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  <title><![CDATA[The Spirit of Zen]]></title>
  <isbn><![CDATA[0802130569]]></isbn>
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  <description><![CDATA[&lt;div&gt;Alan Watts&#8217;s The Spirit of Zen was one of the first books to introduce the basic foundation of Zen Buddhism to English-speaking audiences. This volume still stands as one of the most lucid and concise explanations of the origins and defining principles of Zen, from its beginnings in ancient India and its later transmission to China and Japan, to Watts&#8217;s revealing portrait of life in a contemporary Japanese Zen monastery. In The Spirit of Zen, Watts describes, in plain language but without robbing the subject of its provocative subtlety, how one can prepare for a life of Zen. He explains the sacrifices and surrenders, the requisite self-control; the baffling set of spiritual exercises known as Koan, which take the form of verbal jigsaw puzzles; the importance of mental discipline; and the need to recognize the futility of mere intellectual haggling &#8212; all necessary steps along the road to Zen. Through text and illustrations, the author examines the tea ceremony, ink-drawing, landscaping, and swordsmanship, all Zen-infused aspects of Japanese life; they give an understanding not only of Zen, but of Eastern culture in general. &lt;/div&gt;]]></description>
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  <original_title>The Spirit of Zen</original_title>
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        <name><![CDATA[Alan Wilson Watts]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Spirit of Zen: A Way of Life, Work and Art in the Far East]]>
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  <average_rating>4.00</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[Here is something quite unfamiliar to the West, something which will appeal strongly to all who are trying to find deeper reality in life than philosophy and conventional religion can express. Historically, Zen is an aspect of Buddhism, but in itself it is so vital and elusive that it escapes definition. To be understood it must be lived. As a way of life it is the highest achievement of the Chinese spirit and the inspiration of its greatest art. Through Zen, Chinese culture reinforms our own with new meaning and offers us altogether new possibilities in a world of change. Contents Include: The Origins of Zen The Secret of Zen The Technique of Zen Life in a Zen Community Zen and the Civilization of the Far East]]>
  </description>
  <published>1969</published>
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    <body><![CDATA[I found this book on the sidewalk in New York. Since somebody left it there to be picked up and i love it when books find their own miraculous way into my lap, now it seems has come the time for learning about Zen.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/50082675]]></url>
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[The Spirit of Zen: A Way of Life, Work and Art in the Far East]]>
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  <average_rating>3.78</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>54</ratings_count>
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    <![CDATA[Here is something quite unfamiliar to the West, something which will appeal strongly to all who are trying to find deeper reality in life than philosophy and conventional religion can express. Historically, Zen is an aspect of Buddhism, but in itself it is so vital and elusive that it escapes definition. To be understood it must be lived. As a way of life it is the highest achievement of the Chinese spirit and the inspiration of its greatest art. Through Zen, Chinese culture reinforms our own with new meaning and offers us altogether new possibilities in a world of change. Contents Include: The Origins of Zen The Secret of Zen The Technique of Zen Life in a Zen Community Zen and the Civilization of the Far East]]>
  </description>
  <published>1969</published>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[Zen is for the few.]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at>Thu Apr 16 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Apr 18 19:09:01 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Apr 18 19:32:41 -0700 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[Watts helped popularized Zen Buddhism in the West with the publication of this seminal work.  Easy to read, the book is an excellent primer in the subject of Zen Buddhism.  ]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/53178133]]></url>
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      <review>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Spirit of Zen]]>
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  <average_rating>3.69</average_rating>
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  <description>
    <![CDATA[&lt;div&gt;Alan Watts&#8217;s The Spirit of Zen was one of the first books to introduce the basic foundation of Zen Buddhism to English-speaking audiences. This volume still stands as one of the most lucid and concise explanations of the origins and defining principles of Zen, from its beginnings in ancient India and its later transmission to China and Japan, to Watts&#8217;s revealing portrait of life in a contemporary Japanese Zen monastery. In The Spirit of Zen, Watts describes, in plain language but without robbing the subject of its provocative subtlety, how one can prepare for a life of Zen. He explains the sacrifices and surrenders, the requisite self-control; the baffling set of spiritual exercises known as Koan, which take the form of verbal jigsaw puzzles; the importance of mental discipline; and the need to recognize the futility of mere intellectual haggling &#8212; all necessary steps along the road to Zen. Through text and illustrations, the author examines the tea ceremony, ink-drawing, landscaping, and swordsmanship, all Zen-infused aspects of Japanese life; they give an understanding not only of Zen, but of Eastern culture in general. &lt;/div&gt;]]>
  </description>
  <published>1969</published>
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  <date_added>Fri Sep 25 22:57:15 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Sep 25 22:57:15 -0700 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[The Spirit of Zen: a Way of Life Work and Art in the Far East by Alan W Watts (1960)]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/72527428]]></url>
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[The Spirit of Zen]]>
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  <average_rating>3.78</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>54</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[&lt;div&gt;Alan Watts&#8217;s The Spirit of Zen was one of the first books to introduce the basic foundation of Zen Buddhism to English-speaking audiences. This volume still stands as one of the most lucid and concise explanations of the origins and defining principles of Zen, from its beginnings in ancient India and its later transmission to China and Japan, to Watts&#8217;s revealing portrait of life in a contemporary Japanese Zen monastery. In The Spirit of Zen, Watts describes, in plain language but without robbing the subject of its provocative subtlety, how one can prepare for a life of Zen. He explains the sacrifices and surrenders, the requisite self-control; the baffling set of spiritual exercises known as Koan, which take the form of verbal jigsaw puzzles; the importance of mental discipline; and the need to recognize the futility of mere intellectual haggling &#8212; all necessary steps along the road to Zen. Through text and illustrations, the author examines the tea ceremony, ink-drawing, landscaping, and swordsmanship, all Zen-infused aspects of Japanese life; they give an understanding not only of Zen, but of Eastern culture in general. &lt;/div&gt;]]>
  </description>
  <published>1969</published>
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  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Fri Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 1992</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Dec 02 10:56:47 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Dec 02 12:52:49 -0800 2008</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[Read for my independent study in Eastern philosophy.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/39119232]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/39119232]]></link>
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      <review>
  <id>19348545</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Paige]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Lake Forest, CA]]></location>
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  <isbn>1406791016</isbn>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Spirit of Zen: A Way of Life, Work &amp; Art in the Far East]]>
  </title>
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  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243590.The_Spirit_of_Zen_A_Way_of_Life_Work_Art_in_the_Far_East</link>
  <average_rating>3.83</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>12</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Here is something quite unfamiliar to the West, something which will appeal strongly to all who are trying to find  deeper reality in life than philosophy and conventional religion can express. Historically, Zen is an aspect of Buddhism, but in itself it is so vital and elusive that it escapes definition. To be understood it must be lived. As a way of life it is the highest achievement of the Chinese spirit and the inspiration of its greatest art. Through Zen , Chinese culture reinforms our own with new meaning and offers us altogether new possibilities in a world of change. Contents Include: The Origins of Zen - The Secret of Zen - The Technique of Zen - Life in a Zen Community - Zen and the Civilization of the Far East]]>
  </description>
  <published>1969</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
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  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1991</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Apr 02 22:39:23 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Apr 02 22:43:12 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[AMAZING.  My copy is not from 2006, more like 1966.  It's tattered and sections are falling apart.  I keep it together pushed together by other books.  It's a BIBLE.  It's a better codex than the bible!! Although it's not really a code to live by, it explains Buddhism SO SIMPLY that it exemplifies t...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/19348545">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/19348545]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/19348545]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Chris]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Spirit of Zen]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.78</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>54</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[&lt;div&gt;Alan Watts&#8217;s The Spirit of Zen was one of the first books to introduce the basic foundation of Zen Buddhism to English-speaking audiences. This volume still stands as one of the most lucid and concise explanations of the origins and defining principles of Zen, from its beginnings in ancient India and its later transmission to China and Japan, to Watts&#8217;s revealing portrait of life in a contemporary Japanese Zen monastery. In The Spirit of Zen, Watts describes, in plain language but without robbing the subject of its provocative subtlety, how one can prepare for a life of Zen. He explains the sacrifices and surrenders, the requisite self-control; the baffling set of spiritual exercises known as Koan, which take the form of verbal jigsaw puzzles; the importance of mental discipline; and the need to recognize the futility of mere intellectual haggling &#8212; all necessary steps along the road to Zen. Through text and illustrations, the author examines the tea ceremony, ink-drawing, landscaping, and swordsmanship, all Zen-infused aspects of Japanese life; they give an understanding not only of Zen, but of Eastern culture in general. &lt;/div&gt;]]>
  </description>
  <published>1969</published>
</book>

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  <date_added>Tue Dec 22 06:09:36 -0800 2009</date_added>
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      <review>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Spirit of Zen]]>
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  <average_rating>3.78</average_rating>
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  <description>
    <![CDATA[&lt;div&gt;Alan Watts&#8217;s The Spirit of Zen was one of the first books to introduce the basic foundation of Zen Buddhism to English-speaking audiences. This volume still stands as one of the most lucid and concise explanations of the origins and defining principles of Zen, from its beginnings in ancient India and its later transmission to China and Japan, to Watts&#8217;s revealing portrait of life in a contemporary Japanese Zen monastery. In The Spirit of Zen, Watts describes, in plain language but without robbing the subject of its provocative subtlety, how one can prepare for a life of Zen. He explains the sacrifices and surrenders, the requisite self-control; the baffling set of spiritual exercises known as Koan, which take the form of verbal jigsaw puzzles; the importance of mental discipline; and the need to recognize the futility of mere intellectual haggling &#8212; all necessary steps along the road to Zen. Through text and illustrations, the author examines the tea ceremony, ink-drawing, landscaping, and swordsmanship, all Zen-infused aspects of Japanese life; they give an understanding not only of Zen, but of Eastern culture in general. &lt;/div&gt;]]>
  </description>
  <published>1969</published>
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  <date_added>Sun Nov 22 16:58:03 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Nov 22 16:58:03 -0800 2009</date_updated>
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  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78675532]]></url>
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