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Finding the Still Point: A Beginner's Guide to Zen Meditation
One of the simplest, easiest-to-understand guides to Zen meditation--with audio exercises to serve as meditation companions.
Through Zen meditation it is possible to find stillness of mind even amidst our everyday activities--and this book reveals how. With easy-to-understand instructions, practical lessons, and short-but-sweet tid-bits of useful information, beloved Zen master John Daido Loori shares the way of Zen meditation in terms that even those starting from the very beginning can understand. Guided audio instructions--available for download online--supplement the teachings throughout the book, giving beginners the tools they need to take that first step into Zen practice and meditation.
Through Zen meditation it is possible to find stillness of mind even amidst our everyday activities--and this book reveals how. With easy-to-understand instructions, practical lessons, and short-but-sweet tid-bits of useful information, beloved Zen master John Daido Loori shares the way of Zen meditation in terms that even those starting from the very beginning can understand. Guided audio instructions--available for download online--supplement the teachings throughout the book, giving beginners the tools they need to take that first step into Zen practice and meditation.
96 pages, Paperback
First published September 4, 2007
27 people are currently reading
232 people want to read
About the author
John Daido Loori
64 books30 followersJohn Daido Loori was a Zen Buddhist rōshi who served as the abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery. He was the founder of the Mountains and Rivers Order of Zen Buddhism and CEO of Dharma Communications.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
March 30, 2012
At first, I was loving this book! It started out doing a great job of describing that 'still point' and getting down to practicality on the whys and hows of it!
Sometimes Zen Meditation can be confusing, or even frustratingly contradictory when people write about it... this book was not- at least not untill the last few pages. Dangit.
By the end, it had devolved into the usual poorly translated babble. UGH. At one point, it uses an example of a master shouting, "Asshole! Where is the picking and choosing!" when a student asked a question of where was the picking and choosing... and then AFTER he rambles on in the usual contradictory fashion, explains that really the word in that language was more "oaf" or "uneducated bumpkin" but he was just shocking the student into seeing things from a different perspective.
I'm so sorry, but it isn't the same. You shout that at a modern, american student and you might get less zen and more punched in the face.
The good news, is that the book is very short and to the point- if you can ignore the last few pages, or find a way to understand the AUTHOR's point of view. ugh.
One day, I will find the best book EVAR, on meditation. This wasn't that book. :P
Sometimes Zen Meditation can be confusing, or even frustratingly contradictory when people write about it... this book was not- at least not untill the last few pages. Dangit.
By the end, it had devolved into the usual poorly translated babble. UGH. At one point, it uses an example of a master shouting, "Asshole! Where is the picking and choosing!" when a student asked a question of where was the picking and choosing... and then AFTER he rambles on in the usual contradictory fashion, explains that really the word in that language was more "oaf" or "uneducated bumpkin" but he was just shocking the student into seeing things from a different perspective.
I'm so sorry, but it isn't the same. You shout that at a modern, american student and you might get less zen and more punched in the face.
The good news, is that the book is very short and to the point- if you can ignore the last few pages, or find a way to understand the AUTHOR's point of view. ugh.
One day, I will find the best book EVAR, on meditation. This wasn't that book. :P
January 5, 2016
"To study the Buddha Way is to study the self,
To study the self is to forget the self,
To forget the self is to be enlightened by the ten thousand things"
- Dogen
To study the self is to forget the self,
To forget the self is to be enlightened by the ten thousand things"
- Dogen
February 7, 2022
A nice brief introduction to Zen sitting meditation. Includes a dharma section that felt uneven. Each of these books has its own focus and strengths and weaknesses. Lovely nature photographs.
March 27, 2023
Nice introduction to Zen practice. Enjoyed the explanation of how to read or listen to a dharma talk....watch the mind, suspend disbelief for the time being. Clear and clarifying instructions.
June 1, 2012
I really enjoyed how straight and to the point this book was in defining terms and explaining how to meditate. I appreciate that the author explains the process and how to improve more and more over time. Most of it was easy to understand and apply. The second half of the book got a little confusing to me at times. The jump from the straighforward to the more philosophical was a bit difficult to follow with little transition. This book does come with a CD, which helps a great deal in understanding the process.
December 13, 2011
A brief introduction to guided and unguided (self or solitary) meditation. Free of clutter and flowery talk, it gets down to the business of how to meditate properly. Not only is the book an excellent and easy read without a lot of hyperbole and metaphysical mysticism mumbo-jumbo, but it comes with a CD that will help guide you as well. Another to add to my spiritual reference library!
June 27, 2008
This is a very short and simple introduction to meditation. I'm not sure it's great for beginners, as he uses some fairly esoteric terms to those who are uninitiated into Buddhism. Still, you can easily read it in a setting, and it might have some useful tips for anyone interested in meditation.
July 5, 2010
Here is the definitive "how to" guide for meditation. Loori's perspective is Zen, but it doesn't matter for this.
There are many books on how to meditate, but this is the clearest, and most concise method book I've seen. I love this book.
There are many books on how to meditate, but this is the clearest, and most concise method book I've seen. I love this book.
October 3, 2012
Short, sweet and to the point. No mumbo jumbo no airy platitudes here, just a stright forward how t guide for the beginner with a cd to help along the way. One of the clearest instructional materials I have read and a useful and interesting dharma talk to end it off. A great little starter
April 28, 2008
I found this easy to follow and the illustrations were good, too. I think I need to take notes as this little book must go back to the library!
August 4, 2008
Good general overview. I did not listent to the accompanying CD, so no opinion on that.
June 18, 2010
The photographs are splendidly calming, and the content just brings you to the still point.
June 6, 2011
Nice little guide to meditation. Now to work in the time to do it...
August 10, 2011
Very helpful little book for beginners.
March 1, 2016
A nice little book on meditation. So excited to get into this!
June 20, 2013
Short and concise. A breeze to read but thoroughly enjoyable.
December 7, 2014
Pretty good, didn't get to the guided meditations on CD.
September 7, 2019
A great book for beginners of Zen. It can help start to explain things and offers books to continue reading.
September 3, 2017
nice, concise description of how-to sit zen meditation. simple to read. His instructions make meditation accessible to all. Also has a short concluding chapter on buddhist teaching. Perfect for beginners as well as those who have meditated for a while but need a reminder of nothing
November 19, 2019
"Finding the Still Point A Beginners Guide To Zen Meditation" is a concise overview of the philosophy and practice of Zen Meditation. It lays down the basic groundwork to those wishing to start a practice. I would strongly recommend it.
March 14, 2018
Reading the second half containing the Dharma Discourse was incredibly enlightening.
September 26, 2018
The beginning of the book was especially helpful, as it outlined how to properly sit zazen in a clear and informative way. A pretty good book for me, as a beginner.
August 14, 2019
Very helpful to learn how to meditate the proper way. It is still nice to have a teacher. The conclusion is a little hard to follow if you have been practicing Christianity for a long time.
June 25, 2021
Good down to earth and short. Bang.
February 27, 2023
3.5 for me
What I like about this is that it is straight to the point. Quite a short book. Really liked part 1. Part 2, meh.
What I like about this is that it is straight to the point. Quite a short book. Really liked part 1. Part 2, meh.
September 19, 2024
I spent a memorable weekend at the Zen Mountain Monastary some years ago and attended a Dharma talk by Master Loori. This slim volume is a wonderful introduction to his tradition.
May 21, 2022
Well, I guess it's worth a shot.
I came upon this at Manhattan Public Library and figured I might as well check it out and read it. Maybe I'll get something out of the meditation style it suggests. Maybe it'll be more profitable if instead of counting I repeat the mantra "en archei en ho logos kai ho logos en pros ton theon kai theos en ho logos" (yeah, I'm all smug now because I know a few Greek words).
(Thu 05 May 2022 11:39:27 PM CDT)
I came upon this at Manhattan Public Library and figured I might as well check it out and read it. Maybe I'll get something out of the meditation style it suggests. Maybe it'll be more profitable if instead of counting I repeat the mantra "en archei en ho logos kai ho logos en pros ton theon kai theos en ho logos" (yeah, I'm all smug now because I know a few Greek words).
(Thu 05 May 2022 11:39:27 PM CDT)
April 30, 2012
very simple and easy to understand if you want to get started with meditation. Short read too!
October 10, 2012
Re-Read Often
March 17, 2013
Beautiful and peaceful.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews