Seeds for a Boundless Life: Zen Teachings from the Heart

by Zenkei Blanche Hartman, Zenju Earthlyn Manuel (Editor)

Short and accessible teachings from one of America's pioneer woman Zen teachers.

Zenkei Blanche Hartman is an American Zen legend. A teacher in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki, author of Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind , she was the first female abbot of an American Zen center. She is greatly revered, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she has lived and taught for many years. This, her long-awaited first book, is a collection of short teachings taken from her talks on the subject of boundlessness--the boundlessness that sees beyond our small, limited self to include all others. To live a boundless life she encourages living the vows prescribed by the Buddha and living life with the curiosity of a child. The short, stand-alone pieces can be dipped into whenever one is in need of inspiration.

Genres: Buddhism, Nonfiction, Zen, Philosophy, Spirituality, Self Help

168 pages, Paperback

First published August 25, 2015

Reviews

[Sian Lile-Pastore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relatively new to reading about zen... And this book was perfect for me - accessible, sweet and easy to understand.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book for continuing and beginning practitioners of Zen, other forms of Buddhism, and for those who are simply interested in how to be more compassionate to themselves. A book filled with advice, examples, and insights, Zenkei Blanche Hartman lives the words that she preaches. A woman whose passing form this world was keenly felt within the American Buddhist community, this, the only book ever published in her name, is a good resource to see how the Buddhist teachings of the San Francisco Zen Center have blossomed into dharma teachings for every day life.

A constant reminder to be good to yourself, practice wholeheartedly and with good intentions the way you approach the world and your work, and that there truly is no separate "I" - everything is connected, whether you like it or not.

The thesis of this book? Hartman repeats it over and over again in the Buddhist teachings of the Four Immeasurables - Equanimity, Love, Compassion, Joy.

A book I see worth returning to from time to time, and one that I would wholeheartedly recommend.

[Gord Clements · Rating 4 out of 5]

zenzai Blanche Hartman brings a life of experience and training as a zen practitioner as well as years of serving as a teacher and in leadership. She openly explores many life issues and potential problems and illuminates very practically a Buddhist response. My understanding of what she has illuminated here is that this response changes as one awakens to their nature and comes to knows themselves in a deeper way than a conventional way allows. In a world of impermanence we somehow become trapped in fixed and limited notions of what we are and what we are capable of experiencing. With a deeper awareness and connection intuition plays a greater role in ones responses. Buddhist practice of being here and now is a way of waking oneself up to what we are, that we have somehow have lost touch with.

[Private Grave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Superb, subtle breakdown of concepts in a way we all can relate to. One of the clearest expressions of concepts I've read and heard spoken of many times but still felt unclear on.

This is the Zen spoken with the American accent, which makes a difference.

[Sean A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear and generous.

[Marta · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mostly pap.

[Mickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I will always be reading this one, checking in whenever I need it.

[Kim Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good bringing of Zen teachings into modern life

[Nancy Rappaport · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. Read this while in Tassajara Zen retreat. Wise , warm and accessible !!!

[Q · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blanche was such a lovely human being. She taught by example. Had a beautiful practice. Was very wise. Reading this is having her presence once again. I pick it up & randomly read... grateful.