Zen Under Fire

Zen Under Fire PDF Author: Marianne Elliott
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
ISBN: 1402281129
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 308

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Book Description
I am about to be left in charge of the office. I'm not sure I'm ready for the responsibility, so I double-check with my boss. He reassures me. "You'll be fine, Marianne. As long as no one kills Amanullah Khan, you'll be fine." By midday, Amanullah Khan is dead. Marianne Elliot is a human rights lawyer stationed with the UN in Herat when the unthinkable happens: a tribal leader is assassinated, and she must defuse the situation before it leads to widespread bloodshed. And this is just the beginning of the story in Afghanistan. Zen Under Fire lays bare the struggles of a war-torn region from a uniquely personal perspective. Honest and vivid, her story reveals the shattering effect that the high-stress environment has on Marianne and her relationships. Redefining the question of what it really means to do good in a country that is under siege from within, Zen Under Fire is an honest, moving, at times terrifying true story of a women's experience at peacekeeping in one of the most dangerous places on Earth. "This is an amazing book, kind of like if Eat, Pray, Love had happened in Afghanistan and the stakes were life and death."—Susan Piver, New York Times bestselling author of Wisdom of a Broken Heart

Zen Under Fire

Zen Under Fire PDF Author: Marianne Elliott
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
ISBN: 1402281129
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 308

Get Book Here

Book Description
I am about to be left in charge of the office. I'm not sure I'm ready for the responsibility, so I double-check with my boss. He reassures me. "You'll be fine, Marianne. As long as no one kills Amanullah Khan, you'll be fine." By midday, Amanullah Khan is dead. Marianne Elliot is a human rights lawyer stationed with the UN in Herat when the unthinkable happens: a tribal leader is assassinated, and she must defuse the situation before it leads to widespread bloodshed. And this is just the beginning of the story in Afghanistan. Zen Under Fire lays bare the struggles of a war-torn region from a uniquely personal perspective. Honest and vivid, her story reveals the shattering effect that the high-stress environment has on Marianne and her relationships. Redefining the question of what it really means to do good in a country that is under siege from within, Zen Under Fire is an honest, moving, at times terrifying true story of a women's experience at peacekeeping in one of the most dangerous places on Earth. "This is an amazing book, kind of like if Eat, Pray, Love had happened in Afghanistan and the stakes were life and death."—Susan Piver, New York Times bestselling author of Wisdom of a Broken Heart

Fire Monks

Fire Monks PDF Author: Colleen Morton Busch
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1101516941
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 365

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Book Description
The "vivid" and "electrifying" true story of how five monks saved the oldest Zen Buddhist monastery in the United States from wildfire (San Francisco Chronicle). When a massive wildfire surrounded Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, five monks risked their lives to save it. A gripping narrative as well as a portrait of the Zen path and the ways of wildfire, Fire Monks reveals what it means to meet a crisis with full presence of mind. Zen master and author of the classic Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, Shunryu Suzuki Roshi established a monastery at Tassajara Hot Springs in 1967, drawn to the location's beauty, peace, and seclusion. Deep in the wilderness east of Big Sur, the center is connected to the outside world by a single unpaved road. The remoteness that makes it an oasis also makes it particularly vulnerable when disaster strikes. If fire entered the canyon, there would be no escape. More than two thousand wildfires, all started by a single lightning storm, blazed across the state of California in June 2008. With resources stretched thin, firefighters advised residents at Tassajara to evacuate early. Most did. A small crew stayed behind, preparing to protect the monastery when the fire arrived. But nothing could have prepared them for what came next. A treacherous shift in weather conditions prompted a final order to evacuate everyone, including all firefighters. As they caravanned up the road, five senior monks made the risky decision to turn back. Relying on their Zen training, they were able to remain in the moment and do the seemingly impossible-to greet the fire not as an enemy to defeat, but as a friend to guide. Fire Monks pivots on the kind of moment some seek and some run from, when life and death hang in simultaneous view. Novices in fire but experts in readiness, the Tassajara monks summoned both intuition and wisdom to face crisis with startling clarity. The result is a profound lesson in the art of living.

Zen Confidential

Zen Confidential PDF Author: Shozan Jack Haubner
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
ISBN: 0834829053
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 289

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Book Description
A screenwriter and stand-up comic’s hilarious and profound account of his journey into Zen monkhood—featuring a foreword by Leonard Cohen Shozan Jack Haubner is the David Sedaris of Zen Buddhism: a brilliant humorist and analyst of human foibles, whose hilarity is informed by the profound insights that have dawned on him—as he's stumbled and fallen into spirituall practice. Raised in a truly strange family of Mel-Gibson-esque Catholic extremists, he went on to study philosophy (becoming very un-Catholic in the process) and to pursue a career as a screenwriter and stand-up comic in the clubs of L.A. How he went from life in the fast lane to life on the stationary meditation cushion is the subject of this laugh-out-loud funny account of his experiences. Whether he’s dealing with the pranks of a juvenile delinquent assistant in the monastery kitchen or experiencing profound compassion in the presence of his spiritual teacher, Haubner’s voice is one you'll be compelled to listen to. Not only because it’s highly entertaining, but because of its remarkable insight into the human condition.

Zen Sand

Zen Sand PDF Author: Victor Sogen Hori
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
ISBN: 0824865677
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 785

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Book Description
Zen Sand is a classic collection of verses aimed at aiding practitioners of kôan meditation to negotiate the difficult relationship between insight and language. As such it represents a major contribution to both Western Zen practice and English-language Zen scholarship. In Japan the traditional Rinzai Zen kôan curriculum includes the use of jakugo, or "capping phrases." Once a monk has successfully replied to a kôan, the Zen master orders the search for a classical verse to express the monk’s insight into the kôan. Special collections of these jakugo were compiled as handbooks to aid in that search. Until now, Zen students in the West, lacking this important resource, have been severely limited in carrying out this practice. Zen Sand combines and translates two standard jakugo handbooks and opens the way for incorporating this important tradition fully into Western Zen practice. For the scholar, Zen Sand provides a detailed description of the jakugo practice and its place in the overall kôan curriculum, as well as a brief history of the Zen phrase book. This volume also contributes to the understanding of East Asian culture in a broader sense.

The Zen Experience

The Zen Experience PDF Author: Thomas Hoover
Publisher: Prabhat Prakashan
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 672

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Book Description
The Zen Experience: Know the Real Meaning by Thomas Hoover is a profound exploration of Zen philosophy and practice, providing readers with an insightful journey into the essence of Zen. Drawing from both ancient wisdom and contemporary insights, Hoover delves into the profound teachings of Zen Buddhism, unraveling its mysteries and revealing its transformative power. Key aspects of The Zen Experience: Know the Real Meaning: Deep Understanding of Zen: Thomas Hoover delves into the heart of Zen, offering readers a deep understanding of its principles, practices, and underlying philosophy. Through clear explanations and personal anecdotes, he demystifies Zen, making it accessible to both beginners and seasoned practitioners. Spiritual Enlightenment: The book explores the transformative nature of Zen, guiding readers towards spiritual enlightenment and inner peace. Hoover emphasizes the importance of mindfulness, meditation, and self-inquiry, providing practical guidance for incorporating Zen principles into daily life. Harmonizing Mind and Body: Hoover highlights the significance of harmonizing mind and body in the pursuit of Zen. He explores the role of physical practices, such as meditation, breathwork, and movement, in cultivating a deeper awareness and connection to the present moment. The Zen Experience: Know the Real Meaning is a thought-provoking and enlightening book that offers readers a profound understanding of Zen and its application in daily life. It serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking spiritual growth, inner harmony, and a deeper connection with the present moment. Thomas Hoover: Thomas Hoover, an American author, is known for his historical fiction and suspense novels. His works, such as Caribbee and Tokyo Station, blend meticulous research with compelling storytelling, transporting readers to different times and places. Hoover's ability to weave intricate plots and develop multidimensional characters has earned him a dedicated readership. His writings, characterized by meticulous attention to detail and a deep understanding of historical events, provide readers with immersive and thought-provoking reading experiences.

Gallipoli

Gallipoli PDF Author: Edward J. Erickson
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472813405
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 289

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Book Description
Written by a leading authority and featuring new research from Turkish sources, Gallipoli: Command Under Fire details the great tragedy of the fighting at Gallipoli. Unique among World War I campaigns, the fighting at Gallipoli brought together a modern amphibious assault and multi-national combined operations. It took place on a landscape littered with classical and romantic sites – just across the Dardanelles from the ruins of Homer's Troy. The campaign became, perhaps, the greatest 'what if' of the war. The concept behind it was grand strategy of the highest order, had it been successful it might have led to conditions ending the war two years early on Allied terms. This could have avoided the bloodletting of 1916–18, saved Tsarist Russia from revolution and side stepped the disastrous Treaty of Versailles – in effect, altering the course of the entire 20th century. This study is the first to focus on operational and campaign-level decisions and actions, which drove the conduct of the campaign. It departs from emotive first-hand accounts and offers a broader perspective of the large scale military planning and maneuvering involved in this monstrous struggle on the shores of European Turkey.

Zen in the Art of Helping

Zen in the Art of Helping PDF Author: David Brandon
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317214706
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 117

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Book Description
A succinct, uncompromising study of what it means to help other people, this book, first published in 1978, examines the helping process in the light of the principles of Zen Buddhism. Emphasizing the Zen precepts of true compassion, newness and Taoistic change, it explains how a helper can break down the artificial barriers that serve to separate people and hinder the helping process. As the teachings of Zen demonstrate, real compassion involves a selflessness and respect that can bring helper and helped together.

Lotus in the Fire

Lotus in the Fire PDF Author: Jim Bedard
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
ISBN:
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 226

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Book Description
In 1995, Jim Bedard, a martial artist and Zen student, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and given ten days to live. This is the story of how he used his spiritual strength to bring himself into full contact with a death sentence as well as with painful medical treatment, including chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. It is also the inspiring story of how the faith of his family, Zen teacher, close friends, and the Buddhist community helped him. Bedard's story introduces us to Zen practices that can help us cope with emotional turmoil and physical pain. His words on compassion, on karma, on gratitude, on impermanence and the inevitability of death—all from a nonsmoking, meditating, aerobically fit vegetarian who became suddenly and "terminally" ill—are inspiring and sometimes funny. He explores, too, the fundamental question of suffering, its cause, and how the teachings of karma can help us accept illness, ultimately using it as an opportunity to deepen our spiritual lives.

Hardcore Zen

Hardcore Zen PDF Author: Brad Warner
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1614293163
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 233

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Book Description
Zen, plain and simple, with no BS. This is not your typical Zen book. Brad Warner, a young punk who grew up to be a Zen master, spares no one. This bold new approach to the "Why?" of Zen Buddhism is as strongly grounded in the tradition of Zen as it is utterly revolutionary. Warner's voice is hilarious, and he calls on the wisdom of everyone from punk and pop culture icons to the Buddha himself to make sure his points come through loud and clear. As it prods readers to question everything, Hardcore Zen is both an approach and a departure, leaving behind the soft and lyrical for the gritty and stark perspective of a new generation. This new edition will feature an afterword from the author.

Ending the Pursuit of Happiness

Ending the Pursuit of Happiness PDF Author: Barry Magid
Publisher: ReadHowYouWant.com
ISBN: 1458783618
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 242

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Book Description
Inspires us - in wryly gentle prose - to outgrow the impossible pursuit of happiness, and instead make peace with the perfection of the way things are. Including ourselves! Magid invites readers to consider the notion that our certainty that we are broken may be turning our (3z(Bpursuit of happiness(S3(B into a source of yet more suffering. He takes an unusual look at our (S2(Bsecret practices(S3(B (what we?re REALLY doing, when we say (S2(Bpracticing(S3(B) and (S2(Bcurative fantasies,(S3(B wherein we have ideals of what spiritual practices will "do" for us, "cure" us. In doing so, he helps us look squarely at such pitfalls of spiritual practice so that we can avoid them. Along the way, Magid lays out a rich roadmap of a new "psychological-minded Zen," which may be among the most important spiritual developments of the present day.