This introduction to serene reflection meditation is presented in a simple, practical and thorough manner. The physical, mental and spiritual aspects of this type of meditation are discussed: the book gives an excellent foundation for starting a meditation practice. Attention is also given to clarifying the pitfalls to avoid, to applying meditation to daily life and to teaching children to meditate, along with other topics. A revise edition of Zen Meditation, it is an excellent primer for Buddhist practice. --- from book's back cover

Serene Reflection Meditation

Order of Buddhist Contemplatives

Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett

Religion & Spirituality

Shasta Abbey

The first part of this book recounts the religious experiences of Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett when she was gravely ill and near death in 1976. When a doctor told her she had three months to live, she began an intensive meditation retreat to prepare for death. How to Grow a Lotus Blossom is a diary, verbal and pictorial, of her spiritual experiences over the following ten months. It describes, in very personal terms, what in Zen is called the third kensho; it is invaluable in clarifying both the nature of kensho experience and the purpose of Zen training in the broadest sense. 
At first glance the immensity of the experiences described here may leave a new meditator wondering what benefit there could be in studying them---they seem so removed from one's own experience but, when we look more closely, we begin to see parallels in our own practice and realize that, although there are many levels of religious experience, the fundamental process of growth is always the same, repeating itself in cycles. It is at this point that How to Grow a Lotus Blossom becomes a useful tool for all trainees regardless of their level of development. 
The crucial difference between the first and third kensho is that the first reveals one's true spiritual nature while the latter is the complete acceptance of that nature as one's own. To realize Truth in one moment of time is one thing---to purify every aspect of oneself to such a degree that the spiritual vision becomes our normal everyday mind is quite another. Rev. Jiyu-Kennett has done Zen Buddhism a service in demystifying the kensho experience and clarifying the true purpose of religious training. 
The second part of this revised edition includes additional visions, with commentaries, that have occurred since the events of 1976. 
How to Grow a Lotus Blossom is handsomely covered with a durable plastic jacket with gold embossed lettering.

How to Grow a Lotus Blossom or How a Zen Buddhist Prepares for Death

Politics & Social Sciences

Jiyu-Kennett, Rev. Master

Sociology

Attributed to the thirteenth-century Zen Master Keizan (1268-1325), the Denkoroku tells of the enlightenment of the fifty-three masters, beginning with Shakyamuni Buddha and concluding with the twelfth-century Zen Master Ejyo, who was Dogen's dharma heir. Keizan explores how the personal koan (spiritual question) of the various disciples was resolved so that they fully realized their inherent enlightenment. By use of his kaleidoscopic view of Buddhist teachings, Keizan reveals the myriad ways in which the Unborn has been experienced and how these experiences relate to one's daily practice. The translator, Rev. Hubert Nearman, is a senior disciple of the late Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett, first Abbess of Shasta Abbey in California, and founder of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives. Prior to becoming a monk, he was a scholar and translator of medieval Japanese texts and was a recipient of a grant for his translation work from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Denkōroku, or, The record of the transmission of the light

Keizan Zenji

writings from the Serene Reflection meditation tradition, assembled by Shasta Abbey

Buddhist writings on meditation and daily practice: The serene reflection meditation tradition

Keizan Jokin and others

The Shobogenzo is a collection of writings by the First Japanese Soto Zen Buddhist Ancestor, Great Master Eihei Dogen, based primarily on formal Dharma talks which he gave to his disciples at various times between 1233 and his death twenty years later at age fifty-three. Most of the texts in the book focus on exploring the spiritual significance of some term or phrase drawn from Buddhist Scriptures or Chinese Zen texts. These are not lectures, as would be understood in an academic setting, but are talks that arise from Dogen's deepest understanding of the spiritual meaning and relevance of his topic to Buddhist training and practice. This translation draws upon both the monastic and scholarly training of the translator and editor, and aims to make the depth of Dogen's voicing of the Dharma accessible to western Buddhist readers. The translator's general introduction explains some of the methods Dogen employs in his Dharma talks, particularly his use of the traditional koan storie

The Shobogenzo or The Treasure House of the Eye of the True Treachings by Eihei Dogen (1996-09-08)

EIHEI DOGEN

Buddhism

Meditation is "the gateway to repose and joy." It is the heart of our Buddhist practice. Through meditation we open to our True Nature, the Unborn Buddha Nature and to the source of our suffering. This introduction to Serene Reflection (Soto Zen) meditation is presented in a simple, practical and thorough manner with articles on the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of this type of meditation. The Buddha taught that there is suffering or unsatisfactoriness and that there is a way to find the cessation of or liberation from suffering. Articles include teachings on how to bring the Buddha's Teaching into all aspects of our lives and how we can live in harmony with ourselves and all living beings. The articles in this book were written by male and female Buddhist monks and lay trainees within the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives.

Jiyu-Kennett, Rev. Master P.T.N.H.

In 1976 Rev. Master Jiu-Kennett was very ill and was told she had only a few months to live. In the face of imminent death, she went deeply into meditation to reflect on her life in preparation for death. As a result, she had a deep religious experience over several months and went on to live another twenty years doing her Buddhist practice and helping others to do the same. This book is the diary of those months.

How to Grow a Lotus Blossom

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Shasta Abbey publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Shasta Abbey

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Shasta Abbey publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Serene Reflection Meditation

How to Grow a Lotus Blossom or How a Zen Buddhist Prepares for Death

The Denkōroku, or, The record of the transmission of the light

Buddhist writings on meditation and daily practice: The serene reflection meditation tradition

The Shobogenzo or The Treasure House of the Eye of the True Treachings by Eihei Dogen (1996-09-08)

Serene Reflection Meditation

How to Grow a Lotus Blossom