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Encouraging Words by Robert Aitken
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Encouraging Words

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Encouraging Words by Robert Aitken
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Sep 06, 1994 | ISBN 9780679756521

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    Sep 06, 1994 | ISBN 9780679756521

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  • Dec 08, 2010 | ISBN 9780307772510

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Product Details

Praise

“Aitken’s title says it all. Encouraging Words will appeal to both beginning and advanced Zen lay students who seek to integrate their spiritual practice into everyday life. Curious readers will be rewarded, too. Here is a teacher both wise and practical in equal measure.”
—Ronn Ronck, Honolulu Advertiser

Table Of Contents

Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction xv
 
WORDS IN THE DŌJŌ
Introduction 1
The First Night 6
Coming Home 9
The World Does Zazen 11
Emptiness 14
Condition 17
The Single Point 22
Carry Your Practice Lightly 24
Attention 27
Coming and Going 30
Patience 33
The Sacred Self 35
Becoming Settled 38
Switch Back to Mu 40
Diligence 43
The Dark Night 48
Simple and Clear 51
Like a Dream 53
The Last Night 54
Afterword 56
Notes 57
 
WORDS FROM THE RŌSHI
Introduction 63
The Middle Way 65
Using the Self 68
Ordinary Mind Is the Tao 73
Cycles and Stages 79
The Moral Path 76
Dreams and Archetypes 94
Impermanence 105
The Lay Sangha 107
Kōan Study and Its Implications 118
Integrity and Nobility 123
The Net of Indra 127
Nonviolence within the Zendō and Outside 131
About Practice 136
Death and the Afterlife 147
Notes 148
 
THE SYLLABUS
Introduction 157
Lattice of the Dharma 161
Wu-men kuan: Case I
The Zen Buddhist Sutra Book 168
   The Gāthās 170
   The Sutras and a Dhāranī 172
   The Dedications and the Evening Message 180
   Mealtime Sutras 185
   The Jukai Ceremony 189
      Rōshi’s Introduction 189
      The Three Vows of Refuge 190
      The Three Pure Precepts 191
      The Ten Grave Precepts 191
      Verse of the Rakusu 194
      Dedication 195
The Sesshin 197
   Daily Schedule 197
   Leadership 198
   The Three Essentials 200
Dōjō Percussion Instruments 202
 
A Glossary of Buddhist Terms and Usages 205
An Annotated Bibliography 224

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