Invoking Reality
Moral and Ethical Teachings of Zen
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Beschreibung des Verlags
There is a common misconception that to practice Zen is to practice meditation and nothing else. In truth, traditionally, the practice of meditation goes hand-in-hand with moral conduct. In Invoking Reality, John Daido Loori, one of the leading Zen teachers in America today, presents and explains the ethical precepts of Zen as essential aspects of Zen training and development.
The Buddhist teachings on morality—the precepts—predate Zen, going all the way back to the Buddha himself. They describe, in essence, how a buddha, or awakened person, lives his or her life in the world.
Loori provides a modern interpretation of the precepts and discusses the ethical significance of these vows as guidelines for living. "Zen is a practice that takes place within the world," he says, "based on moral and ethical teachings that have been handed down from generation to generation." In his view, the Buddhist precepts form one of the most vital areas of spiritual practice.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This deeper look at the precepts of Buddhism strives to eliminate the misconception that Zen is just a form of meditation, putting it forward as a philosophy of day-to-day, minute-to-minute living. The book is fashioned like a primer, divided into logical bites and descriptions, first of the three treasures (the Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha), then of the three pure precepts (not creating evil, practicing good, actualizing good for others) and then the 10 grave precepts (affirm life; be giving; honor the body; manifest truth; proceed clearly; see the perfection; realize self and other as one; give generously; actualize harmony; experience the intimacy of things). However, this book by Loori (The Zen of Creativity) is not exactly an introduction. The cadence, the language and the concepts all assume more than a cursory familiarity with the practice of Zen Buddhism. Ideas like gasso and the koan Mu, for instance, are mentioned but not defined. At times the book feels uneven; some grave precepts feel more rushed while others get noticeably longer treatment. Although the core argument that Zen requires an ethical code of conduct as well as meditation practice is certainly user-friendly, this book's presentation will make it most valuable for those who are already very familiar with Zen teachings.
