I need a good book that can teach me some fundamentals that I need to know. I started looking stuff up online but it’s hard to organize it all; there’s a lot to learn. I was wondering if anyone could suggest some good books for someone who’s interested in Zen Buddhism, but really just beginning? I’m looking for something explanatory without being too complex (I’m an idiot XD).

Thanks for any help you can give.
Matthew: Been there, done that. I respect people from all walks of life, but it’s not for me, so thanks but no thanks.

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Learn How to Meditate Program – Beginner’s Meditation

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Meditation and Zen Buddhism are intertwined, each of them essential for the other. By stilling and calming the mind through meditation, we can perceive deeper levels of awareness. Zen Buddhism gives us a deeper understanding of the nature of the universe.

There are two aspects of the practice, each with it?s own techniques and aims ? cessation and observation. Between each of these extremes there is a balance that needs to found. Attachment to either one can lead to it?s own problems.

Cessation is the withdrawal of the mind from external inputs. Turning the awareness inwards and observing the self. Becoming present to the moment that is the only real thing that we can experience. Neither memory nor anticipation, resting in this space gives a clarity that is not attached or related in any way to the intellect

Attachment to this aspect of the practice can lead to a withdrawal from life. Complete detachment and indifference to life and the physical nature that is an integral part of our experience.

Observation is the act of looking at the world and of differentiating this thing from that. This provides a balance to cessation, while still keeping foremost the fact that it is all the divine and an expression of the divine within ourselves.

An attachment to this can lead us into confusion and turmoil, thus obscuring a view of the world that is truly reflective of what really is.

Balancing out these two opposing but complementary perspectives prevents a slide into either extreme and the combination works to lift our consciousness to higher and higher levels of awareness while still experiencing the earthly life that we are living.

There is no real goal for Zen meditation, it is an ongoing process that keeps on expanding as we travel along the path. It is an ever-moving river that has no end, so the focus needs to be on the journey as the end point is something that recedes as we get closer. A very easy trap to fall into is that of becoming attached to the end goal of reaching enlightenment, but if we reach that point?what then?

Does reaching enlightenment mean that we stop there? Or is it a turning point in the road that enables us to see a vast vista laid out before us that was previously hidden from view?

The road has no end to speak of so wherever we are on that road is where we are, wishing ourselves further along serves no purpose. Truly reaching a point of accepting and embracing the journey will serve to move us that much further along where a rigid goal of attaining enlightenment will do little except to form a stronger attachment to the current situation. Therein lies the paradox that can only be solved through experience, not words.

Using our knowledge of brain wave technology, we can get more out of Zen meditation, more easily than ever before. Not only can we achieve deeper levels of awareness, it is easier to reach that level next time. Truly a win-win.

These techniques are called binaural audio tracks and are specific tones that are sounded in each ear at different rates and modify the brainwaves, inducing a slowing and synchronizing of the whole brain. This is the identical process to what goes on inside the brains of Zen monks. So, essentially we can access many of the amazing benefits of Zen meditation at the push of a button.

So now it is just so easy to practice meditation as a vital part of Zen Buddhism. This is an exciting development, which can allow us rapid development while living and working in one of the most hectic and stressful times that the human race has ever known. Utilizing technology for our benefit rather than being at the mercy of computers, can liberate us from the rat race and allow a deeper sense of connection to each other.

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Hello I am 15 years old and I want to learn more about Zen Buddhism.
I have read The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Zen Living and it was a fairly good book.
However, I feel as if it were more of a book for those who already knew some to little about Zen and not really geared for those with no knowledge of Zen. And I also feel as if it did not explain it thoroughly; practically or metaphorically.
What I would really like to do is to join a Zen community and possibly find a teacher of Zen.(Are there such people?)
I would just like to learn as much as I can, and I am fully committed!
Thanks in advance!

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I am reading 2 books about Buddhism & I am starting to meditate. I wonder if Zen can hel;p someone to learn a programming language faster? I am learning Actionscript3. Thanks

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