Essential Chan Buddhism is the rare unearthing of an ancient and remarkable Chinese spiritual tradition. Master Guo Jun speaks through hard-won wisdom on Chan's spiritual themes familiar to Western readers, such as mindfulness and relaxation in meditation, as well as profound, simply expressed teachings and insightful explorations of religious commitment. Essential Chan Buddhism filters formal spiritual practices through the lens of mundane and everyday life activities. The work captures the lyrical beauty and incantatory style of Guo Jun's spoken English from the talks he gave at a fourteen-day retreat near Jakarta in 2010 and in subsequent conversations with his editor Kenneth Wapner. This value-priced hardcover edition is both a distinctive addition to Buddhist collections and a thoughtful gift for anyone looking for spiritual guidance.

ContentsForewordChapter One: ImpermanenceChapter Two: Tigers and PussycatsChapter Three: BreathChapter Four: Heart-to-Heart: SittingChapter Five: RelaxationChapter Six: Connecting to the WorldChapter Seven: Farming MeditationChapter Eight: FloatingChapter Nine: WisdomChapter Ten: Hen Hatching EggChapter Eleven: The VowChapter Twelve: Four CupsChapter Thirteen: Grass on the FireChapter Fourteen: CourageChapter Fifteen: Graceful EquanimityChapter Sixteen: Tok Tok ChengChapter Seventeen: Mindfulness in ChanChapter Eighteen: Ocean of EnergyChapter Nineteen: ReturningChapter Twenty: PurposeChapter Twenty-one: Respect for AncestorsChapter Twenty-two: Soft KindnessChapter Twenty-three: Let It Come, Let It GoChapter Twenty-four: The WaterfallChapter Twenty-five: Sky MindChapter Twenty-six: Salt and SheepChapter Twenty-seven: The Way OutChapter Twenty-eight: Changing Our MindsChapter Twenty-nine: Womb BreathingChapter Thirty: Turtle BreathingChapter Thirty-one: ProstrationsChapter Thirty-two: The Cool and Gentle Ointment of ChanChapter Thirty-three: Fully EngagedChapter Thirty-four: Chan and ArtChapter Thirty-five: Chan and SexChapter Thirty-six: Straight Foundation, Sharp AxChapter Thirty-seven: How We Treat OthersChapter Thirty-eight: See For YourselfChapter Thirty-nine: Buddha NatureChapter Forty: Blind Cat, Dead Mouse Chapter Forty-one: Sleeping BuddhaChapter Forty-two: True LoveChapter Forty-three: Enlightenment Will Get YouChapter Forty-four: Sweet PotatoChapter Forty-five: Our BirthrightChapter Forty-six: A Taste Like the OceanChapter Forty-seven: My First MasterAcknowledgmentsEditor's NoteAbout the Author