargon that clutters many books on Buddhism, and the teachings are communicated with clarity and brevity. <em>--Eric de Place</em></p></p>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[I'm currently re-reading this and possibly enjoying it more than the first time]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[If you can imagine Zen Existentialism, <em>Not Always So</em> is it. Part instruction manual for Zen practice and part philosophical meditation, Shunryu Suzuki's teachings emphasize being-in-the-world. He does not point toward a singular enlightenment-event as a burst into higher consciousness. Rather, he suggests a more experiential enlightenment that finds meaning in a full awareness of the present. For example: &quot;If you go to the rest room, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you cook, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you clean the floor, there is a chance to attain enlightenment.&quot; <p>  Shunryu Suzuki was an important emissary of Zen Buddhism to the United States. Establishing a Zen center in San Francisco in the 1960s, he attracted many noted pupils, including this book's editor, Edward Espe Brown. In fact, <em>Not Always So</em> is Brown's collection of Suzuki's teachings during his last years, in the late 1960s and early 1970s.<p>  No doubt some readers will want to wrestle with the often paradoxical nature of Zen teachings. And those from the Western philosophical tradition may find vast differences between the Western system that takes its cue from Descartes' <em>cogito</em> and the Eastern one that emphasizes the destruction of the ego. Says Suzuki: &quot;It is just your mind that says you are here and I am there, that's all. Originally we are one with everything.&quot; While the book does not wrestle with cultural-philosophical differences, it is nevertheless a good introduction to Zen. Suzuki's teachings tend to flow from simple stories, usually drawn from his own experiences. It's almost entirely free of the jargon that clutters many books on Buddhism, and the teachings are communicated with clarity and brevity. <em>--Eric de Place</em></p></p>]]>
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  <date_updated>Tue Aug 28 06:41:24 -0700 2007</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[I bet a fly couldn't land on his head without slipping off ~ zooooo ! ]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen]]>
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    <![CDATA[If you can imagine Zen Existentialism, <em>Not Always So</em> is it. Part instruction manual for Zen practice and part philosophical meditation, Shunryu Suzuki's teachings emphasize being-in-the-world. He does not point toward a singular enlightenment-event as a burst into higher consciousness. Rather, he suggests a more experiential enlightenment that finds meaning in a full awareness of the present. For example: &quot;If you go to the rest room, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you cook, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you clean the floor, there is a chance to attain enlightenment.&quot; <p>  Shunryu Suzuki was an important emissary of Zen Buddhism to the United States. Establishing a Zen center in San Francisco in the 1960s, he attracted many noted pupils, including this book's editor, Edward Espe Brown. In fact, <em>Not Always So</em> is Brown's collection of Suzuki's teachings during his last years, in the late 1960s and early 1970s.<p>  No doubt some readers will want to wrestle with the often paradoxical nature of Zen teachings. And those from the Western philosophical tradition may find vast differences between the Western system that takes its cue from Descartes' <em>cogito</em> and the Eastern one that emphasizes the destruction of the ego. Says Suzuki: &quot;It is just your mind that says you are here and I am there, that's all. Originally we are one with everything.&quot; While the book does not wrestle with cultural-philosophical differences, it is nevertheless a good introduction to Zen. Suzuki's teachings tend to flow from simple stories, usually drawn from his own experiences. It's almost entirely free of the jargon that clutters many books on Buddhism, and the teachings are communicated with clarity and brevity. <em>--Eric de Place</em></p></p>]]>
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  <date_updated>Wed Dec 16 21:21:56 -0800 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[I love this guy.  Suzuki helped me find my true spirit of Zen.  A deep read.]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[If you can imagine Zen Existentialism, <em>Not Always So</em> is it. Part instruction manual for Zen practice and part philosophical meditation, Shunryu Suzuki's teachings emphasize being-in-the-world. He does not point toward a singular enlightenment-event as a burst into higher consciousness. Rather, he suggests a more experiential enlightenment that finds meaning in a full awareness of the present. For example: &quot;If you go to the rest room, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you cook, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you clean the floor, there is a chance to attain enlightenment.&quot; <p>  Shunryu Suzuki was an important emissary of Zen Buddhism to the United States. Establishing a Zen center in San Francisco in the 1960s, he attracted many noted pupils, including this book's editor, Edward Espe Brown. In fact, <em>Not Always So</em> is Brown's collection of Suzuki's teachings during his last years, in the late 1960s and early 1970s.<p>  No doubt some readers will want to wrestle with the often paradoxical nature of Zen teachings. And those from the Western philosophical tradition may find vast differences between the Western system that takes its cue from Descartes' <em>cogito</em> and the Eastern one that emphasizes the destruction of the ego. Says Suzuki: &quot;It is just your mind that says you are here and I am there, that's all. Originally we are one with everything.&quot; While the book does not wrestle with cultural-philosophical differences, it is nevertheless a good introduction to Zen. Suzuki's teachings tend to flow from simple stories, usually drawn from his own experiences. It's almost entirely free of the jargon that clutters many books on Buddhism, and the teachings are communicated with clarity and brevity. <em>--Eric de Place</em></p></p>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[Even better than Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind!]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14176763]]></url>
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    <![CDATA[If you can imagine Zen Existentialism, <em>Not Always So</em> is it. Part instruction manual for Zen practice and part philosophical meditation, Shunryu Suzuki's teachings emphasize being-in-the-world. He does not point toward a singular enlightenment-event as a burst into higher consciousness. Rather, he suggests a more experiential enlightenment that finds meaning in a full awareness of the present. For example: &quot;If you go to the rest room, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you cook, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you clean the floor, there is a chance to attain enlightenment.&quot; <p>  Shunryu Suzuki was an important emissary of Zen Buddhism to the United States. Establishing a Zen center in San Francisco in the 1960s, he attracted many noted pupils, including this book's editor, Edward Espe Brown. In fact, <em>Not Always So</em> is Brown's collection of Suzuki's teachings during his last years, in the late 1960s and early 1970s.<p>  No doubt some readers will want to wrestle with the often paradoxical nature of Zen teachings. And those from the Western philosophical tradition may find vast differences between the Western system that takes its cue from Descartes' <em>cogito</em> and the Eastern one that emphasizes the destruction of the ego. Says Suzuki: &quot;It is just your mind that says you are here and I am there, that's all. Originally we are one with everything.&quot; While the book does not wrestle with cultural-philosophical differences, it is nevertheless a good introduction to Zen. Suzuki's teachings tend to flow from simple stories, usually drawn from his own experiences. It's almost entirely free of the jargon that clutters many books on Buddhism, and the teachings are communicated with clarity and brevity. <em>--Eric de Place</em></p></p>]]>
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    <![CDATA[If you can imagine Zen Existentialism, <em>Not Always So</em> is it. Part instruction manual for Zen practice and part philosophical meditation, Shunryu Suzuki's teachings emphasize being-in-the-world. He does not point toward a singular enlightenment-event as a burst into higher consciousness. Rather, he suggests a more experiential enlightenment that finds meaning in a full awareness of the present. For example: &quot;If you go to the rest room, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you cook, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you clean the floor, there is a chance to attain enlightenment.&quot; <p>  Shunryu Suzuki was an important emissary of Zen Buddhism to the United States. Establishing a Zen center in San Francisco in the 1960s, he attracted many noted pupils, including this book's editor, Edward Espe Brown. In fact, <em>Not Always So</em> is Brown's collection of Suzuki's teachings during his last years, in the late 1960s and early 1970s.<p>  No doubt some readers will want to wrestle with the often paradoxical nature of Zen teachings. And those from the Western philosophical tradition may find vast differences between the Western system that takes its cue from Descartes' <em>cogito</em> and the Eastern one that emphasizes the destruction of the ego. Says Suzuki: &quot;It is just your mind that says you are here and I am there, that's all. Originally we are one with everything.&quot; While the book does not wrestle with cultural-philosophical differences, it is nevertheless a good introduction to Zen. Suzuki's teachings tend to flow from simple stories, usually drawn from his own experiences. It's almost entirely free of the jargon that clutters many books on Buddhism, and the teachings are communicated with clarity and brevity. <em>--Eric de Place</em></p></p>]]>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">10</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen]]>
  </title>
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  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/238843.Not_Always_So_Practicing_the_True_Spirit_of_Zen</link>
  <average_rating>4.24</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>113</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[If you can imagine Zen Existentialism, <em>Not Always So</em> is it. Part instruction manual for Zen practice and part philosophical meditation, Shunryu Suzuki's teachings emphasize being-in-the-world. He does not point toward a singular enlightenment-event as a burst into higher consciousness. Rather, he suggests a more experiential enlightenment that finds meaning in a full awareness of the present. For example: &quot;If you go to the rest room, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you cook, there is a chance for enlightenment. When you clean the floor, there is a chance to attain enlightenment.&quot; <p>  Shunryu Suzuki was an important emissary of Zen Buddhism to the United States. Establishing a Zen center in San Francisco in the 1960s, he attracted many noted pupils, including this book's editor, Edward Espe Brown. In fact, <em>Not Always So</em> is Brown's collection of Suzuki's teachings during his last years, in the late 1960s and early 1970s.<p>  No doubt some readers will want to wrestle with the often paradoxical nature of Zen teachings. And those from the Western philosophical tradition may find vast differences between the Western system that takes its cue from Descartes' <em>cogito</em> and the Eastern one that emphasizes the destruction of the ego. Says Suzuki: &quot;It is just your mind that says you are here and I am there, that's all. Originally we are one with everything.&quot; While the book does not wrestle with cultural-philosophical differences, it is nevertheless a good introduction to Zen. Suzuki's teachings tend to flow from simple stories, usually drawn from his own experiences. It's almost entirely free of the jargon that clutters many books on Buddhism, and the teachings are communicated with clarity and brevity. <em>--Eric de Place</em></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2002</published>
</book>

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  <date_added>Mon Sep 28 00:37:34 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Sep 28 00:37:34 -0700 2009</date_updated>
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